Armendora - Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Where’s Gloria?

 

 

Armendora looked really beautiful at night, so beautiful that you’ll actually fell in love with the scene—the clear sky full of shiny, bright stars; the fresh, cool air, and the beautiful lights coming from the skyscrapers of Armendora; like a kingdom you can only imagine. It is a really sad thing about this kingdom is that even though it’s really beautiful, the king who is ruling at that time is really, really, really cruel.

King Helmcit, scarcely known to most people—apart from being the King of Armendora—is a really mean, nasty person. If someone walked past him, that person must kneel on the ground and say “Good day, Your Majesty.” Otherwise, that person would be beheaded. People lived in fear under Helmcit's rule because almost all crimes are punishable by death.

Alyssa’s mother, Mary Anne was the kindest queen the people had ever known. When her husband, King Baltrix died, she ruled Armendora with the greatest and kindest care, like Armendora was her own heart and soul. But, everyone could see that she was unhappy, even though she smiled whenever she met other people. So, the whole nation was happy when she announced that she will be married to Helmcit, her brother-in-law.

But, once Helmcit was announced king, he started to do terrible things. Since he had a stepdaughter, Alyssa, he cannot make his own son, Arthur to be king when he dies. So, in order to make his own son king, he has ordered the whole nation to search and capture Alyssa for treason. Knowing this, Alyssa fled out of her country, away from her only family to Earth to search for an ally.

After Alyssa had fled, Armendora was in a more critical situation. Houses were searched every single day to make sure nobody was hiding Alyssa. Worst of all, Alyssa’s own mother, Helmcit's own wife was locked in the dungeons because of Alyssa’s escape. The safety of Armendora now lies on Alyssa’s own shoulders.

Before fleeing Armendora, Alyssa promised herself that she would bring peace back to Armendora. But, she doesn’t know that it will be harder than she thought.

“In order to save Armendora,” said Lancelot, “you have to bring an ally that can actually fight. That ally must also know magic that Helmcit does not.”

“Magic that Helmcit does not know?” asked Ned. “What do you mean?”

“Helmcit learnt the darkest magic people have known,” said Lancelot. “How do you think he made all those Rotters?”

“Then, how should I know what magic to learn to defeat him?” asked Ned.

“That’s where we’re going;” said Lancelot, “to the Sacred Cave. You will learn all the magic skills you need to fight Helmcit.”

“Sacred Cave?” asked Alyssa. “Why there?”

“Because at the same time, Ned can learn about his family,” said Lancelot.

“My family?” asked Ned. “I know my family really well, thanks.”

“Not that family, Ned,” said Lancelot. “Your real family.”

“Grandpa, not now!” said Alyssa.

“What?” said Lancelot. “He must know, dear.”

“Okay. Whatever it is,” said Ned, “let’s go there first, okay?”

“Okay,” said Alyssa. “But, shouldn’t we wait for Gloria first?”

“Yeah, I think we should,” said Lancelot. “In the mean time, let’s rest here and I can tell you guys more about Helmcit and your mother, Alyssa.”

“What about my mother?” asked Alyssa.

“The part on what’s happened to your mother, apart from locked in the dungeons,” said Lancelot.

“What happened?” asked Alyssa. “Oh, grandpa, do tell me that she’s okay.”

“I won’t call chained to the dungeon wall and tortured every day okay,” said Lancelot. “Your mother was tortured, dear. Tortured in a way I can’t really describe.”

“Oh, no!” cried Alyssa.

“Every day tortured?” asked Ned. “That’s horrible! How could he do that to his own wife?”

“That’s because he does not love his wife,” explained Lancelot. “He marries Alyssa’s mother just because the opportunity of being King of Armendora. He doesn’t care about her. His mind was set on ruling Armendora. That’s why he killed—“

“Killed?” asked Alyssa. “He killed somebody?”

“Your own father, Alyssa,” said Lancelot. “He killed his own brother for his own benefit.”

“He killed my father?” asked Alyssa shocked.

“Is this true?” asked Ned. “How did you know this?”

“I saw it with my own eyes, Ned,” said Lancelot. “I was there when it happened. Helmcit slipped some poison in Baltrix’s drink and blames the cook for it. The cook was beheaded by the Queen.”

“Wow,” said Ned. “I can hardly believe this.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” said Lancelot. “Wait till you meet him. He’s capable of more extreme things than just poison his own brother. That traitor! He deserves to die.”

“When did he lock my mother in the dungeons?” asked Alyssa. “Is it right after I flee?

“No, dear one,” said Lancelot. “After you fled Armendora, Helmcit ordered the whole kingdom to look for you. When you returned here, you mother Sensed you. She suddenly said “My daughter’s back!” and Helmcit was excited, knowing that he will have another chance in killing you. So, he asked your mother about your whereabouts. Knowing his plans, your mother refuses to tell and she was sent to the dungeons straight away.”

“So, my mother was sent to the dungeons for protecting me?” asked Alyssa.

“Yes, my dear,” said Lancelot with a smile. “She loves you, remember?”

Alyssa smiled at Lancelot’s words. He’s definitely right. What kind of mother doesn’t love her own child? Ned hugged Alyssa, wiping her tears.

 

As they sat and talked more about Helmcit and what he did to Armendora and Alyssa’s mother, time flies by. But, there was no sign of Gloria. As the day gets darker, they started to worry.

“Where’s Gloria?” asked Alyssa. “She should be here by now.”

“Yeah,” said Ned. “I wonder what happened.”

“Let’s go and search for her,” suggest Lancelot. “Maybe she’s lost.”

“She can’t be lost,” said Alyssa. “She knows this forest like the back of her own hand.”

“Okay, I’ve had enough,” said Ned. “Let’s go and look for her.”

They searched here and there, but there’s no sign of Gloria. Even when they split up to cover more ground, Gloria was nowhere to be found.

“Let’s go back to the Tree House,” suggests Ned. “Maybe she’s there.”

Once they arrived at the Tree House, they were shocked to see it. Everything was messed up—from the books to the kitchens, even the bedrooms.

“Gloria!”

“Gloria! Come on, we’re late!”

“Glo—“

They stopped shouting her name when they saw a note stuck on the wall near Alyssa’s bedroom.

 

 

Alyssa,

            I have your beloved guardian with me now. If you want her safe, come and surrender yourself. You don’t want to know what will happen if you don’t. I’ll give you one week.

 

Your stepfather

 

“GLORIA!!!”