Chapter 253: 253. No more time to waste
The next day.
"Your Highness, a word please," Farhan said as he walked into the King’s drawing room where another meeting was taking place.
"What is it?" Barak asked, excusing himself from the table where the rest stood.
"I just received report that Prince Lyle’s men have found a way to enter the forest of the damned." He whispered the information into Barak’s ears.
Hearing it was news fit for everyone’s ears, Barak gently nudged the man to talk more audibly for the others in the room tk hear.
"I just received report that Prince Lyle’s men have found a way to enter the forest of the damned." Farhan repeated himself and everyone nodded as if it was expected news.
"They ventured in last night and have been searching every corner of the forest." He continued.
"We already knew they would find a way to enter the forest in search of Neriah. I must say he found a solution quicker than I expected." Raknar clicked his tongue.
"And the bastard?" King Gerald asked.
"As all expected, he was nowhere in sight. Our people have not seen him. His men are definitely taking orders from him and we are certain he is still within Bampo. It would seem he had resorted to hiding himself horribly well." Farhan
"With one hand lost he must be raging to find the man who had dared do that to him," Rakima stated, "It’s almost scary how he can remain calm and not personally lead the search against the unknown assailant who not only stole his prize," she points at Neriah who’s the only one seated. "but also severed his hand."
"Well, I have long accepted the fact that Lyle is a far more scary man than I thought him to be," Neriah bit her bottom lip slightly. "How big is the forest?" She looked up at Farhan and asked. "How long do you think it will take them to search every part?" She turned to Barak, "Or better still, how long do you think they have before they find the cottage you stayed at?"
Barak stared at her for a second and then swept his gaze across the room.
"The forest is vast, over a hundred and fifty acres of solid ground. He has around twenty men scaling the place. It is my belief that it will take them no less than two days to search the entire place." Farhan diligently explained.
"Then if they started their search last night, then it is safe to assume by now they must have found the cottage." King Bashan chipped in.
"And it is safe to say they might have found some form of clue leading them to believe you were her captor." Queen Rakavi noted and every other person nodded.
"That means we have no more time to waste." Neriah rose to her feet as she spoke.
"We must head to Bampo now if we want to catch Lyle. Once they search through that forest and find that I’m not there, also harboring even the slightest clue that you are alive, he would definitely find a way to flee."
"Neriah is right." Rakima said. "I’m sure now his instruction must have been to find her, dead or alive. If they search through that forest and cannot find her body, and also figure out that you had been the one who captured her in the first place, he would immediately assume that you’ve dragged her back to the palace and he would flee for fear of his life."
"We cannot risk losing that bastard at this point." King Bashan said.
"No, no we cannot." Neriah shook her head. "And that is why we must leave for Bampo tonight and make sure they find me in that damned forest."
***
"Please let me come with you." Aria begged as she dressed her Mistress for the journey ahead.
"Yes, princess, Riri don’t know why you have to go alone." Riri complained.
"I won’t be going alone. I have an entire army going with me, so please do not think of it too much." Neriah tried to reassure them over again.
"O I do not like this one bit." Aria bit her lip. "I do not wish to be apart from you again. I don’t even know why you have to go? His highness has returned, can you not just enjoy the rest months of your pregnancy in peace with the one you love? Why must you throw yourself in harm’s way?"
"Aria," Neriah turned and stared at her, taking her hand in hers, "You know as much as I that to be truly happy, to have true peace, we must bring Lyle to justice. We cannot allow him to roam free. Who knows what wicked things he has planned next?" Neriah tried to reason.
This was the only way.
"But why must it be you?" Aria cried. "Why must you throw yourself before him one more time? What if he harms you? What if he—" she paused as her voice trembled, crying over her mistress was something that was turning into a norm and she didn’t like that because if she were to shed tears at all, she wanted it to be tears of joy and not endless worries and suffering.
"Aria, nothing you fear will happen." Neriah reassured her. "This time, we will capture him and put an end to all this."
"But—"
"Do not worry—"
"Barak!" Riri beamed at the sight of the man, instantly flying to him and sitting on his shoulder, earning her a warm smile from him.
He turned his gaze back to Aria as he majestically walked up to them, "I will not let any harm come to my wife or our unborn child."
With her head bowed before him, Aria wiped a tear from her face as she nodded. "Thank you, my lord. Thank you." she simply said and without any further questions, she stepped out of the room, almost forcefully pulling Riri from Barak as she went.
Neriah looked up at her husband with a bright smile and his fingers gently pressed on her nose, causing her smile to broaden.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
"Like the wife of the mighty dragon prince." she declared proudly.
"Good." He nodded. "You are my daring Riah after all," he complimented and she nodded proudly.
"However," his hands slowly rested on both sides of her neck, his fingers gently massaging her neck and jawline as she stared at her. "If you ever feel the urge to run, if ever you are overwhelmed with fear, if on the way you feel like giving up, just remember that you have managed to deceive the mighty prince of Trago on more occasions than I can number. Deceiving fools like Lyle and his men will be a piece of cake to you, because you are strong, and brave, and beautiful, and the most cunning woman I know."
Neriah couldn’t help the blush that covered her cheeks as he stared into her eyes and gave her what seemed to be words of encouragement.
"So you will do great. And if after remembering these things you still find yourself afraid, then tell me and I will repeat these words to you again, and if after I repeat them to you, you still find yourself conflicted all you have to do is say the word and I will fly you back home. We will figure out another way to draw out the bastard."
"Barak—"
"Aye, my dear spitfire?"
"I love you."
His smile grew as he lowered himself closer to her lips that had spoken such sweet words. "Never as much as I love you, my dear... never as much." His lips covered hers and although they were set to go on their journey to Bampo, who could stop the passion that burned between the two as the clothes on their bodies began to come apart piece by piece.