36 Does it hurt?
”I see that your King’s life is now a lesson for you,” Zavian spoke, and Azriel lowered his head.
”Not at all, your majesty. It was a slip of the tongue. Please forgive this subject. ” Azriel said jokingly, and Zavian shook his head.
”After the ceremony, you can choose one of the princesses as your bride. I give you my blessings. ”
Azriel rubbed his nose; ”I’ll think about it, Sire. ”
...
”Neera! Wake up! ” Pen shook Neera as she mumbled in her sleep. ”The king asked for you. ”
Neera who was sleepy jumped up from the bed at the mention of the king, her eyes staring at Pen. ”The king? Why?” she asked, her eyes wide open.
She was surprised he had sent for her that early in the morning. After that day with the witches, he had not sent for her. Neera wondered if she should just go to his chambers, but she feared he might punish her for coming without being called.
She had waited, but when she saw he was not calling for her, she went back to her duties. There had been a lot of work the previous day because the dukes and the princesses would arrive at the Castle in two days.
.....
”I don’t know, but go to his chambers, quickly. I think it is very important. ” Pen said, and Neera sprang up, running towards the King’s chambers. It was only when she reached the doors that she looked at herself and saw she was unkempt, and her hair was scattered. She used her fingers to brush her hair back and fixed her dress the best she could.
Breathing in, she knocked on the door.
”Come in. ” Zavian’s voice rang in the room, and Neera pushed the door open.
”Good morning, your majesty,” she spoke, as she entered, her head lowered. Zavian turned to the girl by the door, and he acknowledged her; then he walked towards the door.
”Follow me. ” Zavian ordered and walked out of his chambers. Neera followed him quietly.
She wondered where they were going that early morning, but she did not ask. He took her down the hallway, and to a door. Zavian pushed open the door and walked in; Neera entered after him.
In the room, three women stood, with black coats over their dresses. Their eyes fell on Neera as she entered the room, and the one in the middle, who looked like their leader, walked to her.
”This is unbelievable,” she exclaimed as she walked toward Neera. She tilted Neera’s face upwards and looked into her eyes, a smile stretching her lips.
Neera looked at the woman nervously. The woman’s hair was dark red and she tied it up in a pony, letting it flow down her back. Her eyes were dark red, too, and she did not look human. Neera wondered who she was.
”I heard that she looked like her, but I didn’t know she was exactly like her. This is overwhelming. ” The woman spoke, as she let go of Neera. From her words, Neera knew she was a witch, but how did she know that she looked exactly like Delilah, was she half-demon?
”Is there anything that can be done?” Zavian asked, and the woman nodded.
”Yes of course. Something can be done, but it would require a lot. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Zavian thought for a moment, and then he nodded; ”Yes. Whatever it takes.”
The witch was from a faraway kingdom. She was half-witch and half-demon. One of the few who did not get killed during the war. They refused to serve him directly and lived in distant kingdoms, but this was a dire case and he needed their help.
The woman smiled and waved to one of the girls behind her. The girl dipped her hand into a bag and took out a potion bottle and gave it to the woman. Opening the bottle; the woman stretched her hand towards Neera.
”Give me your hand.” she said, and Neera stretched her right hand to the woman. In an instant, the woman’s fingers turned to claws and she used the index to pierce Neera’s vein.
”Arghhh!” Neera screamed as blood flowed out of her hand into the bottle. She bit her lower lip as she watched her blood flow until it filled the bottle, after which the woman let her go and covered the bottle.
Neera pressed the wounded spot with her hand as she tried to control the flow of blood. It hurt a lot, but she tried to hold it in.
”The process will take a while, but I will report to you when I have news. ” The woman said, and Zavian nodded.
”I’ll arrange my guards to take you back to your kingdom.”
”Thank you, your majesty. It is a pleasure to serve you. ” The woman spoke, bowing her head, and the girls behind her bowed too.
Zavian nodded and left the room. Neera followed behind him. Her blood dripped to the ground as she walked forward. The witch had injured her a little badly, so it was taking time to clot.
Zavian suddenly stopped and turned to look at her;
”Does it hurt?” he asked, and Neera looked up at him. Her heart squeezed as she stared at his face. Why was he asking her if it hurt? He was clearly ready to do anything, even if it demanded her head, so why was he acting like he cared the least about how she felt?
Neera did her best to keep the grimace off her face as she shook her head.
”No, Your Majesty. It is fine. ” She said. Zavian’s eyes fell to her wound and he stared at it for some time and then continued walking forward.
They went back to his chambers, and Zavian made her sit. After she sat down, he brought a bowl of water to clean the wound, but Neera stood up.
”Your Majesty, please do not bother yourself. It is not serious, and I do not want you to stain your robe.” She said.
Neera felt disgusted. He had taken her to the slaughter, and now he wanted to care? All the times he had tended to her wound, she had thought he was kind, but now she thought about it; everything was just to preserve the only thing that could bring his wife back.
How stupid of her to think that he would be kind to a lowly slave like her.
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