THE ANCIENT HUNT

THE TAKING OVER

Argan matched out to host his wife's funeral and the King was present because she was his sister, his sadness was evident because of their bond, they were siblings after all but Argan just had to pretend to be sad in his own case, he was so happy to send her off as early as possible

"You really should have stayed longer baby sis, you didn't even enjoy your marriage on earth, you were so sick throughout, I hope you are in a happy place right now so I won't need to worry about your health anymore" The Great Maeil lamented as her dead body was brought out of the room and placed on the pile of woods that has been well arranged.

The incenses were burned by the husband and the family which was the king and several bows were delivered by everyone available before Argan was given the lightning torch to light up the woods since he was the closest family and the one in the right position, he was the husband. The woods went up in flames within seconds which made some of the slaves around cry as it started to burn the dead body, she was a nice lady to them during her healthy life and it was sad to see her in flames but Lebby's face was expressionless, she could not be read, her emotions were not on her face but her insides were jumping for joy, she was the happiest person in that gathering because her number one enemy was gone and her path has become clearer.

"The new dawn is me, I will make sure I establish that, just endure the fire for a while even though it is burning hot, it will be over soon" was the only thing that was playing in her head as everything was happening in front of her, all the wailings and cries didn't move her a bit.

The body got burnt to ashes and the ashes were collected into the urn before it was handed over to Argan who was expected to either keep it in the house forever or just spray it to the wind or the ocean as a goodbye ceremonial rite

Everyone dispersed and they were talking about how it was a relief she had gone to rest because it was a pain for her lying on the sick bed but Lebby didn't utter a word, she was just busy with her assigned chores

"You should be one of the saddest people because you have been tendering to her all these while but here you her just doing your chores as if nothing happened,won't people talk about you and call you a wicked b***h?" her friend remarked and she turned to her in anger, she was tired of how everyone was saying that she was expressionless and that she didn't cry all day, she could no longer ignore their rants

"Did anyone tell you that I'm not sad? do I have to wail or jump into the fire before I can express my sadness? what's wrong with all of you? do you want to see my tears that bad? should I cry into a bowl for you? so you can drink it and be satisfied?" she lashed at her and stomped out angrily

"She didn't have to get that angry though, I was only asking because I was concerned about her" the friend muttered as she watched her go and saw someone went into Argan's room but she didn't care since the person was just a messenger and he wouldn't dare come in if Argan didn't send for him, she went on her own way to take care of her assigned chores

"The crop I planted is to be uprooted today, what do you think about that?" he asked her as she came in, he was already changing into his war uniform and she just silently moved closer to help him put it on properly before kneeling in front of him and did a huge bow which is always made to the King

"Long live my King" she greeted and he smiled

"You are proving yourself to be the perfect queen I needed and I couldn't be more happier, I don't think I will have any trouble ascending the throne and enjoying it to the fullest thanks to your wisdom and unwavering support" Argan remarked before picking up his sword from the hanger and stomped out to meet the waiting troops

The messenger that came earlier had come to notify them that the scroll has been found and the hunters will be on their way the following morning but just as planned, Argan gave his instruction

"Kill them all, do not leave any evidence no matter how small" he instructed as he stood up to dress

He sent signals to the proper headquarters that their fight would be taking place that very night and they all sprang to action

******

The king arrived at the palace after the funeral and was down with sadness, his only sister was just burnt into ashes before him and he couldn't express his sadness the more, he asked for large amount of liquor to be delivered so he could drink his sorrow away, given his present condition, he didn't even realize that it was a new maid that brought the liqour and that new maid was Lebby who gained entrance into the palace thanks to Argan, she had requested to take on that task so that the mission's success would be higher since if they drug Maeil, then they will have upper hand

She brought the drinks on the royal tray with her hair braided before being rolled and tacked with a pain just like the normal hairstyle for the maids in the palace, her uniform was fitted in all angles just like others or even more and she swayed her hips elegantly as she passed the spiked drinks to the royal taster who took a sip and waited for a while before passing it unto the king.

The drink didn't have any effect on her because she only took a minimal amount but thanks to Shael, the King was able to gulp down more than half of the bottle when she played her erhu.

Shael appeared in the King's room with her erhu in her flowing cream robe which was covering every part of her body, her hair was woven into two solid braids and tied at the base to hold them from losing, she covered her face as always and held her erhu dear to her heart as she came in

"My dear King, can this servant of yours ease your sadness a little? I don't think you should just be like this for tonight" she askes respectfully and the King's face brightened up a bit, she was his favorite after all

"Go on, I want to hear you play more than anything tonight" he managed to reply and she sat down carefully before playing her erhu with her face covered, she played soulfully and sorrowfully with so much emotion that the King cried and gulped down his drinks cup after cup

"Don't you think on a day like this, I deserve to see your face? You should remove the veil" he asked drunkenly and she stopped for a while to remove her veil slowly

She didn't apply any make up but she was so beautiful, her skin were smooth like that of a fresh mango fruit and her pointed nose was peeking from the side, she gradually turned to the king to show him her beautiful and perfect face which she only show once in a blue moon

"How come you are always so soothingly pretty? your beauty is unmatched and you also play so well" he complimented with a smile

"You flatter me my King, it's all thanks to your care" she replied

"You didn't protest about not showing your face today, I guess you must have wanted to comfort me so bad" he countered

"Because I thought and realized that if this can make your heart a bit better, then I'll gladly do it" she stated before resuming her song and Great Maeil couldn't be more happier

The sound coming from her erhu was having so much effect on him and he didn't realize when the drink started to take over, he was feeling sleepy and dizzy but his head was spinning at the same time

His eyelids were as heavy as a log of wood and he could not think straight, the room was spinning in front of him and he held his head which was splitting apart in pain

"Stop! Stop! Stop right now!" he yelled and her hand left the string immediately

He immediately knew that something was wrong with the drink and he has to act fast, he managed to stand up but ended up staggering before noises were heard in the palace, every maids were running and screaming as the palace was invaded with strange soldiers.

The securities at the gate have all been taken care of thanks to Lebby who spiked their dinner, she had come into the palace earlier and carried out her own part of the mission which made the rest easy and a success

"Kill everyone you see, this is a new dawn, we will be waking up to a new world" Argan roared as he marched towards Maeil's chamber

It was the noise that attracted the attention of Mica, Shael and Maeil who was in the room together, the king tried standing up but he ended up staggering and it dawned on him that he has been truly attacked

"You all should find your way out, here is not safe anymore, look for somewhere to hide" he yelled at them and they were confused but thanks to smart Mica, she dragged Shael up and held her hand before running out with her through the other exit leaving the erhu behind

Argan burst into the room with his sword and Maeil was shocked as soon as he saw him, he was not expecting it to be him at all

"Seeing how you can't close your mouth, you must be really shocked to find out that it's me" Argan remarked and Maeil stood silent for a while before laughing hard

"My hunch was right after all but I didn't even have you in mind, so was this why you killed my sister? You didn't even wait for her body to cool down before you drew out your sword" he replied with the alcohol flying from his face immediately

"Your sister has always been a liability which I have successfully taken care of and also you don't deserve to be on the throne anymore because you are the crop that I planted and I, the gardener doesn't want you in my garden anymore" Argan stated and the great Maeil scoffed before picking up his sword from the right side to defend himself

"What if I say no?" he asked with a smirk

"I'm afraid your opinion doesn't matter at this point, when I say I don't need you anymore, you don't have a choice" Argan replied as he charged forward and cut him down immediately before turning to the direction of the room where he heard a gasp

It was from Shael who refused to run away but instead hide to see whatever was happening, she disappeared into the cold night as he approached the side of the room but she was pursued by him, Mica seeing that they were about to be caught up with covered herself with her extra robe she had in hand and waited for Argan purposely while Shael who was oblivious to this kept running with the hope that she was behind her, she only looked back at the sound of the sword cutting someone down and going back into its sheath and it turned out to be her favorite maid, Mica!

she wanted to scream but she saw her shook her head in pain that she must not, she covered her mouth and hid herself behind the huge flowers close to the bridge till Argan turned and matched towards the queen's chamber. She ran back to help Mica who only smiled at her and told her not to worry about saving her

"I really loved serving you so I have no regret, I know you love the king so much but I hope you will not seek revenge, just go and live with your uncle quietly and stay alive, that's all I ask from you, you must not stay here any longer" Mica managed to say before giving up the ghost

She closed her mouth with her hand and cried so much silently while muttering multiple "I'm sorry" and got up before she was seen by any soldier and get killed, she found her way to the tunnel leading outside, it was Mica that showed her the way one day when she wanted to sneak out of the palace without Great Maeil's knowledge

Argan marched to the queen's chamber and she was having the time of her life with her maids because they didn't know what was happening in the palace since her chamber was far away

She was having her new clothes tested when one of the maids ran in breathing heavily to announce what was going on in the main palace

"My Queen, the palace is on fire, the king has been killed and the rebels are heading this way, you need to take cover" she announced and the queen was gripped with fear

"And who is doing something that terrible? who has the audacity to break into the palace?" she yelled

"the chief priest, Argan and some other officials, everywhere is a mess" the maid filled her in and she knew she had to take cover like they suggested earlier

"I refused to die in that wretched piece of s**t's hand" she muttered as she pull off her robe in seconds, she dragged Chepi who was close to her and put it on her forcefully

"you will be the queen as of this moment do not take a step out of this room" she said to her and hot tears flowed from the poor's girl cheeks

She exchanged clothes with her and ran out of the building as a maid with some other maids trailing behind her while Chepi was busy crying about her cursed destiny

"What do I do? will I get killed this way?" she cried to Morgan who ran in from outside and understood what was going on immediately

Morgan ran closer to her and removed the robe immediately, she pushed Chepi out of the room so they could run for their life and was met with Argan who was already approaching the room

"I can tell you the location of the queen in exchange for my life if you give me the chance" Morgan stated trying not to cower in fear

"You are bold for something that doesn't have an extra life, what gives you the chance that I will accept your deal?" Argan remarked and Morgan bowed to his feet

"If the queen is left alive, she will come seek revenge with the help of her people, this humble servant of yours is just trying to help you prevent future trouble that may arise" she replied smoothly and Argan smiled

"I found myself another gem" he muttered before asking for the location and she stood up to lead the way

They got to the fermentation room and Morgan opened the door to show the queen who squatted at a corner waiting for the opportunity to escape, she knew that Argan would never think about hiding her there but Morgan who saw her heading there earlier exposed her to the enemy she was running away from in exchange for her life and because she wanted to get revenge on the queen for whipping her just because of a stain she spotted on her clothes that she helped wash.

"Here she is My Lord" Morgan declared with a smirk as the queen watched her in horror, she was trembling and sweating hard as she saw him at Morgan's back.