THIRD PERSON PROVISION
"Your Highness"
The King walked into the cabin in all his glory. He looked out of place in this location but he was here on business. This place suited his intentions and it was a heaven away from prying eyes. Although the place was lurky and dangerous, he didn't mind as long as he get what he needs.He was willing to fight any danger for his intentions. He had finally gotten to gist of what he has been doing all along and he was more than finish what had already begun. He looked Jankom straight in the eye asking him, what he had wanted to ask for so long. The thought didn't let him sleep at night and it showed clearly on his face through the bags under his eyes though nobody dared to question that..
" Are you done with the job?" Jankom has never disappointed with him anything so he was sure that his answer would definitely take at least one trouble off his list. He waited patiently for Jankom to respond but he, on the other hand, didn't have a suitable answer for His Majesty because of unknown factors involved.
"Your Highness..." He started off, stuttering slightly as he carefully composed his response, fully aware of the reaction he was likely to receive. Bowing his head submissively, he continued.
"The prince intervened... Your highness." He completed..
" But it's done" King Alarric asked again raising an eyebrow at him, hoping that it was but it looked like luck was not in his favour tonight.. and Jankom's answer confirmed his negative thoughts.
"No, your highness...He killed everyone in sight" Jankom answered trembling... He was embarrassed of this entire situation. He knew it was an important job. It had been a while since King had finally requested his assistance. He should've gone himself instead of sending that good for nothing brat...
"And...
how
did
he
get
there?" The King spoke with seething anger, enunciating each word deliberately. His patience wearing thin with Jankom's antics, he glared intensely...
ONE JOB, Jankom, ONE JOB." He roared, fuming in anger losing all his senses, when he didn't get the response he was looking for. He knew this was the only opportunity they had to finish off the threat lurking on his head. He punched hard on the inanimate table placed in the middle of the cabin trying to calm his raging self.
He has lost...
One chance...
All these swirling thoughts were driving him to the brink of madness. Jankom continued with his lengthy explanations, oblivious to the fact that his words were falling on deaf ears. Each sentence seemed to blend into the next, failing to penetrate the chaos of his mind, which was consumed by a storm of conflicting emotions and urgent realizations.
"We don't know... we delivered as per your deal with her uncle.. My men had her in the car but then he came out of nowhere and killed everyone taking her with him."
He was barely managing to maintain his composure.After years, he had finally tasted the freedom of his own thoughts. He wasn't even aware of the influence that was on him. With only six hours to himself, he took his time planning everything deliberately. The opportunity walked right through his doors coaxing him to grasp it. He faced the sole opportunity to act according to his own will.
He couldn't allow the queen to triumph, not after uncovering the truth about the happenings within his kingdom and all his lost years where he acted as a mere puppet with strings in the Queen's hand. He did have a few puzzles of his own to solve. There was already a whisperer in the castle, he had learned in this past week and he wanted to know more. It was imperative that he took decisive action. He couldn't afford to let another whisperer exert control over him.
Never again...
"Jankom..." He spoke loud and clear once regaining his consciousness. He stood straight in all his composure. He had to get this done, there was no way around this. He knows the queens intention of marrying her into the family.
" You cleared everything.." He made a statement and Jankom nodded.
"and her family?" The King spoke again calmly.
" No whereabouts as of yet. They fled, we are looking for them." Jankom replied.
" Find them.." He ordered, thinking he needed to make sure, if there was anyone else of the kin.
" And the girl?" Jankom asked as a formality knowing well what his King wanted.
"Tomorrow is the ceremony. Don't touch the prince, and I want her head as proof." The king announced lastly as he wheezed out of the place disappearing in the darkness of the night. He had plans to work on considering she might become his daughter-in-law tomorrow.
Jankom let out a deep breath that he was holding and walked out announcing yet another mission that he wanted to complete at all costs. The stakes were too high even for him.
And just like that, they disappeared in thin air just like The King.
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INSIDE THE CASTLE
The eerie silence in the hallways with dark shadows following the Queen as she sauntered her way towards the basement made her exactly opposite of what she looked like. Her beauty was a deceptive facade concealing the true depths of her intentions, the reason she was cast out. Once, she had been a naive and an innocent woman, her intentions pure and her loyalty unwavering. Yet, as the saying goes, nothing good ever comes from pure loyalty.. She had her fair share of betrayals. She left everything for her love, gave it her everything and what did she get in return?? Disillusionment and treachery. So, she decided to do what she knew best... what her mother taught her best..
Avenge herself...
Whenever these thoughts crossed her mind, her blood boiled and she felt all the anger surging through her in waves. She climbed down the stairs of the basement as she recalled her beloved who was held captive.They were the reason, her mother was gone. She enjoyed every single moment of her captive's pain, each scream gave her a twisted sense of relief, each scar, a testament to her mother's torment. She was determined to inflict the same fate upon them. She enjoyed the power that she had, the control that was now in the palm of her hands. The kingdom seemed to move to her rhythm, a testament to her newfound dominance. She had to go through a lot of ups and downs to get where she was. It wasn't easy to gain this much power and this position. It came with a price, a sacrifice, for the betterment of this Kingdom which was once her mother's homeland..
AND THEY took it, burned it to ashes....
But she was determined to reclaim what was rightfully hers. She was resolute in bringing her mother back, no matter the cost. There was, however, a troubling thought that gnawed at her. She sensed a disconnection in her magic—a fleeting burn in her heart that vanished and reappeared in an instant. At that moment, she realized something was amiss and that she needed to address it urgently. Only her cherished Psithurist had the power to mend this disruption and restore her to full strength.
She walked through dimly lit hallways, the oppressive darkness barely pierced by the flickering torches mounted on the walls. As she entered the dungeons, the guard on duty greeted her with a formal nod, announcing her arrival. The Queen dismissed him with a casual wave, signaling him to leave..
She now stood in front of the only source of knowledge. The old lady who sat in the farthest corner of her cell, looked up slightly as she tracked Queens every movement. She understood that Queen Ilaria was here with a purpose and would not leave until her demands were met. Though she felt as though all resistance had been drained from her after years of relentless torture and the steady stripping away of her magic, she was still herself. She knew there was a fight yet to be fought, and that it would be a long struggle.
" Let's skip the formalities" Queen Ilaria spoke with a smile on her face as she continued"you know what I'm here for, Don't you?"
" I don't think, I do" She wheezed out coughing profusely because of her dry throat.
" Oh, come on! Aurelia Faerelore, you're the future seer. Don't tell me, you didn't see this coming" The Queen retorted dramatically, waving her hands in the air to underscore her point. She reveled in the perfection of her plans, proud of their flawless execution. It was astonishing to her that the final piece of her mission had fallen into place so effortlessly. Everything was unfolding exactly as she had envisioned.
" You know.. My magic is fading...."Aurelia stuttered, lifting her hands to reveal the chains that drained her powers. The sight only fueled the queen's growing fury. She had no desire to be reminded of her own frustration, which was precisely why she was here. With a swift, menacing gesture, the queen extended her hand and lifted the old woman into the air by her throat, causing her to gasp for breath.
The Queen seethed, the dungeon now shrouded in darkness. Her only concern was reviving Elaara's magic before this whisperer was rendered powerless. Fully aware of how much her own magic depended on Aurelia, she let the old woman drop heavily to the ground, where Aurelia struggled to catch her breath.
"Tell me, how do I awaken hers?"