Hidden Stones

CHAPTER 11 | Crumbled Dust

LUKA

Nobody knows what to do next. The reading left us all in different states of anger and confusion. Although it is clear that the East witch is happy that she has found their princess, I cannot fault her tears as the memories of Adrianna still overwhelms her and topples over her sense of joy.

I cleared my throat. Somebody must do something. I am King and I suppose I should start addressing these newfound information.

"Adrianna." I called out to the East princess. She stiffened. Her eyes are still closed and she hasn't shown any acknowledgement of my calling but her stiff gait and clenched hands.

"They know you are here." I continued despite the heated glare I can sense from the witch. "The South has been bold with their actions. It seems that they have bigger plans that we don't know of. Targeting royals in this way..."

"Are they desperate for war?" Zest stated as he leaned back on his chair. His expression calm. A calm Zest is an angry one.

"If war is what they want, war is what we'll give them. They do not have the right to breathe for what they have done to our princess." Myra said with anger following her words. She faced Adrianna, her previous tear brimmed eyes now clear "I know you never wanted war, but this is unforgivable." Myra was to say more however Adrianna started standing from her chair.

"Where are you going?"

"I need a moment." Adrianna replied monotonously.

"A moment? I'm not done with you yet." says Myra which made the princess narrow her brows.

"Before you leave," Myra continues, "we must settle the problem with your amulet."

"Have you or have you not remembered what I've gone through? The amulet keeps me sane."

"Does it? It clouds your mind. You never should have taken amulets from just anyone. You know this Adrianna. You know your responsibilities. What you should and shouldn't."

You shouldn't have went to the South Fountain.

Was the unspoken words that Myra didn't say but everyone else knew that she wanted to.

The princess bristles with anger at her witch's words and in the lines in between. "How dare you judge my actions! You were not there when I needed you Myra. If so, I wouldn't have needed to use other amulets at all. But you weren't. So how can I just wait for you to figure out where I am and get me out of that hell if you weren't the great protector you're supposed to be?"

There was great silence moments after the princess's outburst. No one dared to speak. Everyone has responsibilities. The witch should have protected her princess more. The princess should have been more cautious.

Or better yet, the South shouldn't have dared for a war.

I cleared my throat to gather their attentions. "As much as you have the right to ponder about everything that we have discovered today, Adrianna. The witch is right. We must address the amulets first. It is by Northern Rules that amulets are forbidden unless approved by the jurisdiction of the King. Amulets bring trouble, and we must cut our ties with the objects to keep the peace." Before the princess will give me her answer, her obvious disagreement visible on her eyes, I added "And as the amulets are linked somehow to our problems with the South, it is best to solve them and get rid of them fast. Starting with my ring."

"What ring?" Zest asks in confusion. I sighed. Of course it can't be seen by my own High Wizard. I wouldn't have worn it for long if he had.

"Perhaps there's a concealing enchantment around it as it is clear you haven't seen me wearing it for the past two years."

"Go on then, remove it." Adrianna mumbles under her breath. I barely heard it but I did as she said.

With my index and thumb, I took the ring off, sliding it away from my finger. As it's inner band ceased to have contact with my skin, a black shroud that was apparently surrounding me all this time, lifted off me and went back into the stone.

Instantly, my mind became clearer. It was like there was a heavy fog surrounding me and it was now gone. My senses came back in full force. My eyes adjusting more clearly, there is no buzzing pain in my head, my limbs are more relaxed, and I didn't even knew the absence, but it felt like my wolf is back within me.

I can feel my wolf's anger that has been stored all this time. It was massive and it took a lot from me to control my instincts of hurt something, back down. Even my finger doesn't ache with a burning-like pain. I closed my fist around the ring that has enslaved me and made me weak. For a moment I wanted to fling it away and drop it from the highest mountain. Let it drop from hundreds of feet and let the snow drown it away forever. But I know that in order to completely destroy it, it must be in means of magic.

I tossed the ring towards Zest. He reached out his hand but instead of touching it, he let it hover on top of his palm. "Onyx... emblazed with silver and fire." He had this grim expression as he studies the ring.

"Vines." Was all what Myra said but she made contact with Zest's eyes as they contemplate the ring.

Zest nodded as if Myra said more. He crush his fist together, and the ring hovering above crumbled to dust.

Zest flickered his gaze towards me for a while, and I nodded to let him know I'm fine now. His shoulders visible relaxed with this and he breathed deep for a moment in relief. I understand his fear, we are close friends. We treat each other like brothers. His role as my protector as well amplifies his need to keep my safety. For a while, we just stared at the dust by his feet. I lifted my gaze off it a few seconds later, as my wolf starts to rage within.

"Amulets are hard to make." Zest says all of a sudden. "It takes elemental stones, herbs, blood, or even sacrifices in order to work. Needs days or even years to reach potency. But they are awfully easy to destroy. Makes it easier to get rid of the dark ones. The moon watches over us and this is one of her gifts. Are you ready for the moon to get rid of the darkness, princess?" says Zest as he approaches Adrianna with careful steps.

"I have an affinity with healing. I can help you while your protector lifts of the remaining clutches of the amulet within you after you remove it. You must only tell me what pain it is and where." he says slowly. I glanced towards the said witch on her reaction about Zest helping her with her princess but she doesn't seem angry. She just looks straight on towards the princess, her gaze cool.

"You cannot help me." Adrianna insists. "I tell you. I never would have worn this amulet if I knew that it could be lifted."

"Relieving pain is easy magic, princess. Injuries on the other hand are tougher to manage and I don't see you having broken bones or anything."

"But still..." Adrianna seethes irritatingly. Her eyes clearly frustrated that the witches wouldn't listen.

I can't help the growl of frustration coming out of me as the princess continues to become stubborn, my wolf still riding behind my head in anger. What could a simple things as removing an amulet be so hard? I know the pain is unbearable as the memory of her screams still lingers in my mind. She was a previous warrior isn't she, she should be immune to pain. And she has the witches at her disposal to help her.

"The pain is too mu-" before I can growl again in frustration with the princess's words, I catch the East witch lifting her hand away from her at the corner of my eye. And in a swift motion, she brought her hand close to her chest as if she grabbed something in a hurry.

And with the ensuing shrill cry of the princess a few feet away, I could guess what it was.