LOGINOnly then did I notice how strangely quiet the healing quarters had become.
The room that had been bustling with hurried footsteps and anxious voices only moments ago had fallen completely silent.
One by one, every healer, apprentice, and patient seemed to be looking toward the entrance.
Confused, I slowly turned around and m
Eight hours had passed since Lady Maritza and Kasim left the village. It was still broad daylight when ten soldiers wearing the colors of the Egyptian palace suddenly arrived at the village.Harun immediately noticed them approaching while Rasyid and the five Shadow soldiers also became alert.The soldiers stopped at the entrance of the village and one of them stepped forward.“We have come under the Pharaoh's order.” He told Harun.Harun's eyes narrowed. “The Pharaoh's order?”“Yes.” The soldier looked around the village. “We have been ordered to search this place.”“For what?” Harun asked.The soldier hesitated before answering.“A witch.”Harun's expression immediately hardened. “A witch?”The soldier nodded.“A woman with eyes like the sky and hair like the sun. She was reportedly seen inside this village.”Silence… Harun slowly exchanged a glance with Rasyid and the Shadow soldiers, who wore normal clothes and looked like a villager which made the guards unrecognize them, and no
When I opened my eyes, I was covered in cold sweat and my breathing was still uneven from the strange dream.Professor Hasan, the tomb and the darkness.‘You came too soon.’The words were still echoing inside my head when—Knock. Knock. Knock.I froze when I heard someone knocking on my door. I frowned and looked around the small hut before reaching for the cloak beside my bed.It was still early so who could possibly be coming to see me at this hour?I quickly wrapped the cloak around myself and walked toward the door.When I opened it, my eyes widened to see Rasyid standing there and beside him were Kasim and the five Shadow soldiers Commander Aziel had left behind to protect the village.Their expressions were serious and far too serious that made my heart immediately tightened.“Is the Pharaoh?” I quickly asked him.The worry in my voice must have been obvious because Kasim quickly shook his head.“No, Lady Maritza.” He said and I stared at him.He understood exactly what I was t
There was a reason Pharaoh Kharef had asked Kasim to summon the Commander of the Shadow.Kharef knew something that no one else was aware of. That the Shadow soldiers were different from ordinary soldiers. They could sense things humans could not and they could feel changes in the air before an enemy appeared. They could detect movements hidden beyond ordinary sight. And, more importantly, they could sense darkness.Yes, that was the speciality of the Shadow.And now… Kasim was beginning to understand why Kharef had summoned them.He stood outside Harun's village, staring toward the horizon when a strange sensation suddenly passed through his body.His eyes widened and he gasped.
Meanwhile…News that Pharaoh Kharef was almost back in Egypt had finally reached the palace.“What?” Queen Neferaset frowned when she heard the report from one of her spies.Her heart tightened when she heard that Kharef was almost there. She immediately turned and hurried toward her private chamber.Today was supposed to be the day Prince Annoof was appointed acting Pharaoh.She had planned everything carefully and nothing was supposed to stop her son from taking the throne. Nothing.But everything had gone wrong.First, the witch was dead then Aldrich, her most trusted man, was dead and looks like the bandits she had ordered to attack the city had failed.And now Kharef was alive. Worse… He was almost back at the palace.“Damn it!” Neferaset clenched her fists.She had run out of people to send, had run out of plans, so there was only one thing left.Her own dark magic… She knew how dangerous it would be if anyone discovered the truth.Yes, the Queen of Egypt possessed dark magic. A
**(Kharef Point of View)**Meanwhile on the road to the palace... The desert stretched endlessly before me. Horse after horse moved across the sand with the sun burning overhead but I barely noticed the heat.My mind remained behind, to her, Maritza.My Maritza… I could still feel her arms around me, still hear her voice telling me to go.‘Save your kingdom and come back to me.’I had spent most of my life fighting for Egypt but never having returned to my throne felt like something I was doing for someone else. Now it did, for her.I looked ahead to see Aziel and Ramose rode beside me.“The situation in Egypt has become worse.” He said.My hand tightened around the reins.“Explain.”He nodded. “We received word from the northern provinces before we left and one of the cities was attacked.”My eyes narrowed. “By whom?”“We don't know, my Pharaoh.” He shook his head in shame.“Casualties?” I asked.“Many.”Silence settled over us.I looked ahead again. “How long ago?”“Three days.” He
I watched everyone widened their eyes and whispers immediately spread.“Lady? Then who is she?”“Why would she hide her name?”Harun raised his hand, and soon, the village quieted.“And the man you knew as Aziel…” He paused. “He was not Aziel.”The silence became absolute and Harun turned toward the road where Kharef had disappeared.“He was Pharaoh Kharef, King of Egypt.” He added firmly.The reaction was immediate and gasps erupted throughout the village.Someone actually dropped a basket, while another w







