Once in a Blue Moon

Chapter 13.

David
As soon as I clap my thumb with my middle finger I reach my room. I jump on my bed and lay with my hands spread on the bed. I guess I am tired.

I sometimes like Isabelle. I close my eyes to relax a bit.

Few minutes later.
"Prince David, sorry to disturb you, Mr. Thomas wants to meet you." Joseph says. He is my gatekeeper. I get up and sit.
"Send him in." I say.
Robert Thomas walks in. He is my dad's assistant.
"Prince David, King Louis Smith has called you in his room." Robert says.
"Okay, thanks for informing, I'll be coming." I reply.
"Permission to leave, prince." he requests in a formal way.
"Permission granted." I say.
He leaves.
I wonder why has father called me.
I get out of my room, clap my fingers together and I am outside my father's room.
The door is entirely closed. One of the gatekeeper slowly opens the door. I enter the room.
Not only me but some more people are already in there including Uncle Kevin Smith who is Isabelle's father and my father's younger brother, Rossana and Isabelle are also in there.
Its 8:55 pm, what can be so urgent?
In total, all who sit on the horses during battles are called to meet up.
Usually in the battle 11 people sit on the horses. In the middle my father, on his right is his brother Kevin, his left is me, next to me is Isabelle, next to Uncle Kevin is Rossana and then are some well trained and powerful authorities of the court. Isabelle is actually a very good fighter. Father says if Isabelle would have been his daughter, he would be proud of giving the crown to Isabelle.

"Come here, David." father calls me, indicating me to stand in the first line, where Rossana and Isabelle are already standing.
"You all must be aware of Vinkart, if not let me tell you that he is an enemy to Grandelle, that should be enough." father says. Maybe he called us to give us instructions about tomorrow.
"We made him our enemy." Isabelle whispers into my ears.
"But he is a danger now." I whisper.
"Yeah." she whisper back.
"Everyone, listen carefully." Uncle Kevin says.
"Tomorrow is a celebration day for Grandelle, it should be, its a unique day." father says. "But you all should be careful. There is a danger that you can be driven into illusions which may seem to you like reality. Vinkart is strong, no doubt, tomorrow, there is a chance for him to come. You all have to be alert.
Vinkart directly attacks on the person's weakness. The question is, how will he get to know? the answer is, we all are unaware of it yet. That's why you have to be careful, you should be capable enough to realize where you are, whether in reality or not.
There can be different types of illusions you might see tomorrow, maybe your loved one being killed, someone you love is killing you, its just an example, it can be anything, anything without you can't live or something you'll never believe. Every person has some sort of weakness, maybe your weakness might be the love towards your mother, your siblings or anyone you love. If its not anything related to emotions, Vinkart knows well how to attack on greediness as well or any of your weakness.
You might hide from yourself your weakness but you can't hide it from Vinkart, you can betray yourself but not him.
Dear people, be brave, its going to be a hard day tomorrow. You have two hours and thirty minutes till midnight, make yourself mentally prepared.
Fight your fears or they may trap you. If anyone of you fails tomorrow during any sort of illusion, the whole kingdom can be at risk. Be Brave.
Meeting dismissed."
Everyone leaves excluding me and Isabelle and her father.
Father has never been so serious about Vinkart. Since so many years, this is the first time he has called the meeting to talk about him.
"Father, is everything alright?" I ask.
"You seem sure about Vinkart coming tomorrow." Isabelle says to my father.
"Well, I am not exactly sure, but today evening, I found something on my bed. Let me show it to you." he replies and walks towards his drawer which is next to his bed.
He opens the drawer and takes something out.
It is like an ornament, circle shaped, golden color, solid and has some red and blue gems embedded. He shows it to me and Isabelle, I guess Uncle Kevin already knows about it.
I look at it carefully.
The gems make a picture, a blue color hand holding the reddish orange colour hand. The hands are joined from finger to finger, every tip is joined to the other. Uncle Kevin walks towards the light switch and switch offs the light.
As soon as the room darkens, I can see waving water on the blue gems and fire on the red gems.
The gems indicate the friendship of fire and water which is not possible.
A flash enters my eye balls and for a fraction of second I see the image of a person having one green eye and one covered with black cloth. He seems creepy.
The sudden image of his face makes my heart beat faster than before, it took my breath for moment.
"Vinkart!" Isabelle exclaims in a voice as low as a whisper.
She is right, it was the image of Vinkart.
Father switch ons the light and keeps the ornament back in his drawer.
"I think this is a warning given by Vinkart." Uncle Kevin says.
"It is a warning." Isabelle says.
"But why would he give a warning? Surprise attacks are more effective." I say.
"Maybe he is overconfident or maybe he gave the warning to scare us. He is threatening us." Isabelle says.
"Or maybe he knows he is fighting with his own kingdom and is showing a bit of loyalty." father says.
"No! I don't think so." I say
"What are you trying to convey?" Isabelle asks.
"Vinkart was not that bad as he is now, its all because of the selfishness of King Charles." Uncle Kevin says.
"What do you mean by selfishness?" Isabelle asks.
"None of your matter, you both may leave." father commands, trying to end this topic.
Is there something hidden from us about King Charles?

"Okay." I say. I bow my head and so do Isabelle and I head towards the door.
I and Isabelle leave the room.

"So, are you scared?" I ask to Isabelle.
Of course she must be, even I am scared. I guess its not only me and her but the entire Grandelle might be scared.
"I am scared of illusions." she replies.
Illusions. She is right. I have never got the opportunity to face my fears and maybe that's the reason why I am unaware of my own fears and Vinkart is aware of it, whoah!
"What are you afraid of?" I ask.
"I don't know. I'm scared of a lot of things but maybe losing anyone. To be honest, I've never realized whom I love the most, is it mom or dad and I don't have any siblings or is it someone else." she says and pauses for a moment, "What are you afraid of?" she asks.
" I don't know." I reply.
"Don't tell me you are afraid of nothing." she says and laughs a little.
I laugh a little." No, nothing like that." I say.
"Wait, I know, you are greedy for gems!" she says.
I snort. "I'm not greedy for gems!" I reply.
"Anyways you do love your gems more than anything." she says.
"Not more than anything."
"Okay fine. Tell me one thing, you are scared of Vinkart, aren't you?" she asks.
"Well, yes and I guess you are also."
"Yeah, I am." she says with a serious look. "Any ways, I guess we should leave. Good luck."
"Be brave Isabelle ." I say.
"I'll be."
"See you at the midnight." I say.
"Sure."
I clap my fingers and I reach my room.
I am really tired now. I take off my boots and lay on the bed. I set the alarm for 11:00 pm. I'll able to ready within 30 minutes. By 11:30 I have to be at the balcony which directly faces the subjects of Grandelle, where most probably the subject gather to hear the king.

Its already 9:45 pm. I have only one hour and fifteen minutes to sleep. I need to be fresh during the spell.