A slow grin spreads across her face as she keeps her hands moving. “My child, how doyouknow this tune?”
A shiver rushes through my body as goosebumps take over my arms. My throat tightens as if a rock is lodged inside of it and I cannot swallow.My child.Her voice seems so familiar. Florian still shouts but I tune him out.
“I heard this in a cave. It led me to these stones…” I whisper, hoping what I speak of doesn’t put me back in captivity.
I feel a warm breath on the back of my neck, and I turn around to see Prince Florian standing there, his face flushed with anger as he hovers over me. He has finally stopped yelling at me,but his clenched fists and the burning fire in his eyes tells me he is seething inside.
I turn my body away from him, not caring how pissed off he is, and grab the table. I fear they both might feel I am making this up and truthfully, I even fear the words leaving my mouth sound ridiculous.
The woman stays silent, ignoring me to continue batting at the dough. My patience is running dry. I need some answers. My hands grip the table tighter as time drags on watching the dough flip around. I lean over the counter more. My hands curl around the edges, my wounds stinging with pain, but at least I am not bleeding anymore.
“Hello?” I plead out to her for an answer.
Her eyes drift up to me as she still grins ear to ear. “Why are you in such a hurry,my child?”
“Why do you keep saying my child?!” I yell and as I do so, Florian yanks my shoulder back.
“You do not speak to her that way.” His ember eyes enlight with fury as he glares into my soul. “Speak to her like that again,and you will never take another breath. Do you understand,woman?”
The floorboard creaks as the woman walks over to us, removing his hand and placing hers on his shoulder. “You have no idea who she is, do you, my boy?”
She smiles at the both of us and walks to the smoldering fire. The Prince and I stand still, shoulder to shoulder, until she lifts her hands for us to sit.
“Our Prince, I know your parents have told you about the traveler,the Queen, who would return to us.”
Chapter 4
“Only a true Deskyiara can understand the words from the Gods. The Book of Azure will be scorched by fire every time someone tries to read the words. Only those who are bound by the bloodline from the descendant of the God of Fire can see. One day, the book shall burn to ash, leaving no trace of what the Gods have promised the Realms.” - Book of Azure
THE WOODEN CHAIR CREAKS AS I hesitantly take a seat.
My heart pounds in my chest as my hands nervously fidget in my lap in anticipation.Did she call me here?I am no Queen. Just an ordinary girl who grew up at the fishing markets with Tilly and Alice.
Florian sits across from me, his ember eyes lingering on me with suspicion.And anger.His jaw ticks as his nostrils flare,focusing on nothing else but me. As if he thinks I would hurt her. Which I wouldn’t. Who is she to him, anyway?
I just need answers. And this Prince just might have led me straight to the truth I have been seeking.
The old lady hums as she walks back into the kitchen, the sweet melody filling the small cabin once again. Her eyes glance from my worried eyes to the magenta herbs she grabs from an old wooden pot, carefully placing them in a bowl before ripping them apart. Her wrinkled face lights up, a soft smile forming along her lips, almost as if she knew I would be here.
As if she has been waiting for me.
I wait patiently. There is no escaping the Prince, no escaping this world, but the answers I seek are so close. My leg bounces, heel tapping against the wooden floor as my eyes drift around the cottage. Avoiding Florian’s death stare.
His gaze clings to me, prickling my skin with unease. My shoulders tense, and a chill creeps down my spine as I try to focus on anything else.
As I glance around, the walls of the cabin are adorned with delicate olive-green vines and herbs, carefully selected and hung from the wooden ceiling. Sunlight streams through the windows, morning once again, and illuminates the rusted pots filled with colorful flowers on the windowsill. My eyes burn with exhaustion. The sweet scent of violet and lavender drifts through the crack in the glass. I inhale a deep breath, savoring the moment, the peacefulness before everything burns.
Sitting here, I should fear this place. Fear her.Fear him.
Yet somehow, all the chaos of this world melts away, replaced by an eerie calmness that leaves me feelingunable to move… unable to comprehend how I am even here. A sense of home. No matter the beauty of this place, I cannot ignore Florian's incessant tapping of his finger against his muscular thigh, a constant reminder of the tension building within him.
Building betweenus.
She finally takes one more look at the both of us, taking a deep breath before speaking in a soft and gentle voice.
“Long ago,” she clears her throat, “there was a prophecy about the coming of the lost Royal who would unite all realms and defeat the darkness that threatens our universe. Known asour traveler. ThetrueQueen.”
Florian stands, a low growl emitting from the depths of his throat, but the woman holds up her hand, eyebrows raised, ordering him to sit.
