Whispers Of Desires: A Sense Of Truth {Book 2}

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚅: 𝙰 𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕'𝚜 𝚁𝚎𝚏𝚞𝚜𝚊𝚕

Kazi stirred awake, a dull ache throbbing in her abdomen. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows. Kazi sat up, wincing as her muscles protested. She was dressed in a simple white gown and curiously she lifted the edge of the gown, revealing a bandage wrapped around her stomach. The bandage was clean and did not appear to be wet, which gave her hope that the red potion had not done too much damage.

A soft knock sounded on the door, and it swung open to reveal a maid. An older woman, with kind eyes and a gentle smile. "Good morning, your Excellency," she said, curtseying deeply. "I see you are awake at last. You have been unconscious for two days."

"Two days?" Kazi said, surprised. The events of the attack played back in her mind in a jumbled sequence. "The King... the witches..."

The maid nodded. "The King is safe, thanks to you. He is quite worried about you."

"I need to change this bandage," the maid continued, holding out a tray of clean wraps. "The royal healers have tended to your wound, but it needs to be kept clean."

Kazi leaned back against the pillows, nodding for the maid to proceed. As the woman expertly unwound the bandage, Kazi winced at the sight of the healed wound. It had been much deeper than she had thought. Her brown skin was now blackened and bruised around the edges of the injury. The maid quickly replaced the old bandage with a fresh one, making sure it was snug and secure. "Thank you," Kazi said softly.

"You were very brave, General," she said, her voice soft with admiration. Kazi managed a weak smile.

With a final bow, the maid pressed a button on the wall beside the door. "General Kazi, Daughter of Governor Nari, has awakened," she spoke into the device, her voice barely a whisper.

A few minutes later, the door creaked open once again. This time, it was King Eldarion himself who walked in, followed by Seraphinael and a group of councilmen and advisors.

The king bowed deeply, and for a moment, Kazi was speechless. Even the councilmen, usually so stern and formal, had expressions of awe and respect on their faces.

"Your Majesty," she stammered. "There is no need for that. I was simply..."

"Simply a hero," Seraphinael interrupted, his voice choked with emotion. "You risked everything to save the King, and for that, we are all eternally grateful."

One of the councilmen stepped forward. "We are eternally grateful, General. You have proven yourself a valuable ally and a friend to Althea. We will reward you handsomely for your courage."

Kazi blinked, "There is no need for rewards," she said quickly. "I simply did what anyone else would have done... hopefully."

A faint chuckle escaped the King's lips. "Perhaps," he said, ""but not everyone would have done it with such skill and precision. The way you handled the situation... it was masterful. It is clear that you have been trained by the best."

"You have been injured protecting our people," he continued. "We will ensure you receive the best care possible here in Althea. However, your recovery is paramount. When you are well enough, we will escort you back to Niameda."

Kazi felt a pang of disappointment. She was far from healed, but the idea of leaving before finding the attackers left a sour taste in her mouth.

Before she could protest, however, the King held up a hand, silencing her. "We understand your frustration, General," he said gently. "But trust me, we are now more determined than ever to find these culprits. We will continue our investigation, utilizing all the resources at our disposal."

He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Rest now, General. Your health is paramount. And when you return to Niameda, you will return not just as a leader, but as a hero."