Chapter 8

Sophia had five friends whom she was close with like sisters and in just one night she has lost two as well.

Mourning was what she was going through as well as the other Witches in the tower,they couldn't attend the burial of the princess because according to their doctrines they where to stay indoors and wear sack clothes to mourn their future Queen.

According to their customs they where to burn her body as well as the bodies of the other Witches and with the bodies not found it was a bad sign because they couldn't even perform their last rites.

Sophia sat with Talmon,Abijah and joiada in the garden relishing their happy moments.

"If only they hadn't betrayed us" Talmon says.

They had all agreed to stay back and take care of Sophia's mother that night but shammua and sallia had snuck out to go for the ball and had ended up missing along with the princess.

"I can't believe your more concerned about their betrayal than the fact that they are dead" Abijah asks.

"Of course I am,it's the root of their death" Talmon shrugs.

"I agree with her" Joiada says.

"and you soph?" Abijah asks.

"Am more concerned on the next move of the Queen knowing she doesn't have anyone to take over when she retires"

"That must be the reason why Queen Padanaram and the king are here" Joiada says.

"they're here?" Sophia asks.

"Yes,I thought you had seen them? they went directly to your mother's room" Abijah says.

"There must be a reason why girls"

"And you're about to find out?" Talmon asks smirking.

"Of course" Sophia smiles getting up.

Using a basic magic she learnt from her mother she appears at the front of her mother's room door.

"Mum,am here" She says certain her mother could hear her.

She heard her mother recite a spell and before she could comprehend it she was already inside the room.

Her sister's where right,the King and Queen where both present in the room.

Sophia suddenly felt pity for them, losing their child mustn't have been easy for them.

"Greetings your majesties" Sophia says.

"Greetings dear" Queen Padanaram says while the King just nods.

"My daughter and I are inseparable please I would like her to be here" Ahishar says.

"that's not a problem"

Sophia seats on her mother's bed observing.

"We where told you're the only one who sees Diane" Padanaram asks

"unfortunately yes"

"We've been worried since the death of our daughter and would like to see her" King Laban says.

"May I ask what for?"

"we want to know who will be the next Queen since our daughter is no more" He says.

"I can't summon her,and I have no idea where she stays" Ahishar says.

"Do you know anyone that might know?"

"My mother might" Ahishar turns to her daughter. "Sophia,go get your grandmother"

"Mum, Grandma told me about it one time" Sophia says.

"What did she say?"

"Queen Diane stays in the boundaries of....uhm...Mayes, she has a castle there"

"How is the place my child?" Padanaram asks.

"It's in the forest seperating our Kingdom and Mayes,she leaves in the castle there"

"We haven't heard of any castle there before" King Laban says.

"Because she uses magic to hide it,am sure It'll be visible to you your majesty" Sophia says.

"Very well,thank you so much for your help, we'll get going now"

Ahishar and her daughter watch them leave in silence.

"Tell me mum, is there hope?" Sophia asks

"I hope there is Soph,the war is closer than we know"