Hoodwinked: The Summoning Book One

Chapter 15

Klav woke up to a loud boom. He knew that sound. Thunderstorms in Draconia were common. He turned to face the balcony and instantly saw the dark clouds. Numerous rain drops splattered the glass doors. He was tempted to return to his slumber, when he remembered all that occurred the previous eve.

After taking a long walk around the castle, he found himself in the lower northwest corridor. There, he investigated a secret door behind a looking glass which led to a secret tower, of which Otswana had spoken. He had returned to his room close to dawn after inspecting the tower and the large metal door that was welded shut.

The captain let out a long sigh as he lay in bed, contemplating on how he should approach Otswana today. He recounted his accusations, of her explanations, and how she had been honest in all that she said. He didn't know why, but there was something about her that bothered him so. She seemed to say things that truly irked him. She didn't behave as a normal seventeen-year-old girl would act.

Perhaps that was what vexed him. He felt he should treat her like the adolescent that she was, whereas, she behaved as a soldier would behave, not as a proper woman. This was not the only thing that he found disturbing.

The captain detested the way she looked at him - with contempt. Klav wondered if these glares were because of the images from the vision. It was his hand that released her to fall to her doom; of this, he was certain. Could it be possible that every time she saw him, she was reminded of the haunting scene? He knew the answer was in the affirmative, for he was tormented by the very same image.

Klav had fought in several battles. He had taken lives to protect land, freedom, and family. A murderer, he was not. If he was to regret anything from the previous evening, it would be for accusing her of being exactly what she expected him to be, even if he wasn't...yet.

Suddenly the words of Klav's father echoed in his mind. It is better to apologize to a woman when you know you are in the wrong than to try to reason how you were in the right.

The captain lay in bed for another hour, fooling himself to believe he could will himself back into a state of slumber. Listening to thunder and the rain roused him. Finally, the captain threw off the bedding. He washed and dressed to the soothing sounds of splattering rain and an occasional thunderclap.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs, the door to the dining hall opened. King Nathar and Lord Briggon appeared. They saw the captain's approach and turned their direction to meet with him.

"We have discussed in length, what must be done about the murders. We believe Princess Otswana's theory is the most logical explanation for why someone would kill Rheena's estranged daughters. Therefore, we suspect they will try to eliminate Otswana. The killer may possibly attack Lord Briggon. With him being a sorcerer, he is a threat to the queen. Neither Otswana nor Lord Briggon are to go anywhere unaccompanied and unguarded," King Nathar said.

"I agree," responded the captain.

"I want Otswana to reveal all that is in Rheena's journal. I wish for Otswana to translate it all to you, while we are at the market. Princess Otswana will conjure another scribe spell if you don't wish to be her scribe," the king said.

"You're going to the market in this weather?"

"Lord Briggon requires obsidian and tourmaline stones. These, he will use for a protection spell for Otswana," King Nathar explained.

"We will be going to the market today to look for what I require. Princess Sashia tells me there are stone jewelry shops there. They should have the very stones to make into a talisman for my enchantments," Lord Briggon explained.