Rafael made his way to Orion’s camp according to the directions given. It should have been exhausting, but his n had prepared supplies for him, allowing him much-needed replenishnt.
More importantly, his curiosity kept his feet moving forward. Just like Soleia, he had expected the enchantnt on Orion to be broken when Soleia threw her athyst pendant away. Instead, Soleia was the one left bruised and bleeding on the ground, while Elowyn was coddled and spirited away.
It simply made no sense, especially when Rafael knew Orion was already suspicious of Elowyn’s intentions.
Did Elowyn have more athysts stowed away? Or... Rafael’s face clouded as a sobering thought entered his mind. Or was she so powerful, that using an athyst was simply a matter of convenience?
But that was impossible. Or at least, it would’ve been impossible for a human. If she was sothing else, then it would be a different story altogether.
His n had detected nothing out of the ordinary when they were tracking their party, but that simply ant that she was better at concealing her actions. He had to check on Orion, and possibly shove his stupid head into the snow until his mind straightened itself out.
Making him and Soleia walk the entire way to the palace in the middle of winter was insanity, no matter what he claid earlier!
Of course, a deeper part of him wanted to get a better gauge of Elowyn’s powers. She was a threat. If not handled well, she would be detrintal to his interests.
He hastened his footsteps. Soon, he saw the dying embers of a campfire and slt the last lingering scent of grilled at. He crouched down and waited for the guards to change shifts.
When the new guards took their posts, Rafael knocked them out with one quick blow to the neck, making sure that their bodies fell quietly on the snow. He stalked towards the carriage, hoping that he wasn’t interrupting the loving couple in their throes of passion.
However, to his utmost surprise, there was one party who was still awake, staring at him with an expectant, knowing smile on her face.
"Sir Ralph, of what do I owe the pleasure?" Elowyn asked, flitting her eyes all over his form.
She stood up and leaned forward out of the carriage door, batting her eyes mischievously.
"Or do you wish I call you by another na? Or another... loftier title perhaps?"
"Are you offering prostitution services now?" Rafael asked, raising an eyebrow, even as warning bells began to ring in his mind. Could this woman have figured out the truth about his identity? "Aren’t you afraid that your dearly beloved duke would awaken from his slumber and kill us both?"
"It’s your head on the chopping board, not mine," Elowyn replied breezily. Gone was her false humility and her theatrical display of weakness; Rafael now stood in front of a confident, conniving woman who looked at him as though he was a bug on her shoe.
"He wouldn’t lay a hand on . You’ve seen it for yourself, haven’t you?" Elowyn added with a soft laugh. "This man is so loyal... he’s like a little wolfdog. It’s precious. I might even leave him alive when this is over." Elowyn sighed and brushed her hand against Orion’s face.
"Aren’t you afraid he might wake up?" Rafael asked, narrowing his eyes as he peered at Orion, who was still sleeping like a log. Strange, since he had always been a light sleeper when he was on the battlefield. "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing really, he was simply exhausted after the day’s events, so he fell asleep after I made him so tea." Elowyn mid a yawn. "Do you want so?"
Rafael’s eyebrow twitched. "No."
"A pity," Elowyn said with a delicate moue of her lips. "I have a favor to ask of you."
"What makes you think I’d do anything for you?" Rafael shot back, almost impressed at her audacity.
"Because I know you, and our goals are in alignnt. You might claim that you have no untoward feelings for Princess Soleia, but I can see right through you," Elowyn said. "You want her, in the way a man carnally wants a woman, but she’ll never accept you― not while she’s still married to Orion."
"You have no idea what you’re talking about," Rafael’s voice went cold at the blatant insinuation.
"Oh, don’t I... my dear Prince Rafael?" Elowyn said, and Rafael felt his knees shake. However, he made sure to paste an incredulous expression on his face.
"Do you need your eyes checked, woman? You’re calling a prince? Is this your way of ensuring Orion kills out of so misplaced jealousy?" Rafael fired back instinctively.
Elowyn’s grin widened. "Speaking of Orion, the both of us had a long chat about you on our way here. He told many interesting things about you. Imagine my surprise when he told you had the ability to control blood― an ability so rare that it’s only limited to royalty. One particular royal family, in fact."
Orion himself probably did not understand the value of the information he shared. After all, he was born and raised a commoner, who made no distinction regarding various magical abilities. Magic was magic, a gift in itself. Who cared if it was fire or ice or lightning or blood?
However, royalty saw things differently. Magical abilities of a similar nature tended to run in families, and it was not enough to simply have magical abilities― one had to have better, stronger, more distinctive abilities to stand out. It was a matter of a kingdom’s pride, a wordless warning to their vassals.
And blood control was such a rare variation from hydrokinesis, that Elowyn could never forget where it originated from.
"What are you talking about?" Rafael asked, sensing the noose around his neck.
Elowyn continued, as though she had not heard him. "Even then, there was only one person with such mastery... who could afford to vanish from court for years without risking his position."
She paused, relishing in the way Prince Rafael’s face paled at her words.
"Should I give you so ti to regain your color?" Elowyn asked with a smirk. "The half-blood prince of Raxuvia, the illegitimate son of the king. The one and only Prince Rafael Biroumand. What are you doing so far from ho?"
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