THE BIRTH OF KARMA

Chapter 6

Nadiah was thinking of what would come next when she travelled as she walked down the narrow path.

Winterfell was her hometown, though it was not clear why they left Winterfell but she did not see any reason to miss it, she did not.

How was life going to treat her in Winter fell? was she going to like it or was she going to hate it? she didnt know.

It was like starting all over again, it felt as though she was throwing her life away to start another one, she had never been anywhere else, adjusting was going to be hard.

Their mum didn't seem to be so concerned about the fact that they were leaving, that was something that bothered Nadiah a little.

Oniel on the other hand was Oniel, it was hard to tell if he was a normal kid in the first place.

The boy had something in him that was hard to process, he was too smart for his age as well, it must be why they never really got along.

She was mostly trying to scare him off and he was constantly proving that she had to do better.

Wilfred also stuck in her head, how was he going to cope?

Her sister never really liked him though, it must be a good way to get rid of him.

Somehow, she didn't blame Hailey, everyone that knew her and Wilfred always commended her effort been with him.

But she understood him, even more than she would have wanted to.

She passed the cursed palace and crossed the main road then took a left turn.

It was a good thing that the moon was shinning else she would have shook under the weight of fear passing by this route but she took it because it was faster.

Following the path by the market was too much of a walk by this time, it was too far, even so the cursed palace was not a place she loved passing at night.

It was an abandoned tall building, almost the tallest building in Ice town and though it looked old, it was no doubt a building made for the rich, it was like a castle in a fairy tale and age surprisingly did not weigh down on it's beauty or pride.

It was still very much attractive and it looked stronger than any building in Ice town it's walls were mighty and iron sculptures shone around it.

The castle maintained it's glory through the years and it was said that no one has ever entered it since the rule of King Agoryer Hommel the third child and only son of Alares Hommel.

History had it that when Ice town was ruled by kings in the past, the kings were initiated into a coven of witches either the white or dark witches.

The last King of ice town king Agoryer was initiated to the coven of the dark witches like his grand father Rover Hommel but when the time came for the reaping, he could not give them the sacrifice they demanded which was his wife so he ran to the coven of the white witches for protection.

King Argoryer was cursed by the dark witches to remain impotent for life, he was the last of his lineage and the kingship died with him, Ice town never had a king again.

Wether it was also a story for children or has a claim to history, Nadiah was not sure but right from childhood that building was not her favorite.

She tried to pretend most times that it was not there but it always would be, she wished it could be destroyed, it tortured her in moments like these.

Something was just off about the building, the Aura it had was enough to keep the must daring person away from it.

Nadiah at times wonder what was truly in the building, somehow she believed it was curse but the ancient story was not so true to her.

However, thoughts of entering the building remained within a specific distance from her mind.

Besides it didn't look like it had doors, that was something that was strange about it too.

It had lots of huge iron sculptures of human and weird animals that encircled the building and was connected without leaving space for a door.

Was it really a palace? She wondered sometimes, the building would pass well for a haunted house or a Haven for the rulers of the underworld in her favorite movie The dawn of never.

When she got to Don's home, the children were sitted on a mat around the old Grandma Folen who was making gestures as she told them stories that remained a question in peoples head.

Nadiah went on her knees to greet the old woman and the old woman smiled sweetly at her.

The old Woman had two wrappers tied to her waist and thick beads on her left wrist that were traditional and rare.

"You have come to take the young one home?" It was not a necessary question but the old woman would always ask her even though she knew.

"Yes Ma" she forced a polite smile up on her face.

"It's getting late already".

"Ah!!" The Grandma Forlen chuckled.

"Just say you are afraid of the Cursed palace".

"No ma, I want to put him in bed on time" Nadiah smiled, half what the woman said was true though, she didn't like going by the Cursed palace but the road that passed by the Market was too much distance and it was late.

"Sit down" the old woman ushered her to a seat, it was an order even though it didn't sound like one, she knew it was not to be refused.

"Forez go get her water" the old woman sent one of the boys that was seated by her.

Nadiah didn't argue, she simply sat it was useless to argue with the old woman anyway.

Grandma Forlen would insits until she does and that was time consuming.

"Have you ever wondered why no one has entered the cursed Palace?" She asked Latisha.

"Because it's rusty and there is possibly nothing inside". It wasn't really what she thought, it was just the sensible thing to say at that moment.

"Hmm mm" the old woman chuckled lightly.

"The Cursed palace... Do you know what a palace is?" She asked again.

"Yes" Nadiah answered, she felt the question was a bit uncalled for though.

"What is a palace?" The old woman asked further.

"A place where royalty live" Nadiah answered uninterested.

"True.." the old woman nodded.

"But it is also a place where the people's history is made and recorded, it is also where the people's future is decided".

Mmmmmm" Nadiah nodded, the old woman was right but she was not sure where she was heading.

"When King Agoryer the last was cursed alongside the palace do you know what the white witches he ran to did?" The question was interesting but Latisha wanted to go home.

"No" she blurred out.

"Have you ever asked?" The old woman looked at her in the faint light.

"No" she shook her head what was there to ask.

"So what do you think they did?" She asked again.

"They protected his wife from the magic of the dark witches" She answerd, that was what she knew the white witches did for King Agoryer.

"That was before he was cursed." The old woman corrected her.

"I don't know" Nadiah received the cup of water from the little boy.

"What killed the king?" Grand ma Folen asked.

"He fell on a horseback and broke his neck".

Latisha could not swear what killed the king but that was what the story says.

"What happened to the prince?" Nadiah asked after a brief silence, it was something the story never said.

"Some say he died chooking on his blood from the curse, others say the dark witches took him, no one is certain for sure". Grand ma Folen looked like she knew more but just didn't want to say, which surprised Nadiah because the old woman was known for talking.

"So why has no one entered the Palace?" Nadiah brought her back to the main issue, the old woman might drift too far.

"Because the Palace was cursed to remain closed forever" the answer was too simple for Nadiah, deep inside she expected more..

"So there is no door?" She wanted to ask but one of the little ones started tugging at the old woman's wrapper, they were waiting for her story.

Nadiah paid attention to all the old woman told the children, so many questions laid in her mind about the palace.

More than ever before she wanted to know more, it excited and scared her at thesame time.

By the time she took San home, Ariana had gone to bed.

Latisha could feel her discussion with the old woman popping out in her mind but she pushed it to the back of her head.

They are just stories" she told herself

"Go to sleep"You have tomorrow to deal with".