The Palace Beast

Sax Village The sky was illuminated by flickering torches, casting a warm glow across the land below. The crescent moon hung in the sky, its pale light shimmering like a silver claw. As he gazed up at the infinite expanse of stars above, King Afa felt a sense of awe and wonder. Meanwhile, a ghoul lurked in the shadows, slowly creeping along the tree branches and keeping a watchful eye on its prey.

"What do we do now, my king?" Gerald asked, glancing at the king with a look of confusion written all over his face.

"Set the tree on fire," said King Afa.

"You heard the king, torch down the tree," Gerald echoed to the guards bearing flaming torches.

Adrian's Quarters Adrian felt a lump form in his throat as he tried to speak. His voice quivered as he replied, "I don't know what you're talking about." He wasn't yet ready to face the truth and admit his wrongdoing. He struggled to find the right words and wondered how his wife had found out. "Is she spying on me?" he thought. But deep down, he knew he had been caught and there was no escaping the consequences.

"Of course you know what I am talking about," she replied. "Perhaps you should tell me who does it well, me or the queen?" she asked fixing her eyes on Adrian.

Adrian tried avoiding eye contact but it seems impossible as the wife gently held him by the jaw and turned him to face her. "I have your child," she said.

"What does she have that I didn't have?" The conversation is really making Adrian feel bad but that's not enough for a man that gets under the thighs of another woman. She wants answers and Adrian is not ready to give them to her. Tears started dripping down her cheek. At this time Adrian slowly lowered his head. He couldn't stand this anymore and yet he couldn't say a word to make this night go away. It's just the two of them and no one here to judge as the third party. There is no one to side with her or against her. It's just her and Adrian and they have to figure out what to do next.

"I am not a perfect man for you, I have erred just like every other man," Adrian said in a quivering voice.

"I did not marry every other man and I don't expect my husband to be like every other man. You have to make things right. I want my husband," she said in a quivering voice.

"What can I do to make this right?" Adrian asked. He gently grabbed the hand of his wife and placed it on his palm. "I can't stand your tears, it breaks my heart."

Sax Village As the fire rages the tree, the ghoul jumped down the tree. With its filth-tipped claws, the ghoul impaled one of the guards' chests and slammed the one standing next to the second guard towards the burning tree. With evil in its eyes, it switched the focus on the king, "Oh oh!" the king exclaimed positioning his sword.

"Step away my king," said Gerald as he quickly stood in front of the king with his sword positioned.

"This is not just your fight, but our fight," said the king as he stood beside Gerald.

The rest of the guards started throwing spears and shooting arrows at the ghoul. But the ghoul exhibited unimaginable strength. The arrows and spears have course great damage to the ghoul but couldn't keep it down.

Moving towards Gerald and the king, the ghoul grabbed Gerald and lifted him above the ground. The ghoul was still carrying the arrows the guards shot at it and four spears were affix to its back. The king at first became perplexed but suddenly he remembered what the healer told him. Ghouls need their head to be cut off before it dies.

'This could be it; yes I need to save my General rather than being terrified.' As these thoughts went through the mind of the king, he summoned courage. He raised his sword and strokes the ghoul with it. The head of the ghoul rolled towards the guards and the body of the ghoul was still standing.

Suddenly the ghoul released Gerald from its grips and let him slump on the ground. The king kicked pushed the body of the ghoul to the tree as one of the guards quickly picked up its head and threw it into the burning tree. "Our work here is done," said the king as he makes his way to his horse.

King Afa's Palace King Afa makes his way into his palace with Gerald walking with him. The punisher assigned to interrogate the prisoners quickly walked up to the king, "My king," he said taking a bow before the king. The king fixes his gaze on him wondering what the matter is by this time of the night. His body needs to relax on his bed and not be bothered with any matter at this time.

He didn't turn the punisher down but paid attention to what he had to say. "The prisoners have confessed. They were hired by King Charles to intercept your envoys," the punisher narrates with his head slightly bowed.

"I know it must be him," Gerald cuts in. "It's time to retaliate my king," Gerald said switching his focus on the king.

"What do you have in mind, General?" King Afa asked sternly glancing at Gerald.

"If we strike the Kingdom of Wex now, it will send a clear message to them that our kingdom, Maxis, shouldn't be messed with," Gerald replied.

"We will talk about it tomorrow," the king replied as he turned to leave.

"My king," the punisher interrupted as he moves closer to the king. "What about the prisoners?" he asked expecting a reply from the king.