Light from the Shadow

Chapter 35

Kuan fastened the belt on his waist and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He was still wearing his military uniform although he had been officially removed from the position. No one had come from the palace to find him. They probably did not even know he had disappeared from his residence. Whatever, he was never important in his father's eyes. He was just his second son. A tool he was using in his plan to obtain Remblan.

Since young, Helten was his father's pride. He was the talented son trained to be the successor of Tehra whereas Kuan was the extra. His father never paid much attention to his study and training and Kuan often sneaked out of his house to go to Mehari palace to look for his other brother. As the son of General Tehra, he was allowed to go in and out the palace as he liked. It was there where he met the golden prince for the first time. The two soon became good friends as the crown prince was an only child. They spent a lot of time together with Taya being the big brother who looked after Kuan's study and sometimes sword training when no one was watching.

That was the best times in his life – before his father decided to kill the Mehari family that night.

Kuan came out of his room when he was done. Both he and Rishi were staying in Remwar mansion. On his way to the living room, he saw Lord Remwar standing absentmindedly near the bottom of the stairs. He wondered what he was doing.

"My Lord?" Kuan called from above as he walked down the staircase.

Lord Remwar turned and saw him. "Your Highness..."

"Is something wrong?"

"Prince Taya has left." The lord showed him the letter on his hand.

***

Rishi moved inside the castle stealthily. He had entered the stronghold from the escape route Kuan told him the day before. The princess and the hot-headed knight were probably shut in jail. The basement, he guessed. Rishi had studied every (accessible) corner of the buildings in the palace when he was staying here before. He knew where the entrance to the basement was.

"I heard they are going to execute someone today in the square."

Rishi quickly hid himself when he heard footsteps approaching nearby. Two maids were seen talking to each other. It looked like they were carrying... food?

"What?? Who??" The other maid asked.

The first maid nodded. "A foreign spy, they said." And then she looked to her left and right, making sure no one was in the vicinity. "It seems His Highness Prince Kuan is involved too!"

The second maid gasped. "No way!! That Prince Kuan? But... that's impossible!"

"Ssshh!!" The first maid silenced the other. "I heard he is missing now – escaped from his room. The crown prince was furious."

"Oh god... What exactly is happening lately...? The riots in Amer and Wenda... and now this... Is His Highness involved in that too?" The second maid asked.

The first maid shook her head. "I don't know... I hope Prince Kuan is alright."

"Who's there?!!" An angry voice made the two maids jumped.

A knight appeared and looked at the maids. He eyed the trays on their hands. "Is this for the Remblan royal?" The maids nodded their heads simultaneously.

"Give them to me. I'll bring them to her myself. You can go back." He ordered. The maids handed him the trays and quickly left the place. The knight carried the trays and walked towards an ironclad door at the end of the corridor.

Rishi followed the man from behind, carefully as not to make any sound. After the knight disappeared behind the door, Rishi showed himself and silenced the two guards who were guarding the door before they could make any noise.

It's strangely quiet. He had expected more guards as he knew Helten would use Ayna as a bait to trap him. Rishi stood in front of the door. This might be a trap but he had no choice. He took a deep breath and pushed the door. Inside was dark and cold. Rishi moved cautiously, going down the stair step by step, holding on to the stone wall behind him.

He continued walking and after a while, he reached the ground. It was a long corridor with prison cells lined up on both sides. There was not any sound heard. Only the sound of wind passing through from the door he came from. Is there no one here? He peeked at each room behind the iron bars as he passed. There was not anyone in the cell. The knight who walked in just before him was nowhere to be seen. Rishi grew wary.

"I didn't expect you will come alone, Taya." A familiar voice came from the farthest cell.

Helten appeared from the dark. Rishi could hear the confident heavy boots approaching him but it was hard to see his face because of the poor lighting in the basement.

"Where is the princess?" The librarian asked.

"In my room." The crown prince said. He sounded amused.

Rishi laughed. "You think I'll believe that? I'm pretty sure you don't allow anyone beside Ares to stay in your room."

"Watch what you call her!" Helten said angrily. He was starting to lose his temper.

"I can call her what I want. She was once my betrothed, you see." Rishi smiled. "We might have been married happily if not for your father."

"You insolent bastard!!" The crown prince drew his sword and charged towards the librarian. Rishi blocked his attack with his dagger and pushed Helten back.

"Are you sure you want to kill me? Ares may hate you if she finds out, you know?"

It was true. For the past 5 years as his wife, Ares had not showed any hostility towards Helten even though she hated his father because she respected him for sparing her and all the people of Remwar clan. If he killed the man who was standing in front of him, the man she once loved... or still...

For a moment, Helten lost his focus. Rishi took the split-second chance and slashed his hand, sending Helten screaming in pain. "I'll kill you, you bastard!!!" Blood was streaming down from his hand. Rishi kicked his sword away.

"Your Highness!!!!" A group of guards rushed in when they heard the crown prince' scream from above.

"Kill this man!" Someone shouted. Rishi noticed it was the knight who carried the food before. He was attending the wounded prince.

The librarian was now surrounded by guards pointing their swords at him.

"Stop!" Helten stopped the order. His breath was uneven. "Bring her here!"

Another guard appeared, carrying a slumped body on his shoulder. The librarian could feel his heart pounding.

The crown prince laughed. "Move and they won't hesitate to end her life instantly."