The Girl in the Woods

Chapter 3

After the king's woeful death, Queen Vixra declared herself the new ruler of the kingdom. The castle remains the same, but the ambiance changed. No longer light can pass through the walls nor the thick draperies on every window. The kingdom is surrounded by darkness as the new ruler reigns. Poverty became rampant and people began to scream for justice, but they are no longer heard. And whoever defies her and swears no fealty will be punished; that is death.

In the throne room, root throne it is called, limbs circling underneath the seat, a queen is seated fiercely and a crow is sitting proudly on its mistress' white, smooth knuckles. The queen is wearing a black long sleeve dress with a low-cut neckline top with a black cloak with a high collar. Her head is adorned with a black crown made of horns of an unidentified animal. Next to her throne is Moki, sitting proudly on his throne as the right hand of the queen. Wearing his black sleeveless tunics top with a thick black cloak paired with cheap leather black shoes. His hand rested on the grip of his sword, hung on his side in its gilded scabbard.

Queen Vixra straightened her back when a soldier in his heavy metal armor came in. The soldier kneels at the foot of the raised platform where the throne is, puts his hand on his chest, bows his head, and greets the queen.

“My honor to be back, Your Majesty!”

“Is there any good news, soldier?” Queen Vixra asked. She summoned some soldiers to continue searching for the whereabouts of the previous King's daughter. It has been almost eighteen years but they haven’t found her. After the fall of King Hudos, she commanded all the soldiers to kill the female babies that are the same age as the King’s daughter to make sure that the only descendant of the King won't be able to avenge her father.

“My apology, Your Highness. We searched everywhere but we didn’t find the baby.” The soldier said apologetically, still bowing his head as he cannot meet the eyes of the queen.

As soon as Queen Vixra heard what the soldier had told, her eyes narrowed, inflamed with anger and raging like a demon.

“i***t! Such a useless bastard. How can you find the princess if you’re still looking for a baby? It’s almost eighteen years, stvpid!”

She then let out a devilish laugh and raised her hand and swerved it. The ground started to shake that panicked the knights that were standing side by side in the aisle. The kneeling soldier lifted his head and right in his naked eyes, he saw the creeping roots and vines that were moving towards him breaking slowly the ground to let out more roots. Horrified of what he saw, he still manages to beg for his life. He shouted for mercy but the Queen turned a deaf ear to his entreaties. He didn’t even finish his words as the creeping roots and vines strangled and lifted him from the ground. Simultaneously, the queen did another gesture and the roots moved and took the soldier in front of Moki. Moki, who didn't have any idea, looked at the queen. The queen nodded, doubtless Moki unsheathed his sword and s***h the soldier's neck. His blood spurted, gushing like a stream. His head rolled down the floor right in front of the knights. Horrified and scared, the knights averted their heads abruptly with eyes intensely closed. In their minds, the queen mercilessly slaughtered another innocent one just because of a single mistake.

The roots and vines gobble up the soldier and with the queen’s other gesture, the ground opens up its mouth, the roots and vines slowly creeping down, swallowed by the ground together with the soldier. The ground then closed as nothing happened.

“Ser Randall!”

Queen Vixra's voice echoed as she called one of the knights. Ser Randall is one of the knights who surrendered during the attack of Moki to the Kingdom under the reigns of King Hodus. He is one of the trusted knights of Frio alongside Rainier, who lead the legion of armies. Frio told them to lead the defense during the attack, but they failed to protect the Kingdom. Queen Vixra uses her wicked power to defeat them which causes a lot of casualties. The queen exterminated those who were shouting their loyalty to King Hodus and defying her. Ser Randall and others who surrendered had no other choice but to join them to save their lives and their families.

“Yes, Your Highness?” Ser Randall came at the foot of the platform and did a polite gesture, bowing his head with the hand on his chest.

“Lord Moki will lead to finding the daughter of Hodus...”

“My Queen, why is it me?”

The queen halted when Moki cut her off to complain. She darted at him with a death glare that made him close his mouth intensely pressing his lips and took a breath roughly. His jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth. Since they reign the Kingdom, he seems to have no voice to speak. The queen seems deaf to his notions and intentions. She proceeds, telling Ser Randall that he has to go with Lord Moki to lead the search for the King's daughter.

“Lord Moki, I trusted you in the search for your niece. I think you have an idea on how to find her?” Queen Vixra is insinuating that Moki has an idea to find his niece and how to end her life. She wanted Moki to execute his niece rather than herself. Like how he executed his brother eighteen years ago. She then smirked.

Moki has nothing to do but follow the queen's command. He then went to discuss the matter with Ser Randall. They summoned the head of the army, Rainier, to join the discussions for their plan in searching for the girl and the knights who saved her.

“Lord Moki, why do you always follow her command? You may refuse if you don't want to,” Ser Randall said when they were out of the throne room and heading out of the palace on their horses to meet Rainier and his few armies.

“How can you say that to the majesty, Ser Randall? Don't ever let her hear you say something against her,” Moki said. In his mind, he is cursing against the Queen. Ser Randall is right.

He is always following her command without giving him a chance to speak for his opinions. He plotted a rebellion against the King because of Vixra's promise for him to be the next King. Lord Moki has been envious of King Hodus because he was favored by their father, the late King Amon of the South. He is an illegitimate son of the King to a commoner who serves as a servant of the palace.

Ser Randall shakes his head. ”We can no longer withstand the injustice and merciless rulings imposed by the Queen,” he thought as he put pressure on his legs commanding the horse to speed up. Ser Randall then led them to Barker Hill where the armies were trained under Rainier's supervision as their commander.

They arrived at the camp where men are trained to be a member of the army. It is surrounded by metal stakes with lighted cressets mounted on the metal poles. Metal stakes are put to protect from any attacks The shouting, the clanging of metals clashing, the whinnying of horses stops when Lord Moki, Ser Randall, and three other knights come in after the metal gate opens. Rainier, who is commanding the armies, immediately comes to accommodate them. He boobed a curtsy when he reached in front of Moki as a gesture for their Highness. Similarly, the rest of the armies stopped their activities and bowed their heads as soon as they saw Moki come in.

“How may I help you, My Lord?” He said, afterward.

“We have to discuss something very important and I need you and your armies' cooperation,” Lord Moki replied, walking towards the pavilion. Rainier got up, but before he followed Moki he looked at Ser Randall. Ser Randall slightly nodded and he got the message that he wanted to pass to him.

Ser Randall looked around as the armies started their activities again. In their realm, armies from the South were known for being versatile and well-trained during King Hodus' reign. It is mandatory in the Kingdom that every man who reaches the age of twenty will undergo intense training, know how to endure pain, and conquer the battle. Even the horses are trained for battle in the future. They were also trained to trample the body of fallen enemies, bite, and kick in command. Though they are under a different ruler at the present, Rainier still uses the same skills that he used to do during the previous King's ruling. The only difference is that there are merciless punishments imposed by Queen Vixra to those trainees that she finds weak. Soldiers who cannot master their training in their given period will be persecuted. Rainier is against it, but he has no choice as he doesn't have the power to go against the Queen. Whoever opposed will receive the wrath of Queen Vixra.

Moki immediately sat down on the chair as they entered the pavilion. The pavilion is a large pyramid shape made of linen, wool, and poles. The sides can be dropped or lifted depending on the weather. It has an enormous space that can accommodate a group of people. The chair was put on a raised platform and in front, both sides have small tables and cushions where the rest can sit.

“It is the Queen's order to do a thorough search to find my brother's daughter,” Moki started. Rainier turned his stares to Ser Randal who was sitting opposite of him. Ser Randall nodded to agree that Rainier is confirming what Moki had said.

“Rainier, I need some of your armies. Those who are well-trained and smart, not those like the Queen chose and failed to find the ....”

“How many armies do you want, My Lord?” Rainier asked, looking intently at Moki who was sipping the tea that the servant served for him.

“Give me those who are loyal to me and can fight against those three knights,” Moki answered. He knows the capability of Frio, Orlando, and Kitler. They are the best warriors of the late King Hodus alongside Ser Randall and Rainier. They were known in the whole Kingdom as the best knights and warriors of the Kingdom of Asteria. Their names are feared by the warriors from other Kingdoms.

Ser Randall cleared his throat, “Lord Moki, may you wish me to help Rainier to choose for you?” he asked.

Moki rested his chin on his hand and slightly rubbed his beard with his fingers thinking about what Ser Randall had asked. He then decided to agree. In his mind, he wanted to impress the Queen. He wanted to please her, hoping that finding his niece is his way to tame her, give an ear to all his notions, and wholly capture her heart. He joins Vixra's plans for rebellion eighteen years ago because of his ambitions to be on his brother's throne and to be with her. Ever since, before the Queen married his brother, he is already attracted to her and promised to himself that he will do everything to win her heart and be her King. Queen Vixra found out his will and they both plotted a rebellion and became successful in their ambitions to reign the Kingdom. However, when they started reigning the Kingdom, Queen Vixra became untameable and he had no voice to rule the Kingdom.

“Randall, you know that I trusted you, do what makes you think you can help me find that girl,” Moki responds and drinks his tea until the last drop, puts the cup, and leaned his back against the chair, restlessly.

Their meeting ends and Moki decides to go back to the palace, gets down on the platform, and quickly storms out of the pavilion followed by the three knights. Ser Randall, however, came to Rainier and slipped out secretly a small scroll in his hand. Rainier threw him a questioning look, but Ser Randall mouthed to him that he needed to go. Rainier then quickly kept the scroll underneath his armor on his chest.