Chapter 8: Kurumora Poision

Jasmine POV:

On second thought, my face was pale with fear, my mind was troubled, I felt an uneasy feeling rushing throughout my body, and my forehead got covered in cold sweat.

What was happening here?

I quickly took a short bath and put on the long cotton orange colored gown of my arrival, I let my hair loose and quickly rushed back to kitchen, on my way I heard there was some murmuring going on in-between other kitchen staff and soldiers, even there was a group of around 10 soldiers present around them.

I quietly made my way inside just in time to hear what first in Commander Philip said to other kitchen staff “King had specially requested to take care of higher general Nolan, he will be staying here for entire month, so I want you all to look at his need, whatever he ask shall be delivered to him….”

Once commander Philip left, Vincent started preparing a special morning meal for higher general Nolan of kingdom Kavan, Kavan was situated in north side because of which the meal of people form kingdom Kavan was very different from ours, Kavan was entirely covered in snow hence resident of Kavan used to prefer a meal which used to keep them warm, mostly wild animal cooked meat and alcohols was in their preference.

I started preparing regular morning meal for solider with rest of chefs, once we were done Vincent rushed me to deliver his cooked meal to higher general Nolan in his tent, I reluctantly carried tray full of heavenly smelling delicacy’s, on my way towards tent I received several stares from our army soldiers, it felt indifferent, they kept their gaze fixed on y face as if they were looking at some unknown person.

“Higher general Nolan, I brought you your morning meal, can I come in?” I said by standing outside of general Nolan tent “Come in” I heard a deep mature voice, I made my way inside and saw a well groomed  man sitting on his chair and was busy cleaning an sharp looking sword, his facial expression were cold and distant.

The instant I step inside I smelled a pungent and rotting smell coming from somewhere, I couldn’t exactly put my from where it was coming but one thing I was sure it was strong smell of rotting flesh.

I quietly placed tray of food for general Nolan on his desk and stood at a feet distance with my eyes to ground, couple of minutes later when he finished with his cleaning he put aside his sword near rest of his armor, from corner of my eyes I saw he was having heavy weaponry with him.

Without looking in my direction general simply said “Server me” and I followed his order, I neatly placed his cutlery and served him everything that was cooked by head chef Vincent, general Nolan started eating while I started figuring out source of rotting smell that was so disturbing to my nostrils, it took me couple of minutes and certain level of concentration to figure out that the source of smell was actually coming from ‘Higher General Nolan’ but the strangest part was I felt some familiarity in this smell.

As I was stressing my mind King Sargon walked in and stood right in front of me “Why are you here?” King Sargon questioned me in stern voice “I am here to serve higher general Nolan” I replied, from corner of my eyes I saw his knuckle turning white as his right hand palm turned in to a fist.

“Where is Judith? Call her to serve General Nolan here” King Sargon said in his stern voice and I quickly turned to leave, I just took two steps towards exit when I heard a loud whimper , upon turning my back I saw general Nolan was puking out black colored blood from his mouth “Nolan…..” King Sargon said and immediately rushed back to general Nolan “Sar..gon… Ahee…. its pain…ing…..” General Nolan said to King Sargon.

It was then I suddenly felt unknown chill wind around me and a faint whisper in my ear ‘it is Kurumora Poision…’ I heard a manly voice, I turned my head from side to side but no one was near me ‘Say Kurumora Poision’ I again heard same voice and I said it out loud “Ku.. kurumora Poision..”

My words were merely whisper but both King Sargon and General Nolan heard it loud and clear “Who are you?” general Nolan questioned me In low voice, he quickly stood up and rushed to me, he grabbed me by my right arm when “NOLAN……” we both heard a loud growl of king Sargon from behind.

I was startled, it all happened so fast, our King and General behaved so irrationally.

“Speak Slave…!” general Nolan said “Who are you and what do you know about this poison?” he added in his cold voice.

I strongly believe he must have fought several battles because his hold on my hand was very strong. I was little uneasy but I told him the truth “The odor on your body smell like the Kurumora poison”.

General Nolan squinted his eyes while King Sargon walked towards us and said “What games are you trying to play here Jasmine?”.

“She is right Sargon.. can you cure this, is there any way to remove this?” General Nola said looking straight at me.

I looked at General Nolan in daze, this rancid smell was very familiar and it seemed like I had smelled it before somewhere. I wasn’t sure on how to answer it, it was then again I heard voice of same manly whisper ‘Yes’.

“Yes?” I questioned my whisperer but general Nolan and King Sargon thought it as my answer.

‘I am dead’ I thought to myself as both powerful man’s started staring at me with instance gaze.

“First thing, can you tell me how did you receive this poison?” I questioned General Nolan, he nodded his head and wiped out blood trails from his lips.

“Two months I was leading our kingdom Kavan army towards peak of north west, we were on search for this rare herb that our Queen Adrianne had request, during our journey we came across a small village which was situated a remote and distant, it was deep inside the forest, our army took shelter in those villagers hut, they served us food and provided rum for drinking and keeping us warm but in night but  I being general of my army decided not to dwell in alcohol, that night a beautiful lady visited me in my shelter, her slender figure and long black hairs were breathtaking, she was very enchanting, her aura was very welcoming, she seduced me and soon we both started having sex all over my place, next morning when I woke I was disappointed as she was nowhere near me, with half heart I walked out and towards my army but they all were dead, their bodies were slaughtered including our horses, white snow of north west land was covered in their blood, I was in utter shock to understand what had happened,  my every single solider and horses was brutally murdered and even the village where were took shelter was all deserted, not a single trace of human was there. As of for me when I returned back to my kingdom I felt strange changes happening in my body, I consulted our army physician but there was no justified answer from them, my situation got worsen in merely days, at last our king Daren suggest me to visit our royal sorcerer Mendes, she was the one who told me that I was poisoned by Kurumora Poison, she also told me that I could find my cure in Kingdom Tallis, two weeks back my body felt week day by and this… appeared  on my back….” General Nolan said removing his white tunic and showing me his bare back.

“Ohh.. lord…” was the only word that I managed to whispered when I saw branches of his thin black and blue veins popping out of his body, he was having this huge horrible looking scar which looked like a ancient tree, it was on his back from neck to all the way towards his waist.

 I gently moved my hand up and touched his scar when suddenly something moved inside it and a small red triangle inside a circle appeared right in between the tree trunk “Is it curable?” General Nolan questioned me, it was then I remember about reading about something like this scar and poison in one of book from castle library.

“I think I know how to cure this” I said and subconscious touched my dragon pendant only to feel it missing around my neck ‘Wh.. where.. Is my pendant I thought recklessly and started touching my neck, hairs, breast when my eyes fell on something green sparkling under my long gown sleeves?

I slide my right hand sleeve up and felt cold when I saw a green colored rune on my wrist which was just like my dragon wing pendant.