13DeadSilence13: Thanks :)
Love Story
Chapter 34
They must be near. Victor scanned the vast wetland before him and spotted a trail of fresh footprints.
At last, Victor caught up with King Bruce. However, his unexpected appearance started a bewilderment and commotion among the soldiers. "Intruder!" one hollered as he recognized the uniform that Azarath soldiers wore. A second later, all archers locked their aim on him, the swordsmen sprinted to the kings and princes, holding up their shields before them. Victor raised his hand in the air, implying that he had no intention to harm them. "His men may be hiding behind the shrubs!" a commander suggested, beckoning the soldiers not to drop their guards.
"No, no, no! Listen, I may be King Malchior's men, but I mean no harm. I just wanted to speak to King Bruce!" Victor declared as he sensed that the archers are going to slide their grip off the arrows. He squinted his eyes, trying to spot Bruce.
"Everyone fi—"
"Stop!" Bruce commanded and stared at the accused soldier. "Victor Stone."
RxR
"What do you want?"
"It's not what I want. I just came to warn you that—"
"What is there more to warn? Richard is already dead."
"I know. That is why I risked my life to come here—"
"Risk your life? What a joke." Bruce laughed bitterly. "Your king is winning... And here you think you are risking your life to approach me? Shall you soldier of Azarath not see us as weaklings? You can kill me off right now."
"Your highness," Victor sighed, saying as politely as he could muster. "I know your son is dead. King Malchior had announced it."
Bruce interrupted, "He is right. Richard is dead now. One of our prince had fallen, should you not be celebrating?"
Victor gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table. "Stop acting like a stupid drunkard. Stop being so melodramatic. Richard is dead. So? You are not the only one who grieve for him." He toned down his voice, as if he was in pain, "I'm his brother for God's sake!" He raised his voice again, aggravated. "A brother of his who had finally regained his memory! And you think I am happy about his unjustified death?"
"My lord!" a soldier came in as he heard a loud bang.
"Who gave you the permission to come in!"
"Oh, have mercy on me, my lord. I heard a commotion while I was outside. I thought he had assaulted you, thus I came in on my impusle to protect you highness."
"What is going on in there!" Rudolph came in the tent due to the same reason. "Bruce, did you hurt him?"
When none of them spoke, Rudolph whispered to the knight who stormed in, "Take your leave. I will handle the situation." The knight nodded and left. The three of them ssat around the table in silence.
"Look, I apologize for my actions a while ago, I was just agitated." He continued, "I came here to tell you that Malchior Nosliw, is Slade's son... Or related to him somehow."
Rudolph and Bruce raised both their brows, but were unconvinced. Bruce fixed his eyes on him, "If this is a lie, Stone..."
"No, let me explain." Victor grabbed a stray fallen twig and wrote Malchior and Slade's full name on the soil."
"I have not thought about them, but until when Malchior asked him to wash his name plate. When 'Wilson' is written backwards, it is 'Nosliw'. Slade Wilson. Malchior Nosilw."
"So you are trying to tell us that Slade and Malchior are somehow related, Malchior being his son or not?" Rudolph injected.
"But this is impossible!" Bruce exclaimed. "I saw Malchior shooting Slade of the cliff. I saw it with my own eyes!"
"Yes, this is the confusion. I saw it too," Victor agreed.
Rudolph chimed in. "Then how is it possible that the two are related, let alone being father and son."
Victor continued. "Because of love."
The two kings raised an eyebrow at him. Victor sighed, "Love. Remember back then, Slade and Richard were fighting for Princess Rachel?"
Bruce bored his eyes through him, he looked tired all of a sudden. Victor licked his dry lips, "Well, now Slade is dead, Malchior claimed that the reason Slade fought for Princess Rachel is to bethroth her to him! Slade would never do that, we all know how hard Slade fought o'er Princess. In addition, Richard's gone too. So, it's like killing two birds with a stone."
"But how did Malchior know about Princess?"
"I am also puzzled about that," Victor admitted.
"Listen, Stone, don't you think your story is full of loopholes?" Bruce hissed.
"Your highness, what could I gain if I lie?" Victor raised his arms with exasperation.
"A wild goose chase."
Rudolph interrupted, "Really, Bruce, I don't think he's lying. Richard had trusted him before."
"And Richard was wrong!" Bruce insisted.
"I know you somehow dislike me, but for Richard's sake, could you just listen to me for once?"
Victor continued, "Malchior's going to Steel City to propose to Rachel. I am sure that if Richard is still here, he won't allow this to happen."
Bruce sighed. "But he isn't here anymore."
"And this is why we have to stop this for him. For Richard's sake."
"For Richard's sake." Bruce ordered. "Babara! Get your horse ready!"
"Yes sir!" Babara, who happened to passed by and heard that, smiled. "It's been so long since I got to serve you, Master."
"You have always been," he smirked.
"Victor Stone, Babara is going with you. And a horse will be prepared for you."
RxR
"Mother, I am going out for a while."
"Yes. Go, just... go," Arella flicked her wrist.
"Do you wish for my company?" Kori asked cheerfully.
"No, thank you. I... wish to be alone."
"Oh..." her face fell. "Be back home soon, then."
Rachel smiled and headed outside. Mal Duncun saw her and asked, "Where are you going, your highness."
"Going out to clear my thoughts." She added, "Alone."
"All right then, your highness."
Rachel strolled the dimly-lit street of Steel City. She came upon a shabby and tattered hut.
That reminds her of Malchior.
"I wonder what has Malchior been doing," she thought aloud. "He has been gone for some time."
"Searching for me, your highness?"
Rachel spun around to the source of the familiar husky voice. A man stood before her. He was ivory-skinned, creamy white hair and a pair of light blue eyes.
"Malchior?"
A/N: Oh gosh! What's Malchior doing there?
There will be 2-3 Chapters left (excluding the epilogue)
(To be continued...)