The Druid Wielder

Chapter 33

"Are you sure the Prince wasn't lying to you?" Palleas asked after I had explained what Prince Andrion had told me. In all honesty, I hadn't thought about that since the time we had talked. The idea of being royalty still seemed rather odd. I wish I had time to ask my father about it.

"Why would he? He has no reason to, I don't think. Besides, that would be a rather weird lie to have me believe. No, no I trust what he said." The King told me to not trust him. However, Teren also knew this secret so it made sense to believe this fact.

"You said Lord Dazaron hid your true nobility so that the King wouldn't discover you. Perhaps they figured out who you are?" Palleas stood up.

"Before we jump to conclusions, we shouldn't. I believe you, Emilea, but with the information that you have shared with us in the past two days, I think it is safe to say we shouldn't trust the word of either." Kelrith explained. "I do believe questioning KuRath would help us with this."

"I agree. KuRath seems to be the most suspicious, currently." Bargonaan agreed.

"Getting him cornered shouldn't be too difficult, especially with you and your sword." Palleas smiled and I gave a half-smile back.

Does that mean I would have to fight again? So soon?

"What will be difficult is figuring out where he is." Beatra said.

"Oh?" Palleas raised a brow and looked at me. I shrugged. Why was she helping us again? She made it clear in the beginning that she had no reason to help us so why the change of heart? What was in it for her? Could we trust what came from her mouth? I bet Palleas was wondering the same.

"He makes a lot of enemies so he and his soldiers travel fast. They know to never stay in one place for too long. That's what makes them hard to track." Beatra explained.

Kelrith continued to ask Beatra questions. What changed? Why now? Perhaps the idea that her brother might be in danger had helped change her mind?

My eyes burned and my head throbbed. There was so much to think about. Perhaps I should write this all down somewhere. It was hard to keep track of what questions I still had. Out of the many I had there was one that still stood out.

"How do you think I was mind-controlled?" I asked them. They thought for a minute.

"Druid magic?" Palleas asked. Kelrith laughed.

"Druids are practically extinct."

"I've been to a Druid village not too long ago, so it could be possible," I told Kelrith and nodded to Palleas. I believed his reasoning.

"I've never seen or heard about KuRath using magic." Beatra yawned.

"Well then, wouldn't that only leave the Flower of the Valley?" Bargonaan looked to Kelrith. We all did.

"Ah Poppee, yes."

"Poppee? The medicinal flower used to help you sleep better?" I remember Akyto mentioning it in one of our studies on medicinal herbs.

"Normally so, however, it has been rumored that there are other uses. There is an herb created through the use of druid magic, called Black Lotus. It's found around underground markets not regulated by the King. It's extremely valued by swordsmiths for its dark black properties, as it gives weapons an intense look. But when it is burned with poppee, the vapors emitted are said to 'cloud one's thoughts' and hypothetically control another's mind. I honestly can't believe that I didn't think of it before."

"What? That's crazy." Beatra said what I was thinking.

"If you are right and I was mind controlled..." I trailed off trying to make sense of this. "How was I controlled with it? How does it work?"