Ryan killed the shiver in his voice and send the words out calmly with a warm tone. Stealing his sight from the blood-shedding down there, mixing with water.
"Come, let's talk indoors." He walked down the stairs and his guards followed him.
Ryan looked at the old men behind him, "who are they Masun?"
"Ministers."
Ryan gaped, Alovena had magician ministers, he was not sure if they were regular ones. With them, the king could have destroyed the imps colony and had the advantage to infiltrate where Samuel had found.
"What are we up to do?" Ryan asked his wife.
"Am I capable of commenting on this kind of stuff? No, my dear! I'm dumbstruck already."
Shaking his head in approval, he kept walking and holding her hand tightly. He trust no one now, the king just refused that he had delivered a letter. Someone was playing cat and mouse here and it was unlike what they yearned to grow along.
Heading down the temple, people kept praying and imploring the gods until the guards would get the order to release them.
Inside the palace, it was the heat of the great fireplace that embraced them.
The King turned to his guard, "go and send people to their houses."
"As you wish, your highness."
The guard bowed and went out.
"Well, I hear you!"
A valet arrived with a robe and put it on his King. King Rozen wore it and strode to the tray of fruit, picked a persimmon, and took a bite.
Saya drew the letter out of her satchel and walked to him, water was dribbling down her leather long coat.
The ministers exchanged glances, seeing the seal on it.
"How is this possible?"
They murmured to each other and Ryan felt something shuddering in his pits.
"I did, father!"
A young voice resounded. It was a daring boy around fifteen years old, he shot glares at the ministers who had been spoiling his father's brain.
"Dedar!" The King was as amazed as the presenters.
Ryan sneaked beside Saya and Hashin appeared on the other side. The young handsome boy with black hair stopped in front of them and grabbed the letter.
Saya saw this boy when he was seven years old and traveled to Bead with his mother.
"My dear Dedar. I'm happy to see but I can't see your mother."
The boy had a stern face unlike what she could remember from him.
"She wants to see you. I wrote this letter as she wished."
Saya gazed at him blankly. His mother was a respectful woman that loved guests, especially if she had summoned Saya, personally.
"I hope you explain this rudeness to me, son!"
The King chimed in, putting the persimmon on a dish. He took his seat on the stone circular throne in the great hall while his ministers stood down the platform, near the row of pillars on the left side.
"I wish I could have had a persimmon in peace, father but unfortunately, my mother is about to die after the imp's attack in Finoa village. She has no hope of living another day."
Dedar announced, it was obvious that his heart was broken and the sorrow was deepening.
"Nothing will happen to your mother." The king's eyes drifted on the first minister, "go with him and check on her."
"Your highness, I am truly sorry for disappointing you but the poison already took her body. Our magic couldn't do anything."
Saya saw no grief in the King's face. Something was wrong with him, this man's love for his wife was undeniable. Here something had changed, she could sense darkness in the air. The auras were madly strangling her.
"If there is no way, then I must say farewell to my Queen."
Saya's eyes fell on the clenched fists of Dedar. The boy was furious and at this moment it could bring disaster therefore no wonder why his mother sent after them.
"Your highness, let me visit Queen Shala first then we can talk."
Saya wished.
The King nodded, "you can go, cousin but I would like to get to know the son of Miguel James."
Saya looked at her husband and he seemed to be fine because he answered with a gentle warm smile.
"Say hi from me to the Queen."
He held her hand and looked at the prince of Alovena, "I leave my wife to you, brave man."
Dedar bowed his head and led Saya out. They moved to the Queen's residence and the leader of Bead saw a maiden who came out with a basket.
"Dedar, how long has passed since your mother got attacked?"
"Four days, we went to the Finoa village as soon as we received a report regarding dark magicians and imps that were seen together."
Saya cringed! What?
They didn't knock on the door because Queen Shala already expected them.
She was coughing when Saya pushed the curtain away and saw her. She was pale, her hair ran all white, dark circles were telling that she had no rest lately out of pain.
"My lovely Saya, I knew you would come." She coughed.
Saya roamed beside her, stopped her from moving, held her hand.
"What bale came to you, Shala? I should not have let you come back, I should have believed that those magicians are luring your husband."
"It is too late, he is lost. Listen, Saya." She took a deep breath.
"My son! You must protect him. I don't know what dark magicians are doing with the mother of vampires but you must find prince Tristan."
"Who is prince Tristan?"
"He is the prince of vampires, heir of Jodian land. He is unaware of things that the mother of vampires is doing hiddenly."
"How can we trust him?"
"I met him. He is the only one among vampires you can trust."
"Shala, we need to ruin the imps first, we need permission from Rozen to bring Velatorian knights. The imps eventually could reach Jomen and I saw Fihad being in trouble."
The Queen nodded, "I did my best to convince him but it didn't work, I want you to do this."
Saya had no idea how to do it.
"I will give it a shot. I won't bother you more have some rest. I am going to join my husband."
"She is right mother, we can talk when you get better."
The Queen's eyes ran teary when her son wished that. Saya could see that she had no more time. She pushed the blanket up on her and stood up.
"Shala, I will find the vampire prince. But I can't trust the Jodian folk who sold their soul to the devil."
"You knew?"
"I received a warning from muse Luna. She told me that the king of Jodian and his son are alive, now get some rest."