Roshan and Jibaro walked back to the palace in complete silence. Both lost in thought for different reasons.
Roshan thought about his past and what the future held for him.
Jibaro thought of what had been prepared dinner as he was famished.
"Don't think about it too much Ros".
"I'll try"
They went their separate ways once they got to the palace.
....
For dinner, the whole table ate heartily except Roshan.
He couldn't stop thinking about what the fortune teller had said.
He was the reincarnation of the sorcerer. But his mother assured him that it was a misunderstanding while growing up.
He had lost his appetite and was tossing his food around in the plate.
Roshan suddenly got up, startling his siblings.
"May I be excused, I don't feel hungry" he bowed and left the room after his father nodded.
"What's going on with him?"
They all didn't know. Queen Roberta was worried about her baby boy. He never said no to food, not once in his life.
She knew it must've been something serious for him to refuse food.
After dinner, they all retired to their rooms. Queen Roberta was on her way to Roshan's quarters when her husband held her back.
"Just leave him be for tonight. I don't think he wants to have a conversation now. Perhaps tomorrow, my queen"
She sighed and nodded, turning around and following her husband back to their quarters.
....
The day of the battle had come and the men were getting ready.
The palace was almost empty with just a few guards left behind to protect those that wouldn't be fighting.
King Thames and King Zane were at the forefront, followed closely by the three princes and the security officers. The other warriors were behind them.
It had been about twelve hours since they left the palace. Queen Roberta was worried that they may not return that same day.
A commotion could be heard outside the palace gates. It sounded of screams and chants.
The occupants of the palace begun to fear for their lives, assuming that the fight had gotten to the capital city.
The gates were opened and the warriors who had gone to fight hours before could be seen jubilating while on their horses.
They were welcomed with open arms as they danced about their victory.
That night, the palace had been turned to a party ground. The warriors spoke endlessly about how they won and what they did to win.
Roshan smiled unknowingly at a particular warrior's story. The man had claimed to have sensed a monster behind him while fighting three before him.
The Spirits were high and Roshan decided to put aside his unease about being the sorcerer aside for now.
He walked to the courtyard when most people had gone inside the palace.
Thinking he was alone, he sighed and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket.
Roshan hardly ever smoked, not unless he was stressed out.
He placed it between his lips and searched for his lighter.
"You smoke?" A voice asked from behind him.
Roshan pulled out the cigarette and turned around. It was him. Zane.
Roshan's heart rate accelerated by the second with each step Zane took towards him.
"Smoking is bad for you" Zane said simply and took the cigarette from Roshan's hand, their hands brushing each other.
Roshan sucked in a breath. His eyes widened slightly with how close Zane had gotten just to collect the cigarette.
Zane placed the cigarette between his lips and pulled out his own lighter, using it to light up the end away from his mouth.
He took a big puff and let it out. Roshan just stared at him before regaining his composure.
"It's wrong to take people's things, king. I wanted to smoke that before someone saw me" Roshan said and Zane's eyebrows rose immediately.
"Really? Well I'm sorry" he pulled out the cigarette and offered it to Roshan saying, "you can still have it. I just took one puff"
Roshan took it from his hands and placed it in his own mouth. Zane smiled slightly and turned to face away from him.
"You don't seem very excited about our victory"
"Oh I am, I just.....have a lot on my mind tonight"
"Is that why you weren't able to eat dinner at the table?
Roshan turned slightly and rose an eyebrow. "Were you watching me, king?"
"I most definitely was. It's hard to not stare at you sometimes"
"....." Roshan just stared into space when he heard that.
He wasn't going to say anything. When he wanted him, he was turned away and as such he had decided to respect himself until he was told point blank that he was wanted.
"Oof, no response? Tough" Zane said.
"Well I don't appreciate cryptic messages"
"Cryptic messages?"
"Yes, mean what you say or don't say it in the first place"
"When have I ever said anything I didn't mean towards you"
"You just did it now"
"I meant it. You're the earth with a gravitational force that pulls my human self towards you always. I'm serious when I say it's hard to not stare at you"
Roshan was at a loss for words. Earth. Force. Pull. He would admit that the man was a smooth talker.
"How charming" was all he said eventually.
"Did it work? Are you charmed?"
"Are you confident that would be enough to charm me?"
"A man can hope, can't he?"
"Hm..."
The silence was deafening but Roshan was proud of his strong front.
Suddenly, Zane grabbed Roshan's forearm and pulled him towards himself slightly.
"I'll be direct now. I want you. Badly"