CHAPTER 7 - WHISPERS OF A NEW DAWN
1184 Words
Nyra shot upright in bed.
A sharp breath escaped her lips as her heart pounded against her chest while looking around the unfamiliar room.
The moonlight poured through the windows.
"It was only a dream..."
Yet it didn't feel like one.
She could still hear the voice which was calling her from somewhere impossibly far away.
"Come home..."
Nyra pressed her hand against her chest.
"Home..."
The word felt strangely familiar.
Another sound broke the silence.
A faint scratching at the window. She turned quickly but found nothing rather than the pale moon hanging over the kingdom.
She let out a slow sigh of relief and climbed back into bed.
But outside in the hidden darkness beyond the balcony...
The pair of crimson eyes slowly disappeared.
…….
The next morning…
A cheerful knock sounded on the door.
"My Lady?"
Nyra smiled before responding.
"Come in."
Mira entered carrying a breakfast tray with fresh bread,honey, fruit and a steaming pot of herbal tea.
She balanced everything with ease before placing it neatly on the table.
"I hope you're hungry."
Nyra laughed softly.
"I think I am."
"I was warned to make sure you eat properly."
Nyra's face became full of questions.
"By His Majesty?"
Mira nodded with seriousness.
"He specifically said, 'If she refuses breakfast, convince her.'"
Nyra lowered her eyes to hide the smile on her face.
"He's very... thoughtful."
Mira moved closer with a mischievous smile.
"So you are calling him thoughtful now?"
Nyra looked at her in confusion.
"What else would I say about him?"
Mira laughed before continuing.
"Nothing."
"I think you're teasing me to know my reactions on him."
"I would never tease you,"Mira replied her
"Maybe you are already doing so."
"Maybe I am," Mira finally accepted and both of them burst into laughter
…….
After breakfast, Mira led Nyra into the palace corridors.
"You promised to show me around," Nyra quickly reminded Mira.
Mira nodded in affirmation before replying her.
"Today you'll see why getting lost here is almost a tradition."
They wandered through endless hallways lined with portraits of former kings and queens which hard some paintings that looked centuries old.
Others seemed almost alive,with their eyes following anyone who walked past it.
Nyra stopped in front of one particular beautiful portrait.
It was a queen with long silver hair smiling gently from within an ornate golden frame.
She looked at it but it seemed familiar.
"Who is she?," she opened up.
Mira stopped beside her.
" That's Queen Selene,the most beloved queen Noctaryn ever had."
Nyra continued staring at it.
"I feel like I've seen her before."
Mira smiled as she always do.
"Everyone says that."
"No,I mean what am saying,i mean... somewhere."
Before Mira could answer, a palace bell echoed through the halls.
Servants immediately stepped aside with several guards straightened.
Footsteps approached the two ladies and it was Azriel.
He was dressed in black royal attire embroidered with silver thread and the crown resting upon his head once more.
Yet despite his regal appearance,the exhaustion beneath his eyes hadn't disappeared after the last discovery.
When he saw Nyra...
His expression softened instantly.
"Good morning."
Nyra smiled.
"Good morning."
Mira looked from one end to the other.
Then quietly cleared her throat to look for an excuse to leave.
"I suddenly remembered..."
Nyra looked at her.
"What?"
"I promised the royal baker I'd help her."
Azriel raised an eyebrow as if he already understood what's going on .
"The royal baker?"
"It is a very urgent bread."
Without waiting for another question, Mira hurried away.
Nyra stared after her.
"Did she just leave us alone on purpose?"
Azriel's lips curved into a rare smile.
"Maybe she did."
For a moment neither of them spoke.
There was a brief silence which was broken by Azriel
"Would you like to walk?"
"I'd like that."
……….
The gardens stretched farther than Nyra had imagined as crystal streams flowed beneath elegant stone bridges with white wolves resting beneath the flowering trees.
"They're beautiful and also looks fiercely protective,”Nyra commended .
"Do they obey only you?"
Azriel shook his head before returning the answers.
"They obey those they trust."
Nyra watched one of the wolves lazily roll onto its side beneath the morning sun and was excited at the scene.
"I wish trust was that simple for some people."
Azriel looked at her.
"Who taught you not to trust anyone?"
She waited for some seconds before continuing where she stopped.
"My pack,they only spoke to me when they needed someone to blame or even mock."
His expression changed.
"They were fools all those while for not noticing you."
She laughed quietly.
"You've never even met them."
"I don't need to."
His answer came without hesitation.
"Anyone who made you believe you were worthless are the ones who failed."
Nyra felt emotional because not for once in her life,had anyone defended her so easily.
"So..."
Azriel said softly.
"What do you think of Noctaryn?"
She looked around seeing the gardens,the castle,the distant mountains then turned back to him.
"I think..."
She smiled.
"...I'm beginning to like it here."
His smile matched hers.
"I'm glad."
Neither noticed how close they had drifted.Close enough that the breeze carried the scent of pine from his clothes. Close enough that Nyra could see tiny silver flecks within his eyes.
"So..."
Azriel continued.
"Are you still afraid of me?"
She searched his face.
The terrifying Beast King everyone feared...
Was nowhere to be found.
But rather,
She saw the man who had rescued her,protected her and made her laugh.
Slowly...
She shook her head.
"No."
His voice dropped to almost a whisper.
"I'm relieved."
Just then...
A white butterfly landed gently on Nyra's shoulder.
She smiled while Azriel reached toward her.
His fingers brushed her shoulder as he carefully lifted the butterfly onto his hand.
For a heartbeat...
Neither of them moved.
Their eyes met.
Neither seemed willing to look away.
"Your Majesty!"
The shout shattered the moment.
A captain of the Shadow Guard hurried toward them before dropping to one knee.
"We've completed the search."
Azriel stepped back, instantly returning to his role as king.
"And?"
"We found no sign of the traitor."
Nyra noticed the captain hesitate.
"But..."
Azriel's expression changed.
"Speak."
"We discovered evidence that someone entered the palace during the night."
Nyra's heart skipped.
"How is that possible?"
The captain took a deep breath before continuin..
"There were no broken gates,no damaged walls and no witnesses."
He slowly held out a small object wrapped in black cloth.
"We found only this."
Azriel unfolded it.
Inside lay a single crimson feather.
The vibrant color seemed almost unnatural.
The moment Nyra looked at it...
Pain took control of her head.
She could see flames,a woman crying,a child reaching out, blood stained white marbles.
Then...
A voice came..
"Protect the princess..."
The vision vanished.
Nyra staggered.
Azriel caught her before she could fall.
"Nyra!"
She clutched his arm, breathing hard.
"I... heard someone."
His eyes searched hers.
"Who?"
She looked at the feather again.
Her lips trembled.
"I think..."
"...they knew my name."
- Writer
