Chapter 151: Chapter 151
TRISTAN:
I can’t believe it! King Maurus – the mastermind behind the slaughter of my pack has really gone insane!
“Wait, what are you -?”
Before I could complete my protest, a bright, white light shone from our conjoined hands. The succession of rights ritual was really starting to take place!
“No, I don’t accept this,” I screamed in protest.
“I’m sorry, kid… You have no right to refuse it…”
What kind of madness is this? I tried to free my hand from his palms, but it was locked in an iron grip.
How can the old fool have strength enough to do this trickery?
When the light subsided, I felt a shiver escape my body. I looked at the white teeth mark that revealed itself in my left wrist – a symbol of the White Fang Pack.
“What did you do,” I roared as I pulled my hands away from the old man.
“I gave you the rights to the throne…”
“Why?”
“There are forces much stronger than you and my son who might want both of you gone… Should Kaist not be able to withstand them, please help him out. The rights to rule will ensure you a safe passage in Talandor and the recognition that you deserve as a Shadow Rune heir… This is the only thing I can do for you… I’m sorry…”
With those last words, King Maurus Philippian Lyon, present ruler of Talandor, Alpha of the White Fang Wolf Pack and Highest Noble of the House of Lyon existed no more.
I was overcome with fright. I understood what he wanted me to do…
Natural succession dictates that Kaist is his rightful heir, and naming me as an heir through a succession of rights ritual means that he is recognizing me as his successor should Kaist not make it alive before his coronation. He wanted me to help Kaist gain the throne, and if that’s not possible, he wanted me to gain it for myself…
So is this what he thought of when he said he would try to make it up for me? He pronounced me as his secondary heir to the throne?
As if a mere throne can take back all the hurt and pain I had to go through as an orphaned child!...
To top it all, he made me fatherless just so he could have my mother and the children she carried with her?
“Stand up,” I screamed at the lifeless body of the old fool before me. “You cannot die like this! You haven’t suffered enough! Stand up!”
My anger was futile. He didn’t move an inch no matter how much I tried to nudge him awake…
The man I so wanted to take my vengeance upon was really gone…
******************************
Now, days after King Maurus’ death, I found myself face to face with his son, who, according to the old fool, was also my blood brother – Kaist Lyon.
Kaist remained silent as I spoke.
I couldn’t bring myself to be entirely honest with him. I omitted the fact that his father revealed that we might be related... I just couldn’t bring myself to say it… Plus, I still don’t trust his father…
“Where did you bury him?”
“I buried his body right next to the collapsed cave. I carved a message at the boulder to mark it. I can guide you back there if you want…”
He looked at Dahlia’s sleeping form. I could tell he was feeling anguished.
“No… I couldn’t face him yet. He died in vain looking for my mother and sister… I mustn’t come back to him yet when I haven’t fulfilled the promise that I would bring them back.”
“Your sister… Is she… Is she Lady Livia Jeteris,” I dared to ask him.
“She is… Actually, we’re twins…”
“Are you absolutely sure of that?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because your father could be lying to you, for all you know.”
That’s right. The old fool could be lying. He knew I was after his neck. He must have thought I wouldn’t harm his son if he made up this ridiculous story about us being brothers…
“That can’t be the case. It wasn’t my father who told me that story...”
I opened my mouth to inquire about his informant, but before I could speak, Dahlia stirred in her sleep.
We scampered to see what she needed. It turned out that she was thirsty once more.
After we had satisfied her thirst, she went back to a deeper slumber.
I know she didn’t look good… I’ve heard that many burn patients suffer from infection later on if they don’t get treated immediately.
“Dahlia’s health comes first before anything else,” Kaist said beside me. “I will return back to my father’s grave and mourn his loss after this ordeal is over… For now, let’s get help for Dahlia in the nearest village. Time is of the essence for us.”
I nodded. We agreed to start travelling early on the next day towards the nearest village from here, which would be Camdress.
We turned in early for the night. I slept beside Dahlia in Arthur’s form, enveloping her with my fur as the night deepened.
I fell into slumber, but it was an uneasy sleep. I dreamt that Dahlia was escaping away from me further and further, and I couldn’t reach her no matter how much I tried…
Just then, I was woken up from my slumber with a distinct thought from my wolf.
‘This she-wolf… She isn’t Eva,’ Arthur said.
‘What do you mean,’ I said, half-asleep.
‘She isn’t Eva!’
Arthur started to growl despite my warning. He was quickly turning rabid as he looked at Dahlia’s sleeping form beside us.
I still couldn’t figure out what Arthur had meant. How can he say that she isn’t Dahlia? Was it because of her accident? Can he not positively recognize her scent because of that?
Just before I could try to pacify Arthur’s wicked intent, something happened.
Dahlia’s body started to convulse rapidly.
Without thinking, I turned into Arthur’s half-wolf form.
“What’s wrong,” Prince Kaist said as he came rushing to Dahlly and I.
He touched her forehead. “She’s burning up with fever. We need to do something.”
Sh*t! The nearest village was still a day and a half away even if we ran towards it non-stop throughout the night.
However, we have to try! I won’t lose Dahlia just because of such a circumstance!
“Let’s go to Camdress now!”
We have to make it there by the morning. We can’t miss it! Not when Dahlia is on the verge of death.