Blood King

Chapter Forty One

She was unable to sleep that night, or several nights for that fact.

After reading Radu's letter for the first time, she did it again the next morning, and was still unable to shake that horrible feeling. Even when she wrote to response letters, one for Tharen and the other for Radu, that feeling was still there.

Maria noticed it right away, asking if Celina was ether ill or feeling faint since she had not bled yet that month. Celina said she was alright for the time being. But she knew that hiding her unease could draw more attention.

From then she tried to distract herself, within her studies or learning in governing the country from the few Ministers that seemed to have her guidance, to listening to the people in what they wished to say or ask what was needed. To that of her swordsmanship in her left hand and as it turned out her right hand as well which had not only impressed her teacher, but that of Maria as well. She had heard that it was a rare trait that ran in their family, being able to use both hands in combat then rather just the dominant hand. It made her intrigued but that wary feeling wasn't far behind in coming back to her.

But there was another reason as to why she would train and fight so hard, if that man, if Solomon were to truly show himself to her she would have to fight him, that's what she felt deep within her bones. But that wasn't the truth of it all. In truth she was afraid.

She was afraid, afraid of a man who was supposed to be dead, a man that she had never even bloody met!

The only reason she had an understanding of who this man was, was because of Ann telling her the story after Celina told both Maria and Ann about a rumor that seemed to stay with Celina while growing up.

Celina frowned.

In all actuality, when did that rumor even begin?

She had just heard it so many times Celina began to block it out and pretend that it was no longer of relevance to her. But when did it actually start?

When her father, the late king, remarried? No, not then, it was some time after that. Her frown deepened as she clasped her hands in her lap. When was it? She couldn't recall no matter how many times she tried.

Her gaze went to her hands in her lap, she wore her nightgown, she had told the other maids willing to serve her that she would rest earlier tonight and did not wished to be bothered. The sun was still faintly there making the winter sky a blazing red of fire. She had merely her hair braided that was left to rest on her shoulder with only the necklace Tharen had given her and the ring that Radu's letter implored on her to wear. The ring could be adjusted but it was still far too big for her fingers as of yet so she kept it on her thumb in the meantime. She would grow more soon, and then when she had she would place the ring on her left index finger.

The ring will change in color when in the presence of someone who uses magic; it will become black if that magic is corrupted.

That was what Radu said in his letter and yet she hadn't found it in herself to venture around the castle. For she feared what she might find, she did not wish for the only world that she knew in this castle to be destroyed. And yet she still wore the ring, still kept it on her person when meeting people, almost as if she were testing to see if any of those who came through those doors to the Great Hall had any kind of magic but it remained the same. She felt foolish when she had realized that she had done this without even noticing it herself.

Yet still she kept it on.

With a deep huff she slouched in her chair, letting her legs slide out from under her no longer caring what was proper or not. This felt pointless, just sitting here trying to recall something that did not wished to be recalled. She wondered if her brother had anything like this, memories that seemed to vanish out of thin air and could not return no matter how much he thought it through.