116 The Queen’s Visitor

MEANWHILE, IN THE QUEEN'S CHAMBERS

With the queen's invitation and strict security, a visitor was permitted to enter the palace. Lord Callaghan arrived drenched in the cold rains from his shoulders down to his boots. He was searched for weapons in every pocket of his clothing. A servant took his wet coat and then, he was accompanied by the palace knights to the queen's chambers.

Noticing how heavily guarded the palace is, the old man snorted at the uselessness of their swords, axes, and bows. No blade can protect them all, he still thought. As he walk down the halls, he took a glimpse of the heavy rains pouring out of the windows. He somewhat hoped that the kingdom would be cursed with storms, for it will only be their shield from dark healers - not the blades, and no longer the walls.

Lord Callaghan entered the queen's presence chamber, where he was asked to wait for the queen. Seemingly, the servants were sweeping the room from clusters of bouquets that were sent to the queen. They were so many that Queen Isavelle could almost drown at the extravagance of the nobles' gifts. Hence, she ordered to take out every bloom, no matter how expensive or rare they were.

The floral scent lingered in every corner of the room even though all of the flowers were already brought out. Lord Callaghan sneezed a couple of times before the presence chamber was left all for him.The lord stood near the hearth as he extend his arms with his palms open towards the warmth of the fire. While toasting the tips of his fingers, he took a a good view of himself at a shiny copper vase on top of the hearth. He stared at the only person who's now in rule of Brandenburg.

It finally sink in him.

Then, he squirmed as he dig his face on his tepid palms. He sobbed a few times, and then giggled like a child. Snickering as he keep his laughter in, Lord Callaghan's face turned red while he wipe his wet eye with his crooked fingers. "The things we do power. Rowan, you dumbfool. I should've known you were a traveler when wanted to wake up one in Caluso", he uttered as he deeply sigh.

Not too far, Queen Isavelle was watching the lord who foolishly enjoys himself. "How's the only ruler of Brandenburg?", she blurted out from behind the floral canapè nearby. "I'm offended, Callaghan. After I placed you on the pedestal, you didn't even think of returning the favor. A bunch of flowers would at least suffice it", Queen Isavelle beamed a smile at the what-she-thought-a-foolish-man who killed his friend for his personal gains. Wearing her bronze crown studded with rubies, Isavelle sauntered gracefully around the canapè before sitting on the couch by the armrest with her white gown and soft pink layers flowing down her bejeweled slippers. She waved at the palace knights guarding from inside to leave the room, to which they abided.

"I asked you to remove Harlan in the position, not kill him. That's two very different concept", Lord Callaghan replied blandly as he sat down on the divan across the queen.

"That wasn't the deal, and you know it", Isavelle replied as she rested her hands on her knees. She wore splendid rings studded with pink diamonds. "You wanted Harlan out of the picture by all means… in any way possible", Isavelle then rested her back as she keep her face in the shadows. "Well, you wanted Brandenburg and now you have it. I just wanted to claim my end of the bargain", she uttered.

"And what else would you want?", Lord Callaghan squinted with a tone of slight negation. He spoke comfortably casual considering there's no one around. He knew that it is not really the queen he's speaking to.

"I need your expertise to remove the apotropaic spells in the entire palace", Isavelle bluntly said.

"How bold. Why in the world would I lend a hand on that?", Lord Callaghan smirked. "You can't order me around just because you wear those jewels and that useless crown. I know what you are. Ha! Aren't you satisfied yet? Haven't I disabled most of the spells already?", Lord Callaghan couldn't hide his feeling of annoyance.

"Not all, I need access to every room, each budoir, every chancery and stateroom… every chamber. I want to get into every single door there is in the palace", Isavelle remained unbothered at the derogatory tone of the lord.

"And If I don't help?", Lord Callaghan pouted as he held his head high. "Rowan is dead, and his secret is out. I got the goal, he missed his chance. So I don't think I still have use for you. The deal ends now", he stood up with an intention to leave the room.

"Well, if you don't, I will personally bear witness that you, of all the names that were dragged on the death of Harlan, are the one who ordered to kill him", Isavelle leaned forward showing her glistening eyes at the furious lord who was stunned at the Queen's intimidation.

"Are you out of your mind? Have you ever wondered what will happen to you if the paladins knew that the queen is a traveler?", Callaghan faced the queen with a hand in a fist. "Don't threaten me, parasite! You are nothing but a wolf in a sheep's clothing! The person who orchestrated the death of Harlan. The monster who sucked the life out of Yereah! And the one and only murderer of the dozens of priests in the Holy Land! Let's see who's body will burn at the stake", the Lord did not backed down and continued to show the Queen rage in his banters. He never felt shaken over the person whom he believed to be a weak traveler in a gloomy weather.

"I just did Rowan a favor", Isavelle calmly said as she remain seated. She rang a bell that made the servants shakily serve her favorite tea. After laying the sumptuously rich tea set on the large octagonal inlaid coffee table, the servants left as swift as lightning flashing in the sky. "After beheading your friend, Harlan, Rowan would doom us all as a dark healer. You wouldn't want that, would you?", she asked as she sip a little of her bitter tea. "And Yereah? Pfft… good riddance. The priests? They all deserve it for not giving me the traveler's stone", then she stood up and draw closer to Lord Callaghan slowly. She stopped a foot away from the lord as she kept her hands on her back. The old man suddenly felt the heightening and inexplicable energy the queen emits. Sensing a precarious vibe slowly filling the room, his hairs tingled straight away as he gulp a lump in his throat. "Callaghan, I know that you despise soul travelers, but… I also know, that you'd do whatever it takes to stay in power, and… alive.", Isavelle's eyes turned black that shrieked Callaghan. And then, some force pushed the lord onto the seat making him gasp for air, as if he's being strangled by something heavy and not naked to the eye. "I'm not the type who gets threatened. You are lucky I still make amends with you", the Queen's eyes became more fiery as black streaks of her veins appear all over her face.

Callaghan froze like ice on his seat. He never thought that the traveler in the Queen's body is much stronger than he realized. All along, he thought Rowan awakened some random traveler that could aid them in their desires.

The general's deperation to break the imperial palace apart and eventually rise up as the most powerful king of Nether led them to involve the travelers. Rowan convinced Callaghan with a belief that only the supreme leaders with travelers remain invincible. And as part of the general's plan, Callaghan was promised to become the sole ruler of Brandenburg if he participates in Rowan's plans. However, Lord Callaghan finally realized that they were all lies.

At first, Callaghan didn't want to work with travelers. They scare him, especially with their ability to flip souls. But with Rowan's persistence and confidence in his plans, he eventually agreed on it considering his personal conditions. Upon learning Rowan is a traveler, Lord Callaghan began to understand clearly that Rowan wanted to build a new empire that marks the reign of the soul travelers.

And now, at the very moment where the lord saw the abominable strength of the queen, he knew he have made a wrong choice. And the traveler in the queen's body is not any ordinary traveler. "You're… Argus", Callaghan's pale face couldn't be more surprised.

"In the flesh", the Queen curtsied and rested on the canapè near Callaghan. Her eyes returned to its vibrant color and her cheeks became rosy and clear as they usually was. At the same time, she released the power that was pinning the lord down.

Callaghan continued to gasp for air as he caress his neck. "Ho.. how can I even remove the.. s.. spells in the king's chambers? They.. are too old, and that is beyond my knowledge", Lord Callaghan stuttered in fear.

"Old man, I know that you and Iaso were once old friends. Maybe, it's time for you to patch things up and pay her a visit.", Isavelle smacked her lips as she slouch on the seat. "You need to hurry up, this form is too unenganging and it's starting to get boring", she claimed.

"The witches do not cooperate anymore, much more now that Yereah is dead! You should've think twice before you killed her", Lord Callaghan said as he leaned forward.

From the side, Aether suddenly appeared and grab hold of Callaghan's hand. In a sudden, Aether unhesitantly sliced off Callaghan's hand that made so much blood splatter around. Aether covered the lord's mouth with the lord's severed hand as Callaghan drown in his silent screams and unbearable pain. The room was suddenly filled with muffled cries and unspoken torment as the lord's blood pooled on the divan.

"I know you have ways", Isavelle said as she rest her head back, ignoring the cries of the pained Lord. "Consider that a nudge for your duty. Most importantly, for threatening the ruler of the travelers", Queen Isavelle said as she watch Callaghan conceal his pain.