Chapter 6 (1/2)

CHAPTER 6

The King’s absentmindedness was seen by not just the Queen but everybody around him. The days were slow and he found himself often looking out into the horizon wondering where Mahnu would be.

How could someone become so dear to me in such a short amount of time…And then leave me!

He knew that he was mad at her and that he missed her, at the same time, but he couldn't do anything about it.

As much as I want to lock her in my chambers, I know I can't! King Richard sighs loudly.

The rumour of a concubine coming into the palace was brought up in front of the King by the Queen’s father, as he visited the capital the next day. But, King Richard flatly refused the rumours coldly, saying that the subject of having a concubine was final.

With that being said, confusion fell onto the Queen, her servants and her father.

“Rumours are called that for a reason, My Queen.” Valtac said to his daughter.

They were by themselves in a meeting but he had spoken softly.

“I am sure it was no lie, father! It was seen!”

Valtac sighed, to believe it true would be against his wishes but he was becoming old and frail as the time went on. “I want to believe that it is what the King says…But if otherwise…Be prepared! I haven’t worked this hard for nothing! I will take my leave!”

The Queen flinched to his words, they hadn’t changed since she had become the fiancé of the Crowned Prince all that time ago. Then, what am I supposed to do now? She wondered.

Mahnu had decided to travel west. After leaving the King, the suffering, she realized, started to grow two days later, louder and then louder again.

Was it always this loud? She thought with impatience.

Mahnu tried hard not to think of King Richard, it was nearly impossible to stop thinking of how she felt while she was with him and she had never missed someone so much in her entire existence. Being apart from him was quite different, she never knew the habits she had started while being with him and watching.

For a start, her nights were much longer. As she would walk or even sit in a tree for a break, she found that she had liked being indoors. The crickets, frogs and owls were too loud now!

She also missed the Princess. Had it been that much fun playing with her? Mahnu laughed, it all seemed so ridicules!

After so long being alone, it was all changed within weeks!

I won’t be able to hear Richard’s sarcastic att.i.tude that he tends to hide from everyone. I won’t be able to touch him while he sleeps.

Mahnu sighed. She already knew her answer and wanted to go back to his side. His power of silencing the sufferings was something that she yearned for now. It was also something that she wanted to take advantage of...Especially when she was immortal and that this was the first time it has happened to her!

Mahnu had made up her mind. I’m going back but I’ll just check to make sure there’s nothing too important that I shouldn’t miss.

She heard about one of the Loyal Royal Knights going missing and thought that this would be a good thing to help Richard. Being able to report back to the leader of the Loyal Royal Knights when she returned sounded like a great idea! She then ventured to Havlish already excited to return to Conrella.

***

After her horseback ride, unable to walk now that Mahnu wanted to rush back to Conrella, she hid in amongst the trees at Havlish. As she tried to get closer, to what she thought was the centre of the secret town, she could see that their security got tighter and made it harder for her to move around without getting caught.

Finally, close to headquarters, she could hear the thoughts of those in charge and got information that the leader was on his way and, also the King, but they were arriving separately. It seemed close to the time that they gather and give their secret reports about all the towns.

Mahnu was still as she felt emotion run through her. It had been about two weeks since she last saw him and just the thought that she was going to see him again soon made her remember his touch. Excitement ran through her body and she was angry that she was unable to stop it.

As she stayed in hiding, by jumping from tree to tree, she continued to hear the thoughts of those close by.

It seemed that one of the knights had either been taken or left about two months earlier and a week ago a tablet that the prophets had left, from a long time ago, was stolen.

She wanted to know what was written on the tablet but those who thought about it didn't seem to know.

The leader of the Loyal Royal Knights arrived in a rush, and that was when Mahnu was shocked into disbelief.

“I came as soon as I heard!” The leader Marcus said, forging in. “Is it confirmed, is the tablet gone?”

“Yes, Sir. And Knight Peter is still missing.”

Marcus sighed and thought about the contents of the tablet.

Mahnu gasped. It was everything that happened at The Siege and…

At his next thought, she appeared before him in anger. How stupid, she thought, the prophets wrote down the location of The Chest of the G.o.d’s before they lost their future sight because of it.

Marcus reached for his sword and went to strike her. She was that angry that she stopped it with her hand and held it tight so he couldn’t get it back.

Blood spilt onto the floor and she sneered. Humans!

Closing her eyes, she breathed in, knowing she needed to calm down. She let go of the sword and it fell to the floor.

He was staring at her. She listened to his thoughts as he put them all together.

She is strong and angry about something…The tablet? Perhaps she knows something but how? I know more than anyone except…

“Mahnu?” He asked wide eyed. “Is that you?”

“You know of me?” She asked, which confirmed his theory.

He bowed before her, the G.o.ddess, the Betrayer, the Saviour of Mankind! He had never thought his grandfather’s wish to meet her would come true in his time!

“Tell me, who has the tablet?”

Marcus lifted his head and nodded to his man standing by the entrance, who answered for him. “We are uncertain…We don’t even know the direction they travelled in. We didn’t even know of its importance straight away…We still don’t…Sir, am I to get people to look for it?”

Marcus looked at Mahnu apologetically. He wondered if he should have told the rest of the loyal Royal Knights, maybe then the tablet would have been properly protected.

“The tablet should have never been written in the first place!” Mahnu yelled, startling herself, as she hadn’t raised her voice in a very, very, long time. “But it is done and I can understand why they did it.”

The prophets knew that they would lose their gift of foresight, so they left something proving they used to have it.

Mahnu sighed and wondered if there was another reason. What could be gained from someone finding this tablet?

She needed to find it! No answers she had come up with, regarding the tablet, had been good ones.

If The Chest of the G.o.d’s is found, then could a way to open it be found too…Just like a way was to use it to trap the G.o.d’s inside it?

“I need a horse...Now!” Mahnu yelled. She didn’t want to take her time to find this. Her reunion with the King, she already knew, would have to be postponed.

“I will travel with you.” Marcus said, standing up.

Mahnu looked at him and knew he just felt guilty.

He admired her and just as he first met her, he had let her down.

Mahnu thought that it didn’t sound like a bad idea but she preferred to be alone. Besides, he was the leader of the loyal Royal Knights…

“Do not worry yourself. The King is on his way here. Did you not want to be here on his arrival?” Marcus had learnt about Mahnu and her talents when he had become the leader. Her knowing that the King was arriving soon should have been easy when she can read minds.

He was the one that knew the most in his village, he should be the one to inform the King, Mahnu thought.

“Stay.” Was all she said as she walked out to the horses.

“Then take one of my men with you. William!” Marcus waited till William was standing in front of him. “Stay close to Mahnu. Be as loyal to her as you are to me, understand?”

“Yes, Sir!”

Mahnu put a saddle on a horse and said, “I prefer to work alone.”

Marcus stopped her, “If you find something, send him back to me.”