It's still in the morning when my presence in the courtroom is called, right after I had watered the flowers. Mithian and I get to it almost immediately. Everyone is in the room the council of elders, Orion, the general, and Lady Enmyria. King Hemsworth is seated on this throne which is on a raised dais. As everyone settles down standing where they are supposed to, a young man and woman walk in escorted by a soldier. Both of them are dressed in brown sack clothes. The woman has her hair covered in a scarf. None of them looks up to the king till they get to the front.
I look over at Orion who is standing next to Enmyria his hands crossed across his masculine chest. We hadn't had time to speak after coming back from the hunting gone wrong charade. Today was one of those rare days he had his hair fall to his shoulders making him surreal. The room is silent the king watching one person after another intently. Sometimes you'd think he had a twin. He always had this version of him that was playful, ready to crack jokes, this minute he was seriously coughing his herm and fierce face on. He nods his head once at the two.
"My name is Sefa my lord this is my younger brother Heron. A day ago our village was attacked by mysterious creatures, wounding most of the villagers. We were lucky to escape with our lives deciding to come to tell you about our misfortune so you can help us." the woman says. The king adjusts his sitting posture to an upright position, his hand on his chin as if in thought.
"This- creatures you speak of, what were they like?"
"I can't tell exactly it was impossible to see from where we hid all I know is that they let out deafening cries that shroudedequally with the screams that could come from the underworld it also hath this sharp spike on its tail." She says in a sob. Her words remind me of a creature such as that in the forest, glimpsing at Orion. He too seemed to share the same thought I had as we both looked up at each other simultaneously. The manticore! I thought we killed it. My attention lifts back to the king as he goes on to speak.
"Your village is among the outlining villages in my kingdom it is therefore my responsibility to protect its citizens." King Hemsworth addresses. The two strangers smile in gratitude. "General Leonius gather some men, you ride at midday," From the corner of my eyes I see Orion's hands drop his expression changing too. He shifts his weight from one leg to another uneasily, looking up at his father clenching his jaw. Leonius bows exiting the room to get ready for his quest. "Gerald, please find out what creature this might be."
"it must be the manticore, it must have survived somehow," Orion says.
"I thought you said it was killed," his father argues.
"Maybe I was mistaken," he says casting his eyes on me. Was he blaming me?
"that's years ago?"
"We can't take our chances." Orion finalizes. The king sits back deep in thought before dismissing everyone except me.
"You should have let me go in Leonius's place." Orion complains, as the doors shut.
"I thought I told you I needed you here for another task better get to it," his father commands. Orion sighs in displeasure going away.
"you really know how to keep him on his toes," I begin as he walks down the few steps to meet me.
"There are times such decisions are needed," he answers, "walk with me."
We head out of the courtroom strolling as he talks. I wanted to ask him if he knew anything about the manticore but I did not know how to or the version told by his son. We walked outside the castle to the main square where we halted. I looked at him confused. Why would he bring us here? Then I saw the stableman approaching us with twin horses, the one I loved riding was a white stallion, the king took a brown one, a soldier behind him. "I want us to go for a ride." He says. Excitedly I agree. We both mount our horses and ride off in the company of one soldier. We race each other inside the forest till he has us divert into a different route. We chatted along the way till we arrived at a scene. Mats were laid down on the ground that was covered with beautiful red, gold orange and brown fallen beech tree leaves. On the mat were bowls of fruits some covered with a net and a jug I assumed held wine.
YOU ARE READING
Beyond Immortality
Paranormal"What the fuck did we bump into?" Damien yells. The entire room rattles. Window frame movement puts too much stress on the glasses. The lights going on and off as if some weirdo is busy toying with them, the light fixture's wires become exposed, an...
