Protect My Love ~ Book 4 ~ The Royal Blood Collection

Chapter 15

The high priestess looked at me curiously, then to the older man to her side. A few soft words were exchanged and then she turned back to say something to Gus.

"The high priestess says that the offer is very grand of the king and they will consider it with much enthusiasm as they would like to see the two sides of the gorge connected again. They were bitterly disappointed when they discovered it and for those who do jump the gorge, they often find that death will soon take them."

"Really?"

"I'm afraid so, unfortunately. They are a powerful creature but to jump such a distance, it has an incredible toll on the body. Those that do cross and come back are often found in the jungle within a few days. I am told that they come back to ensure that their burial meets with the standards set by their gods."

"And how come Udranel is still here?"

"Many take the long path to the ocean, crossing to the other side on the water rather than the land. It is the extreme cases that jump, like your mother."

I nodded, saying nothing, keeping my emotions low. Sometimes it bothered me that I had to dull my feelings just to hide the truth about me.

The high priestess said something, Gus nodded as he turned back to me.

"She says that a small traveling party will follow you to the edge of the gorge and asks that you advise the king that she would find it most pleasing to meet with him. After that, she would like to inspect the place where he plans to build a home for her son and his daughter and what security measures he intends to ensure that Imren is safe from the humans."

For a moment, I was stunned.

"She fears for his safety?"

"Captain Beaumont, it pains me to inform you but sadly, the high priestess and her partner have already lost a son. When the humans came, they did so with guns blazing and he did not survive. They lost the initial battle as they were outmatched. Then Udranel and his team returned from their scouting mission, found that their village was being attacked and took the enemy by surprise. It is the reason for his position in this community. They believe that Udranel and his men saved them. So, yes, she does fear for Imren's safety. She has seen what fear can do. She has seen what greed has done to her family. The devastation from the death toll has lasted all these years. It is a sadness that they will never forget."

"Okay, well, if it is of any help to them, you can say that there will always be an extremely high amount of security at the house because the king is very protective of his daughter."

Even if he plans to send her into a jungle full of a creature that is deadly.

"And that the guards at the house will protect Imren too. Once the vampires and the Kronthelm have formed an agreement, the king will be able to push the human settlement into an area that he will have a tighter control over. Together, the high priestess and the king of the vampires will create a new world and it will be vastly better than the one that we're living in now."

The high priestess listened and then responded, a mocking smile was given. That wasn't good.

"She asked if the king wishes to share power with her? She does not believe that it is possible."

"Surely you know that he already shares power with the other leaders."

"I do but I wonder how it is now that I am not there to witness it for myself. I have seen the bases that have crept up over the years and I have wondered how it is possible. Is it all one king's work or have they joined forces?"

"The bases belong to the king, as do the provinces along the ridge aside from province one which he negotiated with the king for a small portion of the land. There are royal houses that still stand and to the best of my knowledge, the king has no intention for them. All that he wanted was the ridge."

Gus pressed his lips thinly with a knowing smile.

"Perhaps if the high priestess is unsure of his intentions, she could demand that the land on this side of the ridge is retained by the Kronthelm people and an understanding is formed that neither party will invade the other's land with the intention of control or removal."

"A wise suggestion," He offered.

It was translated and the high priestess turned to me with a firm look on her face as she said something.

"Uh, she said that she accepts the term and demands that we start writing them down."

"I don't have the power to negotiate. I thought we were discussing the finer points, not the actual treaty."

He shrugged as he muttered that they didn't have paper that was large enough. Petersen offered something out of his bag, a large notebook and a pen. Pleased with the items, Gus began to write it down. Then the high priestess began talking, she stood and paced the platform while Gus scribbled every word that she said.

Every now and then, I'd hear an oh dear out of him or an oh no which made me wonder what she was saying. I tried to look at what he's written but the chicken scrawl was terrible.

When it was done, Gus wriggled his fingers and then offered the notebook to me.

"I can't read any of this Gus."

"Okay, she has said that the king must vow to protect Imren and any child that he produces. He nor anyone else is not to demand that Imren or any children permanently remain on the other side of the ridge. No one can tell Imren that he can't return to this land unless it is deemed unsafe and if that is the case then they are to advise her of such issues although, she regretfully admits that she does not know how that will happen. A side note on that, Captain Beaumont, when you're talking to His Highness about these points, perhaps suggest that a tower is put in and then Imren can call his parents whenever he feels the need."

"Good idea."

Because I really missed my phone.

"She has gone on to say that he is to be treated well and hopes that allowances will be made for his family to visit Imren on occasions. She agrees that a dedicated path that is safe is ideal and says that if the king agrees to these and a few more points then, she will give him a worthy army to defeat the humans."