We The Kings: Book Two

Chapter 36

I excused myself to find Charles. His father was cruel, his words broke his poor son.

I found Charles on the steps of the farthest tower. He was sitting up there alone. He was crying and breathing heavily. He sobbed onto his lap.

"Charles, it's alright." I dropped to the ground by him.

"He killed him! He killed him! He killed the baker's boy. He killed the boy he caught me with! He beat him and burned him to death!" He shouted through the tears.

"We don't know that. He said he was attacked by other villagers."

"No, he wasn't. My father did it. I just know it. That poor boy died because of me! Because I liked him!"

"Hey, he liked you too. There's no shame in that. He was grown, he made his choice to be with you too."

"He didn't know what he was getting into. He didn't know how horrible my father was. He was innocent!" Charles shouted as thick tears streamed down his puffy face.

"I can't see him. I don't want to see him ever again. I want to kill him. I want to kill him so bad right now." Charles sobbed.

"I'm sorry to have you sit through that and see him. You don't have to see him. You'll always have a home here as long as Mavis and I are alive." I touched his shoulder.

His father's crudeness showed no bounds. His son was high maintenance, but not cruel. Charles had never been cruel. He did not deserve an ounce of hatred his father had given him.

I sat with Charles for a while as he continued to cry and shout. He eventually ran out of tears. His face was as red as a tomato. His eyes were blood shot. His sleeves were wet from his tears.

"I'm sure they're all gone now. I can go and check."

"I'll go down with you. I want to go to bed." He said with a sniffle.

We made it down to the main floor together. Mavis was showing the final nobleman out to his carriage. Once she was done, she turned to us.

"Are they all gone?" I asked her.

"Yes, and thank you both for abandoning me in there."

"You said you would handle them." I reminded her.

"Yes, most of them. Sir Barke has really changed. Whatever you did Charles, it must have made him really upset." Mavis said.

"What I did?" Charles said.

"Perhaps you should apologize. I really need him on our side. The noblemen were agreeing with me until he showed up. His support is going to be vital to our success here."

Charles balled up his fists.

"I am NEVER going to apologize to that son of a BITCH." Charles raised his voice. He stormed off to his room.

"Oh my gods, what is wrong with him?" Mavis asked, crossing her arms.

"Just let him be." I said.

"Charles messed up his relationship with his father, which we need his support. Charles should fix it."

I knew Mavis did not know the severity of what had happened. She assumed it was Charles being his peacock self, but it was much more than that. Charles didn't want her to know, and. I couldn't break his trust by telling her.

"Mavis, listen. Charles is not going to apologize, nor should he. We need to find a way to move forward without his support. We need to speak to the other nobleman, or the people. But not him."

Orion came from the hall of the dining room.

"That man really came for you, didn't he?" Orion had said.

"Sir Barke had always been polite to me. He was good friends with my father when I was growing up. Charles must have upset him."

"Charles did nothing. End of story." I snapped.

"How do we move forward then?" Mavis asked.

"I think your best bet is going right to your people. If they respond well, the noblemen might too. If they are as scared as they say, being reassured from their queen is a great start." Orion said.

"When shall I go?" Mavis asked.

"The sooner the better." Orion said.

"Alright. We're visiting town tomorrow. Goodnight, gentleman. I'm going to visit my daughter." She left us alone.

I took a deep breath in.

"Stressful evening, huh?" Orion said.

"Tell me about it. Your eye is looking a lot better." I told him.

"Yeah, that healer Johnny brought in put some stuff on it earlier today. It really helped. I'm glad to have them on our side." Orion said.

"You heading to bed?" He asked me.

"My wife seems a little upset with me, perhaps my chambers aren't the best place to be right now."

"Alright. Well, you could always come to my room."

My heart jumped at his offer.

"Uh. That's very kind of you, but perhaps I should go to my chambers after all. Have to be up and early." I said, stretching my arms.

"Alright, well. I'm sure the storm will blow over fast. Goodnight, Zander." Orion left to go to his room.

Gods, I wished my heart would stop acting up. Again.