The Lost Sigil; Dawn of Light

Chapter 15: Oaths

Eda and Yri were taken to the king's hall after most of the guests had gone. The long golden lined table was dressed fine with white cloth and an assortment of aromatic foods. Eda was hungry and she could not hide it. She held Yri's hand and guided her to the seats closer to Thomas'. Eda sat hurriedly and started serving all she could for Yri and herself. Luckily for her Diana was willing, at least she seemed, to help Yri.

Thomas was not so keen in eating. He took a silver jug that was lined with jewels of all kind and poured the contents into a glass chalice.

"My king, let me get you your cup," Diana offered as if Thomas had committed an atrocity drinking from a random cup.

"Let it be, Diana. I believe the wine will taste just as fine in any cup." Thomas raised the chalice in salute and then took a huge gulp.

"Would you like some?" Thomas looked at Eda, "Finest wine in the entire kingdom."

Eda smiled and nodded. Thomas picked another chalice close to him and poured the wine half-way before handing it over to Eda.

"I wouldn't want to get you intoxicated. Aunt Mildred would kill me," Thomas joked as he filled his cup again.

Her mother was still ailing. Eda was supposed to get away, protect the stone but she had not done any. Here she was, within the kingdom and with no stone. She might have found a way to heal her mother and protect herself but she still failed to deliver. She stopped eating and stared blankly at her messy plate.

"Is she alright?" Eda struggled to ask. She lifted her head and looked at Thomas, her brows curled and eyes watery.

Thomas held Eda's hand with a shady smile. "Your mother's state has not worsened, nor has it improved. The Watchers are keeping her alive but no one knows what's affecting her."

Eda felt her heart clench. She was going to let her mother die a horrendous death. Lester knew about what her mother was going through, perhaps he would be able to help.

"Is it possible for you to release the two prisoners I was with?" Eda asked.

Thomas let go of Eda's hand and leaned back, pouring more wine into his cup.

"That will not be possible. Those two are standing trial for the death of the queen."

"Death of the queen?" Eda was puzzled by the accusation.

"While you were away, we continued investigating the events at your home and here in the palace. Two things arose and matched. A black residue endued with aether was at both scenes and those thieves were in possession of an entire jar."

"The ashes of a Tenebrian Obia that was lost," Eda recalled what Lester and Rhys were looking for back at their hut. Were they capable of doing it? Eda was not so sure anymore. She had seen how ruthless Rhys and Lester can be and a slight fear coursed through her. Her suspicion rose even farther thinking of how much Lester tried to gain her trust and leave for Terra, away from home and maybe away from the truth.

"The Shadow King of Thieves. I believe you have heard of the name."

Eda nodded slightly. That name had become infamous especially among the Watchers. There were rumours of items from temples being stolen by a moving shadow that moved like wind. No one really knew who or what but that it was just a shadow.

"Harren has been working towards capturing this Shadow and only to find that the scourge of nations is just a boy, and a cat," Thomas said with a disappointed tone.

There was a silence that engulfed the hall. Thomas just stared at the cup in his hand stirring the little bit of wine left.

"The trial is by oath. Hopefully they do not have any compurgators." Thomas drunk the remaining wine then placed the chalice on the table with a bang as he continued to stare deeply into it. "Let them that seek harm upon this kingdom and its citizens receive a punishment best suited to compensate for all the pain caused." Thomas said in a flat malicious sound.