Green embers

chapters 46-50

Chapter 46

I must've slept for hours but I know the day hasn’t ended yet. I wonder if I’ve overslept for it’s the only reason I could think of for such a long dream. It can't have been anything but a dream. My father couldn't have died. That's just not possible. Even though I’m already awake, I don’t move, for there’s a person in my room, I don’t know who. Maybe a few minutes after I’ve made that discovery, someone knocked on the door.

''Come in.'' Cielo's voice said. He was sitting close by. The door opened and the sound of footsteps approached. I heard the movement of a chair being dragged and then a sigh. Cielo broke the silence.

''Can you now tell me what on earth happened, Conrad?'' Cielo said. I was glad he asked that question. Conrad sighed again. He seemed reluctant to answer.

''I mean, I thought York was attacking us when I heard that alarm, that there was a full infiltration but now the king's dead, Reif’s arrested, and I’m babysitting the prince here!''

''Would you keep your voice down?'' Conrad spoke. I felt numb. It wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare.

''Look, I have no idea about it either all right?'' Conrad said. ''All I know is that after I left the prince's chambers today, I saw Erwind. He gave me Reif’s things from his room and asked me to give them to the boy since he had errands to run so, I went to see him. The boy was ready to leave. He didn’t want to wait till night fall nor see Haru before leaving. He asked me to watch over the prince and Erwind and make sure they’re safe. I promised him of course and then he asked where Haru was. I said he was going to go see his father now that the ban’s lifted. He didn’t make much of it as far as I’m concerned then he asked me for a few private moments. Now I don’t know how he left the hospital unseen but I certainly know how he got to the king’s room. That stupid secret passageway isn’t so secretive after all.'' Conrad said through gritted teeth. It wasn’t hard for me to guess how Reif reached me. Even though I’ve never told him about the secret passageway leading to my father’s room, my shouting must’ve led him to where I was. However, what on earth brought him to the secret passageway to begin with?

''Back in the hospital ward, I was in the middle of a conversation with my wife when I heard the alarm.'' Conrad continued. ''I rushed to the palace and found a gathering of soldiers. One of them approached and gave me a dagger. I recognized it immediately as Haru’s dagger; the one Bestiari gave him on his twelfth birthday. There was blood all over it and the soldier told me it fell from the king's balcony. It wasn't hard to guess then what took place.'' Conrad said sadly, as if regretful. ''I can’t believe Haru could think of such a thing as revenge, let alone carry it out, or so I thought.''

''Then why was Reif arrested instead?'' Cielo asked. ''Isn't it possible that he was trying to stop Haru?''

''I don’t know.'' Conrad answered. ''All I know is that after I ordered my men to seal all exists, specially the back door’s secret passageway, I immediately ran to the front door of the king's room. No one answered me when I tried to push the door open. And then...''

''And then what?'' Cielo was right on the mark with his question. I didn’t understand why Conrad paused.

''When we were able to push the door open, I found Reif, holding up the prince who had a black eye and was already unconscious. Reif had a knife to Haru’s throat and he kept saying, ‘Stay back or I swear I'll kill him like his father. Do you hear me?’'' Conrad paused again and before I could process what he said he continued. ''I was shocked by what I saw and if it wasn't for my men coming from every direction, and him shouting to stay back, I wouldn’t have ordered the men to stop. I asked him to calm down, to put the knife away and he asked he be heard first. He spoke immediately, not waiting for me to say anything...''