Her King Of Shadows

Chapter IV.

Boris saw the dark tent hidden by trees. The leader always valued his privacy and he would surely be disturbed by his visit at this late hour. But the father in him didn’t have a choice. He needed answers and his heart told him that this warrior had some of them. He stepped into the semi-darkness of the tent. Araphel had his back turned to him. He was out of uniform washing his face with water. He dried it with a towel and looked at him. Boris could see that he wasn’t happy with his visit, but at least he made no threats. If he didn’t trust him before the latest happenings, they told him that he should at least listen. He showed him to sit down while he was buttoning his shirt.

-How is your daughter?-he asked him with a voice which had just woken up. But Boris didn’t believe that. In particular, he didn’t believe that the warrior in front of him ever slept. While there was darkness in this world, he didn’t need anything else to survive.

-She couldn’t tell me what happened. She didn’t say a word since you found her in the swamp. We don’t know what happened there.-he decided to tell the truth.

-When I got there, she was already alone. There was nobody.-he answered the questions he expected.

-You didn’t notice anything?- There were many things Araphel noticed that night. But very little he wanted to share with Boris. And they both knew he didn’t want to lie.

-Is this the first time?-it was his turn to ask a question. Boris wasn’t sure how much he should tell him. He was a leader to his family before he became a father.

-No. This was not the first time. But it is the only time I can tell you about it.-his voice was disappointed. Araphel turned to him. There were no feelings in the emerald eyes. There was nothing.

-What are your plans?-his voice was so distant and cold. As if he was just being polite. Not even a small part of him cared about an answer. He asked because anyone else in his position would ask. And he pretended he cared. He pretended to be like other warriors. Even he never was. Boris stood up realizing his mistake in coming to him.

- I'm sure this was an isolated incident. We just need to be more careful in the future.-a part of him wanted to bury the fear and pretend everything was fine. The leader in him didn’t want to accept that danger was coming from his own people. From a family which he defended with his own life for centuries.

-You have to send her away.-Araphel's voice seemed happy with that judgment. Boris looked him in the eyes. Why was he so ready to help him now? He got closer aware that he didn’t want anyone else to be able to hear them. -Someone it trying to kill your daughter. Someone in your family and your home wants to see that girl dead. And we both know you can't stop them. The only thing you can do is to send her far away from here. Make sure she never sees you again.-his voice was quiet now. Like a whisper. Something in Boris trembled because of those words. History was repeating itself and this time he found himself the one losing the most. It was clear to both of them. He waived his head. He will not lose his daughter, as Araphel lost Alexandra. It will not be her fate.

-I can defend her.-he refused his advice. Araphel stepped away from him. Further into the darkness.

-I would like to talk to her. If it's possible-it might have sounded like a request, but it was an order.

-What could you talk to her about? I already told you she didn’t say a word.-he didn’t want to let it happen. But Araphel wasn’t a warrior who could be refused. The weakest sign that his words were not taken seriously had consequences.

-Trust me. She will talk to me. You can consider it as a last message of a dying child. Maybe she is healthy and no sickness is close to her. But there is an end coming to your beautiful child. The killer is still there. And he will not give up on his mission. So it is important for me to talk to her before the darkness takes her forever. I am quite sure I can talk to her even after darkness is in her. But the problem is, sometimes it's hard for me to hear the answers when they are still screaming from death. It takes them a couple of years to forget. To stop dying. For that long I'm not ready to wait. Tell her to expect me tomorrow. I know the way to your chambers. I don’t need an escort.-it was all decided for him. Boris found it hard to hear.

-Will you help me?-he was ready to ask despite everything. Araphel was curious now. He knew how hard it was for him to ask such a question. He had to swallow a lot of his pride. But memories came back which he couldn’t escape. He promised himself that he would see him on the ground. And he was so close now. If he helped him that moment, maybe he would never come to him again.

-I remember saying those words to you not so long ago. But you have forgotten all about them by now. What was your answer? Do you remember? Tell me what you have answered to me then!-he ordered.

-This is not about me and you. Shana is an innocent child.-he tried to reason with him.

-Do not say her name!-his voice turned into a river of hate. -Do not speak of her as a person, so I would hate her less. You took her from me! You stole her from her family! Put all kinds of things into her head. Talk about feelings, grace, love. But it was all false, wasn’t it? It was all pretending. And when I found you with her, It was still not late. You could have helped me. Told her to come back with me. I told you she would not survive. I warned you how it was all going to end. I counted on you to help me get her back to her parents and people who cried for her. What did you tell me? Say it now! Repeat those words again!-he ordered with a voice ready to sentence him to death. Boris remembered that time perfectly well. He didn’t miss his chance to be cruel to that warrior in front of him.

-If she was so precious to you why didn’t you take care of her better?-he said with a whisper, but it was loud enough for them to hear. It was only silence now in the tent. Maybe only their hearts could be heard beating. Araphel was calm. His hate was gone. There was a smile on his face.

-I will go to see her tomorrow. Try to stop me. Please. Try to defend her from me.-he said almost politely. As if he was wishing him a good day. Boris nodded his head. There was nothing else he could do. When he stepped from the tent, one thing was crystal clear to him. And made him want to hope. Araphel didn’t deny him help. When he asked for it he didn’t deny it.