NOTELLO

Chapter 3

“Aren’t you becoming a bit obsessed with finding this mage?” Elija asked as he climbed down the wooden ladder with a book in his hand.

The castle’s library was the largest containing every single book that was written by any sort of being. It was Notello’s second home, her escape from reality. She wanted to know more about the mage and secretly the meaning behind her golden markings. These markings were written perfectly, there was no way those were birth marks. She needed to know more about herself and why she kept on having those strange dreams and visions. She wanted to know if they markings where some sort of enchantments. She wanted to know why Elija kept on appearing in her visions with a sword in his hand, with a dragon flying behind him.

“We have to find him.” She said briefly. Elija let out a soft chuckle as he placed the book on a small table that stood between Notello and himself. “What’s so funny?” Notello looked at him tensely.

“You. You are so intense, so serious.”

“No, I’m not.” She said with shock written all over her face.

“Yes you are.” He said as if almost feeling sorry for her. “You are too young for all this. The problem is you spend way too much time with grown up. You don’t even know how to act your age anymore.”

“I can be fun”

“Sure.” He said sarcastically turning around and reading his book.

“Hmm,”

“What is it?” Notello turned with her eyes slightly opened in awe.

“The book states that the mage finds you not the other way round.” Notello shrugged letting out a defeat, she really wanted answers and she knew the mage would help her since he had helped her once.

“You know? You are close with the king maybe he can help you?” the idiot was almost right, Notello thought to herself.

Raynald was standing by his balcony staring at the kingdom watching people live their lives. He yearned for this, the whole kingdom. He took a sip of wine from the golden cup he held zoning out, his face so intense. A plan was building up in his mind and slowly as the plan came together in his mind he smirked. He was annoyingly interrupted by the announcement of the queen’s arrival to his room. She was another pawn he had to get rid of sooner or later. He didn’t trust her.

“My lord, the queen has entered the chambers.” One of his servants, a young girl by the name Meredith said with a low voice.

She was his favorite, she knew ways of pleasuring him. Promise a slave freedom and they will become your puppet he always said. He gave her a quick nod without even glancing in her direction. There was a brief silence followed by heavy footsteps. The queen breathed on top of her lungs as if she had walked a long distance.

“What brings the royal queen into my humble chambers?” Raynald place his cup on a small golden stool that stood next to him with a banquette of flowers on top of it.

“Humble? More of a whore house.” she let out a small laugh signaling her servants to leave the room.

“Well I am a dashing old man aren’t I? Without a wife and a kid… of course I deserve a bit of action beside you already know how irresistible I am.”  He said leaning in and brushing her cheeks. The queen blinked profoundly looking aside her face turning cherry red. Raynald smirked mockingly, walking away from her, grabbing his cup and taking another sip of wine. “What bring you here Gertrude?” His voice suddenly turned cold.

“The mage is coming back again. To check on the baby’s health right before giving birth. What if he finds out?”

“Find out what?”

“Our secret.” The queen said looking at the womb.

“He won’t. Unless the baby isn’t mine too. He only senses the royal blood.”

“What about the King? I am tired of having to please that old man. What is your next move?” he looked at her suspiciously. Why would she want to know any of his moves?

“You will witness when it happens.” And indeed they would all witness.

  As soon as the queen left his quarters. He went to the king’s and that would be the first step to his perfect plan.

“Brother,” he said with a smile on his face and the king looked at him smiling back.

“I called you here for something very important.” He said signaling all the servants to leave the quarters. He was in his silk robes, he walked towards his balcony and stared into the abyss. Raynald stood beside him also staring at his brother. “You have been there during that time of war. You have come to witness it all. Brother, we don’t want to fight another war and create more enemies. I want you to go to the ice people and forge a truce with them. I know if I send Aariya she won’t agree with me but you brother I trust you.”

Notello saw the king’s guards and servants on his chamber entrance. She went to talk to one whom she was close to Nela. Nela was less than 21years of age. She was always smiling, whilst others always gave Notello a weird stare all her life Nela never did that. Notello also noticed that Nela was always quiet and doing things by herself. She was short and a little chubby, her hair black and she  had a small nose. She looked like a doll.

“Nela.” Notello whispered as she stood next to her.

“Good morning, my lady.” Nela said curtsing quickly.

“Is someone in with the King?”

“Yes, his brother. He didn’t call for you though. Is everything alright?”

“Yes, everything is alright. I just wanted to talk to him about something. How long has they been in there?”

“A while now. They must be discussing something serious. You can go to your chambers, I will send for someone once the King is free.”

“No, don’t worry I will stand here with you?”

“I hear you hired a human boy to work for you. Will your mother approve of that?” Notello had almost forgotten about that.