Garthia: The Forgotten King

Chapter Eight

~Chapter Eight

I didn't take that long to get to the castle. All we had to do was walk towards the center of the city. Besides, it's really not that hard to miss.

I crane my neck to see the top of the towers. They're a lot higher closer up. We are standing outside a large gate of intricately designed black metal. Standing post are a good number of guards, watching our every move.

"Well, here we are." Eve announces. She's staring at the castle with an unreadable expression. But there is something on her face that I can read. She's biting her lip. She always does that when she's upset or angry. Another give-away is that she won't look at me or Cam. She must be pretty pissed.

Without hesitating, she walks up and pushes the gate open. The guards don't even flinch. They just keep watching. When Cam and I start to walk through, they attempt to stop us, but Eve explains that we're with her and they let us through.

We keep going down the walkway right up to the grand entrance where even more guards are stationed. Eve pushes the doors open and continues through, almost slamming them in my face.

In the lobby, there are two sets of stairs on both sides that lead up to a landing with a few doors on the far wall. The one that stands out the most is the larger and beautifully carved door in the middle of the other two. The landing circles around the east and west of the room where there are even more doors. On the ground floor, there is a round carpet that covers most of the floor and still more doors. Basically put, this place has a lot of doors.

Servants are milling around, rushing around and in and out of rooms like ants. One of the maids takes notice of us and drops the plate of food that she was carrying. "Lady Eveline!" she cries. Everyone comes to a standstill and turn their eyes on us.

"Where is he?" Eve demands, her voice unwavering. That's Eve for you. Keeping her cool even if everyone's eyes are on her.

One of the servents, a young boy, speaks up. "He's in the throne room, Your Majesty." Your Majesty. What is going on here?

Eve nods in the boy's direction and then marches up the stairs, knocking a few servants out of the way in the process. Again, Cam and I are left in the dusk. Up we go, stumbling up the stairs after her.

Before she can open the middle door that supposedly leads to the throne room, I grab her arm and pull her back.

"Let go of me!" she protests.

"Not until you tell me what's going on."

She meets my eyes for the first time since we left the alley. "You'll find out soon enough. He'll explain everything." She yanks my hand away and pushes through the door. Cam walks up beside me.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"I haven't got a clue, but we'll find out." I push open the door.

The throne room walls are lined with beautiful tapestries and paintings, each depicting something different: a war, the crowning of a new king, the birth of a child into the royal family, etcetera. Windows that reach from the floor to the ceiling let in the warm sunlight, making everything in the room shine radiantly. There is a narrow carpet that starts from the door we entered to the throne where the king of Garthia sits, smiling kindly.

Salem, excuse me, King Salem looks like he did the first time I saw him, except this time, I can see all of him. He is wearing flowing robes of white and silver, his golden hair cascading onto his shoulders. He still has that eleven king look, but in person he looks more like-oh my gosh. I'm such and idiot. I can't believe I didn't see it before.

The king stands from his throne and opens his arms. "Welcome." He stares down at us from his platform. "So glad you could make it." His eyes fall on Eve. "Especially you."

I rush up to Eve and Cam follows. "I get it now." I whisper to her.

"Took you long enough." she whispers back, then she walks up to the king. "Good to see you too. Although it hasn't been that long, Dad."