Daniel raised an eyebrow at Mason's reply. He grabbed his cup and downed the water inside. Amie had been staring at Mason for a while now, but Mason pretended not to see her. Her intention was all over her face.
"Tell me, Mason," Daniel said finally. "Why do you think so?"
Mason pondered for a moment. The way Mia talked about the city earlier, and Daniel saying he fought there alongside the King proved it was not a small city.
"Detrie is large," Mason replied. "Having such a city under a siege would only put the enemies at a disadvantage."
"I thought so," Daniel nodded. "Enemies, you say? It's the order of the demonic King."
"Isn't he an enemy to all Africlaux?" Diana chimed in. Thanks to the heavens. "All he does is send his snake-men to demand heavy tithes from poor farmers."
Things are a bit blurry now, and Mason considered learning some information about the Kingdom. Perhaps that might shed some light on his identity.
"You said you fought alongside King Morris," he said. "Care to tell me about it?"
"Darn it!" Mia grunted as she stood up. "He's going to start those boring repetitive stories again." She took her plate and cup, and she disappeared into one of the doors of the hall.
Amie and Diana, too, stood up and went away. By the look on their faces, whatever Daniel was going to say, no doubt they wanted to listen to any of it.
"It happened 39 years ago, during the reign of King Robert," Daniel began. "Morris was the crown prince then, sent to Detrie to annihilate the barbarian who had invaded the city."
He filled up his cup and gulped down the liquid before continuing. "We fought, fought and fought. After several sleepless nights and many days of hunger, we endured it all. Took us a month, but we reclaimed the second biggest city in Africlaux."
"The second?"
"Yes, Alaty is the capital and biggest in the Kingdom," Daniel replied. "It is where the castle is located. Many believed it was an easy war, but gods, it's nothing like that. Those barbarians wield magic that surpasses our mages."
"Prince Morris fought at the forefront, and I beside him. The barbarians rained fire upon us, each piece of hail the size of my head. They crushed through our ranks like we were mere flies, but we stood our ground. We kept crushing them until we defeated them."
"Their leader begged for mercy, and mercy we showed him. We slaughtered him in Rava's name. Have his head on a pike." He dropped his cup and slumped in his chair, his eyes clouding over. "It was so sad our efforts weren't acknowledged."
"What happened?" Mason inquired.
"It was a long, sad story," Daniel replied. "I don't want to talk about it."
Mason let out a puff of air. Pressing him would be of no use. Let's use another way to get you talKing, he thought.
"What do you know about the emblem of the royal?"
Daniel raised both eyebrows, his daze clearing, and he stared at Mason with renewed intensity. "Say, Mason, why would a young man such as yourself be concerned with such a dangerous artifact?"
"You know… curiosity is the greatest disease if left uncured," Mason replied.
Daniel laughed at this, but his laughter was brief before seriousness took over his features. "Do you jest?"
"Of course not," Mason shot his hands up defensively. "I came across a small village during my journey here. I heard someone saying they saw a man holding an emblem of the royal family."
"That's treacherous," Daniel said. "If the King learns of this the whole Africlaux would be a living hell."
"I thought as much," Mason nodded in pretense. "And that begs the question as to what would happen if such a person existed. I mean having the emblem."
Daniel pondered for a moment. He poured himself a cup of water from a large bowl, but he didn't drink. He just stared at it, silent.
"I guess I ask too much," Mason said in resignation.
"No, not that," Daniel waved his hand dismissively. "I was just drawn back to the past. It's alright now. If such a person exists, then Africlaux has hope for another King. I dare not say this, but…"
"I understand," Mason said. He has at least confirmed he's a royal. And now what's the next step?
"He'd need allies," Daniel suddenly said, as though he was reading Mason's thoughts. "He'd have to reclaim his right from his brother. So yes, he'd need people to fight for him. Or else he'd be a cow with no tail."
"Allies… where would I get that?" Mason whispered to himself.
"Not you, I mean the second prince," Daniel said. "Heard he was murdered along with the previous King and Queen. So I doubt he's still alive."
"Murdered?"
Daniel nodded slowly.
"By who?" Mason pressed.
"His brother," Daniel replied. "The current King. Wait a minute; even a year-old kid knows the story. Don't tell me you know none."
"Of course I do," Mason chuckled. "What would be more believable than hearing the story from a man who fought alongside the previous King himself?"
The answer must've piqued the old man's morale because Mason seemed to catch a glimpse of a smile on his lips.
"You must've had a tiring day, you sure do need a rest," he finally said. "I'm sorry, but we don't have plenty of rooms. Would you mind squeezing in with my daughters till 'morrow?"
"Ummm…" Mason stuttered. "Would that be a good idea?"
"It may be a small room, but it's enough to contain y'all," Daniel replied. "And if it's that you're worried about. Rest assured, my daughter hasn't been laid yet, and it doesn't seem like they'd do now."
He squinted at Mason and continued. "You're more handsome than all the men they've seen. Maybe that's part of the reason why they brought you here," he said. "But I must implore, young man. If it ends up coming to that, please don't lay both of my daughters."
"Ah, that won't happen, sir," Mason assured. "I promise you that."
Daniel smiled wryly and rose up on his feet. "G'night, Mason," he said and went into the room his wife emerged from earlier.
"Goodnight sir."
Mason stood up, too, and approached the girls' room. He knocked twice and entered.
The room was small compared to the hall, with two wooden beds and two small wooden chests for storing clothing and personal items.
On the wall hung two oil lamps, half-shuttered, casting a reasonable light on the room. The room has a small opened window, which allows in the cold breeze of the night.
One bed against the wall on the left side of the room was neatly laid. Amie and Mia were sitting on another bed, a few inches away from the first. When they saw Mason, they smiled sheepishly.
"Our room is small, I hope you–"
"Your father said something similar," Mason cut in. "I'm more than grateful right now to think about discomfort."
The girls nodded, and they motioned to him to make himself comfortable. Mason bowed gentlemanly, and he ambled toward the bed. He sat on it. It was sturdy, but softer than the ground, at least.
The silence that followed was deafening, with the girls, now in their wine-colored nightgowns, staring at Mason with an intensity that made his face flush. He shifted uncomfortably on his bed and grunted.
"I'm not good at staring competition if you'd ask," he said, attempting to thin the thick intensity in the air.
The girls smiled when they realized they'd been staring for too long. Mia laid down on her back, facing the ceiling.
"You're one mysterious man, Mason," she said, and she cast a short glance at him. A faint smile escaped her lips. "But strangely I find you…" she let her words trail off as she pondered on how to complete it.
"Interesting and satisfying," Amie completed, staring at her sister. "If that's what you're trying to say."
"I wager it's a mutual feeling then," Mia said. Amie nodded in concurrence.
"Thank you for saving my life," Mason whispered. "And for not demanding more than I can answer."
Normally, the girls wouldn't risk bringing a stranger to their house, let alone a mysterious one. And even lying to their father about him.
Maybe they are unsure of how to reply, the girls didn't respond. Mason took off his sneakers and put his legs on the bed. He turned to the left and saw Amie already lying down facing his direction.
She was smiling!
… please don't lay both of my daughters.
Daniel's words whistle past Mason's head. It's not like he was going to make the first move. He'd only ever seduce women who had something he needed. He has no reason to seduce these girls.
She kept staring! Is she a pervert?
"Goodnight," Mason said, and he turned to face the wall, not bothering to hear the girls' replies. He was too tired, and it wasn't long before sleep came to claim him.