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❤️ Gwen and Kando (Part 6) ❤️

Kira entered the kitchen in anger. "What is ready?" she asked the senior palace cook.

"Roasted chickens and Potatoes my Lady," the woman responded. "We are still making the meat broth." She added.

"Warm it up and set it in six different trays." Kira told the woman.

"Yes my Lady."

Fred entered the kitchen and was surprised to see Kira and noticed how angry she was. He wondered who had offended her.

"Who made you angry?" he asked politely.

"Why would you think so?"

"You are angry and you are not trying to hide it." Fred answered with a shrug.

"Rumi, I just hate the mere presence of her. One of these days I will kill her."

"You would?" Fred asked in shock.

"Yes," Kira said, nodding her head. "Enough about me, why are you here?" she asked.

"I just finished drawing my mother so I was really hungry and I came here to eat." Fred answered. "I will be going back to start another drawing of my mother." He told her.

"You eat in the kitchen?" Kira asked.

"Yes, I do that most times." Fred answered blushing a little bit.

"My Lady," the senior palace cook said, bringing Kira's attention back to her. "It is ready."

"Get six servants that will carry them," Kira said to the woman who bowed a little and went to call six of her girls that were working under her.

"You look more beautiful when you are angry and when you talk." Fred's compliment didn't sit down well with Kira and before he knew what was happening, he saw himself on the floor, with Kira's right leg on his chest, his breathing increased as his heartbeat reached his ears. He became scared. "I-i"

"Don't ever call me beautiful, the only one who is permitted to call me that is Storm. Next time you call me that, there won't be a warning like this. Do I make myself clear." Kira warned him.

Fred quickly nodded his head out of fear. He hadn't expected this from her.

"I am so sorry." He apologized.

Huffing out and removing her leg from his chest she gestured with her head at the waiting servant and they left the kitchen.

"I am so sorry my Prince," the senior palace cook said as she helped Fred to his feet. "It was just an ordinary compliment and she took it seriously. Is it now a crime to tell ladies how beautiful they are."

"It's okay Nora, I deserve that, I was at fault and out of line and I understand her point," he said, accepting her help and was on his feet once again. "You have to promise not to tell my mother."

"I promise my Prince." The cook known as Nora gave her words to him.

"Thank you, I am hungry so can you please get me something to eat."

"Of course my Prince, are you going to eat it here or in your room?"

"Here."

Nora smiled and touched his cheeks. "This is why you are different from Morgan." The cook gushes sweetly at him.

Fred blushes once again.

__

"Why are you here?" Storm asked as soon as they entered his room. "You should be at home resting instead of coming here," he added.

"I would have if Edgardo hadn't visited me. He is still alive."

"Well I am not surprised," Storm said. The only one surprised was Phoenix. "A strong man like they claim him to be wouldn't die just like that. I would have doubted it." he added a second later.

"You killed him?' Phoenix asked her son in surprise.

Their voices woke up Gwen.

"Yes, I killed him but as you now heard, he is not dead." Storm replied.

"Why then did he do that, pretending to die?" Phoenix asked.

"I don't have an answer to that yet, mother, but I will find out soon," Storm said with a smile. "Gwen, how are you feeling right now?" he asked.

"I'm much better now that I have Kando with me." Gwen answered.

"Are you still in pain?" Rumi asked in concern. "I noticed you were in pain when you left the cave with Kando." She added.

Gwen nodded her head. "I'm fine now, thanks for asking."

Kira at that moment walked in with about six servants following her. Seeing the tray of foods the servants were carrying each that was filled with roasted chicken and potatoes, Gwen sat upright in anticipation, making sure the bedspread was covering her lower part.

"Give two trays to my sister Gwen, she is eating for two," Kira said, pointing at two servants who quickly did as told. Kando has to stand up to his feet to give space on the bed as the servants drop the trays on the bed and Gwen immediately starts eating. Kira took one tray from a servant and told the remaining three servants to give Storm, Kando and Phoenix. Apart from Gwen who was the only one who was sitting on the bed, the rest of them sat down on the floor. The room was big enough to accommodate them. "You can go and get your own in the kitchen." Kira told Rumi who smiled at her.

"My stomach is filled up already, I ate before coming," Rumi said to Kira. She was the only one standing and was resting in the room door.

"Whatever," Kira said. "Why is she still here?" she asked, directing her question to Storm. "I thought before I would come she would have left."

"Edgardo came to meet her." Storm answered. "Can we all talk after we are done eating?"

Rumi didn't say anything until they were done eating, except Gwen who began eating from her second tray and Kira glaring at her.

"Why will Edgardo come to meet her?" Kira broke the silence. "Why will he meet her if they don't have something going on with each other?"

"He came to meet me because I am his ally." Rumi said truthfully.

"What?" Storm and Kando said at the same time.

"Did I not say it?" Kira gloats in happiness.

"You asked me a question and I answered truthfully. He came to meet me some time ago when I was still infuriated with Storm so I had no other option than to accept, he also told me to go to Kudarma and become Dean ally to which I did. Kando can attest to that." Rumi told them.

"So you still like my Storm?" Kira asked as she made a move to stand up when Storm stopped her.

"That was then, right? Because she likes my brother now, right Rumi?" Kando asked.

Nodding her head to his question. "Yes, I like Cando, so much. Besides it wasn't all my fault, well partly, but Sarah carries the major fault."

"Why did Edgardo come to meet you?" Storm asked slowly, bringing Rumi's attention to him.

"He wants me to kill Dean, according to him he wants Dean to know how it feels like to be betrayed by me." Rumi answered.

"Of course that is what you are good at," Kira chips in. "Stabbing people in the back. That's your perfect work."

Rolling her eyes at Kira. "I'm also good at other things Juno."

"Are you going to do it?" Storm asked.

"Yes, Dean deserves it," Rumi answered sincerely. "Besides, you have to be careful Kando. Edgardo saw you at the cave with Storm so he might know you have switched sides and might target you after Dean. He is cunning so be careful." she told Kando who nodded his head.

"I am no longer the old Kando who was under Dean's spell. I know how to defend myself," Kando said to her. "My kind don't die that easily."

"How will you kill Dean? He is powerful, untouchable, you don't know him that well Rumi, you can't kill him." Phoenix spoke.

"Well, Edgardo promised to give me something that would kill Dean with the aid of my magic." Rumi revealed.

"The real war starts tomorrow, Dean will be sending all his armies here, he has a lot of well trained armies." Kando announced.

"We don't have much time then, we have to keep the people safe from danger." Storm said, getting up on his feet. "I need to meet Morgan so that he could tell me the numbers of armies we have in each of the other three kingdoms and in Ashland. We need to pass a message to the former King's and ask them to prepare for war. They will be joining us to fight against Dean and his armies." he added.

"I need to start going to report back to Dean, it's my duty. My brother and I will try as much as possible to help you." Kando said.

A knock on the door interrupted them and Rumi opened the door and smiled widely when she saw who it was and opened the door widely for Emera to enter and closed it, resting her back against the door once again.

"Father, how are you?" she asked.

"I'm fine my dear, has it been long since you came here?" Emera asked as she kissed Rumi on her cheek and then proceeded to kiss Kira too on her cheek.

"Not really father." Rumi answered.

"Gwen, how is your body now?" Emera asked, going to meet her and kiss her on the cheek.

"I'm fine," Gwen said, loving the attention she was receiving from everyone.

Some minutes later Kando left not without kissing Gwen on her lips and then her stomach.

"I need to start going," Rumi said after Kando left. "Good luck to everyone and may we not lose anyone." she added and bid Emera goodbye then left the room and the palace.

"We need to get ready." Storm said leaving the room with Emera.

"Everything will be okay Juno, we will come out victorious in this war." Phoenix assured Kira who nodded her head.

One of Kira's hands touched her neck and she groaned.

"What is it?" Phoenix demanded.

"I just remembered my pendant is with Edgardo. I would have asked Eve and the rest of the dwarfs and elves for help." Kira answered.

"But Eve has magic," Gwen said, keeping the two empty trays on the floor. "She would know when we are in danger and will come and help us." she added. Without Kando's presence it seemed like the pain was coming back but she didn't say a word.

"True," Kira agreed with her and started packing the empty tray one after the other that was filled with only bones. "I just hope Edgardo hasn't destroyed the pendants."

"I don't think he would do that. He might use that to get you to his side seeing how much you cherish the two pendant."

"In his dream." Kira smiled briefly and left the room with her empty trays, heading to the kitchen.

She saw Fred who was still eating as she entered the kitchen. Giving the trays to the Palace cook her gaze landed on Fred.

"I am sorry for what I did earlier on." Kira apologized. "I was angry at that time. I hope you are not angry at me for what I did?" She asked.

"It's okay Juno, it was my fault so I am not angry at you."

"Thank you." Kira thanked and left the kitchen.

***

Kudarma Kingdom: Dean Palace:

Dean was staring at the sun through his room window and wondering why Kando hadn't returned yet, he was standing beside his window. Kando left his palace this morning and it's almost dark and he has not returned. Has Storm taken him as a hostage? he thought as his eyes didn't leave the sun. Thinking of Storm made his thoughts wander to Edgardo and he wondered what the man needed his hair for.

"Kando will soon be coming." hearing the familiar voice of Edgardo behind him didn't shock him.

"Why are you here again, do you want to take a piece of my finger or blood?" Dean asked without turning around. "And how do you know I was thinking of Kando?" he asked a second later.

"I know what you were thinking Dean, anyway that is not what brought me here," Edgardo said. "Why I am here is very simple, to tell you that Kando is no longer on your side, he has switched places." He told him.

"What do you mean?"

"Kando and his brother are no longer under your spell, they are only pretending to be under your command and if opportunity arises, they will kill you."

"Impossible, they can't, it's impossible for the spell to be removed from them. I didn't do it so I doubt it."

"I never said you were the one," Edgardo said. "But when he returns, don't tell him or his brother that you know they are no longer under your command. You will kill them tomorrow when the war is over. When he comes, pretend as if I haven't told you anything." He added.

"How can I kill them, just like me, they are Immortals or have you forgotten about that too?" Dean asked, turning around to face Edgardo, leaving the window side. "You know what species of bird they are, even if I kill them, they will raise up again. That is how Aelfric made them."

"Don't worry, I know what can kill them," Edgardo said to him. "He is closer to the Palace, I will see you tomorrow." He added and was gone before Dean would say a word.

No sooner was he gone, Kando flew inside the room through Dean's window.