13: Unexpected Encounter

"It's a ghost!" Yara jumped on Ron's shoulder. The man watched him expressionless. The whole convoy still on guard.

"It's not a ghost..." Kamui kept his sword away.

"How did you know?? There is no way a person can exist in this forest! It's a deep forest!" Yara shrieked.

"Are you one of them?" asked Finx. Still on guard.

"No. I'm just a passer by," the figure said.

"In a deep forest? It's definitely a ghost!" Ron put his palm on Yara's forehead. With a small gesture but powerful energy, he slammed the forehead.

The figure chuckled. Finx kept his sword away. It seemed that the air was harmless.

"Why are you let your guard down?" asked King Samuel.

"Ghost can't hurt us, sire..." Finx replied to him, sarcastically. But, watching Finx confident action, everyone slowly getting loose.

The figure slowly slid down the small slope.

"It's dangerous to travel at this hour here. I think you guys should be aware of that,"

"We are. But, we were delayed because of some unfortunate business," Kamui replied.

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I was just finished training..."

"Training?"

"Yes,"

Kamui glared at the bow that the figure held. It reminded him of years as the recruit.

It looked so familiar to him.

"What is your name?" he asked. The figure blinked.

"I'm... Al, sir..."

"I'm Kamui. This is Tinx, Yara, Ron, and...."

"Sam. You can call me Sam," King Samuel glared at Kamui.

Al suddenly bowed at him, which made them shock.

"Why are you bowing at him?" Kamui asked.

"The belt head. It's a royal sigil. No one in this kingdom will miss that. Every each of you wear the same suits. But, only him wore the belt," Al replied.

Kamui glared at King Samuel. This figure was a good observant. Even a small thing like that never missed from the sight.

"You have a good eye, young man..." King Samuel praised Al.

Al frowned. Slowly those small fingers fix the attire on the body.

Young man...

"Are you practice to be an archer, Al?" King Samuel asked.

Al nodded.

He smiled and softly patted the small shoulder.

"See you around soon. I know you can make it," those eyes stare proudly at Al.

After some time, the convoy was ready to leave. Al watched them slowly disappear in the wood, held a huge sigh with a sense of relief.

"I should check myself often. Am I look like a man?" Ayleth murmured alone. She shook her head in tiny.

:::

"It's dangerous to wander around in the woods, Your Highness. Especially at this time. Bandits, even bears are some serious threat, too," said Eros.

The convoy gathered together with some of the Royal Guard personnel at the safe house after the unfortunate event. Kamui managed to send a signal to the nearest post about the attack, and the signal delivered straight to Eros, who was eventually assigned for a roll call that evening at the nearest pit stop.

"This is not an ordinary one," Hadrian puts an arrow on the table. The one who almost pierced the king. He pours some alcohol on the tip.

It turned blackish.

"Poison," said King Samuel.

"I know those hawks. You need an island to pay them. Expensive but effective assassins. They never miss their target," said Kamui.

"Means, they will come back," everyone wary of what will coming to them. Now Yara is guarding the door like he was guarding his own life.

"I mean, not now but sooner," said Hadrian.

"A good question. Who hired them?" asked Kamui.

"You've asking a trivial question, Captain. When it comes to royal affair, everyone is a suspect. It's like searching a needle in a hay. It won't be an easy investigation," Eros replied.

"Lucky for us, that archer boy came right on time," said Yara.

"Archer... Boy?" Hadrian frowned. Yara and Ron nod at him. He looked at his father who sat casually on the wooden chair.

"Yeah. Very much skillful. And a good observer," Finx replied.

"Does he know he was saving The King?" Hadrian asked hastily.

"Not quite close. He only knew that Your Excellency is a royalty. Not exactly The King. Maybe some Baron or Lord," said Finx.

"He can be a suspect," Eros quickly made an assumption. Hadrian can't help but laugh and patted his shoulder.

"With that skill, he can easily snapped The King. Why he became the suspect when he's the one who save Your Excellency?" asks Yara.

"Maybe it's just a decoy. That attack was just for an early warning. Just to read the room?"

"Eros, your theory is good but there is a hole here and there. It's too absurd," Hadrian calmed Eros down.

"Prince Hadrian is right. Knowing Hawks, they went straight to business. There is no such thing as warning or what. They're skillful to kill at the instant," Kamui finally joined the conversation after a long rest alongside King Samuel.

"So, forgo that theory. Just be grateful that he came at the right time," said King Samuel.

"Does he have a name? The archer boy," Hadrian asked Finx.

"Yes, Your Highness. I think he called himself.... Al?"

That name ring a bell to Hadrian.

"What's wrong, sire?" Ron asked.

"I know the boy. He's Prince Aden's friend," Hadrian replied, unknowingly drew a smile on his face.

"Do I know this friend? He never mentioned anything to me," King Samuel suddenly paid attention to the conversation.

"I just found out recently. The attack at the town... He's the one who saved me. Yes, he is a skillful archer. I saw it with my own eyes," said Hadrian.

"If he is that good, I think he should join us. Maybe with the Royal Guard. We need someone like him," King Samuel made a good suggestion.

"I've been thinking the same thing as well. But, it's hard to trace him unless if we ask for Aden's help. The intel failed to track him down. We know nothing about him, aside of his name and skill," Hadrian replies back to King Samuel.

Everyone exchanged look.

"It's like we're dealing with a ghost..." Ron spurred a comment.

"Told you he's not a human!" Yara hides behind Ron.

"I think we have no choice. We need Aden to convince this man Al. Or we'll losing a good man as a talented archer," King Samuel said.

"I'll try my best to convince him. Leave this matter to me, sire," Hadrian bowed at him, asking for a permission to continue the plan. King Samuel nods in tiny.

Decision was made.

Kamui sat silently on his chair. He had been thinking deep about the boy that they encounter. That bow that he used, it looked familiar to him. But, come to think of it... It's impossible. If it's the owner of the bow, the one that Kamui knew for ages, he had only two daughters.

So, who is Al to this old friend?

"What's wrong, captain?" asked Finx.

"Nothing. I'm just tired..." he replied to him with a smile. Finx nodded, leaving him wander his mind alone.