Chapter 23

SABINA

“Is this a private spot?” I asked King Bancroft, as we settled into a tucked-away corner of the harem. A thin partition had been set up, giving our corner three walls instead of the usual two.

Three chairs, crafted from what looked like the finest wood, were arranged around a round table. King Bancroft took a seat in one of them and motioned for me to do the same.

“Yeah, it is. We won’t be bothered,” he assured me, sounding like he knew this place like the back of his hand.

“So?” I let the word hang in the air, a clear signal for King Bancroft to start his tale.

“Right, Aboloft. You’ve probably noticed his behavior’s changed. He’s not the same sweet guy you grew up with.” His words were confident, like he had a clear understanding of the situation between Aboloft and me.

“I have. Aboloft’s different. I thought he’d be the same sweet guy I left eight years ago, but he’s not.” I didn’t want to delve into the specifics. Aboloft had changed, and we both knew it.

“So, what do you want to know? Why he’s changed or what happened to Aboloft after you left?” His eyes were soft, warm, a stark contrast to the icy, harsh stare I’d seen him give that woman.

“What happened to him after I left. I want to know that. I want to know everything that happened to him while I was gone,” I answered.

“Okay. But some of it might not be easy to hear,” he warned.

I swallowed hard. “I can handle it.”

“Alright then. Aboloft and I became friends about three weeks after you left. He was about to shoot a deer, but I got to it first.

“I won’t bore you with the details of the fit he threw because I shot the deer before he could, but it was pretty intense.” King Bancroft chuckled, like it was a memory he was fond of.

“Aboloft felt like people were always taking things from him without considering his feelings. That’s why he was so mad. He didn’t tell me this until much later, but I’m telling you now.”

Guilt pierced my heart, forcing me to look away in shame. I was the cause of this. I was the reason for his anger.

“Then what happened after you guys became friends?” I asked.

“After that day, and after Aboloft nearly killed me, he stormed back to the castle. He was a prince then, and everyone knew who he was. And after what he did to me, I wanted to understand why he was acting like that.

“Sure, he was the prince, and he had every right to act the way he did, but there was something about him that made me want to understand why he was acting out.

“So, I went to see him. Our parents had formed an alliance between our kingdoms, which made it easy for me to visit him. Although, we’d never really spoken to each other before that day.

“The only problem was that Aboloft refused to see anyone. After that day, he locked himself in his room and wouldn’t let anyone in.

“No matter what happened, no matter how much his parents begged him to come out, he wouldn’t. For eight months he stayed in his room, only letting the servants bring him food.”

“Were you a prince at the time too?” I asked.

“Yes, I was. I became king shortly after Aboloft did,” King Bancroft replied.

“Please, go on,” I urged him.

“Sure. For eight months I visited Quopia twice a week. Every time, Aboloft refused to see me. His parents were, understandably, worried.

“They were concerned about their heir, not knowing what was wrong with him since he’d never acted like this before. They tried everything to get him to come out, but nothing worked.

“It was like Aboloft had abandoned his duties as the future king. So, you can see why his parents were anxious. One day, I overheard the king and queen talking about Aboloft.

“They were really worried. After hearing them, I knew it was time to take drastic action, even though I didn’t want to.”

King Bancroft paused as a woman appeared, carrying a tray of drinks. She was wearing nothing but jewelry and a scarf over her face. Once she left, King Bancroft continued.

“Usually, I’d ask the servants guarding his room to tell Aboloft I wanted to talk to him.

“But that day, I drew my sword and cut down anyone who tried to stop me from seeing Aboloft. I took out twenty guards that day. I did apologize to the King and Queen afterward.

“When there were no more guards, I pushed open the door to his room and went in. And when I saw Aboloft lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, it scared me, Sabina. King or not, it scared me.

“I’m a man, and I know fear is supposed to be foreign to us, but I’m not afraid to admit that I was scared when I saw Aboloft like that.”

Looking at King Bancroft, I knew he was telling the truth. He wasn’t afraid to admit his fear, and that made me respect him even more.

“No, no. You have every right to be afraid. You’re a king, but you’re also human. Fear is something we all experience,” I responded.

He nodded. “Without thinking, I rushed over to him and grabbed his shoulder, intending to pull him up to a sitting position.

“As soon as my fingers touched his shoulder, Aboloft’s gaze snapped to mine. The emptiness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by pure rage.

“He sat up, grabbed my wrist that was on his shoulder, and squeezed hard enough to break it. I didn’t do anything, I just let him squeeze my wrist.”

“Aboloft could’ve hurt you.” I tried to keep the guilt from spreading and sinking its claws into my soul.

Guilt was a luxury I couldn’t afford right now. I needed to focus on King Bancroft’s words, to absorb every detail. Only then would I let myself succumb to the emotional whirlwind threatening to consume me.

“He did. He hurt me, and not gently. When he realized that I wasn’t flinching, even as he crushed my wrist, he rose from the bed and practically hurled me across the room.

“We fought again. I didn’t put up much of a fight. I sensed he needed to vent his anger, so I let him hit me.

“Eventually, Aboloft stopped. He retreated to the bed, leaving me sprawled on the floor. I approached him, and he asked me why I was there.

“I told him his parents were worried. I asked him to share what was troubling him. He didn’t mention you until two years later.

“Those years were tough, not just for Aboloft, but for the king and queen too. Every time I asked Aboloft to open up, he’d either lash out at me or avoid me for extended periods.”

“How did he finally tell you about me?” I asked, my hands twisting anxiously in my lap, regret gnawing at my heart.

“It was unexpected. I walked into his room to find him sitting in a chair. Without asking, I sat next to him. We sat in silence for a while before he finally spoke:

~“Sabina.”~

~“Who?”~

~“Sabina. The woman who left me two years ago.”~

~“Is she the reason—”~

~“Yes. She shouldn’t have left. I don’t know why she did. She didn’t give me a real reason.”~

~“What was she to you? I mean, what was your relationship?”~

~“She was mine.”~

~“Yours?”~

~“Yes, mine. But she didn’t know that. And I want her to know.”~

~“If she’s yours, then go get her.”~

~“It’s not that simple. She wasn’t happy with me.”~

~“If you start worrying about what she wants, you’ll never be happy.”~

“Y-you—” I was speechless. King Bancroft had suggested Aboloft take me against my will. But that was two years after I’d left him. Why hadn’t Aboloft come for me then?

“Yes, I told Aboloft to take you against your will. He was about to become king, and I couldn’t bear to see him weak. He needed to focus on the kingdom, not some woman.

“But Aboloft didn’t do that. He didn’t take my advice. He loved you too much, even then.”

“Then what happened?” I wasn’t sure whether to be angry or moved by King Bancroft’s words. He wanted his friend to be happy, which was why he suggested capturing me, but it still made me furious.

“When Aboloft refused to follow my advice and continued to act like a heartbroken prince, I pushed him into this harem, to use the women his father had collected for other men’s pleasure.

“I was firm on this. I told Aboloft he had to use these women. I wasn’t giving him a choice. He needed to get back to his old self.

“Aboloft was, and always will be, a ruler. Seeing him in pain was unbearable. I was on the verge of ordering my guards to find you and bring you back to him. I planned to present you to him as a gift.

“But Aboloft used those women. I don’t know how far he went with them, but I knew he indulged. He had every right to. He needed to vent his anger and frustration.”

King Bancroft’s words were like a knife to my heart, slicing me open in the most painful way possible. I couldn’t hold back the tears welling up in my eyes. The man I loved had been with other women.

I knew we could never be together, but it still hurt. My love for Aboloft wasn’t something I could control, just like the pain that was growing with each passing moment.

I needed Aboloft. I needed the comfort of his strong arms around me. Even though we could never be together, I needed him.

“I’m sorry, Sabina. I know this hurts, but Aboloft needed this. He was about to become king. He couldn’t afford to be weak.

“As his loyal friend, I couldn’t stand by and watch Quopia fall. That’s why I told him to enjoy other women.”

“I know.” I nodded, my movements frantic. “I know, I-I understand. I understand why he did this. What happened next?”

“After six months, the king and queen passed away, and Aboloft became king. He continued to be an exceptional ruler, and he did enjoy other women.

“After another two years—that’s four years after you left him—Aboloft told me that the women in the harem no longer satisfied him. So, he stopped visiting the harem. This led to frequent bouts of anger.”

“Why? Didn’t he like any of the women in the harem?” I asked.

King Bancroft shook his head. “No, Sabina, it wasn’t like that. The women were a means for Aboloft to release his anger, his lust. When he stopped, his anger returned, and he started taking it out on innocent people.

“He became cruel, hurting and killing without remorse. I told him it was wrong, but he wouldn’t listen. He hurt people until he earned the reputation of a cruel king, something his father never was.

“Aboloft’s father was fair, not cruel. That’s why many people started leaving the kingdom.”

So, that’s why I’d heard whispers about the king’s cruelty. They were talking about Aboloft, not his father.

He was the one who had the whole town living in fear. He was hurting innocent people, venting his anger on others when he should’ve taken it out on me.

“Why was he so angry all the time? He hardly ever got angry with me.” I had a sinking feeling that I already knew the answer to my question.

“You know why, Sabina. It’s because of you. Aboloft was mad at you, but you weren’t there for him to vent his anger on. So he had to find other ways to cope.

“At first, he was consumed by desire, then by rage. He was hurting, and he made others hurt too.”

I let the tears fall freely. I thought I was doing the right thing by leaving him, but now, King Bancroft was telling me that I’d made the biggest mistake of my life.

I didn’t know what to believe anymore.

“Sabina, don’t cry,” King Bancroft said, his voice gentle.

“Forgive me, my lord, but King Aboloft is asking for Lady Sabina. He’s looking for her, a-and he’s not in a good mood.” A maid entered, interrupting our conversation, shaking with fear.

Fear washed over me. How long had I been here? Aboloft said he would be back by evening. It had only been a little while since King Bancroft and I had started talking.

Oh no, Aboloft wanted me in his bedchamber when he got back. How mad was he?

“Of course, tell him where we are, and that Sabina will join him soon,” King Bancroft said, dismissing the maid.

“Bu-but, my l-lord, Ki-king Aboloft is really angry.” The woman looked like she might pass out. Her fear was palpable. I felt sorry for her and stood up, ready to leave.

But there was something I needed to ask King Bancroft, something I had to know. I wouldn’t be able to rest without the answer.

“Can you wait outside for me, please? I just need to ask King Bancroft something and then I’ll go with you to King Aboloft, okay?” I gave the woman a reassuring smile.

She nodded, relief clear in her dark eyes. “Yes, yes. I’ll wait for you.” With a deep bow, she hurried away. Once she was gone, I turned back to King Bancroft.

“Yes, what do you want to ask me?” He smiled at me.

“If Aboloft didn’t capture me for eight years, then why now? Why have me captured now?”

King Bancroft laughed. “Aboloft didn’t have you captured. I did…

“I was the one who ordered the men to take you.”