There had been no word for four days straight. I had no worry about Ace's party, I knew they succeeded. My worry lay with Drazhan and Damon and the fact that the night before their departure, I had another vision-like dream of what they would encounter should they venture too deep into the dark forest, and what truly lay inside that horrid mansion. He was getting ready to release all hell on Korghon, that was his plan all along.
I spent two days since the vision holed up in the library, surrounded by stacks upon stacks of books, researching on the creatures I had seen, hoping that I just had some fever dream due to the stress that comes with my position, but even I had to know the truth. Drazhan and Damon were riding into unspeakable danger.
The creatures I saw in my vision-like dream were creatures of legends long forgotten. The ones with sharp teeth, gray skin and pointed ears are Trovaks. Dark creatures banished by the high priestesses long ago who feed on the blood of mortals.
The hound-like creatures the size of a full grown horse are, according to my research, doom hounds, harbingers of chaos.
If those were the creatures that lurked in the forest, I feared for my friends.
I had my sentries posted at the borders of Temeria and at the roads leading to the dark forest, they had orders to send word if Drazhan, Damon and their men rode back, but nothing came up.
~
Sleep eluded me, and my appetite along with it.
I stood in the balcony outside the council chamber, the city below spread before me. The streets were filled with people going about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of the horrors that are about to be unleashed on the world. It is not their job to worry though, it is my duty as their queen to protect them. And I would.
The markets were alive as people bought all they needed. They all seemed… happy, something I hadn't seen in a while.
The doors burst open, reeling my thoughts back in, I turned to find Amenadiel and Alice together, They both bowed curtly and it brought a smile to my face given the circumstances. Amenadiel gave me a concerned look, and I didn't like it at all, because I knew what he was about to say.
"There has still been no word from the sentries, your majesty" and with that, I felt like a rock sank into my chest. I couldn't live like this, somehow a few days felt like a thousand years.
"I need to go out and find them" I declared. I would sit idle no longer.
"My queen, It's out of the question, you are the crown, you cannot put yourself in harms way. Send me instead"
"No!" I said, in a voice deeper than I intended. "You are needed here" I said, reminding him of the woman currently carrying his unborn child.
A deep sigh escaped me, and though I knew it would probably end the way it did last time, I said "Get me a map, let's try another locator spell"
I had tried locating my friends in the moments I was engulfed in my research, trying to make sense of the creatures I saw in my vision, that's how I knew that Ace's party were safe, they were on the move.
A map was swiftly brought and splayed on the large wooden table, I would track my cousin's party first, to be sure of their movements, then I would find Drazhan and Damon.
I stretched my hands before the map before me and concentrated, in a few seconds, ash began to form on the map's surface and began tracing their location. I breathed a sigh of relief to know that they were still moving "They're following the back roads, but they are close" Amenadiel pointed out.
"Something must have gone wrong. Take a few men, ride out and meet them" my heart felt lighter knowing that they were closer to home. The ash disappeared and I immediately began performing another spell to locate Drazhan and Damon.
Locating my two friends was not as easy as locating the others, something always blocked my magic, and I couldn't tell what the hell it was. I pushed harder this time, there was a brief pause, then the map went up in flames before me.
Every instinct in me did not like this no matter how many times I had done it in the past days, they were in danger and I knew it, I've known it from the minute I had that vision days ago.
Alice rushed to get something to put out the fire, but I just waved my hand at the flames and it died down immediately.
"You should be getting some rest Alice" I said to her, concern coated in my voice, I truly could not have her stressing in her condition.
"I'm quite alright your majesty, I want to make sure that you are fine. I may not be your personal maid anymore, but I remain your friend" I smiled and placed a hand above hers.
"Thank you Alice"
She took a seat on one of the chairs and I did the same, trying to calm the roaring panic in my mind. I needed to go to the dark forest and save my friends. I felt the urge stronger than I've ever felt it before.
"You're going to the dark forest aren't you?"
"I don't have a choice. Drazhan and Damon are in danger and it's my fault, I shouldn't have sent them in there in the first place" She chuckled.
"With all due respect your majesty, we both know they would have gone there with or without your permission as long as they sensed that whatever information they would gather would be to your benefit, such is loyalty"
My heart felt warm at the thought of their unflinching loyalty, what I had done to earn it I would never know, but I would always be grateful. "How are you this calm Alice?" she smiled softly before she answered.
"I have no fear. I serve a strong queen that will rise above her foes, who will protect her people at all cost. That is cause to be calm" I smiled and gave her a tight hug, appreciating her confidence in me. Tears gathered in my eyes, no one had ever said such things about me before, believed in me the way they all had, and for that reason alone, I would not fail them.
"I'll be back Alice, i have to rescue my friends"