Hidden Secrets

Chapter Eleven

Mehdi stood in the king's quarters, dressed in his day clothes (he made a quick stop at his room before coming there), watching his father grabbing a map and slamming it onto the table that was in the middle of the room.

"They came from Eroslen," his father spoke. He was scanning the map.

"How do you know?" Mehdi asked, moving over to the table.

"There was a small warning in Blacheon the night before the party." The king didn't look up but continued to scan the map.

"Why didn't I hear about it?"

The king shook his head. "We wanted to keep it on the down-low. Keep others from panicking," he explained.

"Was it that bad?" The prince thought back to the attack in Mainqur and shuddered.

"Not as bad as Mainqur, but there was a death. Shot through the head," his father said as if it was nothing.

"Oh..." was all the prince could say. And then an idea popped up in his head. "What if we were to travel to Eroslen and meet the rebels?"

"No!"

Mehdi jumped in his skin from the abrupt answer. "Why not? It will be a good chance to speak with the leader to sort things out."

"You're so naive, Mehdi. Once you step foot in their base, they will kill you. Or worse, they will capture you and torture you until you're begging to be killed. Is that what you want?" his father asked, his tone sharp.

"No, of course not," Mehdi replied, taken aback by his father's tone. "Why do you know this?" he asked slowly, not wanting to add fuel to the fire.

There was a hesitant pause before the king spoke. "They are bad people, son. Anyone could guess that they do that sort of thing to get their way."

Mehdi had a feeling that his father was lying. But he left it alone anyway and pressed on about his idea. "It's not like I'm going to go alone...I'll bring some guards with me."

The king turned to face his son. "Mehdi, what do you not get?! They. Will. Kill. You! You are the only heir to the throne! Once I am dead, they will come for you. So no! You may not go to Eroslen, it's too dangerous!

"But—"

"No buts, Mehdi. I am the king and your father, and I'm telling you that you are not allowed to go to Eroslen. End of discussion."

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Mehdi had promised his father that he wouldn't go to Eroslen, yet here he was, waiting in the stables for the rest to arrive. He knew it was a bad idea, but something had to be done about the rebels.

After talking with his father, he went straight to Theo to tell him his plan. It took a while for Theo to agree, but he eventually gave in. The prince instructed Theo to find trusted guards, then to meet him in the stables.

So here he was now, wondering if Theo was ever going to show up. He told him to be there at 7 o'clock, and it was twenty after.

Mehdi sighed and decided to head back in, but as he was about to head to the door, Theo, Reyan, and three other guards walked out. He recognized two of them as the jokers in the great hall.

"What took you so long?" Mehdi asked, relieved that they showed.

"Sorry, Mehdi, but someone"—Theo glared at Reyan— "was being stubborn and taking forever."

"Hey, do you really think I would fight rebels in a dress?!" she shot back. She was discarded of a dress and was wearing black leggings and one of the guards' suit jackets.