Chapter 47

She scrunched her nose.

"Well, perhaps after you bathe. It has been a couple weeks, hasn't it?" She took a step back.

"Yeah, I'll do that. Sorry."

"Charles! Come with me and help me decide on a dinner dress. I trust your opinion much more than my seamstresses. They think simply slapping gems on a dress makes it stylish."

Charles laughed. "They are a bit out of touch, aren't they? How can you blame them though, they're older than dust."

The queen giggled and they departed.

"My gods. She's another Charles." I said with my mouth open.

"Charles with more power." Orion said.

"That's concerning." I said, thinking about the possibilities that could bring.

"Well, Charles has good moments. Right?" He asked.

"Yeah. Once a month. I think he's reached his criteria for now."

"Well. You heard the queen, you need a bath."

Orion took me to the room he was staying in. The bed was large, he had his clothes scattered across the room. The bed hadn't been made yet.

"The tub is behind those curtains. I can get you some hot water."

"I can pour my own bath, thank you."

"And let you drown yourself in the tub? I don't think so. You aren't getting out of my sight that easily. Feel free to remove your clothes."

"I don't get privacy?" I asked.

"This isn't our first bath together, and I have a feeling it won't be our last." He let out a small smirk then turned around.

I peeled off my clothes that tried to stick to my body as Orion gathered water for the tub. His eyes avoided shifting towards me.

"Should be all ready for you when you are ready." He turned back around.

The water was warm. I felt my muscles release as the hot water soothed them. Once my lower half was no longer visible under the water and soap bubbles.

"Are you covered?" He asked.

"Yes."  I said. He slowly turned around.

I laid back and let my body absorb in the tub. I hadn't felt that good in weeks.

"You look like you're about to let out a moan." Orion observed.

I lifted my head up.

"Sorry. I haven't felt this alright in weeks."

"I understand. A hot bath really helps. It's nice for you to be in the tub this time instead of me."

"I didn't know you remembered those."

"First time you were convinced I was a spy for Vendov. You didn't trust be to bathe by myself in case I somehow sent my father an encrypted message from the tub. The second time was when the loyalists beat the shit out of me thinking I was a Vendov spy. They would've killed me if it weren't for you, you know."

"Please don't say I saved you." I said in annoyance.

"You did. You really did. I know you don't like to hear it, but people need you."

I let out a soft sigh.

"I'm sorry, Orion. I shouldn't have yelled at you before. I was so filled with rage, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"I know. It's not your fault. Who knows what would have happened if that would have been me."

"I would've been there for you. Same as you have been for me." I said.

His eyes dropped to the floor.

"Do you need help washing your hair?"

"I think I can handle it." I said.

I began washing my hair and body. Once I was done, I wrapped myself in a soft towel. Original brought me a fresh set of clothes. It was the closest I felt like to being an actual human being again.

He escorted me to the damaged throne room where I met the queen and Charles. She had changed into a shimmering purple dress with a sleek, silver cape.

"You smell much better. Come with me." She said. We all began to follow her. She stopped.

"No, just the King."

"I really think I should be with him." Orion said.

"You don't want me to come with?" Charles whimpered.

"Apologies to both of you. But this is between me and him."

"I should be there to protect both of you." Orion said.

"Nonsense. Give Zander your sword."

"I think that's a terrible idea." Orion said.

"Give him the sword." The queen demanded.

Orion huffed and detached his sword and sheath from his belt.

"Don't do anything foolish." He said to me as he handed me his sword.

"Marvelous. We will see you at dinner, then." She folded her hands and we parted ways.

I followed her down several flights of stairs. She set a candle in my hand for light.

"I didn't know Naporia had underground tunnels."

"Any sensible kingdom does."

"You are right. It's good in case you are attacked."

"Among other things. The primary function of these tunnels aren't for escaping. It's to forage a park from the castle to the Crystal Cave."

"Crystal Cave?" I asked.

"Not many Naporians know about it. It is essential it remains hidden to only Naporia royalty. Commoners  cannot know about this." She said.

We continued down the dark tunnels. In the distance, we could see a shimmering purple glow.

"We're almost there." She sped up.

We stepped into the cave. It was beautiful. Crystals of all colors decorated the top and bottom of the caves. The walls of the caves shined brighter with the light of the candle activating them. Each crystal bundle was different; some were shaper, shinier, and brighter than others. No crystal was the same.

"This place is beautiful." I said in awe. My eyes explored the glimmering crystals.

"Our Crystal Cave is our most ancient treasure. It must be protested at all costs."

She walked deeper into the cave. She pressed her pale fingers against the crystal wall and dragged them as she walked.

"Do you believe in the gods?" She asked me.

"I used to, just like most people. But it's hard to know what to believe anymore. We live in a world with magic, so I assume anything is possible."

"I want to show you something. Look." She pulled me by the wrist and stepped back. There was a wall of crystals, but they weren't jagged like the rest. The wall was smooth, with text craved into it.

"Long ago, it is said that the gods delivered a message to a young prince in Naporia. The gods delivered a message about Naporia's future, but they did not say when that day would come."

"A prophecy." I said.

"Precisely. It reads.."

A night will come

When the crystals fall.

A war will decide Naporia's fate

Two enemies fighting at the home gates.

There will be a great fight

Between living and dead

Two winged beasts

One victor, the other deceased.

Naporia must join to live

Naporia must join and win

For if they choose the wrong side

Chose will resume, Naporia must abide.

I read the prophecy in my head over and over.

"If Naporia does not choose the correct side in the war, our kingdom will be lost for good. This explains my hesitation when you arrived."

"Hesitation? You refused to even let me speak."

"I wanted to stay out of the war as long as I could. Until I could make the right decision. I feared that Vendov would win, but once I saw you fighting. Once I saw you turn into the dragon... My mind had been made."

"Does this mean you'll ally with us?"

"Yes. Naporia will join you in your efforts to win the war. I pray to the gods that I have made the right decision."

I was relieved to hear her agree to help us, but anxious. No pressure, right?

"Did you make your decision alone? You're a young queen, can I ask what happened to your parents?"

"My mother died when I was little. As for my father, he died last winter."

"Oh, I'm very sorry for your loss."

"There's this sickness going around. Nobody really knows what it is or where it comes from. I had gotten sick too, but not as severely as my father."

I remembered Samuel talking about a sickness taking over The Mullis Islands and wondered if it had been the same one.

"I'm sorry for your loss." I said again.

"I hope the prophecy would not come true in my lifetime. But here we are. I hope you are the right decision, Zander Bray."

"I hope so too." I said, my eyes returning to the prophecy wall.

She took a deep inhale and straightened her shoulders.

"We should head up to dinner. The cooks are preparing pheasant, you simply must join us."

"I don't know if I'm feeling up for all that just yet."

"I insist, Zander. We can announce our allyship to everyone there."

I did feel better, but I didn't know if I had the mental capacity to deal with Naporian politics, and two versions of Charles. I had already felt exhaustion, I didn't know if I could go on.

We left the caves and returned to the castle. The dining room table was set up, with glistening glass cutlery circled around the table. The queen sat at the head of the table and insisted I sat next to her.

"Your attire isn't what I had in mind, but I guess it will have to do." She said.

The servants began to bring out wine. Once the wine came out, so did the dinner guests. Charles sat on the other side of the queen, and Orion was next to Charles.

Several nobleman joined the party. Fresh baked bread was served along with a smooth jam to start. Despite not eating for two weeks, I had no desire to eat.

Instead, I made small sips of my wine. Everyone's voices boomed in my ears.

"Where's Galen?" I asked Orion.

"They didn't feel like joining tonight. Wanted to eat in their room." Orion explained, slapping red jam onto his bread.

"A bit rude if you ask me. Guests are supposed to be polite to their hosts." The queen said, upturning her nose.

"Charles, I simply adore this had you're wearing." She said to him, looking up at the long feather sticking out of it.

"Thank you, your majesty. It is so rare to find individuals with such exquisite taste as ours." He smiled and brought his wine up to his lips.

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I resisted. Perhaps Charles would enjoy a longer stay in Naporia. I think I would have preferred that as well.

The guests chatted amongst themselves, many of them were talking about the attack on the castle.

"Pardon the damage to the throne room, rest assured we are working day and night to fix it." The queen said.

My stomach soured at only having wine in it. I picked at my pheasant when it came out and did my best to eat it as much as I could tolerate.

The door opened across from my seat. A guard came in. He briefly whispered to the guards that were in the room, then went to the queen.

"Your majesty. We need to speak with you. It's urgent."

My stomach dropped. Was it Samuel? Had he returned?

"Can this wait? I am with guests right now."

"I think it's best if you came now." He said.

"But do I have to?" She said.

"No, I suppose not?"

"Alright then, find me after dessert!" She insisted.

"Yes, your majesty." He bowed his head before leaving.

"Are you sure it can wait? What if it's Samuel?"

"Please. Samuel makes him self very known, as you can tell by the hole in the throne room. If you must find out, you can come with me after dessert."

The dinner felt like a lifetime. Dessert was delayed due to a cook's mistake. The queen was not happy about it. We were eventually brought out an elegant vanilla and fruit torte. The guests absolutely loved it.

The queen stood up when she made our announcement.

"Due to recent events, I have came to the decision to join the war efforts of Lafayette and Naporia against Vendov. We will not be stripped of ourselves, and we will not be tied down. We will fight for Naporia."

The guests toasted to her speech and clapped. She appeared to have the full support of her council.

When the guests were dismissed and began to depart, the guard came to find us.

"Follow me, your majesty." I joined her.

"Are you sure you want him with, your highness?" He eyeballed me.

"Excuse you, he is an ally and a friend. Whatever you can show to me, you can show to him."

Orion and Charles appeared.

"What's going on?" Orion asked.

"Them as well." She said.

Charles finished his fifth glass of wine and set the cup down.

"Where are we going?"

"Follow me. Quickly, please." The guard said.

We all followed him. He took us to a room similar to the one I was trapped in. It had no windows, and very little furniture.

"We found someone. A spy." He opened the door. A man was tied to a chair. He wore a Vendov uniform, his head was covered with a bag.

"What! When?"

"He was lurking around the castle. I assume he's been here since the attack."

"You let him LURK here for TWO weeks?" The queen squealed.

"We've been on full patrol since the attack, he must have been hiding very well."

"I want a full check of this castle! Now! Find any other trader!"

"What do you want us to do with him?"

"We can interrogate him. See what he knows." Orion suggested.

"Fine. You and Zander can interrogate him. I don't care what you do with him after."

"Your majesty, shouldn't we-"

"You've been questioning my orders quite a bit this evening, haven't you?"

"No, your majesty. I just think-."

"If you speak back to me one more time you will be with that trader to a chair. Do you understand me?" She said.

The guard's eyes dropped to the ground.

"Yes, your majesty. I apologize."

"Good. Orion and Zander will be in charge of dealing with this. Charles! Come with me, I need more wine."

"Yes, your majesty!" Charles stuck by her side like mud on a horse.

"I want a full report of whatever this is by tomorrow. Otherwise, goodnight gentleman."

"Wait, your highness! Can't we see who it is at least? Perhaps we'll recognize him from the attack!" Charles suggested, followed by a squeaky hiccup.

"Alright. Fine. Remove the bag."

The guard aggressively yanked off the bag. All of the bad feelings I had just the day before had returned. My stomach and chest felt like it was thrown on the ground and brutally stomped on. I couldn't believe it.

"Nope, no idea. Alright. Well, goodnight!" Charles said.

No. No. No. It couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare. I had to wake up. What I was seeing couldn't have been real. Despite all my attempts to convince myself otherwise, I couldn't escape it. It was real. He was real.

It was Carlo.