Chapter Ninety-nine
I shrugged and then sighed deeply, rubbing my palm against my head.
"What he did was foolish was it not?" Tyler muttered, wiping the tears in his eyes. "He acted rashly, on impulse. Even if he wanted to take over, there were better ways than a lousy army, right? Because now he's named a traitor in his death. He could've done something else... Poisoned I don't know, why? Why did he even want to be king?"
"What are you getting at?" Edvin hissed, moving towards him menacingly. Nydia held him back.
"Leave him," she said calmly. "He's grieving."
"And so are we!" Edvin yelled, his eyes blazing with anger. "Because of his father's lousy decision, we have all lost our parents. Because of his father's lack of contentment! And guess what? The apple never falls far from the tree."
"Edvin!" Nydia yelled. "We all here are grieving our parents but you know the difference? We don't have to live with the stigma of having parents named as traitors. He will be tagged—"
"No," Tyler shook his head. "He's right. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
"What are you saying?" Nydia asked.
"I'm only agreeing with him," Tyler shrugged, laughing lightly. "I may not have hidden ambitions, but then again I am my father's son right? His sin is my sin, and I shouldn't show my face here."
"Tyler," I began.
"Goodbye," he said with finality in his voice. "And Dagen, I am sorry. Genuinely."
With that, he walked out.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*
The Grand Hall was filled with more than ten thousand faces. Faces that I had never seen in my life. Faces of people I would soon become their ruler.
On my head, the crown was being placed and I was ushered to the throne. The throne that belonged to my father. A feeling of loneliness tugged at me.
"Dagen, son of Arin, may your reign be blessed with wisdom and prosperity," Elder Thorne said, his voice trembling. "I know it will be tough without your father, but we the elders are here and will always be here to guide you. You will be a great ruler, just like him."
"May the gods guide you, young king," Elder Nara added, her eyes shining with tears.
"So shall it be," I mumbled with a slight bow.
And as I bowed to receive their blessings I looked towards Nydia, to her I could not help but turn my eyes. And just with her presence, she seemed to lead me to a world beyond the show and frivolities of the coronation ceremony. Despite all the decorations and noise and whatnot, it was only her that seemed to take my attention away. Everyone seemed to disappear— everyone except Nydia.
Suddenly, Nydia as well vanished from my sight and the room was filled with an eerie silence. The atmosphere became so dense that you could not cut it with a knife, the air that enveloped me was suffocating. There was a strong gust of wind from the left and then a blinding light from my left blasted. I tried not to look directly to my left and when I eventually glanced that way there was a woman who was dressed in black standing before me. The aura she emitted made me know that she was a witch immediately and my heart skipped a beat.
“Dagen,” she said, smiling fondly at me. She held my shoulder and I could swear I could feel the energy pulsating from her body.
"Who are you?" I managed to ask, my voice strained with fear.
"You do not have to worry about that," she said. "What you have to worry about is your affection for these unhealthy interests."
"Unhealthy interests?"
"Yes, in a woman. That woman you seem so obsessed with will bring destruction to your throne. Do not be deceived by her outward appearance of beauty. Do not be deceived by whatever character she portrays. Women do love a long game."
A cold fear slowly seized me, my heart raced and I was momentarily finding it difficult to breathe. "What do you mean?" I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
The eyes of the witch seemed to have more than human light in them. "Unless you reconcile with your true love you will not sit on that throne for long. However, the son of the traitor, yet while you are alive shall reign as king."
"That is not possible," I swallowed hard. "No one would allow the son of a traitor to rule as king over this land."
"It will not be possible if you listen to me," she smiled. "If you do not, you will not see your days through," she said in a hushed and urgent voice.
I barely got to say anything to her before the world was fading to black again. I could sense myself tearing back to reality, even as her words were ringing in my ears.
I awoke with a start, my heart racing. I found myself lying on the golden carpet of the temple, the patterns glowing faintly in the dim light. Standing before me was the priestess, her white robe shimmering.
"I thought you were dead," she said, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "I was about to prepare your body, as many never wake up from meditating on the golden carpet."
I struggled to my feet, my mind reeling from the witch's words. The priestess's words brought me back to the present.
"Did you find the answer you were looking for?" she asked, her gaze piercing.
I shook my head slowly. "I'm unsure," I admitted, the witch's words still echoing in my mind.
The priestess stepped closer, her gaze intense. "Your curse can only be lifted by your hybrid mate," she said, in a low whisper that for some reason was menacing to me.
My breath caught in my throat. "Who is that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
The priestess gave me a knowing look, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
"I think you already know the answer to that.”
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