Menkar's real name was Nerio and that was one of the reasons why no one could suspect that he was the same criminal who was declared dead by King of Murel.
Menkar aka Nerio collapsed in his brother's arms. He was so exhausted that he didn't have the energy to breathe. So, he let go of himself. All he remembered was his brother holding him tight and then giving orders to the guards to quickly take him to his chamber.
He didn't know after how long, but when he opened his eyes, he saw Murel sitting in a coral-shaped chair and watching him with a deep frown. The water that circled around him was warm. He scented herbs in it.
"Murel..." he said, his voice a mere whisper.
Murel rushed to his side immediately. He grabbed his brother's hand and looked at him with sympathy. "How are you, Nerio?" he asked. His brother had visited him after a long gap of almost two hundred years.
Nerio's lips curled up. "Better..." But his muscles were still too cramped. "Getting old..."
Murel chuckled. "You are!" He placed Nerio's hand beside his torso and said, "What was the need of such a sudden journey? Have they discovered who you are?"
Nerio looked away from his brother. "No, they haven't..."
"Then what happened? You had to take that current to reach here. There were so many bruises all over your body. Earlier you used to heal very fast, but now..." His gaze roamed on Nerio's body. "Your bruises are still angry red marks all over and that also because of all the herbs the healers have been using."
"My potion was stolen, so..."
"What!" A shudder passed through him. Murel's neck tendons corded with tension. "Does that mean someone has detected your secret?"
"I don't know..."
"And King Izo has banned all the trade from the Jade Sea to Araniea! So you couldn't get the herbs to prepare it?"
"That's right," Nerio sighed. "Things have become complicated."
"But in your last message you said that everything was in control."
"It was, until my potions were stolen. I was about to meet King Felis until this little event turned my plans upside down." Nerios gritted his teeth.
Murel pursed his lips. "Why would anyone steal your potion? Have you not been able to find the culprit?"
"I tore down entire monastery to find the culprit, but he or she wasn't there. Just get me the herb, Murel. I don't have time to discuss much. Give me the herb and I will leave."
Murel shook his head. "I don't know why, but the Garduff King has stopped selling the herb. I received the news in a letter that was issued by King Izo. The area where the herbs were harvested from has been sealed. I didn't give much importance to it, because I knew that you had plenty of potion with you."
Nerio raised himself on his elbows and growled. "Do anything Murel. Get that herb for me. It is urgent. I am this close to destroying Taiyi. No one has suspected me so far. I need that herb in so much quantity as to keep me in human form for a few more months."
Murel held his brother's hand again. His light gray eyes drooped with sadness. "Did you get the news, Nerina?"
"I did..." he replied, his heart growing heavy.
"According to your wish, I had sent her to visit Stourin, but Taiyi ended up killing her. Some say that Nerina is in her deepest dungeons where she comes back to life only to be killed again." Murel lowered his head. "I am so sorry..."
Nerio closed his eyes and rested his head back on the pillow. The acidic taste of his anger got swallowed by the tartness of sadness that pierced his heart. Nerina was his only child who he had handed to Murel to take care of after her mother died and he left for Araniea. Nerina didn't know that she was Nerio's daughter.
"Sacrifices are needed in the game we are playing, Murel," Nerio said in a low voice. "Once I destroy Taiyi and her entire family, I will get my daughter back." Or maybe not.
After a moment, Murel said, "King Izo has increased guard all over the Jade Sea. I have no idea what is going on, but things are strange and all of us are under a lot of tension."
Nerio suspected that it was because of him, but he didn't mention it to Murel. "Just focus on getting me the herb, Murel. I need it urgently and then I will leave."
"I will see what I can do, Nerio. But no promises."
He shook his head. "You have to, Murel. Just beg, borrow or steal, but get that herb for me."
Murel patted his brother's hand. "Let us see." He got up. "How long will you stay here?"
"I intend to go tomorrow," he said, closing his eyes.
Murel understood his brother's urgency. He left him to recuperate and ordered the healers to give him strong medicines. They had been planning on ruling the entire Jade Sea after killing Taiyi and King Izo. While he would become the king of Jade Sea, his brother would be the king of Araniea. The destiny had set in motion.
---
Taiyi and Alrakis reached Stourin through the portal created by Tania and Flora. As soon as they reached, they went to meet King Izo.
"That bastard!" Izo snapped the moment Taiyi finished speaking. "Who could he be?" He sounded so furious that a merman was responsible for so much trouble in his daughter's life. Taiyi was the strongest child in the Jade Sea amongst his many children. And her son was even stronger. His union with Lusitania, who was a half-fae was something he had never even dreamt of. It was a match made in heaven and he was going to protect it no matter what.
"I have already increased guard in the Jade Sea as per you had requested. Now what?" Izo said.
"Now we--"
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