Chapter 38 Chapter 36
Chapter 38 Chapter 36
”Hecates, Wreath and Diamond have aligned in the stars”
Xanthanius
Frankelis walked out feeling elated. Things were going well for her role. That was at least some good news in this country.
I began last night to draft the response to Xialara. It was an invitation to her country which I duly accepted. The letter in front of me required finishing touches which I had been thinking of when the door to the meeting hall opened.
It was Marina.
Pushing the paper aside, I stood to my feet and watched her approach.
“Your highness” she said with a curtsy and I was almost tempted to tell her to skip her pretense.
“How are you feeling today?”
“Better. May I have a seat?”
“Definitely”
She takes the chair which Frankelis had just left empty less than ten minutes ago and she turned to me.
“Hope you are well too?” If it was a display of manners because I had asked her first or if she was truly concerned, I had no idea.
I still remained standing.
“Yes.” There was a reason she came here and I needed her to speak up. She owed me the exact way I owed her.
“About Segei…” she started and a sudden anticipation burst through my veins “He said there is a prophecy that is coming to pass”
The same prophecy the Hecate had been talking about. The same ‘truth’ that was said could not be escaped. “Did he tell you what the prophecy is?”
“He did not know full details according to him. Only that some people plan to take over the throne”
“Where did he hear this prophecy?”
“A group of rebels from the Hecate’s wheel lineage and some other Townsend. They have also managed to recruit some commoners to their support. Segei happened to be a part of these commoners”
I was trying to put a few things together. From my knowledge and what I was hearing. The mention of Hecate’s wheel somehow validated Anthonier’s fears about Nerida.
“Was that all?”
“No. He claimed your father took what belonged to them and for that you should be worried for your life”
My father took a lot of things that did not belong to him.
“He is a part of these rebels but has no idea what the prophecy is? Are you sure that part isn’t a lie?” I asked, it did not make a balance in the equation.
“I believe it was” There was a little halt in her words before she said something “Why did you send me to the pub?”
I knew she was smart enough to ask this at some point “I wanted to hear other rumors. One might be relevant”
“You do not strike me as someone who cares much about what people have to say”
She was right. Not that I did not care much, I did not even care at all.
“I am in search for a clue and I was led to the pub”
“Up until I mentioned it, you had no interest in it.”
“You’re questioning me beyond your limits Marina”
My statement did cause an obvious retreat in her face but she was not giving up yet. “I’m sorry… I just… it’s just…”
“Say it”
“Ever since I got here, all errands I have been sent on have been life threatening to me. In situations where I felt like a trained warrior would have been best to send, I was sent instead. I have no formal training on self defense, negotiation or even interrogations asides the slight training I got from Saliel and the regular jabs from madam Hilra. Yet somehow… you send me. Like it is almost a necessity I go. Is this why you wanted a mistress?”
I did not even want a mistress. Anthonier forced me to.
“No”
“Then why? I feel like a blind pawn”
“For the sword, Caraven would not have given it to anyone who suspected was related to the palace or royals. Even a Townsend would not have been able to get it from him. You were sent because he wouldn’t know you and you are obligated to the orders of the throne and you were given a charm so he would not see through your words or compel you to say the truth. But he bypassed that”
When she did not say anything else, I continued.
“The woman at the tower is a Hecate. An outlier from Hecate’s wheel descendants. I had been communicating with her for a while and tried extracting information from her to no avail until you came along. I had no idea how she knew you had moved in with me or become my mistress but the only time she was willing to trade information with me was when you came along. Then she requested to see you in exchange of a clue. That was why I took you to the tower and instructed you to not say a word to her. I had a feeling she might try to put you under a hex and that was why I ordered you wear a charm. She was still able to hex you despite it. Her clue was a pub and a man that would be relevant to me. I read and searched without results till you mentioned the rumors you heard from Eclaris pub and being acquainted with the manager. Which was why I had to send you again and did not want you out of my sight but you predicted the manager might want that. At every point I had tried to protect you but somehow, these people keep breaking through and I cannot comprehend why”
“A clue to what?” She asked. She had been listening attentively.
“A clue to this prophecy you were told of”
“You know the prophecy?”
“I know a part. Almost similar to what you also know”
“Which is?”
“I don’t think it is important for you to know”
She looked confused, almost annoyed “yet you would send me again on one of your deadly tasks?”
“No. The pub was the last task I would indulge you in. I have asked Anthonier to inform you but you have been in recovery since last night. I want you to go to the clinic for a check up to be sure that manager did you no harm and from there we would take you home. You’re getting too involved in all these and my efforts to protect you are shortfallen. I would rather settle you in all financial needs and have you back home with your family”
Marina
This was actually what I wanted but why did it now feel so wrong to accept.
He was dismissing me but he did deny that somehow, I am involved.
“What is the prophecy?” I asked again, with a bolder tone this time.
The fact his tall height stood in front of me did nothing to intimidate.
“Have you not heard all I said?” The words he missed out were ‘how dare you ask again?’
“I did but I want to know this prophecy”
“I am not telling you Marina”
“Okay. Then I would ask another question. I went into my former room today”
“You should not be snooping around”
“So I hear, but I went into my former room today and and noticed the sword is gone.”
“It’s with me”
“If you could have kept it with you all these while, why did you leave it with me?”
“Because I felt your room would have been the last place for anyone who wanted the sword or my life to check. Turns out it was the first and they were after you”
“When you came to talk to me after I had woken up, you asked if someone else came in contact with it or if it was swapped, why did you ask?”
“Because now it feels different”
“How?”
“I could feel it before, now I don’t”
I thought for a moment. I knew the sword was enchanted but I didn’t think he could feel it.
“Did you believe me when I said I was the only person who came in contact with your weapon?”
He hesitated “I do not know”
“King Xanthanius, you’ve been using me to gain access to what you want. For your cause, I have been chased with knives, hexed, attacked and strangled in exchange for financial sustainability for my family but hearing this now, makes me aware that there is a bigger picture in which I am only an active observer and this picture happens to be important to you and I think I may have a role to play in what you seek. Not only a role but I may have something that may be of help to you. Before I disclose, I have a question”
“You’ve been asking questions, I think you can go ahead”
“King Xanthanius, do you trust me?”
He did not seem shocked or angered. If anything, he looked curious. He was actually wondering if he did trust me.
It would be no surprise if his answer is a no anyway. To a clear analyst, the series of events were giving off an impression that I was part of his problems.
But now, my dreams were no longer starting to look ordinary. Particularly when it came to King Flutheria and the sword.
“I need to know if you do because if you do not trust me before I say what I have to, I would be as good as a jester in your presence”