C5 Mistrust

Jackson is alone in the inner room of the bakery, reflecting on his alliances with Lord Valek. He knows Valek can't be fully trusted and needs to devise a plan.

"What shall I do? Who should I tell?" All these questions kept running through his mind without any answers.

Lord Valek's guard enters and loudly asks,

"Who here is Jackson?"

This interrupts Jackson's thoughts, prompting him to walk out and check who it is.

"Oh! It is I."

"Lord Valek would like a word."

His fellow bakery workers begin to wonder,

"Has he gotten himself into any trouble? Why would Lord Valek want to see the boy?"

They wondered.

"I need to get my jacket; I need a minute."

Jack goes inside to get his jacket.

****

In Lord Valek's Council, Lord Valek is seen sitting on his iron chair, half drunk, with his advisor on the right. Fancy food, enough for a party, is in front of them.

"My lord, the boy Jackson is here," the guard says.

"Let him in."

Jack comes in looking unexpectedly perturbed.

"My lord."

"Jackson, son of Michael Crownfield and Oliver Pendleton, heir to the iron throne and possessor of huge wealth," Lord Valek says, half drunk.

"My lord."

"Let it be known that on the 12th of August, 1702, Valek of the House of Baratheon, first of his name, hereby makes an alliance with Jackson the usurped, son of Michael Crownfield."

Immediately, Jackson kowtows.

"My lord."

"You may rise." He turns to his advisor.

"Let the servants bring me more wine and food as we toast to our new friend."

"Maids," his advisor commands.

The maids come in, bringing in expensive wine and food, serving more as if what's on the table is not enough to conveniently feed 20 people.

"Come on, friend," he says as he begins to pour wine for Jackson. "Eat and drink until you are satisfied. You shall no longer be Jackson the baker boy but now Jackson the king." He says dramatically bending slightly.

"Does Jackson have any speech to give?" The advisor asks.

He raises his wine, looking happy.

"My happiness has no bound and my gratitude has no limit. On this day, Lord Valek has decided to help me search for my treasures and take back my throne from Flameheart. I promise to make you, Lord Valek, the richest man in the kingdom because of your actions and more beyond. This I promise you."

"Hahaha! Such a nice speech. Jack, so speaking of the treasures, do you have any idea where your mother's treasures are?"

"No idea, my lord."

"Think carefully, Jack. Her last words, something she frenquently used to say before she passed away, Any precious key She passed away. Any precious key or unnecessary boundary to a place? No?"

"No, my lord. I can't remember a single thing, my lord. I can barely remember her face."

"How old were you when she passed on?"

"10 years."

"Hmmm, it's 9 years after, which makes it more difficult."

"Alright, go rethink. My men will start searching tomorrow, find any clue whatsoever, leave no strings unconnected."

"Yes, my lord."

"Where is Princess Charlotte now, and ahh! Your mother was pregnant when she flew. Where is that child now? Where are your siblings, hmm?"

"They all died, my lord. I'm the only last surviving Crownfield's child," Jackson said without thinking.

"Hmm, such a pity. You lost both parents and both siblings. Tell me, how did they die?"

Jackson wasn't paying attention anymore.

He shouldn't have said that. What if Lord Valek finds out?

"Boy! Boy!"

"Uhhhh!" Jack said, startled.

"How did your siblings die?"

"My mother died along with her pregnancy. She had a stillbirth. My sister died 3 years ago, not being able to cope with this brutal world," he says pitifully.

Lord Valek, upon hearing this, makes a swift evil smile. "He is very much vulnerable," he thought.

"Go on, have more drink." He pours Jackson more wine. As Jackson sips, he begins to go in an entirely different direction from home, confusing the guards who Lord Valek sent to spy on him. He finally outwits the guards but spends the night at a nearby shop.

*****

Charlotte and Ashley are alone in the room.

"Where is Jackson?" Ashley asks.

"He should be back anytime from the bakery."

"It's 10 pm; it's so unusual."

"Hmmm, Ashley, why don't you finish your banana and go to bed."

"Okay, I will, but Charlotte, don't you miss Miss Freya? 'Cause I really do."

"Hmmmnnn! Ashley, I do as well. She was such a good woman."

"She was like a mother to us. A mother which I never knew. I still wonder what killed her, Charlotte, and why she kept saying Red."

"I wonder too, Charlly. I really miss her. Go on, go to bed. I will wait for Jack."

"Good night, Ashley."

"Good night, Charlotte."

********

It's 5 am in the morning; Jackson begins to bang on the door. Charlotte wakes up and opens the door for him.

"Where did you go last night, Jackson?"

"That's not important right now; you and Ashley need to hide for safety."

"What? You didn't sleep at home last night, and you suddenly come to tell us to hide?"

"I promise; I will explain everything once I get the chance."

"But..."

"No buts, Charlotte. You are not safe any minutes from now."

He goes upstairs to pack her stuff.

"Ashley, Ashley, wake up."Jackson said

"Hmmm."

He hands over the little clothes he packs for them to Charlotte and gives them one hundred coins. He pulls Ashley up, and they all went to the underground door, leading to another house of the Pendletons

"Ashley, Ashley, wake up."

"Uhhhhh."

He hands over the little clothes he packs for them to Charlotte and gives them half of a sack coin. He pulls Ashley up, and they all went to the underground door, leading to another house of the Pendletons.

"Stay here for a few days, and if need be to spend that money, spend it discreetly. I promise to come visit you both but Just know I'm protecting you." He leaves Charlotte and Ashley Confused Underground

It's daybreak, Lord Valek and his men come to the Pendleton's house with Jack leading the way.

"Now, shall we begin?" Lord Valek says with an evil and mischievous smile.