2.1 CHAPTER FOUR: THE SIFR

2.1 CHAPTER FOUR: THE SIFR

Aaryaa stood behind a pillar on the balcony by the king's throne room. Hiding from the guests inside. They were currently in the middle of a meeting. The king was sitting on his throne, and in front of him were his three generals. While Celeste stood on his right.

"If the information the royal duke had partaken with us is true, we must act quickly, your highness," one of them spoke.

Aaryaa never bothered learning their names. She crossed her arms over her chest as she inclined back on the pillar with a foot leaning back on it, raised from the floor. Her eyes were closed as she concentrated on hearing every part of the conversation. Though there was little need for such. As the generals spoke with so much volume, Aaryaa suspected they could be heard outside the room.

"Complications, general," the king replied, calm and collected. "As much as troubling as the news my uncle had brought, we have no way of knowing if it's true,"

"If we wait for confirmation, my king, I'm afraid by then it will be too late!" another argued. "We must act now while they are unaware that we already hold knowledge of their plans,"

"It's a small countryside, general," Celeste cut in, stepping forward. "I highly doubt they would be capable of what the royal duke had accused them of,"

Aaryaaa nodded in agreement. Though she was not included in the conversation.

"Then, pray tell, great sorceress, why you cannot see their future?" the last general asked. "Isn't it because they are dealing with black magic?"

"There can be plenty of reasons why I cannot, general. If you allow me a few more days, I will be able to explain it all," Celeste pressed, turning back to the king.

"I'm afraid we do not have a few more days, royal mage. Dealing with black magic can be extremely dangerous. We must cut them off before they progress into something we cannot handle,"

Celeste glared at the generals. A gush of wind blew into the closed room as the sorceress allowed her power to seep through. "You do not have to warn me about black magic, general. I know it far better than you,"

The generals shivered in fear as Celeste's eyes glowed. They cleared their throat but stood their ground. Which was something Aaryaa never expected them to do. She never had any good views of the three men standing below her.

The king sighed. He put his right elbow up on the armrest of his throne. Resting his chin on the back of his palm. "I regret saying this, Celeste, but I must agree with the generals. It will be far too late if we delay. Thousands of lives will be in danger,"

"Your highness!" Celeste exclaimed. "You are willing to kill a hundred people for a piece of information without basis?"

The king closed his eyes as if his own decision pained him. Once he opened them, Celeste could see the firm conviction in his orbs. "Forgive me, Celeste. But I cannot, in any good mind, allow this country to fall prey to black magic. If it takes a hundred lives to keep a thousand safe. I will make that decision. It is my duty and burden as a king,"

Celeste gave a long sigh and solemnly nodded to the king. "If that is your verdict, I shall respect it. But I must say this, your highness. Keep a clear mind and remember who is truly your enemies,"

"And what do you mean by that mage?" one of the generals asked.

Celeste did not even spare him a glance as she walked back toward her position on the king's right side. "I said what I said, general. It is up to you how to take it,"

Tension was thick in the room as Celeste never bothered hiding her animosity toward the decision they had made. But it never threw the generals off as they started planning for an attack. Aaryaa shook her head and kicked off the pillar she was leaning into. As she was about to walk away, a general spoke.

"Send the Sifr, your highness,"

Aaryaa stopped in her tracks and turned towards the throne room.

"The Sifr?" the king asked, confused as to how she was suddenly recommended.

The general who spoke nodded. "Yes, your highness. Rumors abound the Sifr. People have started calling her the huntress. That no target of hers lived long enough to even see her face, much less escape. She's an executioner above all others. Who better to send than her?"

"The Sifr is not your personal assassin, general," Celeste growled. "She's a Kifo, a royal executioner to deliver punishment to those who sin against the throne. The people of Pliac have not yet sinned. Nor are we sure they would,"

"Matters at hand say they are traitors to the throne. It's enough of a reason to send the Sifr," another argued.

"Enough!" the king exasperatedly admonished, and the four people in the room with him quietened. "We have agreed that the Pliac are a threat to everyone. But must we send the Sifr?"

The generals nodded as one. The middle man stepped up towards the throne.

"Sending the Sifr to take care of them will be a message,"

"And what message would that be, general?" Celeste growled in frustration.

"A message that we tolerate no traitors. That any plan against the country will be vanquished with no remorse,"

Celeste adamantly shook her head as she stepped up toward the general. "It is not a good message all around, general. We have no firm evidence of this. It will invoke uncalled fear in the people. Perhaps catalyzing more problems for us,"

"We must extract problems such as this from its root, royal mage. Forgive my saying so, but you have no enough knowledge of politics,"

Celeste flared up. "I do not have to know politics to know this is nothing but a vicious display of power, general. Besides, I have served far more kings than you have, child,"

Celeste had put emphasis on the word 'child,' and the general seethed in anger.

"Do not teach me about politics and magic. For even your grandparents did not yet exist when I learned of those things,"

She then turned to the king. "If you believe this is the right path, I will respect that, my king. But know that I am against it,"

And with those words, Celeste vanished from the throne room. Aaryaa sighed as she, as well, faded from the throne room.