Her parents were not thrilled. They did not like Meenu's decision to go after Seliaryn at all.
However, both Lord and Lady Kyrus knew well that they couldn't stop her. She cared about him… and not only that but he had once done the unthinkable to protect her. They knew very well that Meenu would feel the need to owe him back.
The only few consolations they had were the fact that Knight would be with her, Master Red had trained her well and deemed her worthy of being a warrior and also the thought that Seliaryn would hopefully not hurt her.
But nonetheless, as horrible as it sounded, the two of them wished more than anything that she wouldn't find him.
That would be the only way they could be sure she would be safe.
Meenu tied her thick curls into a ponytail with not one, but three, thick pieces of ribbon. That was the only way it would stay up without falling out.
And after changing into her loose black trousers, black calf length boots and her black coloured, sleeveless tunic, she was almost ready.
She wrapped her belt, along with her sword and sheath around her waist and buckled her quiver around her. Then, she threw her bow over her shoulder and put her mask.
Her parents gave her money in case she needed it for food... And that was it. They tried to give her a lot of other things, like actual food, medicine and other knick knacks that they thought would help her… but she could only fit a couple of things into the small pouches she wore around her belt.
That was all the space she had because a bag would be hard to carry, especially with her bow already sitting over her shoulder.
So Meenu just hugged them and told them not to worry.
Of course she knew they would still worry. But at least she tried.
And then she was off.
She smiled as she left Amberdyse on her horse, Knight following closely behind her.
She felt so confident.
Confident enough to wish that Dukaryn was still alive so that she could try and deal with him herself.
But of course, confidence could never be enough to deal with everything in their world.
Avaryn was in a meeting with his council when Master Red came and interrupted. “I apologize for the interruption but the King... And the rest of you... Are needed in the courtyard.”
Avaryn stood up, pleased that he could leave this boring meeting. They were discussing what to do to make the castle grounds look more welcoming… and frankly, as of that moment, Avaryn couldn’t care less about the aesthetics of the castle grounds.
Besides, Light and Heart had left to follow Meenu… and really, the thought of her safety was all that he could really think of.
“What's going on?” He asked Master Red as he followed him out.
“You’ll find out in a moment.”
Avaryn didn’t like the tone in Master Red’s voice. He sounded annoyed.
That was never good.
When they arrived at the courtyard, Avaryn was surprised by a mass of people standing on both sides of the yard, leaving a path in between that led to the castle gates.
All of the people that were forced to stand in the back were trying their best to jump and see what was going on in front of them. And the people at the front did everything they could to not loose their spot.
“Come.” Master Red said as he guided Avaryn to the other side of the path.
And then they stood there, waiting for a short while and Avaryn just stared at all the people. What on earth did they know that he didn’t?
Soon, the castle gates opened up and a carriage rode in. It stopped not to far away from where Avaryn was standing.
And as always, it didn’t take long for Avaryn to figure out what was going on.
Before they even stepped out, Avaryn knew who it was.
“Who brought them here?” Avaryn asked, feeling his face fall into a scowl.
“I believe it was Lady Kiaryna.” Master Red had a straight face, “it’s a threat. I hope you realize.”
Avaryn knew that well.
She was trying to show him the kind of control she had. She was trying to show him that nothing could be hidden from her.
The carriage door was opened by a guard and out stepped a beautiful human woman.
Her hair was brown and wavy and she had so much of it. It tumbled down over her shoulders as she got out of the carriage and it was long enough to touch the small of her back. She always wore it in a half ponytail, tied with a lovely ribbon.
Her skin was tanned and her very large, child like eyes were a dark brown.
And she had a kind of gracefulness that could be seen even in the state that she was in now.
She was Avaryn’s mother.
The entire mass fell down to their knees as the Queen... And now Mother Queen Tabitha stepped out.
Everyone thought that this kind and loving queen was dead.
But here she was, alive.
Her large eyes looked around in shock at a sight she hadn’t seen in years.
The castle.
The court members.
All the bowing people.
She hadn’t seen it in so long that it felt foreign to her now.
She turned around quickly though, looking back into the carriage as another person came out.
This time it was a younger woman.
A much younger woman, who looked identical to Lady Tabitha except her hair was as black as black could be and her eyes were as red as blood.
She too looked around confused. She was young when she left the palace, and she barely had any memories left of it.
It was Avaryn’s precious little sister.
When Princess Avaryna’s eyes finally fell on her older brother, she let out a happy gasp.
Lifting up her dress in her hands, she ran down the path and straight into her smiling brothers arms.
She hugged him tightly and he hugged her back.
“Hello little bird.” He said, calling her by the nickname that she had created for herself when she was a child. Avaryna loved birds.
She giggled before she looked up at him. “Hello big brother.”
He kissed her forehead before taking a hold of her hand and guiding her to stand beside him.
She held on tightly, almost as if deep down, she was afraid she’d loose him.
Avaryn looked over at his mother, who was standing near the carriage, watching her two children.
She pressed her lips into a thin line and took a deep breath through her nose before she too walked over to her son.
But before she could reach him, she burst into tears.
She fell onto her knees before Avaryn, shocking him as he tried to grab a hold of her.
He knelt down in front of her, “Mother.”
“What have we done to be cursed like this?” She cried.
Avaryn stared at her. “What...”
“I don’t want you to be king,” she cried, looking at her son with pleading eyes, “it’ll only bring you pain and suffering! I know it! I can feel it!”
Avaryn swallowed back his sorrow and hugged his mother.
He hated seeing her like this.
And this was what she was like ever since his father died.
That was the reason why Avaryn barely went to see her.
He loved her, and knew it was selfish of him, but it was this sorrow that she made him feel... That was what kept him away.
He couldn’t take seeing her like this.
He hugged her tightly, trying to make her feel better just by hugging her. Sometimes it worked.
But as he hugged her, he saw a third person step out of the carriage.
Lady Kiaryna.
Avaryn watched as the head of his clan smiled.
And there was something about that smile that made Avaryn cringe.
Why would she bring her family here? They were in the safe eyes of the King and Queen of Destyn. They were happier there.
His mother hated the palace because that was where her husband was murdered.
His sister had made many friends in Destyn who loved and cared for her.
And despite all of that… this woman brought them back to the most dangerous part of Raffyre.
Why?
He smile grew, as if she knew exactly what Avaryn was thinking.
And he knew, at that very moment that he couldn’t trust that woman.
She was up to something.
What it was, was all he needed to know.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[[PLEASE READ]]]
HEY EVERYONE!!!!!!
SO OMGGG, THE FIRST BOOK OF THE HIDDEN IS DONE GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! I can't even believe it myself HEHEHEH!!But like I've said before, NO WORRIES, it's just going to continue on over here like nothing happened! HEHE!
The Prologue of the next book will be up VERY SOON (posted as another chapter in this book)!!! (like, later today if not in a couple hours!)
Thank you so much guys!!!! <3
See you in a bit!!
- Luckycharms <3