[ ANYWHERE BUT HERE ]
A beautifully handsome man, on a horse as black as the night, was in front of Azura and Lora as they turned. Their mouth dropped open in awe, not sure if they were seeing a man for sure or they were just imagining things. Their sight couldn't leave his body, nor could their lips form a word to say.
A man with a skin as fair and smooth as that of a lady's skin. He had an ear-length ebony black hair, and he smiled and stared at them with a golden brown eyes that glittered under the morning sun, a slim noble nose between his well structured cheekbones and a strong jow.
His chine was high above his neck and the robe he was wearing gave way for Azura and Lora to see the beautiful hair on his chest and how broad his chest were. With his appearance, he looked like a wealthy noble, but non of them could tell which kingdom he was from.
"Your Majesty, do you know him? I don't think he's from this kingdom, our people don't cut their hair this shot." Lora whispered close to Azura's earlobe, bringing her out of her daydreaming.
"Yes I know, he's not from this kingdom." Azura said looking at the man in the eyes.
"Won't you introduce me? The man's melodious voice asked, smiling at Azura.
" Lora meet Enoch, my husband, Enoch, this is my friend Lora." Lora smiled as she heard Azura introduce her as a friend, but something hit her in the head.
"Your Majesty, did you say husband? Is His Majesty not your husband?" Lora asked to clear her curiosity.
" Lora please I'll explain later, but for now we.... "Azura's words were cut short when her sharp ears captured the sound of approaching horses.
"I know who is coming, can we put him to the text you wanted to?" Enoch asked with a mischievous smile and all the ladies could do was to stare at him in puzzlement.
"Tell him your queen went ahead of the bridge." Enoch said to Lora and before Lora could understand what he meant, he took Azura's hand and disappeared.
A running horse stopped behind Lora and it rider found her spacing out in the direction of the forbidden bridge where Enoch had disappeared with Azura. She stared at the bridge not understanding what was going on, and the new comer had to tap her shoulder to get her attention.
"Where's the Queen?" Marcus shouted at Lora who still looked lost.
"The bridge.... she... she went ahead.... she's gone." Lora managed to talk not knowing what to say.
Marcus run to the bridge and stopped only when he was close to the boundaries that divided the bridge and the lands. He tried touching the boundaries which walls were made of dew. Something like a current passed true his hand, throwing him off the bridge to the hard ground.
Azura and Enoch (Abesselom) were not far from the bridge. Enoch had used his illusion powers to block the view of the people around from seeing them. They watched and saw how Marcus was being persistent on crossing the bridge but couldn't. Azura's doubt grew even more, not understanding why Marcus couldn't go beyond the boundaries but she can.
Just when Marcus was about to try again, another horse arrived and his personal knight got down from it. "Your Majesty, please don't." The knight said and run to his King to stop him from going any further, but Marcus wouldn't give up. He kicked his body to break free from his knight who held him from behind with his strong macho arms.
"Why are you still here, take the lead, we're coming." The knight, Lion, shouted at Lora and she left in a hurry, knowing she was not allowed to see her King like that, and her Queen can protect herself.
"Why.... Why.... why can't I go beyond but she can, am of the dark supernatural powers, not her, so why can't I? I've been trying since childhood but still." Marcus broke down in his Knight's arms immediately Lora left.
Azura's questions grew even wider upon hearing Marcus lamentations. "If he has been trying to go beyond the boundaries since childhood, that means he was never on the other side, but if he's truly of the dark supernatural powers, then why can't he go beyond the boundaries.
"I'll try to answer some of your questions, but please make them one after the other." Enoch said, interrupting Azura from her thoughts. Azura nod to him and continue to watch as Marcus kept insisting on getting out of his knight holds.
After a while of unsuccessful attempt, Marcus gave up and was guided back to the palace by his knight, Lion. "You came here without any guards or knight, aren't you afraid of what might happen." Enoch asked Azura when Marcus and Lion were out of sight,
"When am coming to see you, why would I need a knight to guide me? You are here to protect me aren't you?" Azura asked with child-like excitement in her eyes. She was happy to have met Enoch again, when she thought she never will.
"Aren't you scared of me? I thought you'll feel like you've seen a ghost." Enoch asked.
" Being in this strange land is scarer than see a ghost." Azura answered simply, looking at Enoch in the eyes.
"Would you want to come with me? He asked.
" Anywhere but here." she answered boldly, and took the lead to their horses.
"Your horse is really beautiful, what's it name? Enoch asked for behind her. Azura did not know the name of the horse, so she stopped working and thought of a name for it.
" Snow, just like the white snow. What about yours." she said, looking back at Enoch.
Enoch couldn't believe Azura gave him the same name she gave when he asked her in the form of the mask man, Could she have remembered something or not. He also thought of giving her the real name of his horse, "Midnight." He said.
Azura looked at his horse Midnight, which looked as dark as the darkness of the night, and for some unknown reasons, she felt like touching it. "He indeed looks like the midnight" she muttered out.
" You can ride Midnight if you want, and I'll ride Snow if you'll allow me." Enoch said and Azura agreed to it in no time by nodding her head. They got on the horses and rode off to the biggest and luxurious inn in the city of Kelvindor.
__________ Back at the palace.
"My love, why did you follow that evel woman, can't you see she just wants to kill you? Please am not ready to be a widow, see how you're hurt." lady Pearler said as she was treating her husband Marcus's wond.
The scratches he got from filling off the forbidden bridge was not what he was thinking about, the reason he still can't go beyond the boundaries was what his mind was taken over by. His wife lady Pearler kept asking him many questions, but all of them seem to fall on bead ears.
"Have you found another way to get beyond the boundaries? Lady Pearler asked, and finally, she got her husband's attention.
" I know it hurts you to know I want to have sex with Azura, but that's the only way I know to get beyond that boundaries." Marcus said and stood up from the seat he was seated on.
"But she doesn't want to, it been ten years now, won't you give up in trying." Lady Pearler said in frustration.
"My dear Pearler, I know where you are heading to, I've told you we can't kill her till I make her mine, only then can I accomplish my mission here." Marcus said calmly.
" At the expense of my son locked up in that academy or what? How will you even introduce him when he complete and come here before your plans work?" Pearler couldn't control herself anymore.
"Woman, you knew everything before insisting on giving birth to that good for nothing boy, and for your information, I'll be taking a new wife if Azura doesn't give in, just like we discussed, but am serious this time." Marcus said angrily and storm out of the room, leaving Pearler dumbfounded.
__________ Queen's residence.
Lora kept pacing in her room not knowing what to do. She was informed of what happened when she left with the queen. She got to know Ana was responsible for the King finding out the queen's whereabouts, now and a year ago. She didn't want the queen to be upset with Ana, but she also knew Ana had to get punished.
"Auntie Lora, please where is my mother? I can't find her anywhere." Chesa asked Lora with a sad face, behaving like the ten years girl she is, and not the lady who was worried for her mother when she was in comma.
" Princess, when did you get here, have you had your breakfast yet." Lora asked, trying to escape Chesa's question.
" No! Am looking for my mother so I can eat with her." Chesa said with a folded arms and an angry face.
"Princess Chesa, please don't be stubborn, the queen won't be back anytime soon. She left for the next town." Lora said trying to reason with Chesa but failed.
"I don't care. I'll wait for her, and am not taking my bath either. Tell nanny Lucia not to come to my room, unless she comes with mum." Chesa said and walked out of Lora's room, swaying her small waist.
"Princess Chesa..." Lora called after her but Chesa didn't even turn to look at Lora's worried face.
Lora stormed into the maids quoters to warn Ana of her behavior. She was the head maid and was now a lady in waiting since Azura became queen. She had every right to punish a maid when they go wrong, but she'll have to explain to the queen the reason, and she doesn't want her queen getting more worried, which is why she can't punish Ana now.
"Don't think am not punishing you, next time, all your punishment will be together." Lora said immediately she came in contact with Ana and left without waiting for her to say anything.
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Here are few things you have to know as you read the book. Please take notes.
1. Abesselom, Enoch and the masked man, are all one person, he just changes his appearance considering where he's going.
2. Queen Azura and Queen, are one person.
3. Chesa and Lia are the same person.
4. Gideon, the eagle, and Azus, the dove, are magical creatures, that is why they can communicate.
I'll be notifying you if anything comes up again.