chapter 28

When king Ephraim was having a meeting to declared war against the Black Dust Empire.

The emperor in turned was hosting his wicked sorcerers to devise a means to an end. The thought alone that the was a way to extract the powers off the naive princess who knew not how to harnessed the powers in her for her own benefit gave him hopes immeasurable.

Emperor Cassius was of low birth. The son from the harlot of Spring. A village in his kingdom. He killed all his nine brothers after his father finally acknowledged his existence.

Little did he knows that he was making a mistake by accepting Cassius as his son and absorbing him into the palace. There was nothing like emperor around the continent as at then. Prince Cassius made himself a king and an emperor afterwards because of his greed for greater power.

Cassius was able to defeat all these kingdoms because when king Wilson of Golden Hill defeated the dreaded Violet viper which tormented almost all the kingdoms in that continent.

The people didn't have the need for magic no more. The abolished it because the were too many dark side to it.

Prince Cassius revived it and brought it back into his kingdom. He fought and conquered many kingdoms around. He then proclaimed that he was an emperor after defeating this kingdoms to merged with his. He changed the name from Dusty kingdom to Black Dust Empire. Now Black Dust Empire is vast.

"If the princess could be the king's stone then I too can" he declared before his sorcerers.

"Find out how the power can be transferred to me when she is captured". He smiled to himself. " I shall be an immortal god and rule over all the earth till eternity". He proclaimed in his mind.

They sorcerers informed him that the power could not be transferred while still in it full potent in the princess. It potency must be suppressed. A suppressant was given him to used on the princess.

***

"No father" she said. "The kings' stone didn't manifest in me".

" I thought as much because the bond had been broken it couldn't have". He turned and faced her. " Then what happened?. The men of Black Dust couldn't have left you because their penalty for a failed task is death. Did you fight them?".

" Father they had a missed understanding between themselves on who to take me to the emperor. They engaged in combat afterwards that was how I escaped from them and Francis found me". She lied.

Eleanor tried to covered up by training her facial expression to be blank. She was tapping her legs to scanned for what next to say to her father to take the suspicious gaze off her.

"Father I wanted to tell you something". She said in a rushed.

" I have been weak ever since the incident at the museum took place. Why father?. When those men attacked us at the river. I couldn't lift a weapon to fight. I felt like my muscles has been pulled out of my body".

"The king's stone drained your strength. You used all your willed to break the bond and stopped it anger on our kingdom. You can never fight like you used to again even after you returned it"

Her eyes dilated. For some odd reasons she didn't want to ever returned it again. She wanted back her strength. The reason she was feared by all.

Even her knights have a second thoughts before training with her on the field. Now she would be like any other young maiden somewhere in one of their villages who never knew how to stand up and fight. She would be defeated before the fight even began. She cursed under her breath.

Eleanor decided to break the silence.

" Anger! Father... why is it angry at us?."

King Ephraim balanced on the chair fondling his beards with his left fingers.

He was looking at something. Princess Eleanor traced his gaze and met the shelves stacked with chronicles. By the side was a large window with coffee brown drapes.

Though king Ephraim's gaze was fixed there but he saw nothing. He was carried away in his thoughts.

" Before you were born they said I was cursed and would never bear a child. I visited so many magicians who practiced both dark and light magic. Until I learnt of Serpent Land where I met with Tyson Odin Anaconda. On that day I thought he was the one. I never knew it was his second son who disguised as him. After he promised me that my queens shall give birth. He demanded for my life and half of my kingdom".

He paused and looked at her. She drew her chair closer to him. She then placed her hands on his left hand which was on his thigh. He turned over and squeezed her gently.

"He lied. He took away those children after they were born". She furrowed her brow and pouted her lips. She is just hearing this for the first time since her life began.

"I would have had older siblings!" . She said more to herself.

"Why did he do that?" She asked eager to hear him speak.

" I learnt later that it was to erupt the angered of the kings' stone". He squeezed her hands tightly and then released.

Raising his hands to his head he removed his crown and dropped on the table before them. The table had so many books neatly arranged. A lamp stood by the side closer to the king. There was a bigger table by the other end of the very big room.

" I went back to him. I had the power to destroy him. I had the power of the kings' stone. There I discovered the truth that it was Blaze, his second son who took his form.

I struck him death for toiling with the blood of my innocent children. I killed him to make up for his misdeeds and failed promises to me".

They was silence for a while before the king continues

"Blaze thought if the stone is used against him and he died in the process that he would absorbed it power and become immortal.

It was against the nature of the stone to killed a human. Blaze was too powerful that I wouldn't have been able to killed him without the stone".

Eleanor mind flashed back on the vision she had while touching the orb. "This was the full story". She thought.

"He tried to faked a defense. He was expecting it. He saw visions about it. But he failed in his game. I killed him and brought the stone back to our kingdom. He never resurrected since then".

Princess Eleanor folded her hands. She had a lot of questions to asked and lots she never understood. Her eyes were moist. She was biting her inner cheeks to keep it off.

"I'm still trying to place the connection Blaze had to used your innocent children as a bait to angered the kings' stone".

The king stood up and stood by the window. He was watching the evening sky.

"He was bribed by one of my nobles. They very one who took me there".

" Duke Williams!". She turned with her sit to looked at her father's back. Her mouth was agape.

"Yes Duke Williams!. So that I might be angry and misused the kings 'stone. Which I did. I killed with it. The king's stone is only meant for defending and not killing. If it must killed. It killed only evil and wicked demons, beast that torment humans.

On the day I came from meeting with the real Anaconda. I discussed with your mother. I wanted another queen to carry you so that she could stay and raised the child but she declined. She was excited just hearing of it and willingly gave up her life that I may be a father.

On the day you were born. When I saw death in your mother's eyes and the letter Anaconda sent to me that the child shall died again. I used the king's stone as he had instructed to stay to trained you into the ruler as your fathers before you".

The princess looked at him sad

"But father why didn't you used to kings' stone to have children after all this year's of your endless desires".

Princess Eleanor went to the window too. Queen Margaret and queen Daniella were parading around the field with their maids behind them.

"My child, some things are better left unexplained. Among the things that the kings' stone can't do. Giving a child is one".

The king coughed. She hurried and get an arm chair for him. She rang the bell for the maids to bring water.

"My child, in few months time you shall be an adult. I want you to understand that there are certain responsibilities that comes with age".

"Father you are talking in proverbs"

"Soon you shall understand. I also want you to be careful with that boy who took you to the river. Nothing good has ever come out of their lineage".

Eleanor didn't understand why. Francis has been nice to her and she was looking forward to spending more time with him.

"Tomorrow, you shall go hunting with me"

"Hunting!"

"Yes hunting". She has gone to do many adventures with her father but hunting wasn't one. She didn't know if she should be excited or not.

She had been craving to go hunting but seeing her father like this. She wasn't sure if he would be fit for such strenuous adventure.

The king was looking really disturbed. He had something he wanted to lay off his chest. But he bluntly refused. She was worried about her father. She has been really worried about him this past years.

"I want to spend more time with you" he told her in a low tone.

The princess agreed. She asked her father to retired already for the day because of his health.

The princess ensured that he slept off before she left. She was worried for the health of her father.

***

"Sir Francis was here to see you".

"Kate told her on her way to her chambers.

"What!". She halted. "How long now?"

"When you went to see the king. My princess".

"Where is he?".

"I told him to wait for you in your garden depending on when you shall come around".

" Get me prepared immediately!".

Princess Eleanor needed to freshen up. She went to her closet and choose a yellow gown. Her bathe was ready. She washed her body within seconds. Kate covered her towel as she stepped out of the tub.

She stride to her bed side and admired the gown on it. quickly she slipped into the long dress after rubbing her scented oil. Kate combed her hair and mat it up. She used gloss on her lips and off she went to the garden.

"You came"

Francis turned around to behold her. Her gown matched with the bed of sunflowers. Her forehead was deserving of a kiss.

She stepped closer. He was unable to get his eyes off her. Her eyes was the same with the blue sky. She was punishing him with her smile.

She looked like some daisy, colourful and delightful. He cut the flower and fixed in her hair. Her face turned pink and yellow.

He had no better words to described her looks. He just loved her with his eyes.

"My maid said you have been waiting for long".

" With you my ...princess..." He paused and looked around. Two knights were at a distance.

"Eleanor" he called and she giggled.

"I could wait a lifetime". He held her hands and walked beside her. Princess Eleanor saw him leaping.

"Francis!" She turned to the affected leg. He had covered it with his long tunic. She folded it up to see the spot but his trouser prevented her.

"It on my thigh". He said.

"You got injured because of me".

"It's clearly not your fault. I caused it. I shouldn't have taken you to the river in the first place. It's too faraway. That is why I came today to seek for your forgiveness".

Princess Eleanor became moody all of a sudden. She really thought, he missed her. That he came so he could see and spent some time with her. So he came to apologized.

"Apology accepted. You may leave now". She said in a serious tone and showed him the way out with her hands. He was confused by her sudden reaction.

"Have I wronged you with my words… my princess?".

No answer came from her. They were speechless. She left and walked further.

She sat by the pond and folded her legs. The pond was small and stagnant. Colourful stones was line round it. Water lilies swim happily over the water.

She sat on the rock close to it. This same spot she normally sit anytime she wanted to be left alone.

When she first asked her father about her mother.

"Describe her father. How does she look like?. Her hair colour. The colour of her eyes". She looked at him eagerly. Waiting for an answer.

He gave her a mirror. "Look through it what so ever you see. Know that your mother looks like that".

" Father, I see nothing other than… my...face. I see me".

"that how beautiful my Lucy was". The king's eye was cloudy. " She gave me peace and love undeniable. She was kind and brave".

He laughed and cried. "When I was little, my father had too many queens. He was always busy with the state affairs and with his numerous queens and concubines.

And my mother, she never had a say. I was the only child of my father. He made me had everything I needed except his time. His love, care and affection.

So when I married your mother, queen Lucy. I loved her because she was bold and beautiful. We promised to give our child all the time and affection we could. Sadly she passed on during your birth. Looked into the mirror child. She is staring right at you".

So princess Eleanor ordered for an iron box to be made. Something she could store the mirror and keep close by.

Anytime she wished to see her mother and maybe speak with her. She would used the mirror.

"Mother you were beautiful" . She would said. That was the same night, the king gave her the portrait which she hung above her bed.

***

Francis was behind her. He sat beside her.

"My Princess, you look so attractive when you are emotional".

She looked at him. He looked away and fondled the grass. Like he was shy but he was not. He was pained that she couldn't read him. She didn't see his heart through his eyes. That she became upset for nothing.

"What brings you this day to my chambers?" She asked. He delayed. this made her frustrated. She was going to explode if he delayed further.

"I couldn't sleep well last night. The period I did I dreamt of you. When I woke I tried but fail. Nothing else crossed my mind other than the thought of you".

He turned and looked at her with a straight face.

" I see you on my sword and in my tea. On the sky and along the paths when I walked or when I closed my eyes you are there..."

He held her hands. Her face lit up.

"So I came to asked, Eleanor what did you do to me?".

Her breathe skipped. Her pupils dilated and her thick pink lips curved into a smile.

"Nothing!". She whispered so low. Her heart race. Something was happening to her. His touched made her wished for a hug. A kiss and a caressed, perhaps a night under her silver duvet.

Those thin lips of his she dreamt about. Wanting to savoured them. How it will taste when she has it in her mouth.

If she let this guy still hold onto her and give her those looks. She might do something stupid. What was he doing to her. Why does he make her wants to run mad. She freed his gripped and stepped back.

"I would have to meet with my father, the king. I will see you some other time".

He held her back.

" I know you to be brave and smart. You shall turned eighteen in months. Stop running away from things. Stand and faced it".

She couldn't looked him in the eye. Her toe was fondling with the grass.

He was holding her right hand. He turned her to face him. Still holding her hand he used the other hands to tilt her chin up.

"Look at me Eleanor" she did. She felt her blood flowing through her veins. His eyes was making her look nervous.

"I love you" he told her. She gulped.

"Is okay if you don't fell the same way about me. I shall give you time. As long as you wants". He smiled in between his words.

He was caressed her hands and chins. Her face was puff and red. She dying with embarrassment.

They kept looking at each other. Slowly Francis was lowering his face to hers. Eleanor shut her eyes. The moment she long expected was here.

Like a night after a long stressful day. Where she would taste his lips. She held her skirt with one hand that she felt her thigh while anticipating the kiss.

A fierce breeze blew past them. Francis looked up but saw nothing. When Eleanor opened her eyes. She saw lord Zane hovering in the air.

Her once smiling face turned sour. She was angry. So was lord Zane but they were both angry for different reasons.

Francis who didn't know what was going on was confused by the looks on her face.

"Francis you have to go now" . She dismissed him in a cold tone. Francis left without objection. She left the garden too without looking back at lord Zane.