Chapter Eight:

Hail to the King...

The throne room was impressive, to say the least. The beautiful red carpet that led straight up the middle of the floor was masterfully woven with a golden thread stitched into the edge. On either side of the room, were two large fireplaces. The openings carved to look like an open lion's mouth, teeth and all. Each opening large enough for the baker fox to walk in and out without a problem. The raging fire within lapped so high that Gideon though he could see the devil himself was licking the lion's lips in the unholy orange glow. It helped brighten the room but only barely. The rest of the room was shrouded in shadows. At the end of the rug, a short flight of steps led to a luxurious throne. Hand carved from an ancient tree and etched with gold.

Seated atop the majestic throne with one leg resting on the arm was a stately looking lion in an expensive robe. The collar was lined with the fur of his families' ancient fallen enemies, or at least that's what Nicholas had told the baker fox upon entry. King Leodore Lionheart, Gideon shouldn't be so surprised knowing just how parallel the universes seemed to work. The lion held a golden goblet, encrusted with jewels, in his claws. He swirled the wine around the goblet and looked up at the group that stood before him. That was when Gideon saw the ragged look on the king's face. Bloodshot eyes, heavy with dark circles surrounding them. A slack jaw that showed off his large fangs. A dribbled wine smear running from the corner of his mouthing to his jaw line. He looked tired and worn, something had been keeping him awake at night.

The king shifted in his seat, putting both feet on the floor. He raised his cup to his lips tipping it back with his head, swallowing down the last of his wine. A burgundy line ran from the corner of his mouth and down his jaw. Lionheart wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and tossed the goblet away. It clattered loudly across the floor, the sound caused the captain to wince.

From behind his throne, stepped a familiar figure. The sheep was pleased to see the captain and her entourage once again. One of her hands swept along the king's furry collar, letting her fingers mingle in his mane. He looked at her, his dark brown eyes trembling to focus. The forced smile on his face nearly drowned the look of distaste he had for his adviser. Bellwether simply cooed at him and wiped the wine from his jawline with her thumb.

"You majesty. Captain Hopps and company has arrived." Her voice was soft as a whisper. It made little difference in the giant chamber. It echoed around in the whispers of a ghost in the shadows.

"I see that, Bellwether. What are they doing here?" Lionheart's voice was barely a growl.

"Captain Hopps, if you'd please." The sheep turned her green gaze towards the bunny.

The bunny stepped forward, hitting her breast hard with a closed fist in a salute. Gideon remembered when the soldiers in the square had done the same thing. Perhaps a gesture of respect, or a salute of some fashion. The clunk echoed through the chamber. It left everyone waiting in the midst of an eerie distant clank sound until it faded. Judy knelt down at the foot of the stairs showing her obedience to the king. Lionheart gave a more sincere smile to the smaller mammal before waving her to rise.

Nicholas elbowed his way through the group to stand next to the baker fox. "The witch up there next to the king." The fox's warm breath ruffled Gideon's ear fur making his shudder. "I get the feeling I've seen her before. Do you know who she is?"

"I think that's Bellwether, adviser or something." Gideon offered a sideways glance to the bard fox as he rubbed the tingling out of his ear.

"She just seems so familiar." Nicholas rubbed his chin in contemplation.

"Well, speak!" Barked the king, looking down at bunny.

Captain Hopps got to her feet, her hand linked in front of her. "You highness, these are the ones suspected of stealing the Sunburst Stone."

Lionheart's demeanor changed. Instead of standing tall and stoic, he hunched his shoulders. His clawed hands gripping at nothing before him. A manic look taking over his stern face. "And do they have it now?"

Captain Hopps turned and looked back at the darkness behind the rest of group. From the shadows stepped the spotted lop-eared female bunny and the dark male rabbit, the servants from before. Their eyes were wide with fear, their noses twitching uncontrollably. Judy gave them an urgent head thrust as if to tell them to answer the king's question. Gideon saw a wicked smile come to the Bard fox's face. There would be no way they could answer the question accurately since they never bathed Nicholas in the first place. The two bunnies looked at each other, a grim frown spread across their lips, before looking back at the captain. Both of them shook their heads feverishly. Judy's lips drew tight enough to show off her buck-teeth.

"No, sire." Judy's voice trembled as she turned to face him.

"Then how are you certain these are the ones who stole it?!" Lionheart reeled around to face Bellwether, his booming voice caused her to stagger back a few steps.

It only took a second for the sheep to recover. Adjusting her spectacles, a quick smoothing of her purple robes before she offered a smug smile in return for his building tantrum. "Well, let's just say a little bunny told me..."

The king wasn't impressed with her musings. "To the point, witch!"

"Certainly." Bellwether bowed her head.

A loud clack from her snapping her hoof-tipped fingers filled the chamber. The door at the far end of the chamber opened and two familiar soldiers, Torvin and Olivinder, stepped into the room dragging a small rabbit behind them. A knotted rope tied around his neck, barely loose enough to keep from strangling him. His clothes were ripped and torn, his face and body were beaten and tortured to the point of his staggered steps. His hands were bound in front of him, the rope tight enough to cut off circulation. His voice was nothing more than a pleading sobs lost in exhaustion. The closer he got to the group, the more they parted to give the three of them room to pass. Gideon heard the bard fox inhale sharply between his teeth at the sight of the rabbit's bloodied face. Even with it being bruised and swollen, Nicholas recognized his friend, the one that helped him get the stone in the first place.

The king also recognized the rabbit on the lead and growled. "Peter! What is the meaning of this, Bellwether? What have you done to my nephew?" By the look on his face, he'd never been made aware of the severe beating that was ordered to be given to the young rabbit.

"Peter." Gideon heard a surprised noise catch in Nicholas' throat, this realization took him by surprise.

"Your adopted nephew," Bellwether made sure she emphasized 'adopted' sharply enough to cause the king to bear his teeth. "has developed an interesting past time-"

"No, Uncle! Don't listen to her, she's a liar." The rabbit urged. He fought against the rope around his neck. His soft voice muffled by his swollen bottom lip. There was a panic setting in his eyes when he turned to look at Nicholas. Gideon felt the other fox grip his bicep hard enough to hurt the muscle.

"What are you talking about? I will not ask again," The king raised his hand as if he were going to strike the sheep.

"Your nephew has developed quite the habit for Moon Juice, which our dear Nicholas Wilde supplies for him on frequent occasions," Bellwether ran her fingers along the polished wooden arm of the throne, getting closer to the king.

"And?" Lionheart's eyebrows furrowed tighter, his patience running thin.

"Why don't you tell him, Peter!" Bellwether demanded.

"I...I was the one who got the key for him, Uncle. The bard addicted me to this vice, to use me for his own gain. I'm so sorry, goddess knows I need help." Tears welled in the rabbit's eyes, his shoulder hitching from his tears.

The king slowly descended the stairs to join the rabbit. The fluttering of his eyelids made it seem as if he were having trouble processing everything the rabbit, his nephew, told him. Lionheart's caressed his massive hand along the rabbit's cheek affectionately. The rabbit respectfully kissed the large ruby ring on his uncle's finger. Tears came harder now, the sight forced the king's eyebrows to arch down in sadness.

"Peter, we all fall victim to charlatans from time to time. It is their nature to deceive even those pure of heart and ever purer of intent. I will help you..." The king stepped away, sparing a glance up at the cougar. "Torvin, please help my...nephew."

The cougar hesitated for only a second, he drew his sword. The sound of the blade singing from its sheath hadn't even had a chance to stop its song before the blade plunged deeply into the rabbit's back and out the front. A shower of blood spilled from the wound onto the red carpet below. Gideon noticed it was the exact same color, only darker from being wet. That was the last thing he remembered before vomiting his stew onto the polished tile floor.

The king, who hadn't even bothered to watch, ascended the stairs. Captain Hopps lurched forward, her hand found her hilt with ease. The blade, singing its war cry, as she loosed it from its home. Buja rested her hand on the bunny's shoulder keeping her from doing anything rash.

Nicholas pushed past the startled Olivinder catching the small rabbit before he hit the floor. Nicholas cradled the rabbit in his arms as they sunk to the floor. Their eyes met in a sad conversation. Even through tear filled eyes, the baker fox could see the emotion in the Bard's face. It was the first time he'd seen any trace of it. There was something beneath his snarky exterior, after all.

"Peter, no! Come on, buddy. Talk to me." Nicholas wiped away a line of blood dripping from the corner of the rabbit's lips.

"We, we had some good times...didn't we, Nicholas?" A smile came to the rabbit's face. There was something beautiful and innocent in the smile that pained Gideon. As it faded the rabbit's shuddering voice whispered. "Nick, are you...you still there. I can't see you...don't leave me?"

When the rabbit's voice stopped, his chest rose one final time and didn't raise again. Nicholas let his body settle to the floor before getting to his feet. He stared daggers into the King. The lines had been drawn in the sand, it was now time to see who would be the first to step over them.