Heart desired

//Chapter 32//

I sat beside the king in the council room. Savin was sitting on the opposite side, facing me. Resh occupied the other head of the table. Between us, the Lords of Elkelyn sat, all of their faces solemn. Some were even glaring at me and Savin.

I didn't need to be a professional psychologist to know that they blamed us for the attacks. I didn't blame them. It was our fault.

Well, mostly mine.

I didn't know all of them the last time I was here. Lord Deuse, Lord Konzhar and Lord Unnel sat between Resh and Savin. Lord Cymel, Lord Lahir and Lord Draken sat betwern Resh and me.

The king spoke. "As you all are aware, Sermeth was attacked today." He looked at each of us in the eyes. I felt his gaze linger on mine more than others. Good. He blamed me too.

Sermeth was located on the border of mortal and Elkelyn. According to what I gathered from the last time I was here, it was the first town to be attacked from the Rawen. Sermeth located closest to to Rawen, only seperating the two kingdoms by a huge land of a forest. Since Elves wanted to keep their existence a secret from the mortals, just like us, this was the best way to do that.

"For the past two years, we have been building that town from the scratch. We aren't halfway there yet and the attacks start again, destroying everything." The king raged, slamming his hand hard on the table. I almost flinched at that. "We all know the reason. We have rescued the princess they pronounced dead. If that didn't provoke them, I don't know what else could this be."

Lord Unnel nodded his head. "I agree with you, your majesty. We shouldn't have meddled in affairs of another country. Even thought she is your niece, it doesn't mean you can bring her hear, endangering all our people."

Konzhar, the lord who sat beside him, nodded in agreement. "He is right. At this rate, we will never get our freedom from them. You shouldn't-"

"Well, what is it that are you suggesting?" Resh asked, rudely interrupting Konzhar. "Put her back in? Right now, they don't know for certain that we were the one who took the princess. If we put the princess back right after being attacked, they can confirm the fact that we can break in to there kingdom without anyone noticing. And I really don't think the attacks would stop after that."

He had a good point. His tone was so convincing to the others. I guessed he was not the Crown Prince of Elkelyn just because of his royal blood. He had a way to dominate and capture everybody's attention with just some words. It was part of his Elf gift, I realised in a moment. He had befriended me and Daniel the same way when we met for the second time.

Even the king nodded at him. "He is right. It doesn't matter what happened in the past. There is nobody with the power to time travel yet. Let's focus on the future. What do you suggest?"

Konzhar looked ashamed as he heared what Resh was saying. There were no lie in that. Lord Draken cleared his throat first. "If I may, your Majesty."

"Go on," The king gave him permission with a nod.

"We sould strengthen our defenses first." He said. "The main reason we lose everytime is because they mess with the minds of the soldiers. I suggest Crown Prince and princess use their powers on our soldiers so they can learn how to resist the invading Elf powers. Even a little resistance is better than nothing."

"That is a fairly good suggestion." Lord Deuse agreed. "If we can resist, that means we can also counterattack."

"Yes." The king agreed. "What do you say?" He asked me and Resh, looking directly at us.

He was asking if we would be generous to make our own powers useless. If everyone could resist all my powers, then what was the use of even having powers?

Well, the answer was obvious.

"I agree." Resh and I said at the same time.

"Are you sure?" Lord Lahir asked. "You will be giving more than taking any benefit. One day, you may regret it."

"Oh, it doesn't matter." I said. "If we train others to resist our powers, they will be able to fight back. If they did turn against me, then I just had to make sure that I'm more stronger than them."

Savin's eyes sparkled for some reason as he looked at me. I returned the sparkle with my own, just for a second.

"It's decided, then." The king said. "You two will train the army from tomorrow."

We nodded.

"Anyone else?" the king asked.

This whole resistance powers thing was giving me an idea, basically a dangerous one. "I do have a suggestion." I said anyways. "but I'm afraid you are not going to like it."

"Say it." The king looked at me. Somehow, having his full attention on me was a little unsettling. As I was thinking of a way to begin, I caught a moment on my other side. I looked there to see Savin biting down a knuckle on his index finger, looking directly at my lips.

Stupid i***t.

Somehow, the hesitation I was feeling was gone. I turned to the king. "Do you know about insfi stones?"

He nodded. "Those can be only mined at Rawen, which is unfortunate."

"Yes. But we can steal them." I said. "If we can find enough stones for soldiers to wear, we have a huge advantage against them."

Lord Cymel, who was silent this whole time, spoke. "I like that idea, to be honest."

"Then you can lead it." I said. "Everybody knows who I am, so I can't go to Rawen. I know every place they mine and stack those stones. I can guide you."

"That is too dangerous." Lord Unnel said. "One mistake and the whole kingdom will be in danger."

"Exactly." I said.

Savin smiled a mysterious smile. "I have a plan."