Cost of Power Book 1 - Unsealed +18

10. The First Day of The Tour -3

10. The First Day of The Tour -3

The next morning, they continued with the tour, Catherine made jokes which Eric found humorous and witty.

"Your brother-in-law must be alarmed. Janet is not officially his yet," said Eric. "How does your sister feel about it?"

"Anxious," said Catherine

"Maybe she should find herself a lover as well," said Eric.

Catherine laughed.

"What does she love?" asked Eric.

Sofia? Why Sofia? Was Eric interested in another man's wife??

"Bossing me around," said Catherine.

Eric laughed.

"So, you don't like Sofia?"

"Sofia has taken care of me in a way she, is like a mother. She thinks I am still a child."

said Catherine.

Well, you still look like a child to me. Eric thought to himself.

Someone rushed into the tent. it was Prince Ian.

Catherine got up and showed courtesy.

"Dearest Cousin," said Eric.

"Your Highness," said Ian. 'Miss,"

"Catherine of Housee Gimmi my prince."Catherine got up and showed courtesy.

"Nice to meet you."

"The honor is mine sir."

"They say there are supernatural phenomenons happening on the mountain," said Ian."Are Your Highness ready to explore it?"

"Of course," said Eric getting up.

Catherine was about to get up when Ian stopped her. "It would be too dangerous for a lady to visit the sight."

Catherine nodded.

***

Ian led Eric to a tree that was covered by something blue.

People were whispering

"It must be moss."

"Moss is green."

" Then it is ice."

"In the middle of summer?"

Eric got his wand out and swung at it. He felt.....

"Something cold and strong?" asked Ian.

Eric nodded.

"I ordered servants to write to Dr. Iro," said Ian.

"Do you think it is safe enough to continue the tour?" asked Eric.

"Why not? It's just ice made by magic," said Ian."Someone must \have made it in a way of saying 'welcome to the mountain''.

"All right, we shall continue," ordered Eric

.***

The mountain was rocky and slant.

"What do you think it was ?" asked Eric

"I don't know," said Irin "but definitely not a moss nor ice "

"The servants have written to Dr.Iro, it will take days for him to write back," said Ian.

"In the meantime, let's enjoy the trip," said Catherine.

Eric and Irin nodded.

Eric offered a hand to Catherine and she took it. They held hands all the way.

Irin stopped walking, and Catherine and Eric walked on.

"If you are jealous," said Ian who was walking behind her., "All you've got to do is accept the marriage proposal."

"And lose my career?"

"Being a princess is more than just a warrior," said Ian.

"I want to be a warrior." said Irin. "not a princess!"

Irrin walked past by Ian.

Ian took a sip at his drink, then he realized that he was out of water, he was about to ask a servant to fetch some water when a lady offered him a bottle.

Ian took it.

"Thank you, Lady...."

""Aria Your Highness," said Aria. "Aria of House Arrindel"

"Thank you Lady Aria," said Ian. He drank from the bottle. "How do you find the mountain?"

Beth followed Aria,

"Beautiful sir/"

***

The servants did their best to extract the ice and sent it to Dr.Iro's lab who examined the ice with fascination. He had been getting absurd reports of supernatural phenomena lately, he wondered if this was one of them.

"Was it done by the faries?"asked Tony.

Dr Iro shook his head. "If it were, they would have left a mark."

"Should we inform the court? Or at least the council?"

"Not yet. We don't want to cause confusion."

It was already causing confusion and chaos even. This was unusual and unexpected, somewhat supernatural. They used all the magic they could do to examine it. They weren't sure. But they knew one thing for sure, whatever it was,it was ominous.

"Tony, look for the record," said Dr.Iro.

"I thought it is unprecedented," said Tony.

"As far as 'we' know,"said Dr.Iro

Youkeszy had begged his father's permission to go to the camp, especially where Irin was going. Dr.Iro rejected it. He hated the camp growing up, he hated it even more now that he understood the purpose behind it. As far as he saw, it was nothing but a performance to make young people believe in the false fantasy of 'falling in love' or even 'true love' If such things were real, so many lords wouldn't have had neither a mistress nor a concubine.

So here was another sleepless night for Tony, he first used magic then he read all the records himself. He stayed up a night, as expected there wasn't much, but one thing was clear: it was definitely not a good sign.

When Dr.Iro returned to his manner after hours of studies, Youkeszy was still grumpy. Youkeszy was a pretty boy.

Why was he acting like a teenager?

"You will get that girl "

"As a royal mistress?"

"You don't know that," said Dr.Iro.

Youkeszy stared at his father. "Even if she becomes one,is that a bad thing?"

"We get to be closer to the prince," said Dr.Iro.

Are you even hearing yourself?

"I.."

"When you don't like her, I will let you have concubines ."

Youkeszy smiled