The Heart of Illumia

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Elder Farrah faced the council of Gildan, its leader holding his hair in his hands in frustration.  The alarm was sounded when they found the guards of the dungeon with their throats slit and the dungeon empty of its inhabitant.  The trackers have spread out to find where the missing prisoner was but so far they were unable to find her scent or track her progress.  All trail ended at the edge of the Impenetrable Forest. 

            The Impenetrable Forest has been aptly named.

            It was said that during the ancient times, it was used as a summoning site for the magic users of the different quadrants.  It was supposed to be neutral ground where everyone is free to meet and exchange knowledge for the betterment of their people.  Some believed it was a barrier created by the first king of Durin to separate the quadrants from each other to avoid invasions and any illegal trading. There are even stories of how the first king of Durin made the alliances possible for each quadrant.  Once the king of Durin would step inside its edge, the dense fog would be lifted and all can pass through.

            This has ended once the siege of Durin occurred.

            Before King Lucius had assumed the throne, some radicals had attacked Durin using the mages of Hildegard as hostages.  They passed through the Impenetrable Forest like it was a simple maze to be entered and staged a small coup that lasted a mere hour before the Illuvians managed to disperse them.  But not at the successful assassination of King Lucius’ father.

            Since then, a dense fog has been raised in the forest that not even mages can dissipate.  It was said that it was the spirit of the assassinated king protecting those who wishes to have sanctuary against evil.  No one has been able to pass through the Forest unscathed.

            King Cathmore has ordered more of his men to spread out and find more information on how Sandra was able to even escape the dungeons.  His face mirrored his frustration and annoyance at what had occurred.  He was even embarrassed that this had to happen when Elder Farrah has come to visit.  It was not a coincidence that Elder Farrah was chosen to Sandra’s companion and warden.  Elder Farrah used to be a member of the hunter squad of Gildan whose ability is to negate the abilities of a magic user.  She used to be a close advisor to the then young heir apparent Prince Cathmore and was a well-known hunter in her own right.  She had trained young hunters and made sure the knowledge that she had gathered from her experiences in order to ensure that they could carry the mantle of the best hunters in the whole Illumia.

            To say that she was deeply embarrassed in front of General Leo was an understatement.  Her king had given her a duty and that was to see to it that the annoying traitor be brought to justice, first by the council of Gildan and then the coven of Hildegard.  They had promised their allegiance to King Lucius as proof that they were not the ones who ordered the assassination of his father.  So to say that the king truly trusts them would be pushing their luck especially now that he had uncovered Sandra’s plot.  Hildegard would have to be ready for the summons they would surely receive from the king once Sandra has been returned to them and her crimes be heard.

            Now that the criminal herself is missing, the elder feared that the king would also doubt the loyalty of Gildan since now their innocence with regards to the k********g attempt on the princess would be in question. 

            The door opened and General Leo appeared with a few of Gildan’s elite hunters entered the room.  General Leo eyed the hunters in disgust and pulled one forward.  The cowering hunter knelt before them.

            “Please, my lord.  Let me explain.”

            Elder Farrah raised her brow at General Leo in inquiry.  The knight bowed before her before addressing them.

            “King Cathmore, Elder Farrah, this man was in charge of guarding the dungeons last night but he was found drunk underneath the cypress tree at the outskirts of the Impenetrable Forest.”  He reported, gesturing at the man who was shaking violently in front of them.

            The king, of course, was furious.  Elder Farrah gave a deep sigh.

            “Drinking on the job, Eli.  How could you betray the king like this?”  Elder Farrah muttered under her breath before she faced the cowering man.  The man looked up at her pleadingly.

            “I was doing my job, my lady.  Honestly, I was.  But then I suddenly had the urge to drink one of the ales in town.  One drink led to another and I was surprised when I saw myself lying down under the tree.  I thought I was only drinking a glass but I found out I emptied barrels of ale.”  He turned his eyes at his king and implored to him.

            “You may search my memories, my lord.  I am unafraid.”  The man challenged, confident that he had nothing to hide.

            Elder Farrah looked at the king for permission before she flicked her hand at the man when the king nodded his assent.  The man fell backward, unconscious and his thoughts open for all of them to be viewed on. 

            There they saw how the man was really busy in guarding the gates towards the dungeons.  There they saw how he suddenly stood up and started to walk trancelike towards town, his blue-crystal like amulet falling from his hand along with the keys.  Bloodied hands reached out to grab the keys but the scene ended there.  The scene was enough to understand what had happened.

            “What the heck happened?  There were magic barriers placed around the dungeons.  She was not supposed to be able to use her abilities as we had the whole place warded so no one with magic can enter or exit the place.”  King Cathmore roared furiously.  His hunters dragged their unconscious brethren out of the room.  Elder Farrah flickered her fingers again and breathed deeply.

            “I sense remnants of black magic around Eli.  It is faint but I think this is the reason why she was able to escape.  But where would she go though?”  she mused.  The king sat down again and looked at his advisers.  They started to discuss more on what measures should be done to make Gildan better.  Elder Farrah and General Leo excused themselves before leaving the room.

            “There is only one way where she could pass undetected.  I am almost sure of it, madam elder.”  General Leo spoke quietly as they walked down the corridor.

            Elder Farrah sighed.  There is only one place that Sandra can use to hide the fact that she had escaped.

            “The Impenetrable Forest?”  She stated even though they both know it as a fact. 

            “What should we do?”  the general looked down at the elder.  She seemed to think things through before she looked up at the young general.

            “Send word that we will penetrate the forest before nightfall.  If there is any evidence that she had entered it, then that confirms she is in collision with Hildegard.”  The elder commanded.  The young man bowed before they parted ways.  They need to prepare if they will be entering the Impenetrable Forest.  Leo, on the other hand, needed to inform the king of what they were about to do.

            He grimaced as he made his way towards his room.  He needed a secluded area to communicate with King Lucius but that was not what made him hesitate.  He was actually embarrassed to face the king as he knew he was given a responsibility of protecting Elder Farrah and the prisoner before she could be given her punishment.  But he was too lenient.  Once someone took over his duty, he had allowed them to do what they have to do without questioning their movements.  He knew he should have used a delimiter to constrict that woman’s abilities.

            A delimiter was a personal invention of Princess Auria. 

            Since King Lucius and the knights were considered enforcers of peace, there was an obvious need to create a weapon that could prevent others from harming their fellowmen.  Hence, the creation of the delimiter.  It may be a thread, sword, shackle or any object infused with a blue gem.  This blue gem channels a spell that binds the user and prevents them from using their abilities.  The Illuvians, as enforcers of peace, would only use these weapons upon the order of the king especially if the criminal has been proven guilty.  He should have done what he could to make Sandra survive and make her pay for her crimes.

            He was about to sit in the middle of the room to meditate when a knock sounded at the door.  Frowning, he opened it and came face to face with the little boy that his princess had saved a while back.  The son of King Cathmore, Prince Lysander.

            He bowed immediately in respect.

            “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, your highness?”

            The young boy shifted nervously on his feet, his sisters right behind him.  The eldest nudged him and Leo frowned at them.

            “General Leo, may I have a word with you?”  the young boy asked tentatively.

            “Of course.  How may I be of service?”

            The boy breathed deeply and then looked at his sisters.  Their nods encouraged him to look back at Leo.

            “General, may I be allowed to join the Illuvian knights?”