The Palace Beast

King Absalom after he heard a rumor of the king's courtier wanting to delay announcing him as the new King of Maxis, he was unpleased. He stormed into the courtier's chamber. He slammed open the wooden door of the chamber enraged.

"What is this I hear?"

"And what have you heard?"

"It is unwise to answer me with a question."

"And it's unwise to enter my chamber unannounced!"

"You have to recant what you have said and proceed as planned."

"I have to do the right thing. If King Gilbert's heir is alive, I need to delay the rites of declaring you the new King."

"You have to do what we came here to do at once!"

"And if I refuse?"

King Absalom took a few steps towards the courtier. He gazed at him as one who wants to strangle him to death. "Remember I slew a thousand at the mouth of Belioth."

"Is that a threat to the royal courtier of King Edward II?”

"It's not a threat. How can I threaten the king's official? It's just a reminder of what I can do to get what I want."

Belioth was under the rule of King Que who lost his Fortified city to King Absalom. Lord Absalom claims to be the rightful heir of Belioth which is another Fortified city under King Edward II. During the rivalry between the two Kings Que and Absalom, Absalom matched with his warriors to meet with Que at the mouth of Belioth. In the fit of his rage, he slew a thousand men before King Que fled for his life and deserted Belioth.

According to the creed of Kings, any King to desert his Fortified city is no longer fit to claim that same Fortified city. On this account, Absalom was made the King of Belioth. Rumor has it that he later pursued King Que and slit his throat. The chief courtier displeases threat and what King Absalom has said to him is what he considers a threat. He brought his face closer to King Absalom and whispered to him, "Remember I am a voice in the king's ear. Whatever I whisper to him is what stands." He then turned and walked towards the window. "Be careful of whom you make your war with. The next time you walk into my chamber uninvited or unannounced, there will be a new whispering into the king's ear. Now leave!" King Absalom left the presence of the king's courtier. He slammed shut the door as he leaves. He couldn't just dismiss this. "I have to do something," he said heading to the guards' quarters.

The first day he visited Maxis to mourn King Gilbert, he left some of his fighters behind in the guards' quarters. Although this action displeases Lord Absalom, they were nothing he could do.

King Absalom on approaching the guards' quarters, the three fighters he left behind to spy and monitor every move of Lord Ramsey were seated at the main entrance of the guards' quarters playing a chess game.

On seeing King Absalom approaches, they quickly stood to their feet with their hands placed on their sword belt. "Greetings King," they said slightly lowering their head.

"You have work to do, fetch the horses."

...At the Forest...

John was able to follow the trail back to the forest where Bonnie and the two scouts halted for the night to rest. As he slowly inspects the bushes, he caught a glimpse of two dead bodies lying by the bush. "Oh my goodness!"

He quickly made his way in that direction. He was able to recognize the two scouts sent by Lord Ramsey to fetch Lady Bonnie. His heart skipped on seeing the dead bodies of the scouts. His worst fear has really has fallen on him. The fear of losing Bonnie. He still blames himself for letting Bonnie proceed with the journey without him.

There's no sign of Bonnie around. He didn't waste any seconds yelling and calling loudly Bonnie's name. "Oh my goodness!" He placed his hands on his head. "How am I supposed to find you, my love?"

He didn't want to lose Bonnie no matter what. He has believed he lives the life of a failure but his mysterious appearance Strange Land has proven otherwise. His life is really making a meaning here in the new city. ...At Maxis...

Lord Ramsey just discovered that John is no longer in Maxis. He has questioned some of his men at the gate to know if they saw him leaving but their response left him thinking of how John left without anyone seeing him. "Then if no one has seen him leave, that means he must be here. Find him and we find our new King."

Lord Ramsey as the most loyal subject of the late King and King, didn't want to see the legacy of the family of Gilbert end without their daughter succeeding them. He has only two days to bring Bonnie back to Maxis or King Absalom will be announced as the new King of Maxis. This he has vowed not to happen.

...At the Forest...

John started roaming around the forest trying to find another clue of where Bonnie is or where her dead body might be.

Suddenly he remembered the last dream he had when witch Neena was teaching him how to use the all-seeing eyes of 'The All' to find someone or anything. The memories of those dreams began to flashback.

'The All' is a spiritual energy that runs through everything that exists since the beginning times when the world was a dark and tumultuous place. The concentrated point is located in a desert. It is also said to be where the dimensions-Sky and the Underworld are linked and where magic was at its strongest before the creation of the Higher Realm.

"I know what to do," he grinned.