Share
35
Related chapters
To live or to love 36
Ragnar was lying on his bed, his breathing labored as he coughed up blood. His eyes were sunken and his skin was pallid, giving him a deathly appearance. The physician was by his side, feverishly concocting a medicine to help ease the pain and cure his illness. The physician's assistant was standing by the bed, a handkerchief clutched in her hand.The assistant, a young woman with a gentle face, leaned over Ragnar as he coughed up another mouthful of blood. She reached out and placed the handkerchief over his mouth, trying to catch the blood as it spilled out. The handkerchief was quickly stained red with the blood, evidence of the severity of Ragnar's condition.The physician worked feverishly, his hands moving quickly as he mixed together various herbs and powders. He added the mixture to a boiling pot of water, the steam rising up and filling the room with the sweet aroma of healing herbs. The assistant watched as he worked, her eyes focused on the task at hand.They were both dres
To live or to love 37
The three guards knelt before Ragnar, their heads bowed in respect. Ragnar looked down at them, his expression stern. "You have been chosen for a very important mission," he said. "You are to go to the Blood Moon Pack and find a secret black cave of Oints….or whatever that is. Anyway, you are to bring back whatever you find there. Do you understand?"They were dressed in plain, commoner clothing to blend in with the crowds they would encounter on their mission to the Blood Moon Pack. Their clothes were simple and functional, with sturdy boots and dark-colored tunics that wouldn't draw attention.The guards nodded, their faces serious. "We understand, your highness," one of them said. "We will not fail you."Ragnar narrowed his eyes, studying them. "You had better not," he said. "This is a dangerous mission. The land you are going to is that of my enemy. You must be very careful and move as discreetly as possible. You must not draw attention to yourselves."The guards nodded agai
To live or to love 38
As the morning sun began to peek through the stained glass windows of the royal kitchen, the head chef, was already bustling about, directing the other maids in their preparations for the day's meals. The air was thick with the scent of fresh herbs and spices, and the sounds of sizzling pans and chopping knives filled the room.The other maids were hard at work, each with their own tasks to complete. Some were chopping vegetables, while others were mixing batter for the day's bread. A few were stirring pots of soup or roasting meats in the ovens. Pots and pans clanged together as the maids hurried to finish their tasks, and the scents of garlic, onion, and savory herbs filled the air.Miranda was tasked with preparing a tray of pastries for the royal family's breakfast. She worked quickly and skillfully, rolling out the dough and filling each pastry with a sweet fruit compote. At another station, Sari was slicing up vegetables for a salad. She worked carefully and methodically, makin
To live or to love 39
As she pushed the cart through the long hallway leading to the princess's chambers, the sound of the wheels echoed loudly off the stone walls. The sound was especially loud and jarring in the stillness of the palace, and Miranda winced each time she heard it. As she approached the door to the princess's chambers, Miranda slowed her pace and took a deep breath. Miranda entered Fel's chambers as she did every day, carrying a cart of food for her. But as she approached Fel's cage, she noticed that something was off.Fel's body was stiff, and she was gripping the bars of her cage tightly. Her head was slumped backwards, and her eyes were wide open, unblinking. Her body shook as if she was having a seizure.Miranda gasped and quickly dropped the cart of food. She rushed to Fel's side and grabbed her hands, trying to shake her awake. "Fel, Fel, what's wrong?" she asked frantically.Fel didn't respond, but her hands continued to grip the bars tightly. Miranda tried to pry them away, but t
To live or to love 40
Miranda was struggling to wrap her head around what Fel had just told her. A vision? How could Fel, a non-black blood, be experiencing visions? It just didn't make sense to her. She wanted to ask more questions, to understand how this could be possible, but she didn't want to give away her own abilities as a witch."So, when was the first time you experienced a vision?" Miranda finally asked.Fel took a deep breath and said, "It was six years ago when I was fourteen. I had never experienced it again until recently, and the recent ones have become more frequent."Miranda's mind was racing. She had never heard of anyone who wasn't born with the gift suddenly developing it years later. Was it even possible? She had to find out more."Did you ever tell anyone about it?" Miranda asked, hoping to get more information."No," Fel replied. "It happened only once then, and I didn't think much of it."Miranda was starting to feel a bit anxious. This was something that needed to be handled carefu
To live or to love 41
Gasher and Zen exchanged worried glances as Furo continued to chat with the villagers in his foreign accent. They knew that their cover was at risk of being blown if Furo kept drawing attention to himself.Gasher leaned over to Zen and whispered, "We need to be ready to ditch Furo if things go south. We can't risk getting caught."Zen nodded in agreement. "I know, but let's hope it doesn't come to that. We've come too far to fail now."****“Come to think of it,” one of the villages started, turning to face Furo. "You talk like you're not from here." They stopped talking and turned their heads to look at him.Furo smiled nervously. "I've lived in foreign lands as a child," he replied.The villagers looked at each other skeptically, but Furo quickly added, "I've learned to adapt and pick up different accents along the way."The villagers laughed and began to tell stories of their experiences in foreign lands."I once went to the city of Elvendale," a burly man said. "It was full of e
To live or to love 42
43.Derek walked over to the stone table and reached for the wine jar, pouring himself a cup of the rich red liquid. He then carefully placed the jar back in its original spot and reached into his pocket, taking out a small bottle of potion.*****His eyes fell upon a small vial with a label that read "Truth Serum." He couldn't believe his luck. He carefully picked up the vial and examined it. The liquid inside was clear, and it seemed to shimmer in the light. Derek knew that this potion could come in handy, especially in situations where he needed to extract information from someone.As he held the vial in his hand, he felt a sense of excitement and nervousness. He knew that the potion was powerful and that it could have serious consequences if used improperly.Derek carefully tucked the vial into his pocket, making sure that it was secure*****The hut was a small, secluded place in the Royal Arena, designed for privacy and intimacy. The inside of the hut was lit with scented candle
To live or to love 43
Derek watched intently as Aurora held the cup of wine in her hand, taking in its aroma. He felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety, hoping she would take a sip of the spiked wine soon. He couldn't wait any longer to get the truth out of her about the antidote he desperately needed.As Aurora lifted the cup to her lips, Derek's heart raced with anticipation. He felt like he was holding his breath, waiting for her to drink. But to his dismay, Aurora didn't take a sip. Instead, she savored the aroma, swirling the cup in her hand and taking in the scent.Derek tried his best to hide his frustration and impatience, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. He couldn't help but think about all the risks he had taken to get the truth serum and how important it was to obtain the antidote. He didn't want to waste any more time.He tried to control his emotions and kept his eyes fixed on Aurora, hoping she would finally drink the wine. But she didn't, and instead, she continued to swirl the cu
Latest chapter
