Chapter 4
Bellamy is about to say something to Lincoln in return but there's a knock on their door followed by the boy from earlier entering the room but curiously this time without the girl accompanying him which for some reason makes him more nervous than it should.
"Where's the girl who was with you before?" Bellamy asks before the boy can even utter a word.
"She umm, she wasn't feeling well and is sleeping in her room." The boy replies almost like he himself is unsure of that statement.
"Really? That's a rather sudden illness isn't it? Maybe I could go see her and try cheering her..."
"No! No, she could be contagious. There's a healer coming to check her out and until then she shouldn't have visitors." The boy snaps anxiously but calms down some when he notices the look on their faces.
"The King's orders or yours?" Bellamy asks not entirely believing the kid's excuse.
"The King's of course. Speaking of which, he's requested your presence in the great hall. Follow me and I'll take you to him." The boy says but Lincoln noticed something in his voice that made him think Roan had no clue the girl was sick, if she even really was.
They follow the boy for what seems like a long time and Bellamy is about to ask if they're lost when he smells food. They turn a corner and the smell gets stronger. He guesses it's coming from behind the set of huge double doors at the end of the hallway. The boy comes to a halt right outside the doors and turns to address them.
"Just go through there and take a seat, the King should be along shortly if he isn't already in there."
Bellamy waits until he's around the corner and out of earshot before saying anything.
"Was the kid always that disdainful when he mentioned Roan or did we just not pay attention before?"
"Perhaps but maybe we should mentions the girl's supposed illness. I have a feeling the King doesn't know anything about it."
"Maybe. Let's get this over with." Bellamy says with a sigh pushing open the great hall doors.
Once the doors are opened they notice a huge table lined with all sorts of food ranging from meats to cheeses to breads. Bellamy is about to head for the table realizing just then how hungry he truly was when Lincoln stops him.
"No one eats till the King does, Azgeda law and tradition."
Bellamy sighs reluctantly heading towards a table to sit down. They don't have to wait long for Roan to enter the hall and once he arrives he allows everyone else to get their food. Bellamy is trying to decide what meat he wants when a voice from behind startles him.
"The boar and bear are both exceptional. Once you've gotten you're food I'd like the two of you to join me at my table."
They both nod and Bellamy decides to try them both. They take their seats at Roan's table and begin eating. After a few minutes Roan speaks.
"I think that come morning you should be on your way. I can point you in the direction of the last place he was seen but I will do no more."
Bellamy is furious and is about to explode when the little boy comes around with something to drink and pours some into their cups. Lincoln and Bellamy share a look as Roan thanks the child. Once the child is gone from the hall Bellamy turns back in time to see Roan place the cup to his mouth ready to drink and smacks it away without thinking. Bellamy instantly knows he fucked up and is trying to figure out how to explain himself when he notices the hush that's engulfed the great hall. Roan suddenly grabs Bellamy and pulls him across the table where he slams him up against the wall and holds him there with one hand while forming a fireball in the other.
"Wait! Please King, hear him out. There is an explanation that has nothing to do with disrespect I assure you. Please at least allow him to explain his actions before deciding on killing him." Lincoln pleads and to both their relief and surprise the fireball dissipates and his grip loosens.
"Very well but it had better be a damn good reason. Everyone out, now! You may come back in half an hour to finish dining. Echo place a few guards at the door. No one enters until I say. Is that clear?"
"Yes, my King."
The woman, Echo is the last one out of the room and once the doors are closed Roan looks at Bellamy as if he was a stain on his clothes that won't come out.
"Talk!" He bellows startling Bellamy in the process.
"There's something about the boy, the one who poured the drinks that I don't trust. I can't really explain it except that it's this feeling almost like dread when he's around and I feared that your drink had been poisoned in some way. The girl that was with him earlier when he showed us to our room, are you aware that she's apparently ill? He told us that you had sent for a healer when we asked him where she was." Bellamy quickly explains and hopes that Roan doesn't think he's crazy, even if he, himself is starting to wonder if he is or not.
"And he was rather adamant about us not going to see her. It just didn't seem to add up. Not to mention there's a hint of disdain when he talks about you." Lincoln elaborates.
Roan looks at them skeptically but walks to the table and grabs his cup off the floor. He sniffs it and then yells for a guard. Two men enter but Roan sends one of them back to their post and focuses on the other one.
"Drink this." He says handing him the cup with some liquid still left in it.
The guard does so without hesitation, much to Bellamy's confusion. It seemed that Azgeda warriors where completely obedient to their King and follow his orders, any orders without question. The guard is about to say something but he's suddenly gasping for air, clutching his throat and collapses on the floor where he begins convulsing before his body finally goes stiff.
"It would seem your fears were correct. Come, we shall find the boy and I'll send Echo to check on the girl." Roan says without so much as blinking an eye at the guard he essentially killed, making Bellamy wonder how many others had lost their lives in such a manner in their service to their King.
He doesn't wait for their reply of agreement and simply walks towards the door, knowing they'd follow him which of course they did.