Kapitel 29: Chapter Fifteen - Anomaly (Part 1)
Zagan was saddling Ares for the three days' journey to Ephalon when a missive arrived from a demon village seeking medical attention. Balgia was a poor but undisclosed village, now infested with a foreign plague that had wiped out half the population. What caught Zagan's interest was the reported anomaly from his warrior. "Are you certain there are humans living in that village?"
"Affirmative, Your Majesty."
He nodded. "Very well. Take a few warriors with you and ride out to Balgia. I will be less than a few hours ride behind you."
"Pardon me, Your Majesty, but I was informed that you are headed to Ephalon." The warrior seemed confused by his sudden change of plans.
"There's something I must confirm with my own eyes," Zagan said dismissively. "Send word to Ephalon that I will be delayed and fetch Commander Balan for me."
"Right away, Your Majesty."
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Zagan was nowhere to be found when Akila strode in for breakfast the next morning. The only one present was Castelis enjoying his tea while reading the morning papers. The domestic scene he portrayed brought a smile to her lips.
"Good Morning, Castelis," she greeted cheerily, taking a seat across him. "Have you seen Zagan?"
"Fortunately not," he declared over an impish grin, noticing her wilting expression and pinched mouth. "Trouble in paradise?"
She couldn't reign in her sigh. "It's complicated..."
"Clearly," he murmured, eyes zeroing on the blue, teardrop gem resting on her breastbone. He set the papers aside, leaning forward with taut urgency. "What is that? I've never seen you wear it before."
Her hand lifted to fiddle the precious stone. "I thought I lost this the night Zagan attacked the castle. It was a gift from my mother and the only treasure I have left of my family."
Castelis's mind began to churn for he recognised that gemstone. Lilja had worn it when she was old enough to understand the ancient blood flowing within her veins. If Lilja had given the gemstone to her daughter, then had she known all along that he never told her the truth about her powers?
Damnation! Once again, even after death, Lilja had bested him. He didn't know whether to smile or to feel sorry for himself.
"Are you listening, Castelis?" Akila broke into his train of thoughts.
"I'm sorry, you were saying?"
"Is it true, that demons can never love?"
It hovered on the tip of his tongue to say no but, he also wanted her to face reality. Mollycoddling wasn't up his alley. "I honestly don't know. In all my years, there hasn't been a documented demon-human relationship in Dryad history." He paused. "At least, not within the ranks of the nobility. But if you're asking if it exists, I believe anything is possible."
Her shoulders hunched despondently. "Am I silly to fight for it? To want to make it work?"
"If you are referring to your relationship with Zagan, then as your guardian my only advice you is for you to tread carefully," Castelis answered plainly, recalling his long-ago efforts to woo Lilja's heart. "It isn't silly. In fact, it's admirable. Although, you must be willing to accept defeat even after you've done your best. That way, no one can say you didn't try."
His answer surprised her. "It seems I owe you an apology. I assumed you would find a demon-human relationship objectionable. My mother certainly did."
"Lilja was a pure-blood Sentient, one born with an inane hatred for demons." He scratched his chin, bewildered. "I admit, you're the only odd duck."
"I'll take that as a compliment." She swiped a croissant from the bread basket, feeling much better. It reassured her to know that the man close to her mother didn't disapprove of her bond with Zagan.
Loud footsteps bounced off the corridor walls, breaking their brief intimacy and she dragged her gaze to the dining hall entryway.
Zagan entered dressed in a casual ensemble of white linen shirt, fawn coloured trousers and polished black Hessians. He looked dashing. "There has been a change of plans," he announced quietly, silver eyes seeking hers. "We're going to Balgia before we journey to Ephalon."
"Balgia? Where is that? And why are we going there?" The sombre note in his tone had her lifting a brow, her breakfast forgotten.
"A most disturbing anomaly has surfaced in the fourth region," he replied cryptically, turning on his heels. "Come along, little lamb. We must hurry if we are to reach the village before sunset." He paused to speak over his shoulder. "That means you too, Dryad. Your healing skills might prove necessary."
If memory served her right, the fourth region was the poorest district of Cronoa and finally she would witness the extend of her father's reign. Stuffing her remaining croissant between her teeth, Akila threw Castelis an apologetic look and ran after Zagan.
"I want my bow and arrow," Akila insisted when they arrived outside the stables.
He slanted her a wry look, wondering what she was up to. After last night, he wasn't certain how she would respond to him. Relief was evident when he realized she wasn't upset. He had enough problems piled upon his plate without a troubled female to deal with. "You will not be needing them. I will protect you." His gaze turned curious. "Why would a princess require the skills of a grand archer?"
She released an exaggerated huff. "Contrary to what you believe of my father, he loved his children greatly and insisted we learn how to protect ourselves. I enjoy archery — the solid feel of my bow, the control I wield over my arrow and the triumph of hitting my target."
Zagan stared at her with mild astonishment. Her impressions reminded him of the wild adrenaline rush, and the insurmountable power of his raging beast on the battlefield — moments he felt free to unleash his true self and revel in the chaos. Who knew the little lamb shared his sentiments if not tamer.
"After what happened at the ball, I don't wish to be unarmed," she continued pleading her case. "I hate feeling helpless." Her voice grew stronger. "I may not have killed anyone but, I refuse to be trapped in my own fear again. I want to be useful. I'm sick of being protected because look at how much it has helped me — left ignorant about my father's misdeeds, and being forced to become your concubine."
His eyes turned granite hard. "I believe insulting your captor isn't how you ask for weapons."
"I'm telling the truth, aren't I?" she remarked with a touch of exasperation. "Besides, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have saved your life, would I?"
"She does have a point," Castelis interrupted, reminding them both he was there.
Akila's eyes never left his and finally he relented. "Fine, take whatever you need but we leave in five minutes."
Rose coloured lips stretched into a charming smile. "Thank you, Zagan."
He silently grunted, hoping he wouldn't come to regret his decision.
They set out rapidly to Balgia where a demon scout met them halfway to guide them into the hidden village. Upon arrival, Zagan couldn't stop the frown creeping into his expression. It was worse than he imagined. The sick was everywhere — loitering in the shadowed alleys between the ramshackle straw houses, lying unconscious or half-dead upon the grounds of their homes and poorly garbed children with dirt smudged faces and hollowed expressions stared up at the huge horses passing them by. The gauntness of their cheeks was alarming, bestowing them an air of frailty and imminent death.
"This is horrible." Devastation wrecked Akila's voice, her fingers tightening on her mare's reins. "What travesty has happened here?"
"There was a disease outbreak," Zagan answered. "It has decimated half the village and my warrior stumbled upon it when he found a child wandering aimlessly in the desert for help."
She kept her expression calm despite the regret and shame twisting her gut. She might not be responsible for their demise but, she was reminded of what her father's negligence. It shouldn't have mattered that the inhabitants were demons. "What can we do to help?"
Zagan regarded the situation grimly. "I'm afraid demons are susceptible to perish from disease as easily as humans." He turned towards the Dryad. "Are you familiar with the symptoms of what ails them?"
"I'll have to examine the villagers." Castelis took in the unfortunate calamity. Over the years he had seen many villages fall prey to sickness, and Balgia wouldn't be its last victim. "I'm going to inspect the sick and their living conditions. Sometimes the cause could be a simple case of poor hygiene."
The demon scout from earlier reappeared. "Your Majesty, please allow me to escort you the tents we've set up for your entourage."
Once the horses were tethered and their belongings seen to, Akila accompanied Castelis while he made his rounds to uncover the cause of the plague. While the Dryad conversed with one of the more lucid demons, a young child by the water well caught her attention. To her amazement, he seemed to be a normal human boy. He was looking down the well, holding a broken barrel in his hand with a frown between his eyes.
Slowly, she approached him. "What are you looking at?"
The child glanced up, his eyes bleary and his face caked with dirt. "I'm trying to get some water for my mama, but the well is dry."
Judging by his height and voice, he was around six summers old. Remembering the water skin tied to her waist, she asked kindly. "Will you take me to her? I have some water to share."
The boy nodded enthusiastically, taking off towards a dilapidated hut less than twenty steps away. A woman's hacking cough could be heard from the outside. "Mama! The water's here!" he announced excitedly, leaving the door open for Akila to enter after him.
"Raam, is that you?" the woman's croak had Akila wincing.
"Pardon the intrusion," Akila murmured, untying the water skin. "Your son mentioned that you needed water."
"Who are you?" the woman demanded wildly, yanking her son into her protective embrace. Akila was stunned by the hostility and mistrust reflected in her frantic eyes.
She held up both hands peacefully, a sign of peace. "Be at ease, I am here to help, not harm you."
"Get away from us! You're one of them!" the woman accused vehemently before erupting into a series of painful coughs. Watching his mother's plight, Raam looked on the verge of tears.
Assailed by helplessness, Akila pondered how to help them when a large demon barraged in wearing a fierce scowl.
"Who the hell are you! How did you get in here?" he demanded furiously, shoving her to the ground. Akila cried and fell on her hands, hissing when the pebbles dug into her skin. "Leave this place, human, before I am forced to kill you!"
Unperturbed, she rose back up on her feet, dusting her knees. "Please, I mean you no harm. I came with the Demon King to aid your village."
"The Demon King?" he sneered ferociously, his face turning red. "He is not welcomed here. He is the reason why our village is in this state!"
"Impossible. That doesn't make any sense." She shook her head, eyes shifting from the frightened boy, to the hysterical woman and finally landing on her protective husband. The way he stood with his body shielding theirs meant he could be no other. Something else dawned on her, and she gaped, "Are you...? It can't be..."
The demon braced himself for a fight.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein