Chapter 88:burned 

Howin wrote a letter to inform Kieran about everything happened and went quickly to drop it before Ellie notice his absence.

He didn't found Kieran in his room; he placed the letter on the table. He turned to leave but sensed something weird, he looked around but everything is normal.

He raised his shoulders and get out.

He found Ellie talking to Ray.

"-he didn't came home yet.

-it's the third time I go and he is nowhere seen.

-who are you talking about guys?" Howin asked and Ray answered:

"-Andrew.

-didn't you go to his house already three times?

-yes and I didn't find him, he must went somewhere.

-I thought he don't leave his house.

-he either spend years locked or disappear one day to come two or three months later with some plants and two rocks he will add to his collection. To our luck, he decided to disappear now. Great.

-we don't need him anyway his tricks are as useless as him.

-for the first time I would agree with you.

-are you done talking? We have somewhere to be at." Ellie interrupted, got on the horse back ready to leave.

***

The two girls were laughing but they soon heard the door knocking. Ayana hid behind the curtains and the guard brought her the dress. She told him to place it on the bed while she was fixing her hair.

He left and the princess run to see the dress. Mal noticed something weird on the ribbon.

"-Don't touch it!" however Ayana threw it once she felt something stung her hand.

Not long, she got rush on her hand and she started to cry scared. Mal hurried to her and went to the bathroom and made cold compress to ease the rush.

"-it's probably poison ivy.

-it's not.

-how do you know?" Mal asked Ayana cursed.

"-I touched Ivy before and it doesn't hurt like that. It's worse but don't worry I will find a way to cure it.

-but you need a doctor to check…

-no need I had experience with different diseases and treatments so I will be fine without my father or anyone know about it.

-I won't tell anyone but if you don't find a way I will." She nodded and Mal went back to her room wrapped the dress with the box in the bed sheet and looked around.

"-what are you looking for?

-fire.

-huh." She throw the wrapped dress at the bottom of the curtain, looked in her room and found the matches they use to lighten candles at night.

Ayana was watching clueless while Mal walked back and forth, she poured some coconut oil on the fabric and everything was set on fire.

"-now leave!

-what!

-I said leave before they caught you here." Fire was spreading real quickly that Kieran saw smoke coming from Mal's room and went to check on what's going on.

"-but the guards are outside.

-shit…I forget." She looked around and heard someone talking with guards.

She pushed Ayana inside her closet and turned her heals back. Kieran was already inside.

He saw the fire and yelled for the guards to extinguish it before it could spread more.

He looked her dead in the eyes keeping his calm and asked:

"-why did you set the fire?

-who said I did?

-don't play dumb.

-did you read my mind to check?" she asked whispering and he muttered:

"-not yours but hers." He motioned with his head to the closet and walked away; she held his hand back.

"-where are you going?

-I have someone to visit." He left and she went to check on Ayana.

"-are you okay?

-did he know?

-of course not, how will he know if any of us didn't tell him. Right?

-yes, right." They lied.

He pushed the door open and there was three men talking with Verin.

"-we will finish our talk later gentlemen." The men excused themselves closing the door behind the prince.

"-I didn't expect you to be that ruthless.

-what are you talking about?

-I asked for ivory color table cloth and you ordered for creamy tone.

-did you really cut me for this?

-you know you are the only one who is my last family and I can't thank you enough.

-do you really think I'm falling for that trap?

-if you had no meaning in my life I won't follow your advices uncle. See you." He waved and closed the door behind him.

On his way to his room he thought to himself:

"-if it wasn't Verin then it must be that bastard that no one could catch. Shit."

Mal trained with Ellie for the last time and they decided to celebrate watching the sunset together.

"-how is your hand?

-the itching stopped but the rush will take time. Thanks for asking.

-I'm so proud of you." Mal avowed.

-I'm honored to be your student.

-thank you.

-no thanks to you, I got you something by the way." She jumped and brought a box was hidden behind one of the pillars.

Malin opened it and found her old dagger. She was extremely happy and hugged the princess so tightly.

"-I thought I lost it forever. Where did you found it?

-well; my father was going to get rid of it and some other stuff of yours but I kept the dagger and Kieran got your clothes in his room.

-what?

-don't tell him I told you.

-I won't.

-I really appreciated." Mal passed her hand at the edge of the weapon tracing unclear words.

"-Does the dagger have special story behind it?

-yeah, it's the first weapon I learned to use and this is the dagger Pryor offered me when my training ended. My name is on it. See." She showed the princess her engraved name on it.

"-the old man turned to have some sort of emotions.

-you know him?

-duh…I was at Kieran's place a lot when I was little, and who don't know Pryor any way. The nightmares killer's commander.

-you know what? You finished today your training so you deserve an award.

-to have the legend herself training me, is enough.

-thanks for the compliment princess it's yours now." She landed her the dagger.

"-Wait? ... What!

-you heard me right. Even if it has my name engraved on it…

-even better!" she embraced her.

"-slow down princess or we will miss the sunset.

-sorry, our last sunset.

-don't say that; I am not going away.

-I will get lonely again.

-we will find a way…but let's enjoy those moments and think of the future later.

-you are right."