FATE #3 *(A ROSE IN BLOOM)*

AFFAIRS IN THE WEST*

GENERAL POV

Out in the woods racing to the king's destination, Pearl began coughing, and she complained of getting weaker. "I don't know, I'm feeling lighter as if there's something inside of me, sucking me dry!" she revealed, her confession got Gary and Sandra looking over at each other, and they beat their horses to make haste.

Pearl was getting scared when Matrona sent her some motivational words they both knew. She forced a smile and planned to hang in there. It's been three hours and they hadn't reached yet.

The sun was on its max ready to bolt from the east across the sky, she observed its dimness was universal in their world, and she watched the two enemies sharing ideas on how to get there in time.

Sandra informed, she could get her there in a jiffy but vampire sorcery can never be employed on a battlefield, it will breed trouble for their kingdom if their opponent gets a sense of it.

Back in the Valloany camp, Nathan, Lloyd, and Dubey together with the generals were observing the flag flying high from Yezskhetc's camp. Nathan was so sure they'll wage war before night falls,

He was aware of the fact that the realm leaders will pick on his least mistake, they pleaded he gives Lotam's people their freedom but he refused and for fifteen years they've been slaving for Valloany's benefit.

Due to this, they restricted the kingdom from partaking in several meetings for a decade and have since been on the lookout for any action that goes against the treaty they were made to sign.

" Dubey and Lloyd! come with me, we are going over!" he commanded before they mounted their horses and departed with Lloyd hoisting a white flag all the way.

The King of Yezskhetc and his generals proceeded to meet them Midway, the two kings came to an abrupt halt once they stood face to face.

" thought you wouldn't make appearance, I've been waiting for you, Nathan!" Xexem, king of Yezskhetc uttered with a smirk which put off Nathan, he furrowed his brows.

" I had no idea you were so playful!, Or you lost your balls and, you're trying to find them!" His sarcasm got Dubey and Lloyd laughing..

"Shut up!" Xexem voiced, " I'm being merciful here, Nathan! Give back our land and its people to us then all this will end here, Kutar wasn't and is never part of Lotam, if you were so blind to have not seen the frontier that separated them, Nathan!"

He fumed and looked sternly at Nathan who was as calm as ever just staring at him.

" Oh are you done? Thought you had more gibberish to spew!, You know what , you are actually unreasonable as a king, those leaders claim they've got your back, yet none of them followed you here to face me !" Nathan uttered to his ignorance getting him to flinch a little.

" Don't confuse my silence for my weakness, Xexem! because I've got none! No one and nothing scares me , if you're courageous enough stop these tricks and make a wager and this time, it won't pertain to Kutar, but Yezskhetc! I'll merge a hundred fold and there's nothing any of them can do about it!" He ended whereas Xexem giggled sarcastically.

" You are just so full of yourself, aren't you huh!, well I know that you know if you go ahead to do that, the world leaders will come after you, you will incur their wrath upon your people, Valloany will become an outcast ,the enemy, rogues and reproach to all kingdoms !" he burst into laughter as he ridiculed .

whereas the two vampires ( Dubey and Lloyd) clenched their jaws with rage, Nathan laughed sending confusion to them all!

" won't that be thrilling huh? to hold a jurisdiction over three kingdoms out of seven and I'm confident your buddy, Arnold will come and show off in the name of avenging your death, then I'll make sure to grab that opportunity and snatch his kingdom too Xexem! Guess where that leads me and my people? which kingdoms and people will become out casts now? I'm sure you are not that daft, be decisive before I leave with my people!" Nathan deciphered to the distaste of Xexem ! he cussed out at him before seeing them leave his presence.

" what shall we do now your majesty?" one of his generals inquired to which he answered saying,

" he cannot scare us, I'll make sure to separate his head off his filthy body, and just what he does not know, Arnold and his men are on their way, I'm not stupid like Lotam, we will defeat them and claim everything that makes Valloany, we go by the plan tonight!, long live Yezskhetc!"

they all hailed after him.

" don't trust in yourself that much Nathan !, mere assumptions are not reflections of reality, think about the people too !" Dubey reached out when Lloyd scoffed knowing he's the least to talk about the kingdom, Lloyd has long suspected he's got his eyes on the throne.

"whatever happens to my kingdom is my own business, moreover, I don't boast of what I cannot do, Dubey! and that's one advantage I have over you, whatever I said there , I meant them and my people do trust me, too bad you don't see that in yourself!" Nathan retorted,

" you watch your mouth, Nathan! Your advantage was being the king's son, and selfish all the time, nothing else!" Nathan took a turn to face him after his statement and said,

" you feel unfairly treated huh? I've always known about your interest in my throne, but guess what? It will never be yours and you know it, however you can continue dreaming!" he turned and headed on whiles Lloyd smiled chasing after him.

Nathan started to believe he may have tried to covert Sofia back then. Upon reaching their camp, Nathan could see Sandra and the rest afar off, he struggled to make out the ashen knight tagging along. Everyone shot their gaze towards them. Dusk had fallen almost completely.

Pearl took time studying their battlefield , the smell of desert sand and the luxurious cottages erected there, the murmurs among the knights brought her consciousness back. Sandra and Gary took a shield in front of her against the knights, thinking she might feel uncomfortable.

Nathan snatched his helmet and sped pass them towards Pearl who stood calmly on Flamingo, watching as he approached. "Pearl!" Nathan whispered as she slowly darted her eyes to meet his.

He swiftly hopped behind her and hesitantly wrapped his right arm around her , he gently placed the helmet on her whiles Sandra and Gary gave way as he kicked Flamingo towards his cottage.

" Who is that , Why can't I make out her scent?" Dubey questioned trying to have a close look at Matrona too.

"Mind your business, will you !" Sandra retorted and made sure he never got to see her. Nathan flew off the horse with Pearl in his arms and entered.