Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Aranya woke up to the aroma of a meal that had her salivating ruffling her nostrils. She smiled softly, remembering the kind of night they shared with Lorcán and slowly pulled herself up, resting her back on the bed head. He walked into the room in slow steps and when their eyes met, Lorcán winked at her and she immediately pouted her lips.

“Let’s not talk about yesterday, can we?” He sat down beside her, kissed her forehead before he took a hold of her hands.

“Why would we not? I'd love to ask whether you’ve enjoyed the...” She dramatically screamed and pulled her hands away from him, closing her ears.

“Lorcán, please.” She whined, and he chuckled before he stood on his feet.

“Fine, but it’s not a promise. Wash up, I've made breakfast already.” She waited until she made sure he was out of the room before the grin came back to her face and she gingerly stood to her feet.

Her heart was filled to the brim with so much love and happiness. She wasn’t resenting Betla for stopping her from experiencing this kind of feeling since, she knew she only did that to protect her from the kinds of her father. She didn’t want her to be raped too like she was. And she was glad that Lorcán was the first man she had ever gotten intimate with, because if that was how it felt, the soul connection it made her feel, she didn’t want to feel that way with any man in her, just him.

She took her time and got ready and when she was out, he had got the table ready which had her salivating. She looked up at him and found that his eyes were fixed on hers, smiling. “You were sick, Lorcán, where did you get the energy to make all these?” She chuckled excitedly and sat down, staring at the meal and contemplating on which to dive in first.

“I had to do all this and more for the woman that made me feel what I felt...” She shot her head up and glared at him, forcing her fire to flash out and he took a step back. “Woah! This reminds me that we need to make sure you learn how to hide your power and manage it well like Betla did, Aranya.”

How frightened he seemed made her chuckled and she closed her eyes to calm down a bit, “Why do you look that way? I'm never going to hurt you, Lorcán.” Her voice sounded down at the end of her sentence and he sat down beside her, roughly pecking her cheek. “At least not again.” She whispered.

“I know, your highness. You love me so much to do that. And who knows?” She softly lifted her eyes at him to hear what he had to say next, “My daughter might be growing in you already.”

She slightly punched him and he laughed, he was about to speak again when she stuffed his mouth with food and laughed at how pained he looked. It was a lovely morning that was filled with laughter and the plans they had to execute in making sure they got to King Bhaltair, but the problem was, how were they going to see him first?

“Do you think Desdemona will sell off all the answers we want without anything?” Aranya asked for the umpteenth time as they walked into the palace in search of her.

They were walking in the market, their hands entwined and whoever saw them wouldn't have to ask that they both were madly in love with each other. A carriage spun toward them and before he answered, Lorcán quickly pulled her away and smiled, “I know you’re powerful but you have to be taking care of yourself for me, Aranya.” She rolled her eyes exasperatedly at him, she must've already been tired of him talking about her power, “And about Desdemona, I know something she would trade her soul for, let’s just get to meet her first.”

She chuckled at how mischievous he sounded and in silence, they walked deeper into the market until they got to Keres’s chamber. He looked at her and lowered his voice, “I'm not allowed in there, can you call her out for us?”

“Sure, but do you think if she doesn’t agree I can threaten her with my power?” She laughed at the expression he made and shook her head before he spoke, “I won’t, I'll be a good girl, I promise.”

She walked silently and knocked on the door, Katharina opened the door for her and naturally, a smile came off to her lips. “Hello, my name is Aranya. I'm not sure whether you haven't heard about me yet but I'm here to see Desdemona, is she here?” There was a rustle of laughter even before she was done and swiftly, who she thought was Katharina changed into the mischievous figure of Desdemona and Aranya absentmindedly rolled her eyes.

“To what do I owe this visit? Are you here to hurt me too?”

Aranya shook her head, “We’re here to speak to you about something, can you please spare us a few minutes?” She was trying to sound calm and controlled, but god knows that she got irritated by everything about this woman.

“We? May I know who you’re referring to apart from yourself?”

“Lorcán.” She answered curtly and took a few steps back, indicating they should move on.

Desdemona followed her, but with a sly smile that Aranya wanted to smack off her face. “The anger I saw your face made me think you’ve killed him already. It’s relieving to know that at least you have someone close to your heart...”

The way Aranya turned furiously made her nearly choke on herself, “Easy there, I dare not use him against you.” She stormed off without a replying and found Lorcán walking to and fro.

“How did it go? Did she agreed to follow you?” He asked anxiously.

“I dare not follow her. But I'm here willingly, not because she threatens me or anything.” He heard Desdemona’s voice behind him and didn't know when he heaved a sigh out of relief.

They found a spot and sat down, with Desdemona closer to Lorcán than she was to Aranya. “What is it?” She asked Lorcán with the same mischievousness they both knew about her.

“We need your help. We want to know all the informations about King Bhaltair.” She rolled her eyes and her expression changed to anger, slowly rising up to her feet, Lorcán spoke again before she walked off, “We’ll help find your husband for you.” That got her glued to her spot. How did he know that she was going to find her husband? It had been so long since King Bhaltair captured her husband and used him for all the things he wanted in this life, and she knew clearly he tortured and enslaved him. She had to find him, set him free even if that meant she was going to loose her life.

Aranya stood up and slowly walked up to her, “I promise you that we will find your husband for you, Desdemona. You just have to help us with this as well.” Her eyes wandered between the duo that stared back at her with eagerness in their eyes.

She sighed and sat back, “How did you know that I'm here to look for my husband?”

Lorcán chuckled, “It’s not only a durush that's allowed to know secrets, Desdemona. Can you please help us?” She thought for a moment, it wasn’t like she was betraying Keres if she helped them too. She had fulfilled her promise to Keres, right? She had helped her kill Betla and for her, she had brought her to Belrynna, that's all.

With a soft smile, she nodded her head. “I will, but you have to fulfill your promise too.” They both nodded their heads as she began to answer their unending questions. Even she herself was amused at how much she knew about King Bhaltair. She was sure there were things no one knew about him but she did.

•

Her hands got sweaty as she stood by the door. She knew this was what she had been wanting, for the day she would be summoned by the king. His harem was large, with lots of beautiful princesses as his consorts but she had never imagined he would remember a certain dragon princess he had gotten married to.

Katharina nudged her shoulder lightly and she turned to look at her, “You shouldn’t make him wait, your highness.” And that reminded her of who awaited her behind the closed door. She closed her eyes, inhaled and exhaled before she pushed the door and gently, Katharina closed the door behind her.

She walked deeper into the room, she couldn’t see anyone but she was certain he was inside. Even though it seemed to be the most magnificent room she had ever been in her life, Keres dared not got carried away by the luxury she saw. She held her head up and walked like the dragon princess she was.

She sat down and waited in an eerily silence, no one was dare and when she heard a voice beside her ear, she nearly freaked out but she knew not to show her fear in front of him. All she wanted was to see his face, because that day at the inn, she wasn’t stable enough to point a finger at what he looked like.

She turned with her heart beating wildly against her chest and when his face came to a view, she nearly tripled down from the chair she sat. “What the hell are you doing here?” She thundered and stood up, trying so hard to control herself so he wouldn’t be able to see her fear and anger and the betrayal that clearly surged through her heart.

He smiled at her and majestically sat down, “Who are you talking about? I'm King Bhaltair, I urge you to find a seat and sit down, this is the first time we’re meeting, as a husband and wife.”

She rolled her eyes and folded her hands around her chest, “Just what do you mean, Xanth? I suggest you want to be punished by the king himself. Just what do you think you are doing?”

He smiled and this time, just the look of it sent a chill down her spine. “Xanth?” There was confusion in his eyes then he lifted his head and chuckled, making the whole building echo, “My guard. I know you think of him as me or better, I used his face to go to our wedding, that’s solely because it’s not every body that has to know my wife, Keres. I still use his face because it gives me this feeling of being young plus, it’s the face you know of to be your husband, isn’t it?”

Their voices sounded different, she thought. The way he sat, composed himself, acted, spoke, was solely different from the way Xanth did all these. Plus he gave off this aura of power and royalty, and Xanth had none of that as well. She sighed, if only he could show her his real face, she knew she wasn’t going to fall in love with him or anything, but at least to know the face of the man she had gotten married too. Even though he wasn't just a normal man.

She slowly sat down beside him, making sure there was a reasonable space between them. “Can I please ask you for a favor?”

He nodded his head and served himself some tea. “Can I see your real face? Also, I want to visit Kestramore.”

He laughed and placed down the cup he was holding. Slowly, he pulled her to him and rested her head on his shoulder, and Keres had to close her eyes at how familiar it felt, how safe it made her feel and she was instantly reminded of Xanth. Was this really a king? Or was Xanth really a bodyguard? She wanted to scream at the confusion that was threatening to shatter her heart.