The auburn chipmunk was at a loss as she gawks at the grand room of the king. After much difficulty getting up the crimson splashed hedgehog room, from almost being spotted by patrolling guards, night owl servants, and occasionally sultry sneak of some other people, she had waited patiently in her revealing outfit for nothing. She had knocked, peeped and finally entered inside, only to find it completely empty. Even when the castle was asleep, she could not hope to find him.
While this was a loss, Sally couldn't help but be relieved that she hadn't fully resorted to this plan. With a lack of the king, she found no reason to stay any longer and went back to her room.
~x~
Large paws trot silently on the ground, a snout tracking scents across the field. Whenever the feral king stopped upon the familiar scent of his self-proclaimed mate, his tail would start wag softly.
Following his nose, the beast happens upon yet again, a tree and not the sight of the lavender female, which ultimately resulted in him rubbing against the tree or slicing deadly talons through the bark to mark the area as his territory.
Anywhere she went would be his to claim.
Red eyes survey the area after his calming ritual of territorial claims, for either invaders or his female. The chase was starting to wear on him and his patience. His lifts his muzzle in a calling howl, his third for the night to try and locate her whereabouts, draw her to him.
Maybe then he'd be merciful in his punishment.
While she had stayed with him before, in his weak state, he had not forgotten her behavior before that. The female had gotten up after his warning and interrupted a fight over her as well. She could've gotten hurt during it.
When he didn't see hide or hair of her, Shadow continues following the lingering trail she left for him, only getting more angered as time goes on without her.
It isn't long after that the ruby streaked wolf starts getting suspicious, going off course from the string of trees that carried Eve's scent. Instead, the tracker goes after the freshest trails, coming closer and closer to the large stone wall surrounding the castle.
This prompts Knuckles to erupt into a sprint from his hiding spot in a distanced tree, muttering curses under his breath. It took him less time than expected to upturn his ruse. He whistles to get the king's attention, although this was unnecessary with how loud Knuckles' footsteps were. Horned ears flicking in his direction before the blood red eyes land on him, narrowing in rage.
Claws dig into the ground as he rears to pounce at the oncoming echidna, fangs set in a snarl. And just before he does, the red knight pulls out a dainty looking robe that had been hooked on his belt.
The beast gives pause, unsure of this new tactic the mobian pulled. And then the scent hit him, his female.
A new type of rage builds up in the spiny furred king, quills seeming to fluff up in fury as he darts forward to Knuckles, the other barely having time to block the powerful swipe of claws that sent him flying into a nearby tree.
Sir Gawain is forced of his breath momentarily, stunned by the burst of energy Shadow had. Violet eyes lock onto the bruising beast, who had ended his assault for the time being to change to take the new source from his mate.
Sharp fangs seemed gentle as he took the cloth in his jaws, a small wag to his tail once he had it safely with him.
And then it was pulled from him by a dark swift form, landing near Knuckles. A knight dressed in black armor with violet tones. "Sir Gawain, I'm sure you have good reason to be out here with him yes?" She questions, keeping her helm directed towards the bestial ruler, which by his attitude, seemed to dislike the female more than the male.
"Sir Nocturnus?" The red echidna questions, getting up on his feet as now the enemy had their eyes back on them.
A harsh bark sounds as Shadow snaps his jaws, fierce look in his eyes.
"I suggest we move." Sir Nocturnus murmurs, spinning on the dot and running away from the angry beast, Knuckles right on her tail and the king following both. "I take it you found out about the lord's curse?" She questions nonchalantly, dodging a stretched limb easily.
"Yes! How are you so used to this?!" The ruby male yelps, dodging his own flying limb, making deep furrows through the ground on their way back.
"I'm the one who found out first Sir Gawain. Why is it you think he told none of my quest?" Shade scowls, launching off a tree to gain a boost before racing across the branches above. Feeling a bit of fright at the loss of another with him, Knuckles dashes faster, watching the rustles of leaves to designate his path.
"Damnit." Sir Gawain murmurs under his breath, trying keep ahead of the beast.
This would a long night for him.
~x~
As morning rose, so did the inhabitants of the castle, all but one. Knuckles had missed breakfast, his fellow knights complaining that he was sleeping like a rock and that no one could wake him. Sir Sonic had mentioned something about late night training he had been doing but couldn't go into details. The king had pushed away the thought, ordering them to allow him to sleep, knowing that he had been the cause.
As the meal continued, Sally once again trying to start conversations that neither had the interest to continue, it was once again interrupted with chatter. The doors burst open with a green hawk, Sir Lamorak, an excited look on his face.
"My lord, Sir Nocturnus has returned!" He exclaims.
Although it was startling news for the inhabitants of the room, the crimson streaked king had already known of this. When he recovered from his change. They thought it best if she returned a bit late during the day.
"Please return to your meal, I'll see to this." Shadow pulled away from his spot at the table, cutting off the Princess with another apology before following the avian knight out the door.
"You could not have come at a better time, Jet." The ebony male sighs, rubbing his head in agitation. Beside him, the hawk chuckles, nodding his head at his words.
"Of course, my lord. All your people will assist in keeping this unwanted suitor away." He responds, his feathers fluffing in pride.
When they arrived at the large study where Sir Nocturnus had moved to, both males come to a stop. "You may leave Sir Lamorak, I can handle this from here." Shadow states, red eyes glancing at the knight as he bows and starts the path back to his post. With no one with him, he goes in the study.
The study was expansive, doubling as his war room, if the time came to it. Bookshelves littered nearly every wall with a fireplace to warm the area and windows to a beautiful view outside and overlooking the nearest city. There was a large round table for him and his lead knights, also where the female echidna was now located. She stood before her seat, her helm on the table and gave him a welcoming bow. "Lord Lancelot." She greets, taking her seat once he had his own.
With another sigh, Shadow clasps his hands together and his eyes trail over Shade, the mood dark, foreboding. "Report." He utters quietly.
"I found no instances of a cure in any of the kingdoms I've come across, my lord." The terra cotta female answers without hesitation. "Your condition is unique, and no other kings appear to be suffering it. However, every kingdom has been affected by some kind of magic."
A hand runs across his quill, brushing against the crown he wore as he groans, he waves a hand back at her to continue, his interest piqued. "Every kingdom is affected, by what?"
"It is strange, in the neighboring kingdoms, all rulers have some condition or other. King Acorn is suffering from a bout of greed and paranoia, King Khan is stricken with weakness in his limbs, barely able to move. Queen Storm is seeing delusions. In most cases, the rulers have been removed and are now being led by knights or the next line of kin."
Red eyes narrow at the grains in the table, they were connected but who could target the rulers so precisely? He grits his fangs, ears lowering in displeasure. More importantly, they managed to get to him so easily.
"Lord Lancelot." Shade calls, gently pulling him away from his animalistic thoughts, the ones that purely came from the nightly form he took. "Lady Nimue has asked that you come visit, she said she might be able to help." She relays.
That was good news, as good as this could get. Someone with access to high leveled magic was cursing rulers, which if left too long, could put them at disarray. And unable to fight back against invasion. "Caliborn, have you come to same conclusions as I?"
"I have my king. It is a frightening prospect." The sword at his hip murmurs. "The perpetrators must have been planning this for a long while before they put it into action."
His enemies were as plentiful as his allies, but none came to mind as much as one. One he fought with years prior, the wound he inflicted must have injured his pride vastly. But he seemed to impatient for such a well-thought-out idea.
All thoughts cease when the door slams open, Princess Sally storming in, followed by a fumbling Sir Galahad.
"What is the meaning of this?" Shadow hisses lightly, displeased with his meeting interrupted. He did not get up from his position, watching as Silver mumbles his apologies, bowing lowly.
"I'm sorry my lord, I tried to stop her!" He yelps out.
The auburn chipmunk on the other hand, takes a breath, chin up. "Lord Lancelot, forgive me, but I must ask that you marry me." She says plainly, regardless of the company included.
"No, I'm afraid I cannot Princess Sally." Shadow answers immediately, not even surprised at her goals.
There a moment of shock forming on the female's face, even some on Silver's from the blatant deny at the request.
"And why is that, my lord? I-I can offer you the land of my kingdom, riches, everything there will be yours!" Sally persuades, a slight stutter to her voice as she moves forward. "It can be a marriage in title only!" She offers, a weak smile forming on her face.
"I believe I declined your offer Princess. I will not marry you." The ruby streaked king huffs, standing up from his seat among those at the round table. He clenches his fists, hidden from everyone except the talking sword, who says nothing.
"But why not! This proposal will do nothing but hold good things for you!" She shouts, becoming angry at his denial for a second time. As she moves to meet him, he sidles over to one of the large bookshelves. His piercing eyes landing on the ivory hedgehog standing in the doorway.
"Galahad, fetch me Lady Eve!" He orders, reining in on the snarl forming in his chest. Clawed hands move along the spines of various books in a high shelf, Sally following after him.
"Are you saying that a marriage of convenience is worth less than one of your servant girls? You could have her even with the marriage." The princess hisses, the insult was only fueling her anger.
And the insult's effect only increased as it went back to Shadow. That snarl now surfacing as he snatches the book he wanted off the bookshelf. "Watch your tongue Princess, she is more than a servant girl." He says lowly, turning back to glare at her.
"M-my lord," Silver pipes up, his tone indicating he really did not want to be there. The air was toxic and already it was managing to give the telekinetic knight a headache. All eyes went to him, including that of Shade whom stood near her seat silently watching the bickering of royals. She was ready to step in if her king showed signs of his curse. "I brought Lady Eve for you." He finishes, stepping to the side to show the confused and slightly frightened lavender female.
Immediately, the crimson splashed hedgehog's aggression tempered down as a hand extends toward her, lacking the previously dangerous talons now. "Come here Eve. This is what I wanted to discuss before." He reasons lightly, hard eyes now soft when viewing her.
"Y-yes Lord Shadow." Eve stumbles, walking over to him, allowing her hand to fall into his lightly. She allows him to guide her to the table, placing the book down with a large thump. His eyes regard the angered princess, seething at his words.
"You will see as well, Princess Sally." He murmurs, fingers flipping the pages before landing onto two papers that did not belong inside the book. He starts with the first. "During the last power struggle, I managed to broker a treaty with a king that was losing his stability. Not wanting to see his entire kingdom, his life fall to pieces, he gave me his land and his people to keep on the condition that I marry his only child." Shadow explains, showing the signed agreement with his name written.
Sapphire eyes glance at the paper in confusion before a finger points to the other name listed. "But that's my father's name." Eve whispers, looking up at the worried eyes of the present king.
"Yes, he was the king I sanctioned the agreement with." The ebony male responds, moving the other paper into view. It was a photo, a couple in royal garb with a small delicate girl in the arms of the woman. Looking exactly like Eve.
An echoing gasp is heard from the occupants while Eve stares at the picture in silence, eyes wide.
"You would be my betrothed Eve." Shadow finishes, a light flush along his muzzle.
Why must I cut it here, but oh so good cliffhanger. Also look, I didn't just talk about Shade in this one, yay more characters.