Curiosity beckons

"Your majesty Queen Olivia still lives,I looked into where she had given birth like you requested,it was a birthhome but certainly not the one we went to"Gerald reported to the Emperor through a telepathic link as he shut the doors to to the great hall after a meeting,his last meeting before Fiona's funeral.

"I'd say her majesty was set up".

"Hmmm...Any leads on Dark's whereabouts?"

"Not yet your imperial majesty,but right now my men are searching all over Urah sorceror's city,other knights as well are searching the other five kingdoms of the realm".

"Make sure the choicest of your men joins the search.Appoint two Chief Knights to each sqad if possible the Sorceror is not someone amateur knights can take on"

Tyran said as he approached Fiona's chambers.

"Yes your majesty".

Tyran disconnected the Link, summoned a spell he used to breech Delu's barrier around the chamber and went in.Thankfully no one could find the place or appear in it.

He had erected the barrier before leaving his son in Carolene's care this afternoon asking some servants to gather some things she would be needing in about a month's time in the store room.

The first room he entered was wide with no contents.It had two doors facing each other,the left one led to a hallway and several rooms including Fiona's bed chamber and the other,another hallway which included a room he converted to a cold room where Fiona's body would be kept until her funeral the next day.

Tyran opened the one by his right and walked down the hallway.He reached the cold room and swung the door open.From Inside,the coldness reaching him sent chills down his spine.In a moment his body grew accustomed to the cold and he went in.

In the middle of the widely spaced room lay the empress on a gold table,She was left uncovered and dressed in the same clothes she had worn to the birthhouse her stomach protruded,eyes shut and skin pale.

Tyran stepped in while looking at her,the ground was coated in ice,so was the wall around her.Just the way he had made it to preserve her body.

Seeing her again arouse a series of emotions within him along with memories, something Tyran had been avoiding.He had only wanted to see her one last time at her funeral but he was here to search for the letter Queen Olivia had given her.

Reluctant to see her body,he had already gone through her things before the meeting but couldn't find it but now he had no choice but to search her dress itself.

Tyran approached her and took her cold hands in his,he did not want to but couldn't help it.For a moment he started down at the body, wishing she would open her eyes one last time and smile at him,his heart earning to be wrapped around her arms one last time,a moment he knew deep down within him he wouldn't have.

A tear escaped his eyes which he wiped off with the back of his palm.He drew closer and gave her a kiss then dropped her hand.

He raised her dress and searched below it.

There was no sign of a paper, then holding her arm he raised one side of her body.She seemed heavier than usual,her whole body stiffened.

Tyran searched the body,all over but found nothing fraustrated as he was,he left the room without taking one last look at the body.If only he could find it,that would be the one lead he had to apprehending Olivia but now he had no evidence,he was not even certain the letter was from her but Fiona would not be foolish enough to make such journey had she not be certain it was the queen's hand writing.The letter was probably at the birthhouse he had burnt,Tyran cursed his luck as he stalked out of Fiona's chambers.

He had to see Olivia.

************""""""

"The royal knights are out looking for Dark.He must be somewhere in Delvin shouldn't we help them out, you know we can".

Sheba turned to look at the younger sorceror next to her,then she looked away.These young sorcerors know nothing she thought shaking her head.

They were on their way to a spell room and ever since his training today,her apprentice had never stopped pestering her about this and she had heard enough.

"Your ladyship_"

"Shut up!"Sheba barked still not looking his way.Her response to him sent the scrolls he held rolling off his hands.

"Why?"he asked,in a low voice as he picked them up.

Sheba stopped walking and turned to look at the young boy before her,when he was barely ten he had been appointed to her as an apprentice and now fifteen she couldn't believe he grew leaving his senses behind.

Every royal sorceror was appointed one and she was appointed this nitwit who could barely remember her instructions with his short term memory loss but still somehow he managed to be good in casting spells. Even from a young age without being taught he had picked up what his mates knew nothing of, something Sheba believed was an inborn gift.He had had several attempt from healers to heal his brain but to no avail.Sometimes Sheba wondered if she was wasting her time on the child.

He barely ever remembered newly taught spells or even her instructions and she hated him for that.Hated repeating herself.

"Gaby,since you don't know that sorcerors don't meddle in the affairs of the realm then you have no right to be one".

"I do but this concerns the realm and the safety of the imperial prince so I heard"

"Who told you that?"

"Every one says Dark killed the Empress that's why the Emperor is after him.We can help them find him your lady ship.The boy said as stoodup,clutching the scrolls tightly in his arm.

"We should help catch him before he does anymore evil, who knows what he'll do next, probably go after the imperial prince.

Sheba grimaced as she stared down at him.

His whinning was starting to irk her and it wasn't funny.Sheba turned abruptly and walked away.

"Then it's a good thing"she said.

"What!"the boy exclaimed not believing his ears what he had just heard from a royal sorceror.

"I will hear no more of this,You are dismissed ,go home!"

"Bu_but"

"One step closer to me and say goodbye to your limb"

Gaby only stood and watched her disappear into the distance wondering what he had said to anger her.

He returned the scrolls and retired to his the apprentice chambers in sorcerors castle, repeating Sheba's words which she had just told him in his head till he got a book and wrote them down.

Knowing about his memory loss but feared expulsion from sorcerors Academy because of it so he had decided writing down every word and every spell it seemed he would forget. But Sheba's words today he had written it in unusually bold letters.

In his bunker bed,he didn't know why but he stared down at what he wrote:

'Her ladyship says it's a good thing Dark is after the imperial prince'.

Gaby shut the book and climbed into bed.The room he shared with other apprentices was filled with empty bunk beds it was still midday and they were probably still at training while his own sorceror had dismissed him early.Sheba had always been harsh with him,infact she was that way with everyone.Her words were as harsh as the straight frowned face she always kept.

"Her ladyship says it's a good thing Dark is after the imperial prince".he said out loud now.Then his mind drifted to the name DARK.He knew nothing about the Sorceror except...he searched his brain for the word.When he couldn't find it,he slipped out of bed and pulled his book out of the drawer next to him.

He flipped through the pages of the book and found where he had written it.

"Dark is a sorceror that was banished from Delvin"he read out loud"Is that all?"

He flipped through other pages searching for further information on the name.When he could not find any,he closed the book and laid on the bed and covered himself with his sheet exposing only from his eye upwards as he stared at the bottom of the bunk bed above him.He wanted to know more,who this dark was any why Sheba had concluded it he killed the imperial prince a good thing,or had he heard wrong,no he was most certain of what he had heard.

He slipped out of bed again and raced to the Sorcerors historical library.

He raced all the way there only to lock eyes with Sheba as he opened the door.

"I dismissed you pest,or did you forget that as well?"

She asked raising a brow.

"N..noo i_just... just_"

"If I ever_"

Sheba didn't finish when he took off, running as fast as he could back to his room.He knew what she would say.She wanted his limbs again.He had heard that statement more than enough not to forget it.For some reason,she frightened him,for some reason he couldn't stop running.When he reached his room he slammed the door quickly and paused to catch his breath.Then he quickly climbed into bed pulled the sheets over,this time it covered his whole body,his chest heaving.

He would definitely visit the library but not today.Maybe some other time, today he was most certain he would never leave his room again.

**********************

Emperor Tyran appeared in his Chambers.Queen Olivia was already seated waiting for him with a knight by her side.

On seeing him they both bowed and she dismissed the knight with a wave of the hand.While Tyran took his seat he took a good look at Olivia.Her long blond hair was tied in a ponytail at the level of her neck. Her face was pale it seemed as though she had been crying a long time and her stomach still protruded.He noticed she slowly took her seat, probably still weak from labor.He didn't feel sorry calling her out, besides she might be an accomplaince for all he cared.

"I heard of the Emperess's demise am so sorry your imperial majesty"

Tyran ignored her condolences.

"I have a couple of questions for you"

"And I'll be happy to render my assistance to your majesty"

She bowed earnestly awaiting his questions Tyran didn't see her blink,she didn't flinch either.He watched her closely for any signs of nervousness but found none then he began.

"You sent a letter to the empress that you would deliver your child in the birthhome is that correct?"

"Yes your majesty"

"Why then did she go to a different place from where you delivered?"Tyran questioned.

"I have no idea your majesty,the birthhouse I sent to her was located in Edor but she never came".

"How close have you two been".

"Much like sisters but for the past ten years I haven't seen her"

Tyran looked straight into her eyes and summoned his most intimidating look.

"Whatever you say I'll have you know you are a suspect.You should pray wholeheartedly I find the culprits that is if I haven't already found one"

Queen Olivia clasped her hand on the table before she lowered her head till it touched her hands.

"Your Imperial Majesty I swear am Innocent I know nothing of this"

Emperor Tyran stood up to leave when Olivia raised her head

"Your majesty if I may suggest I say you ask the knights who drove her carriage to the birthhouse if only I can find the letter I sent to her majesty I can clear my name,but you must believe me her majesty was a beloved of mine.I would never hurt her".

She had a point.The possibility of the knights to have driven her to a different location now dawned on him.Fiona had dismissed them all except the two knights he killed so they were all still alive

He gazed at the queen for a while,he hadn't gotten what he wanted from her but she had left him with an important lead. Fiona had dismissed them all except the two knights he killed so they were all still alive,he would have to investigate them all but that would be after Fiona's funeral tomorrow.