Chapter 17: Talitha

In a grand room somewhere in the palace, a ginger-haired man with brown eyes was having his own fun with one of the court maids. The maid with short brown hair and black eyes kneeled on the king-size bed facing the back of the bare-chested man who sat at the edge of the bed basking in the relaxation he was enjoying from the massage given him by the maid.

The maid's soft and slender fingers rubbed and kneaded the man's taut shoulders. The man had his eyes closed, and his lips slightly parted, a few hums were heard, indicating that he was obviously getting a kick out of the massage.

All of sudden, the door flung open and someone entered.

" How dare you interrupt-" he snarled at the person that had interrupted his time with the maid but his mouth instantly closed at the sight of the person standing at the door.

"Your royal highness" he stood abruptly on his feet and bowed. By now, the maid whose face had flushed bright red got down from the bed and dashed out of the room, her head bowed in slight embarrassment as she held the front of her dress.

"Seems you are having a good time when things are in utter pandemonium in the palace." the man who just arrived took two steps into the room.

He saw the look of discomfort present in the man's brown eyes and his lips twitched.

"My sincere apologies...your royal highness. I was carried away by the massage..." his voice trailed looking at the serious look the man now wore on his face.

"I saw. Must feel nice to be treated like a king, doesn't it?"Gael turned his head to the side while his gaze was still fixed on Elias, his personal manservant."I think I give you too much liberty, you seem to be getting used to it." Gael said in a straight voice, his brows furrowed as if in deep thought.

"Forgive me, your Highness. It will not happen again." Elias said bowing his head deeply.

"What will not happen again, Elias? Having fun with those measly maids or not appearing when you are needed? I doubt it's the former." Gael said and tilted his head. His tone sounded serious.

"You...Your Highness-"

"Save it." Gael cut him off."Wear some clothes and follow me." came his stringent order and Elias grabbed his clothes on the bed immediately as if on impulse and started dressing.

Gael and Elias walked the grand hallways of the palace with Elias closely behind his master. Their faces looked serious and Elias had to walk a bit faster to match Gael's long strides.

On their way, a guard appeared before them from the adjacent hallway and bowed.

"Anything yet?" Gael who had stopped in front of the guard questioned him with a grim expression.

"Nothing yet, Sire. We're still looking." answered the guard and Gael signaled him to leave with the curl of his fingers.

"Fetch the prophetess." Gael ordered Elias after the guard had left."Bring her to the council chamber."

"Yes, Sire." Elias bowed and scurried away.

In the vast council chamber of the palace, Gael sat with his legs crossed over the other on the large chair at the end of the long table present in the room.

On noticing Elias enter with the prophetess behind him, his eyes moved to the beautiful woman with long shiny silver hair and black eyes.

She was draped in a long white and silky dress that had a wide neckline showing off her collarbone and shoulders. The dress was long sleeved and it complimented her silver hair. Her smooth face and skin like honey were pleasing to the eye. Her ethereal beauty was an incredible thing to behold and Gael was caught up in a daze for a moment. He was utterly enthralled by her out-of-this-world beauty and his gaze fixed on her.

As she took slow but steady steps toward the man waiting for her, the sides of her long dress swept across the floor, making her whole look glorious and transcendent.

"You called for me."

the prophetess said in a voice that sounded heavenly and pleasing to the ears when she came near where Gael sat at the table. Her long velvety lashes fluffing on her upper cheeks as she bowed.

Gael whose eyes had not left her for a mere second since she entered spoke,

" How are you Talitha? It's been long."