Chapter 2

(BRUGTHON KINGDOM)

Around the village-like parts of the kingdom; crowded as always, a guy, about 26 years is seen running; he was being chased by three other guys who were obviously older than him.

He turns sharply to a corner, but they didn’t relent; instead, they came at him faster, clearing people off their path by pushing them.

The guy being chased after suddenly missed a step and fell to the ground, while the three others immediately caught up to him

“Hey you!”, one of them yelled, while the guy was on the floor, seated on his butt. He looked scared of them; people had gathered all around them, as they wondered what he did.

“Please leave me alone”, he begged, as he clasped his hands

But they turned deaf ears to his word, and hit him hard; they began to beat him up, while he was helpless, until they heard a voice yell out of nowhere,

“STOP!”

It was the voice of a lady, and behold, it turns out to be a young noble lady, she was 22 years; and it was Emily, one of the members of the secret society.

She walked with no bodyguard behind her, and came closer to the guys. One of them; the leader, chuckles and said as he moved towards her,

“Everyone knows us here… even nobles like you. Leave now or we’ll have to disgrace you too”

He laughed mockingly while the two others also joined in. Some guys around who seem to work or respect the three guys began to laugh too; as they were friends of those three hooligans.

Emily sighs sharply, while she looked all around her to see them all. The guy being chased after, grunts as he stood up while saying to her, “Miss, please don’t worry about me”

She gave him no reply, but only a look of disgust, she shakes her head and suddenly hits the leader on his face with the back of her palm so hard. He clenched his teeth, but before he could even attack her, she moved to the side, and kicks his knee; he yelled in pain.

She held one finger of his and broke it; increasing his pain and intensity of his screams.

And finally, she hits the left side of his neck with two fingers, causing him to fall to the ground and now unconscious.

The others were surprised, but they were too stupid that they didn’t run for their lives; instead, they wanted to prove they were men, therefore, they attacked her together, but she drew out two short daggers from her garment, jumping at ease like she controlled gravity, but not in a very obvious way, she kicked them, and poked them with the daggers on their chests, thighs, rib, and also their space between the shoulder and the neck.

In no time, they were all down, holding on to one or more part of their bodies, while they groan and moan in pain.

The young guy rushed to her when she was about to leave, falling on his knees, he said,

“Thank you, thank you for saving my life… how do I repay you madam? I will do whatever you ask me to, just name it… messenger, bodyguard…”

She cut I abruptly, “Disgusting. I just saved you, and you wanna be my bodyguard… a useless one whom I’m gonna save?”, she scoffed.

The guy was speechless, while Emily continued,

“By the way, call me Miss Emily… if you really wanna work for me, then you’ll be in the kitchen or cleaning department”

“Okay… can I come with you now? I live alone”, he said.

Emily nodded, while he added, “and my name is Harrison… huh… just Harry”

Emily smiled, and began to walk, while he followed her like a lowly servant.

.

********************************

.

Jack, Alcott, Baron, Blake, and Wayne had come together to one of Baron’s trading stores. It was guarded outside, while they were having a silent conversation inside.

“Speaking of the battle we’re about to face…”, Alcott said, and Jack replies, “Worry not, Alcott… we shall fortify some of our soldiers specially with magical powers, and accessories that will allow them defeat the enemies”

“While Blake, Emily, Olivia, Judith, myself, and Jack will lead the battle”, Wayne suggested.

But Jack scoffs, while he replied, “I’m not going to the frontlines to fight, the kingdom will need me to stay behind with the others; incase things go supernatural in the kingdom too”

“Jack is right”, Alcott said, while rapidly facing the others

“Then Blake, Myself, Emily, Judith, and Olivia will go to the front…”, Wayne said confidently, but Baron replies

“Even you’re needed here, Sir… I will go”

Wayne smiles and heaved a sigh of relief. The door was knocked, and as they all stared at the same direction; which is of the door, Baron asked

“Who’s there?”

“it’s Olivia” a female voice spoke.

The door was opened, and in came Olivia, along with Judith.

“WHAT A PLEASNAT SURPRISE!”, Jack exclaims

“Would you say pleasant… now the queen knows everything about us, the king told her cause she could die anytime… he revealed the secret!” Judith said in a tone of complaint and worry.

“That’s absurd”, Alcott and Wayne said, while Baron gasps

Even quiet Olivia was concerned about this, she spoke with a look of anger written all over her face

“The king has broken the code; for his wife… he has broken the rules, and it mustn’t escape her lips to another ear… she will die soon, but we’ll have to make it even earlier for her”, she said.

Jack stared at her, and replies,

“What do you mean? Are you suggesting we kill the queen of our kingdom… with our own hands?”

“Are you crazy?”, Baron yells

“I hope you remember she’s the elder sister of one of us; Eleanor… it won’t be a secret from her”, Blake warned.

“If it’s necessary, we will have to,” Jack replies.

Judith snapped back at him sharply, “No… it’s wrong. Olivia, you’re wrong, we shouldn’t do that… it’s way too cruel, you should know that will break apart our organization, and then the kingdom could fall”

Olivia sighs, and Judith placed her palm on her shoulder; calming her down.

“This is something we must discuss with the king… or else the organization will be torn apart”

If it tears apart; it could be; Group A would consist of King Hudson, Eleanor, Blake, Baron, Wayne, and any other person. Group B would be; Jack, Olivia, and any other person.

While Lois, Emily, Alcott, and the two others who have never been revealed are unsure of what they would go for, but most probably Emily would be on the King’s side, and Lois too.

It is not a sensible decision at all, but it’s left to them.

.

**********************************

.

(THE PALACE)

King Hudson was having a meeting in the courtroom with the ministers, who were seated on chairs, next to a long table; they were on the sides. There were soldiers who stood as guards in there, as well as maidens.

The king spoke in a tone that deserved respect

“Men of Brughton… my father died in the war against Hudderham Kingdom; my brother too… we lost a lot of armies in that battle. It’s been years but it feels like yesterday… we cowardly agreed to their terms to save our necks, and now, they want something again…”, he yells in annoyance.

“Then we should give them what they want”, one of the men said, but the king lashed back angrily, “We can’t bend our head forever! It has gotten out of hand, but now we will have to avenge everyone who died then… we will fight this time, and we will use everything we have… we won’t retreat nor surrender, we won’t give then what they want, it is unthinkable!”

The king stood up, and he continued speaking,

“if we do not fight back, we will all be wandering around the forests, they will take the crown; without war… we can only prevent that by fighting”

Some of them nodded in agreement while murmuring amongst themselves. The king sighs deeply, and left the courtroom, while guards and maidens followed him outside.

.

*****************************

.

Emily and Harry arrived at the entrance of a glorious house; it was a beauty to behold. Harry stared and gasps, while she was going in; he followed her quickly, and began to see men and women who worked in the house, bowing their head as she passed by them, till she finally got into one of the houses in the compound.

Harry came in with her, and he was still standing while she sat. It was a beautiful room in the house.

She must be from a very rich noble family.

“This is my house…”, she said.

“Your house?”, he asked

Emily smiles and replied, “Yes. My house, the others are not mine… my parents, and big brother who serves in the palace, as one of the low-ranking ministers”

“oh… I see,” Harry exclaimed.

“you’re gonna work in my house, not outside, your life is about to change, so go back to your home, pack everything you need, and come here, you’ll stay in one of the rooms in my house”

Harry gasps and was dumbfounded, he stared at her in surprise, and she also stared back, then she took her eyes off him,

“Disgusting…”, she scoffed, “clean yourself first. Your job will be to clean my house, arrange everything, prepare everything I need, and also take care of me, can you do that?”

“Yes, I can”, he affirmed while nodding.

Emily stood up and walked towards him slowly, while he was looking nervous, trying to move back; she moved very close to him, and whispered into his ear,

“If you trespass and go beyond your limits, I will not spare you”

.

******************************

.

(SECRET UNDERGROUND MEETING IN THE PALACE – THAT NIGHT)

King Hudson, Jack, Wayne, Alcott, Blake, Baron, Judith, Olivia, Emily, Eleanor, and Lois were seated, while two chairs were vacant. The head of one of the departments of the guards; David was also there standing few meters away.

“Both of them won’t come?”, Alcott asked, but Baron replies in assurance, “They should be here… any time from… now!”

They heard footsteps approaching, David saw the incoming guests, and he signals to the others that they had arrived. Two figures walked past David, heading towards the seats.

“WELCOME!”, the others chorused.

And both of them sat on the two vacant chairs.