The halo breed episode 9

THE HALO BREED
SEASON 1
IN THE HALOS
The Author
EPISODE 9
“Gus!” Kobby scre-med. “Stop and die like a man! Don’t be a fool! You will die horribly if you venture into the Pale Lands!”
With blood drenching him and almost unconscious, Gus Kukah dove through the entrance he had created in the bamboo barrier! He fell into the swirling, thick mists of the Pale Lands!
The warriors behind Kobby Obeng stopped suddenly, and their faces reflected their sudden horror when an inhumane wail from a devil’s voice suddenly ripped through the darkness! A moment later, they saw strange evil eyes glaring at them within the mists!
The warriors turned around and fled the way they had come.
Kobby Obeng looked into the milky mists where Gus had entered. He was so sad suddenly! Gus was mortally wounded and he had dared entered the Pale Lands knowing that only a tortured death awaited him in,side!
Nothing could save him now.
“Sorry, my friend,” Kobby Obeng said softly. “There was no other way out, but I’m sorry for the kind of horrible death you’re going to have in,side there!”
He turned and walked back sadly to the house!
***
The royal dining hall was huge and spectacular.
The ceiling was high and held exotic chandeliers. The rectangular dining-table was glass-topped and had one hundred incredibly beautiful high-backed chairs around it.
Prince Daniel Baffour-Koduah was sitting at the head of the table. In front of him was an array of delicious dishes and fruits. He was dressed in a long, white, flowing gown with gold lace embroidered down the middle.
He had earlier sacked all the servants from the room. With cold eyes boring into the man standing reverently to his right, the prince used a sharp knife to cut off a piece of tender pork, dipped it into the sweet sauce, and plopped it into his mouth with obvious relish. He closed his eyes as he chewed contentedly, and then he looked at the stoic face of Kobby Obeng.
“I’m not interested in whether Gus Kukah entered into hell itself, warrior!” he said softly, but there was an underlying menace in his voice. “And I don’t care if no one has ever come back from the Pale Lands. I told you I wanted him dead. If he’s not dead, then you’re of no use to me, in the first instance, and you have failed me, in the second.”
Kobby Obeng did not bat an eye as he looked levelly at the prince.
“I can assure you that Gus Kukah is dead,” he said firmly. “With poisoned arrows sticking out of him, he definitely has no chance of survival.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Prince Dan said with a cold smile. “You have earned yourself the title of Commander of the Royal Densua Warriors. That position comes with a high salary, a new home, and the perks of a revered royal employee. Go and inform your wife that she will be moving into better living quarters.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Kobby Obeng said. “Thank you.”
“You should also spread the news quickly about how the callous Gus Kukah murdered the dear king,” Prince Daniel said coldly. “His name will be entered into the Crimson Books of Densua as the most disgraced criminal in our annals.”
Kobby Obeng’s jaw grated at that, but he bowed low to the prince.
“Yes, Your Majesty, it will be done,” he said and headed towards the main door.
“And bring in Sarai!” the Prince said behind him.
Kobby stopped, turned and bowed low. He walked to the door, opened it, and went out.
There was another large hall outside. The servants were grouped at the far end still gripped with the tragedy of the king’s death. Sitting stiffly in a comfortable chair beside the door was Sarai. Her face was filled with agony, and her eyes glittered with unshed tears as she stared ahead without looking at Kobby Obeng.
“He demands your presence now, milady,” Kobby said quietly.
Sarai stood up and looked at him with sheer disgust.
“You must bow your head in shame!” she whispered fiercely. “Gus spoke of you as a friend, and admired you like an equal.”
Kobby Obeng looked at her coldly without giving her the satisfaction of seeing the sheet of guilt that was burning fiercely in his guts.
“Perhaps so, milady,” he said softly. “But, perhaps, my betrayal of him would be blunted by a far more searing betrayal by a woman he loved above all people, don’t you think?”
He had the satisfaction of seeing the unbearable pain that flashed across Sarai’s face, and the sheer weight of the guilt that made her tears spill down her cheeks. Without another word, she brushed past Kobby into the dining room.
Kobby Obeng pulled the heavy doors shut and then he walked briskly away.
***
Sarai walked slowly, almost lethargically, towards the prince.
He kept his head down and continued eating but he was aware of the charged tension around her. Of course, he knew she was hurting over the loss of Gus Kukah, and knew her antagonism was real.
The next few minutes needed to be handled well otherwise he might end up losing her.
She was a controlled cauldron of fury, and he knew he had to be h-rder and more aloof to quash her will and make her tow a particular set line. Only absolute dominion would curb the passionate emotions tearing her apart.
He was prepared for anything and waited for her to make her move, but he was certainly not prepared for the violent slap she suddenly delivered across his face. It was a nasty slap that made pork fly out of his mouth and splatter on the floor. It was hærd enough to give him ringing ears and for a brief moment of time, he lost the power of hearing.
“He was a good man!” Sarai hissed down at him as her tears fell. “You knew I loved him! You promised me you would not harm him!”
With a growl, Prince Dan Baffour Koduah got to his feet with an enraged expression on his face. He snatched a sharp knife from the table and pressed it against her throat sharply. He expected to see fear, but she glared at him with the coldness of an enraged mamba.
“Go on!” she hissed fiercely. “Put me out of my misery! Kill me and put me out of my guilt! I would have been happier with him alive and well, and I would have served you well. But now you leave me in sorrow and burdened with guilt that would never be assuaged!”
Dan pushed her hærd into the chair nearest him, but he kept a painful grip on her shoulder as he pushed his face against hers. His fury was palpable, and she noticed the cruel twist to his full l-ips.
“I concede that you’re grieving after witnessing the murder of a man you obviously loved!” he hissed furiously. “For that, I will overlook your indiscretion of raising your hand to the King of Densua, an offence punishable by days of acute and fractious torture and eventual starvation to death. So, let this be the last time you dare commit such an atrocity! And stop that stupid pontification! The moment you agreed to betray Gus was the moment you sentenced him to death!”
“Damn you, Dan!” she wailed miserably. “Damn you to the hottest part of hades! I didn’t want any part of his murder! You promised me, Dan! You’re evil, and not a man of your word!”
“Stop your crap!” Dan said furiously and smacked her sharply across the face, rocking her head back quite hærd and breaking her lip so that she tasted blood. “Gus Kukah was not a man any man wanted as an enemy! Did you want to have power? Well, you have it! But that power would have been short-lived if Gus had lived! He would have come for me because he never lets any injustice – real or perceived – take roots in his presence. Gus Kukah meant death to me and I couldn’t live with that constant threat. He’s gone now and you’re going to be the queen. You deal with it, or I swear to you that if you continue being difficult, I’ll have you killed too and choose someone else as queen. Have I made myself clear?”
Tbc
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