Chapter 226: Does She Live?

According to Haldir's reports, the werewolves' army had gathered on the east side of Draoidh while Brantley had sent his army to the south. On the west the thick mountain range prevented any movement but Ileus was aware that his mother had communicated with the habitants of the jungle who were dangerously prowling that side. 

The meeting didn't take place as scheduled. It took place after three days, which meant that it took place after five days of meeting Maple in the prison. 

Adrianna instructed Isidorus to send invitations to every king and queen of the Lore for the meeting right after she met Maple. When Isidorus asked her if it was necessary for them to call these royals, she said, "It is high time that Aed Ruad understands the consequences of going against us and for every other king and queen to show their fidelity to us." 

After Haldir had left, Ileus and Anastasia had gone to meet Adrianna and Dmitri. The king and the queen, along with Ileus and Haldir spent time on weighing the merits of which would be the best place to meet. 

"Why didn't you choose a place before sending invitations to the royals across the Lore?" asked Ileus. 

Adrianna laughed. "Then they would have asked us to do the meeting at their chosen venues, at their chosen dates. We can't give them such liberties!" She had only sent them the day and the time. 

In the meanwhile, Ileus had gone to visit Isidorus to check upon Guarhal. He was still lying in the same casket. The blue shimmery lights still lingered with the same intensity around him. They passed through one ear to the other and pooled in his mouth. His lips had turned blue and his skin was paler than before. 

"This is necromancer magic," said Isidorus as he pointed to Guarhal. The casket was now placed in a large glass cabinet inside a room in the south wing of Isidorus' palace. It was covered with three layers of spells so that the necromancer magic was arrested. "I am afraid that if Guarhal continues to stay in this state for more than a fortnight, we may lose him forever. His skin is already turning blue at various places." The old man worried his beard in his hands. 

Ileus stared at Guarhal, his disposition dark. "Who do you think is practicing necromancer magic in our kingdom?" he asked. 

Isidorus sounded worried when he said, "I don't know. Every witch or wizard who practiced necromancer magic was either arrested or killed by the royal guards long back. This practice is banned. We take our witchcraft very preciously. Necromancer magic makes a person wild, mad and comes with a price. The person's physical features change. Their mind is no longer in their control for it is controlled by the magic and mentality of the dead. Necromancers suck the magic of the dead and are hardly their own self if they have done it for long. In order to stay sane, sometimes they become heavily dependent on opium." He gestured to Ileus to come out with him. The guards closed the door of Guarhal's room. 

They walked outside to his garden when Isidorus occupied himself with pruning his favorite—the rose ramblers. They were a pride of his palace. 

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"If Guarhal doesn't have more than two weeks with this kind of magic, doesn't that mean that Iona was also affected by the same fate?" said Ileus. His entire body shuddered at the thought and his knees felt wobbly. Were they chasing an illusion created by Etaya? Had she already killed Iona? Thousands of questions bombarded his mind and his chest tightened. 

Isidorus laughed. "I highly doubt. They have to keep Iona alive because they know that they are dealing with a force called Adrianna. However, if they are foolish enough, then they might have killed Iona." His shear cut a bunch of red roses by mistake. The thought was unpleasant. Ever since the child was born, Isidorus had looked forward to being her mentor. She was one of the most beautiful and chirpy kids he had ever seen. She was a breather in his otherwise mundane life. He had grown to love her a lot. And ever since she was kidnapped he had carried out his private investigations to find her. 

Ileus' brows tightened as butterflies stroked his chest with their wings. "That means that Iona lives." 

"Yes, otherwise the meeting wouldn't be taking place. Iona is the trump card. Without her, everything in the Lore is out of balance." 

"Can you deal with necromancer magic, Isidorus," asked Ileus knowing the answer fully well. What he meant was can Isidorus get Guarhal out of his current state. 

"I would have dealt with it, if it was Adrianna, Dmitri or you and Anastasia. I wouldn't have given up my life for the rulers of the kingdom." 

Ileus had his answer. He gave a long hug to his mentor and left. 

The palace was abuzz with the news that Aed Ruad hadn't come for the meeting on the designated date. He was coming a day later. 

The next day when the meeting was supposed to take place, everyone was preoccupied. After their practice session in which Anastasia had made great progress, they returned to their bedchamber. Anastasia found her handmaidens waiting in her room to dress her. She had snapped at Ileus at every possible opportunity and though he wasn't angry with her, he just kept his distance while studying her from a distance. She felt extremely uncomfortable. Facing Aed Ruad in the meeting without reacting would be her greatest challenge. She had to keep her temper in control because there was a possibility that other royals would also be present in the meeting. Anastasia realized one thing—it was a show of power, which Adrianna was determined to let them know. There was one question that was bouncing in her head—Was Adrianna also going to show the royals that Anastasia was her son's mate and wife? 

The handmaidens dressed her in a soft blue silk gown and minimal jewelry. They made her wear her tiara. They had braided her hair, which rested between her wings that were tucked snugly behind her. 

Walk to the meeting room was filled with anxieties.

What Anastasia saw next was… unbelievable. 

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