Chapter 12 - Clear Concern

It seemed Julia's wish to get out of underneath the breath of James would soon come into pass. They were slowing down as they approached the outskirts of Northlake.

"We are here!" James exclaimed happily. He obviously wanted Julia to be happy like him.

Julia feigned a smile. She waited for him to put her down as the horse had finally stopped moving. But James was thinking otherwise, he leaned closer to her wrapping his hands round her body.

Julia gasped. She didn't know how to resist this. She closed her eyes slowly but she opened it immediately as she heard heavy footsteps.

Harold had gotten off and was walking towards them. His face was like he would pull James off the horse angrily.

"You should get down right now" he said to James sternly. He looked away from them. He was definitely not pleased with their closeness.

"Yes, I'm coming. Down" James chuckled. He helped Julia got her feet on a side. "Help her" he winced.

Harold grabbed her and put her on the ground on her feet.

This place didn't look like a place where they would find someone that had secret to make James a king. Apart from being low, the entrance of a cave. It seemed deserted.

Julia kept looking at the weird cave trying to make some sense out of it. James finally got down from the horse. He moved very close to Harold and they had something like head to head talk speaking in low tones.

"You like this place?" James later asked Julia after they had obviously come into conclusion.

"Is this a place?" Julia spilled.

"Go around over to the top" Harold instructed the guards. The guards moved immediately.

"Are you sure he is still here?" James asked Harold.

Julia felt something strange. James wouldn't be speaking about this man like this.

"We don't know if it is a he or she yet" Harold looked around. He was definitely searching for someone.

Everything had now become confusing for Julia. She needed to ask questions but it must be in a way that wouldn't expose her.

"I wish we find someone. I will not just ride out here without a fulfilment" James seemed to be doubting Harold.

"He is here and he is inside this cave" Harold laughed and moved into the cave. He walked halfway into the cave, he stopped and blocked the way like he wanted to catch someone.

He leapt to a side then to the other. He kept changing his stance quickly, but he was the only one in there.

"What are you doing, Harold?" James broke out in confusion. "You are alone in there" he said angrily.

"You will see him" Harold jumped to a side and pinned someone to the ground. "When I catch him" he groaned and turned to them. He was holding a young boy by the arm.

The boy tried getting away from him but he couldn't.

"The invisible vampire" Harold chuckled. "You believe me now?" he asked James afterwards.

"Please, don't kill me" Gawel begged.

"What are you doing here, in this deserted cave?" James asked him calmly.

"I will tell you everything if you give me your word not to kill me" Gawel grunted.

Julia knew instantly, Michael must have sent Gawel here to spy on James. She avoided looking into his eyes to prevent any surprises.

"You have it" James promised. "Who are you and what are you doing here" he asked again.

"I am Gawel the son of Ganlin" he said boastfully. "Michael sent me here to know what you are doing here. Is that enough or you want to know more?" Gawel asked.

Julia's heart skipped a beat. Gawel was obviously going to say everything he knew. Michael made a grave mistake sending someone like him.

"How did he know I'm coming here?" James asked slowly.

"Isn't that obvious?" Harold cut in suddenly. James raised a hand to him to keep shut.

"I don't know anything about that but what I will tell you is that he wants to become the Alpha King. That's the truth behind his fake smiles" Gawel couldn't keep quiet. He kept talking.

"He gave you a mole, James" Harold warned again.

"Stop. Just stop, Harold" James shunned him.

"Now, let me go, big man" Gawel said to Harold but he only tightened his grip on him instead of letting him go.

"Harold! I gave him my word" James said again strictly.

Harold let go of Gawel reluctantly. Gawel disappeared immediately.

"We are done here. Let's get back home" James seemed too upset to think about Julia right now. He left and mounted his horse.

Harold kept staring at Julia as he walked to his horse. He surely believed Julia was the mole working for Michael.


***************

Gawel appeared back home. He landed on his feet. He bent with his hands to his knees. He gasped for breath.

"Quite a run" Ganlin said right on top of his head.

"I told you it is a trap" he yelled at him. He stood up to meet his father's sour face. He was obviously angry about something.

Gawel remembered quickly, he didn't like it when he yelled at him. He shrunk away from him.

"Come back here and don't yell at your father again" Ganlin warned.

"It is a trap" he repeated calmly. "James caught me" he disclosed.

"Getting caught means you are careless. It doesn't make it a trap. You should be subtle, no one should be aware of your presence" he said while walking away from him slowly.

"That was not possible because they came there looking for me" Gawel rushed after his father.

"Wait" Ganlin stopped suddenly. "He caught you and let you go?" it seemed something had struck him to make him disbelieved that.

"He gave me his words to let me go" Gawel spilled mindlessly.

"Gave you his words in exchange for what?" he questioned.

"For information, like who I am, who sent me and such unintelligent questions" he replied casually. He felt there was nothing wrong about that.

"What did you tell him, Gawel?" Ganlin was stern again like he had done something wrong.

"I told him I am Gawel the son of Ganlin,I don't the likes the name. Do not worry" he shook his head.

"You told him who sent you?" Ganlin was still not satisfied with his response.

"Of course,I told him what he already know to save myself, why are you sounding like I have done something horrible?" he asked with a little bit of anger.

"The horrible thing you did was getting caught. You would have heard them when they were close" Ganlin retorted.

"I think you should be happy for seeing me alive again not scolding me for fighting for my life with my mouth" he turned away from Ganlin.

Ganlin was strange with the way he used to think. He was blaming Gawel instead of applauding him for returning alive.

"So you have told him about Michael?" Ganlin breathed deep.

"Didn't he know that already?" Gawel shrugged his shoulders.

"And you just cleared all ounces of doubts he might be having" he said remorsefully.

"And I come back home alive, isn't that the most important thing?" he argued with his father. He wanted him to know he was approaching this in a wrong way.


"Do you think he let you go because of what you said. I'm sure Michael must definitely have a way of saving you from him in case of any danger" Ganlin explained.

"That reminds me, I saw the five thousand gold coin maid. She looked terrible like a mole. She must be working for Michael too" Gawel blurted out. "Did you tell James about that too?" Ganlin asked in amazement.

"No. But I was going to mention that if the man gripping my hand didn't let go. He seemed sure the maid is a mole. If I had supported that, we would be friends surely" Gawel smiled as he remembered what he just experienced.

"You are smiling. Do you know what you have caused with your carelessness of being caught?" Ganlin fumed.

"I will stop smiling" he assured. He didn't believe he had done something wrong like his father was making it seemed.

"You have landed Michael and the maid in a big trouble. Now we have to find a way out of this mess you have created" Ganlin continued walking away, shaking his head pitifully as he was going.

Ganlin could be so overreacting sometimes. If Michael and his maid were in trouble. It had nothing to do with them. They should face their troubles in the palace and Gawel and his father should also mind their home.

They have enjoyed for a lot of time in the palace. If the palace now became no more conducive for them. They should face it and blame no one for it.

Gawel jumped up high to the top of a tree. He started jumping from one to another. He didn't need to worry himself with whatever had happened. At least, he was on his own when Michael came and chose him to run his errand.