CHAPTER 12: THE DEAL

Tara found herself in a forest with tall and huge trees, she looked around but saw no one. « where am I? » Tara asked herself, suddenly she saw Teresa talking to someone a woman with silver hair

" I need you to help me, please conceal my powers in this pendant and I will give it to my daughter. The King wants my power, I'm sure he will do everything to get my powers and kill me after he gets them, I can't let him have these powers " Teresa begged the lady with silver hair and wearing a silver cloak who was her long time friend and a witch queen.

" Don't worry Teresa I'm going to help you, and in the future I will also help your daughter " Anisa spoke with a lovely voice that assured Teresa of help.

" Thank you Anisa, thank you so much " Teresa hugged the woman

Tara watched from a far and discovered this is a memory, suddenly the scene had changed and she was in a room only lighted with a candle. She saw the woman with the silver cloak grinding some herbs while chanting some unknown words, and after some time she held the pendant. The same pendant she was wearing, the scene changed before she could register anything she was back again in the forest. She saw Teresa and Anisa meeting again

" Thank you Anisa, you've always been a good friend " Teresa thanked

" You have helped me a lot, both you and your family even though I'm just a witch. Why don't you just seek help from your family back in Hasteria? I'm sure they will help you " Anisa suggested

" I can't, I don't want war between the two kingdoms. I have to go back Anisa, if I don't make it please look after Tara " Teresa begged

" I will, always. Goodbye my friend " Anisa hugged her tightly, because she knew this was the last time she would see her friend Teresa.

Tara saw darkness swallow her and knew it was time to wake up. But at the last minute before the darkness swallowed her completely, she saw Anisa look at her and said « Come to me soon dear », Tara woke up after that strange dream.

She was confused and at the same time tears pricked Tara's eyes, but she blinked them away. No time for weakness. She had work to do. Now that she has found out that Teresa was the one with the demonic power and she passed it to Tara through the pendant, and that's why the King killed her because he wanted that power. Tara was angry and sad at the same time,

« who are you Anisa? » Tara asked herself

" May we come in princess " Marry's soft voice was heard behind the door bringing Tara back to reality

" Yes come in " Tara composed herself as the girls entered her room

" Good morning girls" Tara greeted them with a smile and they smiled back at her bubbly personality

They helped her get ready, she was now used to it even though she had rejected the service numerous times but the girls were also persuasive and at the end of the day Tara just agreed. After she was ready Sienna came to take her so they can have breakfast, Xavier was there too.

" Can I speak to you after breakfast?" Tara asked Xavier who looked surprised but nodded in agreement

" So did you hear about the trip, yes I'm sure my brother has told you about it. We'll have a great time together, I'm so excited " Sienna was cheerful

" Yes we will " Tara smiled

....

Inside Xavier's office, Tara and Xavier sat across each other the only thing separating them is the table.

" What's it? Why did you want to speak to me " Xavier asked

" I had a dream last night, I believe it's the pendant that showed me a memory of my mother. She is a demon, I mean she comes from Hasteria and she had demonic powers which King Gabriel wanted. From the dream she hid the powers in this pendant and gave it to me, the King killed her after finding out she doesn't have powers. " Tara explained everything except about Anisa because she wasn't sure if she should say anything about her to him or anyone

" Okay, then it explains everything. It seems the power is in the pendant and comes out when you are in danger, it needs to be transferred into your body so you can control it " Xavier spoke with a poker expression

" Okay, but how ? I know nothing about powers or demons " Tara spoke with frustration

" I will look into it, " Xavier encouraged her

" okay,… Also I have something else, I want to propose something to you, it's a deal. " Tara spoke again

" A deal? What's it about" Xavier answered with curiosity « what's she planning now? She's strange »

" I know you want to fight for the throne. I support you and I'm ready to help you. I have knowledge that no one has which will strengthen your army and make you King and not just King but the most powerful king of this world " Tara spoke with confidence raising her head up, very sure of her plans.

" Interesting, what knowledge? And where did you get it " Xavier asked again now with interest

" First of all as I said it's a deal, at the end after you win the battle and become king, I want my freedom and few wealth. I want to have a peaceful life far away from anything involving Kingdoms and royal families " Tara spoke with seriousness in her voice

" You don't want to be queen ? " Xavier asked

" I would love to but I prefer a peaceful life, I've suffered a lot in the hands of royal family and I just want peace even if it's for a few days, months or years " Tara smiled while explaining

" Okay,.. First I need to hear those knowledges you have "

" wait, pass me a paper and ink " Tara urged Xavier and he did as she said

Tara started drawing a catapult because she was sure none of that existed here, arrows with fire .

" That , have you ever seen weapons like that? " she asked him

Xavier looked at the paper and the drawing on it very carefully, " Nope, what's this? " he asked

" That is a catapult and the other is an arrow but on fire, those weapons are very good and advanced weapons that will assure you victory in your battles. I have more but I will tell you more in the future " Tara praised the weapons

" Where did you learn about these? " Xavier was curious « is she a spy? Where did she learn about these? I have never seen anything like these weapons. I know arrow but lighting them with fire is very new »

" From somewhere, just trust me. We Can start now to make samples like decoy and if you see they work which you will see then you can make many of them in secret and surprise your enemies during battles " She spoke like a woman in business marketing her products

" We will see then, we will start everything when we come back from the trip " Xavier assured her

" Also umh is there a product that is in powder form and if lighted with fire can burn? " Tara found an easy way to explain about gunpowder

" I think I have heard about that product, why are you asking about it "

" Can I get it too after we come back " Tara asked

" Okay ," Xavier agreed

Tara was satisfied and surprised because he didn't expect for him to agree very quickly even though nothing made sense. But she was glad he did,

" Go get dressed, you are coming to train with me. Because if you are ready to support me in the struggle then you need to know how to fight. I've already seen your skills but you need to be better than that " Xavier explained

" Okay, I will do it . I will leave now " Tara stood up and left

« where did she learn about these strange weapons? Why would she want to leave? Is she a spy »