Absolute Chaos
Chapter 24.

Raijen was plaiting Amaunet’s hair in a long snake down her back when Kaydir, Kaiya and Rakim walked in.

They had split up inside of Otamia, asking a few casual questions as they strolled through the large city. Kaydir had followed both Merkha and Sabaf, whilst Kaiya and Rakim talked to a few of the more trustworthy servants and slaves.

They had discovered that Theda had seen a falling star. She had ridden off into the darkness that very night to inform Araphel, learning that was why he had cut his last raid so short and come back to see Raijen.

Raijen knew deep down the one whom had raised him feared Araphel beyond reason, no wonder she would run to him in terror.

The rumours had already begun to circulate through the city, a servant had whispered in Rakim’s ear that Araphel had raped a new slave girl he just obtained on his last raid and had poor Masika join them as well. The slave knew of Araphel’s ‘talk’ with Maia, Rakim learnt the King was enraged she had escaped, although so far had not sent any of his men to replace her.

Listening to the sickening news flooded Raijen with hate, his sick father had not only raped poor Maia, but had hurt another two girls in his deranged anger. He knew his father very well, torturing when he was mad, when his fury could not be tamed.

It would generally be a slave he would hurt and sometimes kill, once he tried to involve Raijen in his violent fantasies, however Raijen was furious, he had let the poor girl free and had suffered his father wrath towards him there after, which was not for the faint hearted.

They also learnt Lykus was seen leaving Araphel’s caves earlier in the afternoon and had returned later. They had spied him at the back gates of Otamia as they made their way back to Amaunet and Raijen. Kaydir told her they had heard him tell the guards of his need to see Araphel. “The guards let him in, he was with him as we left the city.”

Raijen could not believe Lykus, his dearest friend had poisoned him, he never thought in a million years he would try and kill his closest friend, yet he tried.

Furious with Theda, Raijen desperately needed to speak with her, needing to know why she would betray him so easily.

“I need to speak with Theda.” His frown sunk deep into his skin, anger swelling towards the woman whom had raised him.

“Would you fetch her for me Rakim?, she should be in her hut.” Rakim quickly nodded and sprinted across the grasslands towards Otamia.