Chapter 6

Malin's heart pumped and stopped, pounded fast and slow, thumped and stopped. His chest heaved as pain stung his heart. He could feel Revina's heart pounding heavily through her breast, wetting Malin's shoulder with her tears as she wept in pain. She huffed and puffed, her chest waxing and waning as guilt and horror swirled around her. If she hadn't let her feelings stray her, if she hadn't given in to Jeremy's seductive gaze, all this couldn't be happening and Malin and her couldn't be in such massive danger.

A powerful and dreadful fury overcame Malin as he pulled Revina away from the strong embrace and held her by his left hand. "Don't worry princess, we are not going to give them such pleasure," he said and he kicked a sword from a guard's hand, catching it mid-air with his right hand. Pulling her to his back, they moved backward up to the wall next to the main door, pointing his sword at the royal guards. "Now princess, I'll fight for us to my death. If it comes, I shall be pleased to have met you in person and fought to protect you. But don't worry, you are not going to die, not today."

With Revina leaning on the wall behind him, Malin swirled the sword in his hands, causing small waves in the air as it created a wall of blades between them and the guards who had no choice but to retreat. He cut through the air as if it were a solid and whistling sounds were heard from the edges of the sword. The guards were both frightened and confused. They had never seen something like this before. More guards were called in but all they could do was stand and watch in awe as the sword formed a mirror between them. The officers who had arrested them earlier were called in since they were the only people with guns but all the bullets they fired at Malin were cut into two or deflected back. After realizing that no one was courageous enough to come within a striking distance to him, he surged forward like an angry lion, moving with the speed of a tiger but fighting with the agility of a cobra, cutting two royal guards into two different pieces, one through the waist while splitting the other through, from the head to the anus. The guards fought back, but Malin was too fast and swift, they ended up hitting and stabbing each other instead as Malin knocked most of them down.

"STOP!" A thunderous voice roared in the room, causing a little tremor as it reverberated throughout the courtroom. Malin stopped, just like everyone else, and looked around. A tall and slender man with long white beards, wearing a blue, long gown that kissed the floor, stood next to Revina by the door looking at Malin in an expressionless stare. For a moment Malin thought he was going to attack Revina and raised his sword in the air and held it in a position of a spear, throwing it at the bearded man with all his might and main. The bearded man just lifted a finger and the sword disintegrated into smaller pieces, like a mirror.

"I said stop," he added, moving towards Malin who was stunned beyond movement. The room fell silent except for the shuffling of feet as the guards retreated to one corner, the court members who some of them had scampered out of the room out of terror, stood still next to the throne where the Emperor stood, his right hand on his chest, as if feeling whether his heart was still beating. The empress had remained rooted to her seat, completely frozen with fear. The bearded man stood in front of Malin and stretched his right arm to Malin's left shoulder. "I'm not your enemy sonny," he told him as he patted his shoulder gently. He turned to face the emperor as the court members cleared out of the thrones way, resuming their former positions though still shaken. "Greetings My Lord," he saluted the Emperor as he bowed before him respectfully.

The Emperor looked at him absentmindedly, not uttering a word and looking like someone who had just been dragged out of death, pale and dull. He slumped into his his seat dejectedly, looking up at the roof of the courtroom as if in a trance. The Prime Minister, who had just been as scared and shaken like the rest of the court members, walked to him cautiously and asked, in a low and respectful tone, "is everything alright My Lord?" The Emperor remained quiet, not a word nor moving an inch.

The bearded man walked to the Emperor as everybody including the Prime Minister bowed their heads. He put the Emperor's right palm into his and squeezed it slightly. The Emperor woke up from his trance like someone who had been in a deep sleep, his face screwed and his eyes looking tired. He however, recognized the presence of the bearded man immediately and smiled broadly with him.

"Lord Paragon," he called the man as he rose to his feet to greet him. "I'm glad to see you...I'm sorry I didn't know you were here."

"It's ok My Lord," the bearded man responded, "his majesty seemed lost in thoughts when I came in."

The Emperor smiled at him and jokingly asked the Lord, "I hope you won't hold that against the Emperor, will you High Priest?"

"No, of course not My Lord," the Lord replied smiling as they shook hands heartily. The Emperor then resumed his seat while the Lord stepped back a little from the Emperor and the throne.

"What brings you to the palace at this hour Lord?" The Emperor enquired, "is everything alright with you?"

"If you mean to ask about my health My Lord the answer is that I'm Hale and hearty sire," the Lord answered as his face turned serious. "However, I have come here with regards to the two strangers present in this court right now."

The Emperor's face turned red. It was as if he had completely forgotten about Malin and Revina and the fight that stopped just a few moments ago. However, the Lord's question seemed to have jogged his memory. Clearing his voice as he swallowed a huge lump of saliva, "what about them Lord Parafon?" He asked as his voice and tone carried with them confused emotions and disappointment. Everybody in the courtroom looked at Malin and Revina, who were by now holding each other a few steps from the main door, as if they were seeing them for the first time.

"I want you to hand them over to me My Lord. They are going to be my guests," the Lord answered.

"Excuse me," the Emperor asked as if he didn't hear Parafon clearly.

"My Lord, the strangers are not from this empire and as such are not bound by its rules. However, I have a responsibility towards them that makes me their custodian, at least for now."

"Lord Parafon, are you aware that these people have already been sentenced and nothing or no one can revoke that judgement, not even me the Emperor?"

"Yes My Lord, I know about the sentence handed against them. However, like I said, they are not bound by the rules of this empire and as such that sentence cannot stand. It will be a travesty of justice to try and convict them using the laws and rules of an empire they know absolutely nothing about sire."

"Tell me Lord Parafon, do you happen to know where they came from or why they are here?"

"Yes My Lord but that's not a matter to be discussed in this court sire."

"So you are asking me to rescind my decision and revoke my judgement? Is that what you are asking or have I gotten the wrong notion?" the Emperor asked, his voice getting angrier and angrier.

"No, My Lord, that's not what I'm asking of you sire. As far as this case is concerned, no such decisions or judgement has been made since no trial has been conducted..."

"Stuff and nonsense!" the Prime Minister interjected. "A trial has been conducted and a conviction attained. They have been sentenced in accordance with our laws because they are within our territory, our empire. Did you expect us to try them with the laws of the atmosphere since they claim to be from nowhere?"

"That's not your call to make Makiaus..."

"And is it yours Lord Parafon? You may be the High Priest of Dalawa but decision making in this court and the entire empire is a prerogative of the Emperor and you cannot question his judgement without committing treason Lord Parafon."

"Stop Makiaus," the Emperor said as he rose to his feet. "You know you cannot accuse the High Priest of treason or of anything for that matter."

"I'm sorry sire, I got carried away with anger. My apologies Lord Parafon," he said as he bowed apologetically, though unwillingly, to the High Priest.

The Lord nodded in acceptance of his apologies and continued to address the Emperor. "My Lord, I know this is a hard decision but you'll have to hand them to me sire. If you insist on carrying out your sentence then I won't stop you My Lord. But you'll have to bear the consequences of such a decision alone sire." He a turned and walked towards Malin and Revina, putting his arms around their shoulders as he stood between them. "I don't have to remind you of what just happened or what could have happened had I not arrived at the time I did."

"Are you threatening me Lord Parafon?"

"No My Lord, of course not. How can I threaten the throne My Lord when I'm just a servant of the throne? I'm only inviting you to listen to me and reason with me sire, that's all My Lord."

The empress stood and put her hand in the Emperor's, looking at him tenderly in the eye before whispering something into his ears. The Emperor shook his head at first but the empress' persistence calmed him. She led him to the throne and sat him down, kissing him gently on the cheek before resuming her seat.

"Everybody leave the court, I want to be alone with the Lord," the Emperor ordered

The royal members of the court left, though grudgingly. The Prime Minister, hoping the Emperor would want him to stay, remained behind, not showing any intentions of leaving.

"Prime Minister, I asked everyone to leave and that includes you unfortunately." the Emperor told him. He left but in slow steps, probably anticipating the Emperor would change his mind and call him back but when the Emperor showed no such intentions, he slammed the door behind him and disappeared through the Royal Garden of Justice, leaving only the Emperor, the High Priest Malin and Revina in the courtroom. The empress was the first one to leave the chambers.

"Lord Parafon, you know I don't like it when you challenge my authority in the public like that and..."

"Sorry My Lord, that was never my intention. I'm sincerely sorry for upsetting you sire."

"Come with me Lord Parafon, there is something I would like to show you. Your guests can wait here in the court, I don't trust them." the Emperor said as he ushered the Lord out through the backdoor and onto the pavement where they stood facing each other.

"I'm sorry My Lord but the pavement seems empty, what did you want to show me sire?" Lord Parafon asked as he looked at the empty pavement searchingly.

"I saw him Parafon, I saw him." The Emperor started in an emotional tone.

"You saw who My Lord?"

"I saw the prince, prince Medan."

"What? Where?"

"When the boy was fighting with the sword his face turned into Medan's. At first I thought I was just hallucinating but it was him, I could feel it."

"Now I understand."

"What do you understand?

"The reason why you were in that state when I entered the courtroom"

"No, Parafon, you don't understand. The boy was draining me as if he was using my energy to fight." Turning his head towards the courtroom door, as if afraid someone might pop up, "who is he, who are they and where have they come from?"

"I'm sorry My Lord but I cannot answer that question right now," the Lord answered as he moved closer to the Emperor. "Keep what you saw to yourself Micaleaon, no soul must know about it," he said in a voice that whispered more than talked.

"You are getting me worried and confused Parafon, what's going on here?"

"Emperor, I can say no more. Guard the secret with your life. When the right time comes, I'll let you know everything. For now My Lord, I request you to assure me and my guests a safe exit from the palace. Let no one follow or try to harm any of them sire."

"Alright Parafon, you'll not be harmed or followed. You'll be given horses at the front gate, use them to head back to the shrine."

"Thank you My Lord, I'll have my leave now," the Lord said as he bowed before the Emperor and entered the courtroom where he found Revina and Malin standing hand in hand. "Alright guests, we can head home now," he said as he gestured towards the door.

"Where are we going?" Revina asked, her voice husked.

"It would be great if you don't ask and just come with me young lady, or should I say Princess Revina. Let's get out of here before the Emperor changes his mind and hang the both of you," he said as he led them out of the courtroom.