The Crown’s Entrapment

Darius and Ezekiel, together with the rest of the Ebodian soldiers with him and some captives by the enemies finally made their journey back to the camp. The Werewolf King made sure that Tarah was as comfortable as possible, and as she requested, she rode her own horse together with them.

“Tell me… Did you already know that Xen is a woman since the day I brought her to you for healing?” Darius asked. They were riding at a slow pace within the wilderness, and Tarah was riding closely enough to him for them to speak.

Hearing him, she smiled as she replied, “Yes.”

Darius frowned as he then followed up, “And why didn’t you say something? You didn’t even correct me whenever I addressed her as a male.”

“That is because I know she had her reasons as to why she’s in disguise in the first place,” Tarah explained herself. “I simply respected her decision. Besides, my duty at the time was only to heal her, and nothing more, Sire.”

At the finality of her words, Darius no longer commented and simply nodded in understanding. Switching the topic, he expressed, “Xen will be delighted to see you. She’s been curious, asking about why you suddenly left without even saying goodbye to her while she was in the castle.”

“Unfortunately, I had to leave to attend to an important matter, Your Majesty,” Tarah politely answered.

As this conversation was going on, Ezekiel was quietly listening and observing the woman. Since the day Beirut warned him to be careful of a woman bearing icy blue eyes and silver hair, he had this habit of checking on every woman he met just to see if their eyes and hair color matched the seer’s description.

Letting out a small sigh, the prince fell into deep thought as he recalled his last conversation with Beirut. Their deceased seer had clearly mentioned that he must avoid a woman with his exact description of having long silver hair and icy blue eyes, lest he would bring damnation upon himself.

Having had enough of being on the sidelines, Ezekiel strode forward and asked, “How did you end up being a captive?”

The prince watched as the woman mulled over her answer. He was keenly observing her every expression and reaction, and he even wanted to ask if her hair was naturally black or if it was dyed. It moved softly against the breeze, as long prairie grass did against the autumn wind.

“Last night, I was on my journey to Ebodia when I was caught up in an ambush between Ebodian and Helion soldiers. So many Ebodians died, but luckily, some managed to escape,” Tarah recounted with a haunting tone in her voice.

“I… unfortunately, was caught by the Helion soldiers. They kept me shackled together with the rest of the captives. Tonight… if you didn’t arrive in time… I… I’m really grateful that you came. Once again, thank you.”

“Enough with the constant gratitude. You were lucky that we attacked in time, but I must say that you didn’t even look scared at the time,” Ezekiel voiced out, having noticed that her eyes have nary a hint of fear in them during that time… It was more of a dead look, a soulless one that somehow alerted him that something was amiss.

“That’s because I knew you will come, Your Highness,” Tarah simply answered, making Ezekiel’s frown deepened at the implication.

“What do you mean?” he suspiciously asked.

“I have seen this event coming, Your Highness,” Tarah lightly bowed as she explained. Although you came to that camp for vengeance, the rest of us were saved as a result of your actions.”

Ezekiel reigned in his horse to a halt, the rest following suit as they all waited for him to continue. His eyes bore at Tarah as he whispered, “You… How did you…”

“I’m not just a healer, but I’m also a seer, Your Highness, someone who could see not only the future, but I think I also have the ability to see into the past as well,” Tarah admitted.

“That was why I was making my way to Ebodia in the first place; to seek guidance from Ebodia’s Seer himself. But unfortunately, that won’t happen anymore since I met him at the wrong place and time… Where I witnessed him… die last night,” the woman gravely said.

It took a while for Ezekiel to gather his senses after hearing such revelations. What the woman just said didn’t seem to register in his mind as it slowly sank in. She was a Seer?

They had lost Beirut, and here she was coming in just in time for her to replace him… Could she be the one that Beirut was looking for? The one that he mentioned would take over his position once he was gone? But Beirut’s search had been futile. He was unable to find the ‘one’ while he was looking for his own successor.

“Brother-in-law, we must continue moving.”

It was Darius’s voice that snapped him back to his senses as he blinked away his confusion. He still had a lot of questions to ask, but they could wait. For now, they needed to keep moving.

He nodded at Darius and authoritatively instructed the men who had stopped behind him, “Let’s get moving!”

Directing his horse to move, he kept his eyes on Tarah even as they moved.

‘A Seer?’ he mused, doubt still lingering inside of him. There was a time and place for questions, and now wasn’t the time for them.

He then shifted his gaze to the Werewolf King and shook his head. It seemed like the king was already accustomed to calling him, Brother-in-law. Perhaps he should address him in the same manner?

“I’m surprised Xenia didn’t insist on tagging along with me last night,” Ezekiel casually commented.

“I stopped her from doing so,” Darius replied. “She’s not in the right condition to fight with you right now. I assured her that I will accompany you and keep you safe, and I did. Besides, it’ll be better for her to stay at the camp and personally arrange the sending off of your former seer. A proper burial rite, if you will.”

“Good call,” Ezekiel nodded. “I’m glad that Xenia at least listened to you. She had always been stubborn, the type who wouldn’t listen to anyone except for herself.”

“Hmm… I’ll take that advice as you acknowledging me already as your brother-in-law,” Darius said with a pleased smile.

Ezekiel couldn’t help but chuckle at the king’s declaration. Darius wasn’t a bad choice for Xenia, and he could sense that the king would be good to his sister even in the little time and interactions he had with him.

He would at least be the first person who managed to hold Xenia’s reins without her going wild, and that was already an advantage for anyone that might want to court his sister.

“Well, what can I do? It seems like you and my sister are destined to be together,” Ezekiel shrugged. “Just make sure you will never hurt her and make her cry, because if you do, then I won’t hesitate to decapitate you myself.”

“And you choose now of all times to threaten me, Brother-in-law?” Darius scoffed, enjoying his small banter with Xenia’s brother.

“It’s not a threat… but a warning,” Ezekiel replied, copying Darius’s words from before. “I’m sure you’ll understand.”