It was time of the evening. The sound of the bells was heard all over the palace. Guards were moving to and from the grand hallways of the palace and everyone looked busy, trying their hardest to find the knight who had escaped just some hours ago.
Meanwhile, in a huge cavern brightly illuminated by dazzlingly colorful shiny stones, a beautiful young woman stepped in, her shiny silver hair swayed as she walked with a tinge of haste hinted in her strides.
She walked towards the huge stone-carved seat that looked like a throne of some kind. Her long white dress did not impede her movements and she went to sit in the seat, leaning her back against it, and sighed as soon as she was settled in it.
"How did it go?"A man's deep voice was heard at the far side of where Talitha sat. Her eyes that were closed snapped open and she sat up in her seat.
On seeing the man who was now out in her sight with the metallic collar still hanging around his neck, she parted her lips to speak, totally ignoring his question.
"It is dangerous for you to be here, Craig. I am only keeping you here because you are the only loyal knight left of the king. And also you promised to leave by the time the sun is up tomorrow morning." alarm laced her voice as she spoke.
"Don't worry Talitha, I will be gone before you know it, but I need your help with something." Craig said while drawing near to the prophetess.
Talitha raised her brows and nodded for Craig to go on.
Knowing that Talitha was listening, Craig made his request known to the prophetess.
"I need your help to transport me to the outer world. I need to see the king and inform him about the recent happenings in the palace."
There was a loud silence after Craig spoke. Talitha's eyes were slightly widened but she kept still while Craig peered at her.
After a short while, she spoke to break the silence,
"I don't know if that is possible. Up until now, it is only the royal blood that has been able to transport to the outer world successfully."She said while she stood up from her seat, descending the small stairs in front of her."Members of the other clan who have tried have never been successful." Talitha narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips."They either get trapped in the magma or their souls are taken up by the underworld reapers."Talitha informed.
"So I have heard. That is why I need your assistance." Craig's words made Talitha narrow her eyes.
"What do you mean by that?" She questioned while her eyes narrowed further.
"I know you have the last Leos pendant." his voice lowered into a whisper."The king left it in your care because he knew you were the only one who could protect it, not letting it fall in the wrong hands."
Talitha's eyes widened at what Craig had disclosed. For all these years she and the king were the only ones who knew this secret. How did Craig find out?
"Don't look so surprised. The king informed me before he left." he stated the obvious.
"You don't understand Craig, it's not some toy you can play with." Talitha now faced Craig with only a small distance between the two. Her tone had turned serious. "It is a very rare and powerful pendant carrying great power and in the wrong hands, it can cause utter destruction.
"Don't you think I know that? Why do you think the King disclosed this great secret to me despite knowing the consequences."
Talitha made a face as if pondering over Craig's words. Surely the king had a lot of trust in this man if he did reveal the secret to him. It meant he trusted him to secure it and if anyone would be capable of handling the power of the last Leos pendant, this man was the best option and besides, it would just take a matter of time before the whole kingdom would zero in into full chaos, considering how it was being taken over and ruled by the wrong people. It was only right that the king is informed.
Talitha made a decision.
"Alright, Craig. I'll help you."Craig's eyes shone at Talitha's final decision.
"But.."He turned alert at her next words, "I cannot guarantee its success since you are not of royal blood. You are a Leighton."
"Don't worry, Talitha. I believe in the power of the pendant and I don't doubt your skills as Diatoran's prophetess. Also, we need to get rid of this thing."Craig stated and touched the collar around his neck.
"It will soon be the time of the moon passing. That would be a very auspicious time to transport you to the outer world. The pendant has the power to free you from the collar, you don't have to worry. "Talitha informed while Craig nodded with obvious delight.
She took a look at the big illuminating crystal ball that sat on a big wooden table in front of her." No one must know of this." her tone turned cautious.
"What about your trainee?"Craig inquired.
"I have asked Hattie to go in search of some rare herbs. It would take some time for her to arrive. We should be done by then."