CHAPTER 20

Prince Arthur returned to the kingdom to report back what happened with the training of the Amazonians. He saw the empty throne of his father and went to his room. King Bartholomeo slightly opened the door. He was holding a wine glass and was startled by the sudden visit of his son.

"My son, is the training of the Amazonians finished?" asked King Bartholomeo.

Prince Arhur grinned, "Y-yes father, and you are right. They are strong and they work as a team. May I come inside?"

King Bartholomeo opened the door widely. "Come in, I am not preoccupied with anything, my son!"

Prince Arthur came inside and saw the wine and two empty glasses of wine on the table. He sat on the wooden chair next to the enormous bed of his father across the fireplace that warmed the entire room. King Bartholomeo closed the door and sat on the chair in front of his son.

"Speak, my son, I am listening," said the King as he sipped his wine and put the glass on the table.

"I am surprised that one of the Amazonian warriors can use magic like me. She can heal wounds and it would be very useful to us!"

King Bartholomeo could feel the excitement in Prince Arthur's voice. "Yes, what creature did you summon to train them?"

"The dark Phoenix of the celestial world, the one that my zodiac warriors failed to defeat," answered Prince Arthur.

"How did they defeat it? What sort of power or strategy did they use?"

"Mila, their leader, has an incredible mind. She analyzed their opponent's weakness and then she ordered them to execute her plans. To be more specific, they cut the dark Phoenix's wings and it fell on the ground. Then, they drowned it to the river. I was also stunned to see how great their weapons are. Maybe they are made to combat magic!"

"I cannot follow, my son. What do you mean to say?"

"Father, the fire of the dark Phoenix is extremely powerful, but their weapons somehow managed to absorb or deflect it," answered Prince Arthur.

"As they have mentioned, their weapons were created by the stargazer named Venus, who is a faithful clairvoyant of King Solomon!"

Prince Arthur's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why do you allow them to live in our kingdom? What if they betray us, Father?"

"Calm down, Prince Arthur. I can see what's behind their eyes when they speak to me. It's impossible for them to do things like that, I swear!"

Prince Arthur got worried with what he heard. "Now that I found out about it, I will keep an eye on them."

Their conversation was interrupted when someone knocked on the door. Prince Arthur walked towards the door and opened it. Queen Veronica appeared in front of him, and she looked agitated.

"Mother, what is the problem? Is there something going on right now?" asked Prince Arthur.

"Yes, my son... this is regarding the werewolves!" she said worriedly.

King Bartholomeo stood up, and his face was twisted with nervousness as he walked towards the door. "What about them? Is that news come from the spy I sent on King Solomon's kingdom?"

"Yes, my dear, and he gathered some information that might raise your hair!" replied Queen Veronica.

"I want to hear that from his mouth though. Where is he?" asked King Bartholomeo.

"He is waiting for you in your throne hall!"

King Bartholomeo and Prince Arthur went to the throne hall while Queen Veronica stayed in their room to take care of her precious jewelry. She does not give a sh*t about the warriors or anything that concerns the kingdom unless it affects her wealth. When King Bartholomeo and Prince Arthur arrived at his throne, they saw their warrior spy kneeling down.

"Stood up Denvor," commands King Bartholomeo then he sat on his throne with his chin rested on his hand.

Prince Arthur stood before his father and listened intently to the warrior spy.

"I expect you will give me some important news regarding the plans of King Abaddon!" said King Bartholomeo.

"Yes your majesty, I have some good and bad news for you. Which one would you like to hear first?" asked Denvor.

"I'd like to hear your bad news first, and make sure that it's worth it!" answered the King.

"I managed to infiltrate King Solomon's kingdom and I discovered that King Abaddon is planning to send his bandit treasure hunters and magicians to invade our kingdom in the middle of our 40th year celebration, and he already amplified their powers, which enables them to turn into werewolves!"

"That is what we are expecting," King Bartholomeo said, clenching his fist in anger. "That damn demon, he has a bad habit of ruining important occasions. And what is your good news?"

"From what I have overheard from some werewolves and magicians, King Abbadon is willing to negotiate with you... he will spare your kingdom in exchange for the tizona sword!"

King Bartholomeo shouted at Denvor, and veins appeared on his forehead. "That is f*cking ridiculous. He knew that I was not going to give it to him in the first place, and now... that cunning and avaricious werewolf, he is full of himself. Not only does he want to ruin my kingdom in front of my visitors, he wants me to surrender the tizona sword to him?"

Prince Arthur spoke with a gentle tone of voice. "That is not going to happen, father... our Amazonians will protect the borders of Alabama and we have zodiac warriors as their back up. We also have thousands of well-trained warriors and warrioress that can fight in case there are too many of them!"

King Bartholomeo gazed at his son. "It's far beyond that, Prince Arthur... the greediness of King Abaddon is worrisome and out of control. He is too blind to see what is right and wrong. I am afraid that they will invade us during full-moon, and only your tizona sword can be utilized to kill them!"

"But didn't you tell me before that tizona is what King Abaddon was afraid of?" asked Prince Arthur.

"Yes, he wants to get it, so nothing can stop him from taking over any kingdoms!"

"Then let me go to the front line with Amazonians and fight him?"

"While I admit and acknowledge your strength as a warrior and your power as a magician, we cannot guarantee our victory. I am sure that he is far stronger now that he has conquered two kingdoms. Magicians and Bandits are obviously just bait. If we fight them, we will lose our strength, and that is when he will strike. What an impeccable scheme!" explained King Bartholomeo.