[CHAPTER 10: THE OX]
The next day, Bella got up from bed early for her archery training. Satria had been waiting at the training field. When he saw Bella coming with Suria and Talia following behind her, he raised a hand cheerfully.
"Good morning, my lady."
"Good morning to you too." Bella responded with a bright smile on her face.
The morning air was fresh and the warm sun felt comfortable on her skin. She tied her hair up in a loose bun, letting the breeze blow against her fair and slender neck.
"You seem to be in a good mood today, my lady. Did something happen?" Satria asked. He noticed Bella was unusually cheerful that morning.
"Nah, I'm cheerful all the time."
Satria pursed his lips listening to such denial. He was not an idiot, and even if he was, he would still notice how obvious her mood was that day.
"Something good must have happened. Lord Gaharu was in a good mood as well." Suria teased. Talia chuckled along.
"It's not what you think, okay! Him being in a good mood has nothing to do with me. At all." Bella grunted, trying to look all serious.
"My lady needs more rest, Sir Satria, Lord Gaharu had kept her up all night." Suria teased again.
"Wha-what?" Satria immediately felt awkward when he understood what Suria meant.
"I told you, it's not what you think! You're being ridiculous, Suria!" Bella pretended to focus on her training, "Now, go get me something to drink."
"Alright, my lady, anything you need." Suria and Talia went back to the palace, giggling.
Bella watched them as they walked, shaking her head,
"And stop laughing! It's not what you think!"
"Yes, my lady." The two servants giggled again as they paced faster.
"Don't listen to her. Suria's being ridiculous." Bella said sternly when she saw the awkward look on Satria's face.
"Yes, my lady." 
They spent the whole morning there, and when the sun was starting to get hotter, they decided to head back to the palace.
"You learned fast, my lady. I am sure you will become a skilled archer in no time."
"I still need to learn how to use a sword."
"As long as you can hold your sword right, know when to lift it and where to swing it, you will be fine."
*****
Sora entered the meeting hall where Gaharu was waiting. There were other soldiers there as well. Sora bowed his head slightly as he paced in, his subordinates followed behind him and bowed as well when they entered. 
"My lord," Sora said, "more troops are heading towards Moro's southern territory, it seems like they are aware."
"Any signs of Tayen?" Gaharu questioned, resting his palms on the stone table as he leaned slightly forward.
"No, my lord. The Moro troops are still searching for him."
Gaharu gritted his teeth as he thought long and hard. He must take this seriously. If Tayen was to come back and make his move on Ra, there would be casualties that could not be avoided. He could not let anything to happen to his people. 
*****
"Any news from the search team?" A beastman with pale white skin questioned his subordinate who had just returned. His shoulder length straight hair was as red as blood and he had a black leather mask covering his mouth and nose so one could only see his sharp murderous gaze and his blood red irises. He was wearing a black leather armor and his figure was slim. 
"So far, none, general. They have searched the whole east and south areas but still could not find Lord Tayen." The beastman soldier with a lizard head replied with his head lowered. He was dressed in a black leather armor as well.
"Keep searching." The masked beastman ordered coldly, "Bring him back alive, no matter what."
"Yes, General Mihaje."
*****
"Dungeon...?" Bella furrowed her eyebrows. She suddenly remembered how she wanted to find the way to leave that place before. Now that she has gotten comfortable living there, she had forgotten how she used to hate it there. And how she hated Gaharu. Why did she hate him? He wasn't so bad.
"Yes, my lady. Down here is the path to the dungeon. We better not go there." Talia replied. Suria shook her head, signaling Talia not to talk too much. 
Bella stared at the  dark gloomy path downstairs. She had never gone to that part of the palace before. The Tiger Palace was so huge there were places that she still hadn't discovered yet.
"Why?"
"The dungeon is where all the captives from other tribes are kept." Talia spoke again.
"I'm just gonna take a peek. I'll go by myself. You two wait here." Without waiting for any response from them, Bella strode down the dark.
"My lady!"
Suria's voice echoed throughout the stairs but Bella didn't turn back. The uneven stairs were a long way down. The torches were two metres apart from each so the stairs were even darker than other parts of the palace. The further she walked, the stronger the smell of dried blood and dirt. The atmosphere was getting more and more uncomfortable too. It was as though she was entering the ghost house of a fun fair, spooky and somewhat suffocating.
The stairs finally ended at a long corridor which had a very strong smell of dried blood and decaying flesh. The smell was making her nauseous. Bella covered her nose and mouth with her hand as she cautiously paced forward. Weak groans and wailings could be heard echoing. The long corridor has beastmen sized holes on both sides, and each hole was apparently iron barred doors. The rooms behind each iron barred door were darker than the night with no single light at all. There were soft noises like whispers and groans coming from the dark rooms.
"One of the prisoners in the last cell has died. Throw him away."
"Yes, sir."
Voices of prison guards talking echoed throughout the corridor. Bella nervously looked left and right, she saw a junction and ran towards it. There was an opened cell so she went inside to hide from the guards. She squatted in the dark and waited for the guards to walk past her. But their footsteps stopped at where she was hiding. Another set of footsteps could be heard approaching. The sound of those footsteps were heavy and tyrannical. The image of Gaharu immediately flashed in Bella's mind.
"Lord Gaharu," the guards called when the footsteps stopped, just outside where Bella was hiding.
"Has the lizard finally said anything?" Gaharu's low and husky voice sounded.
Bella kept her hands on her mouth and nose, trying not to make any noise.
"No, my lord. He refused to talk."
"Then make him." Gaharu's low voice was cold and slow, it sounded evil.
"Yes, my lord."
The footsteps started walking away and the sound of metal creaking echoed, before the footsteps continued again. They had entered one of the cells not far away. Bella waited to make sure the passage was clear and was about to head out from her hiding place when she suddenly heard a loud wailing. It was agonizing, it made her skin crawl.
"Now, let me ask you again. Where is Tayen?" Gaharu's dangerous low growling could be heard.
"Just kill me already!!" One male voice grunted, then followed by Gaharu's low and nasty snicker.
"Oh, I will not let you die easily."
"No, please! Just kill me! I really have no idea where Lord Tayen is!"
"My lord, seems like he really does not know anything." One of the dungeon guards spoke.
"It does not matter." Gaharu said.
A long wail of agony could be heard echoing throughout the dungeon, followed by Gaharu's sinister laugh. Just by the sound of it, Bella could already have guessed the whole situation. She couldn't imagine how badly the prisoner was tortured until he screamed that awful way. Every little hair on her body stood on end as she listened to such horrible wailing. Distant sound of bones cracking, flesh ripping, then followed by the sound of liquid splashing and dripping on the stone floor could be heard. Gaharu's low and sinister laugh echoed, it was terrifyingly eerie. The wailing slowly weakened and quieted down.
"Is he... Is he dead?" One of the guards asked.
"No," Gaharu's voice sounded, "Get him treated. Torture him again after his injury got better."
Bella's chest was pounding so hard, she thought her heart would leap out of her throat. Gaharu was exactly the vile animal that he appeared to be when they first met. Just because he had been treating her nicely doesn't make him a nice guy! How could she have forgotten that? Was it because he had an incredibly handsome face and had kissed her, and now she was smitten by him?
After a while, Bella heard footsteps heading her way. She clasped her mouth when the set of heavy footsteps stopped just outside the cell she was hiding.
"I know you are there. Come out already."
Bella gulped nervously. Gaharu's cold voice sounded just outside.
"Bella."
She almost shrieked when Gaharu's head popped out from the opened cell door, glaring down at Bella who was still squatting with her hands cupping her own mouth.
"I am not in the mood. You better come out now or I will drag you out of there." His dangerously cold voice was threatening.
Bella stood up and returned Gaharu's glare with her teary red eyes.
"You're despicable. You treat others' lives as if it was nothing."
Gaharu's facial expression remained cold as he grabbed Bella by her arm and dragged her out of there. There were some bloodstains on his clawed fingers and it stained her clothes. 
"You fuckin' cold-hearted, vile animal, motherfucker!" Bella continued to curse. Gaharu pulled her out of the dungeon. Suria, Talia, and Satria ran to get them when they heard the ruckus.
"Who let her go down the dungeon?" Gaharu growled low in fury.
Suria and Talia immediately fell on their knees, begging.
"P-Please... please forgive us, my lord." Suria stuttered, sweat had already formed at the side of her face. 
"Who told her about the dungeon?" Gaharu questioned again.
"I... I didn't mean to, my lord... please have mercy on me..." Talia stammered as she bowed her head to the floor.
"Take her away."
Several guards came forward to drag Talia away when Gaharu gave the order. 
"Wait, Gaharu! You can't do this! She's done nothing wrong! I was the one who wandered off! It has nothing to do with her!" Bella jolted in Gaharu's grasp while yelling. But Gaharu ignored her completely. His grasp on her arm tightened, she felt as though he could break her small bones in any minute.
"Please, I beg you, my lord! Have mercy! Have mercy!" Talia wailed tearfully in the hands of the guards. While Suria and Satria only lowered their heads, not dare to utter a single word. Satria had just returned from the training field, he knew nothing about the commotion.
"Gaharu!! You bastard, son of a bitch!! Why don't you just punish me instead, huh?!" Bella yelled. She jolted and kicked but Gaharu didn't let her go. Her face was sweaty and red because of anger.
"Escort her back to her chamber," Gaharu tossed Bella to the floor like a rag doll, glaring sharply at Suria and Satria, "I will deal with you two later."
Bella almost burst into tears. Her butt hurt badly after being tossed to the cold stone floor. But her heart hurt even worse. She felt a huge guilt towards Talia who would end up being punished because of her.
"She is not allowed to leave her chamber until I say so." Gaharu warned Satria before turning around to leave.
Suria and Satria waited until the soldiers all left with Gaharu, only then did they go to get Bella.
"Are you alright, my lady?" Suria asked concernedly.
"What will happen to Talia?" Bella asked back.
Satria and Suria could only avoid Bella's worried gaze. They didn't dare to say anything.
*****
Bella was not allowed to leave her room. Satria stood outside her door the whole day, while Suria stayed beside Bella. Satria had told Bella, worst case scenario Talia would probably be thrown into the dungeon. But if she's lucky and Gaharu's temper has cooled down, she would probably just be chased out from the palace.
Gaharu is despicable! She should have known that animals like him don't have empathy at all. Does other's fate depends on his fucking mood? Who does he think he is, a fuckin' god?
Bella cursed continuously in her mind. She would not let this slip.
After a while, she fell asleep with her head resting on her arms on the stone table. Suria covered Bella's shoulder with a blanket before she went out to prepare for Bella's meal.
*****
Gaharu stared deep into the night sky. He was confused with his own actions. Why did he act recklessly today? Never before has such a mere incident affected him. Why would he care about Bella finding out what he does to the captives? Why would he even care what she thinks of him? Why did he take his anger on others? Why would he be angry at all? Why did it upset him when she looked at him with those eyes? Eyes that were filled with hatred towards him...
So many questions filled his head, his chest felt stuffed and uncomfortable. He ran his fingers over his wavy locks, exhaling long. How is he going to face her now?
"My lord," a voice sounded behind him. Gaharu turned around to find Sora and several of his subordinates bowing their heads.
"Moro has breached the south border. I will head there now."
"Hm." Gaharu gave a single nod and gestured to Sora to leave. After he was left alone again, Gaharu stared up at the sky once more. Moro has breached the south border... Sora's voice repeated in his mind.
He should leave for the south border too. But first...
Gaharu strode back into the palace.
"Release the female servant," he commanded one of his subordinates, "She will continue to serve Bella."
"Yes, Lord Gaharu."
Gaharu then rushed to his chamber. He gestured to Satria who was still guarding the door to leave, before entering. As soon as he entered, he saw Bella who had fallen asleep at the table and went to take a seat next to her.
"Bella," he called out softly, "Why are you sleeping here?"
Bella's long eyelashes moved as her eyes flicked open. As soon as she was up, her beautiful black eyes immediately filled with anger and hatred.
"Don't touch me, you bastard!" Bella slapped Gaharu's hand that was gently caressing her back.
"Bella..."
"If you think people dying for you is a matter of course, treating others' lives as if they're nothing more than dog shit, then you, Gaharu, are nothing but a heartless, shameless, brainless animal...!"
Gaharu was about to lose his temper again, his face twitched in anger. He lifted his hand slightly and grasped Bella's jaw with his big strong hand, his clawed fingers would have pierced into her delicate skin if he had used his strength on her.
"Look here, Bella. Do not get too conceited now that I favor you and always let you have your way." Gaharu gritted his teeth, restraining his anger.
"I despise you."
Bella felt the pain when Gaharu's hand clenched harder on her face. She could feel his sharp claws digging into her jaw, almost penetrating her soft skin.
Gaharu restrained. He drew a long deep breath before letting go of his grasp.
"I am leaving for the south border at dawn. The Moro tribe has made their move-"
"Good, I hope you die horribly in their hands."
Gaharu slammed his fist against the stone table and immediately broke it. A piece of the table top had crashed on Bella's foot and injured her.
"Ah!" She cried in pain. Her eyes were teary and red. If she could, she would have punched him hard on his goddamn handsome face.
Gaharu glared at her coldly. His face was cold and a strong murderous aura exuding from him. His golden irises reflected the light from the burning torches in the room and they seemed glowing with wrath. His pupils constricted into two tiny sharp lines. His breathing was slow but heavy that his muscular chest was seen rising and falling underneath his armor.
"You better pray that I die on the battlefield, or else I will come back and get what I wanted from you." He said as he left the chamber with a loud thunderly growl. He was furious. Why did he even bother talking to her about it? It's not like he needed her blessing or anything! 
"You crazy motherfucker!! I hope you lose this time!!" Bella yelled at the top of her lungs. Her foot was beginning to swell, it was painful to even move her leg. She cursed continuously even after Gaharu had left the room.
He's so fuckin' obnoxious!!!
*****
"I thought I wasn't allowed to go out?"
"No, my lady. Lord Gaharu had made clear that you may go out as you please." Satria answered Bella's question.
"My lady!" A familiar voice sounded outside her chamber. Talia's head peeked through the opened door. She had a wide smile on her face.
"Talia!" Bella exclaimed happily, "I'm so glad to see you're okay! And I'm so sorry for what I've caused..."
"I apologize for making you worried, my lady. But I am alright. Lord Gaharu has permitted me to serve you again." Talia uttered with teary eyes. She was terrified yesterday, afraid of being punished. But fortunately, Lord Gaharu had shown mercy. She did not know why he would, but she guessed it was probably because of Lady Bella.
Talia entered and bowed down to Bella, as though showing her gratitude. Bella gave Suria and Satria a questioning look. The two of them also looked surprised. 
"I thought..." She didn't finish her sentence. Gaharu didn't punish Talia, instead, he let her go?
No, wait. That doesn't make him a good guy. He's still a vile and evil beast. 
Bella had made up her mind. She should not fall for someone like Gaharu. He's pretty much all about quenching his thirst for war and conquering other lands, not to mention his dangerously unpredictable personality. What happened yesterday gave her a clear grasp of what to do next.
Leave that bastard. 
*****