Shadows: Lord of Vengeance

Chapter 18- Missing.

Micah's POV:

"It's been two weeks now, and Kyran has not returned yet." Ajal said, palming the paper to the table. I looked away, avoiding to meet his gaze.

I had just gone through the reports and they were a total mess. Without Kyran here to keep things under control...

"so, what do you suppose we do... Micah?" I heard Noel ask from my right.

He was looking at me with a questioning look. I could see disapproval written clearly all over his face.

I closed my eyes, a hand against my forehead as I released a sigh.

In frustration.

"I need a moment to think..." I whispered.

"But..." I heard Noel object, but I was already on my feet.

My palms on the table, "meeting dismissed." I said.

And I was very well aware their eyes were on me, as I walked out the tent.

The fire in my blood was beginning to boil. I hadn't felt it boil for a long time lately. Something was very wrong.

* * * * *

I sighed through my nose as I finally made it to the top of the hill, opposite the camp site.

I watched the sun set slowly down the horizon. "If only I had told him the truth... things could have been different now." I thought to myself, my eyes not leaving the sun as it continued to set down the horizon.

"Then why didn't you do so?" I heard a familiar feminine voice from behind me. I slowly turned around and found her staring at me. A soft smile across her face. It was...

My wife... Myria.

"Myria?" I called, fully facing her now. "why didn't you tell him?" She asked, I didn't even realize when when I began to stammer.

"I didn't mean..."

She cut in calmly, "tell him." She added, not moving.

"Tell our son, Kyran. He needs to know." She finished with a smile. "He needs to know so he can fight." She said, "I know but..." I saw her edges slowly blurring.

"You're afraid." she said, smiling faintly, as she faded slowly. "don't be... he's your son." she finished. Her hands blending into the environment like they were never there. She was running out of time. "Our son." I corrected, and she smiled. "our son." she repeated before fading away.

I smiled faintly at the empty place, where Myria had been standing moments ago. And tears began to well up in my eyes.

Philoi's POV:

As distressed as I was, I was disheartened at the fact that my friend had been missing for two weeks now.

The thoughts alone hit me like a hard brick as I patrolled the camp to ensure everything was secure and alright. I was still engrossed in the fact that my friend could hate me forever if he found out that I had known the truth as well... when a soldier came running by like he had just ran a race.

"What's wrong?" I asked, "your highness..." he said, breathless. "what?" I asked, irritated and out of patience. "Her highness, daughter of King Tolomeo. Princess Aphrodite is here to see you." He said, still panting. "when did she arrive?" I asked shocked. "just a while ago." he replied. "alright." I said, inhaling deeply. "lead the way." I said, gesturing for him to lead the way... and did.

- - - --- --- ---

We approached a tent, which was strictly for visitors and royals especially. The soldier excused himself, and I made my way in.

The tent was partially dark, and she was sitting on a chair, a cup of tea in her hands, her back to me. "Here I am." I said, a faint smile on my face. She gingerly lowered her cup, and turned around to face me. Slowly.

"I need to talk to you." She said, her emerald green eyes pale. "what is wrong?" I asked, panic slowly setting in. "I want to get married." She said reluctantly, looing down at her hands.

"what?!" I yelled at the top of my voice. "Are you okay?" I asked, unsure of what I had just heard. She looked up from her hands, "is there something wrong with what I said?" She asked sweetly and calm. A voice so calm, it could soothe you anytime, but I didn't need it now.

"Yes!" I yelled, walking around her. "Everything is a total mess, and you're talking of marriage?" I asked, "well yes." She said defensively. "try to get my point, Aphrodite. I'm Ajal's cousin for gods sake." I said, turning to her fully and holding her hands in mine.

She looked into my eyes, before pulling her hands out of my grasp. "I don't care if you're Ajal's cousin." Aphrodite said, her golden hair catching the sunlight.

"You have to understand..." I said, trying to talk some sense into her. But she cut me short, "I don't want to understand." she said almost yelling. "I came here just to tell you this, why aren't you happy?" She asked me, searching my eyes for the answer.

"I want to tell you something important Philoi..." She said, walking towards me... I stilled as she held my hands in hers. "I really do..." She didn't finish, before I pulled my hands reluctantly from hers. She gasped. "All I know is my friend is missing and I have to find him... and you're not helping by being selfish." I said, she just stared at me speechless.

I could see hurt flash across her face. "I didn't mean..." I didn't let her finish, before I added. "Forgive me if I can't abandon my best friend for your sake." I said, anger boiling within me and clear in my voice as I said, "excuse me." before walking out.

* * * *

Micah's POV:

"If Philoi doesn't find Kyran before he does... what do we do then?" Ajal asked, still pacing round the tent. "I don't know." I admitted. He paused, as if thinking something over before turning back to me.

"What if... he finds him before Philoi does?" He asked a hint of fear and concern on his face. I looked up, slowly. "Then our worst fear, comes true." I said feeling more helpless than ever before. "we can only hope." I finished, and Ajal understood, cause he only nodded.