What Sightings

Roy's POV

The fact that she hadn't added 'my lord' when referring to me didn't irk me. It was the memory that arrived with what she had said.

I leaned both elbows against the mahogany table that had survived years of spittle and slamming. It had even survived some blood stains that came as a result of my predecessor having his way with the village girls, most of whom were underage.

He was as cruel as they came. And he loved virgins. They gave him some sense of meaning and pride. I didn't have that gene or trait in me, but I did have problems and pleasures of my own.

I interlocked my fingers, eyes never leaving her face. She didn't bat an eyelid but faced me head on, and I was already convinced she wasn't mincing words.

Regardless, I had to ask. "You found him?"

"Yes, sire. I did."

"How?" I wanted to know.

"Eyes and ears, sire," she said metaphorically.

"Explain in plain terms, Julia," I snapped. "I don't have time to decipher your words right now."

She sighed. "In as much as no one is saying anythijg about it doesn't mean we aren't keeping watch, sire. We found him some days back."

"Can you be more specific?" I probed.

"A week ago," she said.

I scoffed, amused. "Where?"

"In town. He was walking aimlessly, we noticed. Like he was looking for something that wasn't there."

"Or something that he couldn't find," added Cecilia, my female councilor number two.

I looked to Samael, my spokesperson. "Is this true? Can you corroborate what I am hearing?"

"Of course, your majesty."

"Go on."

"The women had put people behind the scenes to watch for this very man," he said, and removed a sketch of the man who had tried to kill me on my chambers ten years ago. I took it and gazed. It was a rough sketch. The man had a hood on, and it shielded his face. The rest of his body was covered in clothing and the only other thing on him was his belt.

It had the same symbol as the crest of Silver Pack.

I chuckled. "Is this a joke or what?"

"Your majesty?"

"His belt? How come?"

"That was what the watchers saw, your majesty. And even one of them is a good artist and came up with this sketch."

I leaned back into my chair. And come to think that I wanted to boycott attending the council. I would not have gotten this information in time.

"Is this the only sketch you have, Samael?" I asked.

"This is an accurate one, your majesty," he replied.

"So this means that he only wears one type of clothing."

"I reckon so, your majesty."

"Which makes him not hard to find either, since anyone with this sketch can just spot him out of the crowd."

"That's right, your majesty."

"If he is back in Silver Pack at this time of the year, why hasn't he joined the Alpha Trials?"

It was too late to take back my words because the next person to jump on that was Cecilia.

"The Alpha Trials? And why would he do that?"

I looked at her, thought of a response to give to the woman, then thought not of it. Better that way. I wouldn't say anything about the Alpha Trials so that they would not get much ideas.

"Forget I said that," I dismissed. "Now, how are we going to find this man? Because if you are sure he is the same man who attacked me ten years ago, then we have to set a trap for him."

"Your majesty," said Connor. "Don't you want to know why he is back in Silver Pack after all these years?"

"Councilman Connor, that sounds like you're saying I don't have vision," I accused. "That I don't know what to think of my enemy. Is that right?"

"That is far from my point, sire."

"Are you sure about that? Because you put the question to me right now,"

"It was not my intent. All I am just saying is maybe, we find out why he is back in Silver after all these years. And why the hell he's parading town looking for something that the rest of us can't see."

I relaxed back in my chair. He had a point there. But it was important to put fear into the minds of these men and women seated around me. I was surprised that the men felt it more than the women did anyway. No wonder why Freya was so fierce, both in bed and in judgment.

"Samael?" I called.

"Right here, your majesty."

"I think we should take a vote. Let's see which line of action to take."

"And what are the paremeters, your majesty?"

"To find out what this man wants in Silver Pack, or to catch him and have him killed."

"Those in favor of recon raise your hands," announced the spokesperson.

Hands went up. I counted the numbers. Eight.

"Those in favor of killing raise your hands."

Six hands went up including mine. I smiled when I heard Samael read the result.

It was I who had called for a vote and I had gotten defeated on my own terms. The women didn't look anything like triumph but I could tell they were pretending.

Things like these, let them have their way and you'll have a big problem on your hands soon. I had learned from kings gone past me. Always remain in control of your council. Freya too, loved telling me that. And if she had been present, something drastic would have happened.

Maybe I had to do something to show these people that I couldn't be toyed with.

I got to my feet.

"Your majesty, we have one other matter," Samael called to my attention.

I held a hand at him and looked at the rest of the council. "From now on, Julia will cease to be a council member. She has overstepped her limits, and this will not be tolerated by me. I should have your hands for this, but you'll keep them. Let this be a lesson to the rest of you wise ones. Next time, instigate nothing behind my back. Everything that concerns me, my ears must be told. This council is hereby dismissed. I need to get laid."