Taste of ecstasy

Chapter 8

(Continuation of flashback)

"I was here with his majesty" Raphael shrugging out his shoulder to make all the dirt to go away.

"Alec is here?" Lord carstairs enquired.

"Yes, I don't remember exactly how I got here though, I was following cravens then I heard his scream...and I ran towards it" Raphael said pointing his chin towards the boy who sounded not much young from his voice maybe 16,17 years old?, still younger than Raphael.

Lord herondale whistled to signal his people a message, "what you both are doing here? Anyway I mean Alicante is much more far from here and....who is he?" Raphael couldn't help but questioned both the lords.

Both of them looked at each other, they knew it is the time they need someone from outside to know everything, if anybody who can help them it is Raphael anybody who can keep this boy safe is then it is Raphael . "You need to come with us to Alicante rapha, and nobody has to know about him".

"Apologies dear lord but, you know I can't hide things from his majesty and I cant come with you just like that, I need to inform him" Raphael sternly said crossing his hands behind his back.

"No wonder Alec trusts you so much, (will chuckled adoringly) once you know everything you will understand why? Alright?" Lord herondale put his hands on Raphael's shoulder.

His mind and heart was dubious "let me at least inform him" Raphael about to snap his fingers to call Talon(his a red and green parrot kind bird who take message from me place to another) "Raphael you have to trust me on this, situation is so vulnerable right now, he might find out we aren't alone,...and we need you" jem pleaded.

"Who? Will find out and what?" Raphael was getting frustrated now, he is always ready to help anybody who asks but he always expect the other person whom he is helping to be completely honest with him.

Will and Jem glanced at each other restlessly. "Lord herondale....dear lord we need to leave...now they are coming" one of their soldier came shouting. Chiron (Raphael's horse) ran towards Raphael from where he left him maybe from mile away.

"We need to leave now, rapha we beg you, come with us" will once again requested Raphael.

The boy who is completely hooded looked lost and impatient he was kneading his hands. "Come dear let's get you somewhere safe" Jem urged that boy to get inside the carriage, Jem asked to leave Chiron here so nothing can sense anything changed while there journey. unwillingly, Raphael kissed chiron between his eyes and put his head on his and asked him to return to Idris, Chiron bid a farewell to his master and left.

They all headed towards Alicante, during their journey craven's attacked twice but they fought hard and reached their destination.

After some hours Tessa greeted Raphael and the boy lovingly. She is warm, compassionate and affectionate the boy seems pretty comfortable with her that will and Jem.

They all told Raphael everything about the boy and that they were taking the boy to Idris secretly. Raphael understood everything and when he knew who is behind all this and how cravens are ruling blood forest from half of the century.

Everything made sense to him he wanted to tell his king, his dear friend who trusts him blindly but he couldn't. Then he swore to protect that boy till his last breath like he took an oath to always stands with the king and people of idris.

Raphael had to take soul sword's trials before he begin for his new mission even when they were leaving Alicante to come to Idris he was in the court hall giving soul sword trial.

•(Present)•

"We came here 5 days ago, Ruelle helped in secrete transportation, she managed to get his majesty to speak words for her at the border" Raphael ended his story. Everyone was silent then,

"Meaning...Jem and will was behind your disappearance?" Robert asked angrily, he didn't believe his family can be this cruel to him.

"Your highness, the situation compelled them to keep it a secret..." Raphael pleaded.

"Who was that boy they wanted to protect with their life? I mean.. was it more important to them than sharing this information with their family here?" Jace said.

"No your highness, they couldn't even after all this I can't even share the actual truth.. I beg you all to trust me" Raphael looked at everyone and everyone nodded in approval including Simon.

Alec was standing in balcony processing Raphael's story. He had a strong guess who was that boy and who was his friend protecting all these years, but the real question is why it is so important to protect him? That his family in Alicante hid all of this from him from his mother-father.

"I will write to Tessa and demand answers..." the queen took the ink pot and blank scroll from her table. "Not now mother.." Alec stopped her.

"Raphael is here we all should celebrate.. he is fit and fine and now...(he glanced at Isabell) my sister is happy" Alec tried to change the atmosphere because he wanted to dig in all of this by himself not to involve his family because it doesn't just sounded a secret mission to him, it was much more. He knew Simon might smelled it already because he didn't uttered a word while Raphael talking and even now he was looking into a void.

Robert wasn't happy about Alec's decision of not to expect any answers from Jem and will but he somehow knew they wouldn't do such a thing if it is not mean something.

"Alright Children...let's have little get together tomorrow here in palace, valentine and Jocelyn are coming for their monthly visit, why not we celebrate a bit and now I have some announcements to make" the king cheerfully declared. Isabell clapped her hands hugged her father. She always loved getting togethers and now that Raphael is here her happiness will doubled.

It was a midnight the king couldn't close his eyes his mind wander around Raphael's story and they the boy. He was gazing at the moon in the sky which threw its light on him, his ocean blue eyes look more calm and silvery right now.

They his eyes dropped on the canvas which was right beside his bed hanged on a board stand, that painting didn't look like incomplete as Magnus claimed, instead it looked more beautiful. "Is it just my eye or the way you drew it?" Alec whispered. Alec understood how incomplete art tells a story.

He remembered those delicate hands holding a brush and moving it on this canvas. He now realised he has a thing for men wearing body accessories specially Magnus, Magnus wearing it. He then only thought about those pearls hanging over magnus's spine.

"I wish to see you again.. I am hoping"

The king drifted into sleep.