"Common mark, we need to go back to the palace before someone notice am gone". It was getting dark in the mountains, sounds of animals were already beginning to scare her. Isobel struggle to walk on the grasses.
Isobel felt the sudden movement on her leg as she paused in fear. "Mark" she silently called out with a shivering voice.
Mark stood, looking at her trying to understand why she wasn't moving. Though he walked back to her, he wasn't doing anything, he didn't even try to kill the snake on her.
"Do something mark" Isobel clenched her teeth while talking. It was moving upper to her thigh. She closed her eyes tight, not wanting to look down for a second. Though she was pleading, Mark wasn't doing anything, he kept staring at it like it was a sight he could watch forever.
Isobel was already getting impatient she couldn't stand there doing nothing while it bite her to death.
She saw the small knife hung on mark waist. Since he wasn't doing anything, Isobel decided to herself.
She slowly reached for the knife before dragging it out with speed. Her heart was beating at a very high pace, at that moment she felt herself out of breathe but she can't stop halfway. The snake must be killed before it killed her.
Isobel was so close to cutting the head off when mark grabbed her hand tightly. " What are you doing mark, it's a snack... snake" Isobel shouted still in fear.
Mark was still silent, without a word he slowly carried the snake off her. Isobel looked in disgust at how the snake crawled into his body.
"Are you mad, that is dangerous". She felt like she was loosing it. Watching the sight was too horrible for her, she has always hated and feared snake now mark think of one as his pet.
"This is no ordinary snake my queen" Isobel looked at him, utterly confused.
" Can't you see, it's a white snake, she is a goddness". Isobel smirked in disbelief, " yeah right, if it was a goddess, why is it here scaring the life out of me".
" A snake goddess never scares or crawl on people, she choose you, that's why she went to you, now this is the greatest approval you could ever receive from the goods, the white snake represent long life".
Surprisingly, all he said doesn't seem to make sense to her, all she knew was that there was a snake and she doesn't want to be there any longer.
" Take her with you". Isobel had already turned to leave when she heard his words. She slowly looked back at him in disbelief.
"What!!!" She was trying not to scream loudly but her body wasn't exactly doing that. After few seconds of considering what he said, she laughed a little, concluding he is joking. " You can't be serious". She looked at him, trying to read his expression but he looked really serious. Now she was getting scared, she can't Bear to stay in the same palace with a snake.
" This was a gift and prove of approval by the gods, don't disappoint them by refusing and besides if the people see this with you, they will know you are a gift from God". Isobel rested herself tiredly on her waist, she knows she no longer had a choice.
"Don't worry too much, I will try to keep her away from you". Mark seem to have sensed her fear when he said that. She breath in relief before walking away.
It was getting really dark, Mark had been silent all through like he was in deep thought. She noticed that but she preferred not to ask. Her attention was on the snake all through, she couldn't let it get close to her. "How could this be a goddess" her mind kept contemplating on that.
Finally, they where at the palace and as usual they had no problem coming in since mark was with her, the guards dear not question him.
"How did it go" Andrea asked the moment they got into the room. She seemed to have been waiting there all day.
"I was beginning to worry for your safety, am glad you returned before Dawn". Andrea said while assisting Isobel to sit.
" We have a plan, when we went out we find out that someone in the palace had gone to spread false rumor about the queen to the people in other to inspire hatred, they want to weaken my reign". Andrea looked at Mark who gave her a confirmation look.
" But who could have done something so awful".
"We don't know that yet, but we will find out at the council meeting tomorrow" mark said as he settled the snake in a nest which got Andreas attention.
"Is that a....." She could barely complete her words due to surprise as she ran before it. She was full surprise, before she finally closed her eyes and bowed to it.
" It's a goddess my queen" Isobel wondered why she was bowing to an ordinary snake.
"My queen you are blessed by the God's to be our ruler" she said with excitement as she bowed to Isobel.
Isobel was quite confused on what to do as she just smiled.
" You have the people support and even support from God, now everyone will be certain you are destined to be our ruler".
" So.... anyone who got a snake on them is destined to be queen" Isobel asked mockingly.
"Not anyone or any snake" Mark answered as he walked to her.
" A white snake only comes once every century and she only comes to bless people who has great destiny with long life and health. This means you will live a long healthy life on the throne" Mark answered but there was a little sadness on his face which Andrea noticed but she decided not to ask about it.
Though Isobel could barely understand all these, she was still glad a special thing approved of her been.
" We should leave now so you can have your rest". Mark bowed before leaving.
Isobel watched them leave. There was something about mark which she noticed, he was calm, respectful and sad which was so unlike him. Isobel couldn't help but worry about him.
"Is there something bothering you" Andrea asked after a while of watching mark silently worry about something.
"It's the goddess" Andrea listened quietly even though she has a lot of questions.
" The white snake goddess represents prosperity and long life so am wondering why she would show herself to Isobel, does this mean we won't sudden in awakening princess Tessa".
Andrea quietly considered his words.
" Did the goddess just appeared to let us know we won't succeed. I can't accept that and doing all this for the princess, I can't fail".
Mark was quite determined while he spoke.
"Who do you think masterminded the rumors" Andrea question got his attention. "I can't make groundless suspicion but that person is brilliant and calculative and knows how to take quick advantage of the situation.
"Could it be Angelica" Andrea asked.
Mark left without answering that even if he was considering that.