Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 192: Not the same person (1)

AZRAEL MOURNSTAR

Azrael return to his tent that night feeling defeated, exhausted.

There is no one in his tent. Some book to keep him company and some dishes to stave off hunger and tomorrow he has to try again.

Try and try and maybe they will listen. If only the factions don't meddle too much then maybe, he can make headway in persuading the other King.

Then suddenly wind rustle around Azrael tent.

There is movement, he concluded. The sound stopped and silence dawns. The silence lingered in the air, thick and heavy.

His eyes try to see.

Sound of slow footsteps, so stealth Azrael almost could not hear it, if he did not concentrate his hearing.

Quickly Azrael unsheathe his dagger and point it at the sound. In the Holy Land you may not kill. But it didn't say anything about hurting.

'Who's there?' he asked.

For a moment there is only silence but he knows there is someone out there. Assassins? Spy? He was about to try to capture whoever it is but then a voice startled me

'I come in peace' the voice said, he said his voice is calm and the tone reassuring.

'Please, let me enter' he said.

Azrael know he should have been suspicious, should yell for the guards but somehow he let him in.

'Come inside.' The man opens the curtains of the tent and Azrael look at him.

The man wears a veil around his face, his skin color is white, not a slave, since there is no collar on his neck, and there is a dagger in his hips but he doesn't seem like he is about to use it.  

Elven design Azrael mused

The front and shoulders of the cloak is undoubtedly elven design. The cloak is black and blue in the inner part of the cloak.

Bold embroidery. It can be ties at his neck and lined in a contrasting color. But he is no elves. That make Azrael believe this mysterious person stole that cloak.

His hair is black, his eyes are blue and he moved gracefully like a noble.

'Do you know who I am?' Azrael asked.

'Demon King' he said not at all fazed.

'Who are you?' Azrael asked.

'Please, Your Grace. I am not the enemy. Let me sit before you interrogate me with question.' Azrael is surprised with the mysterious person calmness even when he is pointing a dagger at him.

Feeling stupid he sheathes back the dagger and they sit on the ground.

There is no chair in his tent. This is the Blessed Land, desert, sand in the morning and when you want to drink, only wells around here that provide water here.

Then the mysterious person takes off his veil that covers the lower part of his face. His face is considered beautiful but his smile looks like he is hiding secret.

'Let me introduce myself Your Grace. I am Silas Perigord, one of the vassals of the Vermont. I came here bearing grave and terrible news.' he said.

Azrael is alarmed by this revelation and Silas could see it.

'Ouch, your grace. Don't look at me like that. I came here with great pains, hiding from your army, and mind you that is no easy task, stealthily enter your camp, and sneak myself around your tent. It is not easy, difficult and harrowing experiences for a diplomat like me.'

'Why do you come here?' Azrael asked his tone slightly hard.

Silas then got up, took one of the goblet in the tent, pour some water and sit back down on the cushion, gulping the water while his eyes dart all over the tent.

And for a while the sound in the tent is only the sound of him gulping the water, slowly but calmly. It was like he makes himself quite at home.

'First, I have a story to tell you. Your Grace.'

'A story?'

'Yes a story. My lord, amiable and good he is, relay to me this story and he told me to tell it to you and ponder his meaning' His line of explanation baffles Azrael.

'Can I tell you the story?' he asks. Azrael nodded.

'Ehem' he coughed a little bit.

'Long ago, as many story began' he began his story

'There is this one King. A wise, strong and lovable King. The common folk worship the ground he walked, the nobles would follow him to any battles as this story will attest. One day he met a woman and it was love at first sight for both of them. The girl is beautiful and he was handsome, so he takes her as his bride. A very beautiful bride, every noble, every bard, every minstrel praises her beauty. The most beautiful woman in the world people called her bride. But as you know Your Grace, beauties life is rarely easy for one da-'

And suddenly Azrael think he is talking about him.

'You- 'Azrael said getting up from his seat and pointing his finger at him.

'Please your grace. Do not interrupt my stories.' He said calmly at Azrael sudden outburst. He relented and let Silas continue his story.

"CONTINUE" Azrael said his tone slightly harsh but he became curious of Silas story

'One day, when the King is occupied in his castle, holding his court like usual, her bride is kidnapped, under the guise of midnight, for the dark beckons. And no one but Night, with tears on her dark face, watches in dark places."

Azrael nodded.

"But dawn is coming" Azrael reply. After all Darkness Fall is one of the Gospels of the Dark Book.

Silas just smiles as he continued the story

"She is kidnapped by a rival noble who is infatuated with the beautiful bride. After all, in old stories rarely beauties are not kidnapped. The King at first believes his bride is just hiding from him to enhance his love for her but too much time passed. The King began to worry about his bride. So he sent some of his spymaster to search for his bride. Then suddenly he was informed by his spymaster that his bride has been killed by the noble.'

Azrael stand up. Did Silas know about Ariana matters? Azrael asked himself. He pointed his dagger at Silas neck.

'You! Tell me! Do you know something about my fianc?' Silas grinned, no fear in his eyes.

'I have not finish the story didn't I, Your Grace? Be calm and let hear the story until its conclusion. It is my task after all to relay you the story until its conclusion.'

There was this intense silence as Azrael decide to lower the dagger. He calms himself and sit himself back down.

'Fine, continue the story.'

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