Chapter III: once a lost man, forever lost.
A messenger arrived to the city and told Drake to complete his mission in the upcoming days without raising suspicion and flee back to the city after getting a letter the general was expected to receive and that would be his mark to assassinate him, Drake's thoughts were convoluted as he sought life was good for him here and why should he go back but a chest feeling ran through him after remembering the last words he had heard from the messenger before riding back to the city saying the queen awaits for you in the castle and she admires your work so don't disappoint her.
Drake have been studying the general movement through his involvement with his wife's family and the many dinner parties they would make and started to get his learning from the general himself and actually started to like him which made this a lot harder for him, Drake ignored his inner voice and let go of everything for the service of the queen.
Drake was passing through the corridor between the general office and the balcony at the end to take some time thinking about what he wanted to do, he noticed the general was reading something and in an attempt to find out joining his office without knocking got the general crossed, and asked him to leave him for now. Drake knew it was his mark to complete the mission after watching that letter in the general hand and collecting his reward, in a mixed-up feeling he had the world in his hand fantasizing about the queen's admiration for him and praising him, he started setting up his operation. In an apology to the general after joining his office without asking for permission, he left sad and that touched the general and empathized with him, he stood up to correct the situation and got out of his office asking the guard in which direction Drake went leading him to the balcony and so he went, Drake was sitting there grumpy and in darkness, he was drowning, the general asked about what is that he wanted from him? Drake was silent for a moment and then he looked at the general saying, I was consulting you about something but I made up my mind about it,
And what is it that you wanted to consult me about?
Drake hesitantly replied, nothing really important just something I thought was a big deal but it's simpler than I thought.
Trust your feelings, son. Your mind is trying to tell you something...
Is it related to Katherine?! the general added
Yes! She wants to get pregnant and I don't feel that I'm ready to be a dad.
Ahhh... have you discussed it with her?
Yes, but shortly I was hesitant about it but I think I'm ready to be a dad.
That earned the general smile and invited him for dinner that night in the royal dining room in the presence of the king, to which Drake responded;
Promise me you will say nothing about this to anyone.
The general looked at him seriously and promised him.
Entering the corridor again, Drake was thinking of a poison to kill the general with to make it easier but later he found that no one is allowed to enter the royal kitchen except for the chiefs.
Everyone was sitting at the table; Drake was sitting next to his wife and her family next to the king who was heading the table. After the main dishes of a roasted pig on rice were served on the table the king gave a speech and raised a toast for his kingdom's safety and prosperity, in which everyone hailed and raised the toast except for Drake who was dissociated at that moment gathering eyes on him and getting a leg kick from his wife alarming him and he raised his toast as well, "you may begin" the king said starting the fest looking at Drake confused face alarmingly until he was talked to, his counselor asked him about the updates about the relations with a country they tend to invade getting the king attention.
Drake was talking to his wife in a sad tone evading to look her in the eyes after she asked him about what's taken his mind, he answered with a choice I'm not sure of ...
Well, tell me maybe I can help you.
Yeah, that sound like a good idea maybe tonight. Let's eat now!
Drake had finished earlier and when he was getting ready to leave his wife grabbed him by his hand and said you barely ate anything, we can go and talk about what's bothering you now, Drake was holding his tears looking into her pure honest eyes he was about to betray replaying with anger to shunt her and leaving the fest, sitting in the balcony he was crying until he heard footsteps and wiped his tears, the general asked him the king is worried about you, is it the same matter you discussed with me? and I'm asking confused because I know that you are a tough guy and not a sensitive fearful person.
No, it's not general.
Then what is it?
I'm finding it hard to know myself these days, I feel blown away by the wind and it's a painful experience.
How on Joseph's name did you reach that point? Asked the general after sitting next to Drake.
Drake's tone changed to a more cheerful one after he was sad and lost, saying I think because I was thinking of my past, I felt lost and dragged to what has been done to me and the meaning behind it.
You wouldn't be who you are now if it wasn't for your past, that pain maybe has driven you to become someone.
A dagger went through the general throat by Drake's hand saying I'm sorry I had to do it.
The general dying words were don't hurt my daughter and Drake replied she won't be hurt but she will rather than over knowing what I did and left to search for the messages in the general office. After finding them, he went calmly to ride his horse notifying the gate guards that he is going for a short ride if one may ask you let them know, and left the city walls to no return, riding in speed to his city to meet his queen.
The gate was open before him with the queen waiting in the venue of the palace alone, dressing in a black leather dress, he got down from his horse and handed her the messages, and took a kneel saying I have done what you have asked me and he got his blooded dagger..
I believe you; we have heard the word and they are looking for you and we don't want a war with them so we must kill you.
Drake was Shaken in his place. after all, he has done, she is saying that to him. Waiting to hear something different but that didn't happen, he tried to attack her but she had him and strangled him by his neck saying, I knew you had no faith in me. In desperate words, he was apologizing and she let him go at the last tick away from death. Grasping his breath she said, "I will make you regret doubting me".
Two guards took him to his room in the underground this time as a prisoner and left him there with the door locked, for three days he hasn't eaten anything after a whole month of imprisonment and in disappointment and self-hatred he tried to kill himself but the queen had another opinion about it as she entered the room in her white dress that is barely covering her knees and in perfect shape, she was barefooted hopping around like a bird showing innocence and spirit fulness approaching him and teasing him out like nothing happened to which Drake was not bothered and waiting to execute the plan of killing himself but he thought why not kill her before that after all she is the reason for his suffering.
She got close to him in an instant and strangled him by his neck saying; you are my best servant and I won't let you die and I like you, hearing all your heroic stories and what you did for me there made my heart pound. What you have done for this city is a noble quest but I was looking at the problems facing us and I let it out on you, she told him while ducking near his body and her chest is in his foresight.
Standing up his eyes followed her and she told him to eat as she is expecting him tonight and left him in his room with a plate full of delicious food.
After staring at the food with an empty stomach, Drake ate like a pig and laid his back on the wall he was sitting against and started crying without a thought of anything in his mind and was null of any emotions after.
The night has arrived and Drake was called to be present in the queen's room, he was left with no escort but guides to where he can find the queen sweet. Opening the door, she was awaiting him sitting on a white chair in her Victorian red dress that was wide at the hips putting red lipstick that can't be unnoticed.
I was waiting for you.
