Chapter 42

"Have you found anything?" asked Rikken.

"Nothing master," Zarkin replied, "but I know that Samin went to the Madegaldian camp and has not returned yet. I think that if he did not find anything, he would already return and rest his lazy ass."

His words drowned in silence.

"What are you talking about?"

"He lacked determination from the beginning," the boy confessed "he didn't want to get tired. I feel if he didn't find anything, he would return to the camp and send a second group, then go to sleep. All aristocrats are like that!

"Don't say that. Samin is as worried as we are. Although I hope you are right and he actually came across a clue or even found Galaspiael."

They intended to go to a village nearby, but someone came to inform them that everyone had to return to the camp as soon as possible.

From a distance, they saw a black Madegaldian coffin surrounded by several members of the Silver Guard who were trying to keep the onlookers at bay. Rikken suddenly dimmed, hung his head, and said nothing. Zarkin realized after a moment.

"Impossible," he whispered.

When they arrived, Samin nodded and sighed heavily.

"We suffered a great loss in this battle. His Majesty… is dead... they were about to send a message to us soon."

"They killed him ?!" Shouted Jun.

"From what I could understand, he chased someone and approached the unit guarding the camp. They attacked him and only after a while they realized who he was, so they informed their leaders."

Rikken narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

- I don't believe it. I knew him well. Galaspiael would never have acted so carelessly."

"Perhaps this is not entirely true," Okiani admitted sadly. "You must notify the king of Sekania. Madegald is ready for a ceasefire for several months. They know that Prince Darmeon was also killed in this battle and they want to give us time to honor the fallen."

"It's very honorable of them," said Zarkin and at this moment he thought of Kalena. He didn't even want to think about how she would react to such a devastating message. He felt no sadness, but a profound, penetrating shock. He was sure that the king would be found, maybe a little injured, but alive.

Zarkin never valued being a member of the Silver Guard, but he felt a pang of collective guilt that everyone else felt. He accepted the guards' invitation to their tent and spent the rest of the day there. He didn't think that the news of the king's death would affect him so much.

In the evening Rikken came in and sat down next to him.

"They told me you were here. The unit that is to remain has already gone to the Sekanian camp. Let's go back home."

*

Every breath caused pain

Galaspiael lay on the ground, unable to move a single step. He wanted to scream, cry, break free, fight, but he was too weak for that. His body refused to obey, even when trying to make the simplest movements.

Early in the morning Washar dragged him to the center of a large square and encouraged everyone to stop by to see what he was going to do. He tied Galaspiael to a large pole but left enough chain for him to fall to his knees if he fainted. Galaspiael guessed the hidden intention and tried his best not to faint. He could not see what he was beaten, but he never felt such severe pain in his life. At some point, he failed. He lost consciousness only for a moment, but when he awoke he could not get up again.

When he opened his eyes, he saw thick black fog above him. Death surrounded his body. He begged Washar for mercy and then for death. It wasn't just his body that ached, but his soul too. Darkness burst deep into him and began to wreak havoc on his mind.

For the Madegaldian soldiers, their prince was a rehabilitated hero. They were not afraid of his power. They regarded Galaspiael as a cruel villain, and each time he showed how much he suffered, they reacted with sadistic joy.

He wasn't led back to the tent. They made him stay outside in a large cage. It meant to protect him from attacks but also deprived of any privacy. To make matters worse, it began to rain.

Washar threatened that any attempt to help the prisoner was forbidden, but even without his words, no one intended to help Galaspiael. No one approached the cage for any other purpose than to spit, call him names, or throw a stone.

Despite the pain that slowly took away his ability to think rationally, Galaspiael has not completely surrendered yet. He still hoped to see someone eventually. That they would find out the scheme and come back for him. He desperately wanted to see familiar faces for a moment.

At that time, he was even ready to give Samin the crown voluntarily to be able to return home. He wanted nothing more.

The rain at first was like a blessing, but eventually, it began to irritate. Water slowly cooled Galaspiael's body so after a while he felt chilled to the bone. He knew it was also because of the fever he probably got from the wounds and in reality, it wasn't that cold.

He doesn't know that Najana was observing him and by all means, tried to persuade Washar to agree to help the prisoner.

"This mine changed you. You were not so..."

"Not so...?" He asked. The woman pressed her lips together tightly.

"You will draw the anger of beings about whom we know almost nothing!"

"Beings who have renounced him."

"You can't be sure about that, don't risk it!"

"I also have powerful ancestors who can defend me, Najana," Washar reminded. "Huangjin dynasty is older than his. Besides, I don't think you looked at what I was doing to him."

"Believe me, tortures are not a pleasant thing to watch. What happened except that in the end you lost your temper and wanted to kill him?"

"And that's the point! I couldn't kill him! I enchanted, as usual, and my power didn't kill him!" Washar got up and walked over to her. "He is immune to my energy, I didn't even know it's possible! So maybe there is a way to become immune to my brother's power! For the first time in a long time, I feel that I have a goal. He will be punished, and thanks to him I will find a way to defeat Naimoor. I just have to think about how to do it, and in the mine, I will have a lot of time and try all the methods."

*

It was an extremely gloomy day.

Normally at this time of year, the capital would be full of Sekanian traders. Now, because of the war, only a few came.

Kalena wandered around the city looking for something for dinner. She also wanted to buy something to celebrate the day that was special to her. Four years have passed since she was sold to Galaspiael by her former owner.

A year in Yagn-Sho and then almost three years in the palace. She didn't count last month. She was now a nineteen-year-old free woman with a mysterious past.

The queen asked her to show up only in the evening, so she had almost all day to herself. She decided to spend it at home.

When Kalena returned, she came across Zarkin in front of the entrance. The boy saw her and quickly looked away but came over.

"Why are you back?" She hugged him. "I'm so happy!"

"Nice to see you too" he replied forcing a smile "We better go home."

"Where's Galaspiael? Is he back yet?"

"Kalena," Zarkin interrupted emphatically and cleared his throat. "I will explain everything, just come!"

She followed him feeling the worry grow in her soul. He came alone. It was strange She thought he'd brought a message, perhaps information about the next task she was about to complete.

"I have no idea how to say it," he began, "I've never been too gentle, and I know I will hurt you anyway. I came faster to prepare you."

"Prepare me for what?"

Zarkin's eyes closed for a moment.

"A funeral convoy will be here in an hour. Galaspiael was killed. I wanted to warn you so that it wouldn't be such a big shock for you. I'm sorry, nobody knows how it happened."

Kalena froze for a moment. Her eyes widened in horror as the meaning of the words he uttered reached her.

"Galaspiael... died?"

"I can't believe it myself." Zarkin carefully watched the girl. She didn't react as emotionally as he expected. Her face muscles tightened. She sat stiffly in the chair, all the time staring at something in front of her.

"When they would arrive you said?" Her voice didn't break, but she spoke softly and hoarsely.

"In an hour," he repeated, "or a little faster. Do you want to go to the palace?"

"Yes. I have to." She nodded. "I have to go because I can't believe you."

It was one of the very long hours. Zarkin wanted to go with Kalena, but she told him to rest and went alone. With him, it seemed as if the news of Galaspiael's death did not take her too much. Although she wanted very much, she couldn't cry. This news shook her deeply. She couldn't release everything she felt, too much emotion was tugging her mind.

It broke when she entered a secret library from which one could get into the palace through a secret tunnel. She was crying so hard that she was out of breath. Everything there reminded of Galaspiael. One of the worst places she could find herself at that moment. She didn't hide her regret, but she didn't feel better. Only it hurt more.

There was terrifying silence in the palace. Even servants who could not know anything were behaving differently. Kalena understood why when she came to the window.

The funeral procession has already entered the higher city circle. The girl recognized Jun and Aymon from a distance.

Galaspiael's casket was black. Madegaldian and very mismatched, but they didn't change it.

Lin-Si was already waiting in the courtyard, surrounded by her servants. She stood upright, not moving at all. From the outside, it resembled a cool statue, but there was immense despair in her eyes.

At that moment the pain won, and the fact that Galaspiael had died reached Kalena's mind. She no longer had the strength to stand up straight and watch it all. She fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. Her whole world collapsed. Galaspiael was dead. She no longer had anyone in the world.

"Kalena," Jun approached her. "Go back home. Nothing can be done anymore."

"I was supposed to tell him so many important things..." She forced herself to look at the casket again. "I promised myself that when he came back I would talk to him."

"Many of us wanted to talk to the king again." The captain helped her up. "Go now. I'm so sorry."

Kalena obeyed him. She had nothing to look for in the palace anymore. This place seemed quiet and strange. Along the way, she noticed how people hurriedly pull off lanterns and decorations. This year the moon festival was not to take place.

Kagolania was mourning the king.

*

"Your Majesty, please accept my deepest condolences," said Samin.

Lin-Si calmly looked into his eyes. He didn't have to explain anything. The courts looked at her carefully, ready to help if she started to cry or fainted.

"I knew the Queen of Sekania had lost her son. I thought it would end on him. Why we were not informed for so long?

"It took some time before we found the body. Until the end we wanted to hope that His Majesty survived, "answered Aymon," so we refrained from sending messages about his death, hoping that he would be alive."

"Liar, he promised me that he would come back!"

"It wasn't his fault. He was lured into a trap by the enemy."

The queen took a deep breath, wanting to regain control of her voice.

"We're not likely to know whose fault it was anymore. You must organize a funeral and quickly appoint a successor. It will be difficult, as you know, we didn't have any children. I think you should get Okiani as soon as possible and pick someone together. We can't stay without a king. Can I count on your help?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. We will deal with this immediately." Samin smiled and touched the queen's hand. She shuddered, surprised by this bold gesture.

"After the funeral, we will open the granaries," she decided "this year's harvest will not be successful and Sekania must defend itself. We cannot be hungry because hunger will weaken us, and now weakness means death. I will discuss this with Okiani. I apologize to you now, I don't feel well."

She turned without a word and quickly went to one of her chambers.

"Bring hot water," she told one of the servants "And you bring me herbs. And you... leave and don't come back until I tell you. I want to be alone."

She only had a few minutes. She couldn't afford to show in public how much it all depressed and frightened her. She saw Kalena cry and felt like crying, but she knew she must be strong, especially now. She was a queen.

When she was younger, she hated Galaspiael so much that she openly wished him death. She hoped that if he had died before their wedding, her parents would arrange her marriage with someone else. She remembered her nannies always reprimanding her. They told her that she must be a good and loving wife, which caused her even greater wave of internal rebellion.

They grew up virtually separated, and over the years he turned more and more reserved and cold. Lin-Si remembered him as a spoiled prince, and then he finished Yagn-Sho and they have become complete strangers.

He never returned to the palace unless he had to. Every time she came, she was told to wait for him to appear. It annoyed her tremendously. She no longer understood his behavior. When they were children Galaspiael hated low-born people, after returning from Yagn-Sho he started living among them.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she didn't know him at all.