King Lucien began writing on the scroll. Yes, he would help her. Not only because he wanted to stop a war, but also because he was willing to save her lover.
On the noon of the morrow, he will send out his royal messenger to deliver to her father that he is coming for her hand in marriage, he wrote. He would have given the message to Navia's royal messenger but it would be suspicious, so Salem's messenger would arrive on the morrow instead.
At the end of his letter, Lucien wrote that Kamara should take care of herself. Then he dropped the inked feather, folded the letter and handed it to Zariel. Zariel bowed to him before he turned and departed.
Alone with Dargak again, Lucien leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes. Why was he willing to save the princess's lover? The thought breezed through his mind. He had no answer for that. Maybe because he finally knew what it was like for a person's heart to belong to another.
He dismissed Dargak, wanting to be alone. The sound of the door closing filled the air followed by silence—that eerie silence he had come to know on a personal level these past long weeks.
Alone. Always alone. Cold sizzled through him.
Then Zariel announced himself again.
“This better be important, Zariel,” he said without opening his eyes.
The guard entered and cleared his throat. “The minister for public affairs is in the palace again, Your Majesty. It is about your permission for a few personnel to visit the rain checker.”
The king already knew why the minister came even before Dargak stated the reasons.
Years ago, a man named Sonmo was rumored to be a rain checker. A man who could draw down rain from the sky. The rainless state of Salem for almost three years now had put his people in a desperate state to the extent they were requesting his permission to journey out of Salem to the man's kingdom to seek his audience. This was in hopes that the man might have a solution to what Salem would do for rain to bless the land again.
The rumors says Sunmo lives in Mombana, a day's journey from Salem. Danika's kingdom.
Danika...
“Your Highness,” Zariel called nervously when the silence had stretched longer than usual.
Lucien didn't move a muscle, nor did he open his eyes as he gave his usual response. “Tell him I decline that request and my reason still remains the same.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed his head even though the king couldn’t see and walked out of the door.
There would be no seeking out Sunmo because it was all a rumor. It was not worth the trouble chasing shadows because of rumors.
The headache that pounded his head would not let go, and the pain from his left leg only got worse. He remained in his position, not moving a muscle.
A hesitant knock on the door.
“Your H-highness?” Zariel sounded hesitant this time around.
“Get out of that door, Zariel,” he said calmly.
The king's voice was calm but a shiver worked down Zariel's back. “Um, my king? I think you n-need to read this.”
“I have no intentions of reading anything, Zariel. Get out and stay out.”
Silence.
“It's about Q-Queen Danika.”
.
.
.
“"You despicable sneaky monster,” she hissed. “It's always about threats is that it? Always threats. Blackmail. Always.”
He shrugged, unperturbed. “It does the work better than anything else. Mostly because you know that I am a man of my words.”
“While other men's words are gold, your own word is aluminum,” she crossed her arms. “I will still work out of this door and let me tell you what will happen. I will go to the king and I will tell him everything. The rat he thinks is dead is not dead. Instead, he's in a dirty cave craving power.”
“Poor Vetta. You are so, so pathetic. I heard he gave his love to another. After all the sacrifice and everything you did for him, what did you get?”
He was grinning. “He threw you away like discarded clothes while his heart longs for your sworn enemy. King Cone told you didn't he? Bet he will be rolling in laughter in his grave. Tsk tsk, pathetic.”
Her steps faltered. Pain filled her, her chest felt like it would suffocate. She balled her hands into fists so tightly.
“Why do you keep protecting a man like that, pet? He did not care what happens to you, you know. Why not work for me? I will give you that power you crave so much. At least, if you can't have the man you want more than anything in the world, you can have power.” He came up behind her. “In that way, you will not loose from all rounds. That will be very unfair to you, pet. I want to help you.”
Vetta went so quiet for so long, Coza began feeling victory in his grasp.
Then she turned and faced him. Rage masked her always expressive face, along with tears swimming in her eyes.
“Mark my words today, Coza. You will die by my hands,” she vowed. “I will kill you by my own hands.”
The amusement disappeared from his face. Apart from the whore Vetta, he knew the murderer Vetta really well. “I am offering you salvation here. You wouldn't.”
She let out an empty laugh, a year slipping from her eyes. “If you truly think I will not, then you do not know me at all, Monster.”
“What if I kill you. Here and now?”
She raised her chin. “Since when do you think I fear death? You of all people can remember how many times I pleaded with you and your monster king to kill me! Get lost, Coza, your threats on my life do not work on me. Never did, never will,” she turned towards the entrance.
“Not even the king finding out you killed his brother?”
“You, your monster king, and this bitch here killed Declan. Since she's working for you, I do not need to think hard to know that she is the hooded figure that slashed Declan with a sword.”
“And you delivered the final blow that killed him. Do not think I joke, Vetta. I will make sure Lucien finds out about it. It is a better death for you than anyone you will die by my hands.”
Her steps faltered. Another tear dropped from her eyes.
He walked closer to her from behind. “Can you imagine his reaction? What he will do? A woman he cares about is the one that took the life of the man he protected with his life.
Silence. Tensed silence.
“Did I tell you that I will kill you, Coza?”
“You said it before.”
She nodded. “I will kill you anyway. And I don't care what you do, I'm still out,” she took three more steps to the door.
Coza threw in the last card up his sleeve. His ultimate card.
“How about killing Danika?” he asked.
Vetta stopped. Completely.