Well school is out and everything is great-FINALY DONE FINALS! Too bad you all will have to wait till next Sunday or Monday to get the next chapter. It's not that I don't want topost it, it's just I'll be out in the country so no, I won't have internet access even with my portable internet stick *sad face*. Oh well, there is always good ole pen and paper unil then and I'll just have to suck up the effor and type it all up afterwards. It's ok, I will survive.

Anyways... back to the story

Chapter 13.

Rahl woke up to an annoying amount of noise. It took him a little bit for him to realize that the noise was merely loud knocking on the door to him study and someone saying "my lord" over and over. He groaned softly and looked around him to see if he could figure out what time it was. If he had slept in he would- no it was still dark outside, then what on earth could this person want? It better be important or he'd kill them.

"My lord," came the voice again.

"Yes?" he asked in an annoyed voice.

"May I come in?" came the voice again after a slight pause, a hesitation on his disturber's part.
Rahl slipped on his over robe and felt confident that he looked decent enough for a subject to see him. Sure his chest was bare but that would add to his egotistic persona in most eyes. Only a guy with lots of ego-and/or pride- could walk around half naked and be totally comfortable with it. Yes this would do quite well.

"You may, be quick about it, "Rahl snapped.

An awkward looking boy stepped into the room and bowed down to him before he could breathe twice. The whole while Rahl could only think about how could this boy be one of his guards. His arms looked too frail to carry a sword and he was still growing into his long limbs, thus making him look so much more an awkward adolescent. Then he realized that the boy was waiting for him to relieve him of his low bow. Rahl made the correct gesture and waited for this boy to tell him why he was woken so early.

"I was sent to fetch you my lord. General Egremont said that he needed your immediate presence and that I am to take you to him, "the boy said, the whole while his voice cracked on almost every other word even though it was painfully obvious that the teen was trying to hide this from his king.
With a soft sigh, Rahl got up from his restful position on the couch and stretched out slowly like a cat. The boy waited patiently for him to be ready, trying not to stare at the normal action the king was displaying. When the king was ready, he nodded at the boy as if telling him to lead the way.

He had no problem with strutting around half naked in the halls, in fact he almost enjoyed it. It was worth it just to see the different looks he got; everything from disgust to attraction. He always got the later from the most unlikely person it seemed. Anyways he had the right to do as he pleased in his castle and his subjects would just have to accept that. He wasn't about to put any effort into his appearance if he didn't want to, and right now he hardly had the will to do anything. He just wanted to get this over with and find Shara to try and get her to forgive him, even just a little bit.

Before he knew it he was before Egremont who looked as if he could kill someone on the spot. Rahl looked at him with a quizzing expression as he asked," what is it Egremont?"

"She's really done it this time," was the answer he got. Really, that didn't help him at all.

"Would you mind elaborating that thought general, I don't not know of what you are speaking," Rahl said, a bit of his annoyance seeping through.

"That witch you call a wife. She's killed the guards or enchanted them or something, killed your son's nursemaid and taken him from his chambers," Egremont spit out.

Emotions hit Rahl like a ton of bricks. He felt angry at Egremont for insulting his love, conflicted about whether or not he should believe the general's scenario and betrayed at the thought that his wife might have actually done the things she was convicted of. He decided to deal with the emotions as they came instead of mauling them over too much.

"First of all my dear general," now it was his turn to be angry but his anger manifested itself in a deep, venomous voice that sent a shiver up your spine," I do not appreciate you dishonouring my wife in such a way. You do not know what truly happened here and until you do I suggest you get over yourself. Second of all, if my son is missing, don't stand around talking about who did it and go find him!"Now his panic and worry for his son's well being was becoming evident."Don't you realize that that child is the future of D'Hara?"

That really set things into action. Solders were sent to patrol the halls and search the rooms. Every nook and cranny in the Palace would be searched and the Palace would be shut off. No one would be allowed in or out in any way until the prince was found. Rahl stood in the room watching the orders be given out and couldn't help but feel a little bit thankful towards Egremont, he knew exactly what to do in times like these whereas Rahl would be at a loss.

"Just a question my lord' if you don't mind me asking," Egremont asked, his voice almost as cautious as his words seemed. "If we find the queen with the child and my theory is proven right, what will you do?"
"Well of course if we find her and you are true then my wife has truly been possessed or lost her mind and shall be killed immediately," Rahl said, trying to sound sure of himself even though the thought of this scenario coming true was eating him up.

After a slight hesitation Egremont said,"Well then for your sake, my lord, I hope I am proven wrong. "And the Rahl was left to his thoughts.

'Oh I hope so too dear friend, I hope so too '.