Chapter 18

'Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood. Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness, of hatred, of jealousy, and, most easily of all, the gate of fear. When the Sun and the Storm refused to yield. Each celebrating power that they wield. Their stubbornness and strength are revealed. And they combine to grow the crops in every field ❤❤❤❤ THE VISIT AND SARAH ❤❤❤❤ Lillian heard a knock on her door that same evening. She was in the kitchen cooking she and her granddaughter dinner as usual when the knock came. "I am coming!" She shouted not too loud to whoever that is knocking on the door. Quenching the fire under the pot with her magic, since she has finished, she went to open the door. Once it was opened, she was very surprised to see two palace guards standing outside her house, she knew them, they were the guards who were always guarding King Roen's palace. Ushering them quickly inside, she offered them a seat which they rejected. "No worries ma'am, we are fine,'' One of the guards said to Lillian. "Okay, so, to what do I own this august visit?" Lillian demanded of them. "King Roen asked us to come here and ask Rae to come with us over to the palace." The same guard who spoke, said again. "The King asked you to come with Rae to the palace?" Lillian asked and the guards nodded their heads together. "Why? Why will he send for my granddaughter?" She asked fearfully. "The priestess visited the King, we don't know what they discussed, but as soon as she left the palace, he asked us to call Rae." The same guard said again. "And he orders us not to leave without Rae coming with us." The second guard chip in. "But it is late already, the night has finally conceal the daylight, can't she come tomorrow?" Lillian asked with her heart in her mouth, she was scared. This is what she had wanted to prevent when the priestess came visiting earlier today. "The King knows that, unless you want to question the king, you can follow us to the palace and ask him why he wants the girl at this time." The second guard said. "I-I" Lillian didn't know what to say. "Grandma I will follow them." Rae voice sounded behind Lillian who turn around quickly to see Rae at the top of the stairs. Taking the stairs two at a time, Rae went over to where her grandmother stood with the guards. "You're Rae, right?" The first guard asked as he regarded the girl who was dressed in clothes meant for men. The only thing that differentiates them with her was her long black hair, breast and her beautiful face. "You just heard when I said to my grandma that I am coming with you, and you're still asking if I am Rae, of course I am Rae." Rae answered with a boring face. "Why do you ask?" "Your clothes…" Interrupting him, "Got a problem with my clothes, are you the one wearing them?" Rae asked and didn't wait for him to answer. "I will come with you to the palace, but first I have to eat." She added. "There will be no time for that Miss Rae, you will eat once you get to the palace." The first guard said. "And like I have said a few minutes ago, I will eat my grandmother's food. After that, I will follow you to the palace, it is so simple." Rae said and faces her grandmother. "Granny, I am greatly famished here, please where is my food." Rae said to her with a smile, Lillian went into the kitchen to bring Rae's food, leaving her with the two palace guards. "You're not permitted to eat anything until you are in the palace." The second guard said. "Says who?" Rae asked as Lillian came out with a plate of food and handed it over to Rae who gladly took it from her. "Says the king, we can't allow you to eat that food, you're coming with us right away." The first guard said. Sitting down in her favorite chair, as she turns to look at the two guards. She'd like to see them try and stop her from eating this food, taking one spoon into her mouth and eyeing them. "You just watch me!" Her eyes gave them a warning of 'mess.with.me.and.go.home.with.a.broken.limp.' She took another spoon again, using one of her eyes to look at the guards. "Granny, this food is very delicious." She took another spoon and deliberately put the food in her mouth in a slower space. The guards has no other option than to wait for her to be through with her food. Roen had warned them about her, but they had ignored his orders to do what they please. After eating to her fill. She took the plate to the kitchen to wash, ignoring her grandmother's call to leave the plate for her. After spending close to five minutes just to wash one plate, she came out of the kitchen. "Granny, let me go with my new manservants to meet the King." Rae said looking at them sideways, daring them to speak. But the guards remain mute. "Be careful Rae." Lillian said and kissed her forehead. Being more dramatic, Rae fake cry as she hugged her grandmother. "I will miss you so much granny, it may take years when i will come back here again." Lillian rolled her eyes and pushed Rae gently to the guards. Staring at the two quite guards in her presence, who were staring at her. "What?" Rae snapped at them. "Can't a girl bid her granny goodbye?" The guards quickly bid her grandmother their goodbyes and went outside the house with Rae closely behind them. Once outside, Rae couldn't see any carriage, she voice out her thoughts to them. "Where is the goddam carriage? Should we be waiting for that one too?" Rae asked them. "Sorry, we didn't come with that, we ran here straight and forgot it." The first guard reply. "Oh, I see." Rae said and place her hand under her jaw and started stroking her invisible long beards looking at them. "Which one of you is a wolf?" Rae suddenly asked. "The both of us, why?" "Why is because, one of you will have to carry me, you know I can't walk or run with you to the palace." Rae said. "So choose who I will ride with to the palace." Arguing with her was pointless, the first guard quickly volunteer himself and transform into his Grey wolf. The second guard, changing into his Sandy wolf. Climbing on the grey one, she patted it on its head as if it were a dog. "Am set, you can go." The wolves ran out of the witch Kingdom with full speed, going straight to the Palace. Rae's mind was on a certain white haired boy she was going to see in the palace tonight. Her heart beat faster when she thought of Jason. **** The huge red dragon which was Jorkallun reached the dragon's lair and saw his father waiting. Transforming back into his human form. "What is it father?" Jorkallun asked. "Oh nothing, just to confirm if what I am hearing is true." Vermitrax, the King of Dragons, said to Jorkallun with a smile. Like his son, his hair was red in color together with his eyes. The red shows that, they were destined to rule over the dragons, it was very rare to see a dragon with a red hair. "What rumors father?" Jorkallun asked. "That you are friends with a girl called Rae." Vermitrax reply with a smile. "Is that true son?" "Yes father, Rae is my friend, and she reminds me of Kate." His smiling face was replaced with sadness. "Really? Your dragon acknowledge her as Kate?" "Yes father, my dragon seem protective over her." Jorkallun responded. "Wow, that's great to hear. I will like to see this Rae of a girl who befriended my son without him hurting her." Vermitrax said smiling again. "You will see her soon father, I promise to bring her to our lair one day." "Good, I can't wait to see her." Vermitrax said still smiling which Jorkallun return briefly. *** Sarah was coming back from an errand she went for her grandmother when she came across Jorkallun, resting his back against a pavement as if he was waiting for someone, closing his eyes and looking towards the Sky. She was surprised to see him and decided to pretend she didn't see him, her intention was to walk past him pretending not to see him, but stopped in her tracks when she heard the pretty boy voice. "Hello Sarah." "Hello Jorkallun." Sarah said to her long time crush. "Where are you coming back from by this time of the night?" Jorkallun ask. "I went on an errand for my grandma." Sarah reply shyly. "Who are you waiting for?" Jorkallun shrugged his shoulders. "I was waiting for you Sarah, I came to ask you something which I need your honest answer." "Which is?" Sarah asked. "Are you on the good side or the bad side?" Jorkallun said not beating around the bush. "Meaning?" Sarah asked pretending to be confused. "You're hiding something Sarah, whatever you are hiding, if you ever hurt my sister, I will hunt you down wherever you are and kill you ." Jorkallun said in a warning. "I don't understand what you mean by that Jorkallun, why are you saying things that aren't true." Getting off the pavement, he walked over to her. "You can pretend all you want Sarah, but I see a concealing spell on you. Like I said, whatever you do, do not hurt my sister." "And who is this sister of yours?" "Rae, do not hurt her." "You asked me a question before and I will be honest with you Jorkallun." Sarah said without being shy. "I am on the good side." With that she left Jorkallun staring after her in thoughts. ___ Sarah got home and gave her grandmother what she went out to get. Going straight to her room, she locked the door and brought out a mirror. Whispering some magic words, the mirror shone and a woman appeared in it, her large mermaid tail was visible "Where you able to find her?" The mermaid from the mirror asked. "Yes, but her granddaughter mother." Sarah answered. "Selena won't be that easy to find, to the mer-folk and the rest of the supernaturals, she is just a myth." The mermaid said. "That's my sister for you. You must protect her granddaughter at all cost against any harm." "Yes mother." "I hope no one can see through your hidden identity?" The mermaid asked her daughter. "No one mother notice, except for Jorkallun." "And who is Jorkallun?" "The one I told you I have a crush on." "Okay, whatever you do be vigilant. Alert me once you see Selena, rest well my child." The mermaid said and the mirror became clear. Sarah dropped the mirror, took her bath and went to bed. **** The wolves stopped running once they arrive at the palace. King Roen who was waiting for them outside his palace, he was glad to see Rae with his guards. He feared the girl wouldn't come with his guards. He quickly ushered her inside the palace. "Thank you for honoring my invitation even though it came late." Roen said leading her to the banquet room where all assorted food were on the table. "No problem my king." Rae said with a smile. He opened the door the door to the banquet. "Ladies first." Rae walk in with a genuine smile as she heard the door closing behind her. Rae saw three chairs, guessing one for her, the other for Roen and who owns the last one? "Please sit down in any of the sit, my son, Jason, will soon join us." Roen said and allowed Rae to sit first before he does. Rae eyes perk once she heard Jason's name. She was about to ask him when his son was coming when the door to the banquet opened to reveal the devil himself. Jason was handsome in his choice of clothes he wore, it was simple, a white t-shirt and long trousers. His white long hair was packed in a ponytail. He started walking towards them, his smiling presented face he always present to his father's guest, faded and was replaced with a frown. "Don't tell me she is the one who you invited father?" Jason said with in a boring tone. "The very one son." King Roen reply, Jason turned to leave but Roen voice stopped him. "Sit down Jason, you promise not to leave me alone with my guest." Groaning, he sat down, his knees touching Rae's which he ignored. "I know you two have not met each other yet, since my son has his own class and...." King Roen started to say but got interrupted by two voices. "We've met and I don't like her." Jason said at the same time Rae said.. "We've met and he is too proud." Blinking their eyes they both stared at each other, starting a staring contest. Jason had always win when it comes to that, he could stare at you without blinking. And Rae, that was one of her talent, her grandmother doesn't know. They stared at each other, waiting for one to fail.