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.