Hiding Royalty

9

Liam looked at both the girls who were fixed on him with uncertainty shining in their eyes. He had just showed them the beast that was using him. He had just revealed the one secret he kept sacred. He sighed as he was trying to gather his thoughts.

"Look. I know I should've told you two sooner, but I didn't want to worry you," Liam explained looking Emma in the eyes.

"How long have you had that thing inside you?" Emma spat the question at him with tears filling her eyes.

"Ever since I got out of the Knight Guard, so about three years," Liam confessed lowering his head as his gaze shifted to the ground.

"You had that THING in you for that long, and you never told me?" Emma narrowed her gaze at Liam.

Liam didn't say anything, just continued to stare at the ground, and this made Emma even more livid.

"I jus-"

Before Liam could finish his sentence Emma pulled back her hand and slapped Liam, hard, across the face. He looked at her and she slapped him again, he just took the beating. Emma reared back for another slap across the face but Lyra grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"Don't you think you're taking things too far?" Lyra asked looking at Emma then at Liam.

"Me?! I am not the one who hid secrets from their best friend," Emma replied, glaring at Lyra.

"True, but think about it. He held that thing back for a long time, just so he wouldn't worry you," Lyra tried to think of a good reason to defend him.

"I don't care, and why are you defending him, Princess?" Emma asked, staring deeply at Lyra.

Lyra thought about the question as she returned her gaze to Liam, who had yet to move one step and still looking down.

"I just think that he has been battling that thing day after day for three years. It must have been rough, and I admire him that he held that thing at bay," Lyra explained, looking at Emma with a smirk.

"I haven't been keeping it at bay, I am just trying to prolong its arrival when it wants to come out. It is not a good thing Lyra, and I didn't want you to look at me like a freak either Emma. It hasn't been three years since it came out, it was the other night when we stayed at the tavern in the last town. It takes over no matter how much I try to fight it, the Yamach always takes over!" Liam explained as he moved past the girls and continued on their way.

"Wait-"

"Let us get to town before it gets too hot," Liam said, cutting Emma off.

The trio eventually found a town, and rented out rooms at the local tavern. Liam immediately went into his room and feel asleep. Lyra and Emma sat at a far table on the second floor looking around at the other patrons to the tavern, they all seemed to be in conversation or drinking alcohol. There was one that caught Lyra's eye and that was a strange man in red, she shook her head as she turned her attention to Emma.

"How are we going to help get rid of that thing?" Emma wondered, glancing at Liam.

"I don't know, I wish we had a wizard or mage to help us understand it," Lyra said sighing deeply, "What was the thing Liam was, he said it had a specific name?"

"Yamach, I believe. It sounds familiar but I can't place my finger on why it sounds familiar," Emma said, crossing her arms in deep thought.

"Excuse me, I couldn't help but overhear what you just said, I think I can help," a strange man in red priest robes wearing a hood, as he removed his hood exposing his bald head and wrinkly face. His brown eyes bore into the girls as he stroked long beard.