Chapter 32 The Messenger

Chapter 32 The Messenger
Alaric’s POV 

It seemed small, almost too small to be a full grown nythari but not small enough to be a child.  Going to the body with caution was necessary in case it wanted to attack me. Rolling the body over, I saw his face and it surprised me for he seemed rather young. Probably around my age or maybe even younger. 

Lilith came over and said, “I’ve seen him a couple times in the past few days presenting himself as a servant”. She put two fingers by his neck and gasped, “he’s alive but the heartbeat is weak. Quickly, let’s-“, his hand reached for Scarlet's hand keeping her locked in her place. 

“I have a message for you Princess”, he softly whispered, “your sister is alive but you must meet them where you left my brother burn to cinders”. He coughed and looked at me, for I know who he is talking about. We stole a skriff to get through the desert, leaving the previous owner to burn with my fire.  

He served his time well in giving his final message to the world with his last dying breath.

“Lilith-,” she didn’t let me finish. 

“I’m going to the desert and I’m going to save my sister,” she said this quietly with a fierce determination in her voice. 

“I know and I’m going with you”, I wanted to protect her, not that she needed protecting from someone as minor as me, but I want to do everything in my power to protect her against unbeknownst threats that may come upon her.

She turned around, looked at me for I was reflecting the same determination she was portraying. She sighed and nodded. 

Going back to the secret room, the Queen healed every one of her guest that were badly wounded but she seemed to be exhausted. Both Amari and Neric were also tending to the less injured nytharis. I helped the Queen slowly sit down on a nearby chair while Lilith went to fetch some water for her. 

“Your majesty, if you don’t mind me asking, but how did you, your daughter and her now husband all get healed so quickly?”, it was now or never to quench my curiosity. 

“I was wondering when you would be asking me that”, she paused before continuing, “My lineage is sacred that was given to us by the god, Sarith. She blessed my ancestors for she heard their plea of salvation going through the desert. She granted each of them with different abilities that would each help them survive the harsh desert storm. One had healing abilities, another created water out of thin air, another could manifest anything they could imagine with just a little bit of sand. Another ability you might recognize is dissolving into sand, which can be useful but also dangerous. Throughout my lineage, these abilities were passed down through generation and we thanked Sarith every blessed day for these gifts”. 

“Your majesty, if the royal blood is sacred like that with those special abilities, how do those nytharis have these dissolving sand abilities?”, Lilith came back with the glass of water and handed it to the Queen. 

“Thank you my dear”, she took a sip before answering me. “I have a brother, Zaqcar. He has the dissolving sand or mystified sand as we once called it. He shares his blood with his followers believing that everyone should also have these special abilities, not only the royal blood. We discussed this many times for I said that our bloodline was sacred and we shouldn’t disrespect Sarith in this way. He didn’t listen and left the kingdom, taking many of his followers with him”, she finished with a distraught look on her face. 

Lilith spoke up with a confused look on her face, “Your majesty, you said your son might have my sister. We were just informed that my sister may be in the desert where we kind of stole a skriff from one the mystifiers and burned him alive. Do you think your brother has something to do with her disappearance?”.

The Queen started to laugh which confused the hell out if me. “It was about time someone taught those nytharis a lesson. As for my brother being involved in the disappearance of your sister, I’m not surprised. He always liked creating chaos around him”. Lilith nodded to this as an understanding to what the Queen. “For now you two just rest, for this was a spectacular event and you, Lilith was just injured. As a Queen, I must implore you to take rest”, then she got close to Lilith and said with a fierce voice, “but from one sibling to another, you must save your sister.”

Lilith smiled and just whispered, “Thank you your majesty”, then to my astonishment, they hugged. 
Who knew they could do that?

"I will have servants send you a change of clothes to face the desert and you shall have an escort to guide you".

Lilith quickly answered, "Your majesty if you don't, I would like to do this mission with Alaric only. I do not want any more blood on my hands".

The Queen gave Lilith a thoughtful look, nodded and then said, "I respect your decision, but at least take some supplies with you and take a skriff to get through the desert".

Lilith took a step in my direction and grabbed my hand. Our hands touched, and I felt a jolt of electricity coursed through my body. Feeling this dynamic change within us made me realize I'm going to fall in love with her despite not wanting to.