Her King Of Shadows

Chapter XV.

Shana didn’t expect to feel relieved when they had some distance from the city. She had never traveled before. Father has kept her in the fort for most of her life. She had all she wanted there. And while she sat by the window, noticing the lights of the great city becoming smaller in the distance, she thought of her brother. Not one of these warriors could measure up to Davon. Not because he was her brother. Davon was strong and smart. He could find a solution in any situation. And she was so sad about not being able to say goodbye to him. Father sent him away on purpose. He knew that the connection between brother and sister was strong enough to disrupt his plans. She didn't even know when she would see him again. She knew she could always count on his loyalty to her. Her brother would do anything for her. As she would do for him. If only she could call him. If she could tell him she needed help, nothing would stop him from coming. Davon would save her. He would be able to help her better and faster than any of these warriors. And at that moment one of them sat in front of her. David was reading his book as usual even though she knew he was looking at her from time to time. He was chosen as her escort because all four of them would attract too much attention. He had a box of cookies next to him. They were chocolate cookies, of course.

Even though it was way past midnight, she couldn’t sleep. She was feeling cold in her wool sweater. Her long hair was braided and hidden by a white scarf. Their eyes met.

-Soon we will leave this coldness behind.-she said calmly, only for him to hear. He still focused on the book in front of him.

-This is not the winter I am used to.-he answered. It confirmed for her that he was a child of the north indeed.

-Why did you leave your family?-she asked honestly. Maybe she should not have done that. Maybe she didn’t have the right to know his reasons. But she needed many words that night to kill her loneliness.

-Why did you leave yours?-he said. She didn’t have to think about her answer like him. Her truth was very simple.

-I didn’t leave. If I had a choice I would have stayed.-she admitted. His blue eyes looked at her now.

-Are you telling me that Boris' daughter didn’t have a choice? We all know the world you belong to. You have chosen your fate as I have chosen mine.-he was so sure about himself. She wanted to break that proud bubble in his voice. She wanted to tell him that there wasn’t any choice. She was being sold. And the amount was hidden from her. But it didn’t change the truth about the transaction. For a thousand gold coines or only one. The amount was meaningless.

- Araphel's offer could not be refused.-she hid her truth with those simple words. She expected him to share his reasons. Or probably hide behind lies.

-I don’t have a leader as my father. So I was never expected to accomplish great things. I would probably spend my life guarding the doors and windows of some old sanctuary. We are not all raised to stay on the top, Shana.-he didn’t hide his contempt. What top of the world was he talking about? Was it the same one she fell from to meet her end? Or was it in the cold swamp running from hidden blades? She just nodded her head, accepting his insults as one of many to come.

-How long are you planning to stay with Gideon?-she changed the subject. David became curious now. There was honesty in her dark eyes.

-As long as needed. Our lives are important. Everything we are trying to do is important.-he repeated those words he was told so many times. But was he still feeling them in his heart? Did he still believe in making a difference? She couldn’t ask him that. It wasn’t for her to wake up the hate in his heart.

-Will you tell me about the war between the two leaders? What happened between Rishon and Araphel to create such hate?-she brought them back to reality. This time he didn’t think long.

-A woman as always.-he said bitterly. She was confused.

-You lost me.-she admitted. David took a deep breath, leaving the book on the side.

-They were never close to begin with, but they have always respected each other as the leaders of our world. Rishon ruled the deserts and ports. Araphel spread his influence on cities and mountains. But he had to know what the other person was doing. His influence in the world of shadows would be enough to answer such questions, but he chose a darker way. As a cruel leader, he has sent a cruel person.-he started the story.

-He has sent a murderer?-she concluded. David shook his head. It was much worse than that.

-He had sent a women warrior who he knew would be able to win over Rishon's heart. And she did it. From the first moment he saw her, Rishon had to have her. He took her to his home. Surrendered all his secrets to her. He turned her into his chosen and even brought her into his hidden home in the heart of the desert. He did all this without doubting for a moment that it could be a trap. Because it wasn’t a trap. Her feelings were real. There was no pretending. She really did love him more than anything in the world. All that saw them together could feel the power of those two together.-his voice was low. She was scared to ask what happened next. Maybe she didn’t want to know. Maybe she should not know about his past. But a part of her had to understand. To hear something about a leader next to who she had to stand.

-What happened?-she whispered. David relaxed in his seat. For him it was easy to talk about distant memories, no matter how horrible they were. Because even time has softened the blows which had happened a long time ago.

-He should have let them be. That is what he should have done. But then he wouldn’t be the Araphel we all know. After so much time, he summoned her back. She had to come back under the threat of death.-he said cruely. She let the silence rule them. She really didn’t want to know anymore. She didn’t want to hear the end. No matter what had happened, she knew it was causing them all pain. But David had gone too far to be stopped now.

-She found herself in a trap between her own love for Rishon and her loyalty to Araphel. No matter which way she chose, it would lead to her death. If she didn’t listen to her leaders'commands, she would meet her death. If she betrayed Rishon she would wish for death. Someone else in her place. Maybe they would have confessed it all to Rishon and begged for mercy. He had loved her. Maybe he would have shown understanding and forgiveness. She had thought the same. They still shared years of happiness together. So she admitted him. She stood in front of him and showed him the symbols of Araphels family. But her confidence in the love of the chosen warrior failed to save her from death.-he was bitter.

She touched her hair. Her body trembled from the cold and fear of that moment.

-Araphel killed her?=she expected the worse. But it wasn’t worse. And that wasn’t how it happened. David shook his head again. He almost enjoyed the whole story. He enjoyed telling her the type of leader she chose for herself.

-He didn’t have to. She was returned to Araphel in the middle of the night. What was left of her after spending months in the cold cells of Rishons prison. After being tortured countless times for information about Araphel's family, Rishon killed her himself to send a message to that dark leader. The next member of his family will meet the same end. And from that moment on, our world had been separated and everyone was very careful to step to each side.-he looked in the mirror, choosing his words carefully. -Araphel never cared for her fate. She was a member of his family but he had brought her to an impossible position. We are nothing to a leader like him. You are nothing. Just a number. A decoration. Nothing can be precious or valuable to try to defend it. He could have saved her. If he just gave up and let her live her life, Rishon and she would have been happy. But he killed even a thought of someone in this world being happy. His darkness couldn’t allow it.-he judged him. She wanted to ask him what he then thought about Rishon. How could he kill a woman he had loved so much? How could he hurt her if he cared about her so much? But there were no words to explain it. The actions of leaders were clear only to them. And all they could do was to follow them. Or, like Gideon and the warriors he represented, take their lives into their own hands and create fate which more often leads them to death than to victory.