"Will you to your power, cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgements?" The archbishop continued with the coronation's oaths. Today made it the fifth day since we'd overcame Richard and his armies of darkness. My mind raced as I thought of the way forward, and without Kedar on my side, I was somewhat miserable. We'd all promised to do this together. Nila was nowhere to be found, so was Mona. I went to Kedar's valley millions of times in a day, hoping to find any trace of her. But she wasn't there any longer. She was stronger than she looked. I prayed with all my heart that nothing bad had happened to them. I had always had this plan in my head, but might have not been possible if it wasn't for my friends. But the thought of Richard, the way he slashed at me with betrayal. I feared love or friendship. I'd lost everyone I ever loved, like my whole body was just a big magnetic weapon, drawn to only pain and sorrow alone. The feeling of emp

  I explained everything to my mother the previous night, about finding Tara, releasing her soul and that of the remaining people. How to defeat the master, how I was supposed to seek Lilith for her blessings. Then she promised we would talk better the next day. After lots and lots of pleading, she finally agreed to stay for a while before setting out for her journey to hell knows where. The night seemed extra long that I found myself turning and tossing all night. My mind raced on a million things as I recalled every steps and decisions I'd taken over these whiles. I wondered if they were right. After what seemed like thousands of hours, I finally found myself lost in sleep.  When my eyes opened again, it was already dawn. The sun bloomed on the horizon, golden petals stretching ever outwards into the rich blue. It was the brilliant flower of the sky that warmed other people. The invitation to a new day, the sunrise so ordinary extraordinary. Bu

The necklace laid there as a common rock, decorated with an array of polished diamonds. Sometimes I wondered why it was called the dragon stone. Then I observed its appearance changed. All these while, it had just been an ordinary stone, shining majestically as a diamond. But now, now it was a greenish brown rock. The dragon stone; as bold and green as the skin, and red as the blood.The dragon stone; royal betrothed,mysterious and all-important as an enormous emerald. I walked closer, taking one small step towards the bed. Just about five more steps and I would reach for the stone. Decide what do do with it.Five.Eerie voices mumbled and maundered from below, but it sounded like the voices came from my head. They became louder and louder by the minute.Four."Kerik. . . Come."  I tried to deny that voice. It wasn't supposed to overcome me this way. All the

"You're right. We don't know anything about her where about." I remembered how I wanted to discuss this with my mother. How I wanted to bring Tara home to her. But now, she was gone. Just like everyone else I'd known. Kedar, Tara. Nila."You'll figure this one out. You always do." Mona comforted."Thanks." I replied her with a smile. When she spoke, it sounded oddly creepy, as I just realized how very similar their voices sounded like. "You know, you remind me so much of Nila.""That was what father used to say.""Father? Old man Ayer?" I remembered how Nila had denied sir Ayer about being her father. But the fact that I never gave her a chance to explain herself bothered me the most."Sir Ayer?" She called the name like it was an odd creature's name, something so unfamiliar. "No. He's not our father. Our father lived here, in Talot. So did Ragnila. You know, we were all happy together. Un

"So to start the quest, the book is needed?" Lily asked."Of course! How else would she communicate with Lilith." Mona replied instantly."Well then, that's cleared already..."They continued with their discussion and I just remained still on the bed, shuffling the thoughts of the vision I had. The only part encouraging was when Lilith spoke. And that part wasn't even too promising, because it could have just been another demon, using the image of Lilith.Image? I couldn't even call it image, since I never saw the woman that talked to me.I explained every part of the nightmare to them, but left out the scene when I was on a throne, or the scene when I watched myself  die."...Kerik!"A voice startled me— Lily's voice apparently. She was already standing in front of me by the time she got my attention. I hadn't even noticed what she was wearing,