Chapter 426 - 426

Allias was holding Theseus' hand tightly as they left their room. They had talked about it, talking actually was the new way of doing things, no matter how hard it was. Sometimes it is better to simply get all these burdens off your chest and focus on what's ahead. They were always there for each other after all. 

Their footsteps echoed in the silent corridor while they were being led to the throne room by the same guard that Allias had smacked the door in his face. The young elf seemed to be a lot more wary now, a lot more respectful and Theseus had to suppress his smile a few times. Allias never had the intention of scaring his people but when things did not go his way he had one hell of a temper. It was funny to look from the side, especially how he would feel bad sometimes for not smiling back at a servant or for being rude. 

"Um, you…" Allias called him and the elf stopped on his tracks immediately. He turned around, his eyes cautious. "What's your name?"

"Dalin, your highness." he said. He was facing the floor, not knowing if he should look the king in the eyes or not.

"I...Sorry for slamming the door in your face before." Allias apologized and the soldier's face snapped up.

"Oh, no. Don't apologize. Who am I so you would apologize to me." He said, his eyes wide.

"One of my people. I respect all of you, it has nothing to do with me being king." Allias announced. "So please accept my apology. I will be more careful from now on." 

"Of...of course!" He exclaimed and Allias smiled brightly, the young elf blushing at the sight of his smile. "Then, shall we go?" he asked and the king nodded. Dalin turned around and began walking again, this time less tense. Theseus moved closer to his lover and whispered in his ear. 

"Why does everyone blush when you smile?" he asked him and Allias chuckled. 

"Because I am hot" The king said and winked playfully at him. Theseus rolled his eyes, a smile on his face. 

They had already reached the meeting room, the door visible to them when Allias watched it open. His best friend rushed out and closed it behind him in a hurry, an indescribable expression on his face as he noticed Allias and Theseus. The moment their eyes met he exhaled and rushed towards them, making Allias tilt his head to the side in question. 

"What's wrong?" he asked him. Mark breathed in loudly a few times, his cheeks flushed a bright red before he managed to speak. 

"In there...really." He mumbled. 

"What? What happened?" Allias asked again. 

"Well, you know I am a very curious person." Mark said suddenly in top form and ready to make a speech. He pushed back his ginger hair and started talking as fast as he could. "So I wanted to see that girl. I couldn't wait, okay? So I sneaked in there waiting for the girl to be brought in. Actually she is not alone. I think that somehow word got out and a bunch of royals ambushed her at the gate. They are in there right now and they keep asking her questions and honestly I feel bad for the poor girl. Then I was found out and a small chaos was created. They tried to catch me thinking I am some kind of human, hunter spy. I don't know these people, I am telling you they are all crazy." he said and once he was done he took a deep breath and a smile appeared on his face. "But as you can see, no one can catch me." 

"Are you alright?" Allias asked him filled with worry. He grabbed him and turned him around, scanning him from head to toe back and forth. "They didn't hurt you? Are you sure? Did they say anything to you? Did they disrespect you in any way?" he asked as his eyes turned cloudy. "I am going to deal with old geezers and then…"

"Calm down Allias." Mark told him. "I am perfectly fine. I am actually a big boy. You don't have to look after me anymore." he said and the king looked at him with a sad expression. 

"But…"

"I am okay." The red haired said. 

Even now that Mark knew of his past. Even now that he had his powers, his familiars always protecting him, the elf king couldn't stop worrying about his best friend. He was well aware of all the things Mark had to go through because of him, he didn't want him to be in pain anymore and that meant he would do horrible things to anyone who dared to touch him, even if he was fully capable to protect himself on his own now. 

"No matter what, if you need me, if you need any help. You come to me." Allias said. He wasn't smiling, his expression was deadly serious as he looked his best friend in the eyes. The red haired scoffed, a cocky grin on his face. 

"Who knows. One day you might need me." He stated and Allias laughed. 

"Dream on ginger from hell." he said and started walking, intending to get to the throne room. Mark's eyes widened and he followed them, a frown on his face. 

"Hey, you've needed me many times already. Don't try to hide bitch." he said and Allias shrugged his shoulders. 

"I don't remember anything. Theseus, do you remember anything?"

"No, not really. Sorry." The general said as they stood in front of the door. 

"Double betrayal. Very well. And what happened to your hair, it's very cruella like. I like it." He told Theseus the moment the young soldier opened the tall double doors and Theseus stared at the human confused. 

"Very what?" he asked him.

"This is not the moment for this." Allias said between gritted teeth as they were exposed to an actual crowd of people. 

The king examined his throne room. He could see at least twenty men, circling a young woman, barely in her early twenties. Her hair was long and curly, golden locks with bright blue eyes, freckles sprawled on her tanned skin and her dress was a rare specimen of what was left from his people's attires. A long white dress with a golden belt. See through soft fabric covering her exposed shoulders while golden cuffs surrounded her forearms. Sandals covered her feet, while her posture showed fear as her deer-like eyes traveled between the men who kept talking and talking. Allias was already annoyed by them. Always annoyed by them, actually. Old elves who believed that because he was gone they could run the place and do whatever they pleased. As it seemed his previous statement was not enough, getting the pieces of one of their friends wasn't enough for them to realize their position. 

"What are you all doing at my palace?" Allias shouted, his voice echoing like thunder. The crowd stopped its talking, the man taking their eyes away from the pretty girl and all turned to their king, formally bowing. The girl, finding her only chance now that they were preoccupied, removed herself from the crowd and stood at the back of the room. The king noticed her and for a second he looked at Mark, instructing him to help her. The red haired man rushed at her, wall by wall and stood next to her offering her a warm smile. "I asked you something, didn't I? Why are you uninvited in my house?" 

At first no one dared to speak. Only one man was pushed forward, probably the one who had initiated this whole thing. He was tall, looking as if he was around fifty years old. Wrinkles formed on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes, nonetheless he stood with pride, his black eyes staring right at Allias. 

"We had not been informed of this. My king, don't you think that we should have known about her existence? Us, the leaders of the elf nation getting to know about such an important event by mere gossip?" the man asked him and Allias clicked his tongue. The whole phrasing of his sentence was wrong, from beginning to end. 

"Us what?" Allias asked him. "The leaders of what Nation. The last time I checked I was your king and your job is and will always be to be under me and obey me. Last time was not enough for you I guess. Should I keep making myself clear over and over again? I have to admit it is getting kind of tiring and your blood stinks." he told him with a cold expression. The man took a step back, surprised by his reaction. 

"Atalanti would be embarrassed to hear her son speak in such vulgar language." A whisper was heard from the crowd. The moment it reached their ears Theseus stepped forward, searching who had the audacity to say something like that. The crowd of men as if it was one moved backwards. They knew of him, of what he was willing to do.

"Well thank the gods Atalanti is not here anymore right? But back to the point. Why are you all here? Since you stepped on the front,speak up, I am waiting. Don't worry. I won't chop you up if I don't like your answer." 

"We...we came here because we thought this was a great chance."

"A great chance for what?" 

"To talk about the possibility of an heir. You can have children now, an Avgee son that will be the next ruler. We need your powers for the nation to work. This silly loving a man thing has lasted for centuries but we all think it is time for you to realize your responsibilities. The elf nation needs an Avgee heir more than even at the moment and this woman can provide this for you. This is why we came. Because we knew you were going to hide her so you could keep this little affair of yours going." 

Allias was not a seer. He could not witness the moments of the future before they already happened but this time, even before he entered the room, even before he heard about them coming here he knew. He had predicted this. He had feared this and someone in his palace was going to die for being a traitor. He turned his head, wanting to look at Theseus. His eyes widened in shock. 

It was the first time the general looked like that. 

The mad shadowcaster. 

Yes, it was a very befitting name.