49. The Forbidden Tower

In the Ice Castle of Ayruzglow,
The queen of white was seated majestically on the throne of sapphire coloured freshly emitted precious crystals from the sacred volcano. The sapphire throne looked crystal clear, decorated with dragon scales.
The throne almost looked like the queen was seated on the sapphire coloured crystal dragon with the emergence of the four horns of the dragon skull.
The entire throne room was built with ice bars and crystal stones and the White Queen was wrapped up in many layers of white dress to cover her skin against the cold.
The big door of the throne room was opened, and a royal guard entered.
“My Queen, the dark knight has arrived,” the guard informed.
As the queen nodded, the dark knight arrived. “Hail! My Queen...!”
The White Queen replied, “Arise! Dark Knight Jaravles”
Jaravles, the dark knight, informed her, “My Queen! I request you to visit The Forbidden Tower once to check the energy shield?”
The White Queen asked, “Why the rush... What happened? Why do you insist on checking the energy shield now? It was fine for centuries.”
Jaravles continued, “My Queen! The shield is fine as far now for these decades. But I want you to check personally. As you haven’t visited The Forbidden Tower recently, I insist you endorse the health of the energy shield.”
The white queen replied, “Then, it is decided... I will appoint someone of my trust to check the health of the energy shield to confirm its status.”
Jaravles asked in curiosity, “My Queen, I suggest you entrust this issue with our crown prince on behalf of you?”
The White Queen told, “I know your fatherly concern for my son. It’s been decades since he last visited you. Worry not, I will send him. Spend your time enlightening him with qualities of a King like you do make him into a legendary warrior today.”
Jaravles smiled with head low, “I may teach him with tactics and usage of the weapons, but it’s his full potential and wilful thought to pursue.”
The white Queen responded, “He seeks fatherly affection from you, as he long missed his father. You, too, cultivate him with good thoughts and made him a righteous man.”
The white queen took the right moment and right person to know what her son’s recent visit to Frozen Crescent. She continued, “He is off his age to get married and he held the responsibility of serving and saving this kingdom with heirs. You persuade him to know his inner feelings.”
Jaravles replied with a smile, “My queen, you can trust me... This kingdom is long waiting to hold a grand celebration of our crown prince’s wedding since I last witnessed the celebration of your wedding with our king, Jaysan. (White Queen exhaled) Pardon me for reminding him, my Queen. If nothing else, I request your permission for my excuse...”
The white queen nodded, and Jaravles back to his guarding place, The Forbidden Tower.
*****
In the Frozen Crescent–the Ice Cave Bar,
Karen was dipping his throat with the wine of blue vapour flavour from his glass and exploring the hall of Frozen Crescent, with much expectation of finding his love, Akshara. He tastes wine along with his failure.
Upon many examinations, Karen couldn’t found out Akshara in the Frozen Crescent. As a Beta werewolf, his ears had the power of audibleness from far and helped him in a timely.
The giggles of some barmaids grabbed the attention of Karen who wanted to leave this cave bar and was stopped by their conversation.
A beauty interrupted his eavesdropping on the conversation of the barmaids. The girl seemed familiar; she was none other than the beauty whom he encountered just an hour ago.
It’s Nora!
Nora was forcing the drops of Black Pirate wine flavour, which is usually preferred by men of its hardness, to ease her troubled heart, which was previously crushed by witnessing the romance scene of Dev and Akshara.
The teardrops rolled frequently on her cheeks, which emitted her failure of love and feeling of revenge that could be brought her inner beastliness within her. The gorgeous face has now visualized the evil within her, her inner self scorched with her anger flames.
“Hey...,” Karen offered to assist her. “Allow me to toast you...”
“Who the heck are you...?” Nora said as she took her mask from her eyes and rolled her eyes at him. “What do you expect from me...?”
Karen said with a raised brow, “Well, you look like a wreck... Trust me, and if you’re willing, you may share...?”
“Get your wolf's face out of my way,” Nora said. “I now wanted to murder anyone... Don’t be my scapegoat,”
Karen remarked calmly, “It’s alright... If you don’t want to...” and stepped away from the table towards the barmaids who had been chuckling before.
Nora, on the other hand, stopped him and said, “How can you leave me like that...?”
“Don’t push you to be harsh...,” Karen said as she poured the wine into her empty glass. “I’ve heard that this one is difficult for ladies to handle.”
“Only wine could assist me...” Nora hiccupped in response.
“Hey dude, tell me what do I seem like...?” Nora needed someone to hear her out. “Hey man, tell me, how do I look like...?”
Nora tried to stand up and offered him her perfect posture of showcasing her curves. Karen was surprised to receive such activity from a female so late at night. Karen eyed her shape from toe to head. He moved near her while Nora seductively smiled at him.
Karen swiftly took off his coat and draped it over her. “Cover your naked shoulders; it’s inappropriate to reveal them to strangers, especially in bars. As a result, it’s not encouraged.”
Nora declined his coat, tossing it upon the chilly floor of Frozen Crescent. Karen realised she’d gotten drunk on a harsh wine called Black Pirate. Karen took up his coat and brushed the snow off of it. “Hey wolfy, how’s my shape?” Nora inquired of him.
“You look great, youthful, and in perfect health,” Karen said after inspecting her.
“Do you like me...?” Nora answered, laughing at his praises. “Will you accept me as a girlfriend...?”
Her inquiry astonished Karen; his amber eyes widened, and he coughed on her, “What... What are you talking about...? Why would I do that...? How am I supposed to...? I’ve already...”
Nora approached Karen and placed her index finger on his lips, saying, “Shush… Can you just tell me what’s on your mind after seeing me?”
Karen got goosebumps on his skin and struggled to open his mouth, “You are good too, beautiful and seem witty... anyone would die to have you as their girlfriend... but I can’t take you...”
Nora was pleased with his response and moved closer to Karen to scrutinize him. “Then why didn’t he choose me...?”
Karen sighed in relief and answered her, “Oh... oh my god... Your story has a fresh track... I thought you were... Huh, Nevermind...”
Nora asked him with a frown on her face, “What else you thought?”
Karen replied with stammering to Nora, “Never mind... You... Tell me about your story... Let me hear you...?”
“I was born into the Knight Family in this kingdom,” Nora revealed. “My father is a Queen’s loyal and regal Knight... I am a warrior and the sole female general in the kingdom of Ayruzglow’s entire army... I trained myself to be bold, and eventually became a warrior, only for him rather preferring to hide beneath a roof to grace their bodies to be enjoyed by their husband’s will, as do the rest of the girls in this kingdom...”
“You are a warrior,” Karen remarked while sipping the wine of blue vapour flavour. “Your scars are evident,” he said, referring to the scars on her hand.
“I grew by admiring him and grew by learning him,” Nora said. “I did everything I could for him... On every battlefield, I assisted him... felt like... I do feel like his left hand in combat... Many unknown scars were hidden behind my dragon scales, allowing me to grow into the formidable warrior I am now...”
Karen was paying close attention to Nora’s comments, trying to pick up on something concerning Akshara. “Even though he doesn’t appear to befall me...” Nora continued. “I’ve been with him for millennia... I will not win his heart.” Her tears rolled from her purple iris eyes like a waterfall.
Nora sucked frantically on her wine. “However... How can a barmaid captivate his heart so easily...? She haunted my prince; she may be a witch or sheltered by a witch.”
“Perhaps he found the right one...” Karen said, her thoughts going deeper.
“Am I not the right one...? What flaw did you find in me...?” raged Nora, tossing the wineglass on the floor of Frozen Crescent.
“It’s not about flaw, beauty, strength, or intelligence,” Karen reassured her. “Love is like a unique language... that the right person can only understand and read... if you can’t read that language, you are not the right one...”
Nora looked sharply at Karen and smirked, “Did you also have that unique language...?”
“Yes... I, too, have one,” Karen replied, smiling inwardly.
“Does that language readable?” Nora said, cupping her face in her fingers and leaning against the table.
Karen promptly said, “Of course it is simple... But...?”
Nora asked him with questioned eyes, “What Buts... It seems your language was also unreadable by that someone.”
“I lost her,” Karen answered, his face furrowed. “It was entirely my fault... I came here to look for her...”
“You and I are sailing in the same boat,” Nora said to Karen.
Karen put some wine into her glass, which she gulped, and said, “Your name...?”
“I am Nora, the night fury,” Nora answered, somewhat aware. I am a one-of-a-kind individual, and you..."
Karen responded with a quick rush of ideas at hearing her name, “I am Karen Redclaws...” before he could finish his name, Nora collapsed in his arms, and it forced Karen to abandon her in the cave- bar.
Karen's mind flashed with his thoughts, “The Night Fury... Will she be the one who attacked the witch palace earlier? She said she is one of her kind... That explains she is the one who attacked the witch palace on the night of Bluemoon. It is that I am the one who damaged her hand. I can’t leave her at this stage. She is drunk. She is unconscious to defend herself. It is unsafe for her to leave her behind... I must help her...”
Karen handed Nora to Zohan and was ready to depart when he was interrupted by the barmaids’ talk.
“Keep her safe,” Karen said to Zohan.