ZINA
"Theta...? You do not... I an, you do not want to leave behind, right?"
Zina sighed, taking the lighter to light more candles so the dark tent would be more illuminated. She went back to her original position, gripping the woman’s shoulders until they were facing each other squarely.
"This is the only path of survival the banished prince will allow us. You will travel South with him, while I remain in the Arctic North."
Seraph reared back, escaping her grip. "The banished prince doubts your loyalty and steadfastness to his cause?!" She spat despicably, large brown eyes brimming with anger. "Does he even know all that you’ve done for him?! All you’ve had to go through simply because you waited out for him!"
"Seraph," Zina said pointedly, "the banished prince has the South Heralder."
The girl’s brown eyes widened from shock. "What?"
"I don’t know how it happened, but the man that spied on you and the tales man could be soone from the banished prince’s side seeing the turn of events. It will be you and the South Heralder together, so do not worry about and...."
Seraph shook her head viciously as Zina spoke and she knew she would have to deal with the girl’s stubbornness that was hard to rouse and even harder to douse.
"I will not leave your side. If you’re travelling South then I shall travel with you, if you’re going North then I shall go with you, if you decide to journey to the pits of hell, then I shall be your loyal companion all the way, but I am never leaving your side for gods knows how long."
Zina’s lips thinned, not expecting such strong objection from her. Even though she didn’t want to resort to coercing the girl, she was left with no choice.
"This is a command from your Theta, Seraph. I will hear no more of your objections.
Of all the reactions Zina thought Seraph would show to her harsh words, quivering lips and eyes brimming with tears wasn’t part of her expectations.
"You might as well command to die," Seraph said in a shaking voice that stunned Zina to the point that she drew back to observe the girl who had always stayed by her side and knew everything about Zina’s affairs.
"Don’t you know how torturous it was when they abducted you? The dark thoughts that clouded my mind? How much I berated myself for being unable to take care of the one who saved ? How much tornt I was in at the thought that sothing terrible might have happened to you?! But you just co back like nothing has happened which is fine! But how could you, Theta, expect to act the sa? How do you expect to leave you alone again after everything you’ve gone through!"
Seraph was breathing hard when she was done, tears streaming down her face. Zina on her own was dazed as she tried to process the torrent of outburst of emotions the girl had dumped on her.
Zina had gotten used to the notion that she was alone so much so that she had not even thought that soone might have gravely cared about her well-being when she had turned up missing.
Why was it that she was so emotionally inept? Emotionally cowardly and unable to even process and return the most basic of affections? Because try as she may, she didn’t know what response to proffer to the crying girl before her.
Zina reached out an awkward hand to pat Seraph on her shoulders. "Truly, I will be fine. I have my sight now, there is truly nothing for you to worry about."
In a lost, shaking voice Seraph asked, still crying. "Does that an you will no longer need anymore? Now that your sight has been restored?"
"Of course not." Zina quickly rushed to reassure her because she really ant the words. "I will always need you Seraph. So please, see this as an opportunity to observe the banished prince more for . Besides, this is only a short goodbye. The banished prince gives ten days so you will be back sooner than you think."
Finally, the girl wiped away her tears, nodding stoically. "Forgive Theta for this ss," she said in a resolute voice, "I will definitely do as you wish. But why is the banished prince travelling South at this critical ti? The Alpha King will especially not spare you if he learns that you share a bond with him."
Zina smiled shrewdly to herself. She already knew of that, which was why she intended to deliver one killing blow against Eldric to end all this ss.
Eldric would soon experience the true power of the tongue in the most terrifying and fear indicting manner
"I’ve told you before, I am capable of taking care of myself." Zina repeated, "and I believe the banished prince travels South for his uncle."
"The Alpha of the DireWolf Pack?"
Zina nodded, laden with thoughts. Strangely, she was back at Daemon’s tent, staring at the Wolf Chess Table and the original gaplay before she and Daemon’s gaplay started. Daemon was not the kind of man to make a rash decision, so why travel now of all tis.
Then it ca to her.
"His uncle must intend to pass his title to Daemon!" Zina exclaid in a whisper shout as the idea seed even nefarious to herself.
Seraph gasped. "Surely his uncle will not skip his own legitimate sons? And what of the Tiger Wolf of the South? They will never allow a Northern blood to taint the inheritance of a High Ranked Pack."
Zina chuckled to herself as the nefarious idea seed ideal the more she thought about it from Daemon’s perspective. The Tiger Wolf, the great evil of the Desert South, was like an invisible hand that ruled the Southern Lands despite the presence of the Temple of the South.
And while Daemon’s uncle was able to resist their influence due to the DireWolf Pack being a well fleshed out high ranked pack within its rights m, there were rumours about one of his sons having the backing of the Tiger Wolf.
If that son was to fight for a claim as Alpha, Daemon would definitely face a difficult ti in the South. But that would an nothing if his uncle was more than determined to pass his title as Alpha to Daemon.
Which would make Daemon two Alphas, and if he were to claim the Arctic Wolf, that would make him three Alphas in one man.
Zina’s eyes widened as the absurdity of what she thought made horrifying sense. Of course Daemon would want to face Eldric well prepared. If he beca that powerful, no one could ever question his rule which begged the question of why he was involving Zina if he was more than capable of achieving his desires without her.
Why use her in the first place? Zina was more confused than ever.
"Daemon will succeed though Tiger Wolf or not." Zina said in response to Seraph’s inquiries.
"How are you so sure about that?"
"Do you think this trip is an abrupt one? It must have been well planned for soti. The fact that is happening a little sooner than they envisioned doesn’t make them any less prepared."
Zina rembered the man that shot at her with an arrow when she stepped into Daemon’s tent. "There’s this man by the banished prince’s side. He was called Marcus, he has tanned skin. I believe he must be the banished prince’s cousin with the DireWolf surna. This man called Marcus must have already laid foundations for their plan."
"The gods." Seraph gasped, at loss for words. With great difficulty, she ford the words that hung uncomfortably between them. "If he will inherit such a great Pack, why does he still wish to conquer the North?"
Zina smiled, thrilled for so reason. "That is because Daemon NorthSteed wishes to rule not only the Arctic North, but the South too. And who knows, perhaps he wishes to spread the art of the kingdom throughout the whole of Vraga."
Seraph simply stared tongue tied while Zina felt strangely satisfied. No matter what was happening between them, it would seem as Daemon NorthSteed remained the man her blind eyes had seen in the vision all those years ago.
The glee quickly wore off as a sense of dread filled her. "Seraph," she spoke to the maidservant in a low voice, "you and the South Heralder must especially watch out for any interaction between the banished prince and the Matriarchy."
The maidservant nodded grimly while Zina clutched a fist together.
Why the Matriarchy? She thought, rembering what Seraph said about Daemon speaking with them right before he tracked her down. She figured that whatever the Matriarchy had said must have prompted him to go after her.
So what had they said?
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