The Palace Beast

The sun blooms on the horizon, golden petals stretching ever outwards into the rich blue. It is the brilliant flower of the sky that warms our days. It is the invitation to a new day, that sunrise so ordinary extraordinary. Leon was getting ready to ride to the kingdom of Kez as he saddles his horse.

Gerald walked in on him from behind. It's true no one has found Leon's father. But a lot has been happening in Maxis that they are not focused. Their enemies strike from the east and now a god called Set is after them.

No one wants the wrath of the gods on them but Maxis just incurred the wrath of Set who sent a canine-looking creature to retrieve the lost book of Anubis. The kingdom of Maxis would've been wiped out last night by a canine-looking creature after the creature crashed the king's banquet. But Horus intervened on Maxis' behalf ordering the canine-looking creature back to Set and forcing him to return at once.

This is the time that every fighting man should be on the ground in defense but the sudden preparation of Leon has been noticed as Gerald walks up to him. "Where are you going?"

Leon exhibited braveness last night and for his braveness, Gerald took note of him and wanted him to be around in case the canine-looking creature returned. It is true the king's matter is urgent but Leon has an urgent matter to attend to. "I need to visit the Kingdom of Kez."

Gerald places his hand around his sword belt and then with a wide eye surprised look, he stared down at Leon and then asked sternly. "What for, if I may ask?"

"I have unfinished business with the king," Leon replied as he fastens the saddle at the back of his horse.

"Now is not the time. We need you here. King Afa needs you. We need men like you at this point to protect the cause of this kingdom."

"I know my friend. I will be back once I am done." Leon quickly mounted on the horse and then smiled done on Gerald. "Have faith, I will be back."

"Open the gate!" Yelled the guard at the watchtower.

"Be safe my friend." Gerald nods his head as he puts up a fake smile.

He wasn't happy with Leon's decision to leave them now that they needed him the most just to attend to his personal business. On a second note, he respected the decision of Leon because he is not under oath to protect Maxis or its king. Neither was he recruited in the Maxis' Army.

As the gate was about to be closed, Gerald saw two horses riding furiously towards the gate. Leon has gone far and can't be seen from where he was standing. He took the east road while the horses approaching were coming from the north side towards the gate.

"Can you identify the riders?" Gerald echoed to the guard on the watchtower.

"No my lord. They are strangers."

"Ready the archers!" Gerald yelled as he climbs the watchtower.

The horses have finally arrived at the gate. They halted the gate as the first rider lifted his head towards the watchtower. "I mean no harm. It's I, Festus." Without hesitation, he brought out his guard's seal and lifted it up for them to see. The guards of Maxis have a seal to identify themselves with and so are the soldiers and knights of Maxis.

During the capture of Festus, he has hidden his seal and kept it with him at all times. He knows that's his only means of identification anywhere and it will serve as access into Maxis once he returns. Gerald ordered the archers to stand down as he gazed intently from the watchtower. "Who is that that rides with you?"

The second person riding with Festus is wearing a black hooded cloak. No one could see his face. Gerald was trained well and he knows in such a situation, anyone hiding under a hood but is a threat.

With all the happenings in the kingdom of Maxis, he doesn't want another threat. He glared at Festus as he has refuses to answer. Festus lowered his head and became speechless when he heard Gerald ask, 'Who is that that rides with you.' He doesn't know what to say because he doesn't know what will be the reaction of Gerald.

Gerald yelled from the watchtower in a deep angry tone. "I said, who is it that rides with you?"

Festus swallowed a lump and then lifted his head towards Gerald and answered in an unstable voice. "He is a friend and means no harm."

"Then let him remove his hood right away," Gerald ordered paying close attention to the hooded rider.

"I mean no harm!" shouted the hooded rider as he slowly removed the hood revealing his face.

On seeing his face, the archers pointed their crossbows down to Festus and his companion. It's a troll and they have never seen one throughout their life.

The forefathers of King Afa and his father King Gilbert made sure magic does not near Maxis or any creature like the one the archers and Gerald just saw. This spread out through the other four kingdoms to fight against sorcery or magical creatures and to keep the entire five kingdoms safe from sorcery. In the past, some sorcerers seized the entire five kingdoms and after the victory of the former five kings, they come to an agreement to begin witch trials and execution of creatures of the dark.

Gerald boldly walks down ordering the guards at the gate to open the gate. He stared at the creature to try to understand what it was. The troll has grey skin and dark yellow reflective sclera with black irises that fill in with their blood color as they age. The troll also has pointed teeth, yellow nails, black lips, and black hair. "You brought this to Maxis?" Gerald glared at the Festus as he points at the troll with a hatred look.