Chapter 22: Chapter 22
KING MALIK
Throne room, Kingdom of Howard
"What do you mean he got away?"
"We were not able to keep up with him, Your Grace." Vergil, the strongest amongst the Royal Guards, reported.
"You were not able to keep up with him?" King Malik roared. "How many were in pursuit? You had dozens at your disposal, Vergil. Yet you could not pin down Colter?"
Vergil bowed his head in regret. "I am so sorry, Your Highness. He was powerful enough to counter the guards. No one could best him in combat."
The King agreed on how Colter was powerful. Despite his son being a nuisance, Colter was an essential piece in the Kingdom's ranks. He was the most powerful amongst the Fotiá-Ecanus. It was such a shame that the King was not able to keep him in line.
"Then what of you, Vergil? You are more than capable enough to match Colter in such situations." King Malik asked the knight.
"I did all that I could, but Colter was cunning enough to evade me and the others." Vergil answered. He hoped the King would not notice the lie in those words. Of course he held back. There was no way he would unleash his powers' might on his dear friend. Vergil just hoped that he had made the right decision.
"Do you realize the implication of letting him get away?" He asked Vergil. "It could cause this entire Kingdom's fate!"
"I deeply apologize, Your Highness." Vergil said. "He could not have gotten that far since he's on foot and partially wounded."
"Then what are you fools standing here for? Go search for him!" King Malik bellowed. "Use every man at your disposal. Search every house, every stable, and every inch of the forest. Leave no area unturned. Do not stop until you find him!"
"As you wish," Vergil bowed to the King and left the throne room together with the other two guards.
King Malik still could not believe that his upstart of a son managed to escape the Royal Guards, a feat greater than an average prince. He was torn between bewilderment and rage. No one dares cross the King. Colter technically chose to run away rather than face the consequences of his actions.
He wonders though, what information Colter had gathered from the Lost Ecanus. It troubled him how Colter had become persistent in finding all information related to the portal and the world of humans.
"Malik, what have you done to Colter?"
The King turned around and found Queen Regina approaching him hastily.
"Where's my son?" Queen Regina asked.
"I have not got a clue." The King replied.
"You have been harsh on Colter ever since he was a little boy!" The Queen yelled. "This is all your fault, Malik! All you have shown Colter was loathing and heartlessness. Your acts have driven him away from this family. Have you ever wondered why Colter never listens to you? It's because you have not given him an ounce of affection. You have never been a father to him at all. I don't understand how you can be so cruel to your child."
King Malik was surprised at her sudden outburst. Regina rarely had breakdowns such as this, so it was unexpected.
"There are indeed things that you could not comprehend, Regina." Malik said quietly.
"If so, then why don't you enlighten me?" Regina said.
"It's best that you don't meddle with the affairs of the Kingdom."
"I think that if it involves my sons then I have a say in the matter." The Queen said.
Malik gave The Queen a sharp look. "Regina, I have no time for your dramatics. My word is final. Leave it alone."
Queen Regina had silent tears streaming down her face. "If that's how you want it to be, then so be it. But keep in mind that I am not in favor of you laying down your power as King to Colter. Malik, remember that he's also your son. Above and before all else, you should be there to guide him, not push him further away from you."
The King ignored the Queen's remark and left her in the throne room, blubbering and wondering where her son could be.
Where indeed could Colter be?
---
Gian
Hallways, Kingdom of Howard
"You heard the King's orders. Keep an eye out for the prince. He could be anywhere. Comb the forests if you must. All hands on deck for this."
"Yes, Sir Vergil."
"Very well, tell the others and you may go." Vergil dismissed the guards.
Once Vergil was alone, Gian stepped out of the alcove from where he was standing, intercepting a retreating Vergil.
"Were you really not able to keep up with Colter?"
Vergil slowly turned around and faced Gian. "Hello, Prince Gian."
"So, tell me. How true is it that someone of your caliber can be beaten by an inexperienced fighter like Colter?" Gian sneered.
The Royal Guard just smiled and said, "You must be underestimating your brother, Your Highness. Colter may be an amateur when it comes to fighting, whether it be a sword or hand-to-hand, but you must remember that an amateur may be more dangerous than a skilled warrior.
"Really," Gian smirked, his silver eyes glinting in the low light. "Do pray tell why you went easy on him?"
Vergil did not show any emotion on his face but his heart was pounding. If the King ever heard wind of his lie, then he was done for. "I am confident that I have done my best in the pursuit of your brother. It just so happened that he is a clever opponent."
Gian came close to Vergil and whispered. "I do hope you are telling the truth for your own sake. Because if I find out that you purposely let him escape, then you and I have to revisit this conversation."
Vergil stood up straight and said, "If you have no other concerns, Your Highness, then may I be excused for the time being? In case you have not heard, the King has ordered all men to go and search for your brother and that includes myself. Time should not be wasted."
The Royal Guard side-stepped Gian and walked away. Before he could take another step, Gian held his arm and said, "I'll be keeping an eye on you from now on, Vergil. One wrong move and you'll end up in the dungeons."
"I suggest you take your hand off of me, Your Highness. I am merely doing my duties as a Royal Guard. I act accordingly to the pledge I have sworn to uphold." Vergil said.
Gian released his grip on Vergil. He's one tough nut to crack. Gian never knew the amount of loyalty he had for Colter.
"Remember that I know everything. Even if I don't right now, I'll always find out."
Vergil did nothing to acknowledge what he said. The Royal Guard just gave a terse bow and left.
Before Gian could process his encounter with Vergil, he heard the Queen's anguished voice echoing from the Throne Room. He quietly walked towards the source and listened to what was transpiring inside.
"-- All you have shown Colter was loathing and heartlessness. Your acts have driven him away from this family. Have you ever wondered why Colter never listens to you? It's because you have not given him an ounce of affection. You have never been a father to him at all. I don't understand how you can be so cruel to your child."
Suffice to say, Gian had never heard his mother raise her voice in his entire life. Much less to the King.
The King's reply was barely audible that Gian had to move closer to the door. "There are indeed things that you could not comprehend, Regina."
"If so, then why don't you enlighten me?"
"It's best that you don't meddle with the affairs of the Kingdom."
"I think that if it involves my sons then I have a say in the matter."
Ever since they were kids, the Queen was always more forgiving than the King, more patient, more understanding. It was her who taught Gian how to read. Although they had private tutors to teach them, the Queen insisted that she do it herself. It was one of the things Gian liked about their mother.
What he didn't like was how she unknowingly favors Colter over him.
"-- Malik, remember that he's also your son. Above and before all else, you should be there to guide him, not push him further away from you." the Queen said.
Gian heard footsteps approaching, so he acted casually, as if he had not heard any of the conversation that transpired.
The doors to the Throne Room opened and King Malik stormed outside. Gian could not see the King's face but his shoulders were tense and he knew that the Queen's words affected him in some way.
"Father,"
The King stopped in his tracks. "I have no time for chats, Gian."
"Time and time again, Colter keeps proving himself unworthy of his talents." Gian said as he slowly stepped into the light. "Don't you think it is rather unfair for those Ecanus who are serving the Kingdom? That Colter be given the kind of responsibility of wielding such power? The way he evaded the best of the Royal Guards means that he is a danger not only to himself but also to the name of the Crown."
"So what are you trying to say?" The King snarled.
Gian licked his lips. "What I'm saying is that Colter is wreckless and unworthy of the talent he is given."
The King harrumphed and left without saying a word.
Gian watched the King leave thinking that the old fool was losing his touch as a strong leader. The King did not realize the threat that Colter posed to the Kingdom. Colter's uncontrolled power and irrationality would get the best of him. With a stunt like that, running away and opposing a direct order from the Royal Guards, his brother was crossing the line of being a traitor.
If he wanted to get in his father's good graces, Gian knew just what to appease the King: find Colter. And he had a strong feeling that he knew where Colter escaped to.
The forbidden portal.