Trying hard to keep his cool, Vanas keeps his mouth shut refusing to say or do something stupid.


    [A rare moment, host]


    Hisha examines Vanas with a smirk, it did look like he had scared the living daylights out of him during their small talk in the throne hall and it didn''t help with the fact that he was in dangerous proximity.


    With a quick jerk, Hisha pulls Vanas close forcing their faces inches apart. His breath was hot against Vanas'' ear sending chills throughout his whole body.


    "You know how much trouble I would have gotten myself into if that stunt you had pulled in Straton turned into civil unrest?" He snarls, narrowing his eyes at him.


    Before Amon could fully spill out all that had happened, Vanas had readily agreed toply with whatever Hisha had to request from him.


    In an exchange for agreeing to be silent, he feigned ignorance about what had happened and pried out the information from Vanas under the guise of wanting to know why Amon would risk leaving Straton and sprinting in the direction of his citadel.


    Pressing hard on Vanas'' cheek, Hisha searches his eyes and repeats his words in a low grunt.


    Vanas swallows nervously nodding his head yes without saying a single word. ''I''m done for!''


    Letting go of his cheeks, Hisha let out a light chuckle. "Now that''s what I like to see."


    Letting out a sigh of relief, Vanas forces his gaze downwards, clutching hard on Amon''s cor.


    Hisha says, smiling wickedly, and continues, "well then, let''s make sure we avoid those problems altogether, what do you think?"


    ''What the hell am I supposed to think, lord Hisha?!'' Vanas screams in his thoughts but snaps back to reality.


    Nodding his head, he remains silent, not wanting to risk angering Hisha further than the scary creepy smile staring at him.


    ''This won''t go well with what I–we had nned.'' Vanas thinks, feeling his heart pounding wildly within his chest and a little lightheaded. Sweat dripped down his brow forming small beads rolling down his cheeks.


    Patting Vanas'' head, Hisha gives onest appreciation for the gifts he had received.


    Vanas nods his head once more, "it... it was my pleasure."


    pping Vanas'' back yfully, Hisha shakes his head and smiles. "Don''t act too stiff around me, remember if you break out of character..."


    Gulp!


    Vanas could almost picture himself vomiting the very thing he loves to consume.


    Hisha''s gaze is momentarily fixated on the corpse of Amon leaning lifelessly on Vanas'' leg. "You know how to take care of the body of one of your own. Don''t forget about your guards either!"


    Vanas nods again, keeping his mouth shut.


    *****


    In Radomir,


    An hour passes after the incident inside the throne hall when Vanas returns to his castle, with his guards apanying him closely from behind.<novelnext></novelnext>


    They give a  nod in respect, firmly holding the corpse wrapped neatly in cloth. They ce it gently atop a wooden table near the entranceway leading outside.


    "You may leave," Vanasmands, turning away from the door.


    As soon as the two men exit, Vanas walks towards the dead man lying motionless on top of the table.


    Reaching down, grabbing the handle, pulling open the drawer underneath the nightstand. Pulling out an ornate dagger made entirely of gold. It glistens brightly reflecting the sunlight streaming through the window illuminating the room.


    ''Because of you...'' He pauses and instead lets out a chuckle in disbelief at what he had gone through.


    Although he had gotten what he wanted, he had also lost his greatest weapon–the element of surprise.


    Vanas ces the de carefully beside the body wrapping both arms around the hilt, and gripping it tightly.


    "... now your death seems to be mocking me," Vanas whispers, looking down at the corpse.


    Stabbing the knife deep into the center of Amon''s neck causing blood to gush forth spraying everywhere.


    Swiping his hand over the blood, he tastes it and spits it out almost immediately. ''That''s repulsive, it''s turned


    Swiping his hand over the blood, he tastes it and spits it out almost immediately. ''That''s repulsive, it''s so nd,'' he thought disgusted.


    ''You can''t enjoy a peaceful death after what you did!'' Vanas thought angrily, clenching his fist tight enough so that his knuckles turned white.


    Amon lies unmoving on the floor bleeding profusely while Vanas sits cross-legged staring nkly ahead.


    Vanas stares straight up into the sky above, gazing endlessly until darkness falls once more shrouding everything beneath the nket of ckness.


    ******


    Two days have passed since the events transpired in the throne hall.


    Vanas has been locked in his chambers ever since returning home. Not even bothering to eat anything or drink any liquids. Allowing himself time alone to think over all the possibilities.


    Siadra repeatedly knocks on the doors but receives no response. She tries knocking harder this time using her full strength trying desperately to break down the thick oak wood. But she fails miserably, unable to prate its hardness.


    "Dear, please take something. Amon''s death must have hurt, given he had broken your trust, but that doesn''t mean you should starve yourself! You need food, my love!" Siadra pleads, kneeling in front of the door.


    Silence engulfs the hallway hearing nothing except the sound of footsteps walking past. The only thing heard are faint voicesing from beyond the walls. Voices speaking words too soft to hear clearly.


    The sounds gradually fade leaving silence filling every inch of space between each step taken by whoever passed.


    She sighs deeply frustrated knowing better than anyone else just how stubborn Vanas could be especially during times such as these.


    Sighing yet again, she stands back up heading toward the kitchen to prepare some tea before sitting on the chair next to the firece. Her eyes fixed on the mes dancing across the logs burning bright red.


    "Lord Hisha..." She mumbles under her breath, her eyes narrowing slightly watching them dance. ''What happened while he was with you?''