Chapter 179 Opportunity lost

Chapter 179 Opportunity lost
The Forest

Freya had been grateful for the distraction that Kael had caused, all in the hope that she could leave the castle without being followed by none other than Henry. He had been hot on her trail, trying to discover where Loki's wife and children were being hidden because he desperately wanted to end their lives and leave no witnesses behind.

As soon as Freya walked into the forest and whistled three times, Loki's wife appeared from behind a large ancient tree. She smiled the moment she saw Freya’s face. The two women hugged one another tightly, overjoyed to finally meet again after not seeing each other for so many nights. Once they let go, the Queen looked into her eyes and smiled.

"These men behind me are soldiers who will take you to the carriage. The carriage will lead you out of the kingdom through the back entrance, which is not heavily guarded like the other parts of the kingdom."

"But, my Queen, there are always soldiers everywhere," Loki's wife replied, concern written across her face.

"There's no need for you to worry. I have caused a distraction at the main gates and everyone is heading there. But you must leave," Freya told her.

Freya reached inside the pocket of her cloak and pulled out a small sack of coins before handing it to her.

"Inside this sack are fifty pieces of gold. I know it is not enough, but it will help you as you start your life in the new kingdom. You need to start your life afresh." Freya encouraged her.

"But, my Queen, where will this horse carriage take us?" Loki's wife asked.

"There's no need for you to worry. These soldiers will sort everything out. In the kingdom you're going to, you will find a house and a farm for you and your children to start your lives over, far away from here. Please make sure that you and the children stay safe."
Loki's wife nodded gratefully before embracing the Queen one last time. After bidding her farewell, she gathered her children and followed the soldiers deeper into the forest.

The Queen watched as the soldiers led them through the trees, hoping that at the other end of the forest a carriage would be waiting to carry them to safety. Seeing them leave brought so much joy to her heart because, even though she had not yet managed to convince Alaric that Henry had lied and forced an innocent man to take the blame for a crime he had never committed, she was at least happy that she had managed to save Loki's family from being murdered by none other than Henry.

The Castle

Henry made his way back into the castle, utterly baffled by who could have started the fire. None of the soldiers could explain how the other fires had broken out in different places, leaving him to believe that the entire incident had been nothing more than a ploy to lure him away from the castle and keep him distracted.

Just as he was about to head to his chambers, he spotted Kael leaning casually against the corridor wall. Kael turned his attention to Henry just in time before a slow smile spread across his face.

"I heard that you had gone to the entrance of the Kingdom to put out the fire. I didn't know that this was now your responsibility as a personal fire prevention hazard," Kael mocked Henry.

Just as Henry was about to walk off, he paused because everything was beginning to make sense. It was now clear that Kael had been the one to set off the destruction, but he could not figure out why he would do such a thing unless he was helping the Queen.

"You did this, you animal! You are the one who set off the fire at the entrance of the Kingdom walls," Henry accused. Instead of responding, Kael laughed, an action that only fueled Henry's anger.

"You think just because your father is Lord Preston that you can walk around here and do whatever you want? You know that I can report you to the King for what you did," Henry said. Kael merely rolled his eyes.

"And what proof do you have that I was the one who started the fire? I bet my money that the King will simply ignore you. Remember, the King works based on evidence and not tall tales, okay?" Kael responded.

Henry knew that he was right. The King would most likely ask for evidence, which he did not have at the moment.

"I asked myself why you're helping the Queen all of a sudden. I hope there's nothing going on between the two of you," Henry said. Only then did he see the angry expression appear on Kael's face.

"Don't you dare speak about the Queen like that!" Kael yelled in anger. Just as he was about to attack Henry, he caught sight of the King. Alaric approached both men and looked between them. Instantly, they acted as though nothing was wrong.

"I don't know what is going on between you two, but I suggest you solve it as soon as possible. I do not need the two people whom I trust the most acting like enemies in my castle. Do we understand each other?" the King asked. Both men nodded in agreement.

Just like that, the King left their presence, leaving both Henry and Kael fuming at one another. After a few seconds of silence, both men turned around and walked in their individual directions.

The entire time Henry walked back, he could not help but ball his fists in anger because Kael had ruined his plans. Now he would not know where the Queen had gone, nor could he track her down to discover where Loki's wife and children were hiding. The realization only deepened his frustration. Every step he took felt heavier than the last and his mind raced with unanswered questions. If Kael was truly working with the Queen, then everything Henry believed about him had been a lie. Yet without evidence, there was nothing he could do except wait for another opportunity.