The King's Court

XXXIII

The farthest I've been South was Sacramento. I've also been to Lockswood but I can't remember the trip since I was shot unconscious when that happened. 

And now, we're off to Solaris. 

The Kingdom was planning on waging war against Visaris and Nolaris. The strongest Kingdom in Roatia and also the biggest. Coincidentally, it is currently being ruled by a Queen named Lorence. The same name as my dead sister. 

As we went through the grueling trip under the scorching heat of the sun, I couldn't help but wonder if the Queen Lorence looked similar to my sister. I never got the chance to ask Nikolas and Leon about it since I didn't have any pictures of Lorence. 

However, base na rin sa kwento nina Mark at Arleigh sa akin, the other Evelyn was frantic when she realized my sister's name. I don't know if she saw what my sister looked like and she freaked out because they looked similar to the Queen. Or perhaps she freaked out because they have the same name. Malalaman ko rin kapag nakarating na kami sa Solaris. 

Before we left Sacramento, Leon and Nikolas interrogated the member of the bandit that they took for questioning. Turns out, someone from the palace indeed told them of the King's trip to Solaris and gave them some tips to ambush them. Hindi ko maisip kung sino. The only people who knew about this trip were Roylan, Arleigh, Eris, and that member of the council named Orville. But Orville was locked in a dungeon too. Even as he was new and had nothing to do with the Council's crimes, he was locked up. He was still a suspect until proven innocent. He could be the one who staged the death of Council Myer so he could take up his position. 

Orville was cooperative and agreed to be locked up until we arrived. 

With regards to this trip, we have paraded over the town center and perhaps the people have gotten the idea and had us followed until they found an opportunity to use the bandits instead. They hated Nikolas and recently, I've gained a number of haters attempting to assassinate me in broad daylight. Maraming posibilidad kaya naman hindi namin matukoy kung ano talaga ang nangyayari. 

On top of that, we have other more important matters to deal with and that is building the truce with the Queen of Solaris. Nikolas had sent a coded letter to the palace addressed to Eris who had already settled in the Kingdom, watching over the matters of the palace while the King is away. Once Eris receives the letter, he will know what to do. At least, that's what Nikolas told me to assure me of my worries. 

We've been riding the horses for hours now. I was used to it, somehow. At least, I was wearing something comfortable. 

Nikolas rode ahead together with Louis. Mark followed closely behind while Leon and I stayed back. 

"Tired already?" he said and I looked at him. He was looking ahead. 

"We just rested hours ago. I'm not tired. I'm thinking." 

Tumaas ang kilay niya at tumingin sa akin. "Interesting. Pray tell what is the esteemed Lady Evelyn thinking about." 

"I was thinking how you and Evelyn used each other for your own means," sagot ko naman at humagalpak naman siya ng tawa. Hindi niya yata inaasahan ang tanong na 'yon. 

That was not what I was thinking about, of course. I just needed to tell him off to stop bothering me.

"You worked as a double spy before," I started.

He nodded and rubbed the neck of his horse. "Quite tiresome, I must say." 

"What was Solaris like?" 

Bumalik ang tingin niya sa harap. Akala ko ay hindi niya narinig ang tanong. Or perhaps he heard it but chose not to answer. Hahayaan ko na sana nang bigla siyang nagsalita.