"Now what?" King Izo asked, fuming more with every passing minute. He wanted to go out there and grab the culprit and burn him in the hells of fire.
"Now we go to the northern Kingdom, Garduff," said Taiyi. "I want to talk to the king and check the harvest of the rare herb."
"But I have already placed a trade embargo, Taiyi. What good would it be to go to Garduff? It's not like that king would go against my orders!" Izo said with frustration.
"I know he won't," Taiyi replied. She rubbed her neck as her beautiful azure tail flapped gently behind her. "I don't know why I feel that there is something coming up there… I may be wrong, but my instincts are pointing me to go there."
Concern etched his features. Taiyi was a sea goddess, his strong child and queen of Stourin. Her instincts weren't wrong, but how could he act on a hunch? "Taiyi, in times like this if I go to Garduff, there would be a ripple in the kingdoms of Jade Sea. People would downright come to know that all this is happening because of the rare herb that is harvested in his kingdom. I don't want to show that much importance to it."
"Then think of something, father," Taiyi said with desperation. "I really want to go to Garduff and see it for myself."
Izo looked away from his daughter, his mind into deep thoughts. He didn't know what to do when an idea struck him. "Will you go alone?" he asked. "Or do you plan on taking Alrakis with you?"
"Alrakis won't let me go alone," she said. She knew that her werewolf mate was in his protective mode. "Even if I want to…"
Izo chuckled. "That's the answer I was expecting." He rubbed his palms together. "Well, I have an idea. Prepare to leave in an hour."
Taiyi's lips curled up. She knew her father would be up to some or the other shenanigans.
"You will not go alone with Alrakis. I am going to send a unit of soldiers after you," Izo said with a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"What?" Taiyi protested. "No Father! That would alert the enemy if he is going to go there."
"You didn't hear me well, daughter," Izo said. "I said I will send after you, not with you."
Taiyi's forehead creased. "I don't know what you are saying father, but as long as they are not with me, I will be fine. I am capable enough to take care of myself and Alrakis."
Izo shook his head. Now he was sure where Eltanin's stubbornness came from. It ran in the family. In his family.
Taiyi went to Alrakis who was wondering what to do next. "We are going to the kingdom of Garduff," she said to him.
"Oh good!"
She walked up to him and paced her hands on his slender neck. She caressed it softly as their gazes locked.
"You know when you do this, I feel like making us another baby," he breathed.
She traced her fingers to his face and got it lower to his neck, his chest and then his shoulders, and all the time she was smiling. "And you know we are too old for having a baby. As such gods and goddesses are famous for not having children so fast." She sighed. "I was lucky to have two…"
He placed his finger on her lips. "Don't go there, Taiyi. Ukdah was an ass who never understood your value other than getting a child. And I hate when you talk about him."
A flicker of sadness passed across her beautiful face. "I am sorry…" She snapped her fingers and a bubble started to grow around Alrakis. It grew large enough to cover his face, neck, chest and shoulders.
"No, this is fine," he said, his voice muffled through the bubble.
"Your ride is waiting for you outside the palace," she said. "I have asked father to give his best dolphin to us. They are better than seahorses. Just hold its reins tightly."
Alrakis had previously rode on dolphins. They were magnificent creatures and very fast. Some of them rivaled horses in his kingdom. He personally didn't like to ride seahorses because they were… spiky. Moreover the dolphins could speak in their language and alert the guards of dangers around them faster.
An hour later, they both started their journey towards Garduff. Alrakis was sitting on a saddle on the dolphin, holding its reins and Taiyi was swimming alongside him. The dolphin, Velvet, was… white and a massive fish. He recognized Taiyi and was a youngling of no more than five years. He loved to play and would often race with Taiyi. As they swam, Taiyi chided Velvet, "If you don't behave, I will send you back!" And Velvet started to behave. Alrakis was having so much fun riding him. These were the things he missed… a lot.
Taiyi knew that a league behind her soldiers was coming. They depended on Velvet's signals for communicating their coordinates. It took them a sunrise and sundown to reach Garduff.
When they reached, the son of the king of Garduff, Udar, greeted them. He was surprised to find the queen of Stourin in his kingdom, but he received them well. "I am sorry, that Father isn't here to receive you," he said, "He has gone to attend the meeting with King Izo."
"Oh!" Taiyi said. "We were on a small tour to the northern kingdoms, because my king," she pointed at Alrakis, "wanted to see around."
He bowed to her. "Of course! You are most welcome to stay here for as long as you like." Udar was extremely honored to receive Taiyi.
---
Murel was about to go to the kingdom of Garduff to get the herb whn he received a message from King Izo. He had called all the kings of the Jade Sea for a trade meeting.
"I have to go there," he said to Nerio with concern etched all over face.
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