Where the Purple Flowers Grow

Chapter 15: Petunia

It was obvious to Billy when he crossed the border between Pratopia Empire and Avukar Dynasty, that he was not welcome.

The guards seemed like replicas of John, the angry guard who brought him to the King, with their stern faces. They didn't allow Billy to pass, but he snuck through eventually.

Everything seemed angrier in Avukar. The trees blocked the sky and the branches seemed to reach out to Billy threateningly. The path towards the center of the kingdom was winding, and Billy feared he would get lost and never found. He passed angry farmers who threw rocks at him. He even saw some children with weapons. He tried asking for directions, and was chased away by a mob of farmers with pitchforks.

Everyone looked ready to kill him, and they didn't even know him.

The Dynasty's flag, a red background with a candle in the center, seemed ironic to Billy. The candle was supposed to be welcoming and light the way. Instead, it threatened to burn him and everything he loved.

The sky seemed darker in Avukar, but that might've just been because the day was disappearing. There were no flowers in sight to comfort Billy as he stumbled terrified through the angry kingdom.

Hours later, practically falling out of the woods, Billy reached the castle. Guards surrounded it, torches burned at the top...all it needed was a moat full of crocodiles.

"Hey! You there! Halt!" A guard ordered as he spotted the probably frightened-looking Billy.

"Hi there." Billy tried to smile, hoping to charm his way out of the situation.

"What are you doing near His Majesty's castle?!" The guard interrogated in a booming voice even though he was about a foot away from Billy.

"I'm just a poor boy, sir. I have no food, and I just wandered here by accident!" Billy gave the guard the saddest face he could give.

The guard looked uncertain and still ready to drag him to the dungeons.

Thinking quick, Billy brought out his best speech.

"The cloudy sky clears up and brings with it the shining sun. People walk and talk on the streets of Avukar. The marketplace is full and so are the stomachs of the people around me. Oh, why must I be the only one to starve in such a prosperous place as this kingdom? Let the power of the Kings and Queens of this world find a way to bring me, a young poor boy, some food!" Billy acted out the scene and fell to his knees like he always did when begging Ms.G back home.

The guard looked unamused.

Billy realized the speech didn't work very well when the scene he was describing was not true. There was no marketplace in sight, everyone was probably starving, and the sun seemed nonexistent. Avukar Dynasty felt the opposite of 'prosperous'.

"Come with me, boy." The guard ordered as he grabbed Billy by his arm and dragged him toward the castle.

"Not again." Billy complained grumpily.

The guard gave him a strange look, but then continued to drag him until they reached the throne room.

The giant metal doors were shoved open by at least six men. Billy was pushed inside then left alone to face the King.

"Who is this boy?! Why is he kneeling in my throne room?!" A deep voice bellowed.

Who was he talking to? The two of them were the only ones in the room.

Billy glanced around confused then sighed. Why were all the Kings he met insane?

"Stand up, boy." The King ordered.

Billy struggled a bit, but eventually stood to face the strange ruler of Avukar.

The man that stood before the boy looked ragged. A long black beard with little gray spots, long black hair that reached his shoulders, black eyes glimmering with insanity, a dark red robe on his shoulders, and a gold crown tilted atop his head.

This was King Selvam of the Avukar Dynasty.

"Name." The King demanded.

"Billy." The boy replied like being interrogated by a King was a part of his daily routine.

The King looked disgusted by his answer.

"Bring him to the dungeon!" King Selvam shouted.

Minutes passed, but no one came to take Billy away.

Realizing no one was coming to follow his orders, the King cleared his throat.

"I scared you right then, didn't I? You thought I was sending you to the dungeons for eternity, right? Well, it was all a trick! I just thought I'd frighten you a bit." The King laughed to himself like he had planned it all.

Billy looked unamused and unconvinced.

"I think your guards just ignored you." Billy shrugged.

"No, little child, I told them not to come when I called. It was all just a part of my perfect trick." King Selvam laughed to himself again, looking a bit insecure that Billy had seen through his lies.

"Hm, I don't think so." Billy commented nonchalantly as he admired the throne room.

King Selvam's temper started to push out of his control.

"Stupid boy. You think my very own guards wouldn't listen to me, the King?!" His hands were in tight fists as his face turned red.

"Let's just be honest. If I was your guard, I wouldn't listen to a word you say." Billy confessed.

"Well, well, of course you wouldn't! You're just a stupid boy!" The King tried to defend himself.

"Whatever you say." Billy shrugged again as he started to walk around, pointing out the King's lack of control over him.

"I'm going to send you to the dungeons! I'll keep you there forever so you will learn your lesson! Guards!!!!" King Selvam screamed like a child.

Silence.

"Why does no one listen?!" The King cried out.

"Don't control with power, control with respect." Billy advised.

King Selvam looked hesitant to take advice from a young boy, but he was so embarrassed that he just decided to accept it.

"Thank you, Billy." He thanked shyly.

King Selvam approached the metal doors and knocked on them. They were soon pushed open by six guards.

"I apologize for yelling and just expecting that you listen. Please forgive me." The King bowed his head a bit, his crown falling to the correct place on his head.

"It is ok, your Majesty." One guard spoke with a small smile and the other guards nodded in agreement.

"Perfect! Please escort this boy to the dungeons, please." King Selvam requested.

"I help you and you lock me up. What a surprise!" Billy proclaimed sarcastically as he was dragged out of the throne room.

Thrown into a cell, Billy decided to just lay there.

He had noticed that King Selvam's throne room had no windows and the giant metal doors practically locked him in. He was like the insane prisoner of his own angry kingdom. On the other hand, Billy's king, King Urchger, had a throne room full of windows and walls full of pictures of himself. He obviously wanted to watch over the power he had.

A power-hungry king and an insane king. Poor Billy was stuck in the middle of their war. How fantastic.

Billy's new dungeon-mates were nothing like Ruth. They crept around in their dark cells and growled like hungry predators. If Billy got too close to them, he was sure he would be eaten alive.

Closing his eyes and resting his head on the dusty stone floor, Billy tried to sleep.

Growls and creeks filled his ears.

It was a long night.

A/N:
Thanks for reading! Who likes King Selvam?

Petunia= Anger