Chapter 6

" Put her down this instance!" A new voice commanded

The man carrying her hesitated in his step. He turned around to look at his boss, who could give him new orders. His boss was not suprised by the command but he sure was irritated.

'How dare this man issue commands in my house? ' he thought.

But since he didn't want any repercussions for his actions, he nodded his head. The man carrying Nalani gently lowered her to her feet and backed away. Nalani wondered who was this man, who saved her from a nightmare. Who had more power than Cain? She was indepted to him and she didn't like it.

A man whom Cain feared was not good news. He must be worse than anyone she has ever seen. What will he demand from her as compensation for saving her life? What did he want from her? And why would he save her when he barely know her? She was bombed with question after question.

The man eventually revealed himself, after taking his sweet time. He moved away from the doorway and allowed everyone to see him. The relief she felt evaporated and was replaced by worry and fear. She had seen that man before. The day the King passed through the town. He was the skinny man who paid for the king's apples. Why was he here?

She felt the exact same way she felt back then. A sense of worry and dread. He was so skinny that you would think he was sick, although he looked perfectly healthy. Apart from his skinny body, his eyes were black and hollow. Looking at them felt like looking into darkness. Nalani didn't like this man and her instincts were not wrong. Something was off with this man and she didn't want to stick around and find out.

" Sir Carl ,what brings you in my humble home?" Asked a humble Cain.

You would think he was the same man from a few moments ago. In front of Sir Carl he looked like a puppy.

" I came to see you but it's a good thing I came at the right time" Carl said angrily

" How can I be of help then?"

" You can help me by releasing this girl to my custody"

" What?" Cain was too surprise to hide it.

" Do you have a problem with that?" Challenged Sir Carl.

" N-no.. Sir...it's just that, this woman owes me alot of money"

" How much?"

" I'll have to check my books first to be sure"

" Go ahead and do that. " He ordered.

Cain left the room hesitantly to look for his books. He didn't want to leave the girl alone but Sir Carl had more power than him. He could destroy him in a few minutes, so he chose to let him win, this round at least.

The man they called Sir Carl walked towards Nalani. She didn't know whether she should wait and see what happens next or she should run for her life. Although looking at the size of this house, she would probably get caught before can locate the exit. She gathered all the courage she had left and waited for this man to make a move.

" Hello, my name is Sir Carl and you must be Nalani" he extended his hand for a handshake.

Nalani was confused by two things, one, how did he know her name? and two, why was he being nice to her? She stared at his hand before she reached out for a hand shake. When their hands touched she felt a cold shiver race through her back. What was that? She pulled her hand away and pretended to have felt nothing.

Sir Carl only smiled.

" You can all leave, I want to talk to Lady Nalani alone" he said.

Nalani didn't want to be left alone with this man. What if he is a murderer or worse a psychopath. Could she get out of this house alive? She was still in her early twenties, she had her whole life ahead of her. She can't die now. What of her dreams? Her ambitions? She won't let herself die here today, she decided.

Sir Carl must have noticed her uneasiness, as he backed away and went to seat on the chair available.

" Do you know who I am" he asked her

" No..should I? " She answered as confidently as she could.

" You might not know me but I know you. I have known you your entire life"

" How do you know me?" Asked a curious Nalani

" Your father"

" My father?"

" Yes. Your father was my best friend. We have known each other for years."

" I don't believe you"

" Your father's name was Maximus, he was beheaded when you turned twenty for being a traitor"

" That is common knowledge, everyone knows that"

" Do you know what is the meaning of your name?" He asked

" No! But am sure you are going to tell me"

" Nalani means serenity of the skies. The late king gave you that name"

" What?"

" You see, your father and the late king were good friends, so when your mother had you, the king requested to name you and that was the name he gave you"

" The same king who ordered my father's demise. What kind of a friend is that anyway"

" The late king didn't order your father's beheading. The current king did."

" You are spewing nonsense "

" Ha! No one has ever spoken to me so casually. It is so refreshing " he laughed.

The laugh only annoyed Nalani further. What did this man want from her?

" Could you get to the point please, I have to go home and rest"

" Ooh! Yes. Long story short, I helped you and your mother by giving you a place to stay"

" Why would you?"

" Even if your father was deemed a traitor, he was my dear friend. The shack you lived in was mine. I tried taking care of you two as much as I could without raising suspicion."

" If what you want is a thank you, then , thank you for your help sir. I will be going now" Nalani turned to leave but she was stopped by his words

" Don't you want revenge?" He raised his voice.

The one thing Nalani wanted more than living a normal life was to get revenge for her Father. Her father didn't deserve what happened to him and she will make sure he gets his revenge.

" I can help you ,you know"

" I don't trust you" she said bluntly

" Trust is to be earned. I will gain your trust in time"

" What if I don't want revenge?" She crossed her arms and laid them on her chest.

" I would want revenge if I were you. What they did to your father was criminal and unacceptable. He didn't even die a dignified death" he snapped.

His reasons made sense to her as she felt the same way. Her father deserved so much better than he got. As far as she knew the current king was responsible for everything that happened to her family and as she was a peasant she had no way of getting in the castle.

" I can see the wheels of your brain turning. You are wondering how to access the castle"

" Let's say I do trust that what you are saying is true, how do I get in the Castle?"

" I am your ticket to get in anywhere in the castle"

" How so?"

" I am the king's most trusted noble man. We are close ,if I could put it in lame man's language"

" How can I trust you when you work with him ?"

" Before I became the king's most trusted noble man, I was your father's best friend. Besides I will never forgive him for what he did to my friend"

" Now you have a good job, why would you want to ruin it?"

" Wouldn't you do anything for your family? Absolutely anything?" He asked with a wicked smile on his face.

He looked creepy when he smiled, perhaps he should avoid smiling for now.

" I would, they are my family. But he was just your friend, my father I mean"

" Our friendship transcends friendship. We were like family, so you can imagine how I feel each time I see the king" he sneered

" Interesting...." She trailed off.

" First things first, how to get in the castle"

"  You already have an idea?"

" Of course I do, I will get you hired as the new maid. You will have access to the castle that way. I will try to get you promoted to the king's chambers after a few months to avoid any suspicion "

" You seem to have had this planned for a while"

" Actually I have. I have been searching for you since you moved away from the house I provided. "

" I wanted to start a fresh"

" I can see that, but you went ahead and got yourself involved with criminals "

" Huh! I didn't know they were criminals " she defended herself

" Fine. One more thing..."

" Now what?"

" I am sorry for the loss of your mother, she was the sweetest woman I have ever met. Her presence will be missed"

Nalani lowered her gaze to the ground. When people mentioned her father, she would get angry but when they mentioned her mother, she would be overcome by grief in that she would cry sometimes. However this was not the time to cry, she will cry when she gets back to the privacy of her home.

" I will contact you in a few days, go home and rest. You will need it, especially when you start working in the castle"

Nalani gave a small bow and left quickly. She ran all the way home and when she was finally in her small room, she allowed the tears to fall. She was angry, sad, defeated, grieving and annoyed all at the same time.

" I will get my revenge, no matter what it costs me. I am willing to pay" she said.