Erieka returned to Combination alone. The battle in Barenge was a success. Lydia, a few other avengers and the soldiers stayed to rule the new city under their control. King Jonathan and Queen Alice were killed. The king died in battle and the queen was executed in the aftermath. The citizens were forced to go back to their homes and help the avengers get whatever they want whenever they want them to. Some who are loyal to the king and Inland were tortured and others were killed. Only the children were spared.
Marcala was already standing at the top of the castle steps, waiting for her.
'Barenge?'
'Victory' Erieka replied, feeling very satisfied. She walked past her into the castle. The main entrance doors were wide open.
'Erieka' Marcala called before she could get out of sight. She turned to face her. 'Your father is waiting'
'No he's not'
'Go and meet him' Marcala said firmly. Erieka knows the limit. When Marcala has started using that tone of voice, there's no more fooling around. She obeyed and proceeded to the dungeons. The cells were always empty, except only a few criminals. Now all ten cells were full of people. And the arrangements were messy. No one can tell at a single glance where the king was. It's all mixed up. Everyone braced themselves, they didn't know what to expect from the successor. She finally spotted him in the same cell as Master Mousy and many other king's guards. He was lying on the very small bench. There's only one bench for each cell. And it is not comfortable at all. She approached the cell, third from the right. Between each cell is a small walkway. Metal bars covered three sides of the square. The fourth side is a wall with no window or opening since they were underground.
'Hello' Erieka began awkwardly. 'Henry'
'What do you want?' Mousy asked sternly.
'Shut up rat' Erieka said.
'I'm a mouse!' Mousy conjured sand to pile on her palm and she swirled it on the spot.
'Your magic can't reach me from in there, let alone hurt me' Erieka mocked her.
'Her magic can't but a sword can' one of the king's guards said. He drew his sword and jabbed it through the bars. A translucent shield appeared as he made contact with the sword. A forcefield repelled the sword, throwing it and the user backwards. The guard crashed onto his buddies and they all fell down. Erieka laughed, feeling very amused.
'The cell is not just sealed with anti-magic, idiot. We are not stupid to leave you in a cell with weapons without sealing it with anti-metal as well' Erieka said happily. 'Henry!' Erieka called again.
King Henry suddenly sat up. He was asleep earlier. His eyes proved that he was really tired.
'What do you want with him? He's still sick and needs rest!' one of the castle servants who was also in the same cell spoke.
'You are in no place to speak to me!' Erieka yelled. A lot of people flinched as Erieka's powerful voice sent a wave of fear throughout the dungeons.
'That's alright. I'm alright' King Henry reassured the servant. 'What do you want from me?'
'Just to talk' Erieka said. She was still feeling a bit awkward that her father was just in front of her. A father she always imagined meeting one day. Everyone looked at her like she had just said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
'Talk?' Henry asked, just in case he heard wrongly.
'Yes, talk' Erieka said. 'We have met before. In a different situation'
'I'm sorry, but I don't know you'
To be honest, Erieka actually felt hurt.
'You lost a daughter twenty years ago' Erieka said, her tone rising but she was still holding back.
'Yes I do. And all because of you and your people' Henry said. He was holding back tears.
'I was only one twenty years ago! I have nothing to do with this! You did a poor job of taking care of your children! You failed!'
'That's enough!' Prince Nathan said. He was in another cell, second from the left.
'You didn't tell him?' Erieka turned to look at him.
'Shouldn't you do it yourself. Why must I say something that is such a big disappointment?' Nathan said.
'You watch your mouth!' Erieka exclaimed.
'Who are you?' Mousy asked. Erieka turned her attention back to her father's cell.
'I am Princess Erieka, true heir to the throne' Erieka said. Everyone in the room that had not learnt that yet was shocked. Henry's legs felt like jelly. He couldn't move a limb. Mousy was equally the same. She staggered backwards for a second before regaining her strength and remained standing.
'I have proof' Erieka said. She lifted up just a little bit of her scarf to show Henry her neck. The amulet hung from her neck, glowing normally. 'You know who could break the seal and release the power within. A Helaze of royal blood. Who else fits that description? No one but me'
Henry couldn't hold back his tears anymore. His long lost daughter was right in front of him. Only now, she's not who he imagined would grow up to be like. She was on the enemy's side. In fact their leader. Majuza's successor who could break the amulet's seal and then use the power within.
'My sweet Erieka. What happened to you?' Henry cried.
'Your failure happened! But don't worry father. Brother is still on your side. But he's weak. So I'm still a far better child'
'Erieka, the avengers are evil people' Mousy said. Now that she knows who this rude lady is, she softened her tone.
'Suddenly a nice mouse? The avengers may do evil things but Sofya's children are blinded from the truth. Sofya is the true evil' Erieka said.
'Okay if you want me to believe that, what proof do you have? What proof do all avengers have?' Mousy said.
'I don't need proof for the truth. The truth shall be revealed when the time is right'
Erieka left. Immediately afterwards, King Henry started to feel pain in the chest. He was very heartbroken. He placed his hands on his chest while breathing hard.
'Your majesty?' Mousy said. 'Help! Erieka come back! Your father needs medical assistance immediately!'
'Use your magic' one servant said.
'I am not that skilful. And there's no magic which can mess with a heart. His having a heart attack'
'Help!'
A few servants started calling for help to help their king. The soldiers started too.
'Shut up all of you!' an Outland soldier stood at the stairway. He came from upstairs and the commotion actually worked. Everyone became silent.
'Help! The king needs help!' Mousy shouted. The soldier came running to the cell.
'I'll inform Marcala' the soldier ran out again.
'No no wait!' Mousy called but he was too fast.
King Henry was already lying on the ground. His hands over his chest. He was in deep pain. Mousy placed her palm facing his chest and tried using magic. Nothing happened except Henry kept on wincing from the pain.
'We need help!' Mousy yelled, getting frustrated. Marcala came and the dungeon became more silent than before. If more quiet than silence is possible, this is how it was like. She went to King Henry's cell.
'Please, Widow, help him' Mousy pleaded.
'Has Erieka came to meet him?' Marcala asked.
'Yes, now he needs help!'
'Then let him die. He's no longer needed'
'No! Help him!' Mousy yelled. She got up to the bars and banged on it. The translucent shield appeared everytime she hit it.
'Why would I do something that doesn't benefit me or the avengers? This insolent behaviour is not helping you'
Marcala walked away.
'Come back! Help him!'
'With the king dead, we can officially crown a new queen. Long live Queen Erieka' Marcala turned to face her and said, amused. She then continued up the stairs. Mousy gave up. She was already exhausted from all the shouting. She went back to the king's aid. Henry was not moving anymore. His eyes were closed. And his chest was not moving up or down. Mousy removed his hands gently away from the chest and placed her ear over it. There was no heartbeat.
'He's gone' she said, tears forming up. All the king's guards, from the other cells as well, went down on their knees if space was possible, and bowed their heads at the king in respect. Mousy wiped a tear and snuffled.
'Farewell Henry, son of Harry, father of Edward and Erieka, King of Combination. May you have found peace in your life before' Mousy said. And she started crying softly afterwards.