MISTRESS OF FLAME

CHAPTER 47

CHAPTER 47

HAKKERAN HAD been sitting on the foot of the queen's bed for more than an hour, but she hadn't said anything. She didn't reply to Hakkeran's question. Not a single word, but Hakkeran knew the queen was awake. He could hear her uneven breathing and her subtle movement on the bed. It was agitating him. The thought that the queen he adored didn't want to speak with him by choice was disturbing him that he couldn't concentrate.

It was vexing, but he had a plan. A solid plan. And this, whatever this was, it might destroy his plan.

Maybe this was better. Maybe this was for the best.

With that in mind, Hakkeran stood up and went back to the cave's entrance. He just had to endure. What's new? Nothing. Enduring pain and longing had always been his specialty.

I endured four lifetimes without her, I have no problem enduring one more.

Hakkeran sat on the ground and sighed. Instead of soothing his aching heart, he closed his eyes to concentrate and recall his plans. At the moment, everything was being ready in the empire. He needed more time to make sure that his plan would succeed, and the queen would give him that as she crossed the three valleys to get to Queen Gatria.

As long as his queen, the Mistress of Flame was making trouble and leaving burnt bodies in her wake, the empire and the kingdom's attention will be solely focused on her and no one else's. And I have to take advantage of that while everyone was preoccupied. He had three lifetimes to plan this. He wouldn't let himself fail.

Hakkeran glanced in the direction where the queen was on her bed. He wanted nothing more than to talk to her, smile and laugh with her and just be with her, but he had more pressing matters to do.

He had to strengthen their prisoner and jailor relationship. It was more safer.

Hakkeran passed the night with that thought and when morning came, they went back outside to try to cross the center of Shivering valley. The queen was silent, not a word was said unlike their previous mornings where she would always greet him with a smile on her face as if she was looking forward to their day together. But, today, no greetings and she became colder than the valley.

Hakkeran was expecting this, but this was too much. The queen's silence was deafening, as if she was silently telling him that this was how she treats people she hates and didn't like. 

Dead silence.

She never, not even once, accepted his offered hand to assist her. She became this indifferent and strange person.

But his plan must go on.

Reaching the center of the valley at noon and hearing the howling of the beasts, Hakkeran readied his twin blade from his ring and gave one to Sollel which Sollel silently accepted.

"Don't use strong flame attacks," Hakkeran warned the queen. "We don't want to trigger an avalanche."

Sollel just nodded and blessed the blade in her hand with her own flame. It was a normal blessing, not a blood flame so the sword will hold out until broken.

Holding the now flaming sword in her hand, trying to find the right grip, and balance of the sword, Sollel heard a growl from the steep slope above them. Casting her gaze in the direction of the sound, she stilled when she saw a pack of bluish-white four-legged beasts. Nine feet in length, including their tail and five feet in height. It was huge and there were so many of them. Without using her flame, they'll lose and be a beast food. But if she did, they'll be buried in thick ice.

"They're called snow topaz-furred Wildcat." Hakkeran informed Sollel. "They're fast and agile. Their claws are sharp and deadly. They attack in packs and one pack consist of fifteen to thirty members. But the most annoying part of them are their fur, it's too thick to be penetrated so easily. Not only that, but they could also wield ice to some level to make ice sharp spears—"