Chapter 6 Poison

• "Tell me," Nerina commanded.
• She had called Delia, her maid, into her chambers a month and five days after attending the betrothal banquet at Asghavia.
• They had returned to Sejukgheim two days after the banquet but she decided to give Delia time to come to her on her own after completing her assignment, without needing to be summoned. However, she quickly grew fed up with Delia's blatant dodgy attitude.
• "My Lolo, I-"
• "I truly hope that you do not plan on telling me another lie, Delia." Nerina cut her off in a sing-song voice as she reclined further into her high-backed chair carved out of the finest timber from the forests surrounding Drakova, the capital city of Sejukgheim.
• Delia's skinny shoulders dropped. She knew that Nerina wasn't a person that was easily deceived but she had to try until she came up with a plan. Which she successfully did.
• "No, my Lolo. I have found what you needed." Nerina's eyebrows shot up in attention as she sat up straight.
• "Good. Tell me everything and do not leave anything out."
• Delia took in a deep breath and did her best to sound convincing and not let her face betray any of her emotions.
• "What you seek is in the kingdom of Aesos," Delia informed.
• "Aesos?" Nerina mused. "Which of the cities? Khieva or?" She asked.
• "No, not Khieva, but Vishwum. There is a remote but thick forest there and what you are looking for is there in the hut of the local priestess.
• "Her hut is located in the heart of the forest. You will know you are there once you see the huge mahogany tree. You just need to travel north-east when you are in the forest," Delia said.
• This was the first time she had looked Nerina in the eye and lied brazenly. Though it was not a lie but a half-truth.
• She had boarded a ship to Aesos immediately after returning from the banquet at Asghavia but instead of doing exactly what Nerina had told her to, she told the local priestess who was loyal to the Estor tribe, about what Nerina was planning.
• The old priestess who was also a powerful sorceress was enraged at the schemes of Nerina and her father, and swore to make sure that their efforts came to naught.
• "And she has exactly what I need? Did you confirm that?" Nerina asked, eyeing Delia suspiciously.
• Delia forced herself not to squirm or be scared of Nerina's questioning gaze. "I confirmed it, Lolo. It is in her possession."
• "Good, you may go now," Nerina waved her hand in dismissal.
• As Delia closed the double doors behind her, she leaned back on them and released a long sigh of relief. "Dear Creator, please help me. May Lolo Nerina be convinced that I speak the truth," She prayed under her breath and left to attend to other duties.
• Meanwhile, Nerina grinned victoriously inside her chambers as she brought a goblet of wine to her lips and took a long sip.
• Her plan was being set in motion and all the pieces were falling in place just as she had imagined all these years.
• After draining the goblet, she fetched her thick fur coat which was spread neatly atop her feather bed, and draped it around her shoulders.
• With long strides, she headed to her father's chambers on the other side of their ancestral palace.
• The weather was frosty and the wind was like a rain of arrows slashing her cheeks and ears. Had she not been used to the cold of the Winter Isles; she would have frozen right there on the spot even with the heavy coat around her.
• The climate in the winter isles was either warm or extremely cold.
• There were no in-betweens. During the warm weather which lasted for six months every year, the common people would plant cash crops and food crops which would be ready for harvesting before the cold winters rolled in.
• Winter brought the season of mining. Drakova, the capital city of Sejukgheim and seat of the great tribe of Drako had the largest mines in all of Sejukgheim and the entire continent, which made the Drakos the wealthiest tribe that ever was and ever would be.
• This was the reason why Chief Kalix was extremely infuriated when Emperor Iqbar transferred rule to Nebulos even when he had reluctantly resigned himself to serving the continent and in turn serving Volcaris after Sejukgheim was almost irreparably damaged in the great war between the two kingdoms during Emperor Babr's conquest of the continent.
• They were wealthier and had an even larger army than Nebulos but they lacked one thing that kept the Nebulosi at a greater advantage. Formidable magic.
• "I want to see my father. Tell him that I would be waiting for him on the balcony which overlooks the snow mountains," She instructed the home guards who stood outside her father's quarters.
• "Yes, Lolo." They bowed before her as she turned and left.
• A while later, her father joined her on the balcony, their cloaks billowing in the strong wind.
• "Nerina, you are aware that I am to leave for Asghavia before nightfall, so why have you requested to see me?" Chief Topher asked.
• "I have found what we need to take back what is ours," She said curtly, diving straight to the point. She had no time to waste.
• Chief Topher beamed. Finally, everything was coming together splendidly.
• "Good, you have made your father proud. Where did you find it?" He asked.
• "It's in Aesos."
• "Aesos? No, that's too far away. You might not make it in time for the engagement and—"Chief Topher paused as a disturbing thought crossed his mind.
• "How did you come to find out?" He asked, taking a step closer to Nerina.
• "I sent Delia to find out, and she did," Nerina shrugged, wondering why her father looked so troubled.
• At her nonchalant response, Chief Topher became incensed.
• "How could she not understand the gravity of the situation?" He said to himself, his temper blooming.
• In a blaze of anger, he slapped Nerina across her cheek.
• The force of the slap pushed her back a step. She held her reddened cheek as tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision.
• Her father, still annoyed, grabbed her arm roughly. "I did not raise you to make stupid decisions, Nerina!" He bellowed, with spittle flying out of his mouth and landing on her face.
• "W-what have I done, Father?" She asked shakily as she brought her hand down from her cheek and made a fist.
• She hated when her father made her feel small, insignificant, and dumb. For years, she had worked tirelessly to fulfill her father's ambitions which in turn, became hers.
• However, on occasions like this, he never seemed to be satisfied with her efforts.
• "Do you truly not know what you have done? How could you act thoughtlessly? Sending your maid? A maid! You didn't even send one of the many spies at our disposal to do the work for you, instead, you sent your maid! Did you tell her our agenda?" He fumed.
• She kept her head down and avoided her father's flaming blue eyes. Eyes that were more insidious than hers could ever be.
• "I-I did. But I made sure that she wouldn't say anything. She can't do anything! I even threatened—" Before she could finish trying to defend her actions, another slap landed across her cheek.
• "Do you have any idea how deceitful and cunning people like Delia can be? You might be successful in keeping them on a tight leash and making them do your bidding, but you cannot fully control them."
• With a hand on her chin, he raised her face, forcing her to look into his eyes as he continued.
• "There are many kinds of people you need to fear and tread lightly with and the most dangerous of them all are the ones who have nothing to lose, Nerina.
• "That is where your maid falls in. She has no family, no husband, and no children. Do you think she would think twice about betraying you? Do you think she is afraid of losing anything?" He seethed.
• Nerina squared her jaw stubbornly. She knew what she was doing and was not going to let her father make her feel stupid anymore.
• "Let go of me, Father. You will treat me with respect. I am going to be the future empress of this continent. You will not hurt me like this again!" She asserted through clenched teeth.
• Chief Topher was taken aback. Nerina had never for once talked back at him before.
• "Could I have made a mistake in giving her so much power?" He wondered.
• He let go of her arm. "My apologies," He said, though he wasn't remorseful.
• "When do you leave for Aesos?"
• "Tonight. I shall get on the last ship in a disguise, to avoid being detected."
• "And you are sure that you can trust the words of Delia?" Chief Topher raised an eyebrow.
• "Delia knows that if she betrays me or leads me on a wild goose chase, then I would have her head. It just so happens that she values her life. That is what she has to lose, Father. I know her very well," She said firmly.
• "For both our sakes, I hope you are right. Make sure you avoid recognition," Topher warned.
• "I will."
• Chief Topher turned and exited the balcony leaving Nerina staring at his retreating form as she chanted a spell.
• Her fingers glowed a faint blue as her ice blue eyes began to glow a bright violet and slowly, her appearance and clothing transformed to that of a common, unremarkable servant.