Secrets and Poison

The sixth month of the year of the creator, 2,020.

(Two months before the blood moon) 

Asghavia, Volcaris.

Lolo Nerina's smirk grew as she sat in front of her dressing mirror while her maid brushed her pin-straight hair, dark as the eventide that flowed glossily to her waist and began styling it into a single, elegant braid.

Centuries of planning and waiting were finally coming to an end. Today, she would be officially betrothed to the imperial prince and in the tenth month of the year, be formally engaged and married to him; able to live in the Unity Rock until the day of their wedding.

It all lay on her shoulders now to bring the reign of the Estors to an end. From the day she was born, her dear father and mother saw great potential in her that they did not see in her elder brother, Orion.

Her mastery of magic grew as she advanced in age, surpassing the understanding of her Nebulosi teachers to the point where she began to practice magic on her own. 

Neither her parents nor her brother possessed any magical ability. 

Her ability stemmed from her grandmother who was a powerful Nebulosi mage, but because it had skipped her parents and only sibling, Chief Topher, her father, had no other option than to ask the emperor to send Nebulosi teachers who were spell masters and advanced mages to train his daughter and because of the relationship between the two kingdoms, the emperor had no choice but to agree.

She was also trained rigorously in archery, swordsmanship, horseback riding, and politics but much attention was given to her magic.

Her magic was unlike any other that the Nebulosi spell masters had ever encountered. 

Oftentimes, she did not require the use of spells to channel and bring her power forth.

In her spare time, she practiced malignant forms of sorcery that sometimes left her teetering on the brink of madness.

At sixteen, her father began preparing her to finish what his ancestors could not do. To take back the kingdoms and rule the entire continent. The plan of action was both simple and highly complicated.

"You look stunning, my Lolo," her maid, Delia praised as she added a gold head ornament to Nerina's hair as the finishing touch.

"I know," Nerina responded proudly as she gazed at herself in the mirror. 

Possessing a rare siren-like beauty that most women did not have, with thick, dark eyebrows that resembled a raptor in flight and full, inviting lips that had been painted a cherry red, she was arguably one of the most gorgeous noble women in all the five kingdoms.

Delia smiled subtly and retreated to the wardrobe to fetch Nerina's outfit for the banquet happening in the Unity Rock that night.

After helping Nerina into a pristine scarlet dress with full sleeves, cut in a V that exposed her cleavage, made her pale skin stand out, and was cinched at the waist by a diamond chain.  

The ends of the long dress pooled around her legs like she was standing in a pool of blood. Delia placed a pure gold necklace with a pendant bearing a golden eagle which was the crest of her tribe, around her graceful neck.

Nerina's intense icy blue eyes focused on Delia through the mirror. "Have you gotten the information I need as I instructed?"

Delia swallowed in fear. She had been hoping that Nerina had forgotten all about it, but she had been foolish to think like that. Nerina never forgot anything. Ever.

She searched her mind for a suitable lie but she knew that would be an unwise decision because Nerina could smell a lie before it could even be uttered.

"I-I…" she stuttered, at a loss for words to explain herself.

Nerina stood from the padded leather stool and turned with a heart-aching grace to face Delia, causing her to take a step back, terrified of the flaming anger in the Lolo's blue eyes.

Nerina reached forward and grabbed Delia's chin with her long fingers, angling the shorter girl's face to meet her piercing gaze.

"You…what?" A flash of anger crossed her face but was quickly replaced by a calm, controlled smile.

Delia fell to her knees, gripping the hem of Nerina's dress. "Forgive me, my Lolo!" she pleaded, tears streaming down her round cheeks. "I forgot about it, but I swear, once we return to the winter isles, I will set about getting the information to you. I swear on the creator!" she begged, not wanting to face the wrath of Nerina.

"Get up," Nerina commanded, her voice sharp, and Delia quickly obeyed, though not daring to meet Nerina's eyes. 

She knew Delia was lying to her face but she decided to play along and see just how long her maid could lie to her.

"I have trusted you with this because I shared my teenage years with you, but the next time you conveniently forget about this, I will not hesitate to sever your head from your body. 

"Ensure you carry out my instructions the second we reach Sejukgheim. Do you understand?" Nerina snarled like a wildcat, her voice low and dangerous.

"Yes, my Lolo," Delia whispered, her body shaking like a leaf on a stormy night.

"Get out of my sight, and tell my father that I wish to see him immediately," she ordered, turning away as she dismissed Delia.

Delia promptly exited the chambers that had been assigned to the Lolo by the head servant of the Unity Rock. 

She knew of the Lolo's plot but wanted no part in it. She had already gotten the information that the Lolo required but could not bring herself to inform her about it.

Despite being a citizen of Sejukgheim, a personal servant and confidante of Lolo Nerina, she was fiercely loyal to the imperial prince after he had put himself in danger to save her life when she was still a child with his vast knowledge of magic and spells. 

However, there was no way she could inform him of the plots against him, his tribe and the continent, without Nerina finding out.

All she could do was to withhold the information from Nerina as long as she could until she was able to figure out a way to either somehow thwart the schemes of Nerina or inform the prince of which both options would result in losing her head, a head that she desperately wanted to keep connected to her neck and the rest of her body.

"Nerina, you are the embodiment of perfection," Chief Topher, a tall said in admiration as he took in the willowy form of his daughter.

"Thank you, Father, for that astute observation," Nerina replied, a smug smile dancing on her lips.

"As gracious as ever, my dear." Chief Topher said sarcastically as he sat on a chair and observed the luxurious chambers he had made sure his daughter was given. 

"I trust the accommodations are to your liking?"

"It will suffice," Nerina said, fiddling with the huge, silver ring gracing her long ring finger.

"Father, we have come a very long way to get to this point and now, it is finally happening, but there is one thing that bothers me," she said, her brows furrowing in thought.

"What might that be?" Topher asked, tilting his head to the side.

Arched brows furrowed, she began to pace back and forth in deep thought. 

"I have been thinking, Father, what if the imperial prince refuses to be wed to me? Would we have to switch to our second plan or what?" 

Chief Topher smiled confidently. 

"You need not worry about such a trivial thing, my dear. The prince would not go against his father, not after what happened when he tried such a foolish thing before. We need not bother ourselves with our second plan as long as you play your part seamlessly."

Her father's assurance calmed Nerina's racing thoughts and slowed them to a stop. 

"I shall play my role exactly as we have planned, Father. Soon, we will take back what was rightfully ours." 

They shared a malicious grin.

.

.

Lolo Nerina raised her eyes, fixing her stare at the man she was supposed to marry, who sat peering at her with narrowed eyes.

Wondering if he had already begun to suspect her, she cleverly schooled her expression into one of obeisance, affection, and humility, as she had practiced many times over the years.

The prince noticed the almost imperceptible change in Nerina's countenance but it was so quick that he thought he must have imagined it.

"The festivities will now begin in the great hall!" The royal herald announced as guards on both the upper and lower levels led the crowd out the main doors and to the great hall for the proper celebrations, with the emperor, Daegal, Nerina, and Chief Topher leaving last surrounded by the emperor's personal guards.

Nerina hooked her arm around Daegal's, who stiffened at her touch but made no move to detach his arm from her grasp. 

It was his duty to be kind and receptive to the woman he was supposed to marry.

She felt his arm become rigid immediately she held onto him, but as he made no move to free himself, she smiled slyly and exchanged a knowing look with her father who nodded discreetly.

It was all going according to plan.

.................. 

"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 emitted weak, blue tendrils of energy 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.