Chapter 11: Chapter 9 – Orb in the Imperial Palace

On the next day, Vermon was in his private armory, busy cleaning and neatly aligning his weapons when the servant came to inform him that the Supreme Minister’s messenger is waiting for him in the main hall.

When Vermon met him in the hall, the messenger informed him that he was summoned for an urgent matter at once.

Akinos was right, these demons will not rest until they find a reason to get Orb.

Vermon was relieved to leave Orb in the custody of his friend as both did not trust the powerful men of the Imperial Palace and what they could do in the absence of Vermon, who, according to the Arkosian social hierarchy, was lower in status.

Without a moment’s delay, he mounted his horse and went to the palace of the emperor’s most ruthless and least flexible man, the Supreme Minister of the Empire, Syrphadous.

His palace was small, not similar in grandeur to the emperor’s, as none of the empire’s nobles dared compete with the emperor in architecture, no matter how much influence and authority they had.

While Syrphadous was looking at some important documents, Vermon entered his council chamber, saluting politely.

“Your Lordship.”

Syrphadous raised his head after spending several minutes finishing reading what was in his hands. “Vermon, son of Uthus,” he finally responded.

“What did my Lord summon me for?” Vermon asked.

Like a gigantic statue, Syrphadous was seated with a straight back, his skin and clothes were white. None of his body parts moved except for his wide lips, which only spoke the truth even if it was at the cost of his life and the life of his family.

“I know that you brought a slave of yours from the kingdom of Empamalangon. and my information is that he is the rebellious and ferocious type. He not only attacked my son, Ayege, but also tried to attack you.”

“It’s not like that, my Lord …”

“Didn’t you say so yourself yesterday in front of a crowd of Imperial nobles who came to watch you discipline him at that ridiculous and illegal Carnival?”

Vermon felt he was in trouble. What the Supreme Minister said was true, but if he admitted it, the Minister might take an extreme measure that would be neither in his interest nor in Orb’s.

That’s why he simply exclaimed, “I was exaggerating to add to their excitement.”

“He fought Ayege fiercely, with no regard for his position and status as the son of the Supreme Minister and the Emperor’s Advisor. He forgot his place as an incompetent slave who should not insult those above him.”

Syrphadous was as still as a statue. Only his lips moved as he spoke, and in the same neutral tone, which prompted Vermon to reply in defense of Orb, “These were the rules of the game, fighting and resistance, it is not acceptable for a party to be the only assailant.”

“Game? Wasn’t your aim in this ridiculous Carnival to discipline the slaves, amuse the masters, and then drink to excess that we might find you the next day in a shameful state?”

After that cold attack, Vermon had nothing to say.

 “...”

“Even the disciplining events have their rules and due forms, Vermon, son of Uthus.”

“And the master has the right to set his own rules as he sees fit,” said Vermon while crouching down on one knee, as calm as he could be.

“Yet, you did not state any rules prior to that fight!”

“…”

“Even if you did set the rules, to allow a slave to attack a master is against the teachings of Uthus. Vermon, son of Uthus, perhaps you witnessed how powerful your slave was when he released offensive energy in his fight with my son with no regard for the safety of Uthus’ sons! Did you not find him in the Empamalangon Kingdom? Should I remind you that the laws of Arkosia forbid taking slaves from the Eastern Kingdom? We have signed an agreement with them, and it should not be broken. Why do I mention that to you? Because some people of that land have a great power that may pose a threat to us, and what happened yesterday is a proof of that.”

Vermon’s eyebrows frowned. “Orb is not from the East; he is one of the Awa Temple hermits,” he objected.

“What proof do you have?”

“I have none.”

Before the Minister’s silence, Vermon felt defeated in that argument. “Why did you summon me? what do you want?” he anxiously and impatiently asked.

“Being impolite I see. So befitting you!” he paused, then added, “Give him to us.”

“That I cannot do! There is no evidence of him being a resident of Empamalangon Kingdom. You know the people of that Awa Temple come from everywhere.”

And for the first time in this meeting, Vermon saw the Minister’s hands move and rest on his knees.

“We can’t risk keeping him with you. And because you have sealed him with the sacred seal of Uthus, we can’t verify his identity, nor remove the seal. You give an explicit order to kill him or let us imprison him until his time comes,” he maintained the same neutral tone.  “We order you to do so to honor the terms of the agreement and to end his threat.”

Vermon stood up in explicit protest after failing to feign his submission to the Minister and persuade him to leave Orb alone.

“I’m afraid it is not possible, Your Lordship; I will not kill him just because you order me to. Orb is mine and I will not allow anyone to impose on me what to do with him,” he said firmly.

“If you do not act, we will!”

“I will do whatever I can to stop you!”

“Before you try to stop me, Vermon, son of Uthus, taste the punishment of breaking two Arkosian laws; enslaving a human from the land of Empamalangon, and defying the Supreme Minister.”

Vermon was about to object but held back. “Guards,” Syrphadous motioned with his head and commanded, “take him away.”

On the wise recommendation of Akinos himself, Vermon did not resist the guards while they took him outside the Minister’s Council Chamber.

He was aware that the Minister was right and that he had made a terrible mistake when he announced to the crowd his crime of enslaving a young man from the land of Empamalangon.

Yet, he was reassured that his unhappy slave was in the custody of his friend, the Crown Prince of the empire until the crisis ends.

***

Meanwhile, Orb was sleeping on his stomach on a large bed covered with luxurious pillows and warm blankets, which his weary body so desperately needed.

Akinos has hidden him in a chamber connected to his own suite the previous night, under the watchful eyes of guarding specters whom Akinos summoned from another dimension.

The Crown Prince kept Orb’s existence inside the Imperial Palace a secret, far from the sight of his father, the emperor, and the top officials of the palace.

What he did was neither against the law nor a matter of grave importance, but all that secrecy was to prevent people from asking questions and interfering in his private affairs.

The same night, Akinos summoned one of his physicians to treat Orb and follow up on his condition. The physician, after he had finished dressing the wounds on his body, prescribed him medications to reduce fever and relieve pain, which must be taken in small doses three times a day until his condition improved.

He also recommended not to force him to move or do any physical activity until the wounds were completely healed and to drink fluids and eat light foods.

Thus, Orb slept for three consecutive nights, complaining of a frequent and strange fever, after which he entered a state of delirium accompanied by a severe tremor all over his body.

During these times, the servants overseeing his condition reported to Akinos hearing him speaking in strange, incomprehensible languages in intermittent periods.

Although Akinos spent much of his time working and managing the Palace affairs inside that suite, he missed these night fits where the servants claimed that Orb spoke in different languages.

He wanted to observe Orb in a manner that would satisfy his curiosity and prevent any unexpected accident that was beyond the capabilities of the specter guards he had assigned around Orb.

In the end, Akinos was determined to assign a special friend he trusted to directly supervise Orb’s strange condition.

***

When Orb woke up on the fourth day, he was still sore and tired from his participation in the Carnival.

Every bone in his body ached from being thrown into the wall, kicked, and beaten by the crowd, and then brutally lashed without mercy by the attendants.

As he tried to sit, supporting his body with his hand resting on the edge of the bed, he muffled his audible groans as soon as he sensed that someone was watching him.

That person was Akinos, who was looking at Orb from behind a small desk, a few meters away from the bed, upon which were placed stacks of official documents.

Akinos rang a small bell to call for the servant, who entered the chamber and stood before him.

“He woke up earlier than expected. Serve him breakfast and medicine.”

Leaving his desk, Akinos stood up, and clasped his hands behind his back as he took long, deliberate steps toward his guest.

 “How do you feel?” he asked as soon as he stood opposite Orb.

“Where am I?” Orb murmured. He was laden with doubt and anxiety, especially since he had not recognized Akinos’ voice yet.

“In the Imperial Palace of Arkosia.”

“!”

Although Akinos answered calmly, and without intending to frighten Orb, the latter’s face turned pale upon hearing this.

“Don’t worry, we will do you no harm,” Akinos added to assure him. “I am Akinos, the Crown Prince, and you are under my protection.”

“Prince Akinos?”

“Yes, we have met before in the isolation room,” he paused, then went on, “the matter of your stay here is kept a secret that no one knows except my servants. This chamber is connected to my main suite. No one will harm you.”

Orb seemed a little reassured despite his inability to assess Akinos’ character and motives. His complete unwillingness to trust him was due to his being Vermon’s friend.

He soon moistened his dry lips as he asked hesitantly, “And what—about him?”

“Him? — Ah, you mean your master, Vermon?”

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Akinos smiled as he read Orb’s concern about having Vermon around him. He rubbed his brow for a moment, before adding, “He’s the one who asked me to leave you in my custody. He’s far away and won’t be back soon.”

At that moment, one of the servants brought the meal and placed the tray on the side table to check Orb’s temperature first.

While the servant was doing his work, Akinos’ eyes glowed and changed to a purple color as he gazed at Orb, without drawing the attention of the two in front of him.

Orb did not have good eyesight, and the servant did not dare to look up at his master’s face. Shortly, the servant said, “his temperature has dropped a little, Your Highness.”

“Good.”

The servant then held a bowl of soup in his hands, wanting to feed Orb with the spoon, but he quietly stopped the servant’s attempt by putting his right hand on his torn lips in a reflexive reaction.

He then heard Akinos’ voice say earnestly, “Let the servant help you eat and take the medicine. You are still weak and weary. Your limbs are trembling and will not be able to hold the bowl. I see that you are worried about your lips. Don’t worry, he will be careful.”

“I will eat by myself.”

Orb’s voice, though weak, had a tinge of obstinacy. He was mentally fighting his emotions by focusing his damaged eyes on his trembling hands, and swallowing lumps that were forming in his throat every now and then.

Akinos did keep a distance but close enough to observe Orb; he found a strange pleasure in watching his actions. Being tortured by us and saved by us, this must be too much for him, Akinos guessed he knew why Vermon was interested in him and was keen to keep him.

The young man held the spoon with his back straight, but with a visibly trembling hand that made the servant try to intervene several times to take the task.

However, Orb silently raised his other palm in the air to indicate that he did not want to be rushed. He opened his mouth a little, making sure his white and elegant teeth were almost invisible.

Akinos, who watched Orb’s chest rise and fall quietly as he breathed long between one sip and the other, was sure that Orb could not be a commoner.

His way of eating indicates that he grew up and was raised in a home that knew nothing but luxury and comfort.

Even after the servant had spent a long time with Orb, he did not finish his plate, for his appetite for food was weak and worsened with his illness.

“May I take a bath?”

“I am afraid you cannot. Your body is covered in bandages, and it’s not good to get them wet. However, the butler is assigned to wipe your body with a wet towel every night.”

“I see.”

Orb neither thanked Akinos nor raised his eyes to look at him. He could not speak much, but after a moment of hesitation, he said quietly, “Are you watching me?”

“Yes.”

Akinos smiled again in the same mysterious way as he watched Orb overtaken by confusion. The sick young man raised his damaged eyes toward Akinos for a moment, and then looked away, struggling to control his impulses and reactions.

“Do you find it amusing?” Orb sounded displeased.

“Very.”

Orb’s lips parted a little, but he said nothing.

“Now, take your medicine and rest. No one will bother you.” Akinos calmly assured him.

Orb felt another bowl cautiously touching his hand as the servant encouraged him to lift it to his mouth and helped him hold it with his other hand. Orb did so in silent compliance.

The foul smell of the bitter-tasting medicine struck his nose and made him frown. He began to swallow it in small sips. A few minutes later, the servant left after he had finished his work.

***

Akinos had walked back to his desk. His eyes had returned to their normal color.

“What about you?” he asked, teasing his imprisoned friend.

“What?”

Vermon’s voice was weary as he asked Akinos who repeated his question in the same provocative tone. “Did you find watching him amusing?”

“Why did you walk away from his bed? Let me see,” Vermon exclaimed, well aware of his friend’s propensity for this kind of provocative banter.

Akinos laughed. “No,” he curtly replied.

“I did not authorize the butler to clean him,” Vermon complained.

Akinos was aware of the possessive nature of Vermon which caused inconvenience to Orb himself and others.

Vermon disliked it when others attempt touching his private property and disliked it more when it was Orb.

Since he brought him to the empire, Vermon inadvertently made it clear that Orb was special to him as he has been talking about him nonstop.

Despite his awareness of Vermon’s feelings, Akinos did not want him to interfere at that time in how he treated his guest.

He was serious in his attempt to take care of Orb to gain his trust and find answers that would satisfy his curiosity about him.

“I have given the butler the permission to assist my guest, Vermon. Are you going to interfere with the way I run things in my house?” He said in a serious tone.

“No, I didn’t mean to.”

“That’s enough. This will teach you to always appreciate the value of what you have.”

Vermon was apparently annoyed. “I know his worth,” he grumbled.

“But you do not take care of him. You could’ve disciplined him at home! Did you have to forcibly take him to the Carnival of Shadows against his will? You did nothing but harm him and draw attention to him. Everyone now know that he is a quarry, and their ambitions to snatch him from you will not stop.”

“By Uthus! He’s a slave!”

“He is exceptional!”

“It was a mistake, and it won’t happen again.”

After a moment of silence, Akinos rested his legs on top of each other on his desk.

“You haven’t answered my question, Vermon.”

“What?”

“Did you find it amusing to watch him?” He repeated his question with the same ironic tone.

Another moment of silence followed.

“Yes," Vermon solemnly replied and in a low voice, "I almost forgot about being in prison.”

“Sometimes things look prettier when we watch them from afar.”

When he said that, Akinos’ eyes were watching Orb who was lying on his stomach asleep, then he added, “I’ll let you see him from time to time to check on him, but in the meantime, reflect on your actions and think of a better way to treat him.”

Vermon was silent after hearing Akinos’ last words, believing that he only spoke the truth. He was feeling great remorse, and a greater desire to get out of his prison and return to his home to pester Orb.

Pester? Now what am I thinking? He checked himself and sighed.

“Are you alright?” Akinos asked, genuinely concerned about his friend.

“Yes,” Vermon paused, “Don’t worry about me.”

This was not the first time that Akinos communicated with his friend Vermon from a distance. The descendants of Uthus could mentally communicate with each other from anywhere, and at any time they wanted.

Akinos was generous enough to do so, and even to enable his friend to see Orb through his eyes, which could transform into a translucent purple mirror that conveyed to him what he saw at the same moment.

So Vermon saw with his own eyes what Akinos saw, and this was an ability that Akinos was born with and, among all the sons of Uthus, only he possessed.

Every time Vermon urged him to see his sick slave, Akinos would allow him without complaining, to see Orb when he took his meals and medicine, or when the physician visited him to examine his wounds and supervise the change of his bandages himself.

Akinos wanted to tell his friend about his decision to introduce Orb to Jerboa, so that their meeting might yield important information about Orb, but he held back.

Considering his possessive nature and dislike of Jerboa, I know I shouldn’t annoy him while he is imprisoned. I should do it without telling him, Akinos smirked.

***

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NOTE:

Akinos is illustrated by the talented @seo8dora ????(on Instagram)

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