VIII. Maybe you're being stupid, you know how much of sense you lack.

"What do you mean," The king said, fear evident in his voice. It was the first time he had ever shown weakness or fear in front of his subjects.

"Your majesty," The servant began once more.

"No, no, no..." The king muttered under his breath and the queen looked like she had seen a ghost.

Nä-ræl stared at the servant as her mouth hung open in shock.

I'm I going to disappear and be never seen again, she thought as she remembered the story of her Betrothed. He was never seen again after darkness consumed his parents kingdom.

Her mind raced back and forth, thinking of a suitable explanation, finding none she sighed and turned towards her father who didn't have anything to say.

Her mother who was always the one who had something to say even if it was a snarky comment when everyone was speechless had her mouth open as she found nothing of importance or help to say.

The servant and guards, seeing that their ruler had nothing to say to them bowed their heads in obeisance and left. It was a matter the king had to discuss privately with his trustees.

Captain Œrlan, the bravest of them all tried his possible best not to look afraid but in truth, he was.

Bryñ the king's advisor on the other hand looked forward impassively and gave a low whistle finding nothing to say. Despite the fact that he had been blessed personally by Farah with wisdom, he didn't have any explanation for that. The only explanation he could think of was the same thing that everyone was thinking.

What happened was most likely as a result of näbouɠh's wrath on the kingdom. Perhaps, an abomination had been committed and the gods were angry. Perhaps someone had offended the supernaturals. Apart from that, there was no suitable explanation he could think of.

Kɍëøa the king's best friend cleared his throat. "There is no cause to be afraid," he looked round to find the queen glaring at him. Clearing his throat once more, he said "Maybe it's just glamour, you know how Farah loves to play tricks."

"Maybe," the queen began. "Maybe you are being stupid, you know how much of common sense you lack." The queen sneered and Kɍëøa gulped feeling ashamed of his stupid theory.

He was truly stupid and took everything as a joke or made a joke out of every situation and he knew it. It was the reason he and the king hit of as good friends during their childhood even though he was the son of a servant. The king when he was still young came to him each time he was depressed or wanted to escape the reality of being a prince.

"Do you even think before you speak?" The queen asked. The king relaxed and decided to take his mind of the issue at hand for a second by watching the usual arguments which to him were funny between his wife and best friend.

"As a matter of fact, your Highness," Kɍëøa said, "I do."

"May the wrath of näbouɠh descend upon every liar standing here,"

Kɍëøa, seeing that he was standing beside the king quickly sat in a chair and put on a pained expression. "You wound me, milady. I am not a liar." He said, placing his hand in his chest.

"The conscience of the guilty shall eat them up," The queen mused, quoting a written scripture. She turned to her spouse's best friend cocking an eyebrow. "I never called you a liar did I?" She asked.

"I think," Bryñ finally spoke, already getting tired of the argument. "I think I'll go to the temple and enquire from näbouɠh, that's if he heeds my call or tells me to go to them." He said, referring to the supernaturals. "But for now, I think the immigrants of the northern kingdom should migrate."

"Excellent!" The king exclaimed. "That's a good idea, we don't want people suffering do we?"

"No father," Nä-ræl said.

*~*+~**~*+*

A figure, dressed in a black mantle and cloak paced in a room with little or no source of light excitedly. The slim hunched figure held a black staff and an evil aura was around her. The figure laughed maniacally, thinking of the expression that would have been on their faces.

The movements the figure made were unbalanced but it didn't seem to bother it as the joy in its heart was inexpressible.

It wanted more of that to happen.

Worse to happen.

And with the way things were going, the kingdom was most likely going to be in chaos. The kingdom would most likely be doomed.

All because of a betrothal.

_*_

It was late in the night, yet Nä-ræl put on her shoes and climbed down the brick staircase. She exited the east wing of the palace and continued her way in the darkness, using the light of the crescent shaped moon to see.

Full moons rarely appeared, it usually appeared once during the winter, once during every season of the year. So one could tell that it appeared four times a year.

Nä-ræl rounded a corner and peeked to see if any guards were about. It had taken her about an hour to exit the east wing as a result of the numerous guards that were in duty.

Seeing as there was none, she rushed forward only to bump into a hard body as the moon had decided to hide behind a cloud of grey.

"Milady?" A voice came from the darkness questioned. The person who had the voice steadied her and just then, the moon decided to come out of its hiding place illuminating the corner.

"What are you doing out so late,"

"Captain Œrlan," She said putting on her best smile, even though her heart was pumping loudly. "How wonderful to see you,"

"Quit it and answer my question."

"Well..." Nä-ræl began. "I was going to see for myself." She finally said.

"See what?" Captain Œrlan asked eyeing her closely.

"The mist that prevents one from going in or coming out of the Northwest,"

"Silly child," captain Œrlan laughed, "Do you know how long it would take you to get there on horseback?"

"I don't plan to ride," Nä-ræl said. "I plan to summon Farah,"

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" He asked her as he knew that Farah would most likely not heed anyone's call.

The princess shrugged and said, "I plan to, somehow."

"Off to bed you little child," The captain said, flicking her nose. "Your mother would be displeased if she hears of this," he mused. "The princess out late at night! Unbelievable!"

Nä-ræl tooled her eyes the spoke softly. "You won't tell her, would you?"

"Pray tell me what I'm to tell her? Our late night expeditions to the dungeon? Or trainings in the woods?"

Nä-ræl became at ease hearing that. She knew the captain would not tell in her except if she did something that she deserved to be punished for. She gave him a small smile and decided to proceed down but the Captain stopped her.

"I said off to bed child!"

"I'm not going to bed." She said, sticking up her chin defiantly.

"Then where on earth are you going at this ungodly hour of the night?"

"I just need to be somewhere,"

"Here is somewhere," he pointed out.

"Away from the palace, I promise not to leave the castle grounds." She said.

"I'll follow you." He said.

"No, please, I want to be alone." She said.

"I need to keep you safe, I am bound by the fealty I swore to your father. Anything can happen even within the castle grounds."

"I'll be safe on my own " she said trying to assure him.

"I'm coming along," Captain Œrlan said.

"You need to rest,"

"And so do you, of you're going anywhere tonight I'm following you." The captain said. "Or do you have a secret affair with Ærtle? He's a dukes son right?"

"Yes he is. And no I don't have an affair with him."

Thinking of having an affair with the dukes of  Ɓɍüñia's son nauseated her. She couldn't think of her self being together with him, let alone get married to the obnoxiously proud young man.