A KINGDOM OF DEAD HEARTS [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 27: THE KING'S THREAT

Xander stiffened as his mind hurtled back to the past, but he regained some composure and decided to ignore his brother-king taunt. He exhaled and spoke in a more calm manner, "And Nydda. She is ... different. I cannot put my finger on it, but my premonition is bad. What has happened to her while I was away? She has not wanted to see me since I return here."

"Nydda is like family to us, Xander! How dare you say such things about her! You have turned against people who love you!" Rovan thundered as his fist hit the armrest of his throne.

Xander, startled by the intense reaction from his brother, stayed quiet. "Forgive me ... Your Majesty. You are right. Nydda is like family."

The air in the room grew heavier, darker. The brothers stared at each other like two galaxies that were about to clash. They were quiet for a bit, and Xander finally asked,"Is that all, Your Majesty? May I take my leave?"

Rovan watched Xander's expression for a while, and he smirked. "One more thing. I heard that there are at least twenty wounded Myrana soldiers who are now hiding in a village right outside the city's wall. Have you hunted them all?"

"Your Majesty, I have investigated about them. They were left to die there by their comrades when they ended the siege and went back to Myrana. They were dead weight for them. They were too weak to move, too weak to speak, some have lost eyes, tongues, some have lost limbs and arms. They will die soon enough without us doing anything."

King Rovan chuckled condescendingly."Is that our Lord Xander, the commander of the palatial guards, the most feared warrior battalion of this whole kingdom, Lord Xander the fearsome assassin of Halgard, speaking? Have you grown soft after your time at that other universe?"

"Your Majesty ..."

"Hunt and kill them all with your sword, Xander. And execute the villagers who dare to help them. Make them an example for others who want to help the enemies. That is your order."

"Your Majesty, they are injured! Half-dead! I have posted guards to watch them, to make sure they do not do anything suspicious! They do nothing but writhing in pain on the ground! Those villagers were just giving them some blankets and water to ease their suffering before they die!"

"You have your order, Xander. You are the assassin of Halgard, feared by the mortal enemies, prized by the gods, you had no problem executing many people with your own hands, or burning down an entire village to find some enemy spies in the past. Why do you hesitate now? Will you carry out your order, the order from your king?"

Xander sighed, threw his gaze away from his brother as his expression turned from anger to desolate – memories of the past flooded him and he failed to withstand the pain. Without a word, he turned around and walked away.

"Airin needs to watch her back, by the way. If I do not like her and her teaching, if she steps too far, I may do ... something ... to correct her," an ominous threat, followed by a cackle, from the throne. "She is special to you, I can see that. Now, do your duties properly. Or ... well, her safety is at stake."

Xander stopped dead on his track and turned quickly to face his brother-king again. "Don't you dare, Rovan, don't you dare trying to hurt her!"

Rovan froze, his arms shook, and his lips pressed in an obvious effort to suppress rage, but that did not last long, because in a couple seconds after, the lips relaxed into a thin smile. He twisted his thumbs, looked straight at Xander, and spoke in a slow, sure, tone, "Well, I can do whatever I want. I am the king. You are not. Remember that. Always remember that."

Xander stood for a moment, his face hardened as he stared at his brother, his commander, his king, with anger in his eyes. And fear, the kind that he had never known before, the kind of fear that made his heart rattle and his breath heavy, descended upon the formidable warrior.