Three horses raced to the gate of Bernbute. Caleb and two spies were back to the city, at least. The gates opened and they raced in and towards the palace. They tied their horses in a stable near the palace then walked to it. They had to leave all their weapons at the gate and so they did. They marched straight to the king's chamber.
At the door, stood two guards with golden cloaks and armor. Their hands were firm around the handles of their swords. They seemed extremely ready to strike down any threats to the king. Caleb walked to them calmly then stood in front of them.
" He expects me!" He said to them as the other two caught up with him and stood behind him. One guard knocked on the door then entered. He stayed in there for a while then walked back outside and directed only Caleb in and the rest were sent back and asked to meet the king only in the king's hall.
Caleb walked in slowly. The king was in his sleeping robe and as usual, a glass of wine glued in his hand. He took a sip, a deep one, then turned to Caleb.
" I thought you were made a meal by the Wilds. They love human meat!" Arvin said as he poured more wine into his glass.
" You have been drinking!" Caleb observed. It was like he didn't even hear what he had said. Caleb walked towards him. Arvin raised his right hand and made a halt sign as he sank the glass between his lips and emptied its contents.
" What do you want?" He said licking his lips childishly using his tongue.
" I see you won!" Caleb said softly, his eyes judging Arvin with every second they were on him.
" We did not win! Some people won't see their family members! He said as if blaming him for that.
" Since when did you care about them?" Caleb asked confidently.
He did not answer right away. He refilled his glass then took a deep sip then raised the glass to him. He walked across the room and stared blankly outside the window. He made sure he took his time to answer, like what sort of question was that?
" Caleb, Caleb!" He called as he went on and took another sip.
" I am the king! Of course I care about them!" He finally responded. Caleb stood silently, stunned by Arvin's recent benign manner. He did not know him to be that way. Since he was a prince, he only knew of him to be cruel and bitter and... All the negative behaviors associated with him.
In the eyes of Caleb, change was a myth. He believed no one actually changed. That change was a insane belief that humans were drilled to believe in to accommodate and accept their insane structures and that of others. If change was real, then why wouldn't a boy grow to a man and not woman? Or a girl to a man?
Even if he did not believe in change, himself he was changed. He became heartless and self-centered, unlike during his childhood, where he was this warm and compassionate being. His childhood characters are what exactly made him bond with Nira when no one else could.
" The Wilds could attack again, this time it will be more intense!" He stated.
" Did you see your brother?" Arvin changed the topic. His eyes fixed outside the window.
"Perhaps you could know how important family is!" He continued, shifting his gaze from the window to the glass.
Caleb stood silently, eyes fixed on the floor. It was like he was trying to find an answer from it.
" I saw Silion!" He finally said, as if to intimidate him. Arvin was stunned for a while.
" You saw her?" He asked walking towards him.
" In flesh, not in spirit. He was moaning on top of her throat, my brother pleasuring every part of her body!" He confirmed adding some unnecessary information.
One thing with Arvin, he loved his sister Silion more than anyone else. Ever since the terrible tragedies that swallowed their family, he had strived to look for her. He knew she was alive but he just hoped he could see her again. It is something with twins, they love each other unconditionally. Silion herself, cried to sleep until she was used to staying away from him. Even then, she still felt a part of her was missing. She also hoped to see him, even if his reputation was dragged through the mad as a little prince. She did not mind.
His eyes said it all. They brightened with happiness and widen with surprise. He walked to the table and placed the glass on the table then turned back to Caleb.
" I want to see her!" He said placing his hand on Caleb's left shoulder.
" How do you plan to do that?" Caleb did not fear to ask. Well, look around Caleb, the man is the king. He sure could forge a way to favor his desires, so Caleb wasn't really asking, was he?
He was almost losing his patience. Caleb was trying him, his worst limits and he tried so hard to ignore him but...
Arvin's mind was made up. She was to be found. According to him, she was of royal blood and she was not the type to live on the streets and shelter in the forest. Now you would think Nira deserved the same Arvin wished for Silion, but after those years, the hate for each other grew, even in the absence of one another.
As typical twins, Arvin and Silion shared a bond, only that theirs was more toxic. They were not the same but they still cared about each other. Silion was kind and warm-hearted while Caleb was a cold-hearted bitter Prince. They would rarely play together or even spend time with each other but whenever they did it was a bliss only known to them.
***
Nira took a fair bite of a roasted meat stake. She chew silently . Her facial expressions gave all the necessary details about the sensation the meat rushed in her mouth. She chewed with her mouth closed and silently until there was none left in her mouth. Her right hand held onto a big stake. Hansen was also devouring his part of the meal. They had collaborated deep in the night and they landed a big hunt, a delicious one too.
" No more fighting against your people!" She said to Hansen. He was not yet responding as she had not yet made her competent enough to use language. She was sure though, that he heard every word, even if he could not talk back at her. Of course he heard! It is not like he was dead or something. The only problem was if he understood.
Nira cared about the Wilds too, even though they took away someone so precious to her, someone who could build a family with her, perhaps. She had this feeling that he was not dead. She knew he wasn't. But how could he get in her dreams everyday? Okay, may be he was tormenting her for neglecting him in harm's way or he was simply in her head since she could not stop thinking about him.
Hansen was all neat and handsome, just a night with Nira.
That night after Nira successfully scared away the Wilds without much bloodshed, they headed straight to the house Nira had grabbed from a man who dared to look in her eyes. It reminded her of pain, lots of it, but she only had to endure it. There was no where else to stay. The only other option was with Welter and her memory of Welter's castle were not that good.
Remains of her blood had dried on the floor. The house was a bit rusty though. Dirty wooden bowls sat lazily on the small wrecked table at one corner. It felt as if there was someone living there in her absence. A little fire torch gave the room a touch of coziness. The broken door was also fixed and the windows shut.
She got in first. She stood at the door silently for a while then took some steps in. Hansen then followed her, awed with the structure. In his life, he had never known of houses nor did he live in one. The feeling was intense, especially, the thoughts of him spending the night with a dangerous yet the most beautiful woman on earth. He was torn between surprise and joy and he did not care to show that.
She made him sit on a wooden chair by the window, of which he hesitated, given he was not used to such comfort. Nira then walked out of the house for a short time then came back with male clothes and threw at him. He stood from the chair, the clothes in his big rough palms. His expressions had her realize he did not know what to do with them.
She took him by one hand and walked with him to a stream downtown. She washed her face then looked at him. She took the clothes from his hand and made him squat. She then took off the animal skin that covered his lower parts that he stood in front of him showcasing his god-given attributes. Looking at her face, one could tell how uncomfortable she actually was but she had a self- projected task that needed action and apparently she had to do everything herself.
She squatted and took some water in her palms and threw at him. He just stood, wondering what in the name of insanity was she actually doing? He would soon find out enough when she threw him into the stream almost drowning him. He struggled to float throwing his hands in all directions until he could maintain himself. The currents also worked to his advantage and he soon threw himself on the stream banks.
She threw the clothes to him and turned away for a while. He sat on the cold sand still wondering what exactly she wanted him to do. It was for a while, when he started shaking that he took the clothes and tried to cover himself with them. He struggled without success for a while until he got it right.
The stream was a tributary of River Edmond and it was the only stream that did not comply with winter rules. It flowed while the others froze.
Their night went ahead to be adventurous. They walked to the forest for a hunt and they went home with enough for filling their stomachs for the night and the following day.
She combed his hair using a comb made from animal bones and made sure he was all neat. She then cleaned the house and they shared the bed for the night, but nothing happened between them.
***The morning post war***
They finished feasting on their remaining meat stock they had left over an ember. Hansen was getting used to the lifestyle outside the forest, only communication remained a challenge for him.
Meanwhile in Bernbute, fifty men on horsebacks were being briefed by their commander on recovering Silion. The king had given orders for her to be found before dusk and she was not to be harmed. They were also made aware of her capabilities. She was dangerous and probably armed so she was definitely going to retaliate fatally. They had to use their special tactics to retrieve her carefully.
The king had them understand of how special she was not only to him, but to the throne as a whole. She was his twin and in his eyes, the only person he considered family. They were to find her in the lands of Merria, she was camping in a cave on a hill with Josh. He too was to be brought back to Bernbute. They were also to explain to her that it was the king,her twin, who had sent them.
He sat in his chamber predicting of how their reunion could turn out to be. Was he making a mistake? Was it worth it? It was only a matter of time before he found out. Call him insane but he was sure of what he was doing, sending fifty warriors to find a woman. Even the fifty might prove to be inadequate.
Everyday, he sat in the palace, he only wished for his sister to join him and rule the great kingdom. Even though they fell apart, he hoped the twin bond was firm and that they would still cope with each other, just like the old days.
It was not a wonder he did not dare think of Nira. They were sworn enemies right from when she was born into their family. Nira had him face harsh times in the palace for the cost of what he did to others, some of which took tears from his eyes everytime he thought of them. He never wished to set eyes on her, not again. He could even have her killed. Him and Nira had a clear boundary, one that no one dared to cross. It was marked by a fine line of hatred and it stayed on for a while.
The warriors left the fortress hastily as they commenced on their journey. They all had only one mission and it was to be accomplished urgently. He sneaked up to the top of his palace and stared outside a window as the men hurriedly dashed towards Merria. For the future, it was only a matter of time. Until then, it hugely depended on the success of his men.