Sophie POV
I looked at Alaric. He stood tall in the dimly lit chamber.
He was ready to take responsibility if I failed. He was ready to bare the consequences of a loss that could cost him his crown. His eyes held a weight I had not seen before. He was no longer just a king. He was a partner in this gamble.
"We don't have much time, Sophie." Alaric said.
He paced the floor.
"We would begin the journey to get the device you talked about very early tomorrow morning."
"We?" Cassian asked.
He leaned against the door. His brow arched in surprise.
"Yes. I am going with her." Alaric said.
He did not look at Cassian. He kept his focus on me.
"Alpha, you don't have to go." Cassian stated.
He stepped forward.
"The northern envoy are here. They are watching your every move. Don't let them think the Alpha King is not concerned about the affairs of his kingdom. Your absence will signal a lack of control."
"Is going to get a device for the competition not an affair of the kingdom?" Alaric asked.
His voice dropped an octave. It was a warning.
"I can go with her." Cassian said.
"Roland and Thomas would follow for maximum protection. We can handle a blacksmith."
"It is too dangerous." Alaric replied.
He shook his head.
"I want to go on that journey to show the people of Blackwood how much I care for this kingdom. Also, if I am there, the blacksmith won't be able to say no. He would do it well if he knows who is watching."
"Really? Is that it, Alaric?" Cassian teased him.
A small smile played on his lips.
Alaric made a face. It was the face of the Alpha King. It told Cassian that questioning his decision was a mistake.
Cassian let out a dry laugh. He shook his head.
"I know what is going on here, Alaric." Cassian mocked.
"Never mind. I will handle everything like always while you go on a journey that is so important to the kingdom."
"That is what I expected to hear from you." Alaric said.
Cassian had a vicious smile on his face.
He looked at me. He made the I told you look with his eyes. He knew Alaric just wanted to be near me.
He bowed low. He walked out of Alaric's chamber. He looked happy. He looked like he had won a lottery.
I turned back to Alaric. I felt a knot of worry in my stomach.
"Please, when we go there, don't tell the blacksmith you are the Alpha King." I stated.
"But why will I hide a fact that is true?" Alaric asked.
"It is something everyone knows. My face is on the coins."
"I know everyone knows." I responded.
"But just don't mention it. If you act like a king, it will make him nervous. It will make him not want to do it. He was exiled. He hates the crown."
"If he refuses to do it, I will make sure he is tortured until he makes it." Alaric said firmly.
"What if you tortured him and he makes a bad one?" I asked him.
I raised my brow.
"What if it explodes as we cook? I need his skill. Not his fear."
Alaric sighed.
He looked at the floor. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Okay. I promise to be at my best behavior." Alaric said.
He sounded nonchalant.
"I won't mention I am the Alpha King."
"Let me go have some rest so we can leave early tomorrow morning." I said.
Alaric seemed relieved. He knew I was preparing for the competition.
I headed for my quarters. The palace was quiet. I got to my room. I was so tired. My bones ached. I slept off immediately.
I woke up while the sky was still gray. I got dressed in a thick cloak.
I headed for the palace gate. I saw Alaric already waiting. Roland and Thomas were with him.
They wore plain traveling clothes. No royal crests. No gold trim.
"Oh, here you are." Alaric said.
He looked fresh.
"I figured you would come so I didn't send anyone to disturb you."
"Greetings, Your Majesty." I bowed.
"I am here now. Let us begin the journey."
We walked for miles. The sun rose over the trees. It turned the dew into mist.
Thomas and Roland walked behind us. They kept their hands near their weapons.
I told Alaric about the special ingredient. I told him about the pepper. He trusted me. He did not argue that it was poison.
I explained how science can fasten our work. I told him how science meets food to produce something unique. He listened. He did not judge.
We got to a small town called Oakhaven. It was dusty. The houses were made of gray stone.
"This is where I know he lived before." Thomas said.
He looked around. Thomas was a man of secrets. He knew the history of every exile.
"Let me ask that woman."
Thomas pointed to a woman passing by with a basket of grain. He left to go talk to her. He came back a few minutes later.
"The woman said he no longer lives in this town." Thomas reported.
"She said he lives in the forest close to the borderline. He is at the Silent Peak."
"Do you know the place?" Alaric asked Thomas.
"Yes. I know the Silent Peak." Thomas said.
"From the woman's explanation, I have been able to draft a road map."
Thomas showed a paper he was holding. It had rough lines and marks.
"Let us continue the journey then." Alaric said.
He looked at me. He wanted to see if I was tired. I did not show stress. I continued walking. I felt the burn in my legs.
We walked for another mile. The path grew steep. The air grew thin. Suddenly, Alaric stopped.
"I'm tired!" Alaric yelled.
He wiped his brow.
"Let's find a place to rest before we continue."
"We still have a long way to go, Your Majesty." Roland said.
"We don't have much time."
"I know." Alaric said.
He looked at me.
"But Sophie is tired too. Let her rest a little before we continue."
"I'm not tired." I interrupted.
I looked at the mountain ahead.
"We have to find the blacksmith. He needs to start working on the pressure cooker. We don't have much time."
"True." Alaric said.
He tried to catch his breath.
He stood up straight.
"Let's continue. Maybe I will rest when we get there."
"Journey like this is not for you, Your Majesty." Thomas said.
He was teasing Alaric.
"You should have let Cassian and men like us embark on this journey. We are used to the dirt."
"What do you mean?" Alaric asked.
"I'm not tired. I was just trying to consider you guys. Let's continue."
Thomas and Roland exchanged looks.
They let out a laugh of mockery. They knew the Alpha King was struggling.
We walked for what felt like three more miles. The trees grew thick. The birds stopped singing. We finally reached a clearing.
A huge wooden door sat in the side of the mountain. It was reinforced with iron bars.
A sign was nailed to the center. It read:
Blacksmith Kaelen. Do not open this door without permission. If you do, whatever you see, you caused it upon yourself.
"This is the right place." my mind whispered.
"What does he mean by this stupid write up?" Alaric roared.
His face turned red.
"The Alpha King should ask for his permission before entering a house in his kingdom?"
"You promised you won't act like this." I said.
I held Alaric's hand. I squeezed it.
"Please don't be like this. We need him."
"But do you see what is at the door?" Alaric yelled.
"After we have walked for miles, only to come see this rubbish?"
"I know it is frustrating." I urged him.
"But please don't do anything harsh. Don't mention you are the Alpha King."
Before I knew what was happening, Roland stepped forward. He kicked the door with all his strength. The door sprung open. The iron hinges groaned.
"Good." Alaric said.
Roland drew out his sword. Thomas drew out his dagger. They stepped into the dark compound.
"What is that smell?" Thomas asked.
He sniffed the air.
"It looks like fire is burning somewhere." Roland said.
He looked forward. His eyes widened.
He saw a machine. It was a primitive mortar. A heavy iron tube mounted on a wooden frame.
It was pointed directly at the entrance. A slow fuse was sparkling at the base.
"Run! Run!" Roland yelled.
"Bomb! It's a bomb!" Roland roared.
The machine was a steam powered projectile launcher. It hissed with a violent pressure.
We all turned to run away. We scrambled back toward the gate. Before we could leave the entrance, the machine fired. A massive sound filled the tunnel.
BOOM!
