**
JAMAL.
At first I thought I was dreaming when I heard that voice, but when the false news popped out of the maiden's voice, I dismissed it as someone who had the same voice was with her so I left Father and mother to take care of it. Ditya kept shaking beside me, oblivious to the whole happenings around her, I can't blame her... Maximus is a whole lot of scary demons in one, I can't believe he didn't even tell his son about his stupid plan.
Then I heard a scream and then pandemonium, the guards kept running around. "Stay in there" I said to Ditya and ran out to see a girl in burqa over my parents, an arrow pierced to her back. I immediately and gently lifted her up from them and pulled her burqa.
The fear that gripped as I saw her face was beyond describable. It was Sarafina and the arrow at her back only meant one thing, she had taken the hit for my parents.
"Search the whole palace, inside an out and find whoever did this! And stop the festival too" Appa ordered the guards as they all scrambled away.
I carried Sarafina, not listening to anyone and gently placed her on her belly, holding her head up. "Someone get the healer!" I yelled out.
Ditya was out in no time. "Holy goddess!" she gasped. "Who did this!" She asked in fear, only one person came to my mind.
Maximus.
Mother and Father rushed to us. "She didn't want us to go into the festival that was why she pulled that stunt" Father stated.
"She actually said something like this is why she didn't want us to go before she passed out" Mother added.
"The healer is here" Ditya said and took a step back for the healer whose name was Anwyl to examine Sarafina.
* * *
"The arrow was poisoned and if she is not conscious we can't get the venom from her" Anwyl said.
We were in the palace clinic and the arrow has been removed from her back, it was killing to watch Anwyl pull it out from her. My eyes were already wet with tears and I don't think I have anything left to cry out.
"What if it spreads into her whole body before she wakes up" Mother asked in a panic stricken tone.
"Let's hope for the best Milanie" Father assured her.
"My King! We found them!" A palace guard yelled as he entered into the clinic, I turned immediately.
"You found the archers?"
"We found two of them, actually they are supposed to be five" the guard replied.
"And where are they now?" Father asked.
"In the torture room"
"Come on son, Milanie and Ditya should stay here with her" Father said and walked out, I placed a kiss on Sara's forehead and followed him out.
* * *
The archers were so easy to talk, turns out Maximus kidnapped their family and threatened to kill them if they didn't obey him.
"I can't believe Maximus would do this to me!" Father lamented after I told him everything Ditya told me.
"Someone get Maximus right now!"
"Where are the rest of you? We heard you were five" I asked them.
"They are here" Khan entered the room pushing down three bloodied men to our front. They were already half unconscious.
"Find their families but leave them here, I will finalize their punishment later" Father stated and walked out, I followed him.
"You should go back to the clinic, I have to meet with my brother" Father said.
"No, I am coming with you" I replied.
I have to see that bastard that brought thus upon my Sarafina, I can't wait to kill him with my own hands.
Bloody bastard!
* * *