The Hidden Orphan (The Chronicles of Mistar - Book 2)

Ten · · · Jadon (.3)

"Wanna say that to me again?" Faeden asked though it sounded more like an order.

A gentle hand was then placed on Jadon's right shoulder. He knew that touch from anywhere. It was little miss Elladean. With a little pull of her fingers digging into his shoulders, Ella was able to Jadon back step. He wanted to prove he was strong. That he was a man but in truth, he was grateful for Ella getting him out of his sticky situation named Deathstrike.

Just as the legend was about to make another snarky comment, the king interrupted. Another person Jadon could grateful. As the king spoke, he could feel his face returning to normal as his fists unclenched with another step back towards Ella and Ben.

"Now don't get into a big argument on the first day," King Cole stated, taking turns glaring at Faeden and Jadon. He then glanced at Ella and gave her a loving smile since she was the only one who tried to stop the escalating heat that had seemed to boil in the king Grand Hall. Jadon watched Ella returned the smile as King Cole added, "You leave in a few hours before your mission: to save our Lost Princess, Tapalla Monae and my niece. Gazar will be your first stop. I suggest you all get acquainted before then. And..." he started to say as he eyed the young team, "get dressed. You all have special uniforms that have all been tailored to your needs."

Ben smiled at the king's statement, his face becoming pink with joy. Jadon could tell that his friend couldn't wait to get out of his old training uniform.

As King Cole turned to walk away, he paused making everyone in the room stand on edge. Over his shoulder, he said gently, "Jadon Mackel. I would like to have a word with you."

Jadon gulped. He stood there for a few seconds, confused. He could feel his face turning orange. With Ella's hand still on his shoulder, she was able to gently push him forward, his feet shuffling. Wendon laughed again, but Jadon ignored him. He also ignored Faeden's death-defying glare. Instead of getting into another fight, Jadon followed his king into the chambers behind the throne like a good soldier, everything he strived to be.

···

They walked into a small hallway, though Jadon was pretty sure it was a secret tunnel. Bright orange lights glowed overhead giving the space an eerie, but warm, feeling in Jadon's body. The king charged down the tunnel, so all Jadon could do was follow.

Jadon's suspicions were right when the king opened a door that led into another, more grand hallway. He could the tunnel wasn't very secret though, when he saw more of the Royal Guard stationed around the door and when King Cole left it ajar. This new hallway was large and big, it's walls made to look like a log cabin from piccoula wood. Other than the single orange lights in the not-so-secret tunnel, this hallway held a bunch of small silver lights over the ceiling as if they were stars in their own constellation. Jadon could feel his jaw drop in awe but quickly closed it a few seconds later with a snap.

He followed King Cole down the hall and presumed it had no doors since Jadon couldn't see any. He was proven wrong when the king pressed in on a panel of wood, a door swinging open to reveal his neatly placed office. Jadon then figured that all the doors in the hallway must have been like that but it only made him realize that when he lived here as a kid, he had never seen a hallway like this one before. Did they remodel? If so, why?

Before Jadon stepped into the king's personal office, he heard wails from down the hall. They seemed too high pitched to be the queen. They must have been from Prince Quine and Jadon couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

Stepping into the room, Jadon was surprised when the king was the one who closed the door behind. "Please," the king said. "Take a seat."

Jadon turned, spotting a couch that looked worn and old made from piccoula and some sort of leather, but when he sat on it Jadon could tell that it wasn't old. It was practically brand new as if it was just bought yesterday. The cushions were still hard, not worn in from probably about hundreds of people who sat on it every time King Cole brought someone into his office. It was odd, making Jadon unnerved again.