The Girl in the Woods

Chapter 17

At the Kingdom of Zurn, Queen Vixra is talking to Moki about King Hodus daughter. The servants as usual are still there, enduring the reeking smell that engulfs the whole throne room. They have no choice anyway but to do their job or else they will be executed mercilessly by their evil queen. No one can go against her will and command. She is above them with her power; her evilly power.

“Moki, how is the search going? I think it's been more than a week now, but I didn't hear any news from the people you ask to find your niece,” Vixra asked.

Moki straightened his back and looked at Vixra. “Isn't it you who have the information about that girl who possesses an extraordinary power from the Kingdom in the North?” He turned to her and asked. It didn't escape from him that Vixra received the information about that girl.

Vixra smirked and looked at the crow on her knuckles, patted the bird's head showing how fond she was of it. Her eyes then darted fiercely to Moki.

“I didn't give you the right to question me,” she said, gritting her teeth.

Moki then burst into laughter that made Vixra grow angry within her, but she cannot do anything to him. She needs him.

“Oh yeah, I don't have the right to question you. And when did I get the right to anything? Never! I never get the right to voice out my opinion and ideas. Have you ever listened to me? No!” Moki doesn't think Vixra will use her power to kill him because of what he said, but Ser Randall is right. He needs to show her that he has a say for everything in the palace.

Ser Randall and the servants lifted their heads abruptly when they heard Moki but bow immediately when Vixra darted at them with a fierce look. They didn't expect Moki to speak to the queen that way. Vixra didn't expect either. She gritted her teeth and formed a ball on her fists to control her anger. She doesn't need to use her power on him because she still needs him.

“Ever since we took over this palace, I never feel that I am your right hand as you promised. I am no different from those servants aside from sitting on this useless throne,” Moki gesturing his hands pointing at the servants standing side by side of the aisle.

Vixra's chest goes up and down with controlled anger, her hands are shaking, and gritted teeth that sound like gravel are being ground. She then got up and went to her chamber and released her anger using her power, hitting whatever she can see and doesn't care if she is destroying them. In her eyes, fiery of anger, she screams, in her shrill voice that can defend whoever can hear it but she is in her chamber so no one knows what she is doing. Her pet crow was so stressed from jumping and flying away from the stroke of her power. The crow's feathers fell off until she fell on the chamber floor restless and fell asleep. Vixra continued throwing her anger until she calmed down. Didn't realize that she hurt her favorite crow. Her chest goes up as she heaves a deep breath while sitting on the edge of her bed.

Moki was left with a devilish smile. He knows that he manages to intensify her anger. After Ser Randall had told him, he tried to ponder about it and he realized that it's been eighteen years that he went stvpid and let Vixra manipulate him. He realized that he didn't even achieve what he wanted when he collaborated with her and sent his brother to his demise in his hand. Everything seems worthless since then.

At the village where Prince Darvyn and his group of people decided to stay overnight. He is sitting, sipping his tea while flipping the pages of the book and reading on the table provided in the room that the inn gave to him. It wasn't a huge room but it was enough for his comfortable stay in the village. There is one bed with complete beddings, a table where he can use it to read and enjoy the tea that they serve for him. The room is quiet and it has windows that provide ventilation for his comfort and candles that give light as it is already quite dark. Nicholaus who is watching him is shaking his head. He slowly walked closer to where Prince Darvyn was sitting.

“Your Highness, some of our men have started on their patrol at the village. Some reported that there were no strange things that happened or any incident occurred after that night of disturbance,” Nicholaus said.

Prince Darvyn puts down his teacup, closes the book, and stands up. Walks slowly in front of Nicholaus, stares at him and proceeds to the window quietly, and parted the cloth that serves as a curtain to look outside. Outside is getting darker as the night falls. There are few people outside but only those who are closing their small shops.

“Let's stay here for tonight and let us see if nothing happens. Just make sure that those assigned to patrol will do their job to secure the people's safety,” he said, closing the window and going back to the table. The King has commanded him to visit all the villages of the Kingdom to ensure the people's safety. He also assigned some troops in every village to patrol.

“Yes, Your Highness!” Nicholaus then bowed his head. After he asked permission, he left the Prince alone in his room. Darvyn continued flipping the book but his mind was not in there to read. Thoughts are running in his mind. There are a lot of things that he is thinking about. His mind is restless thinking of the strange things that happened recently. The illusion and the shrill voice made his mind in chaos. He cannot figure out if those things are connected, but one thing he is sure of is, he will do everything to solve the puzzle-like event. He will help his father to find the traces to give peace to the people and themselves.

That night in the village, everyone fell asleep in peace. Another night of peace as there was no screaming or howling heard. Prince Darvyn at dawn decided to leave when they made sure that people were safe. Some are already awake opening their shops before sunrise. He started their journey to the next towns and villages. What he wanted was to finish visiting all the subjects of the Kingdom.

While on their journey riding their horses and carriages to the next town, they saw an old man sitting on the rock, leaning against the tree behind him. He seems tired and looks astray. Prince Darvyn raised his hand and asked Brice, the knight, to check on the old man.

“The world will be in chaos, good versus evil. A war between kingdoms but a heroine will rise,” the man murmured but didn't escape to Brice's ears when he was about to approach the old man.

“Uhm, excuse me, old man. Do you need any help? We can help you if you are going in the same direction as us,” Brice said.

“A hero will rise. A hero will rise.” The old man said repeatedly. Brice shakes his head and turns to look in the direction of Prince Darvyn and shrugs his shoulders. Nicholaus gestured asking him to go back. He then puts some food next to the old man and stands up to go back to his horse.

“Your Highness, he is murmuring something. He said repeatedly that a hero will rise after he said that war between Kingdoms will occur and good versus evil,” Brice reported.

Prince Darvyn's brows furrowed and looked at the old man who was checking the food that his knight had put next to him. His mind captured the hero that Brice said the old man had murmured.

“Who could that be?” He asked in his thoughts.

They then continued their journey leaving the old man but not a couple of minutes yet when one of his men from behind shouted.

“Your Highness, the old man is gone!”

Prince Darvyn pulled off his horse reins instantly to stop his horse followed by the others. He then pulled his horse to walk back and his men were right. The old man is not there anymore sitting on the rock. There are not even traces that he walks the way they've been. He fell in astonishment of where the old man goes, but one thing he is sure of; there seems to be a bad omen that the old man brings.