"He is alive!" was what Derrick left the dumbfounded crowd with and it kept resonating in their minds for along while. Someone walked in a daze out of the pagoda and so one after the other they all left no one saying a word. The pagoda was soon empty. Only Ophelia and Mona Serinna were left. Ophelia got up and walked towards the entrance as she was about to step out she heard Mona Serinna saying "She is not going to say anything again this time?" She stopped, smiled, continued walking forward and replied "I'm weak and useless. What's does my opinion count."
Mona Serinna put her hand on her forehead, looked towards the sky and said "you must be trying to punish me by leaving your daughter with me, right?" She sighed and also went out.
****
A few days after the Feast of Oracles, the Monas and Temises of Alkal decided to meet at the Hall of the People to discuss the sudden 'resurrection' of the Alpha king of the werewolves. Although they were seated for a meeting, no one said a word. There was an unplanned decorum in the hall. No one even had the energy for chit-chatting or flattering exchanges.
After what seemed like a decade, Mona Gelia( Parteia's mother) spoke up. "We didn't gather here to check one another out right? I'm sure we are here to plan our next line of action. Let's go ahead and do that or disperse. My thin bones cannot afford this sitting pleasures"
Everyone hummed 'yes' in agreement yet no one said anything.
Mona Serinna cleared her throat and said "We all know why we have summoned ourselves here. Nicklaus is supposedly alive but we don't know why Derrick has to come report it himself. Something is amiss and even I can't figure it out."
Temis Harman suddenly stood up with some weariness in his eyes, looking towards a particular direction with worry and maybe fear. He kept looking in that direction without saying a word. The others couldn't take it anymore and two people spoke simultaneously
"what's wrong Harman?"
"Temis Harman is something the matter?"
As if shaken out of his mind "The..the..the array... there's a breach! a breach!!"
Everyone shot out of there seats, everyone except Mona Serinna but the others were too shocked to notice. A breach was a serious matter and this was the first time it was happening after many years. The last time was when the werewolves went mad and tore the array with brute force, 100 years ago.
"Is this the declaration of war? Do they know..." Temis Kalfa couldn't hold it in anymore. Ever since a few months ago after that incident, he had been sleeping with one eye opened. He just knew that this day would come and he had just noticed that Mona Serinna seemed calm. He was convinced that she knew something the others didn't, he just couldn't voice his opinion because she was held in high esteem but not everyone thought that way.
"Mona Serinna, do you know something?" asked Mona Gelia.
Everyone's eyes was now glued to Mona Serinna as though she was about to pass on ancient secrets that only the God's knew about. All their expectations were doused by Mona Serinna's response.
"Something like what? If I work myself up like you all, who will hold the fort when the intruder reaches here? Shouldn't you be asking the Temises what they are all still doing here?"
The Temises all stood up and left the premises looking apologetic for losing focus at a crucial time. They had not gone far when they again returned but this time with guests.
Mona Serinna cursed under her breath. Her opponents did not disappoint her but instead surprised her. She didn't expect the king himself to show up.
Nicklaus sauntered in in revelry as if he was having a reunion. The excitement on his face contrasted the look of weariness on the faces of the elders of Alkal. Nicklaus grinned widely. You could see that he was really enjoying the moment.
"My fellow Alkalians, I'm so excited to see that you have gathered to welcome me back. I was right Derrick, my in-laws love me. They can't wait to receive me. They must have been very anxious when they thought I had died." You are right Nicklaus, they sure were anxious but not for your resurrection but the fall of your empire.
"Alpha Nicklaus, welcome. Since you've invited yourself in please sit. We were just talking about you moments ago." Mona Serinna said.
"Really" grinned Nicklaus
"Yes" the elders choruses but deep down they wanted nothing but to wipe the smack off the jerk's face.
"What about?" asked Nicklaus
Everyone: ...
" Hmm, I understand. Happiness can make one speechless. You folks must have been too excited to see me come over personally. I understand perfectly."
Mona Gelia couldn't help rolling her eyes and replied:
"Since you understand so well, we do do not need to explain, then. If you really have this much time on your hands how about you explain how we suddenly became you in-laws. It couldn't be that you've taken fancy to one of us here right?"
"Mother-in-law understand me so well. Yes, Yes." Nicklaus nodded with much enthusiasm.
Mona Serinna could feel her lips twitching. "What kind of trick was this" she screamed in her head.
"We had agreed, a few months ago that we will be forging an alliance of marriage. I'm here for my bride" continued Nicklaus.
The elders of Alkal looked at one another in dismay. What they were most weary of was still going to happen even after the much strategies to avoid it. This was the first time that an Alkal and a Lycanthrope would agree to a marriage alliance and a devil at that. Parteia was the bride that Derrick had chosen and although the Alkalians couldn't go against the Lycanthropes openly, they didn't want their most talented youth to be taken away to a foreign land. This time around they would really have to marry her off or the whole of Alkal would be in danger. This is just like been between a rock and a hard place. Mona Galia and the elders who favoured Parteia could not help but lament this fate of hers. Mona Galia couldn't accept it.
Seeing as no one said anything, Derrick coughed and sighed. This seems to work as the elders all raised their head. Nicklaus on the other hand sat relaxed on his sit carefully scrutinizing the faces of these elders. For him this was a good show. The people of Alkal were known for their composed personalities but now it was obvious that they were not as collected as in the rumours.
Nicklaus glared at Derrick for disrupting his fun. Just as one of the elders got up to say something. Nicklaus butt in,
"my bribe should be the girl, Ophelia"
Note: Mona and Temis are titles for the elders of Alkal. Mona is female and Temis, male. Lycanthropes are the werewolves.