#3t3hb

“Why?” the old man ask as soon as the knife penetrate his skin, the surprise take all the strench that remains on his body, he didn't fight, he didn't scream, he just repeat “Why?” 

But Henry didn't answered  to his corpse, he left the room of his former allie as quiet as he entered, he has a fair mision, not good or noble, but fair. 

Kill the spies, prove his loyalty, serve the King 

The death of the counselor was  scandalous; a member of the court stabbed on his own bedroom;  all the castle shake with fear, everybody talked about the  silver knife nail over the body and the beautiful symbol engraved on the handle: a  flower with diamonds as petals, the symbol of the light 

The king was there when Henry inspected the room, he, the trusty adviser, the wiser; the one in charge of investigate his own crime, Takato really was that naive, kill him would be so easy. 

To be fair, Henry had not be his first choice, Takato instanly search for Ruki, but she denied it, is the work of a coward  she said pretending to know nothing, what an amazing liar. 

Gallant lick the blood of the carpet before it could be clean it and  the Lion buried the body and burn all of the gathering. 

In all the palace no one cried the dead of counselor as the Queen, such a crime was no common on Piramide, they were used to fights at coliseum, the honor to die with your opponent in front of you; but for Takato, raised on the old temple, a childhood on the cult, killing on the dark was expected; he fails at comforting his wife. 

The lion carried her around the castle, throwing suspicious and curses to anyone who come closer, doing the job he had done all his life: be the champion of the Queen.

 “Is the work of your enemies your majesty” Henry Wong asure kneeling in front of the King and Queen 

“How?” Takato tried to look compose and fails “How did they surpass our defenses?” 

“and why him? “ Yuri  as usually asked the questions that Takato would never ask “Why send an  from a old man when the Queen and KIng live in the same castle?” 

“I don't know” he standed up and spoke calm and slowly   “But i promise i will found out” 

“Tenemos que prepararnos” the queen continues “we must reinforce the castle, bend the guard…” Lion was beside her, nodding with his head after every order 

“Momantai” 

“Excuse me?” 

“Momantai” he repeat “Is mean no te preocupes” he turns to Takato “Not to worry” 

“How i cannot be worried if a man is killed in my own castle” Yuri yells, send wàs so little,he could take her down with no effort; The Lion standed up.

“Because that man was a target” still serene he continues “ just think about it, someone entered the castle and only attack an old council, not you or the King, my guess is that is personal, not only that, my thought is that no one really break into the castle, it was an inside job” 

He felt Ruki eyes over him, the entire court gasped, the queen sobed

“the guards saw nothing, the lock was not forced, there was no sign of a fight, the murderer was someone the council knew, someone he trusted, the murderer is a member of this castle, probably a spy from the light” 

The gasp became a scream, and the sob became tears 

“And you tell me not to worried about it?” 

“Gallant is with you all the time,  the Lion protect the Queen, and now that we are aware of this spy he or she would not be able to act without been caught”  he bow “Momantai” and excuse himself out of the audience. 

“Are you out of your mind?”  Ruki follow him  “what is wrong with you?” 

“the best lies are the ones who begins with the true” 

“Don't mess with me Wong!” she come closer “just tell me who the others spies are and i would handle it! this is way out of you control!” 

“Wong!” another figure run to them 

“Hide”  

“I don't take orders from you!” 

“Just do it!” and very much to her regret she obeyed

“Wong!” a man approached to him, he was sweating despite the cold weather “Wong! we need to talk, the counselor! what you said¡” the man searched for a safe place to speak “ are we in danger?” 

Ruki recognized him as one of the guard

“listen” a little tremble on his voice, subtle and fake “my hope is that whoever is behind this crime would panic after my declaration, I only act by the command of the alchemist” 

“Did you speak with him?” both men whispered but Ruki was able to listen  “What did he said?” 

“What I need to know, I told you, I merely  follow his instructions” one hand over his shoulder “I trust in his guide, if my purpose is to die for the light, then it will be” 

The man become a young boy at his words 

“Yes, yes of course” he mumble “I, i think the same, i just… im use to the life in this city” 

“Are you coming outside of the light my friend?” 

“No! of course not, im sorry for bothering you is just.. i have doubs” 

“Doubs about the true of the light or about our lider? 

 the fear on his face was enough  answer

Ruki come out of her hide at the same time he running away 

“Nervous men make stupid mistakes” 

“Dont lecture me” she was not convince “this is gonna explode in your face, let me help you” 

“You are helping” he sigh “The king would recognize your murder technique in an instant, I´ll do it, one by one until the last one snap” 

“or you…” 

“I´m calm” he breath, exasperate “I´m in control” even when he was thinking in a millions ways of break her neck

Ruki look at him with her big menacing eyes “Koushiro train you well” 

“I never told you he was my teacher” 

“You didn't have to” but she pause, as  if she was afraid “don't forget why are we doing this, our goal” and she look back at the throne room, the King smile as he talk and welcome the audiences, the light shine over Takato crown making him look almost divine “Only a child of the sun must reight over the living land” 

“For the glory of the house of courage” 

 “For the glory of the house of courage!” she repeat, hoping that he knew what he was doing, hoping that trust in him would not be as disastrous as it was trusting his teacher.

That night the archers of the wall shoot the guard who tried to escape at the middle of the night.  

Two days later one of the maids  throw herself from one window 

One of the gardeners was found floating on the south fountain one week later 

His work was almost done, one last victim and it would be over. 

He called him to met on the garden at dawn, at diference of the others this time they will fight, Henry will won, then he will drag his corpse to the King chamber claiming that he was the perpetrator, ending all doubs over his persona and bringing peace at the castle. 

The last spy  appear at dawn, as planning,  sweating and at the edge of tears, the oldest sidesman of the castle. Henry feel the rush on his blood, still he remains calm. 

“My friend” he said with a smile, barely controlling his excitement “i´m so happy that  you come to me in this our darkest moment” 

 “I´m sorry” he barely whisper,  something was wrong

Another figure emerged between the leaves, tall as a three, strong and proud, The lion looked at him as you can only see the traitors 

“se terminó Wong” he roar 

“Dear light” he turn to the old man “What had you done?” 

“The right thing my friend” his grind was peacefully but twisted “ the right thing” 

 “You…” Henry rush   “You old snitch” 

“hard words on the mouth of a spy” the Lion was still there, with his old chain and ball “I didn't want to believe it” 

“but is true” the sideman step back as he talked “ Wong is the one who communicate with the great alchemist, he had been an informant for him since before the King even married our queen” 

“As same as you!” 

“but he come to me with the true, he regret his past  and swear the rest of his life in favor of Piramide” 

“I´m in favor of Piramide!” Henry need to thing faser, “I´m purging all the light of this city” 

“All except you” 

“That was not...!” 

“Liar!” the heavy chain hit the floor, Henry need to act, The lion would not fail a second time. 

He need a strategy, a way out, he need to focus, to think, he would not follow into dispair; the firmest tree is the only one that can stand the storm 

“I´m not following the orders of the alquemist…” he said trying to stay calm 

“You called this man to murder him, just as you had murder so many others, you attack them from the back and  set them up as accidents, rejecting the honorable pat of a true warrior, do you denied those crimes?” 

“No, but listen…” if only he could explain 

“You lied about your loyalties, you share the secrets of the crown with their enemies” 

“I´m loyal to the king!” his plea sound empty “My only concern is the safety of the King!” 

The lion speak since his hearth “And i only live to protect my Queen” 

The queen, the fragile girl who cried with every dead, and those tears where his sentence, the Lion would kill him for bringing pain to  the monarch 

Even then, he keep breathing, he search for an exit, a distraction, an opportunity 

But then he hear the laugh of the sideman, his bitter utterly obnoxious laugh, suddenly it's fill all his thoughts, all his mind, the mocking of a buffon; he didn't care for the King, or the Kingdom or the magic or the Courage, he was a man manipulating the true to his benefit; Henry get mad at seen at him, not for the imminent death but for how much he could see himself in that elder. 

The calm before the storm was over. . . 

“Wong! Henry stop!” The hand of Ruki hold his wrist, he drop the chain and the ball fall to a pool  of blood,  his eyesight was blurry, his coat was dyed red, to his right the inert body of the old man lay on the ground “What are you doing?” 

What was he doing?

Breath… breath…  he remains  himself and stand up, the ground feel warm, under him layed another body, in horror he saw the lion heads crush on the floor, more than fourteen stabs on his back, with total security injuries perpetrated by his hand

“It's dawning, come on Wong, we have to clean up this disaster”

“Its to late” he remain inmobil, perplexe by the unspoken crimes, soon screams shocked the wind around him, the life in the palace begins early. 

A monster roar, the King was near and he was covered in rot and violence, he did not stand the storm, he was the storm. 

“Run!” Ruki commanded at the same time that she throw over him a dark water.  And what else he could do. 

Henry jumped and ran the faster, the monsters of the King would smell the blood and start follow him at any second. But they didn’t, Henry saw the dark shadow of Ruki colecting every drop of blood that fall from his body. The warrior didn´t stop until the water of the sea had cover him to head to toe. When the shadow of Ruki let him he stayed under the ocean, hopping for the salt water to clean his concience and clean his doubs. He noticed that he still had the heavy weapon of León on his hand, it was drowing him at the deptest of the blue. Henry colected his stregnth  and get out of the water.

The King watch horrified. The corpses of Leon and the old coin advisor were on the floor. There was blood and human parts all over the place. 

“It must had been an ugly battle” Ruki said 

“What?” Takato asked incredulous “Why León would fight an old man?”

“He was obviusly hidden his force, but they kill each other, that is clear” Ruki spoke with force and saw how Takato believed her “we found our killer”

“What?” the child repeated

“One of them was the killer and the other his last victim” 

A heartrending scream cut the conversation. 

Takato turned over himself and hold his trembling wife. 

“León!” The Queen cry and scream as she fallen over the corpse of his protector. 

The King hold her. The three sauros get together and howl. Ruki commanded the guard and get shure to clean everything. 

The murders stopped and for three months the castle cover its standar of black. The Queen stopped to cry a week after the body was buried, but she wasn’t talking anymore. The King hold her hand and talk to her, but her eyes failed to look at him. 

The Queen versed over herself and The King versed over her pale Queen. 

Part one

The Light had left her Islands.  The King of all had promised peace for her home when Mimmi  bend the knel. Peace for The Honest Islands, there would be a most pure wish? 

 Iory and Ken were on The Salt. The prison Island. A desertic place were the worst criminals past their last years. Around the Island there were just salt water, infested with the worst leeches and the hottest weather. It was no scape. 

Iory could feel his own sweat draining. The air was heavy and salty, everything stink and in front of him was Ichijouji. HIs brother had always been handsome, always elegant and altive. Now Ken looked like a shadow of himself, skinny and pale, but most important, quiet. At first Ken had been loud and gross. He had cursed Davis name on all the ways posible, he had called Iory a coward and a fool. The guards had not come for them, just had given them an occasional meal. FInally, Ken had reclaimed his own corner on the cell and had leaning over himself to think on silence. 

“It isn't going to work” Iory said. The words between them sound weird and wrong. Ken did not answered “If you are trying to scape you better don't. We both know that it wouldn't work”

Ken kept quiet. 

“You design this prison, you know how cruel it is going to be our death” 

“They should give us separate cells” Ken said at last. And Iory actually laugh at the comment.

“They are waiting for us to kill each other” Iory said “that is why they let you kept that piece of blade on your clothes”

Ken turned to look at him for the first time. 

“I only asking if it is going to be for resentment or mercy” 

“You always surrender so easily” 

“No I don't”

And that made Ken laugh.

“I should had killed you long ago” Ken said showing him the blade. 

“When? When I lost the Ikkaku Island? When I let Davis come back?”

“That time when you replaced all my clothes with pink ones” 

“OH MY GOD, that was so stupid” 

“Even then I was the best dressed on the Gala”

“You and Davis dance all night”

 The silent showed again.

“I am sorry” Iory said. 

“Good” His brother answered.

Other day past and Ken didn't kill him.  At night Iory hear Ken crying. When they stopped to bring them food, Iory cry too. 

“Three days” Ken said “They are going to feed us again in three days to kept us alive” 

Mercy, Iory tough looking at Ken’s blade again.

Ken was right, after three days they started to feed them twice a day, one time at afternoon and one time at morning. 

Fifteen days had passed since they had been arrested when they heard the lock of the cell opened early. 

“They are going to take us to forced labor” Ken said.

“Or they are going to feed the fish with us” Iory answered. 

The Queen Mimmi entered at the room. Iory knelt and reverence until his front touch the floor while Ken lie uncaring over the dirty floor.

“Your majesty” Iory said. 

“Iory, Ken” The Queen greeting “The Light had left the Honest Island. Taichi had left to me to decide what to do with you both”

“Left” Ken said “my favorite eye is the left one, in case you are wondering” 

The eyepatch of the Queen was broided with a rose. She had come to see them alone. 

“Force labor would let the people watch our punishment and would kept the memory of our treason alive, but it would give us the best chances to scaped. The public execution will be better” Iory said calmly.

“The King last will was for you to be alive”  

Iory remember the last word of Joe. ”Don't kill the children” He trembling at the thought of he and Ken as Joe’s children. 

“Children doesn't lead revolutions” Ichijouji said. 

“Well… the KIng of all didn't know that” Mimmi answered 

Iory looked at the Queen. She was composed, but she was not in peace, her purple eye shine and an old blade of the desert rest on her side. 

“What do you want?”

“The Light come to the Island with false promises of peace and when we had solve our problems THe Wolf Knight killed my husband”

“Your majesty” Iory claimed as Ichijouji raised from the floor. 

“Joe was the best of us and they killed him” The Queen said “i am going to do what it has to be done” She get at the door and opened the cell “Stand up, my knights, I, The Queen of the Honest Island, had proclaimed our independency, join me and this land would remember you as libertadores, refused it and you would be forgotten” 

“You are asking for another war, and for what? the people would suffer, Joe knew…” Iory claimed.

“But Joe is death and his murderers are free and ruling!”

“Joe never want a war and if you truly love him you would honor his memory and would rule over the peace that he left you” 

Iory was standing in front of the Queen. He was short for his age, his eyes were brown as his hair. A little rock in the sea, standing. The son of Joe that wasn't hers. 

The forgotten Prince felt the cold iron on his back “For the back, brother?” The child said with sorrow to Ichijouji, who removed the blade from the back of his brother with no hesitation.  

Iory’s body hit the ground and Ken Ichijouji kneel in front of the Queen. 

Mimmi left The Salt with a new knight and that same night she wrote a letter to her sister, the Queen of the Desert would be happy.  

Part two

When he wake up she was already gone.

The remorse craw on his head, why she would stay? What else would she want for him? 

Taichi was not ready for another day, he didn't want Hikari´s eyes over him, her empty words, her endless patient, her lies, her light. 

But behind his door was still dark, no sister, no wife, only one soldier guarding the room.

None of them were ready, Taichi hold his breath uncertain, he want to talk, to come close, but he didn´t know how, Sora´s touch was still fresh on his skin.

“Yamato.... “Since when was he there? did he saw the queen go? did he notice her sweet, her bed hair, her trembling legs?

“Your majesty” The knight do the formal salude, so much melancholy

Taichi flinch, it had been so long since he hear his voice, one word of Yamato and he was able to breath again.

The short distance between them feels like a thousand miles, but it doesn't matter, Taichi run and hold him against the wall, Kissing him had always been easy, they belong together.

“i´m sorry” he murmur at some point when he was able to finally articulate words ”Im so sorry” he repeat while Yamato hands trip under his vest

 “good” he smile while his armor fall over the floor, when they enter to room?

“Yamato.. wait” he use all his strength to separate their bodies “we must be careful, we canot... we cannot make the same mistake twice”

“mistake?” now he was mad, Taichi knows his frowning forehead and the trembling lips 

“No like that, please listen”

“I miss you” somehow it´s feel like a reclaim 

“I.. I... “ No, he wasn't strong enough and once agains he rush to him  “This is dangerous” 

“That's a brilliant discovery your highness, it took you all this time to get to that brilliant conclusion?”

“Shut up!” the skin behind his neck where so soft, her blonde hair has grown at least a few inches since the last time he get to touch him, Taichi get scare for all the new scars on his lover back “ I'm serious”

“Im aware of that, im the lover of the King, i know everyday could be my last”

“I will never allowed that! i promise …” 

“stop, don´t do that” he saw him in confusion “ don´t make any promise” 

“I will protect you” 

 “That's my job” 

“I can…” 

“No you cannot!” Yamato yells  “I´m not afraid of death, look at me Taichi, im not a good man, im a bastard, a liar, a murder” 

“You are not…” 

“Yes im, and if you love me you must accept it , what we do is not right...  Taichi there are only two ways this could end”

“What are you talking about?”

“or I die, or worse”

“Or what?” he could not imagine something more horrible 

“Or you grow tired of me and you  find a new boy toy to fool around” 

“Don't ever said that again” 

“Is that an order you majesty?” 

“Yes”  

“Good, Then it's decided it,  i will die for you my love”

The bells of the Light church rang at the sunrise. Queen and King wake up on the big bed. The King rolled over it and tried to cover himself with the bed sheets. 

“it is going to be late”  It wasn’t and order, but everything that Sora said feels like a comand now. 

Taichi turned to his wife. She undressed herself unceremoniously and walked naked until the dresser. For years both had kept themselves to some shy decor but shy had died on her wife. 

“You are going to miss your audiences” She said when she come out full dress and Taichi was still sitting over the bed on his bet´s clothes. 

She looked gorgeous on that big dress, it was embroidered with the Light emblems and it left place for the sword that Sora carried everywhere. 

“Your audiences” She insisted. 

“Yes, yes, I know. They can wait for me, I’m the King” Taichi said as he stand up and walked at the dresser. 

“I am on my way then. I had a reunion with the sisters on the morning, but I’m going to take the audiences of the afternoon” 

When she opened the door Yamato wasn’t standing outside. Nobody cared their door anymore. No one follow the Queen anymore. Taichi waited until Sora’s steps were far away to change his clothes. When he opened the door Hikary was waiting outside. 

“Brother” the girl said smiling. “Let me accompany you at the ceremony”

Taichi take a deep breathe. The words “I want to be alone” die on his troat.  Hikary take his arm and they walked together at the throne room. 

The royal guard was waiting on the throne room. Most of them wearing the Light armor, Yamato Ishida, royal guard and leader of the soldiers, wasn’t. 

The King crossed his look with the handsome soldier. Restrained himself to touch him had never costed him this much. 

“Brother” Hikary called him “Your majesty” she corrected promptly “We are ready to star”

Taichi sat on the throne. HIkary welcome at the guests of the ceremony and recited a five minute prayed. 

“I can’t believed they made us attended this” Kouji whispered at Takuya on the back line of the army.

“And you don’t go at the daily mass, they are longer everyday” the fellow soldier replayed.

“What is she wearing?”

“It is a ceremonial sister thing”

“It would be easier pay attention to her if she hasn’t three layer of clothes on”

“The sisters of Light are illuminated, it is supposed that if they don’t cover to head to toe when they pray they would break the souls of the weakness with her sacred grace”

“What?” 

A sshh called the attention of the soldiers. 

Hikary finally retired of the spotlight and Taichi stand up of the throne. Davis Motomiya knelt down in front of him. 

“Outrageous” Kouji said on a quiet voice “the man betrayed the King that he swore to protect and received a title”

“Is he that good?” Takuya asked.

“What?”

“Is he as good to be the new protege of the King?” the knight asked with disdain. 

“The protégé of the King?”

Izzy Izumi standed behind the young men and they shut up immediately. 

Kouji looked at Takuya. His brown eyes were glued at Motomiya, the guy had returned from the war with the favor of King, he was now his new apprentice, not Takuya. Kouji had seen Motomiya in action on the battlefield, if he had the favor of the King he can easily ascend on the royal guard. Kouji could had been worried about his own position on the royal guard, but the subtle hate on the eyes of Yamato Ishida when he accepted Motomiya on the guard were even bigger than the envy on the eyes of Takuya. 

When the little ceremony ended the supreme alchemist come close at the King and whispered something at his ear. Sorrow plasted on the face of the monarch. His eyes went to Yamato. The royal guard was at some steps of The King. 

“That concludes the ceremony, thank to all of you for coming”Hikary said with the sweetest voice “That the true god of Light enlighten your days” She said as she looked at Yamato. 

Kouji knew that look. That was the look that the enlightened had for him and his brother. That people always talk about saving the souls, but their solutions always were torches and murders. 

The King left the throne room. His sister followed him. 

Yamato left the throne room, but he cannot follow the king any more. The royal guard assemble the guard, it was time for training. 

Kouji had to admit that this was the funniest training that they had ever had. Yamato wasn’t subtle about his hate for Davis Motomiya, his exercises were excessive, no soldiers talk to him, he felt and get hurt. Even Takuya mock him. Takuya whose first move always was befriend the new recruits. 

Prince Takeru knel to help him when Motomiya felt for the third time. 

“It’s enough!” The Prince claimed. 

Yamato actually listened to him and called out the soldiers. 

“Your training are really hard, I’m not surprise of the good reputation of your army” Motomiya said at the prince with some tenderness. 

“The Captain need time” Takeru said.

“What?”

“If you act right, this could get better” The prince handed some water at Davis. Kindness was so strange to him right now. The prince was gone for when Davis tried to said thank you. 

“this could get better” Davis repeated to himself. Hope was never his strength. He was optimistic on the battles, but it was Ken and Iory work to do the planning. Ken and Iory. He shouldn’t miss the brothers that he betrayed. He missed Ken’s warm and Iory’s clarity. What would be their brothers advice on this situation? Ken would kill at anyone who mock him, he would made some cruel revenge plan. Iory probably would take it as a challenge, maybe he would try to win at the superiors, his little brother was good for that. Ryo would resolve this problem for him. But his master was gone and Davis was alone. He cannot plan a evil revenge or charming his way out. He did the thing that he do when he can’t do anything else. 

The afternoon came at the palace. It was quite and warm and Davis was boring, the trained had let him wounded and sad. He walked by the gardens through the hallways, until the big doors of the wall around the castle. Takuya and Kouji were guarding the doors.

“Where are you going?” Takuya asked

“I'm going to the port, I would come back by the sunset” Davis answered

“I dont think so”

“ i dont had orders to complete or anything to do here”

“You can't leave without permission” Kouji interested 

“Do we need permission to leave the palace-” Davis asked. The two soldiers look at each other with smuggled smiles.

“I don't think you understand what is happening”

“ You are just being mean” Davis accused them.

“mean?” takuya laughed “it is a way to said it”

A whinny interrupted the conversation. When Davis turned it was Yamato Ishida infront of him riding a black horse.

“What is happening here?” The royal guard asked

“Motomiya wants to leave the Castle” Kouji said

“ Trying to escape already?” Yamato looked down at Davis since the horse. 

“I'm not quicking I just want to visit the port” Davis claimed. He isn't scaping anything, he was a free man.

“You can't leave the castle, Motomiya”

“What? Why?”

“Orders of the King”

“Liar” 

Yamato get down of the horse.

“How do you call me?”

“You heard it”

Davis saw the fit of his superior officer and got ready to take the hit, but the hand of princes Takeru hold the elbow of the royal guard. 

“Yamato!” the princes called “what are you doing?” 

The older man shake it off his anger.

“I was going to teach a lesson to this vermin”

“I had a name” Davis said challenging Yamato, the blond turned to him with hate on his eyes. “I need to go at the port to pray, when did you go?”

“Excuse me?”

“You are too a son of the ocean as me”

“I’m nothing like you” Yamato claimed as get closer to the soldier.

“Every soldier of the King is a soldier of the Light” Takuya said firmly. Kouji grown smaller and Takeru and Yamato evaded his look. 

“I had seen the big walrus on your neck” Davis said at Yamato “You are a son of the ocean”

“SIlence!” Yamato scream and moved his hand with force “You don’t have the right to call the old names of the ocean, how you dare, you… dirty traitor”

The words of Yamato hang on the air, Davis listened it but need a few seconds to understand the meaning of the words. 

“I betrayed your enemies, I joined your army, I won your war, your men and your King are only alive because…”

“You betrayed YOUR KING! YOU KILL HIM!”

Yamato’s hand was over his sword and the hand of Takeru was holding his

“No”  Davis said “You are the one who killed Joe KIdo”

Takeru looked at Davis with surprise and slowly released Yamato. Finally he turned over himself to don’t watch the ugly show. 

The fist of Yamato finally hit Davis face. The young soldier tried to evade the second one, but Kouji hold him by the back and kept him in place. Yamato broke his lips and hit his stomach. Davis couldn’t breathe,he was only bleeding. Finally he hit the ground. Someone, probably Takeru, let him at the infirmary. 

 Davis wake up on a cold room, alone. The wall of the palace were probably the last wall that he had ever seen. He had been wrong, he wasn’t the protege of the KIng or a soldier of the royal guard, he was a prisoner and he was so far away of the ocean than no god would heard him. 

The old god had abandoned him. His master had leave him behind. His new King had lied to him. There was no more place to go. Davis entered at The Light church. There were angels and figures of old criatures singing and howling, there tails were long and there arms short. Davis walked for the corridors and stopped in the garden. 

The young boy stand next to the fountain and with a hand in the water and the eyes on the sky, he pray.  

A suddenly noise alerted him. He turned the head and saw her standing next to fountain, beautiful as a new day, an angel.  

“What hails you, brother?” The angel asked, but Davis has no words to share with so gracefull presence. He broke over her and cried all his laments. 

"Holy mother in heaven, shelter of the poor and support of the weaks" Hikary pray "show the way at this lost sheep". 

The bedroom was slightly better than the cell.

Mimmi hold her new baby as her older child cuddle them over the bed. They were warm, had clean water and a meal. Joe kept looking at them with shine on his eyes and a smile on his face.

“Joe” the Queen said fondly..  

“My beautiful siren” the King answered kissing her hand sweetly. “you could rest here”

“And you?”

“The Light is going to attack tonight, they ships burned over the ocean, but I know that they are not going to stop, they still had a good number of soldiers”

“And the Wolf Knight” Mimmi said

“Mimmi...”

“You could win this war darling. I know we can protect the Islands and I know you love your people. But Yamato is your friend, Taichi is your friend. You think that you could...?”

“I am the King of the Honest Island” Joe said holding her wife and son's hands “I must to respond to my people, I owned them my loyalty. I can’t denied my people´s will just because is my friend who is standing on the way”

The Queen looked her husband put on the armor and hold his bow and arrows over his back.

“Give me a couples of days to heal and a pair of knives and I will kill all your enemies” She said.

Joe laughed and agree with a moved of his head. The hands of Mimmi itch at the thoughts of taking the arms again. All this time everytime that Mimmi talked about going herself at the battlefield Joe persuaded her to don’t do it.

“We could start with Ryo Akiyama” She joked, but the laughs last short “So it is really a war” She said holding her two children tighty.

“I’m sorry” He said

“I had seen worst”

“I’m sorry” He repeated.

The Sea King kissed her wife and allow himself to lose a little on that big eyes.

“I’m proud of you” He said at his son and kiss his front “I will return at dawn” the King said and he left.

There was fire on the coast. The float of The Light was lighting the sunset, the soldiers were saving what could be saving. Kouji found his master standing on the beach, looking at his army running and burning.

“Master” the young knight called “Do we know what happen?”

Yamato stand in silence, his eyes fixed on the flames.

“Master?” Kouji hurry to get close to him “How are we going to win this war without our float?”

The horse of the King arrived. The proud Knight of Light was mad.

“WHAT IS THIS!? ON THE NAME OF THE GREAT GOD OF…”

A sudden movement of Yamato interrupted him.

“Flaming arrows were shooting from that cliff, directly to our powders” the knight said without aparting his eyes from the boats.

“Who?” the King started a question.

“Who you think?!” Yamato said turning aggressively at the King.

He take the big walrus figure, ripped it from his neck and threw it at the sand.

“Yamato…”

“Save it!” the blonde interrupted the King again,  he hold tightly the sword at his hip and turned to his apprentice “You don’t win a war Kouji, you survive at it”.

They take the fastest ship that survived and sail with just the fundamental to the rebel’s base. Other very small portion of the army was closer on the slower least damaged ship. They wouldn’t be able to attack with all their strength, an infiltration was their best chance.

They arrived at the swarm, an irregular group of infertil islands were the insect abunded. Seven soldiers surrounded the base of the rebels looking for entries. Yamato found an easily to broke padlock on a barn and he, Kouji and Taichi entered with caution. A couple of steps, the lights went on and the door locked again: an ambush.

Davis, Ken and Iory were surrounded them. All the swords get unleashed.

The Forgotten Prince took a step farther.

“I want to talk to the Sea King” Taichi said stopping him.

“Say your peace” The Sea King spoke..

The knights and the King turned their attention at the second level of the barn, were Joe was pointing at them with an arrow. Ryo Akiyama was in the balcony in front of him with a similar weapon.

“Turned yourself at the greatest justice, accepted the punishment for your betrayed and order your rebels liders to do the same” The King said with no hesitation.

“In exchange of what?” Joe said without loosing his objective.

“Of avoiding an unnecessary slaughter”

“Recognize the independence of the Honest Islands and take your hypocritical Light’s doctrine out of my home” The Sea King commanded.

“No.” Taichi said, allowing himself to taste the sweet anticipation of the battle.

Yamato wants to look at Joe Kido, looks into his eyes and found a doubt. But Iory Hida was in front of him, and the wolf Knight knew that the slightest mistake will end with the Forgotten Prince avenging his father.

An arrow was fired.

The shine armor of the King get a scratch and the arrow bounce at the floor. Yamato recognized the powerful scent of the poison. They had to get away of that arrows.

Ken Ichijouji attacked at Kouji with force, Yamato would like to help him, but Iory was against him, every time that Yamato found an open on his movements an arrow make him step back. Joe choose his children and Yamato knew they are going to lose because of it.

Taichi attacked Davis first, he received him with a weak defense and a clumsy come back. The King felt the doubt on the young boy.

“You could do it” The King said “You are brave enough to do what they can’t”

Davis recomposed his battle position. Two feet over the ground, the head on the right place and his heart broken.

Ken Ichijouji fight with their blades. Kouji was a skilled swordsman, but the short distance of the battle style of his opponent taking him by surprise. Ken doesn’t look like he care when he lose a knife, he kept taking small weapons out of his pocket as they were candies. Finally, a whip trapped Kouji´s right hand, an unavoidable streak was coming. Kouji look the smile that he knew a lot of men had seen before died.

Ken felt the low kick on his left leg, he fall on his back, dropped his whip and felt the sword of Davis wounded him on a not vital spot.

He scream. Loud and bitter, breaking the battle.

Ryo Akiyama watched the treason that he was waiting for. He point his first arrow against Iory, that would allow the Wolf Knight to finished him. When he was releasing the shoot, he felt the pain on his right eye. The Sea King had shooted him a poison arrow. His own didn’t arrive at the Forgotten Prince.

Iory watch the arrow of his master miss his heart and heard the scream when Joe Kido shoot at him. Nobody survived at the poison of the Kido´s, but he didn't get time to think about it, he has just witnessed Davis betray.

Ryo moved himself away of the Sea King watch, removed the arrow of his eye. He can felt the poison getting inside him, he found inside his pocket for the old cursed beverage, recited the old spell and summon all the shadows that he could into his eye. How painful was the old magic.

Cody was surrounded for the Wolf and Light Knights on no time and not even the arrows of Joe could save him. Soon, he was tied next to Ichijouji, next to his brother, he was full of yells and reclaims, but he has no words for Davis, he was death for his eyes.

Yamato climbed the stairs quickly. He found Joe. A knee on the floor, an arrow ready to fly, his eyes looking directly at him. A solid position. He wasn’t running or crying or lost as that first time when Yamato found him in an ally on the market of the Honest Island.

Joe looked at Yamato. He was trembling, there was something bitter on his eyes, blood on his hands. And they are going to be more. It occurred to him, that Yamato didn’t really leave the old war, he kept leaving battle after battle.

He shoot the arrow, Yamato deflected it with a shield with The Light insight. Before he can prepare other, the Wolf Knight punch him on the face.  

They should had to talk about it. But when Yamato dragged him down the stairs only the filthy treats of Ken Ichijouji were audible. Kouji muzzled him.

“Joe Kido, The Honest Island Pacifier, The Sea King” Taichi said once Joe was tied and kneeling in front of him. “You are accused to betrayed the crown and …”

“I burned your ships, but I never betrayed my people” Joe interrupted.

“You know the punish for treason” The King said.

“Did you?” The King answered.

“Do you think this is going to end something?” Taichi scream “The Light would send more floats. Even if you get to kill me, my family will kept the power.”

“The living Land choose you as a King, and you choose to ruled by The Light´s rules. We choose the war because we know that what you was offering wasn’t peace.” The Honest Island Pacifier responded.

Davis watched his master going down the stairs and he hurried to help him.

Ryo Akiyama heard the King sentenced Joe Kido to die. The Wolf Knight stepped closed  to the accuser, Ryo felt a bit of envy, his eye was still burning, his magic had stopped the poison to enter at the bloodstream, but it's going to leave a mark. Hundreds of years murdering and he had kept his face beauty until this unjury.

Yamato Ishida unsheathed his sword, a sword that Ryo recognized for the days when he was an executioner at the order of the Cold King. Yamato had stolen that sword the day that he was going to kill Joe Kido and his trusted warrior. Funny thing that now the trusted warrior is going to kill Joe Kido. Ryo missed that sword, Izzy Izumi himself had prayed over it, maybe that's why he had never tried to steal it back.

The Wolf Knight rise the sword.

“Please don’t!” the Forgotten Prince begged “Please forgive him, this was my fault, I started this, he is innocent, please, let me take the punish”

But he was ignored. Soon his tears and sobbing stopped his own begging.

“Last words?” the King asked.

“Don’t kill the children” The Sea King pleaded.

Yamato down his sword. It cut the neck of Joe Kido and then breaks itself when it hit the ground. Yamato looked in horror the broken pieces get covered with blood. An uncertain and cold feeling through him.

Yamato likes to make an entrance, he enjoys  the movement of  the long cape, the strong walk, he push the doors with unnecessary strength; the throne room of the coral palace look exactly as the first time he walk through it, big blue walls, tall columns, sea shells incrust over the windols, but in the throne it was a different man, the shadow of the cold King look odd over Taichi Yagami

“Your Majesty requiere my service?” usually that would be enough,a smooth tone,a killing smile and Taichi would be on his arms,  but they were not alone, no matter how much Kouji pretend to blend into the tapestry, maybe they could send him away, close the door and call the day.

A tempting idea on the King mind, but he need to take care of the mater before he complete forgot why he call his knight, why he was so angry.

“Joe Kido escaped”

“I had no idea that the Sea King was our prisoner”

“Allow me to elaborate” Taichi continues “Joe Kido scape even after I asked you to watch over him…”

“He is out of his room, big deal…”

“He helped Motomiya Davis to escape and  they are on their way to the swarm” Kouji speak with sorrow in his voice and for one moment Taichi thought the surprise would keep Yamato speechless

“impossible” but he was wrong “Listen, he thinks he can reason with them, that somehow they are still his children…”  Taichi close his eyes tormented by what he was about to said

“It was an act of  treason”

“He is not…”

“I'm talking about you”

Death silence, Taichi must give Yamato some credit, he did not step back, instead he stand as tall as he was

”What?”

“You disobeyed my direct order”

“You can't be serious”

“You disobey an order of the King in favor of your friend in war time” Kouji said “That is the definition of treason” his nerves were contagious, his pupil remains kneeling without looking at any of them “one of many, master”

“So, what is this?” he hold his breath “a trial?”

His own voice resonate in his head, a trial, on the throne room of the coral palace; just as that time, to his left he saw the vestigios of the old jail, the site when he and his best friend where prosecute for crimes against the crown.

A fool he was, to young to be a coward, barely seventeen when he enlist on the army of the Islands, or at least that was his lie, everything to join Joe on his journey, they fought against the tropes of Genai, they saw their friends die, they march from the paradise to hell in a war without end, and after survived it they escaped.

Quit  the army was a crime punished with  death, and Yamato was sure that if Joe wouldn’t be a Kido their trials would be unceremonious.

And there, in that same throne room Joe had begged the King, stop the war! ours brothers are dying, and the Cold King just laugh

“No” Taichi answered and Yamato was force to back to the present, and his lover stared at him, behind his eyes Yamato recognize something that he has never saw before, not in him “I just need to know that is not gonna happen again” that he would not risk his life in Joe Kido´s name

“You are scared”

“That's not what I asked”

“You didn't ask anything” Taichi stand out while Yamato yell “ you want to lock me out? persecuted me for treason?”

“Yamato…”

He walked through the room waving his arms and shouting “The light will be delight  when you back home with my head in a pike!”

“that's not what I'm saying!”

“Then what the hell are you saying!?”

Kouji prepare his sword and Yamato hold himself,  the walls felt heavy over him, remains of others times fell over him, cold sweating cover his perfect blond hair “I mean…” a crack on his voice, words that he wants to said remains unspoken on his throat.

“I need to know that is not going to happen again…”  Taichi repeat, but this time it wasn´t an accusation but a plea, his right hand rest over his shoulder ” I need your word….”

“My word? How many promise I had done to you? I had swore my sword, my life, my loyalty, you own my secrets and my hea…” he suddenly stop and found the warm eyes of a man, not a King

“Joe Kido is a dangerous man, he allied with our enemies, he betrayed our cause” his hand hold stronger over his shoulder  “he knows to much….” Yamato felt the fire on his body, that was Taichi´s fear, that was why The Sea King was a treat “You hold on your old friend just as much as he hold on his lost children”

He cannot fight that, he cannot refuse the true, no matter how much he want it

“it will not happen again, I promise”

Somehow it´s feel like a lost, but Taichi smile with that beautiful grin he does every time before kiss him and almost feel worthy “we need to prepare for the assault to the swarm, get the tropes ready”  and the King walks through the door with  Kouji by his side and it was until they turned their back that Yamato speak again, loud and clear

“The summon alchemist”

“Excuse me?”

“He also knows to much, and Prince Takeru, I didn't told him but  he is quite perceptive and  your wife of course, I refuse to believe that she is that stupid”  he want to keep yelling, screaming, as usually he wants to fight and burn

The King stay quiet at his words, but Yamato was able to see the rage scaling by his body

“None of them are our enemies” His nervous eyes look at Kouji who once again pretend to be invisible “Their silence is a garantie”

“So, is not knowledge what you are afraid of but recognition”

“A secret remains only when no one talks about it”

“What do you know about secrets?” Yamato get close to him, none of them notice when Kouji left the room

“More than you!” good, he finally make him scream “Yamato listen! this is not about loyalties, please, this is about consequence, if people start to talk…”

All kings fear the same, Taichi was no different

“I must protect my Crown until the end, and if every son of the Island must perish then it will be like that”  The voice of the Cold King resonate on his memories, his laugh, the darkness on his eyes

“You would lose your crown”

“Do you think that is what scare me?” he look offended somehow  “that i would lose the throne if more people find out? no my love, we are not that lucky” he cup his face between his fingers “ I´m the champion of The Light, for them my life is priceless, Yours by other hand”

His life means nothing, he was pretty aware of that.

Who is this? The executioner said when he put first in line, when he defied the sentence, when he refuse to let his friend died

A war dog  And he remembered, he remembered the cold King´s look over him, it was the first time a noble man look him in the eyes and Yamato was sure that he was able to look over his own soul

He is too wild to be a dog, you are more stupid that I thought Kido, you adopt a wolf  In one of the brightest moment he disarmed the executioner You see? he is a beast, you wanna fight  pretty boy ?

In some on his nightmares Yamato still saw the cold King standing up of his throne,  picking of the sword and walking up to him, sometimes even he saw Joe hiding behind him.

What would have happened if any of his knights had helped the king? if his father had not taught him how to escape from the handcuffs? if the stolen sword of the executioner had not had enough edge?

He would never know, he had to live with what had happened, in whom he became, the sixteen years old Army defector, son of a hustler, murder of the King, The Wolf Knight.

“My love” Taichi´s voice was tender on his ears “You are here, but you are not”

Taichi who saw him with devotion, who hold him, whose greatest fear was his absence.

“It would not happen again, I promise” and this time, he mean it

Even when Joe Kido could not see them, he had no doubt that he had lost his fiercest defender. What he can see since the top of the cliff was The Light fleet. With a shaking hand he took an arrow and shot directly at the powder on the biggest ship, then he took another and another. Not a single shot failed. The Sea King watched the unbeatable fleet of The Light burn.

What time it was? what day? it´s feel so much like to the old days, those days he had lost everything too.

His brothers, his youth, his freedom

Each one of his brothers went to war and comes back in a black coffin; the old island war; the cold King again Genai the usurper; How many children of the island died in the old war?

The war would take his children too? he alloud himself to think about Davis,noble and carefree Davis, big mouth Davis, the kid with endless energy, the boy who eat every meal as if it would be his last, traitor Davis, hostage Davis.

“Can i speak with him?” he wish to sound less desperate, less concern

“I don't think that would be a good idea” Yamato speak as a friend, still Joe could see Davis blood over his knuckles

Yamato, the one that he had never lost, yet.

Sometimes, in the rainy days when Ken was still a boy and brood around the castle with his black cloak and heavy books Joe usually recall about Yamato; and treats him with the same patient and comfort that he would treat his old friend; in another life when Ken would become enough skill with the sword Joe would send him away to the capital; to train with his best friend, to learn for the masters and be the best swordsman of the land.

In the life that they had lost

“Your Sea Majesty, Jou, Jou!”  his response was slow and confuse “Jou, the king of all land ask you a question”

The King watch him with impatien; it has to be something about the heirs, they where so use to be instantly obey, that make them temperamental, a mistake that Joe made with his own son, and sadly with Iory.

No, he don't want to think about Iory

“Davis said that Iory Hida is prepare to surrender” but since when did he get what he want? “That somehow is his Master who refuse give up, do you know anything about  this master? we don't have to much information about him” Beside been next to him their voices sounds like an ecco

But Joe negate with head, he has no energy to think about Ryo Akiyama; Iory wants to surrender, a marvelous new, the prodigy son could still do the right thing. If they defeat Ryo the children would surrender, and then what?  He look at the blood in the hands of his friend one more time

“We cannot make the same mistake twice” Yamato speak with the hate in his voice answering a question that Joe was afraid to ask “Even if they surrender we cannot forgive them”

“They are children” They are my children

“ They were children, they are men now, men who betrayed you, they attack  the King!” his blue eyes doub for an instand “If we give them the oportunity they are gonna kill you Joe, i will not give them that oportuity”

The silent embrace the room, Joe knows that Yamato only has good intentions and the guilt hit him, he wish that he was willing to stop him, if Yamato where his knight a simple order will be enought. Why Yamato agree to serve Taichi was a mystery for him.

“Do you have any idea where the rebels are hiding?”  Taichi interrump what it feel like a private moment

Ideas? He has plenty of ideas, tousan of theories but just one that make sense “The swarm”

“The swarm!” Yamato recall “of course” and along with him jump over the map that hang out the wall; Taichi look at them in confusion “Is a group of small island in the south; they are many, at least a dozen, but the ground is rocky and infertile, access is dangerous if you do not know the place, but is the perfect hide”

Joe hate the way Yamato talk to the King, as if he was an ignorant child, a sweetness that was unusual in him

“That is the place to which we must move our troops” Taichi celebrated

Joe despise how the King look at his friend, as if he belonged to him, as if he was one of his properties.

“But we must be careful, they must have lookouts on the routes, those are dangerous waters”

The hand of the King travel to his knight shoulder “I'm sure you can manage it” fondly eyes and meaningful smiles, they move together in a synchrony that was ridiculous; again they remind him to his lost children: Ken and Davis use to move like that too.

A thought that make him feel like the most stupid man alive,  a sudden revelation that snap him back to reality, he knew Yamato, he knew his past and his hearth, be the lover of a upper class gentleman was no strange behavior for him, but this…  he cursed the ocean and the sea

He stand out as tall as he was “For how long?”

“Well i hope not to much” Taichi´s smile offended him “i mean.. we want to end this war as soon as possible right?”

But Yamato notice his change of attitude, and for Joe annoyance he put himself between he and the King.

Maybe the revelation wouldn´t hurt that much if it wasn´t for the lies, the hypocrisy, Taichi, the king of the light, the light who persecute and imprison impures...

“Joe what´s wrong?” Yamato try to approach to him but Joe shake and come far from them, he can´t even look at his friend anymore

“Sora knows?” he try to yell “did she?” memories of the dozen of letters he share with his dear friend flash before his eyes, her loneliness, the rumours about her health...

Taichi´s grin broke down “How do you know? i mean.. what are you talking about? “

The smartest thing would have been to keep quiet, keep his suspicions to himself, avoid claims to the most powerful man in the continent “You know very well what i´m talking about Taichi Yagami!” but he has lost his patient too “You are a fraud, you broke the votes you made to your so acclaim god”

Taichi stay stuned by Joe accusations

“You don't even denied, did any law mean anything to you?” Joe try to make sense in his mind, both of his hand rest over the table, “Do you think you own him? that…. that you can use people like him just because you have power over them!”

“He is not using me!” Yamato reacts “Its not like that, please stop!”

Joe turn to him, no longer avoiding his eyes “I expect more from you”

His words hit the Knight more than any sword did before, Yamato clench his teeth and contain the sorrows “Well… that was your mistake”

“who are you to judge him? you…” the king yell at him ” Everything you own has been earning by his hand, he fought for you! he Killed for you! he won for you! you are not alloud to… you  have no right…”

“You have no idea what are you talking about”

“You either,  you think you know him better than me? Do you know that he spent these years pleading  to come to your rescue? he was so sure all of this was too much for you "

Joe take a stept back, was than true? a look at Yamato and he knows  Taichi was right, but the rage has no disappear “You have a wife”

“You too! but if you ask me you see more concern about those ungrateful bastards that you call your children than for your actual family!”

If he could, he would hide behind the table, close the curtains of the windows and demand everyone to leave him alone, Taichi dealt a fatal blow to the little that remained of his emotional stability.

“They are the ones who need to be saved, you do not know mimi, she ... she is an extraordinary woman, I have no doubt that she has the strength to ... to protect our son and herself; and despite everything I trust that Iory will not allow them to hurt her "by saying it out loud, with Yamato and Tai judging him, he realized that he sounded even more foolish than when he repeated it to himself.

A nock of the door force them to calm down, or at least pretend to be

“Sir, I´m so sorry” Kouji enters the room with a small chest between his hands “A letter from the rebels and this” The three of them rush into the package, Taichi took the letter that was address to the Sea King

“They demand that we free the Ikkaku Island and thet we release Davis, a proof that we are serius… what they mean by that?”

Joe open the chest and his world collapse

He lost control, he lost hope, and dear god on the abyss Mimi lost an eye

“We are not gonna surrender, they are blaffing, this is a sig of desperation” Yamato try in vain to encourage him while Taichi make an efford to not trow up.

Ryo finally was showing his cards, this must be his work, Iory was burning the ships, who knows who else would drag him along.

“My son…” he barely speak  before  storm out of the room

“follow him” Taichi order “and Yamato…” he came closer  “make sure he doesn't make or said anything stupid”

.

.

.

Yamato found him on his room, crying and shaking

“I would found them “ Joe look at him, without worried for hiding his tears “I would keep my promise, i would save the queen and the Prince” he sit next to him “you know i will”

“Do i?” a bitter laught “I don't know who you are anymore”

“Or you do” Yamato lay down “ I don't need to tell you anything, you just know…”

“Still it would had been nice if you just told me” but he smile with an apologize between his libs, just as he use to do, and a tiny light of hope ignite inside of him; that was Yamato, his defender, his friend, maybe they could save his family, all of them “What about Iory and Ken?”

“Taichi doesn´t understand your fixation with those kids, Joe… to be honest me either…”

“And i don't understand your fixation with the King, He is... “

But all  hope crumbled as soon as it appeared, three words and Joe knew Yamato would never been in his side again

“I love him” and even worse “And.. i think he loves me”

Such a profound declaration, a much more horrified secret  

“Yamato… this is not right” such a waste of words, Yamato has done so much for others in the name of respect, honor, friendship, but love? he knew, sadly, that Yamato has never feel loved before.

Now there was nothing in the world that Yamato was not able to do for Taichi

He had lost his friend, just like he had lost everything else

“But I understand ” he lied “ I´ll not said anything, i just need to be alone for a while, please, i´m sure that you have a lot of things to get ready before the assault to the swarm”

The Crown had declared the veto. On the Capital of the Living Land it was forbidden the loud music, the festivals and the civil unions. The Light dedicated all its religious mass at the well being of the King, the pagans painted black signs over their doors and every child that dare to born on the time of the veto was named after the King or one of the heroes that hadn’t return to home yet.

On the middle of the angst of the city, was The Queen, inconsolable woman who soon could be an inconsolable widow, left behind without a heir.  Sora tried her best to pass all her anger for sadness. Taichi had left her to fight in a war that didn’t need him, just to pass his time on the company of some beauty that wasn’t she; and if he died by his stupid decision the royal family, The Light and the royalty of the Burning Mountains are going to argue all over if she had to conserve the throne or it is going to pass to Hikary Yagami, who hold the blood of The King. The right to be Mother Queen.

“Mother Queen” a soft voice called Sora.

To her surprise it was Hikary Yagami the only one who called that. The irony of the life she gues.

“Mother Queen” Hikary called again “The kids wish to sing a song on your honor”

She passed the morning listened at the children, surprised that they can sing when they barely eat. She could go at the orphans and the refugees and let the people get amused by her present, but no matter how many times Hilary explained the blesses of the crown, the Queen still felt that standing and clapping was quite useless.

At least the young girl has recovered the color of her face. Sora cannot stopped to remember the trembling of the girl who jumped of the balcony.

“Thank you, for all of this Mother Queen” the girl repeated with dearest “You truly doesn’t need to do me any favor”

“Don’t talk like that” the queen answered “you are part of my kingdom and the sister of my husband, we are family Hikary”

Takuya opened the door of the royal carriage and the princes and the Queen found them face to face of Takeru who was guarding the Queen.

Hikary left the carriage with hurry and run discreetly at her chambers. The prince was a statue looking at her missed steps and as soon as the Queen called for him he left, leaving Sora alone with Takuya.

“You had to apologize at the prince, your majesty, he is passing…”

But the Queen just walked by him and entered the castle. The day was young and she was unoccupied. She was bored of the drama of the children. Hikary Yagami had to be able to get the vows at the Light and Takeru must to married one of the many, many girls who would jointly passed the rest of her days with the handsome prince. But the life wasn’t that easy.

Walking by the palace, she heard voices on the war room.

“I assure you that your fears are senseless” it was the voice of the summon alchemist “the King is going to come back victorious”

“You cannot know that” it was the voice of her mother “we hadn’t  had notices from the expedition since they left, it is a war, he could be death”

“I trust that the true god of the Light would kept him safe”

“And I know that I am not the only one worried by the survived of The King”

“Madame?”

“Or are you going to tell me that The Light has no words about the married of the sister of the King”

“The wellbeing of our sister Hikary is one of my biggest concerns and you had know by now that I had insisted with the King and Queen of the burning mountains to aloud their daughter to do the vows” Said the alchemist after an unusual pause. The heart of the Queen raised at the possibility of freedom for the poor girl.

“The married of the princess of the mountain and my nephew is a trick to snatch the throne from my daughter”

“I don’t really understand why you called me to this reunion, your highness”

“Because the cousin of the King is serving on the army of The Light and if the King doesn’t come back my daughter is going to need to marry him as soon as possible”

Before the Summon Alchemist answered Sora opened the door.

“Mother!” the Queen scream “what are you doing?”

“Darling, you come back early”

“What are you doing?”

“Some business with the summon alchemist, nothing that you had to care about”

“How you dare? how you dare to discuss my remarried when the King is still in the war and at my back”

“This is not are your back” the oldest woman said as she fans herself with boredom.

“Don’t you think that I had to be present to discuss my own marriage?”

But the mother didn’t answered.

“It is my duty as the royal adviser and your mother to look after you, darling”

“Majesty” Sora said “you had to call me Majesty, I am the Queen”

Toshiko stand up and left the room without hesitation.

Sora stayed, imagining a thousand of ways to stab her.

“If you allow me to said it” the summon alchemist talked “the King is going to came back with life”

“I don’t allow you to tell me nothing” the Queen said “You are not qualified to give me any advice”

The Queen turned the back at him and walked at the door.

“You must converted at the Light” the man said “you need better advices that the ones that your mother could give you, your majesty”

Sora closed the door behind her, letting the mysterious man alone.

Her mother want to married her again, her husband could be death or loving another person and the woman who was her biggest threat was the kindness and sadness  girl that Sora had never know.

The castle was in silent when the night arrived. Sora was tired of the stillness. The dresses weighed over her body,  the mute of her mother and her court were even heavier on her heart.

She undressed herself and take the black hood over the old dirty armor that she had stolen some years ago.  As so many nights before The Queen opened her widow and scaped  to came to the highest room of the highest tower of the castle. She closed the door and ignited the torches on the ceiling. Only the birds on their nest wake up.

Sora knew that this secret was also a lie. The Light was watching. The guard could see the light turning on in the tower. Takeru was skilled enough to noted her absent. Even then, she needed to do it this way. So everyone could lie to each other.

She had a sword, a bow, an axe and a spire. And a little room. And her anger, her energy to waste against imaginary enemies. The wedding dress was hanging close to the door, she could cut it the times that she wanted and sew it together the next morning. A pass of her sword and it was parted again, the heavy skirt fell to the ground as the breastplate was still haggin of the ceiling.

How much she hate that dress. She cursed the day of her wedding, when the Light come to overshadow her father's legacy. When Taichi made her promises that he cannot fulfill. When her mother sell her to best bidder.

She was sweaty, tired of moving the sword, to jump and exercise for a war that she cannot win. Why everyone could fight except she? If only she could left the King, punished him for his ridiculous coldness, if only she could kill Izzy Izumi.

She stopped at the thought. The summon alchemist, the head of the Light on the Capital, death by her hand. She could started a real fight against The Light. What a silly thought. A silly and stupid child hidden in a tower imagining killing the men that make her unhappy.

A noise on the stairs and the Queen turning to saw at the intruder.

“What are you doing here?”  Her mother asked with an annoyed tone.

“You know what I am doing here”

“You are embarrassing yourself and me”

“Yes, this is so about you”

“Well, if I it’s not me, why don’t you tell me what is wrong, darling?”

“What you think? The Kingdom, the war, the people on the street with hunger and cold, the Light hunting sinners, the name of my father dying and you doing nothing to help it.”

“I have done everything to help you.”

“You married me with a liar!” Sora yelled.

“I married a liar! All the Queens had married liars and murders and stupid, stupid men, Sora, that's what we had to do.” Toshiko scream too “I convinced a King to married me with tricks and low lies so my daughter could had dozens of kings fighting for married her, who cares about your dump husband Sora? he could had been the first of many, the only thing that you should had done was to be pregnant for when he had left you, but your little pride got in the way. God know why you are like this.“

“You think I’m don’t want to get pregnant?” the girl asked incredulous

“I think god doesn't want you to be pregnant, your to weak to raise children.”

“It’s all your work, mother”

The cold hand of her mother slapped her on the face.

Sora scream and cry as she raised the sword that she still hold on her right hand.

The sword stopped at an inch of her mother´s neck. The older woman doesn’t even blink, her cold eyes were over her wrecked daughter.

“You should be better than this” She whispered.

Sora dropped the sword and lost the least of her sanity. Her both hands pushed her mother away of her, the queen mother backed down to steps, her left foot get tangled with the skirt of the old wedding dress and the right one slipped on the worn floor. Sora saw the dark stairs behind her mother and raised her hand to pull her safe, but her fingers get an inch of her mother’s. Toshiko fell and Sora saw red blood over her wedding dress at the bottom of the stairs.

Suddenly, the silence of the night turned terrified.

“Mother” Sora called on a quiet voice. But there was no response. The bloody body kept inmovil on the bottom of the stairs.

I had to go and check her, I had to go and help her, maybe she just need help

Sora repeated the words on her head. But her legs were on the floor and her arms were trembling as her chest and her lips.

“Mother” she repeated.

The bird on the high nest over the ceiling fluttering its wings, trembling one of the torch.

Sora looked over the small creature and its small eyes. If only it would be her only witness.

The mortified girl stand up and extinguished all the torches on the ceiling, living the room on the darkness. She could left the place, pretend that she never left her chamber, fake surprise when someone found the death queen.

Since the dark of the night on the highest tower, Sora saw a light, a tiny candle shining on the window of the tower of the Light´s church. She could not saw with clarity who was the figure standing on the window holding the candle, but she can guess. The Queen light up a single candle on the window and for a moment, it felt as a conversation. The light on the other window extinguished. And Sora waited.

The Queen finally came down the steps until the corpse of her mother. Her neck was broken and the white wedding dress was impregnated with the blood. Sora kneel next to her and closed her eyes.

A calmed steps are getting closer. The Queen turned to face at the Summon alchemist who had come with two guards behind him. He had a candle on his right arm and she still had the old armor.

“I will turn into the Light” She said “And you are going to fix this”.

He didn't know what scared him more: the shackles, the silence or the cold blue eyes that watched him since the door.

Davis expect a dungeon or a cell, not a dinner with the King and his hunting dog.

The King smiled at him since the other side of the table, part of him wonder if the food where poisoned, the part of him who wasn´t to busy devouring everything. Once there were no more than empty plates Davis finally speech

“Are you gonna kill me?” Davis wasn't the kind of person who circle around difficult topics

“If we wanted you death, you wouldn´t be here” the voice of the Wolf knight was almost as cold as his eyes

“Yamato please…” Yagami seems casual and relax, but Davis didn't let his guard down “I want to talk to you Davis, you know, since that time we face each others on the chosen children tournament I had always want to talk with you”

“Bullshit”

The Wolf Knight drew his sword but the King stopped him

“It is true, at that moment you remind a lot about myself when I was young” Davis didn't know exactly why, but he believe him

“So what?”

“So, I know you are confused and lost Davis “ His smile was warm and his voice calm “I´m give you an opportunity, a last chance to do the right thing: work with us, join our side and….”

“You want me to betray my brothers”

“Don't interrupt at his majesty”

“Brothers? is that how you call them?” The King continues as if he  didn't listen at his knight “You three betrayed the Kingdom first”

“Your Kingdom?”

“Joe´s Kingdom, and let me tell you, I can understand Hida and Ichijouji seek of revenge; but you Davis? you are not  truly a son of the sea, if you ask me you have more a mountain look”

“I'm not gonna betray my brothers”

The sword in the hand of the knight move faster, deadly faster but again the King hold him back.

“Do you know why was posible your capture?” Yagami stand up of the table “Ichijouji shot me an arrow while you were fighting” he smiled “my army respond to his tread, did you honestly agree with that? You? the same man who refuse to kill his enemies? Ichijouji broke the accords of a battle, if you ask me, the men you call brothers doesn´t share your honor or your bravery, I know you are not like them”

“You don't know me, or them,  I trust them with my life”

“And that's why you are here and not them” The King walked around him, his long cape make him look bigger, not just that, he was so different from the Sea King or even Iory, he didn't have to convince anyone about his royalty “Ken Ichijouji has no honor, and Iory Hida is so consuming by his desire of revenge that he kidnap innocents and refuse to surrender in an imposible war”

“It wasn´t Iory”

“Then who?”  Too late he realize his words were inappropriate

“Who?!” the knight repeated when he refused to answer the King

“Our master” Stupid boy, Ken would be so disappointing of him “Our master Ryo kidnaped the Queen and.. he is the one who refuse to surrender”

More terrifying than the King were the steps of his executioner “Where are the Queen and the prince?”

“I rather die to condem my brothers” Ishida approach to him, turn the table and with just his right hand he pick him up

“Where is the Queen?” He repeated only a few inches of his face and Davis spit on him

The cold hard floor and and punch in his face was totally worthy

“Enough Yamato!” The knight stand back; they were dancing around him “You rather die, i understand, you loved them, your brothers” For a moment it's seem like the King where doubting “is it fair to call Ken Ichijouji your brother? or it would be another word more appropriate for your relationship?”

Every insult that he knows he yell at the King until the knight shut him once again

“Did you finish?” One movement of his hand and Yamato stopped “Davis, do you know at the desert Queen?” And odd question, he taste his own blood on his mouth

“We meet her years ago, when she was still a princess” the memory of Jolei warm his hearth, a past time when everything was simpler.

“I'm sure you hear about her parents deaths a few months ago, she herself is a extrange Queen; single, young and  intelligente”

“That's Jolei” Davis didn't understand why he bring her up

“Yea, for what I know, she and her sister didn't get along, Joe was supposed to married her but he chose Mimi; a resentful queen; and she is a friend of you and your brothers right?, here is my question: Why is  she not helping you in your little rebellion?”

it's took a while before Davis understood that the King actually expect an answer.

“I don't know!” dam him “I´m not the one deciding those things, Ken is the strategist and… “ his head hurt so badly “Why you care?”

“Did you know she has a son?”

“What? No I don't” what was the point?

“Are you good at math Davis?”

“Just fucking said what you wanna said”

“Her kid is a little over two years old, he has blue hair and dark eyes, his father is not a desert man that's for sure”

For the first time in all night Davis keep silent