A Change In The Horizon || The Lost One AU

20. Meanwhile...

Xelqua and Miesall were not the only ones awake that night. Though not anywhere near as heartwarming of an interaction, there were two others that were up late at night on the other side of the village, in a grandiose building that was usually uninhabited. It stood, waiting for a day like today, when the king of the Listeners might just come.

"What are you plotting, your majesty?" Allec nearly spat. He crossed his arms as he leaned against the door, his eyes narrowed.

"Plotting?" The king asked, turning from the table he had been leaning over, a book spread open upon it. His hair was now shortened, and his clothes were nothing but his trousers. His bare chest was covered by his white bandages, which kept his power to a manageable level. He gave a smile, that almost like a child. "Why do you think I'm plotting something?" He asked innocently.

"What do you mean you're not plotting anything?" Allec asked in annoyance, moving over to his king, his eyes sharp and dangerous. "They're Watchers. And you're protecting them."

"I never said I wasn't plotting anything." The king shrugged, keeping his playful demeanor as he chuckled to himself, a large smile on his lips.

"Answer me." The listener hissed, not appealed to the act.

Now the king grew to be serious as he should be. His back straightened as he turned to look his subject in the eye. His bandages unraveled slightly at this new stance, allowing him to grow a few inches larger. "I am not asking you to protect them. I am asking that you do not harm them. If we try to harm them, we could trigger a war, and we are not ready for that."

Despite the king towering over him, the army general was not intimidated. "Sure we are! I've spent my entire career ensuring that we are!" He corrected. What kind of general was he that he had fought no wars? The decorations littered on his uniform were all for nothing then. Participation trophies at best. Then, in a low growl he added, "They would do it to us if they had the numbers. You know they would. Do not show these monsters mercy."

"Enough!" The king thundered, casting his hand out for emphasis as thin, green spikes shot out at Allec. They narrowly missed him, with exception to one that grazed a part of his exposed cheek. His eyes held a sort of flashing rage, as his patience had worn more than thin. "I am your king, and you will do as I say. Do I make myself clear?"

Most people would have been intimidated by this, but Allec was not one of these people. He took a step back before readying his stance. "You have forgotten your people." He seethed. "Who do you think you are, ordering me around? We are a people of freedom— if you abuse your power, we become the same as them."

"I am your king." He reminded darkly. "I grant you freedom to do as you wish, but I have done so as your king. It is rare that I give you an order, so when I do, I expect you to obey. You have served me for many years; in that amount of time how many orders have I given you?" He forced his servant to kneel in front of him, though he refused to bow his head.

"Three, my liege." He replied, anger burning his eyes. His mask hid his frown, though his eyes alone spoke for that.

"Then you will make this the fourth." The king ordered, gripping the creature's shoulder even tighter than he already was. "Do I make myself clear?"

Allec finally bowed his head in submission, beginning to tremble as he recognized the power his ruler had over him. "Yes my king..." he sighed.

The king stood up now, smiling an innocent smile as his aura changed immediately. "Perfect!" She exclaimed, her voice now a few octaves higher as she clapped her hands together. Her hair grew to be waist length. "Now I can trust you to oversee this. I have things I have to do so toodles!" Before Allec could react, the king had already runoff, heading out of the village.