Trip to the palace of Vadali

Queen Zulhi is with the penanggalan in the basement and they're doing a ritual. The penanggalan was talking in a foreign language telling queen Zulhi that princess Alaiza is stronger than they thought.

Prince Varylm and Khazima were in the woods and prince Varylm was teaching prince Khazima how to use a crossbow. "–the magic is in your eyes–" said prince Khazima adjusting prince Khazima's posture. "–aim with your eye, not your hands–". Prince Khazima then shot and missed the target. He then lashed out of frustration "–I'm not good at this–" he threw the crossbow to the ground. "–I'll never be a good warrior–" he sat down. Prince Varylm sat down with him "–it's up to you prince Khazima, you can quit if you want but know that giving up is an assurance of never going forward–" he then stood up and left with his horse. Prince Khazima was left in the woods thinking about what his brother said.

Princess Mya was having lunch with princess Alaiza. "–are you well princess?–" asked princess Mya. "–I slept well yesterday–" replied princess Alaiza with a smile. As they were talking, one of the royal guards came in and told them there was a situation that required them outside. Since the queen was not there, princess Mya stepped in. They both went outside to see the situation. When they got outside, there was a man who got bitten in the neck and was bleeding to death. Princess Mya came closer to the man to see how bad the wound is. The man was struggling to breath. He then started pointing at princess Alaiza. "–you–" said the man gasping for air. He then exhaled his last breath and died. After he died, something strange was happening to his neck. "–what's that?–" asked princess Alaiza asking about the moving thing inside of the man's neck. When princess Mya tried to assess the man's neck, a scorpion–looking creature jumped off the man's neck. They all moved back out of shock. Princess Alaiza looked scared after seeing the creature.

Princess Mya and Alaiza were back inside the palace. Princess Alaiza was sitting down and princess Mya was pacing along the same route. "–why did the man point at you?–" asked princess Mya still pacing around the room. "–I don't know–" answered princess Alaiza suspiciously. Princess Mya clocked that, she stopped pacing and looked back to her. "–you know something, don't you?–" said princess Mya. Princess Alaiza looked at princess Mya and said "–I think I know what killed that man. The creature that crawled out of his neck? I've seen it in my dreams–" replied princess Alaiza. Princess Mya was left speechless. She didn't know what to say next, the only thing you can read in her eyes was fear.

Queen Mary went to see her mother, queen Bahili of Vadali. "–I figured the king will not be present at the moment–" said queen Mary. "–yes, he's not back yet. You may take a sit–" said queen Bahili. They then sat down. "–what bring you here princess?–" asked queen Bahili. "–I have to talk to you about something mother–" said queen Mary. Queen Mary told queen Bahili about all the strange noises coming from the basement of the palace of X'hikini and all the incidents taking place lately. Queen Bahili stood up and said "–Impossible–". Queen Mary looked at her mother concerned. "–what is it mother?–" asked queen Mary. "–back in my father's kingdom, the kingdom of Ghaio, there was a couple living in the south end of the kingdom. The couple had no kids and tried very hard to have kids but they weren't lucky. One day a heka approached them with a offer they couldn't refuse. He promised to give them what they wanted the most but there was a price in exchange. Because of desperation, the couple agreed to the deal. Four years later, they were blessed with three kids, two boys and a girl, Veronika. On Veronika's 3rd birthday, the heka came back bearing the prize of the deal. He then told them that the prize was their first daughter...–". Queen Mary interrupted her mother "–he killed the child?–". Queen Bahili clarified to queen Mary "–no, he didn't. He gave her a gift. A penanggalan, which was to live with her forever–" said queen Bahili. "–what happened to her family?–" asked queen Mary anxious to know. "–the penanggalan feeds on human blood and a lot of people were dying in the same way. They were all bitten in the neck. Eventually the kingdom found out about the penanggalan and they killed them... but Veronika was never found. I still remember how furious my father, king Khawunda, was–" said queen Bahili. "–so you're saying queen Zulhi is Veronika?–" asked queen Mary with fear. "–there's only one way to find out–" answered queen Bahili. "–if am right and the sounds that you hear in your basement are indeed from the penanggalan, am afraid queen Zulhi is Veronika–" said queen Bahili to her daughter. Queen Mary was left with more questions and fear than when she came to her mother. Instead of clarification, she got more confusion.

King Barean returned to his palace, in the kingdom of Baru. He then demanded to see Leuhtaz. The guards brought her. "–you called for me my king–" said Leuhtaz. "–Leuhtaz, sweetheart, please take a sit–" said king Barean pouring alcohol. Leutaz sat down. "–here you go–" offering Leuhtaz a glass of wine. "–I don't drink–" answered Leuhtaz with fear. "–of cause you don't–" he then put the glass away. He then sat down next to her "–do you have any extended family Leuhtaz–" asked king Barean. "–except the one you killed? No I don't–" replied Leuhtaz. "–feisty, I see–" said the king while taking a sip. "–well Leuhtaz, now you do. I want to make you my wife–" said the king to Leuhtaz. Leuhtaz stared at him with fear to object. "–your father should've married you off by now. I wonder what he was waiting for. However, since that didn't happen, you're the next queen of Baru–" proudly said king Barean. "–you'll make a beautiful bride–" he touched Leuhtaz's cheek and left. One of the young royal guards,Iziah, heard the entire conversation. Leuhtaz went back to her room to cry. As she was crying, she heard a knock at the door. She then quickly wiped her tears "–it's open–" said Leuhtaz. Iziah came in with Leuhtaz's young brother, Osaka. "–I found him peeking at the soldiers outside–" said Iziah. Leuhtaz took her brother "–thank you for bringing him back–". Iziah noticed Leuhtaz's eyes "–is everything okay my queen?–" said Iziah. Leuhtaz got more frustrated "–yes, please you may leave now–". Iziah wanted to persist in comforting Leuhtaz but didn't want to defy the future queen's wishes. For that reason, he exited the room. "–are you okay sister Leuhtaz?–" asked Osaka concerned about his sister. "–yes, am fine Osaka–" faked a smile. "–come it's time to go to sleep–" Took off his shoes and put him in the bed.

Queen Mary returned to the kingdom of X'hikini. She found them having dinner in the royal dining table. "–ah, queen Mary. I was hoping to see you when I came back–" said king Davyya. "–greetings–" said queen Mary taking a sit next to the king at the table. "–queen Zulhi told me you went to the kingdom of Vadali–" said king Davyya. Queen Mary answered with shock as she never told queen Zulhi about her trip "–and how would queen Zulhi know that?–" said queen Mary asking queen Zulhi. "–I heard you telling the guards to tell prince Varylm–" said queen Zulhi. Queen Mary didn't believe her. "–I saw your father, King Zamora at the Heb-sed–" said king Davyya. "–he was really thrilled to hear about our success against the Unthras–" said the king as he was feasting. "–queen Bahili told me about father's trip to the Heb-sed–" said queen Mary. "–queen Bahili tells everything, doesn't she?–" asked queen Zulhi with a deadly smile. Queen Mary answered with fear and confusion as to what the statement implies to "–she tells me what's necessary for my knowledge–" said queen Mary with a fake smile. She then stood up "–I'll make my way to bed, the trip was tiring. Am glad to see you're home safe my king–" smiled and rubbed the king's shoulder then left. Prince Varylm noticed the tension between queen Mary and queen Zulhi. Queen Zulhi had something in her mind at the table and prince Varylm noticed that too. "–your food will get cold queen Zulhi–" said prince Varylm. Queen Zulhi looked at him and faked a smile "–thank you prince Varylm, but am full–" she then stood up "–I'll also make my way to bed. I'll be waiting for you king Davyya–" she then left. Prince Varylm knew something was going on between his mother and queen Zulhi. "–how was the Heb-sed?–" asked prince Khazima to prince Ryanair. "–it was good, different to what father narrates–" answered prince Ryanair. "–how was the palace prince Varylm?–" asked prince Ryanair with sarcasm. Prince Varylm looked as him and said "–good, as usual–". King Davyya looked at prince Varylm and said "–I see I left my palace in good hands. The guards told me about the good job you did. Thank you son–" said the king to prince Varylm with a smile. Prince Ryanair saw this and his mood changed.

After dinner, king Davyya went to queen Mary's room to sleep. She found her still awake. "–king Davyya, I thought you'll be sleeping in queen Zulhi's room–" said queen Mary. The king sat on the bed next to queen Mary "–I know I haven't been the best husband lately and I apologize for that my queen–" he then kissed her hand "–meeting king Zamora at the Heb-sed, reminded me of the promise I made to him to always keep you happy all the time. I realized I haven't been keeping you happy lately–". Queen Mary was charmed and happy to hear these words from her husband, king Davyya. "–come here–" said king Davyya cuddling his wife, queen Mary. Queen Zulhi on the other hand was waiting for the king but he didn't show up. She then decided to go and check in the dining hall but she found no one. She then realized that he's in queen Mary's room. "–I see you queen Mary–" thought queen Zulhi to herself.