The Assassin And The King [Completed]

| Chapter Nine : The Pain |

The next day, I wake with the usual feeling of groginess in my head and an aching body.

My insides feel as if something is trying to claw out but isn't able to and it's just making my entire being hurt so bad.

I stretch against the numbing pain and try to have a bath and then dress up with as less movements as I can. Why in the world is it hurting so bad this morning?!

Today, my uniform is a maroon velvet tunic with thick black velvet laces at the borders. I have six of them-uniforms, I mean-of all different colours but they're equally beautiful and comfortable.

Once I'm all dressed up with the weapons hidden in my boots, I scramble through my backpack for the portion Victor gave me. The ache usually stops when I consume it through two doses, morning and at night.

Finding the black liquid packed in a glass bottle, I gulp it down my burning throat. The ache stops instantly. Like some magical medicine healing the problem and I'm thankful that Victor let me get this while coming here.

I don't know whether I'd be able to even stand still without it. The pain is just unbearable at times.

Taking a deep breath when I finally feel settled, I walk out of my room only to find Julian and Avyanna by my door just seconds away from knocking.

"Oh, good morning!" Julian smiles brightly letting me a peek of those perfectly aligned teeth.

"Morning." I give him a small smile and then proceed to greet Avyanna with the same.

She merely nods.

"Actually, we came here to inform you that you'd be accompanying the king to witch Dulcamara's place after breakfast. She's the royal sorcerer. But she prefers to stay at her...uh...house?" He looks at Avyanna quizzically as if to verify whether it really is a house.

"She calls it her lair." Avyanna explains, "Her name is actually Amara but she tells all of us to call her Dulcamara since it and I quote, 'means bittersweet which exudes her personality more'. She's a bit shady but one of the most loyal member of the court."

I nod taking in her words. Sounds like an interesting lady.

"Aren't you both coming as well?" At my question, I find them both shaking their heads.

"We're going to the trackers and see if we can track down the one who did the poisoning." Avyanna informs.

"Oh, and commander Dante?" I ask carefully.

Julian's lips quirks up at the sides into a smirk as he wiggles his brows at me, "Do you have a thing for him?"

Avyanna gives him a blank look while I simply shake my head.

"Just curious." I shrug trying to act nonchalant.

"Oh." Julian's face falls as if he got deprived of some major gossip.

Avyanna's lips twists into an almost smile at his forlorn expression before she schools it and turns to me, "Dante is visiting his family so he won't be there."

So, it's just me and the king?

Although, I know who this 'family' of Dante's might be. He's most probably going to the creed to meet Victor. I might get new orders from leader through Dante.

I nod again and ask them whether they remember about Mellisa to which they have the same confused look as Dante. I drop the conversation then and there accepting the fact that something is definitely fishy here.

We then depart to the dining room together.

The breakfast is quiet with Queen Eleanor making short conversations with Valerian here and there. She even turns to ask me and the other guards whether we had a good night's sleep.