The Wind With Ears

Chapter 37

Nalani tiptoed towards the building, lucky that the guards had just left for unknown reasons.

She found Ordas behind the iron bars above the door. “How did you do that?” she whispered. “Summoning me from up there with just a faint whisper?”

Ordas approached the bars, looking even thinner and more disheveled, but there were no signs of fresh torture on her body. “This is my gift,” she replied. “I can control the wind. I place my voice on the wind currents and direct them towards you.”

Nalani’s raised a brow. “That’s interesting,” she said, leaning in. “But why did you call me?”

Ordas looked around, making sure they were alone. “Because The wind also brought news from above. That creature in the forest attacked you.” She grinned. “Well, it gives me some satisfaction to imagine your ruthless alpha’s panic at the sight of so many casualties...”

“He’s not rut....” Nalani paused. Why did she suddenly feel the need to defend Karyan? She sighed to regain her focus.

“Well, we managed to handle it. The wounded wolves are recovering one by one. Too bad we had to lose a life.”

“Oh, I knew all that, Nalani. Nothing escapes me. Even I heard when you were attacked by the creature.”

Nalani was wide-eyed. “You know what?” She was now beginning to realize that Ordas, the assassin who Karyan had kept captive for who knows how long, was not to be underestimated . “What did you hear?” Nalani tested.

“You threatened that thing with your magic.” Ordas grinned. “Oh, come on. You don’t have to be so surprised, Nalani. Your garden is not far from here, I can hear it without my talent. But the wind does make all conversations clearer.”

“Ordas.” Nalani looked at the Ruteron woman with a furrowed brow. “Tell me what is keeping you in this prison. You could easily escape, couldn’t you? Are you a spy? You eavesdropped and sent news through the wind to someone?”

Ordas smiled bitterly. “I’m afraid I’m not that good. I can't control the wind very far and the matter of escaping? And this entire cell room still contains remnants of magic, which makes me helpless. I don’t know why. But, sometimes the destruction of magic is uneven. There will always be certain places or objects that have remnants of magic even though their power is not as great as yours.”

“What do you mean?”

Ordas jerked her chin toward the metal door that Nalani had been standing by.

“No ordinary person can touch this door, including me. It will sting you.”

Nalani hurriedly released her grip on the cell door in astonishment. She heard Ordas laugh.

“You are too innocent, Nalani. Look, I meant to give you a warning. If I don’t kill you, that person will send someone else to finish the job. So be careful.”

"But who is that person? Why won't you tell me?"

Ordas shook her head with an apologetic look. "I really don't know. But I have some guesses. Listen, Nalani. I’m sorry that I tried to kill you. You were a good person. Just don't share your magical abilities with anyone, other than those closest to you here. I have a feeling your assassination attempt had something to do with your powers. It seems like that person had expected the power to appear.”

Nalani was just about to say something when a voice sounded behind her. "Why are you here, Nalani?"
***

She spun around, startled. Karyan stood there, anger on his face.

Without a word, he grabbed Nalani's arm and pulled her out of the basement. His grip was firm, but not painful, his pace quick as he led her back to the castle.

Nalani could feel his tension and her heart was racing.

Once inside the castle walls, Karyan led her to a quiet room and finally released her hand. He turned to face her, his eyes burnt like a hot lava. "What are you thinking about?" he asked. "I told you to stay away from the dungeon and Ordas. Why didn't you listen?"

Nalani took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "I was trying to help," she said softly. "Ordas has information-"

"Ordas is dangerous," Karyan cut in, his voice low and fierce. "She will say anything to manipulate you. She is locked up for a reason, Nalani. You do not understand the risks," he said. "Ordas has a way of getting into people's minds, making them doubt everything they know. I cannot let you fall under her influence."

Nalani shook her head. "I'm not as impressionable as you think. I know what I'm doing, and I know the risks. But if there is a chance Ordas can help us, isn't it worth taking that chance? She might know things," Nalani insisted. "Things that could help find the killer. She said it seemed like someone who gave her the job had expected my magical powers to show up. That was his motivation for killing me."

Karyan's gaze sharpened. "Wait, why did she mention your magic? No one knows except me, you, Bertold and Mita."

"She can listen from a distance."

"What?" Karyan looked horrified. "Does she hear our conversations every day? Then I'll move her to an even deeper prison."

"No, no," Nalani snapped. "You can't move her to a deeper prison. She’ll die from lack of air and light. Don't you have a little compassion?"

"No," Karyan said coldly. "Because she was about to kill you."

"She told me she was sorry."

Karyan's expression hardened. "And you believed her? A prisoner who would do anything to gain her freedom?"

Nalani's eyes flashed like cold water. "Yes, I do. Because We need every bit of information we can get about the man who wants to kill me. It's you they want, Alpha. Don't you care."

Karyan growled, he was both offended and frustrated. "Alright, I'll keep her alive.".

Now, can you go to Bertold's place to help Karina? That'swhat I've been looking for you for. Karina accidentally tore the wolf's wound that had started to dry up. The blood wouldn’t stop.

"Oh my! Why didn’t you say so earlier?” she snapped fiercely. Then she ran towards Bertold’s house.