Chapter 13 - A Meal Fit For A King

Everything is cold and damp. As I lift my eyelids, I find myself in a jail cell. Panicking, I stand up to shout for an explanation.

*Rattle* *Clank*

I look down to see I'm held by chains bound to all four of my limbs. Seriously... They're taking no chances with me.

My feet are freezing. I now realize they took my boots. Wait!

My eyes dart around the cell, and I check my surroundings in depth. They must've taken my bag as well! That's not good. They'll find the Dodona seeds and torture me until they find out where I got them. I've got to escape expeditiously.

I hear footsteps echoing from far up a staircase, and through the bars, I can see firelight flickering. Someone is approaching my cell. There's no time to escape now.

A large-bodied guard saunters up to the cell door and pulls out a ring of keys. He fidgets with them for a little bit, and then the door swings open.

Guard: "Alright, boy. I'm here to ask some questions. Okay?"

Not good! I can't tell him anything that would endanger Kiichi!

Guard: "Where do you come from?"

I glance downwards, avoiding his gaze.

Adachi: "I come from the east..."

The guard pulls out a whip and lashes me on the chest. It has shards of metal and other sharp objects intertwined, which rip away at my clothes and skin.

Adachi: "AGHH!"

Guard: "I'll ask you again."

I look up at the guard, who has a friendly smile on his face. I try to look away again, but he pulls my chin towards him.

Guard: "If you were coming from the east, you wouldn't have been on a western road now, would you?"

He's grinning so wide that his eyes are basically closed, and his tone portrays a friendly disposition. This man sees no problem at all with what he's doing.

Adachi: "Sorry, sir. I'm afraid I can't tell you where I'm from."

He whips me again, this time across the top of my head. He whips me repeatedly until I think I'll die.

???: "STOP!"

I look up but can't see anything. Blood is pouring down my head into my eyes, and they burn. All I can do is listen.

???: "Bring him upstairs and clean him up. We must treat him to supper. According to what my daughter says, he saved her life!"

I haven't heard this voice before, but it's scratchy and deep. I can't tell his intentions or who exactly he is, but he must be in charge here.

Before I know it, I'm dragged away and carried upstairs. My ears are ringing, and my vision is still blurry, but as I'm dragged, I can see the outlines of many people. They're all watching me and doing nothing. This place is anything but friendly.

I'm disoriented, and my surroundings are unfamiliar. Then, before I know it, I'm plunged straight into hot water. The water is so hot that it creates a pain that I'm unfamiliar with when it seeps into my wounds. The stinging pain is sharp and consistent.

I scream out because of the sudden pain I find myself exposed to. In response, a fist meets my cheek. The punch is so strong that I'm almost knocked unconscious. My ears ring, but through the ringing, I hear the voice of the guard once more.

Guard: "Stay quiet, boy! Don't disturb the dinner!"

The dinner? What is he talking about?

The water is poured over my head, and the blood clears from my face. The guard is scrubbing me clean without regard for the places he wounded me. My clothes are still on me, though they're tattered and torn from the whipping I received earlier. As the scalding hot water is wiped from my face, I'm able to see my surroundings for the first time.

I'm in a dining hall, and a regal-looking family sits around the table... ARE THEY GOING TO EAT ME?

At a second glance, I notice a colossal meal set on the table. The family sits, watching me in silence, waiting to eat their meal.

I'm pulled out of the tub, and I'm dried off for the most part. Unfortunately, most of my clothes are still moist, and the blood hasn't yet stopped coming.

???: "There's a seat for you over here, boy!"

That voice belongs to the man I heard earlier. He sits at the head of the table. Like I had thought, he must be the man in charge around here... Perhaps the Lord? I feel that I should remember something important right now, but my mind is too jumbled.

I'm given no time to collect my thoughts as the guard drags me to a rickety stool set at the other end of the table. The table is long and meant for more than this family of four to eat at. I sit at the far end of the table, as far away from the others as possible.

I look at the people sitting at the end. At the head of the table sits the Lord. He's pudgy, adorned with expensive clothing, and his hands are decorated with rings. Who I assume to be his wife is seated to his right. She looks nice enough, but when we make eye contact, she looks at me with disdain. My presence has clearly offended her.

On his left are seated two blonde girls, one of which is Alice! I almost try to say hello, until I realize Alice is avoiding my gaze. She looks down, eating her meal, eyes red and puffy. She must have been crying, so it's probably best not to try and talk to her right now.

Next to her is seated another girl, who is similar in features. She must be a year or two older, and she hosts a stern gaze. She looks at me with nearly emotionless eyes, then continues her meal. Her glance was cold, but I could tell it wasn't contemptuous.

The guard from before plops a bowl of gooey brown food in front of me. This must be what they feed to the pigs. Its smell is anything but pleasant. I pick up my spoon and attempt to work up the courage to eat.

Lord: "Well, boy? It isn't polite to refuse a gift. I can't have people saying I'm an ungrateful Lord. Eat! Eat!"

The Lord is talking heartily with a warm grin on his face. I look down at the meal before me once more. I'm having pig food while they are having a meal prepared by a gourmet chef. The Lord notices my gaze.

Lord: "Boy?"

I look back at him. His grin is gone, and his eyes are threatening.

Lord: "Eat."

I gulp in fear and begin to swallow my meal up as fast as possible. All eyes at the table are on me as I eat away at my feed. They put their food down and watch as I gobble up my food. It's almost as if I'm an exhibit here.

I finish my meal and wipe my mouth. It's taking everything I have not to throw up this disgusting sludge, but I feel that it will mean trouble if I do.

The Lord continues to stare at me without a hint of warmth in his eyes. I look back until I realize what he wants.

I stand up from my chair and bow, blood leaking from the top of my head down my face once more.

Adachi: "Thank you very much for the meal, my lord."

I look up and see him smiling warmly once more.

Lord: "You're quite welcome, indeed! Thank you for saving my daughter!"

The Lord motions to the guard, who grabs me by the collar of my shirt and drags me away. I don't have the strength to resist, so I sit back and let it happen.

We reach the door of the manor, and the guard tosses me off the porch. He smiles at me warmly once more and turns around to walk back inside.

Guard: "You're lucky this is all you got, boy! The Lord was feeling gracious today."

*SLAM*

The manor's door shuts, and rain begins to sprinkle softly at first, then it breaks into a full shower.

I drag myself to the side of the road and vomit on the ground. That food would have killed me if I kept it down. Is that all they're going to do? Why did they not question me about the Dodona seeds?

I stand up shakily and begin to walk away from the manor.

A few minutes down the road, and I've made my way into town. Walking with my head down, I bump into someone and stagger back. I fall into a sitting position and look up at who I've just inconvenienced.

There stands the boy whom I had saved previously. He stands with his arms crossed at first and then extends a hand to me.

Boy: "Come on."

I grab his hand, and he pulls me up to my feet with an earnest effort.

Boy: "Jeez. You need to eat less, man."

I chuckle weakly and continue to follow him. The cool rain feels good on my wounds.

Adachi: "Yeah... I suppose I do."

I wonder where he's going to take me.