35. A Ruler

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Iker along with Phoenix was still trying to wrap their head around all that's been happening. He looked at Queen Zelda, still unbelieving that she wasn't dead. Cormac would be elated with such news and equally as upset that his father told him yet another lie. He wondered if Cormac has yet to return or if he had heard the news about what had happened. He would've surely been to Area fifteen.

Queen Zelda was relief that everything was going as she planned. Phoenix was the last finishing touch and everything will be the way it's supposed to be. The Kingdom of Seridina or rather The Fian Empire will once again be one and peaceful. It had been along time that she had searched for Phoenix. Emory was a friend of hers. She realized his dreams and wanted nothing more than to help the poor boy out.

Things didn't went well and he passed. She knew fully well who had done it. Receiving that letter from him had a done her great, now, Emory's dream could become a reality. Phoenix never thought that his father would be a man of such caliber, he was now wishing that he had met the man at least once along with his mother.

"Does Cormac know of this?" Phoenix asked Iker. They were walking side by side. Queen Zelda and Prince Rhys ahead. Phoenix had berated himself along the way for being deceived by the man he knew as Axton. He was also equally angry.

Iker shook his head, "We were trying to figure it out. Though, we haven't had a chance to really sit and talk about it. I guess we don't need to anymore." he gave a weak smile to Phoenix.

"Do you think that maybe--" Phoenix couldn't bring himself to think that something had happened to Cormac. Loosing him would only increase the pain that Phoenix was already feeling.  Iker bit on his bottom lip, unable to give Phoenix a firm answer. Even he himself wasn't sure.

The doors to the Aperian castle opened, a line of maids stood on both sides to greet their Queen. Both boys took in the sight of the castle. It was obviously different from the one Iker was use to. The castle held no hostility or anyone being kept on guard of what they did or say.

They followed behind the two not daring to stray and become lost. Queen Zelda led them to a small room, closing the door behind them to ensure privacy. Phoenix knew there was more to discuss, how things would proceed from now on. Silence followed them, the Queen not knowing where to start. She looked towards Prince Rhys who was eyeing the boy that accompanied Phoenix. Iker she believed Phoenix had called him.

"Should we start with Prince Rhys here." Queen Zelda had decided. Rhys didn't seem too happy about starting off first.

Phoenix needed an explanation as to why he did what he did. Why he went under the name of Axton and pretended to live in Pixie Tower. "I was given a task," he started off, looking at Phoenix with stern eyes. "To find you that is. Of course I didn't know it was actually you until I saw that pendant of yours."

"Why would a Prince from Arilikook come to Seridina to find Phoenix?" Iker threw a question at his vague answer. He muttered a small sorry as he thought he had interrupted Prince Rhys.

That was when Queen Zelda spoke up. It was her time to explain what had happened that bought them to this point. "I heard word of King Rhett planning to wager war against Peruel," Iker nodded, remember Arabella had told them about it and Cormac's theory which was now true. "It was a matter I could not overlook. I've seen day in day out how he treats his own people and not being able to do anything made me feel helpless." her expression was one of pain. Phoenix knew that sort of pain, not being able to help those Infront of him.

"I then visited Peruel and had a talk with them," Zelda collected herself and continued. "Aperia was small and had no major military attributes. We sought out help from Arilikook and that's when I heard of my son being married to the Princess of Laqum." It was still something Phoenix and Cormac had to discuss. For now, the sake of the future to come was more important. "It made things more complicated as we didn't know what Rhett was planning. With Princess Arabella visiting Fartonia, we needed to gain information from her without making things too obvious. We only learned what I already knew."

"What did you know?" Phoenix questioned for the first time since they arrived.

"That Princess Arabella and Ximera aren't sisters. Princess Arabella's father was the one who built the Iron Fortress and died sometime ago on his return to Laqum. King Malachi I believe his name was." Prince Rhys explained. Iker lips parted, finally putting some information to the name Malachi. Phoenix noticed Iker's sudden shocked, equally as surprised but Iker had knew more before.

Queen Zelda took it as her queue to continue, "With the worst case scenario in mind I informed Peruel and Arilikook of Emory and the Fian Empire. I was putting his last letter to me to good use." Iker wondered if King Rhett held the same sort of information in the letter that he got. "I couldn't visit Area fifteen with Rhett having watchful eyes on me and I wasn't sure on how to find Emory's son amongst everyone. That was when Prince Rhys took on the task, he came here in search of you and luckily he found you."

Zelda was the one who ended up explaining why Rhys did what he did. It didn't seem that she knew of the relationship he and Phoenix held before. Deciding it should stay that way. "And what are we going to now?" Phoenix asked, gaining the necessary knowledge from then to now was a benefit in its own way. Now, it was time to know what was to be done for the future of everyone.

Queen Zelda noticed Phoenix's urgency and replied quickly, "We'll visit the Relufian castle and meet your grandfather, then things will be left in your hands." It felt like a great responsibility was being placed in Phoenix tiny palm. The lives of those in Area fifteen had crumbled away in his palms. Now, he was holding something even larger and far greater. Was he even able to ensure the safety of everyone, even with the authority he had gain.

"I'm sure you'll be able to do it." Zelda assured him, seeing Phoenix unsure of his own ability.

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Iker sat on the bed in the room he was giving. He ran his hand along his face, still trying to process all that's been happening. It was what they would say; faith had bought Cormac and Phoenix together. The incident in Area fifteen was still fresh in his mind, trying to keep what little substance he had left in his stomach down. There was no limit to how cruel King Rhett could be.

Iker hadn't realize that he was on the verge of tears. The scene reminding him of the lost of his own parents. Many people had died that day because of the King's selfish reasons. He wanted nothing more than for Phoenix to let things fall back into place and return to how its supposed to be.

The door to his room opened, Iker quickly wiped his cheeks and looked up to see not Phoenix but Prince Rhys. The man allowed himself entrance which Iker found odd but didn't let it bother him. "Am I needed?" Iker asked as he stood to his feet.

Prince Rhys shook his head, making Iker wonder why he had paid him a visit. Rhys walked himself over to Iker, standing inches away from Iker. "You remind me of the roses back home," Prince Rhys had said, making Iker confuse and refraining from looking at him in the eyes. "So delicate," Rhys brushed his fingers along Iker's cheeks. "I wonder what my brother would think if I bought you home with me. He'll surely think I've gone mad." Rhys let a chuckle escape his lips.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Iker said in all honesty. "But I don't plan of leaving Cormac's side anything time soon much less venture to another Kingdom."

Prince Rhys frowned. Iker's loyalty was a bother to him, that he was somehow attached to Cormac. "Do you have a liking towards the prince?"

Iker looked at him, baffled. Why would Prince Rhys ask such a question? "He's nothing more than my friend and future King." Iker said with much seriousness. "His heart belongs to Phoenix." That had made Iker happy, seeing how loved Cormac was.

"Then there's no problem is there," Rhys replied, his hand traveling along Iker's arm. "I'm not one to be possessive, yet I want to claim you."

Iker blushed as he stepped away from the bold Prince Rhys. There was important things that was to be dealt with rather that Prince Rhys saying that he wanted to claim Iker. "Please refrain from making fun of me." Iker had managed to say.

"Who says I'm joking?" Rhys said with a chuckle, chancing at approaching Iker. "I'm nothing but serious when it comes to what I want." He took Iker's hand, frowning when he saw something.

Iker pulled away his arm, pulling his sleeves down from embarrassment. His heartbeat increasing as he awaited Prince Rhys reaction. What he didn't expect was for Rhys to lift his arm and roll his sleeves up revealing his scared wrist and a few scars along his arms. "I think you should leave." Iker said with much dejection.

Prince Rhys didn't heed his warning as he peppered kisses along Iker's arm, surprising him and making him blush. "W-What are you doing?" Iker had stuttered.

"You think I would leave over such a think," Prince Rhys kept his hand in Iker's. "I just have one question to ask, who did this to you?"

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They all sat for dinner that night, Phoenix not holding much of an appetite. Iker could no longer look at Prince Rhys the same after what had transpired between them. Oddly enough, Prince Rhys was sporting a rather grim expressions, poking away at his food angrily.

"Things will start tomorrow," Queen Zelda said from the head of the table. "You should rest for night and be refreshed for what's to happen tomorrow. I've invited everyone from all the Kingdoms for a special meeting tomorrow, you'll be present of course Phoenix along with Cormac."

Phoenix visibly frowned at his name, missing the boy uncontrollable. "I almost forgot," Iker chipped in, a grim expression on his face. "Before the attack on Area fifteen, I heard the King saying that he would deal with Cormac. He would've surely returned from his trip to Peruel already."

"He visited Peruel?" Zelda spoke what the others were thinking.

Iker nodded, "He mentioned that he thought the King was wagering war against them. He went to apologize and prove his theory correct. "

"He would've surely been to Area fifteen upon his return if he knew what had happened." Phoenix spoke up, feeling his worst nightmare becoming a reality. "There's no way he would've sit quietly and watched such horrible things happened." He looked towards Iker. "If any-- if anything happened to him, do you know where he might be?"

Iker swallowed the lump in his throat, "There's a secret passage in the King's chambers, I've been there once." Iker refrained from further details. "He had a man in a cell down there that I was unable to recognize," Queen Zelda's face morphed with disgust. "I think that's where he would take Cormac if he didn't want anyone to find out."

"If he's there how will we get him out, I doubt the King would make it that easy." Phoenix said, is balled up fist laying on his lap.

"I could go there but--" Iker was unsure of how he would actually make it down there and let him out without being caught again.

"I'll go with you." Rhys spoke for the first time. "I'm sure he's already aware of my visit here in Fian. There's also something I would like to deal with of my own."

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