CHAPTER TEN

Auria smiled as her eyes sparkled with tears.

It’s true that she had no concept of the importance of sharing a life essence. She did not even understand some of what her grandfather had explained but she did understand one thing.

Her life will be shortened if she uses that type of healing on another dead person.

Auria looked at their joined hands. Her smooth white short hands enveloped in his callused tanned longer hands. She felt the warmth of his love channeling from his hand to hers and she felt his concern for her. They did not have too many moments like this as he would be always busy with duties to the different quadrants but he would always make time for them to talk about what happened during the day. She did not know her father or mother but her grandfather was the only family she had left. The only one she wanted to use her powers on to protect and to care for. She would do anything for her grandfather. Anything.

Her life will be shortened…

She took her deep breath before she fixed her grandfather with a look. The king knew that look. He had seen it in his beloved Rosalind’s and in his daughter, Andromeda on too many occasions not to have recognized it.

The steely determination to do what is right.

“I know what you want me to do, grandda. You don’t want me to use this power to share my essence with someone that may or may not change me in the future. You do not know if I had shortened my life when I shared it with Lady Gwynn but it may end me if I share it with someone else.” She caressed her grandfather’s hand with her own.

“But that is not who I am. You, grandmother, father and mother made me into who I am. I do not care if my life is shortened, or if I may die tomorrow. The important thing is I will do what I have to do to help in any way I can for the betterment of everyone around me. You taught me that a leader must be a follower first. If my grandmother and mother chose to give their life for others, who am I to do the opposite? I am a leader first, a queen second and a human third. I can and will not allow my own fears to cloud what I have to do. You taught me as much.”

The king sighed. He knew that this would be the response he would be getting. Like mother, like daughter. He looked at the young girl and thought of his Rosalind.

You would be so proud of her, my love.

“If that is what you must do, I will not stop you.” He stood up and helped the young girl stand on her own feet. They both made their way towards the door, the king making a secret vow that he will do everything in his power to negate whatever that healing power was. He has been through enough and he will make sure Illumia would have its queen.

“Yes, grandda. Besides, there won’t be any such event happening.” She grinned back at him. Oh, the innocence of youth and the naivety of the young.

“I will make sure of it.” He vaguely replied.

The conversation they had would be forgotten until such time that neither expected.

Elsewhere

The woman’s hair clung clammily down her back as she crawled her way out of the dungeon. She thought that she will have enough time to formulate one last attack on Castle Durin before she could be exposed but those spineless cowards immediately turned tail and mouthed off what her plans were. Her back hurts and she cursed the people of Gildan. They had the nerve to whip her after using their name as an escape goat. She wanted the war to be a complete annihilation of Gildan and Durin. After the loss of hope in becoming a queen, she wants those two quadrants dead.

She took a look at her surroundings.

The dense forests would provide cover for her escape. She needed to leave and plot Lucius’ and that little brat’s death. The witch in her wants their blood. She will not be denied.

Sandra picked up her tattered cloak and shifted from tree to tree to make sure no one would be following her and she would not be found. She must reach Hildegard. She needed to inform Prince Pym of the powers that the princess have. With the little brat in their custody, then can make King Lucius surrender his throne and then Castle Durin would be hers. It was meant to be hers.

She had swallowed her pride when she became a handmaid for Rosalind. She found out that the queen she had been serving used to be a medical doctor from Cambria and belonged to such lowly descent that it was a wonder that Lucius married her. She, who is the daughter of a powerful warlock from Hildegard, a former hisui, deserves the title of queen than Rosalind. She could not bring strong heirs as what had happened to Princess Andromeda. If Lucius had chosen her, then their sons would be stronger than any of the sires of other leaders. Even his parents were stupefied with his choice of bride.

When she found out that Lucius was hand fasted to Princess Lucia of Cambria, she did not waste time to kill her. She knew that in order to have what she wants, she needed to eliminate the rivals. So killing Princess Lucia seemed right at that time.

But then when he returned to Durin, she was baffled and then furious to find out that he had married the lowly maidservant, Rosalind in Cambria. They did not wait for their return to the castle but had made their marriage known once the former king relinquished his throne to the then heir apparent, Prince Lucius.

She had thought that the death of Rosalind would turn the tables in her favor. She believed that since the princess would need a mother figure, Sandra would make the perfect candidate for his new queen. And she would have succeeded if not for Princess Andromeda’s influence on her father. King Lucius was about to promote her as one of his advisors but the princess vehemently refused. She knew of the girl’s dislike about her but she did not know how far that influence have covered.

Sandra smirked, her bloodied lips hurting as she remembered her minions scattered in Castle Durin. She would call to them again and rise up against the king. If she could not have the throne, then she will use her powers to make sure that his life would be a living hell.

She skirted the bog that appeared in front of her, her movements slowed by the aches that she felt from being whipped. Elder Farrah had brought her to Gildan as part of the king’s punishment for endangering the life of his precious granddaughter. She had announced to Cathmore, the king of Gildan, that Lucius has allowed him to decide what should be the fitting punishment for instigating a war between Gildan and Durin. After deliberation with his council, it was decided that Sandra will receive fifty lashes and be placed inside the dungeons until the elder is ready to travel once again. They had whipped her with the promised fifty and even gave her food and water. They were a bunch of idiots.

To think that a mere dungeon can hold her down. They must be dreaming – she thought, almost laughing out loud at their idiocy. They would pay – she vowed. Once she has returned to Hildegard, she will make sure they will all pay.

She was so into her thoughts that she did not see where she was going until an invisible wall stops her in her tracks. Confused, she tried to call upon her magic to disintegrate the wall but it barely moved from her efforts. Huffing from her exertions, she stiffened when she heard a voice behind her.

“Why are you here?” the smooth voice asked.

Sandra whirled, fear coating her eyes. She immediately dropped to her knees and kept her head down. She wasn’t supposed to meet him now. What was he doing here?

“I am honored you came out to greet me, my lord. I was on my way back to Hildegard. I need my coven with me.”

“What coven are you saying, Sandra? Haven’t I told you to remain in Durin and report to me what is happening? What is your mission?” The soothing voice seemed to be calm but it made Sandra panic. Nothing ever comes good from his smooth talk. He would always lull people with his silent ways but he would strike when you least expect. She should know. She had seen what he could do.

“My people, my lord. I need to go back to Hildegard.”

“You have nothing to go back to, Sandra. You see, your coven is no more.”

Sandra’s breath hitched. It couldn’t be.

“Are you saying, my lord, that Lucius has eliminated my people?” She dared to look at the man in the eye. Her tear-streaked face made her a pitiful sight.

“You must help me, my lord. I want my revenge. Lucius has been king long enough. We can take him down now. I am sure that you can…”

Sandra was about to say something but she felt the whoosh of the wind and wondered what it was. A trickle and a gush then immense pain registered to her as she grabbed her neck, her throat gaping open as blood gushed forth from the large slice that suddenly appeared. She tried to gurgle a plea but blood poured out of her mouth.

The man leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“You should not have harmed Auria, Sandra. We had a deal, remember? No one must harm my princess.”

Sandra’s eyes widened. She had forgotten that agreement. But she thought it was only meant for Andromeda. She was meant to be his bride, not that little brat.

“B-but…”

“You failed in your mission, almost revealed my location and caused fear for my princess. Your coven is the least payment for what you have done.”

Her last thought was it was over before it had even begun. What was the point? Why did she even do all those things if she would die here.

The man stood up, looking at the lifeless body of Sandra. He flicked his finger and immediately her body was engulfed in blue flames. When there was nothing left, he disappeared.