Chapter 21: BEYOND THE VEIL OF OBEDIENCE

FLASHBACK

“Carlos! Carlos!!” I yelled as I approached the training ground; he was already mobilizing the warriors for the attack on the Western Coast; he was assuming the Commander position.

‘If I proceed with the anger in me’, I thought to myself, ‘I won't only distract the training, but it will also seem disrespectful before his trainees. I don't want it to seem as if ‘the commander and his assistant are fighting’.

“Can I see you for a second?” I asked calmly, quickly suppressing my rage, masking it with a bright smile. I signaled my finger a little high as if asking for his permission.

He paused and stared at me. “Sure, sir,” he said, his expression pale; he knew I had never asked for his permission. He knew he was in trouble but his expression showed no remorse.

We stood a distance away, where I knew we wouldn't be heard. “Since when did you start reporting to the king of war afares when I'm here?” I asked calmly, still trying to know his real intentions.

“I don't understand, Commander,” he replied calmly, pretending not to know what I was talking about.

“You sent men for a peace treaty to Western Coast, without my consent…” I asked and paused to get his reaction, he smiled a cold smile.

“And they slaughtered the men, you still didn't tell me…you went ahead to tell the king!! Why did you think I made you my assistant, Are you out of your mind? Don't you know I can–”

“You can do nothing, Commander Loren,” he cuts me with an unexpected boldness, a cold, one-sided smile etched on his face as he slowly raises his head. His hands cling to each other in his front.

“And by the way, Commander!!” He continued, his gaze directed into mine, something he had never done before. “You didn't make me your assistant; I earned it from the elders, and you know what else…” he paused and perceived the rage in me.

He continues, “You only became the commander because you are the king's son. You were never competent, like Kael! That is why you are afraid of his return!”

I felt a sharp strike of Betrayal in my spine. I was speechless. I had sensed a rebel was growing, but I never thought it had gotten this far; I never thought it would be Carlos; I could see a different kind of Carlos standing before me. A Carlos that has been blindfolded by his quest for power.

I stepped forward to him to feel the breath of his boldness, I sent a sharp gaze into his eyes, and I could see a great quest for power that has been nursed for so long.

“Carlos,” I started, my voice cold and menacing, “When you stire the snakes nest, don't be surprised when the venom spills.”

“Beware, Carlos, the fire you kindle today will be the flame that consumes you tomorrow…”

“When you dance with the devil, don't expect to leave the dance floor alive.” I sighed heavily and continued “I see what you are doing…Are you sure you aren't biting more than you can chew?” I asked rhetorically.

“Remember…do not play with the lion's tail, whether it's alive or it's dead! Let's see how far you will go with this.” I ended up leaving him to ponder over my next actions.

As I approached my chamber, a plan unfolded in my mind, and I smiled a cold smile. ‘Carlos will be put in his place. I know exactly how to handle his kinds’ I muttered to myself.

***

‘The great dawn has come’ I thought to myself as I crept into my father's chamber in darkness. My hand tightened to my sword.

“All the witch needs is his Tongue and the left eye.” Mother's words resound in my ear, feeling with a sense of urgency.

I stood in the shadows as I watched the faint rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. I knew killing my father was something I would never do. But I can deliver the witch's wish and still keep him alive.

His pleas for help flew through the air as I hung on him. I pressed his mouth to avoid further screams, and I carefully sunk the double-edged dagger into his left eyeballs; I could feel his screams in my bones as the blood gushed out. While reeling from the pain of the eyes, I carefully amputated his tongue, and I watched him groan in pain until he looked helpless.

I carried him to a dungeon. A place I knew he could never be found; it is only the Commanders and the Kings that know that part of the kingdom. The secret dungeon.

The body organs have been extracted, his blood littered all over the room and on his bed. It is time to clear the mess. I came out of Father's Chambers, shuffled my hair, and dressed. Myself well. I carefully scanned the environment, and I got a glimpse of Marcus passing by.

Marcus is a five-foot-young hairy beta with timid brown eyes. One of the packs is beta, alongside others who now serve as a warrior after Zara killed my troops in the Darkwood forest.

“Where are you going to by such an ungodly hour?” My voice came through, abruptly bringing him to a halt.

“Commander Loren, sir!!” he replied, startled by the voice he bent his upper body low in respect. “I am going errands for Commander Carlos!!”, he said, his voice steady.

My ears tingled, and my eyebrows raised “Who is Commander Carlos?”, I asked intrigued, he was never called ‘Commander’ but rather ‘The Assistant’

“The Assistant ordered us to address him as Commander Carlos, henceforth, or be killed”, he said in fear, still bent low

“Go immediately to Carlos and report to him that the king wants to see him in his Chambers right now,” I commanded, with all urgency.

“Ok, commander,” he replied and ran off speedily.

I headed straight to Elder Ragnar's Chamber; I had to get a witness before I framed him up. Fortunately, I stumbled into Elder Ambrose discussing with Ragnar.

“...but the Queen told me she has a plan of eliminating the so-called girl behind Kael—” I over Elder Ambrose's conversation when I stumbled in

“Commander Loren,” he said; startled by my presence, he said, “What brings you to my abide at such an hour?” Ignoring his guilty countenance, I proceeded.

“There is fire on the mountain, Elders, Someone has been suspected of wanting to kill the king”

“What!!” They screamed unanimously

“Yes”, I continued, “You both have to follow me right now to the king's Chamber to identify this suspected murderer,” I said, giving them no options.

“Who could this be?” they both asked as they took their walking sticks and followed me.

On entering the king's Chamber, Carlos was already inside, his sword on his waist and the blood littered before him.

“What!! Carlos, what have you done?” Elder Ragnar asked in shock. “Where is the king?”

Carlos's face was etched with surprise and fear, unable to explain what he had just walked into.

“I swear I didn't do anything, I was just told that the king wants to see me and then I came and—”

“Carlos!!,” I cut in, my voice cold. “So this is what you've intended to do with my father, to kill him??” I screamed as I dragged his collar, sending him down with some punch. “how dare you, Carlos? How dare you?”

The screams drew the warriors at the borders to the king's Chambers, and they all stood in shock at what Carlos was allegedly caught doing. The elders were short of words as they roamed through the room, carefully walking to avoid stepping on the littered blood.

“Where is his body!!?” I screamed at him, my gaze fixed on his.

“Loren, I don't know, I didn't kill the alpha.” he cries in pains

“Guards!!” I called out, “Lock him up”. I saw innocence and sincerity in his eyes but he made his choice. He kindled the fire and now the fire consumes him

PRESENT

The cold early morning wind paraded within the castles, calmly sending waves of dreadful memory down my spine. The thoughts of my actions yesterday night still flooded my mind; the tongue and thumb of my father hung on my hand as I paced forth and back in Mother's chamber while I waited for her to come.

Carlos has been kept where he wants to be, for now; no trace will come to me.

I heard footsteps approaching closer, and I knew it could be her; from the numerous footsteps, I saw she wasn't alone; I quickly hid the raw organs I wrapped with a leaf.

I quickly sat on the one-seater sofa as she entered. On seeing I'm in there, she quickly dismisses her maids.

I jolted up immediately “Mother, it is done!”

She paced slowly like a deadly cat and looked into my eyes. “Now you are my child,” “I got the news about Carlos; did you have to bring him in line?”

“He was a threat that needs to be handled” I replied.

She smiled a cold smile. “How did you dispose of his body?”

“Let's leave that for now, Mother,” I said, “this is the organs.” I stretched it over to her, “We need to be quick mother Kael would be trooping in anytime soon, and his rage would be intense when he discovers the king is no more.” I said my voice low.

“Your part is played; leave the rest to me,” she said, smiling mischievously.

“Now who would be the puppet?” I asked curiously.

“Our puppet has always been available, Lyra. She aided Ren to escape, so she should pay for it.” she paused and walked close to the door.

“Get ready, son, the show is just getting started,” she concluded and left.

The weight of her words hung in the air as I reeled through my thoughts