“Hold him still,” Vera Angelo said as she held the King who was convulsing uncontrollably. White foamy saliva was pouring out from his mouth, and his eyes were closed. The guards in the room had placed him on the table, pinning his convulsing body to the wood.
Abigail burst through the crowd and hurried to her father, but a hand pulled her back, she turned her eyes to the face of Gilman, who held her and was smiling quietly at her.
“Let go!” She shouted, tried to struggle, but the old hands were strong and glowed with strength compared to her. For a man his age, Abi could not easily hope for the grip to be released. However, she is still a princess that has the right to demand!
“No passage until the search is over,” The man’s deep voice said. Abigail could not believe what she was hearing. How dare this man treat her as if she was not the Princess?! But could she blame them? The situation was really urgent as it involves the health of the King. After all, they were looking for the one who had caused him to be sick.She was just mad that the way the guards were looking and treating her was as if she could even harm her father. “The Queen has sent us to bring something from the chambers, something that would aid the s
Zita looked at Abigail with hope. She was still kneeling when she asked, “Do you believe me?” Abigail shook her head, and the spoke tiredly, “I don’t know, but I know you are not a killer.”Zita was on her feet, with relief spreading out across her face. “Thank you… Thank you so much for trusting me…” She said tears are running down her eyes, but she was smiling brightly. “We must find a way to correct this,” Abigail waved her hand dismissively. She was still trying to figure out what was going on. She went toward her bed and sat on it, despite wanting to just hide under the sheets.
“Ab…gail. Let’s go back to the palace.” Zita said from behind. She had a bad feeling about this. How could something that could hold life good? But Abigail ignored her. “Zita,” She called “what is the in a woman’s body that can hold life in its hand.”“I…I…do.. don't know,” Zita said“I think you do,” Abigail turned to the girl, and said seriously, “you are smart and wise and have things that I can never have. Please, think, let me save your life.”
The city was not what he had expected it to be with the dusty road and buildings made out of mud and straw. He had thought it would be more beautiful like the other Kingdom—Arkenta—which he had visited some months ago, but the reality could never be compared with imagination. Bola crossed the street and grimaced when he saw a wooden pane that was on a building, and was displaying two cups that had wine spilling from their mouth.The inn was not far from the market as the trader’s fingers had made them appear. It was just a few miles away. Standing on the entrance Bola could feel all his limbs begging him to go in and have the best sleep ever. It was an invitation which h
“No one knows,” the man said and gave Bola his food. He was rearranging the wine on the shelf to meet the order the taskmasters had placed on them.Bola carried his bowl of bread and mutton and sat on one of the empty tables, at the end closed to the wall. The men on the other end were still whispering among themselves, and Bola wished deep down that he could unveil what they were talking about. He shifted uneasily when one of the men from one of the tables lifted his eyes towards him, as if looking down on him. There was no smile on the man’s face, even as his eyes left Bola back to his company. Bola swallowed the first bite and gulped them down with a glass of chilled
“They would say it’s a foolish and stupid thing for a girl to do, but it’s my decision anyway.” She said with a shrug of her shoulders. Bola held her by the jacket and pushed her back to the chair.He then shook his head, “Don’t you know that the Watchers do not have any family of their own, these people battle demons all their lives, they put their lives in danger to protect the people on this side of the wall. Is that the type of life you want to lead?” Bola asked seriously. He did not add the fact that if a Watcher had a child, one would be heavily punished. Their whole like must be dedicated to the emperor alone. “You smeared my cloth wi
He swallowed the sorrow, using all his energy to keep his mind from going back to that night when the taskmaster had murdered his family in cold blood.“I am sorry to hear that,” Vera replied sadly. Her voice could not hide the lace of pity that Ginika always despise. “I need air,” He muttered as he wiped his eyes and walked towards the door. Ginika felt suffocated and could not stay in the room. At the moment, he especially felt like shouting or destroying something. Before, he was so busy running away for his life before the recent death of his family had fully sunk it.
“Now,” The man continued, “Each of you has been given a small portion of this fluid.” The white Vesslars—the women in white armor—jumped down from their horses and stood before the girls among the children.“If you are a Drudge, indicate now, because the fluid will kill you if you take it,” His threats hung on the air for some time, until a boy walked out slowly. As if that was a signal, others followed him, both boys and girls alike. There were about fifteen of them in total, and all dressed in fine clothes.“Good, you did well.” The man smiled, “The Watcher is not meant for Drudge” The rest of the children laughed at the slaves. Ginika’s face twitched as his eyes widen with a heat that ma
The calmness was alluring, and the serenity so great that she felt she could remain here forever. Nothing seems to exist. It was just as if she was just being born. There was no trouble, no worries, and certainly no death. But where am I?“My sweet child,” Someone said, and the girl could feel the hands that patted her forehead.Abigail opened her eyes, just in time to see the beautiful face of Queen Isabel, as she pulled away from her. The rich lemon fragrance covered Abigail’s nostrils lurking around the fresh morning air that was rushing into the room from the window at the far end.“Mother?” Abigail called. Even her own voice was new to her.“Rest, my child, you need it.” Isabel smiled weakly and stroked Abigail’s forehead.“What happened?” Abigail asked as she sat up from the bed. She was totally found. No part of her body ached from the training, and she was more at ease and…“By the heavens,” Abigail screamed when her fair skin. She stroked her head and laughed from the rich bl
Gen jumped on top of the watchman and ripped his throat out, feeling the sweet savor of the metallic taste that came rushing into her palate. She was careful not to bite off his head as that was a disgusting way to feed.She wiped her mouth with the back of her hands and stood up. She was not satisfied, but she must try to be on mission. Maybe she will come back and finish him off when she was done.A ray of sun tubes in through the roof, and Gen laughed. It was still a wonder to her that she was walking in daylight. She had been in the dark for about 50 years, but now, walking under the light made her realize that there is more to life that the ugly face of darkness.The hands of the sun spreads through the whole earth, blessing everything that stood in the vast distance with its grace. From this place, she could see everywhere in Arkenta. Even the border of Landevia spread out and seemed to be touching the sky. She was supposed to monitor the Cavaliers from this Watchtower, but stand
Vera nodded to Gareth and walked out from among the shadows. She followed behind the cavalier, who was totally oblivious of her presence. The man was about to round the bend when she held his mouth from behind and traced the sharp end of her dagger around his neck. She held his mouth tightly as he convulses but released him when he finally became still.“That’s thirty-two,” Gareth whispered as he walked towards her.“You have been keeping counts?” Vera asked and wiped her dagger on the body of the fallen guard.“A total of sixty-six. You are a warlord mother,” “Which way?” “There,” Gareth pointed to another metal door. The torches flickered with the little wind that walked in the air, revealing the emptiness that lies on the other side of the door. It was day, and the sun was at its zenith. But its hands have failed to touch any side of the dungeon. Dar
“Emm…guys, I hate to break the reunion, but I think we are in trouble.” A girl that was twice as tall as any of them in the arena said. Behind her were two other girls whose eyes were wider than the lens of Victoria.“Olivia? We are friends now?” Dodo suddenly asked as she, Abigail, and Victoria turned to the other girls. The looks on their faces told Ginika to keep off. He wasn’t ready to meddle with women’s affairs.“Ginika!!!” Someone screamed. “Pa Bola?” Ginika’s brow elevated to his skull at the voice of the man who was running into the arena from one of the metal bars. Behind him was a strange-looking woman, in breeches and some yellow shawl hanging loosely on her shoulders.“You must get out of here, now,” The man said. The looks on his face were covered with so many expressions that Ginika could not place a hand on.“Bola,” Dodo called, turning away from the girl she had called Olivia. “You are alive.” “Yes, but there is no time, we must hurry, follow me.” Bola pointed to the
A sweet air bashed Abigail’s face when she finally walked out of the burning hallway. The metal bars shut behind her, leaving her and the other children at the mercies of the crowd and their frenzy. The walls of the arena were high, more than thirty feet away from the dust and sand.“Now what?” Dodo asked as she steady her hands on the pan. Her composure was laudable, and it made Abigail want to run into her arms. The girl was showing no sign of weakness or fright. It was as if she had anticipated all the event and knew what would happen.“How long can you last out here, Victoria.” The voice of Olivia came fluttering with the numerous screams of the crowd. The mockery in them was annoying. The girl was acting as though she had everything under control.The metal door at the other side of the arena opened, and some six boys came jogging out of it. They were also Vesslers who had come to transition. Unlike the girls that were given pans, the boys held the sword, spears, shield, and other
The voice of the metals continued to scream as the hammers of the blacksmith descended upon them. The screams only stopped to a hissing sound when the men imbued them into the water pan beside the metal table, and resumes their previous beating. Those clatter and noise from the anvil could cause the ear to bleed. It’s been hours since they came here, yet none of the three blacksmith had fashion any reasonable weapon. It was as if they were toiling in vain, or were they doing this as a hobby?Abigail wiped her brow for what seemed to be the tenth time that morning. If the sweat had anything to do with the heat of the furnace, then she would have taken solace in the metal door whose air was blocked by the girl’s that clustered on it.
“This is ridiculous.” Richard chuckled, “The funniest joke in the history of the empire.”“You are a coward Richard. And your strength Is in your tongue. The only thing you are good at is staring up strife among brethren.”“Is that what you think,” Richard flared and hurried up to Gabriel, but the other children where just in time to hold the two from ripping their throats apart.“Richard.” Ginika said, and all eyes turned to him. “I don’t care if you hate me
“You ruined our lives. I said it before, you are nothing but trouble,” Richard shouted.Ginika’s stomach tightened as he studied the other children who were staring at him like some kind of god. Betty had hidden them in the forest, the same forest which was becoming like home ever since he was kicked out from the brotherhood. It was easily to see through the expression that lurked in the face of the children. They looked haggard and frightened and five years starving.“You hear me?” Richard’s voice rung in his ears but he tried his best to ignore the boy. “You are nothing but evil. Nemesis will fall on yo
Bola wiped the tears from his own eyes, not able to hold them back any longer. Seeing the reunion between the mother and son made his chest ach. He just could not shut the doors of his emotions as his mind flashback into the past, in that night when his whole family was destroyed by the children of the night. His clan had been so weak to defend themselves. They had been so powerless.“Here,” Vera’s word brought his wandering thoughts back into his body. She had was holding a small book in her hands now, a book which she gave to Gareth.“It contains my memory.” Vera smiled and parted Gareth’s cheeks, leaving a smear of red trail on them.“Please don&