CHAPTER 8

POLICE IN MY PALACE

"Looking for something?" Gonzalo said, giving an evil grin while glaring at Sadie.

Sadie snickered, and shot him a guilty glance. "No..no it's nothing, just a little problem but I'm on it. What - what are you doing here prince?"

"I am standing in my land, why? Do we have a problem?" Gonzalo asked, enjoying the shock on their faces. He ran his fingers through his hair. It was always perfectly set, either professionally blown - dried or pulled into a conservative updo and his expensive regalia complemented the appearance he sought to present.

Sweat soaked, Sadie looks away. "No..I was.."

"Guards!" Gonzalo yelled and guards appeared shortly, pulling out their swords towards Sadie.

"Arrest him!" Gonzalo commanded and in no time, the guards chained Sadie.

"Open every sack in his cart!" Gonzalo issued another command.

Boris discovered Ashina in one of the sacks and pulled her out.

Gonzalo laughed historically, shaking his head and clapping.

"Well - done job, Sadie - oh no, Ernest!" Gonzalo said mockingly. "Ernest my good investor.."

"My prince please spare her life! Let her go, take my head instead! Please I beg of you." Sadie begged.

"Let him go!" Ashina said. "Please, I have accepted to pay for the sins of my father, Sadie is my uncle, he has no business here."

Gonzalo straightened. "All the heads of your entire generation put together cannot pay for the death of my father, whom was a great king."

"Please.." Ashina pleaded.

"You attempted to escape? I don't have proper education, but my brains are working just fine. I am no fool, nothing happens in Poldark without me being aware of." Gonzalo stated. "Guards! Take them away! Chain them to my car and drive slowly, back to the palace."

Boris and the other guards chain Ashina and Sadie onto back of Gonzalo's car. Gonzalo enter his car, driving off with his driver. The driver was most assuredly efficient behind the wheel of the car. Ashina and Sadie's skin peel as the car is moving slowly.

"I am sorry I am putting you through this.." Tears rained on Ashina's cheeks as she spoke to her uncle.

"Sorry I failed you.." Sadie said.

"I am the one to apologize.. I shouldn't have involved you.." Ashina buried her mind in regrets. Chuchin and Morgan had warned her, yet she was so adamant on getting him involved. She never wanted him hurt deliberately, all she did was fight for was her freedom.

Now her cousins and aunty's life was at stake too.

***

Danciana rose to her feet in shock when she saw Gonzalo's car enter the palace with Ashina and Sadie dangling at the back.

Morgan immediately shut her eyes in disgust and sympathy. "Shit! Holy crab! She did it!"

"Did you say something?" Danciana asked Morgan.

"No mother." Morgan replied, opening her eyes.

"The slave tried to escape!" Gonzalo said, glancing at his mother when he came down from his car. Gonzalo walked to Sadie and pulled his fake mustang. "Fake mustang! He is no old man, but the slave's uncle."

"What?" Danciana's expression changed, going hard as she tossed her mind's eye on Ashina and Sadie. "Interesting..how did you find out?"

Gonzalo walked closer to his mother. "I suspected something fishy the day an old man came to the palace, impersonating an investor of mine, Ernest. So I sent the guards to spy on him and they found out he wasn't an old man. Then the big question popped into my head, why would someone impersonate an investor of mine?"

Gonzalo glared at Ashina before he continued. "So I kept extra eyes on the investor and he led me to the truth."

"You are truly the alpha of Poldark.." Danciana praised.

Gonzalo whispered to his mother. "Have you consulted the deity yet? I am running out of patience, mother."

"Relax." Danciana whispered back.

"Boris! Give the slave and her uncle twenty five strokes of the rod." Gonzalo ordered. "No food, no water!"

***

"You don't need my medicine," Morgan said, stepping into the storage room. "You do quiet nicely on your own."

Ashina smiled, tending to her wounds. "I am a medical student - well.. was.."

"I'm sorry.." Morgan said.

"You don't have to be sorry. It's not your fault.." Ashina hesitated. "I guess my dreams of becoming a doctor some day is buried in the grave somewhere.."

Ashina remained quiet for seconds then broke the silence. "Can you please take medicine to my uncle?"

"I wish I could, but I can't. Your uncle is in the palace prison." Morgan replied.

"Okay.." Ashina said quietly, cleaning her wound.

Morgan felt a jolt in her heart. She wished she could help her. "You are a good person.."

"How do you know?" Ashina asked, wincing in pain.

Morgan changed the topic. "Don't blame the alpha Prince for being this way. This is how his mother wired him. He is a man unable to look after himself properly and make decisions for himself." Morgan said.

Ashina nodded, smiling impishly. "I don't blame him much, I blame my father for the crime he committed. That's what crime does, destroys.." She paused and looked at Morgan reflectively. "You should leave now."

"I will check on you tomorrow, I'm sorry I couldn't sneak out any food for you." Morgan said.

"Thank you, Princess Morgan, you are the only one around this palace with a good heart, don't let anyone change it."

Morgan nodded, leaving the storage room.

***

Gonza strode to Morgan's bedroom to privately have a conversation with her. She saw Morgan struggling on the bed to sleep.

"Morgan.." His voice was deep and serious.

Morgan sat upright staring at him. "Prince Zalo?"

"I had to come by this time so mother doesn't get to hear of it.." His eyes were as serious as his voice. "Why did you give the slave your cell phone to make calls?"

Morgan wasn't surprised he knew, there was barely a thing happening in the kingdom that he wasn't aware of. He was that informed and smart.

"I'm sorry. " She apologized.

"If you were not my younger brother's wife I did send you to the cage by now.." Gonzalo tried hard to keep his voice low despite his anger. "Mother won't even give that consideration, she will have you punished.."

"I am sorry.." Morgan muttered.

"Stay out of my business in this palace, if you are idle go out there and learn a skill! Knitting, sewing, farming, fishery! Anything! Except meddling in my affairs." Gonzalo said. "Or channel your energy in looking for your husband that hasn't been home in months!"

"I am sorry, but bringing Seb into this wasn't necessary.." Morgan murmured.

Gonzalo heard her. There was a bone - deep pain in her voice. He also caught the painful look on her face. Her expression matched her tone: quiet and painful. She had a defenselessness about her, a fragility that touched him.

He looked away, afraid she might sense his care for her. The irony was that he didn't know if being concern was a sign of weakness or a good behavior. He felt a lump in his throat and cursed himself for taunting her husband.

She had never been disobedient or domain.

"Don't repeat this mistake again." Gonzalo said then strode out of her bedroom.

***

Chuchin tapped Ashina on the shoulder. Ashina dropped her mop stick, staring at Chuchin.

"Thanks to the moon goddess! I've been looking for you.." Ashina said.

"I warned you, you are too stubborn!" Chuchin frowned. "And why are you looking for me? Imagine if I helped you, I'd be in trouble now, if not dead or banished."

"If I were you i will pray hard to the moon goddess so I get banished.."

"Then go where? How will I survive?" Chuchin rolled her eyes. "Stop being ridiculous!"

"I need your help, Chuchin.."

"What?" Chuchin looked at her. "I might help."

"Can you please sneak food and medicine to my uncle? Please.." Ashina pleaded.

"Is that all?"

Ashina nodded.

"Don't worry, I already did that. He's fine." Chuchin said.

Ashina smiled. "Thank you so much!"

"Shhhh, keep your voice low, the walls have ears and I don't want to get in trouble." Chuchin replied.

"Take my advice and leave, your father will be fine. Who knows? You might even find your mother." Ashina looked around. "You deserve a better life. The little money you've saved up from your business, take it with you and leave. Trust me on this one, you will thank me later."

Chuchin sighed heavily, staring at Ashina.

***

The guards opened the palace gate wide when the police vans trooped in numbers.

Prince Gonzalo Hemming, majestically walked to his gate to welcome the officers himself.

"Welcome to Poldark, the home of prestige. To what do I owe this unannounced visit?" Gonzalo addressed the chief police officer.

"We received a report about the abduction of a young lady, Ashina Diego, and her uncle, is that true?"

"Yes officer!" A sharp voice said answered.