Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 21

While in the carriage, Eva noticed the tension between Xavier and Ellen, a thick silence that spoke volumes. “Is everything okay between you two?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.
Xavier shot a glance at Ellen before responding bitterly, “Ask your sister here, who hasn’t been honest with us from the beginning.”
Eva looked between them, confused. “What do you mean?”
Ellen sighed, her face tightening with guilt. “I didn’t mean to keep this a secret, but… I haven’t been completely honest about what happened to our parents.”

Eva’s eyes widened. “What?”
Ellen took a deep breath before continuing. “The old man told me that when we were babies, our mother struggled deeply after losing our father in the rogue attack. She… she went mad, Eva. She abandoned us, leaving us with strangers. That’s why we ended up so far apart. The people she gave you to couldn’t take care of you, so they passed you off to another family when they travelled to another land. That’s the family you grew up with.”
Eva’s face paled, her shock evident as Ellen went on. “The truth is, our mother is still alive… but I have no idea where she is or how to even begin looking for her.”

The air in the carriage grew tense. Eva stared at her sister, her voice breaking as she spoke, “You said she was dead.”
Ellen looked down, unable to meet her sister’s eyes. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I thought it would be easier for you to believe that. I knew you’d want to go look for her if I told you the truth, and I didn’t want us to get distracted. We have to stop the king, Eva. I didn’t want to delay that by sending us on a search for her.”
Eva turned away, her heart heavy with betrayal. “I trusted you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “How could you lie to me?”

Xavier, unable to hold back his frustration, added coldly, “Way to go, Ellen. Are you happy n
“This is just all too crazy,” Zayn muttered, his mind spinning from everything that had just been revealed.
Ellen reached out, her voice desperate. “I’m truly sorry, Eva. I didn’t want to hurt you. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
But Eva remained silent, her back turned to her sister, the pain of betrayal still too fresh to process.

Later, Eva looked at Kyle, trying to reach for him, her heart aching at the sight of her brother lying motionless. “It’s pointless, Eva,” Zayn said softly, trying to ease her desperation.
“He’s still alive but unconscious. I managed to use my ability to slow down the effects of the poison,” Ellen added, her voice distant as she looked away, burdened by the weight of their situation.

Eva remained silent, the knot of worry in her stomach tightening.
As the days passed, they travelled during the day and set camp at night. The routine was exhausting, but they pushed forward, each step taken with the hope that they could find a way to free themselves and save Kyle.

One evening, as the campfire crackled, the king studied the map, his brow furrowing in concentration. He pointed to two large rocks visible from afar. “We shall arrive in less than a day, by my calculations.” The young lady said.
A guard approached the king. “Your Majesty, the prisoners seem well enough,” he reported, having just checked on them.

As the night deepened, Eva and the others had fallen asleep, their exhaustion overtaking their worries. The fire flickered, casting shadows on their faces, while the king’s men stood watch, oblivious to the brewing storm of rebellion among the prisoners.

Early the next morning, the king himself approached the prisoners' carriage, banging on its side with a heavy hand. "Rise and shine!" he said mockingly, his voice cutting through the stillness of the early dawn. Inside, the group stirred, their bodies weak from the lack of food and water throughout the journey. Ellen, although weary, had managed to fare better than the rest, her abilities sustaining her more than the others.
The king looked at them with a twisted grin. "We're almost there. Your suffering will end soon, trust me."

Ellen's eyes narrowed as she met his gaze, suspicion dripping from her voice. "You're not Idris, are you?"
The king's smirk deepened, clearly amused by her accusation. "Is it that obvious?" he said, tilting his head mockingly.
"You hid it well, but not well enough," Ellen responded, her tone cold and steady.

He chuckled darkly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged," he admitted with a wicked grin, before turning his back on them. He barked orders to his men, who quickly set about preparing to move once again.
As the carriages creaked forward, drawing closer to the large rocks marking their destination, Ellen's mind raced. She could feel that the real danger was still ahead.

Xavier’s cold voice broke the silence, “What was that about?” He kept his gaze fixed through the small window, not bothering to look at Ellen.
Ellen sighed, her expression filled with guilt. “Listen, I know you’re all upset with me, but that man you see… he’s not who he claims to be. Idris was his grandson. That man is none other than King Duncan.”
Zayn’s eyes widened. “You mean from the legend? The one who sought Midora’s power?”

Ellen nodded solemnly. “Exactly. The aura around him feels too familiar to my energy. That’s because my power comes from Midora herself, and with it, I carry some of her memories. The old man told me this long ago. Right now, Duncan is powerless because the stone he needs is missing. He’s using that woman and these men as a shield, but make no mistake—he’s dangerous.”
Zyan frowned, processing what she said. “But if that’s really Duncan, how is he still alive? And how does he look so young?”

Xavier scoffed, “He’s using Idris’s body, you idiot. Possession, or whatever dark magic he’s capable of.”
Ellen nodded again, confirming Xavier’s explanation. “That’s right. He’s inhabiting Idris’s body, and once he gets what he’s after, none of us will be safe.”

Despite the conversation swirling around her, Eva remained quiet, her attention solely on her pale and unconscious brother, Kyle. The sight of him like this was eating away at her, but she couldn’t find the strength to speak or react. All she could do was hope that somehow, they’d make it through this.