Kingdom of Zuland, The Lougras River, Present day.
'I delayed the inevitable, nothing more.'
Sara sat up and leaned on a balled fist. "Who was that man," she murmured to herself seeing as the room was empty. It was a relatively regal room, the best in the inn in fact, but it was a far cry from her quarters back home. It had been three days since the encounter at Sember though the images flashed in her mind as if it had been the night prior. Svarga took care of the expenses for their transport and lodging, and decided to alternate their original route slightly. He had come to the conclusion that perhaps the word of the princess traveling allowed them to be ambushed, so as a precaution they agreed on keeping their identities a secret, thus revoking the perks of an heiress. It didn't seem right for someone of her nobility to have to keep her name hidden, she deserved better from her subjects. But then again, another attempt on her life would be no far thought, considering recent events. Though an ambush that called for the extermination of an entire city? Doubtful. She breathed slowly, trying to release some of the tension of guilt that made its home in her consciousness. An entire city at the foot of her nation was wiped out. Hundreds lost and for what purpose? To see her dead? No, it couldn't be, those people were there long before she arrived. It begged the question; who were they, and how did they come to possess such power. Could it have been the Forbidden Auras her father had told her about? She stood and picked up her cloak from the edge of her bed before exiting the room.
The smell of freshly baked bread filled the cramped halls of the inn.
Her stomach growled, yet her lack of composure spoiled her appetite by the second. No time to eat now. She found herself in the back courtyard of the inn, embraced by the new day's sunlight. She sat on a stone bench under a low hanging tree. She shuddered at the thought of the hag— Evana, she recalled her name was. Both her and that man alongside her wore no signs of any factions, nothing to help figure out who they were. Could they have been with the Akatar Rebellion? Or perhaps they tied back to Loradel. It seemed as if all these events had chosen to collaborate, waiting for the day of her coronation to suddenly just spring on her. Or maybe it was her own doing, how could she have been so blind to the events surrounding the country she was to soon rule? Now the first event written in her chronicle would be her failure to stop the annihilation of Sember. No. Her first written act would be how she avenged the souls lost at Sember by bringing the ones responsible to justice.
"Selene," called a familiar voice.
Sara rubbed the bridge of her nose as she broke away from her thoughts.
Svarga was behind her with a bowl of what looked like steaming mud.
"Selene?" she asked?
"Yes, Selene. It seemed fitting, and its better if I refrain from calling you 'Sara'," he said with a smile. "I brought you something to eat.
"I'm not hungry."
He took a seat beside her. "I'll leave it here, just eat at your pace. And how about you tell me about what's on your mind?"
"Nothing."
"You are aware that once you're queen, you'll have to speak to your advisors and generals, me included. Best start now."
Sara kept her eyesight locked on the blades of grass at her feet as they lightly fluttered in the wind.
"Nothing, huh?" He leaned forward, attempting to meet her eye-to-eye. "How about this. Why are you doing this?" His voice was now short of that charm he had seconds ago.
She scoffed.
"Here's my thoughts—"
"It's not my fault," she said, her voice muffled behind balled fist.
"What's not your fault?"
"I…" The weight of everything seemed like it was crushing her skull. "My mother…I had every right to be angry." She put both hands on her chest. "Anyone would be provoked if their parents tuned their back on them like she did."
"Did she?"
"What? Yes! Her and father. I took a step forward on my own, just as he expected, then he turns his back and scolds me for it like I'm a child— I'm not a child. We couldn't just let our men be murdered by some scoundrels from a backwards country. Look at me now. I'm undoing what he considered to be a mistake, that's what I'm doing. I can swallow my pride unlike many others. What of you?"
"Me?" he said calmly.
"You've remained quiet about my decision on sending the Lionslayer to the south. Surely you have an opinion on the matter."
"I do. I believe in doing so you've asserted your authority, but you also showed that you are quick to take action rather than wait. Patience is a key in warfare."
Sara shook her head. "I'm not—"
Svarga put a finger up. "Wait." He pointed at his ear. "And listen. I heard what you did back home. You offered titles and gave coin to the families of the men who died at your coronation. Guilt is sharper than any blade, I don't believe I have to tell you that though. I've had men die under my command due to my impatience. I wish I had someone warn me as I'm now doing for you, because no amount of coin can wash away the blood from your hands." He chuckled. "It's only been a month since my return home and I've come to enjoy your company, princess." He slid the bowl of food towards her. "And because of that, I wouldn't want to see you torn by what may come. You remind me of myself in my youth, though not as pretty, I still believe you can be better than all of us."
Sara gave him a smile as the weight on her shoulders dissolved. "Do you really think that?"
Svarga stood. "Of course, I was a pinnacle of beauty in my day."
"Where are you going?"
Svarga stretched his arms high above his head. "Mmmm. To meet with your beast."
"Myn?"
"The one and only. Got a raven yesterday saying he'd arrive by midday today. No hesitation after he heard about what happened at Sember."
"What?" stammered Sara.
He shrugged. "It's part of my duty to report everything back to the kingdom, but seeing as doing so would go against my future queen's wishes, I sent a raven to Myn alone. As hard as it is to admit, I would like someone as loyal as him alongside us before continuing down the valley. Not to mention that he's equal to ten good men." He pointed at the bowl. "Now, eat. I won't be long." He cast a long shadow as he made his way across the courtyard.
Sara took the bowl in her hands. "Patience," she murmured. The hundreds of questions from before still circled in her thoughts. She sighed as she took a spoonful of the thick soup. If Svarga was right, her questions would be answered, all she had to do was be patient. It was easier said than done, but she managed to push the thoughts aside, at least for the moment. Now she had to focus and retrieving their tool for the future, The Lionslayer.