The moon shone brightly upon the quite and peaceful kingdom of Azura,it was late at night,there was dead silence but the heart of Prince Tariq was not at peace.He was pacing in his room, wearing a long silky shirt almost reaching his knees.He opened his window and stared right at the full moon shining brightly as if he wanted answers from it.How did his sister,the princess end up having a secret affair with Prince Cyrus after the mysterious disappearance of Prince Kael who was said to be dead?Leila loved Kael and was about to marry him, what was really going on? These questions kept popping in his mind ,he was restless after he saw Leila and Cyrus sharing a kiss at the palace garden,the passionate hugs.Something struck his mind and he quickly put on his tunic, grabbed a sword and walked out quickly,fast and bravely across the palace chambers, turned right and walked down the narrow passage that led straight to the Oracle's sacred chambers.He swung the door open and stood there,tall charming and strong.He was so impatient that he expected answers before he could ask or explain anything."I knew you were coming,what troubles the heart of the Prince by this hour?" It was a hoarse voice of a grandma sitting on a mat in the middle of the room with fire burning infront of her,she had long white hair,slim body with long limbs, green eyes, pointed nose,small pouted mouth with a slightly long face with wrinkled cheeks."I need to know the intentions of Cyrus of Calonia and the mysterious death of his brother Kael,is the princess Leila in danger?"Tariq did not hesitate to ask direct questions.He was blunt and direct when talking,no parables or sugarcoating."You are always straight to the point", said the oracle,her name was Jadu. "Time will tell my prince,time will tell the secrets and reveal the dark hearts of men,go and have your peaceful sleep ",she said with her hoarse but soft voice.Tariq was angry,he needed answers,he had no time to wait for time to tell.He knew Jadu didn't want to reveal anything yet "I will be back!" he said as he walked quickly out and slammed the door,and ran back to his chambers.The night seemed very long.At dawn, Prince Tariq was on his way to Calonia kingdom on his horse without telling his father the king or his sister Leila but he did send a message across to his best friend Zayd through the royal guards.
Upon arrival prince Tariq did not waste time,he requested for a private moment with prince Cyrus. "What do you want?" he asked prince Cyrus seriously trying to keep his cool.Cyrus looked at him and looked away instantly and asked what he was talking about. "Make it make sense Cyrus,your brother Kael was betrothed to my sister Leila before he was reported dead and now you are having a secret affair with your brother's fiancee, what is your motive?"Tariq sounded more like he is demanding for an answer . Cyrus smiled rudely "I don't understand that a prince doesn't matters of power and alliances,my brother is dead, my parents are dead,I am the only surviving heir to the throne , my brother was to marry your sister so as to strengthen the relationship between two kingdoms ,he is dead, I'm doing that on his behalf,I was actually coming to inform you about this in two days time,"Cyrus made it sound so easy and he sounded unbothered.For a moment Tariq was confused "Why are you so sure that Kael died?he was not buried!" "He died, Aurelia witnessed his death alongside with some palace guards!"Cyrus said with complete annoyance.
Two days after Tariq returned from Colonia,he decided to visit his best friend Zayd.Informed by the palace guards,Zayd was by the river just outside the kingdom walls.An arrow flew past Tariq 's ear at close range followed by laughter,it was Zayd. "Who else could it be,you are never serious man", Tariq said with his voice raised,he was feeling excited to see Zayd but he never ceased to be shocked at his behaviour. "Hail the Prince of Azura",Zayd bowed a little ,"I was trying to keep you alert,how can you come here alone huh?"he said with a cheerful little boy's expression.Tariq drew closer and patted Zayd 's shoulder and signed,Zayd knew he wanted to tell him something bothering him."Out with it brother ",Zayd inquired.Tariq told him about Cyrus's move and that he suspected he was up to something,he told him he does not trust Cyrus at all,and the mysterious deaths of the royal family members was questionable.Zayd went quite for a moment and asked "Do you want me to look into it?"Zayd was quick to act on matters that needed answers or solutions.
The following day at dawn,Zayd was inside Calonia palace disguised as a palace guard with the help of a few manipulation tactics on the warrior guards he knew,Zayd was known by the warriors of Azura and a few warriors of Calonia kingdom since the kingdoms were good allies for a long time.He noticed that Aurelia barely leaves Cyrus' side and he suspected she have a strong grip on him.Later in the afternoon Zayd spotted Aurelia heading towards the palace courtyard in a heist,he decided to follow her without anyone barely noticing.Aurelia paced very fast with caution and out of the palace,she followed a narrow path between the stone walls leading to the houses of nobles,she walked towards her father's house,looked sideways and creeped in,a few moments later she creeped out changed into a brown hijab,her head and face covered except for the eyes.Zayd easily recognised it's still her and followed her from a distance.Aurelia followed the path down to the water well,she wasn't greeting anyone on the way,she acted like a scared poor woman in that hijab.She passed the water well and headed to the hill that was not very far from the well, when she reached the hill,she went round to the other side of it,then right into the cave, walked a few steps going inside,there stood an almost short man.Zayd cautiously drew his sword and took his steps forward carefully,the man looked like a commoner and almost harmless, Zayd took a few steps back so they won't see him.He witnessed a heated conversation between Aurelia and the man,the man threatening to reveal her secret to prince Cyrus if she doesn't pay him handsomely."Name it!what do you want? gold? jewellery?a bag of coins?"Aurelia 's voice sounded more offended that angry. "I want it all, I'm tired of being a poor man, wealth is my price woman, you make me wealthy and I keep your secret ",the man said with a frustrated voice.Aurelia agreed to his terms and promised she will send everything he needs before nightfall.Just as the man turned to leave in satisfaction, Aurelia picked a random big stone and hit him hard on his head,Zayd watching did not move.The man fell down and Aurelia continued to hit him hard with the stone on his head and face, blood covered his face,she continued hitting him with rage and finally stopped when she was perhaps tired of lifting the stone up to hit him.He was gone,he was dead,she stood up and looked at him proudly, "commoner,you dare mess with me,meet your ancestors,meet your ancestors dammit!"she almost shouted with a smile of triumph and resentment.Zayd quickly vanished from there.Aurelia took off the hijab and wore it inside out, messed up her hair and ran fast back her father's house,she knew people wouldn't mind her,they would probably think she is just a mentally unstable common girl.
On a beautiful afternoon the next day, Cyrus was sitted at a royal table dining with the royal family of Azura,he made his intention of marrying Leila known to the king Malik with the reasons that his brother was gone,he would have to carry on with the alliance deal on behalf of his brother and marry Leila so the kingdoms could form a strong friendship that lasted for years.The king agreed with him but Prince Tariq made it clear that he was not in support of the marriage.Cyrus and Tariq exchanged glances of mistrust across the table,Leila noticed that and she excused herself from the table,went outside to get some air,she was really hurt that she would get married when her brother is not happy about it.Cyrus excused himself from the table with the reason that he wants to check on the princess."I understand your brother,he was close to my brother and wanted him for you,he is still hurt ,I'm also hurt,he was my brother,I loved him,I failed to protect him,now on his behalf I'm marrying you, not only that,I also love you and for the sake of my brother I will always protect you ",It was Cyrus with a calm voice drawing his face closer to Leila's like he wanted to kiss her.Leila looked up at him into his blue eyes,a little down to his bold shoulders that reminded her of Kael,she threw herself between his arms and felt safe just like how she used to feel whenever Kael embraced her in his arms.She was looking for Kael in Cyrus, everytime she found herself looking for Kael in Cyrus but she only found him in physical features not in character,that made her feel the void Kael left."Leila!"screamed Tariq behind them almost annoyed "Can I have a moment with him?"he tried to be calm this time.Leila quietly withdrew from Cyrus' arms and stepped back,looked at her brother with mixed emotions of hurt and confusion,she turned quietly and walked back inside."I have my eyes on you,I know there's more to this,I'm watching",Tariq said standing tall infront of Cyrus at close range,his grey eyes looking straight into Cyrus' blue eyes piercing into his soul.Cyrus was annoyed and almost losing his temper "keep watching and talking,i will do the rest",he said as he turned to walk back inside.Tariq quickly grabbed him by the collar of his royal white and golden gown."Listen,I will marry your sister whether you like it or not, and you better respect me because very soon your sister will be in my hands ",Cyrus cocked his head to the side,"and you know what that means?I can do whatever I please with her so you...." He didn't finish talking Tariq blew his nose with a silly dirty punch, Cyrus stumbled a few steps backwards with his nose bleeding,he came with force and punched Tariq back, punches flew,the royal guards ran to separate them from fighting."Stop!"It was the king completely burning with anger standing at a distance."How dare you fight our guest?the Prince for that matter,princes fighting!never have this happened between our kingdoms for decades!"his words were directed to Prince Tariq.Both Tariq and Cyrus apologised to King Malik,the old man did calm down a bit and ordered them to come inside.They exchanged swearing glances before they followed the king into the palace dining with royal guards holding them.The moments were awkward until Cyrus left.
Zayd had already told Tariq what he saw Aurelia doing back in Calonia and they decided to visit the Oracle Jadu.Jadu was already waiting for them in her sacred chambers."The darkness clouding Calonia kingdom will cloud Azura if this marriage happens,I see a tyrant,I see slaves,I see tears,I see a python swallowing a crocodile...."She didn't finish telling her vision, Tariq interrupted her "We did not come here for tales ,tell us what we can hear,what can we do to save Azura kingdom?"Zayd quickly stepped forward to soften Jadu so she won't be offended by his impatient friend "Pardon him,the most beautiful granny of Azura",he said it jokingly and Jadu smiled and brushed it off,she knew Zayd from childhood,he was never serious but smart. "There is more to discover,if you do, you will know what to do,the gods are with you both, tomorrow you have to go back to Calonia just like you did, there's one more thing to discover there, princess Leila must never marry Cyrus,go ,I will guard and protect you from here,the gods of Azura are with you ",Jadu said with total confidence,her eyes glued up on the iron , wooden and golden gods of Azura at the far corner of her sacred chambers,her right hand holding tightly on her white iron rod she used to perform magic,her white long hair messed up.Tariq and Zayd looked at each other wondering what was there to see at Calonia.They were ready.