All Chapters of Sword of blood : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

“It goes on and on and then finally on. But no more because it seeks an end”Marina I was told the last time that I would begin my defense training within a week.It was one week since then. Two weeks since I had been in the castle and five days to a ball I had no idea what it was for but I was told I would need to be in attendance.I had not seen nor heard from my family since then and I was also yet to encounter the King nor his high adviser to make a request.Anyway, I had learned patience well enough to be losing it right now. I could wait another day or two.The meal Hilra brought for me sat cold on the dresser. A plate of boiled oats with fernberries and some lightly fried shrub legumes were added on the side. I did not have an appetite for anything. Peeking out from the corner of the wooden furniture, was the hilt of the sword. It was still in my possession.If I were to assume, I would dare to say the King had forgotten about it. He never asked.Never came looking for it.D

“Something always has the potential to remain hidden as nothing”XanthaniusI waited at the foot of the castle for her to arrive. She was taking far much more time than I had bargained for.I did not enjoy waiting in the slightest bit.Footsteps approached and I almost twirled on the spot to find who it was only to come face to face with Hilra.She said nothing but her glare said millions.“Good morning your highness” she gritted out. If the other guards caught on to her hesitation to greet, they did not show it.“Where is your ward?” Going straight to the question was my way of letting her know that I could not be dissuaded nor scolded at this hour.What I wanted was the woman whom had been requested for.“You should see her in a minute” came her response and right on cue, she emerged from the doorway with Anthonier by her side whispering what could not be heard by others.“Your highness” she said, leaving my high advisers side and approaching me. The charm on her neck glistened agai

“Time goes by, even if you decide to work or play”Xanthanius I fixed the last button of my outfit and looked myself in the mirror.The words ‘a man’ and ‘a pub’ flooded my mind again and I gritted my teeth in annoyance. Those clues were leading me nowhere except getting frustrated.I considered visiting her at the tower again but that would be too many visits within a short period; but I also had the excuse of she will not be here for long.I had not commanded the guards to execute her yet. If she had given this information and it had a tendency to be true, then there is a good chance that she could give another.The major issue was to crack this clue first.Tonight was the night of the ball and I had wished that I had taken it a bit further if I had any inkling that I would receive such information just days prior to it.I had even wanted to postpone it, but Anthonier reminded me it would not be a smart idea. To which I agreed. A knock came and I believed it would be Anthonier te

“Be still, you shall hear the melody”MarinaMy room was relatively dark and I did not want to turn on the lights because I would be in bed soon.So I remembered seeing a cup of scented beeswax candle in one of my drawers. Deciding to have a bath first before lighting it up, I went further into the room.The moonlight was usually more than enough to keep my room brightened. Some of it fell across the zinc roofing of the stables and reflected into the space, so lighting at night was not a problem.Today was no different, though the night was slightly darker, I could still see.I dropped my untouched glass of wine on the dresser. The ruby colored gem in the head of the sword glistened under the natural light, reminding me of its presence which I dutifully ignored. I grabbed a towel from my walk in closet and stripped out of my overt clothing. Years ago I would have dreamed of being in this outfit but tonight it was uncomfortable. The thigh chain and every other jewelry came off next.

“Let the countdown begin”Xanthanius I fought against a lot of internal restraints to wake the lady up myself and ask her what had transpired.Anthonier noticed what I had been looking at and I’m certain he saw what I had.It could not be. Was the blade stolen? Was this a replica?I looked back at the mistress who was being nudged to consciousness by Hilra and Xialara. Remembering the sword had fallen from her hand when I got here.She had held it and there was no barrier between herself and its material.My brain ceased to understand anything at this point. I checked the gem again to be certain there was no chances of the blood leaking out. Even if it had, I could not tell with all the blood that painted the spans of this room.I could not tell where the mistress’s blood ended and where the attackers own had begun.Lifting the sword again to be sure it was an actual weapon and not the faux one I had kept in my office. The weight was accurate but it suddenly felt numb.What had happ