CHAPTER TWENTY

The anger of a king, and love of a solider

Absalom seethed at the news delivered by his faithful messenger not because of the Princess' death but of word of the King's refusal of his proposed peace agreement. He couldn't care less about the bratty princess that from the beginning. In fact it was the only bit of peace he found in the entire news for he knew her father would be easy to sway.

Ox King never looked at him with nothing less than respect and trust. However, with word of the messenger he found he had been wrong. Ox King wanted to haggle with him the king of the strongest kingdom on the face of the earth. Didn't Ox King know that he was giving him a peace treaty as a gift? Now he was insulted as his courier returned with the scroll of agreement empty of the seal of the Ox King.

"Have you spoke with the council member after their meeting?" asked Absalom.

"Yes. He says the king has been distant and it is a matter of his daughter's death and that he could very well have the king sign the papers if he were to have more time. His daughter was the only child he had and naturally the king wouldn't be eager to sign any treaty. Give him one weeks' time he requests" informed the messenger. The messenger was knelt before Abalsom his eyes casted down at the marble black throne room floor.

Abaslom stood from his throne and in the heat of anger pulled the sword of his silent guard nearby from its sheaf. He hated when someone would ask him to wait. Who were they to ask? Wasn't he a lenient king? Didn't he always give ample time for any task to be completed? It was the worst thing for a man to spit in his face. "More time" he whispered his voice dripping with venom.

There was silence in the throne room only Absalom, Demetrius, messenger, and a few soldiers were in the large throne room. Absalom begun to pace before the kneeling solider trying to push away the troubling thoughts but the more he did the more they came. Did his messenger double cross him? Was he intercepted by the Ox King in hope of time to plot against him?

The sharp blade of the sword glistened in the rays of sun that poured in through the glass windows overhead. He needed to put his troubled thoughts to rest and the only way he felt he could lied in the kneeling guard. Was he truly as loyal as he had once been? No, he couldn't trust the past of a man for the future was always uncertain.

A war raged within him of what needed to be done. "Does the Ox King plan to come here to visit me? Does he wish to know how I have taken the news? Why didn't he come himself?"

"Sir he said that his daughters' passing has detained him" answered the guard.

"Lie!" shouted Abaslom in pure rage and everything in the room became black and he couldn't hold back the desire that racked his body. He lifted the sword above his head and swiftly he brought the sword down separating the messengers head from his body. Blood flowed from the messengers neck splattering against Absalom and also begun to spill out like a lake on the floor. "Get this traitor's body out of my sight. NOW!"

A few of the posted soldiers rushed over one picking up the head that rolled a few feet away from the body and another three the body. Absalom scowled at his soil clothes and the blood that now puddled before him. "Send in the servants to clean this mess up! I want the body of the princess delivered here as proof of her death, and if it can't be supplied I want the head of the King. Do you understand me Demetrius? Or else it shall be yours in his stead!"

Absalom was completely out of his mind, but Demetrius was certain that Absalom wasn't making empty threats rather promises. Chills lined his whole body in the venom filled voice of the king, he was completely fearful. He waited till the angry prince left the throne room and then turned to a nearby guard. "Send for Yoruichi right away."

He had always reserved the best for last. Yoruichi would be the best person to find the Ox army and bring it down and save his place at Absalom's side. Not only would his place be saved but he'd be rewarded, and Absalom wouldn't care for the body of dead princess. Who would when there was no kingdom to be claimed?

18 sat against the cold bars of the small prison she was confined too. It had been weeks, and still no sight of any of the Teriok soldiers coming to her rescue. When would they come? She was certain that they would be on prowl in search of her and 17. If not the army than her father would send out a party to find them and bring them home.

She was slowly giving up on that idea with the cold night air nipping at her. She rubbed her arms continuously in hopes of warming herself. "Are you cold?" She glanced over her shoulder to see Krillen standing with a thick covering cloth in hand. She couldn't understand a word he was saying but she knew as he extended the cloth he had come to her rescue.

Nimbly she took the thick cloth and pulled it over her shoulders and turned around to him. She wanted to smile but she fought herself against the notion. He sat down next to the prison cell as he done a few nights before. "I sure do wish you could understand me…but maybe I don't."

Blink. Blink. She didn't understand this man at all: who would waste their time speaking to someone that couldn't understand one word they were saying? Yet there he sat before her a smile on his face all the while and something unknown glistening in his onyx orbs.

"You're very beautiful…I'm certain you wouldn't even spend a second with me given we met any other way. I've been talking with David a couple days now and he is thinking about freeing you, well not freeing you. He's thinking about allowing me to watch you and make sure that you don't go running off. I think it's a better upgrade then this small cell of yours."

He stared blankly at her for a few minutes; he was growing frustrated with this predicament. Why couldn't she just speak the same language? Better yet, why didn't she at least try to speak to him? Maybe she was bothered by his presence because she never said anything to him. She only looked, eat, and then looked some more.

He stood up a frown on his face, he needed to leave her be for a while. Maybe he was throwing himself on her a bit too much. After all she just recently lost her brother, and here he was a part of the people that killed him and trying to force himself on her. Not to mention he had lost his fiancé only five months ago, and by the hands of her people. He was absolutely crazy. He turned to walk away, sulking. Maybe Goku would have time for him now? Maybe he'd give him an open ear? And they could both fester in their pain.

"Krillen" Had she just call his name? Why was his heart pounding so fast? He wished he could quiet his heart, for he feared she'd hear it. "Krillen" again he heard, he couldn't deny it this time.

He turned around slowly, and there she sat with her hands gripping the bars of her cell and her face pressed against it. She was completely beautiful he had to admit, her hair swayed with the current of the wind across her face. Her eyes looked up at him with the hint of care he had been dying to see.

Words were unspoken but he felt like an invisible string pulled him back to her. He walked back to her his onyx orbs locked with her icy blue, and slowly took a seat before her. Why did it feel like all his breath had been stolen as he sat there? He placed his hands on top of hers' and heat like a wild fire spread through every limb of his body.

He caught his gaze drifting to the fullness of her pale lips, they were inviting. He glanced back to her eyes trying desperately to fight the desire that was bubbling inside of him. He had recently lost Maron, and here he was wishing to kiss another woman who may have very well been a part of her death. He closed his eyes trying to convince himself of all the reasons he should walk away from her stern gaze and inviting lips.

Maron, she had been murdered…my brother, sister, friends, all of them gone. She couldn't possible been the cause of all of them, but she was a part of the army. She was the reas…

Soft, moist lips had pressed against his closing the dangerously small space between them and all his thoughts were invaded. She had kissed him; her mouth sweet and welcoming. She delved into the gap of his lips, and he had no desire to stop her sweet taste from invading. He kissed her back with all he could, and what little space the bars would allow till she pulled back. Krillen sat eyes hooded, lips purged, gasping for air, completely in shock. She wore a smirk on her lips, and he was certain any battle he'd have with her would certainly be lost.

"Krillen" she whispered, but he heard a symphony well enough for the king to hear.