Keira's POV.
We had agreed on a time and he still wasn't there. The sun was about to set. Was he not coming? I thought as I rose from the bench I was seated on and walked around the flower garden. It was as beautiful as always.
This farm was owned by some old woman, a friend of father and she will usually let me visit when I wanted. I usually profited to get some herbs for my spell practices.
I strolled around picking up new herbs as I waited patiently. If he didn't show up, then I wouldn't know what to do next. I feared putting father in danger if I was discovered in his keeping. So I planned to go far away as soon as I was done there.
I just needed to buy time.
As soon as I sat back on the bench, I felt someone pass the barrier I had put around the premises. It should be him I thought. Put I remained still and waited as he walked calmly towards me but then he suddenly halted.
"It's obvious you know I'm here" he said calmly and I slowly turned to face him.
"I didn't" I said rising up from my seat and turning to face him. He had a smile on his face which took me completely off guard.
"I appreciate the setting, it is quite enjoyable. One could however misinterpret your intentions" he said as he walked towards me and sat on the bench. Gesturing for me to sit by him but I didn't move and he shrugged.
"I see it is a little late. I apologize for the tardiness" he continued and I just stared at him. At this point, he had the leverage and I had to be extremely cautious around him.
"What is it you want then?" I asked with a serious look on my face and he scoffed, "You might want to sit down for this"
He insisted and I finally gave in and sat at the edge of the bench.
"I have been thinking all night and today how you could be of use to me and then I realized I had to see your potentials to ascertain that.
However, I need someone to control the army of supernatural beings I plan on using in my battle" he paused
"Seeing as you've been locked up, I doubt you know what you can do. But we can always hope no?"
"What…" do you mean by that? I wanted to say but he interrupted me.
"I did not come to move you emotionally with threats. You can be certain about that." He said seriously. "I have a deal for you, and I am certain you would want to hear about it" he continued.
"What is it then" I curiously asked
"I want to be the King of Udemia, land of the rulers. Hence, the battle I'm getting into. It is the either that or I die anyways, but the point is I need to gather an army of supernatural beings and the type only your magic can control." He paused for a while, looking for a reaction from me but I was still processing what he had just said.
"What do you get? Simple, the right to live which you do not possess now." I stared at him in utter disbelief, he could give me the right to live
"How can you do that?" I asked.
"The king's word is law. If you help me get there, I shall simply abolish the law and then you can live freely. I know it doesn't sound easy and none of it will be easy. But the moment I can act, I shall have your father's clinic renovated and fancy enough to attract people.
Or better even moved to Udemia if he wishes to" he said.
His offer truly sounded tempting, but what if he deceiving me "How do I believe this?" I asked and he smiled, "I don't know, but if I can think of something to show you, I will. But I fear I don't have time for that wait"
"You have powers right?" he said suddenly getting closer to me and staring at me right in the eyes "You should tell if I am lying or not"
"I cannot do such" I refuted as I pushed him away.
"You are quite sensible for a witch, I was told you were quite bold," he laughed "I guess you are the exception."
"I won't have you say that to me" I said firmly. He had no right, he didn't know me.
"It seems we have made our deal already" he said as he suddenly stood and turned back to me, "Let me see what you're capable of" he said.
"The terms of your deal seem more like a gamble. What if I don't get what I want and get killed in the end?"
"Life is a gamble. Trade what you have for what you want. It is not bad to always want more, which is how people survive and make it to the top." He said, "You can think about it all day and it is still going to sound the same in your mind."
I was confused. All I wanted was for father to have a comfortable life, but I couldn't just believe anyone that promises me that.
"You come with me." He suddenly.
"After a week, I will assess your abilities and then if I see you would serve me a good purpose, then I shall have some men start renovations at your place. But doing it directly will raise a lot of suspicions so I shall have the necessary gold pieces given to you and men enough to work on the clinic." He added.
"Sounds good?" he asked and I nodded.
I didn't know why he sounded like I was the one who needed him most, when it was not the case, but I decided I had no energy for the argument.
"I will meet with you later then" I said as I picked up my bag.
"You are all packed up, you sure you have somewhere to pass the night?" he said looking at the luggage in my hand. My plans had changed and I could go back. But I felt uneasy about interacting with father again. What if this man didn't hold his word?
"About the clinic renovations, can we see to it that I am not involved?" I said looking at him and he nodded reassuringly without asking any questions.
"Come with me" he said as he turned on his heel and made his way out of the farm. I hurriedly followed. I didn't know this man.
But it will make more sense to be killed with him when found than with father. He too has known my identity for a while.
When I was certain my decision was the right one, I followed behind him.
We strolled through the town and past the market. It was the first time I was walking this freely and even though it was already dark, the town was as beautiful as always. I was very excited.
"You seem strangely happy to be moving in the dark" he said as he turned towards me.
I felt embarrassed he had seen me giggling so much for no reason. " I have the right to" I said firmly and he scoffed.
As I was struggling to catch up with his pace, my hair was loosening up and few locks fell to my face. I always held my head up with a scarf so as not to attract attention but he was walking so fast the scarf on my hair was loosening up.
"You're walking too fast" I complained as I held the locks in my hand struggling to tuck them away. "My hair is falling all out"
"It's your fault for not walking properly then." He said annoyingly as I watched him take out his cloak in confusion and hand it over to me.
"Thank you" I said as I put it over me and draped it over my head. We then walked to the entrance of what I guessed was an inn.
'Did he want to spend the night here?' I thought. The thoughts of me going into an inn with a man at that time of the night had me utterly flustered.
As we were walking through the corridors, we were intercepted by a man. He was quite tall.
"Sire, I have been wondering when you will return at last" he said in a worried tone to the man beside me. 'Sire, was that his name, I wondered realizing neither of us knew the others name.
"And… who is this?" he said gesturing towards me and I looked up to the man beside me. Will he expose my identity? Who was the man before me? Where they allies? Well they certainly were but I began to feel uneasy as the man held his scrutinizing gaze on me.
"You sure have a lot of questions, I know, but we should rest up tonight and I will explain things to you tomorrow." He said calmly as the other man nodded hesitantly.
"You should rest up. We have a lot to do tomorrow" he said placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, Sire" the man said before turning and walking away. "That is Sean" he suddenly said obviously to me. "He will be next door if you need anything" he said
"And I..?" I asked. "Why? does the thought of sharing a room with me make you nervous?" he said opening the door and getting in. "I need to keep my eyes on you until I am sure I can trust you" he added and I laughed, "I should be the one wary of you"
"Well, we can watch over each other, if that puts your mind at ease."
He finally said as he closed the door I had walked into. I looked around at the unfamiliar environment and sighed.
I felt that was going to be a very long night.