AUTHOR'S POV
Celeste's voice awakened the sleeping priest in an instant. He looked around for anyone else, yet it seemd Bertram haven't come back. "Ahh! Yes", Father Elijah wiped his drool away with the sleeves of his white cassock. Standing at the presence of the woman in clean white tunic with gold rope belt, Elijah smiled at the angelic face of the rare beauty in front of him.
"Please come with me. The Queen wants to see you and give you a special reward", Celeste said nonchalantly. She stood upright with her hands on her sides.
"A re-reward?", Father Elijah thought it was the best thing he have heard for a while.
"Yes, a generous gift from the queen for putting your life in line to protect the Holy Land. Are you the only survivor?", Celeste asked.
Elijah who had an idea of getting the reward all for himself decided to impose deceit for his own gain. "Yes!! I-I'm the only one", he lied. He thought they will be meeting Lord Nero, and yet he didn't bothered to ask why the plans have changed, for the reward made him go instantly blind.
"Then, follow me", Celeste said as she turn around. Elijah immediately followed Celeste with a hope Bertram wouldn't turn up any moment. As they reach the Queen's chambers, he was ushered in at once where the queen is waiting.
"Greetings your Majesty, and may the heavens bless you and this Kingdom", Father Elijah greeted with a bow.
"No more formal greetings. You've come a long way. Sit down", the Queen who have made a change of clothes in a petal sleeved wine red velvet gown, skirted with a white tulle. Seated, Isavelle called for the servants to serve tea and pastries for her guest. "Would you care for some refreshments? I'm sure, the journey was punishing", Queen Isavelle said.
"Thank you, Queen Isavelle", Elijah sat across the queen with a smile. "I would love to", he agreed to be served with the appetizers the queen openhandedly offered. His eyes were in intense delight, as it feasted on the fancy looking desserts that were served one by one.
"I'm surprised you were able to survive such demeanor", Isavelle said as she placed ber hands on her lap.
"It was frightening. General Rowan said that he'll get the traveler's stone himself. And later changed his mind that a woman with a palace emblem will come for it.", Father Elijah said as he sip the tea the servant prepared. He find its scent a bit awful. However, for the sake of not offending the queen, he endured the dreadful taste of the tea.
Celeste stood behind the queen as they watch Elijah slobber over the different variety of biscuits and tarts that were served. Elijah couldn't focus enough after seeing the mouthwatering provisions. He only heard from the other priests that the desserts served for the queen are flavorsome and exceptional. "I didn't know they were travelers. By instinct, I kept the stone safe back in the tunnels. May I?", Elijah asked permission to grab a bite.
"Deary, what a great thinking you have. Please, help yourself. These are all for you.", the Queen gave him a soft smile. "I suppose the Traveler's stone is safe in the tunnel?", Isavelle observed the priest gobble the tarts hastily and finished the tea at the very last drop. The priest even asked for more.
"Oh no, you're Majesty", Elijah said as he licked his fingers as he get another bite of the blueberry cream tarts.
"I suspect it is in your care?", Isavelle asked with her brows lifted.
"The last time I saw it was with… hmm.. High Priest Onias?", Elijah said with his mouth full. "They found him dead, when we got out of the sacred tunnels, there was a basilisk that attacked us and killed some of our priests including Onias.. oh tsk tsk", he shook his head as he eat more of the spiced bread. "May I have more of those?", he asked as he reach for the garlic toasts.
"Where could it possibly be?", Isavelle uttered as she turn her hands into a fist.
"Hmm.. maybe.. it's gone for the better, my Queen? The travelers won't pester us anymore", Elijah said as he nibbe a long cranberry biscuit with cinnamon glaze.
"You..", Isavelle couldn't hold her temper much longer. She felt like a volcano about to erupt any second. "So where is it now?!", Isavelle pounded on the table with her fist that startled the eating priest.
"I… I actually have.. no idea, my Queen.", Elijah was stunned that he stopped from eating with the biscuit on his hand midair.
"Oh..", Isavelle closed her eyes and hardened her jaw for wasting her precious time with the priest. "You see Father Elijah, that stone is very important to the kingdom.. especially to us", she said as she breath shakily with her storming anger.
In a sudden, Father Elijah started choking. He held his throat with both of his hands. His eyes puffed put as he struggle to breath. He plead. Begged on his knees while his lips turn blue. Then, he fell on the table that tipped over the glasswares and messed up all the food. The servants had their eyes open, but it seemed like they chose not to see. Their ears clearly heard his despair, yet they all turned deaf. Celeste stepped out for she knew that Argus would be tremendously upset of what just happened.
"I think, your services are no longer needed now", Isavelle stood up while she watch until Priest Elijah breath his last. "What a waste of time", she said as she caught a glimpse of her hand wrinkling and her nails getting dull. The queen's body is deterioting from the dark magic used by Celeste, that her mortal flesh is aging fast.
"Fetch Aether", the queen ordered. " I need Iaso's stone and my celestial now!!!!", Isavelle yelled as she throw her tantrum stomping her feet on the carpetted floor.