Messiah of Monsters by Simon Archer

Author:Simon Archer [Archer, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-07-05T05:00:00+00:00

17

Derek

“You were completely irresponsible,” Paulin scolded as he paced about the throne room. Despite his weight, he was quick and nimble on his feet, especially when he was nervous. He waddled back and forth, oozing irritation and frustration.

“You went against protocol directly,” Paulin said as he pointed a chubby finger in my direction.

I stood in the center of the room, with Cecily and Taryn standing behind me. Keegan and Paulin were in front of us, Keegan on his father’s throne, looking too comfortable in the highest seat in the land. The leader remained on the floor, pacing and shouting his disapproval at my actions.

I kept my face neutral and my arms behind my back as I took the verbal punishment. I recognized that what I had done was foolish. I barely made it out alive, and if it hadn’t been for Taryn’s help, I could have been stuck in the dungeons with the Stranger.

We did make it out, though, and Cecily had been waiting at the entrance expecting us with a series of the animal-headed guards. They apprehended the Stranger and took him to a prison cell, which I didn’t even know existed. Cecily and Taryn took me to heal my wounds, both taking turns to care for me in the healing springs before the princess turned to me with a sad expression.

“We have to see my father,” she informed me. “He has every right to punish you for your direct disobedience.”

“I understand,” I said softly.

So I listened as Paulin continued on with his lecture.

“You endangered the lives of the kingdom,” he shouted, his face turning red from the exertion of his anger. “Bringing one of them into our kingdom, beyond the dungeons, is insanity. Why couldn’t you just leave him in the dungeons like we said to?”

“Because--” I began, but Paulin’s supposed questions weren’t actually meant to be answered because he barrelled on, talking right over my explanations.

“And you endangered yourself!” the leader shouted, throwing his hands up in the air with exasperation. “You are the Messiah! We only just got you back to our world, and there you go, throwing yourself into the dungeons only partially formed like a moron!”

I had to resist the urge to chuckle when Paulin used the word “moron” because it just seemed like the insult of a first-grader, not a grown man who is the leader of a kingdom.

“We can’t risk losing you again,” Paulin said as his voice softened into a disappointed tone, rather than the rising anger. “And not for the sake of some lowly Stranger. What do you have to say for yourself?”

I waited to see if he planned to say more. When Paulin didn’t move or speak for several more seconds, I opened my mouth and dared to speak my piece.

“I planned to get both of us out of there after I guided him back to the sanctuary,” I explained. “However, the dungeons shifted unexpectedly.”

I couldn’t help myself. My gaze cut to Keegan, who continued to lounge on the throne.

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