"You are really trying so hard to secure your grandson's position on the throne, huh?" the old herald sneered at the middle-age man sitting smugly in front of her.
"You haven't change a bit, I can tell." He stood up and walk around the tent. "So you know why I came to see you, I presume."
"Same old ambition I believe."
"You should know you're not safe when you reach the palace. You might not even survive a day in there."
"Or I can die in your hands." the old woman sarcastically sneered.
"I can but I won't. We're old friends after all." He gave a devious smirk.
"Friends? Tsk!" she scoffed.
"Milcah, we should set aside the bitter past and work together for the kingdom's good cause, don't you think it's time to rebuild this country under a new management?"
"It's already beyond repair, Shadrach, unless the rightful king takes over. Everyone knows that."
"And my grandson is the one."
"Huh, you really think your kinfolk will thrive in this age? Then let me give you a piece of advice…." The old herald glared at him, this time she's determined. "Stop it while you can, cause the setbacks are too arduous for you to handle."
"Are you trying to curse me?"
"No, I'm just stating the facts…." She mockingly laughs. "Now that I think about it, I must strive to live for a few more months to witness you fall in despair."
"Milcah!" Shadrach yelled. The old woman is not a simple shaman but the most powerful ever known in the whole kingdom. All her predictions had come to pass and whoever she blesses is blessed and the ones she cursed had been cursed completely. But as for today, Shadrach couldn't tell if the old woman was just messing with him.
"I came all the way here to offer you a way out, yet you cursed me instead. Can't we just work together against the current power for the benefit of many?"
Now the real deal was already told. The old herald was right; he came to coax her into supporting his ambitious goal. The man in front of her had always been dreaming to be at the top. He wanted his clan to reign and to do so, the second prince, Veziron, must become king and they need the power of the Heralds as their support.
However, how could Milcah support the people who killed her children? No, she won't do that, never!
"I think you have misunderstood me, Shadrach. I am in no one's side. Whether I get killed by you or the king is not important to me at all. all I want to see is the total destruction of those people who killed my children."
"Then let's work together to destroy the king." Shadrach insist. The old herald understood what he meant but she scoffed.
"Do you think your exempted?" the old woman was a bit pissed. "Do you think I didn't know that you were the one who set-up my daughter and her husband to take the blame of what you did? I am not a fool, Shadrach. So I will make sure that you and your family will meet your end."
Pakkkkkk!
The old herald wants to say more but the man suddenly slapped her, making her frail body hit the ground as a result.
"I will let this thing slide for now." he's blazing in anger. "I could kill you right now if I wanted to but I'll let you live and suffer under the king's hands. Then you shall witness how my grandson rises up to the throne someday." He was holding off his anger. "Guards! Take her back to where she belongs!"
The guards came in and took the old woman and sent her back to her cell. However, before they took her, she muttered some words which no one could understand except her.
The sun shall rule under the blessings of the heavens.
*******************
Diana's foot isn't completely healed yet, however, they decided to go down the village this day. With that being decided on, the old man prepared all the medicine she needs to take and made an ointment for her foot.
On the other hand, Diana helped the young lady prepared some foods to take with them. Sarah also lend the woman some of her dress for her to change into.
Meanwhile, Liam and the others were searching the whole village for the L-gang. The place that the young man provided was empty. Looks like those men went somewhere else so Liam asked four of his men to stay at the place in wait for the goons just in case they come back. Then three men were assigned to watch the exit point.
While others were searching by pair, Liam and Asher along with two young men searched the mountain side. It is indeed possible to take that route especially with a hostage.
"Liam…" Asher rushed to his side. "Come and take a look at this."
Liam walks towards him and and seeing the mess in that corner convinced him that they indeed stayed in that place a few days ago.
"And I don't know if they purposely left this here." Asher showed a familiar bag pack. Diana's bag!
Judging on the embers, it must have been two days from now so it is impossible for them to be in the mountain right now. Either they are in the village or have gone to the next village already. But the bag pack was something that puzzled him.
"We should go back to the village; I don't think they'd be here right now." Liam voiced his opinion. Therefore, Asher took the woman's bag with him and followed Liam.
** It was already past noon when Diana asked Sarah if they could possible go back to the place where she found her. She was hoping to find her bag pack. However, she's been looking everywhere but found none. Guess those ugly men took it with them too.
Sarah caresses her back comforting the sad woman, "My grandmother used to say, if you lose some things, then replacements are on their way…" she innocently smiled.
Diana heaved a heavy sigh. She doesn't mind about the devices in it, but she cares about her passport and the phoenix hairpin! The phoenix hairpin that her mom left for her is more valuable for her than anything else in the world.