Chapter 16 - Sick Stranger

Michael was obviously stunned as he turned around and saw Julia coming into his chambers.

Julia looked very sad. James and Harold had left for somewhere. She didn't know when they planned it and she felt she had failed Michael.

"The long face again?" Michael asked casually.

She was expecting him to ask how she had come into his chamber but it was another thing that spilled from his lips.

"I didn't know when they planned it" she went straight to the point. "They didn't let me know about it. He only told me when they were already on their way" she said sadly.

Michael hugged her tight.

"Is that why you are sad?" he asked.

"I failed you. I don't even know where they went or what they were going there to do" she continued sadly.

"I have been expecting him to suspect you and I think that has started now" Michael said casually. He was not feeling bad at all about that.

"You mean he has found out?" she asked.

"No. But it is normal if he doubts you" Michael assured her. "And only one journey that we didn't hear about won't stop me from sitting on the throne. Just make sure you keep your beautiful face till you will become the Queen" he consoled her.

"The Queen?" she couldn't believe him. "You will make me your queen?" she was very surprised.

"Who else do you think will be more appropriate than you?" he asked.

"Is this for consolation or a real promise to be fulfilled?" she could only doubt. She only believed Michael would discard her once he achieved his aim of becoming the King.

"A promise, not only a promise. It is a prophecy" he joked. "If that makes you feel better, that is the truth. I will make you Queen Julia" he ascertained.

"But why are you not bothered by James journey?" she had earlier thought he would be very upset.

"James is coming back to this kingdom to carry out whatever he learns on this journey. So we will wait for him till he comes back. Then we know what to do" he explained.

Julia was happy with the news of becoming a queen. She didn't feel like this when she heard about becoming James' wife.

Now everything should change. She would make sure Michael would become the next Alpha King at all cost.

"What do you want me to do right now?" she asked. She would be more submissive and obedient to Michael as from now on.

"Just wait for his arrival. This will be your break from him" he affirmed.

Julia chuckled softly and turned away. She was about going out but Michael pulled her back.

"You are going out?" he asked in amazement.

"Yes of course. This is not the stables" she teased him.

"This is better than the stables" he hugged her again.

The door opened suddenly and someone barged in. Michael stared in the direction of the door in anger but he became calm instantly and broke free from Julia.

"Mother!" he moaned softly. "What are you doing here?" he asked and put his hand on his head immediately. It seemed he regretted asking her that

Julia turned and found Queen Teresa staring at them. She had caught them in an awful position.

Julia hurried to the door. She should leave immediately before Queen Teresa would unleash her wrath.

"My Queen.....Your Majesty" she stuttered as she got close to her.

Queen Teresa was smiling instead of being angry like she had thought. She opened her arms and hugged her too.

It was incredible. Queen Teresa hugging her tight. She gasped for breath. She thought maybe she had a knife and wanted to slice her from behind.

"How are you?" Queen Teresa asked with a face full of smiles.

"I'm fine, my Lady" she replied politely.

"It is a privilege to set my eyes on you again" she praised her.

Julia stood before her, she was shaking visibly. All she wanted was to get out of here as soon as possible.

"You can go" she held the door for her.

Julia looked back as she was walking out of the chamber. Michael was also surprised as she was. She couldn't figure out why Queen Teresa had decided to be so nice to her.

She stepped outside quickly. It seemed Queen Teresa had known about what Julia was doing for his son.

With this act from the Queen,Julia's mind changed. These people could not be trusted. They must be doing this to make her felt important and loved.

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

James stopped abruptly. He was very sure he heard something. He looked around but couldn't see anything.

"We need to keep moving. We should get there before sundown" Harold kept walking.

"I heard some rustling around here" he pointed to a direction.

"I'm sorry. This isn't the time to listen to rustles" Harold grumbled.

James continued when he couldn't see anything. He was sure of what he heard but he had to keep moving. There was a loud thud sound immediately as he walked few steps forward.

Harold's attention was also caught by the noise. He turned back to see what had happened.

James walked back to where he was standing before. He saw an old man lying down weakly. He had just fallen heavily to the ground.

"It is a man, an old man" Harold was back beside James before he could look up.

"I can see that" James nodded. He put two fingers on the old man's lower neck to check his pulse.

"He is alive" he said as he felt his pulse.

The old man grabbed James' fingers and opened his eyes. He looked weak. It seemed he had been walking all day.

"Where are you going?" the old man asked weakly holding James fingers tight.

"Do you need to know?" Harold protested before James could come up with a response.

"There is only one sorcerer living in the next village. I am going to see him but I need help to get there" the old man seemed to be begging for their help.

"Actually, we are going to visit a sorcerer too and I guess we have a common destination" James smiled.

"I'm very sorry, old man. We can not help you. We have to get there as soon as possible. And the only thing you are going to do to us is to slow us down" Harold tapped James urging him to leave with him.

"No, we are going to help him" James insisted.

"We still have a long way to go and carrying someone on your shoulders will make it longer" Harold seemed to have made up his mind.

"You don't need to carry me, I need just a hand" the old man moaned weakly.

"And that will slow us down more" Harold shook his head. He was obviously not going to agree to this.

James bent down to help the old man up. He didn't need Harold approval to help who he wished to help.

The old man slowly got up on his feet putting a hand on James shoulder. He nearly fell back down to the ground but James quickly grabbed.

Harold stood aloof, he was not helping them. He breathed heavily in anger.

"Now let us continue" James urged the old man to start moving.

The old man was very weak. It took him long to lift a feet off the ground. They were obviously going to be slowed down.

"You see what I told you, we are going to spend an eternity on the way" Harold growled.

"Thank you, my son" the old man smiled to James as gratitude.

"You can say that again when we meet the sorcerer. And I don't think we will today, judging by the way you move your feet" James joked and both of them laughed.

"Are you from Darnley?" the old man asked staring at Harold's back. Harold had walked farther forward.

"Yes" James replied quickly. "How did you know that?" he asked in astonishment. He believed there was nothing on them that would show where they were from.

"Quentin is from Darnley and only few people know how powerful he is except the people of Darnley who can testify to that" he smiled.

"And you are a nobleman" the old man quickly added.

"Don't tell me Quentin is also a nobleman when I ask how you know that" James was surprised by that question too. That was all Harold was trying to hide.

"I have lived for a long time. I know how the skin of a noble feel. Are you not thrilled?" the old man must have guessed that and was feeling happy because he was right.

"So tell me why noblemen from Darnley would disguise all the way to seek this sorcerer that was banished away from their kingdom many years ago?" the old man actually had a lot of questions. And his questions needed to be evaluated before giving answers.

James was busy thinking how to answer his questions when he gaped forward and saw Harold standing in front of them. "You might be having his hand around your neck but do not forget he is a stranger" Harold warned and turned back to his way.