Chapter sixty
It has been ten days since Calemir had left with his brother. Not that Nara was counting but, it was the truth. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t thinking of him.
“Strange things keep happening lately.”
“Why do you say that?” Nara looked from the window to Izza. Izza placed a cup of juice on the table before dragging the chair out and taking a sit. “Earlier on my way here, I saw lady Leena and lord Finn escorting a half elf to the barracks.”
Nara stopped playing with the bracelet on her wrist, jaw dropping. “a half elf?”
Izza nodded, took a sip of her juice and added. “I told you time has a way of making things interesting. It never gets dull to live many years.”
Hmm.
Just then a loud knock echoed in the room.
“I’ll get it” Nara stood and headed to the main door of the house. She pulled the door open and met face to face with lady Leena. “You have a guest” Leena clipped.
Nara’s gaze snapped to the half elf beside the fierce warrior. Her eyes widened. The half elf was king Lorenz’s mage. How had he gotten here? Knew exactly where to find her?
“The king sent me” the half breed spoke first before Nara could. Apprehension coiled in her belly. “Is my family alright?”
“They won’t be for long” the mage admitted.
Nara stiffened. “Are they ill?”
“No” the mage answered. “but they will be harmed if the army that was promised doesn’t show up soon. Words from the king.”
A dreadful sensation flooded her. “Are we going to war?”
“Yes,” the half-elf grimly confirmed.
“Then we must leave now,” Nara said tightly, suppressing the fear she was beginning to feel.
“Where is the army?” the mage inquired. “Where is the prince?”
“He is not here” Nara clipped. “Give me a minute so I can grab a coat” Nara didn’t wait for his permission, but raced to her room. Nara flung the doors of her closet and reached for a black cloak and wore it then dashed to the armory room. She picked a sheathed sword and a bow with a full quiver. Nara marched to the door. “Let us go.”
“The king won’t be pleased if you don’t return with the army” the mage interjected. Anger flaring, Nara snapped. “There is no army of elves. Stop wasting time and let us go now!”
The mage’s face fell to a scowl. “Do not say I did not warn you of the consequences.”
Nara’s face hardened, pushing past the two, she fastened to the stables.
***
Nara galloped toward the towering closed gates she had not seen in a while. Her entire body protested with pain with each gallop, but that didn’t slow her down. Days of tireless riding and sleepless nights weren’t going to take their toll on her now. She wouldn’t allow it when danger hanged in the air. She halted at the closed doors, the mage too coming to some seconds later beside her.
“Who are you?” a man from one of the crenels demanded whilst aiming a loaded crossbow at her.
“Nara daughter of Jae Thani” she shouted.
The gates did not open. Annoyance crossed her face. “Open the gate” she demanded, her lips thinning. From the corner of her eye, she noticed the mage pushing the hood of his cloak back, revealing his face.
The gates opened.
Nara stepped in and stormed straight to the king’s wall. The horse came to a whining halt several feet from a trio of guards standing at the front of her father’s house. Word surely does travel fast Nara grimly mused as she studied the armed men. One of them stepped forward. “Under the king’s command, we are here to escort you to the royal court.”
She clenched her fists. More like apprehend her. She could fight her way to the house, but she decided it was best not to cause trouble especially for her family. Jaw tight, she swiftly dismounted and said coolly. “Lead the way.”
The three men flanked her as they walked toward their destination. Nara didn’t miss the other heavily armed guards patrolling the grounds. Gloom hanged in the air. She felt strange walking down the halls to the courtroom. Memories of that night the elves visited resurfaced with each step she took. Shoulders straight and chin high Nara made her entrance in the courtroom.
“Nara!” Nara twisted her head in the direction of where her mother sat. Relief and happiness spread over her as she looked at her mother, then father and Ingrid sitting near the end of the long table. A smile stretched across her face. With long strides, she was next to them and threw her arms over them.
“It is good to see that you are well” King Lorenz spoke ruining the precious moment. Stiffly, Nara straightened and looked at the king sitting on his throne at the high end of the room.
“Your majesty” Nara curtsied. Her skin crawled when his eyes raked over her body and returned to her face.
“Where is my army?” the king inquired.
“Your Majesty I” Nara began, but the king waved his hand. The guards who she had walked in with suddenly dragged her from her family while other guards hurried and stood behind her parents and Ingrid. The three guards apprehended her at the spot. “Let go of me!” Nara jerked and twisted their hands, but they held her firmly. Two more guards enclosed her.
“I sent you to do one job” The king rose from his seat, walking toward their direction. He paused near a guard. “But you failed” He dragged a short dagger from its scabbard which the guard held. Nara seethed with anger. The absurdity of this man made her want to tear her hair from her scalp. She had absolute no power over the elves for her to command them to her will. Her eyes tracked the king as he resumed his walk until he stood by her father’s side. The king twisted his head, his angry eyes burning through her skull. “For each day, I do not see an army of elves there will be consequences. Starting today” The guard positioned behind her father suddenly moved and pulled her father’s left arm and pinned it to the table. It felt like a blink of an eye but also seemed like forever when the king brought down the sharp blade on Thani’s pinky finger. Nara’s eyes widened with horror.
“No!” Nara’s protest was drowned by her father’s own agonizing cries. Blood dispersed over the polished mahogany table. Ingrid shrieked, her hands covering her mouth, with traumatized eyes Ingrid gaped at the small finger discarded on the table.
Nara’s tongue locked in her mouth as she watched with despair. Her father cried. Jae tried to stop the spilling blood from where his finger had been with his right hand. To make it even more heartbreaking, one of the soldiers pushed his wife back to her seat, stopping her from rushing to her father.
Dark, consuming rage blazed within Nara. She glared at the king, chest heaving she hissed through gritted teeth. “I am going to kill you.”
“As I have said, each day I do not see an army of elves. There will be consequences” the king stated, ignoring her threat. Nara tensed when he brushed his bloody hand on Ingrid’s head before giving her a sinister smile.
“Lock her up” Lorenz ordered the guards apprehending her.
***