The Enchantress

56.

Princess Mina.

When we arrived at Aevar, Jaryu himself fetched me from my room and led me out of the ship. We're now in a carriage. I sat opposite him and tried not to look at him. I despise his presence.

I was looking at the window and was devastated by what I saw. There were almost no trees around. Almost everything is the color of sand. The people around looked shabby and sad. As they saw the carriage they bowed and then ran away.

Is this what Aevar has become when Jaryu came to power? I can't help but feel sorry for Aevar and it's people.

He took off the cloth he wrapped in his head and half of his face.

"Ugh. That's better." I can feel his eyes are on me. "You'll like my palace. Almost everything is gold."

I chuckled before I could stop myself. His palace is full of gold while his country is poor and suffering. How pathetically selfish.

I can see him smiling from my peripheral view. "You're thinking I'm greedy. Well I am. I like gold, treasure anything valuable that I can lay my hands on."

He forcefully made me look at him. "A treasure like you... Once I kill your Prince, get ready... my soon to be bride."

I pushed his hand away and looked back at the window. I chose not to say anything but I'm so scared that I'm shaking inside.

"The feisty princess chose not to talk huh. That's good, better even. You don't want to push me or it'll be bad... Real bad." He then leaned his back and just stared at me.

I used all my will power to control myself from kicking him in his shin and punching him.

An image of a man standing looking at the carriage went past the window. I tried to look further but I couldn't see him anymore for the carriage ride so fast. Curious, unlike the others he didn't bow or even ran away.

Almost an hour later, we went past a high wall. There was a sudden change in scenery. From the color of sand, it became colorful. Houses of 2 storey high with different colors came into view. Few people were at the streets and they look more lively than the ones outside the wall.

We then passed a much thicker and wider wall. The castle came into view. He didn't exaggerate when he said almost everything is gold. The castle itself is huge and almost all of it is covered in gold.

The carriage stopped at the castle grounds. He took out a knife which startled me. He laughed as he pull my hands toward him and cut the rope that bound my hands. He wrapped his head and face again before he got off the carriage first. He then held my arm as he helped me get off the carriage.

There was a crowd waiting. All of them smiling and cheering. There were also guards all lined up facing each other with a red carpet between them. The carpet leads to the castle door.

"Welcome to Tyrian. Smile. It won't hurt to give the people a bit of a show." He said whispering in my ear. I moved away a little but not obvious enough to make a scene. The thing that I should not do now is to make him mad.

He smiled and offer his hand.

So I smiled and placed my hand on his. It felt revolting, like I held on something that I despise.

He walked forward urging me with his hand to walk with him. He was smiling and waving with his other hand.

When we reached the steps, he whispered: "Stay quiet or you'll regret it." He then turned to face the crowd. He then raised his hand making everyone quiet.