“Check our
mountain borders. Dispose of those that crosses it,” ordered Kuran on one of
our catch-up session.
Dispose.
He’s telling me to get rid of anyone entering our territory. This pathetic
being who’s been pretending to be so good to the humans. He knew the mountain
border was where I patrolled. I’m guessing he knew of Veann’s attachment to one
of the village.
“It has
always been to dispose of hunters, and trick the others from entering. Why the
sudden change of heart?” I challenged.
“Are you
questioning me?” he asked softly.
“I asked a
question,” I replied, unsure if he was amused or irritated.
“Well,” he
said as walks toward the door.
Turning the knob, he continued, “Hearts can
change. It’s difficult to have it stay at a place. I guess the word loyalty was
invented to counter the problem with hearts.”
“You must
love loyalty,” I commented, ignoring the door he left open.
“I admire
those with loyalty,” he said with a rueful smile.
Before I
could say another word, he grab my shoulder and lightly beckoned me out of his
office. Kuran’s two aides who stood guard outside stared, waiting for me to
leave and get on with their king’s order.
I left
Kuran’s estate feeling incredibly annoyed. He practically shoved me out! Veann
dared not ask of our conversation, though I’m not sure if he could sense
impeding danger or if he’s simply terrified of me since that midnight walk.
As soon as
we reach Kuroli’s estate, I sent Veann off to the mansion with nonsensical
reasons. I needed some space for a plan, and Veann besides me will just
jeopardize it. He’s been going around my back once, and he could do it again.
I’m sure he will since his village is at stake.
Veann was
my tutor, but he was sent by Kuran. Was Kuran angered by his act of choosing
that village? Is this what he meant by loyalty? Was Veann not a loyal servant
to him? Maybe his idiotic brain regards loyalty only in regards to his two
pathetic aides. Those two are without brains, that’s why they followed him
everywhere.
Somewhere
along my train of thoughts, I could hear a mocking giggle. I’m inside Kuroli’s
estate, which servant have the blasphemy to mock me? I looked around and sense
no trace of my family, nobles, hecons, or human. Still, there was a trail of
living particles somewhere that’s mocking me. I move forward slightly to check
if anything move with me but I couldn’t sense any movement. I knew it was there
but it’s nowhere to be seen, or sensed. In my frustration, it giggled again, as
if enjoying my struggle to find it.
I stood,
thinking absolutely nothing, and concluded that I was imagining things and
wanted to walk back to the mansion. Just then, it groan with annoyance.
“Who are
you?” I asked as softly as I could.
Something
whispered in my ear, but it wasn’t the nonsense words I couldn’t understand, or
the coldness of the contact, not even the way the whisper drips in that gave
away who she was. It was her stench. That menacing, know-it-all, arrogant and
unfathomable stench of the lake who toyed with my frustration. Even in my frustration,
I couldn’t help but answer to her queenly call.
At first a
step, then my pace quicken until I found myself gasping as I reach the lake.
There she was, wide and majestic, still laughing at my ridiculousness.
Something about her remind me of how authoritative Kuran always made of
himself, but this lake, she made it feel like she have all of it, without any
need for me or anyone else, she is still queen. Her chilling mist warms up just
enough for comfort and I knew she was appreciative of my awe.
“You’re
alive,” I said.
Her surface
bubbled in front of me, splashing some of the water to my face. It was her way
of saying that I’m stating the obvious.
“Yes. That,
I knew but- yes,” was all that I could manage.
So she was alive that night, and
all the other night when Veann came to her to be rid of human scent. No, Veann
was probably one of the few that I knew was having contact with humans. She
knew more.
The lady
was clearly amused. She wanted something from me, was the only thing I could
come out with after her long silence. That conclusion only irritate her.
“What is it
that you want?” I ask aloud.
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