The four riders faced the queen as she congratulated them on their valiance and skills. Cassey was the only one not frowning, to be in the palace, getting congratulated by the queen herself, was a big dream he never dared dreaming
"I must say,I am impressed...very , very. You four have proven to be the best riders, deserving the Royal Honour Of The riders of the ville. I am proud" the Queen was excited to have them. Cassey couldn't stop smiling, although there was lot of pressure from , especially Orlswen.
The queen motioned to a guard to bring something, she didn't want to keep them for long. The guard brought a Golden box, and brought out four Necklace with pendants. And Handed it over to them
"For each of you,here is a royal pass and Honour. For anywhere you wish to thread upon, you will enter kingdoms as a special guest...as royalty, you will go anywhere you want to go without restrictions and permission"
"Wow.. just because of that? I must be dreaming" said Cassey excitedly.
The queen smiled, Hansel throwed his arm over his shoulders, and a wink, as always, he was now like his big brother. At that point, Orlswen couldn't hold back anymore, but fumed up with built up rage
"Because of that?! How would you know the value and root of this,when you just showed up from nowhere!"
"Sorry Sir,no offense meant" Cassey expressed, sincerely
"Is a rich tradition boy,for kings and Queens of men,by kings and queens of men. Fate I believe,is the reason you showed up. Now for you my boy,as the winner, you have a special gift from me"
A guard brought a sword. A very fine sword, head made of gold with a horse head carved on it. The other riders gasped at this,they knew what it meant. Even Cassey was shocked
"A sword? Me? I am just a farm boy. Unbelievable!"
" The Treilz sword" Orlswen locked his eyes on the sword
"Not just any sword, with this, where kings thread upon, you will, respect and honour. And even possible, command armies, when necessary. The sword will forever protect you,and the strength of kings are with you"
Cassey's eyes widened. Orlswen seemed to be broken,he was very angry and sad
"It's heavy ..and..and light?" Commented Cassy as he took it up
"Mom! This supposed to be mine, I have been training for this, please don't do this to me"
They all got surprised! Nobody knew that orlswen was the queen's son!
"Mom?"
"Mom?" Said Cassey and Hansel simultaneously. But the queen didn't care about it
"I am sorry son, but believe me,is not for you,I have something for you,I am sure you would love it"
Orlswen charged away
"This is all I wanted"
"Orlswen? Orlswen!" But Orlswen was a stubborn one
"Um , ma'am I can leave it for him, I don't think I really need it that much"
Orlswen ran out from the palace, and punched a vessel to vent off his anger, He let out a sigh of relief and just when he was about to walk away, he sighted Cassey's mother.
Mama was walking home with Tim. He remembered her from the game cheering for her son. And the horse was familiar, in this mood, he could do anything, So he Followed her.
The queen looked a bit worried, she knew very well that Orlswen is angry, and he could mess up. She gave the riders wine
"Don't worry,he will be fine"
"My queen, I would be on my way now, it's been an honour my queen,I appreciate your gifts and hospitality" said Senar
"Oh, noble one,where did you get all that nobility from?" Senar smiled
"You won't be joining us for the feast? ..too bad,have a pleasant journey back home great rider of the ville"
"My sincere apologies,wish I could stay longer, but I need to see to some important duties."
"I hope to meet again"
Senar exited, Hansel followed, and Cassey too. They all greeted the queen and walked away.
***†***
Later after Cassey had finished getting congratulated, He decided to rush home. But to his greatest dispair, he rushed home to see one side of their house in flames.
Cassey got terrified,
"What's happening!! Mama! Mama!"
Cassey kept shouting for mama, but to no Avail. He managed to get water and reduce the burning.
He walked to the back of the house and saw a figure laying helplessly on the ground,he walked slowly, shaking, almost in tears, different thoughts running around his head, the worst had happened was the alarm
"Mama?"
He walked in to see see Tim bleeding, He was cold, mama cried beside Tim.
He couldn't believe this, he went down on his knees, and wailed uncontrollably, he just lost a best friend, that was like a brother to him.
Tim was his best friend since he was a kid, he would go errands with Tim, he would play with him and most times get in trouble with him.
Tim had become a great part of him, that he couldn't stay a single day without having a nice 'friends' time with Tim, taking him for a walk, eating with him, and sometimes go hunting with him, so losing him was like losing a part of himself
"Am sorry" cried Mama
"Can we stop the bleeding, please get me something, anything, just anything that can help. Hey Tim, come on get up ,hey friend is time to wake up!?"
Cassey shaked Tim continuously, he looked around nervously to find something, but there was nothing, and even if there was, it was too late, life had already given up on the poor and innocent horse
"Is too late . He is gone"
Mama brought him to her Bossom, and Cassey cried like an infant
"I'm sure most of our properties got destroyed. This is a mess"
"Who did this ma? Why? Why?"
"Is okay Son, it's okay"
But it Wasn't okay, Cassey got up courageously and furiously, he managed to muster up strength, for Tim, he would do anything, but nothing would bring him back again, because any life gone,is gone
"Who did this?!"
"From the competition. The scar face" Answered Mama
It got Cassey in shock, he never thought Orlswen would do something like that, even though he hated him, but he went too far with killing Tim, the horse wasn't the reason for the win and honour, nor for his lost
"Orlswen?"
He gripped the Treilz Sword firmly, and Mama was just noticing
"Don't you go anywhere with that"
"To hell with it"
Cassey dropped the sword and walked away, it had cost him what he never wanted to lose
"Cassey, please, let's find help with this mess, violence is never the answer!"
"We will see about that"
****
The door opened with two guards being knocked down to the ground, Cassey showed up, The queen was speechless, but Orlswen smiled villainously,he was expecting him alright
"Looks like our champion got some guts...bravery? Or should I say… stupidity!?"
"Your blood will spill on this ground!" Threatened Cassey
"Orlswen? What's this about? You two leave here now" Queen Blexx was on her blaze too, they would have to respect her. But would they?
"Am sorry my queen,not yet, Orlswen is a coward, I will give him what he deserves"
Cassey rushed at Orlswen,and to Orlswen's dumbest surprise, he lifted him up, and threw him off the ground. Cassey pounced on him with punches on the face, repeatedly
"To hell with you! You die with the innocent horse!"
Still pinned to the floor, Orlswen managed to recover and turned Cassey to his place, it was his turn, so the boys took their time, and their turns to get bitter to each other
"What? Think you're special? You just made a terrible mistake!"
Orlswen gave him a terrific punch which knocked him off immediately, leaving him slightly unconscious.
Orlswen lifted him up, and kicked him so hard blood spilled from his mouth
Queen blexx had to do something
"Orlswen! Stop this...it's an order!"
"No ,you stay out of this, mother"
He saw that Cassey couldn't stand, and couldn't fight back, So he got water from a vessel, and poured him all of it. That bit brought Cassey back to the reality, but he might be kissing goodbye to the reality soon because Orlswen wasn't going to take it easy
"Very good boy, I'm far from done with you"
He got off an iron staff from it's holder on one of the statues on the side. Queen blexx ordered her guards to stop him
"Guards!"
Three armed guards came off from behind, two from the main door, Orlswen growled like a wild animal, he belonged to the wild, so he was wild, The guards became afraid
"Who dares!!!"
As he lifted up the staff to hit Cassey, Suddenly,he got knocked down from behind
"I do. Come on boy, let's clean you up and get you home" it was Senar, fearless and never serious. He offered a hand to cassey, while Orlswen was still stumbling from the knock.
Queen blexx was utterly Relieved
"Thank you,thank you, I thought you left?"
"Spotted a house burning on my way,a horse killed. Is all orlswen. Had to follow the lad"
"I won't condole your actions again... son ,you leave here at first light tomorrow"
"Uhhhm my queen, this…." Senar was going to complete his statement regrettably, but Queen blexx cut him short
"This is my judgement. It is final."
"Aish, I hope I get a goodnight's sleep . Come on friend let's help you up"
He helped Orlswen up, Orlswen was embarrassed
"Guys really? There is no reason to fight." Said Senar thoughtfully
"He killed my horse,and burnt half of our home, next time we meet Orlswen,I swear, you won't like it"
Orlswen just walked away
"Perhaps we can give you shelter for tonight, tomorrow I will send men over to renovate your home. You can take any horse you like from the stables." Queen blexx offered her generosity
"Thank you, I will be going home now."
"Good. And I hope you do forgive Orlswen, he is always like this. Every year, he gets stronger, he is going through changes. I hope you do understand that"
Cassey nodded and walked away, Senar followed.