A Sorceress From the Future

Chapter Forty Two

“Well, speak Lawrence!”

“Ummmh I am not sure you are in the condition to hear what I am about to say given these grim circumstances-“

“What circumstances? Were you not listening to me? Can you not see what lies directly beneath your eyes? Our kingdom was betrayed by this this…my father is alive and well, seated on his throne, watching over the people!”

A poignant silence draped over the three figures. The prince looked distraught, lost, unhinged. Roselidah began to entertain the idea of letting the two humans trail back to Chi. What was the use of their company if they could not remain vigilant? Besides, time was not her side. Tamara needed her to find the source of her brother’s agony.

“Do you believe he is saying the truth?”

“Well it is Stephen-“

“Not you Lawrence, you…”

Roseliah closed and opened her mouth successively. She did not understand the inquiry but she did fathom loss.

“I do not see why a mage who chose to abandon his kind for humans and lived in harmony with them for all these years would suddenly choose to seek you out to lie about your father’s death…It makes no sense…”

Once again poignant silence befell them. Lawrence gnawed over the words he was about to relate to Luke. If he told him about his suspicions, suspicions against his own father, Luke would abandon this mission and return to Chi. How was he meant to locate the girl and his best friend by himself? 

“So my father…my father…you are saying that my father, is dead?”

Silence. Gut wrenching silence. Luke's mind rushed to paint a picture of his warm, witty, boisterous father sitting on the throne gobbling wine from his favorite chalice. He could see King Matthias launching arrows towards his targets and hitting them accurately. He could see him frail on his bed, calling out to his sons as he sucked in his last breath. His father had died without anyone by his side. No wife, no sons, no daughter. Luke might not know what had killed his father but he could only imagine how lonely his father felt when he died in the absence of his loved ones. Would the people give him a proper burial? Who would lead this ceremony? Probably Sabrina now that Stephen…

Luke couldn’t believe it, he was accepting his father’s death without any palpable proof. Perhaps he had been correct the first time. Perhaps all this was an elaborate ruse but the witch, the witch was right. Despite his betrayal, Stephen had been loyal to Chi for as long as Luke could remember. It was Stephen who had taught him to wield a sword. Stephen had been like a father to him. They had all been exceptionally close. Had Sabrina known about her husband’s true identity? Had his own father known? His mother had always been secretive, maybe she had known. Or Tamara, maybe even Baric. Perhaps he had been the only fool in Chi.

Grief was suddenly overtaken by rage as Luke sprang up from the ground and began bellowing like a mad man. Bewildered, both Roselidah and Lawrence took a step back to witness the Prince’s madness. Lawrence understood grief as well. He had lost his mother and his close friend, Tamara. Although the latter was alive and well, Lawrence considered her dead. Because just like the dead, Tamara could not be seen, heard or touched. 

Roselidah's ears perked up. She had heard some sort of movements in the woods. Instinctively, she drew a sword and wielded it around, her eyes vigilantly scouting her surroundings. It was possible that Luke’s outburst had attracted unwanted attention. 

“Go silence him! He will get all of us killed!”

Lawrence hesitated before bobbing his head. Ever since they were little, Luke’s rage had been a cause of concern. It was his rage that had sparked up Baric’s stammering. It was his rage that had almost gotten Tamara killed. Luke’s blind anger was his weakness. It was as if he donned another personality altogether. It was uncanny how similar he was to Tamara even though he always failed to acknowledge this.

“I said silence him!”

“I can't. Give me the sword, I will wade off our enemies while you calm him…”

“You would rather face magical creatures than your friend?”

Lawrence nervously glanced at a bellowing Luke and enthusiastically bobbed his head. Roselidah, intrigued, swirled around to view Luke. She froze. Luke's current state reminded her of Tamara, how she always lost control when her emotions became overwhelming. Roselidah was positive her powers would not work on Luke since he was immune so she had to think of a quicker plan to silence the Prince before he gave their location away. 

Roselidah stealthily approached the Prince from behind and placed him in a headlock position. Luke grunted and struggled, kicking and flaring as his face turned crimson. 

Soon after, Luke was lying next to Stephen’s body. He was just as still.