Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 9

“Your Majesty, you have summoned me?” the guard asked, bowing deeply before the king. He had entered the royal art room, a space adorned with portraits of the royal family—each painting more elaborate than the last. At that moment, a new painting of the king was being crafted, capturing his regal posture and calculating eyes. As the guard approached, the king’s gaze shifted to him, a devious smile flickering across his face.
“Ah yes, you may rise now,” the king replied, his voice dripping with an unsettling calm as he turned to face the guard. “I understand you told one of my men that you know someone who possesses a map to the location of the stone. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the guard confirmed, his voice steady, though a hint of nervousness crept in.
The king’s smile widened. “Good. Can you describe this individual to me?”
“Certainly,” the guard said, his confidence returning as he nodded.
The king gestured for the painter to pause his work. “Stop for a moment,” he ordered. The painter scrambled to fetch a fresh canvas, ready to capture the description. “Describe the person in as much detail as you can. You’ll be well rewarded for your assistance.”
The guard began describing the individual, piece by piece, while the painter’s brush danced swiftly across the canvas. Minutes passed, and soon a vivid portrait emerged. The king stepped forward, studying the painting intently, one hand stroking his chin in contemplation.

“Interesting…” he murmured, his voice soft but laced with something darker. “Now, for your reward.”
A hulking figure entered the room, a massive man with a sword sheathed at his side. The guard’s brow furrowed in confusion; no gold, no gift was in sight. The painter, sensing the shift in atmosphere, quickly gathered his supplies and slipped out of the room. The doors closed with a heavy thud behind him.

The king’s expression remained unreadable as he spoke, “Your work is done here. Thank you for your… kind help.” His words, once smooth, now carried a chilling edge.
Before the guard could comprehend the shift in tone, the large man unsheathed his sword in one fluid motion and drove it straight through the guard’s chest. A gurgled cry escaped the man’s lips as he collapsed onto the elegant navy carpet, his blood quickly spreading in a dark red pool beneath him.

The king’s face lit up with a twisted sense of satisfaction, his eyes gleaming as if he had just witnessed a performance crafted for his amusement. He stepped over the body with casual grace, unbothered by the carnage.
“Dispose of him before the queen arrives,” the king commanded with cold indifference, wiping his hands as if to rid himself of the matter entirely. Without a backward glance, he strolled out of the room, leaving the task to his loyal executioner.

With the portrait now in Prince William’s possession, the search began in earnest. Armed with a likeness of the mysterious slave who possessed the map, the prince and his men set out, investigating the sprawling slave trade that had silently flourished across the land. They visited slave owners, inspected markets, and interrogated buyers, all the while comparing faces to the image they held.

Eva had always been quick to sense when something was off, and her brother’s strange behavior had her instincts flaring. The moment she saw him enter the healer’s cottage, her suspicions deepened. *Is he sick or hiding something?* she wondered, her thoughts swirling with curiosity. Without hesitation, she decided to follow him, her footsteps careful and silent.

She watched from a distance as Mr. Robert welcomed Kyle inside. "She’s finally awake, but still dazed," the healer said, gesturing toward the room where the mysterious girl was. Eva’s curiosity only grew stronger, driving her closer to the cottage.
She peered through the front window but saw nothing—just Mr. Robert’s cluttered living room filled with bookshelves. *Strange. I could have sworn he went in,* she thought, frowning as she moved to the side window, still finding no clear view inside. Desperate, she crept around to the back of the cottage, and there, she finally heard voices. Slowly, she peeked through the back window, her breath catching in her throat.

There, sitting on a bed, was a girl she didn’t recognize, with Kyle seated beside her, talking in low, concerned tones. Eva could only see the back of the girl, but something about the scene felt… wrong. *Who is she? What’s going on here?*
Her mind raced with questions. *Is my brother being unfaithful to Taina?* Eva’s protective instincts surged, and she knew she had to find out the truth. Without waiting any longer, she marched toward the front door and knocked.

Mr. Robert answered, his usual warm smile greeting her. “Oh, Eva! What brings you here?” he asked kindly.
“I saw my brother come in,” Eva said, her voice sharp with concern. “Is he sick? Does he have an illness we need to know about?”
The healer chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Oh, no. He’s here because I needed his help with something. Nothing to worry about.”
But Eva wasn’t satisfied with that answer. She eyed Mr. Robert for a moment, then decided to take matters into her own hands. “Sorry about this, Mr. Robert,” she muttered, before pushing the door open and stepping inside without waiting for permission.
“Eva!” Kyle’s voice, filled with panic, came from one of the rooms.

He emerged quickly, his face pale and nervous. “What are you doing here?”
Eva folded her arms, tilting her head as she stared at her brother. “I should be asking *you* that. I saw you with a girl back there. Who is she?”
Kyle opened his mouth, trying to find the right words, but nothing came. “Uh… A girl? What girl?” he stammered, clearly thrown off guard.
Ignoring him, Eva pushed her way past and entered the room where the girl was sitting. The moment their eyes met, Eva’s breath hitched in her throat. The girl stared back at her, wide-eyed, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.

Eva’s heart pounded in her chest as she took in the sight before her. The girl… she looked exactly like her.
“What’s going on here?” Eva demanded, her voice shaky with shock. “And why does she look like me?”
Kyle stepped forward, his voice tight with guilt. “Eva, I can explain…”
But Eva wasn’t listening. Her gaze remained locked on the girl, the identical features, the same dark eyes, the same shape of her face—it was as if she was looking into a mirror.
The room fell into tense silence, the weight of the revelation settling heavily in the air. Eva’s mind spun with disbelief.