I honestly already thought we were finally going to have King Olaf on our side after trying for so long but apparently, things only just got complicated.
[Ten years ago]
It was a cold night in a desert and a young woman was traveling alone. She was walking while she dragged her horse with her. Her head was covered with a scarf, she seemed to be hiding away from someone or even people.
"Halt." A group of guards who had trailed her said to her. She halted and unveiled her face. She was a younger Dolores.
"Where are you headed?" The leader of the guards asked her. Their leader was a woman. A Queen.
"The isle of Aspen." Dolores replied.
The Queen scoffed, "it's a forbidden area. What could you possibly want there?" The Queen asked but Dolores responded to her question with silence.
"When I ask you a question, I expect an answer from you, girl." She added.
"And you're you?" Dolores asked.
"I'm Queen Emerald Droid of Torra." She said.
"And what is your business with the Isle of Aspen?" Dolores asked her rudely.
"I have been the protector of this desert long before I became Queen and I still protect it till today."
"Well, it's not my business, I'm Dolores and when I seek something, I find it."
"Dolores, I must tell you, nobody has ever dared to go beyond this desert and lived to tell what the Isles look like." Queen Emerald said.
"Then I'll be the first."
"Hmm. If you're so stubborn then you leave me no choice but to forcefully put a stop to your madness."
"Well, you can only try."
And saying that, Queen Emerald pulled her sword but Dolores quickly sent a wave that sent all of them flying into the air.
(PRESENT TIME)
"I didn't kill your wife." Dolores said.
" Tell me about it. Who killed her?" King Olaf asked calmly.
"I don't know. All I did was send..."
"Enough." King Olaf suddenly wanted to lose his temper but quickly put it in check.
"What do you want? Did you send your girl to finish off the rest of my people?" Olaf asked.
"Co..." Dolores started but I quickly cut her short.
"Your Majesty." I bowed politely, "I may not be aware of what happened ten years ago but I'm really sorry about it and believe me, Dolores has not sent me here to finish off your people. We're only here to help." I said.
King Olaf sighed.
"Karen?" He called me.
"Yes, your Majesty."
"I have a proposal for you." He started. I was surprised at the way he suddenly ignored Dolores and let whatever she did ten years ago slide.
"My ward has been sick for over one year now. All the physicians in Torra and around Torra have tried to come up with a remedy to cure her illness but failed. She... She means the world to me." King Olaf spoke and as he did, I could see the sincerity in his eyes.
"If you can come up with a cure for her, I'll give you whatever you want." King Olaf said.
I smiled inwardly knowing what I already want but my smile was wiped off by his next words.
"But... If you fail to cure her, I'll execute you both."
"And if I don't try?" I asked.
"Then Dolores will forever be my captive." He said.
Dolores scoffed.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, "I will heal her. I promise." I said to the king and he nodded.
We were both led to the lady's chamber where I examined her body to come up with a remedy.
Her tongue had already changed color to blue, the veins in her body were slightly visible and her body burnt with fever. She couldn't move no talk, she was completely unconscious.
"When was the last time she spoke?" I asked the king.
"Three months ago." He responded. "She has not eaten or drank anything, since then. Can... Can you cure her?" He asked nervously.
"Yes." I responded confidently. "I only need a few herbs and seeds."
"Just tell me whatever you need and the servants shall provide them."
After I made a list of what I needed, it was provided in such a short while, and I made the lady's remedy. After the administration, it took just a few hours and her eyes fluttered open. The King had probably thought I'll fail like the other healers and even I thought so too but thankfully, I didn't.
"Thank you very much, Karen." King Olaf said happily. "Please, stay for dinner. Dine with us." He said.
"I would love to your Majesty but I don't have the time. I have to prepare a remedy for the entire kingdom before we leave tomorrow." I said.
"Leave?"
"Yes Your Majesty. Karen and I are on a quest." Dolores said.
"And we need your men. Your strongest soldiers. Not now, but soon." I added.
"Who are you?" The king asked. "I had expected you to ask for half of my kingdom or ten thousand gold coins." He said in confusion.
"I'm Princess Naya Mustafa of Devon." I said bluntly.
"Naya Mustafa? The missing Princess? You're still alive?" The King said in disbelief.
"Yes. And we are here to take back that which belongs to her. Devon." Dolores said.
"How do I believe you're Naya Mustafa? On the day your mother was killed, we all thought Stefan killed her too."
"You believe what you chose to Your Majesty, I don't have to prove anything to you. I know you want your kingdom to be free of the shackles of King Olaf but you have to pay a price for that. You may lose your soldiers in this fight but I can assure you it's for the better." I said.
The King sighed heavily. "You know, your healing skills alone cannot get you back your kingdom. Stefan is very powerful and you're no match for him. He has all the powers an entire kingdom can possess. He is evil, black magic itself. Do you think you can defeat him with just the strongest soldiers in Torra?" King Olaf asked me and I couldn't even respond to that, because truly, am I a match for King Stefan?...