The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

85. The horizon

"Zara, wake up!"

"Salma, what do you want?" I look at her annoyed and a bit wondrous. We haven't talked in a very long time and I don't really feel like seeing her but it is indeed very strange that she is here in the middle of the night. Maybe she came to kill me, and this the strange answer of the gods to my please for liberation from this life.

"I uh... Want to propose you to get away from here."

I laugh out loud.

"I am serious," she whispers and frowns.

"Mhm. And why would you do that? And where in the name of the gods should I go?"

"Well I was thinking that you could go to my husband's estate. Your... Our... The Emperor, will not search for you there because you don't have any business there whatsoever. And after things calm down you could go into the desert or the mountains or even to the Ashen continent."

I laugh again.

"You have no damn idea. But you know what, Salma, let's try." I don't really mean what I say but I guess my mind is lost after all and I want to mock her a bit. "But I need you to do me two favors."

"Which ones?"

"You get me a very sharp small knife so I can take matters into my own hands if caught and I need you to carry two letters for me."

She takes a small knife from inside her robe.  Oh.

"What letters?"

"To Laini and I want you to search for my guard in the barracks. His name is Mute. If he is not dead..."

"What for?" she asks and frowns.

"I want to say goodbye."

"That's stupid. They can tell."

"So can you. Do you think I trust you? It's just that I have nothing to lose."

"Well fine. Let's go."

"Now?" I ask rather astonished. I was very sure that was a strange promise or a test.

"Yes. Nobody is expecting this right now and uh, now we have help." She is hesitant.

Help. That sounds suspicious.

"What help? They might just want to fool you to get caught so they can get rid of you. You aren't quite popular at court either," I say disdainfully.

"That is fine. I will be."

"You will?" Something is definitely not right. She either has again one of her delusion episodes or...

"Are you pregnant?"

She nods and looks away sheepish.

She is. Or she thinks she is.

"Is it his?" I ask and smile maliciously.

"Of course!" she answers indignated. "The potion you made actually worked. That's... Why I didn't want his Highnes to take them when he met lady Laini."

"What?" I ask very confused. "Where do you get that from?"

"I overheard her say that to her maid in quizeh. And then I took half of it and gave it to him. He doesn't know it yet but it worked indeed."

"Aha," I answer curtly. And what she wants is to prevent me from using that myself as she did with Laini. So she tries to give me what she thinks I want. All right. Not the dumbest way of thinking.

"Fine. Let's go," I say. "How did you imagine this?"

"His Highness is waiting for us at the door."

"Salma?!" She definitely lost it for good. Does she think the Emperor has a split personality?