CHAPTER 26

His birthday cake was ushered in and he went to the front to cut the cake. The birthday song was played and everybody sang along with him. He didn’t want to cut his cake alone so he called Talia to the front that came eagerly and happily.
He helped her to put her hand on the knife while his was on top and adding some pressure the two of them sliced the cake. There were cheers and whistles as the two finished and returned among the guests. The cake was taken so that it will be cut and shared among everyone.
All of a sudden, the king stood up and everyone quite down.
“Thank you all for attending Prince Neal’s twenty first birthday. Today I didn’t want him to just celebrate his birthday but bestow upon him his duties as a prince of Qarth,” he said and the priestess walked in.
What was happening again?
“Come forward son,” he said and Neal did as he was asked of.
He kneeled right in front of him and just like that his father performed the ritual he was very well aware of.
“From this day going onwards I announce and proclaim that Prince Neal Caruso is hereby appointed as Duke of Falcon,” the king said. He looked up at him and wondered what made him appoint him so early.
His brothers became dukes after they finished school but he wasn’t yet finished.
“Come up dear,” he said to Talia who rushed to the front in her own way.
Talia knelt down beside her and she was automatically appointed as the duchess since she was his wife. There was a lot of ululating, cheering and whistling as the process came to an end. Neal was the first to get up and he helped Talia to get off her knees.
“Congratulations,” his mother said showing such a bright smile and he smiled back at her.
“Thank you, mother.”
He took his wife’s hand and led her to their table and sit down. He looked at her but it seemed she wasn’t there at all. He shook her but Talia wasn’t responding. Did this mean she was back into one of her dreams again? When and how did she fell into that slumber again?
He was about to stand up when she shivered and he held her.
“What just happened?”
“The devil is here,” she replied.
“What do you mean by that?”
“She is here. I love you so much and I will do anything to protect you. I will leave the hall now and I need you to hold these beads. Can you do that?”
“You want to leave your beads with me?”
“Yes, she can never touch you while you are holding them. No one will be able to touch them. Promise me Neal.”
“If you say so then I will hold them safe for you. Be careful, okay.”
“I will be, don’t worry. Just keep an eye on your father.”
“So, who exactly is the devil?”
“You will see her. She wears the face of a sheep but she is a cunning and ruthless wolf,” Talia said and stood up.
“Be safe,” he said now concerned about his wife.
He understood some of the things but some were just too much for him. He trusted her which is why he never questioned whatever she always says but what did she meant by looking after the king? Who was this person really?
Talia left the hall under a false pretense and he just shook his head when his mother looked at him.
It didn’t take long before another guest walked in, he knew the woman so well and it’s been too long since he last saw her. She was an aunt of some sort; he still had no idea how they were related to her. He saw the look on his father’s face as she entered. Was she the one he was supposed to look out for?
She walked to where he was seated and he stood up.
“It’s been long, aunt,” he said and extended his hand which wasn’t holding the beads and she took it.
When she held his hand, he could feel her trying to escape from his touch and he delayed a bit longer before he released her.
“It’s been long dear. I couldn’t miss your birthday for anything else,” she said with gritted teeth and he knew she had been affected.
“Thank you for coming,” he said politely.
“What are you holding in your other hand?”
“Oh, you mean this?” he asked as he showed her the beads and she backed away.
“Yes, are those beads? Are they yours?”
“No, they are for my wife’s,” he said.
“Where is she?”
“She went to the bathroom. I will introduce her to you when she comes back. She will be happy to see you,” he said.
“I can’t wait to meet her either. Let me go and greet your parents.”
“Okay, I will be seeing you,” he said and the aunt left.