CHAPTER 41

VALLEY OF BONES

BEFORE REACHING the center of the valley, the kingdom and the empire's army were already cut down to half — killed by the skeletons, undead, wraiths and ghouls. The only thing that kept the half of the army alive were the sorcerers, especially the flame sorcerers who gave their all to protect and defend.

And as the fight dragged on while advancing, the two flame sorcerers were exhausted and their strength was drained from fighting, which was good news to warlord Hakkeran.

On the other hand, Gabin was worried that the warlord might give away his plan — he kept smiling from time to time that Gabin had to kick his lord's feet and remind him not to gloat so much.

"Your excellency!" Gabin hissed at his lord for smiling again. "Keep your smile to yourself. Our soldiers are dying. At least, keep a somber face."

Hakkeran's face immediately became somber as he looked ahead.

"Your excellency, I know this scene makes you happy, but aren't you being too happy?"

With a somber face, Hakkeran replied. "Our flame sorcerers are fighting in the front line so heroically," Hakkeran exaggerated his appreciative voice like he meant it. "I'm just... moved, Gabin." He sounded so genuine that it made Gabin grimaced. "They're fighting so hard without knowing that they'll still die by the hands of my queen."

Gabin sighed in exasperation. "Your excellency, stop saying 'my queen'. She's not yours, you two are not close and she doesn't even know you."

Hakkeran's mood instantly dropped. "You don't have to rub salt in my wound, Gabin. I'll kick your horse and whoop your ass."

Gabin shut his mouth because he knew he hit a sore spot.

"I know my queen doesn't know me," Hakkeran sighed sorrowfully. "I know she has no idea who I am, but she will always be my queen."

Gabin couldn't help pointing out the obvious again. "Your excellency, you are her enemy, a descendant of Sappher. You were raised to kill her, not help her."

"But I'm in love with her."

Gabin sighed. "I know."

"That's why I will feed my queen until she's full." Hakkeran declared. "I don't really care what happens to anyone or to Azitera. As long as my queen is happy, she could destroy the world and I'll be okay with that."

Gabin was not surprised to hear this kind of talk from his excellency. Hearing his excellency's plan year after year made him immune to this kind of talk. What worries him sometimes was the soft expression on his excellency's face when he talks about Queen Sollel, the Mistress of flame and the destruction she might cause in Azitera like it's a good thing.

"Then, why didn't you introduce yourself the first time you found her?" Gabin was curious about it. "If you did, who knows, she might have appreciated everything you did for her and like you."

"I'm more useful in the shadows." Hakkeran answered instinctively, without a sliver of hesitation. "It's better this way, Gabin. Knowing the enemy's movement and dealing with them fast before they could reach my queen is more important than soothing my aching and hopeful heart."

Gabin slightly shook his head, remembering what the warlord did to General Adri who was hunting Queen Sollel down. Not just General Adri, but to everyone who dared to hunt the Mistress of flame was taken out by the warlord that's why the Queen's journey was smooth sailing so far — no enemies from the empire's side.

Gabin and Hakkeran's exchanged stopped when two soldiers came running to Hakkeran and General Kar to report.

"General, we found traces of four people traveling and a burnt mark on the ground."

"Your excellency, we also discovered traces of four people traveling southeast. Based on the footprints and the burnt mark we found, it seems they passed this area few hours ahead of us."

"That's them for sure," Hakkeran declared immediately that Gabin became suspicious that it might be part of his excellency's plan. "They might've encountered the undead of this valley."

"We need to hurry," General Kar breathe out. "Tell the soldiers on the front line to keep pushing and follow the burnt mark. Make haste!"

"Yes, General!"

"What the general said." Hakkeran couldn't say it any better. "Follow the trace and make haste."

"Yes, your excellency!"

When the soldiers returned to the front line, they followed and in no time, Warlord Hakkeran and General Kar's group were headed southeast.

SOLLEL'S GROUP WAS horrified seeing the monsters around them as the sun covered the valley with light. Well, except for Sollel and Hakken who already knew what was roaming around the valley when they ventured it at night.

Grath held his horror together, but Zassia was not that brave. She fell on her ass and Sollel had to hold her arm and pulled her up to calm her down.

"It's okay, Zassia. I'm here."

Hearing her highness' voice, Zassia gradually calmed down, but still looking pale. She was anxious. Everywhere she looked, monsters filled her vision! It was horrifying for Zassia who was sheltered in her village since she was young. But knowing that her highness was there, Zassia did her best to be brave.

Grath, on the other hand, readied his claws and his flame, ready to rip and burned any monsters that dared come their way. 

"Easy, Grath." Hakken stops Grath from attacking. "Don't use your flame. It'll attract not only the undead."

Grath sighed and his eyes slowly widened in worry when he realized something. "I don't see the aster flowers anymore."

"Aster flowers only blooms at night." Hakken informed everyone. "During the day, it disappears and the whole valley becomes undead's territory."

Hearing that, Zassia was about to pray to Queen Sollel when she realized that the queen was right beside her.

Sollel looked around. Like everyone else, she couldn't see the flowers now that the sun was up. "We can't stay here until nightfall. The kingdom will not let me go that easily. For all we know, they're right behind us already."

Hakken looked back and face Sollel. "No flames, my lady."

Sollel looked around, "I want to listen to you, Hakken, but look around. Only flame could defeat these monsters."

"No flames," Hakken repeated as he draws his war blades strapped on his back. "I'll make a way for us, then we run towards the direction the aster path was taking us before the sun rises earlier."

Sollel was not fond of that idea. "Hakken, these are undead. You can't defeat them with blades alone! They'll just exhaust you. Let me bless your war blades."

Hakken shook his head and he looked forlorn. "I'm sorry to decline your blessing, my lady. But I can't risk our location to whoever is following us. With you flame, they'll know where we are from miles. We have to be subtle and silent."

Sollel's face darkened. "So, you'll risk your life instead? I can help fight silently. Give me one of your war blades." Sollel demanded.

Hakken smiled softly at Sollel. "My lady, I'm still going to fight the whole world for you, so no, I'm not going to risk my life and die here. And you have to conserve your strength because if the kingdom was indeed behind us, we'll need your flame to fight and defend."

Sollel knew there was no point worrying about Hakken, but she was still worried. "You better be careful, Hakken."

Hakken just smiled with his war blades resting on both sides of his shoulders before he stepped forward and, in a heartbeat, he was on the front, swaying his blades and slashing the monsters blocking their way.

Hakken's war blades were a force to be reckoned with. Easily swaying it in every direction he wants, Hakken was able to make a path for them.

Sollel, Grath, and Zassia ran behind Hakken as Hakken bulldozed the monsters blocking their path. He knew fighting like this will drain his strength, but he couldn't risk their location and he needed to make sure he was useful to his lady, so she'll keep him close.

As Sollel's group ran on the path Hakken made for them, Grath disposed all the monsters on the side with his claws while Zassia and Sollel did their best not to unleash their flames.

Flame could easily leave a burnt mark on the ground, and they couldn't risk it. Hakken was fighting on the front to not risk their location, the least they could do to help was to keep their flames to themselves.

After a few hours of fighting and making a path, Sollel's group got surprised by a loud explosion. It was hundreds of miles away from them, but the sound was enough to conclude that there was someone following them.

And that's also when everyone realized that it was a good thing that they listened to Hakken. If Sollel had used her flame to defeat these monsters, her flame might've given away their location.

Knowing that the kingdom sent someone to hunt Sollel down, Hakken and Grath attacked simultaneously to quickly create a path for everyone. The two fought tirelessly until night finally fell and the aster flower started blooming again, making a clear and secure path for Sollel, Hakken, Grath and Zassia.

Everyone knew they needed to rest, but decided not to and continued their journey.

"Are you okay?" Sollel hold Hakken's hand while they were walking on the aster path and massage Hakken's hand softly to lessen the soreness he must be feeling after he fought valiantly for a whole day.

Hakken's chest thundered restlessly at the touch, but he managed to pull himself together and reply. "I'm okay. I'm a descendant of Sappher, I can manage."

But Sollel continued to massage Hakken's hand, making Hakken more restless. "You still have to fight tomorrow without resting. Will you be okay?"

Hakken nodded. "I will be. Don't worry about me, my lady. I have to be useful for you to keep me."

Sollel sighed subtly and flicked the tip of Hakken's nose. "Did I say that I'll discard you if you're not useful?"

"You didn't have to." Hakken looked straight ahead. "When you left me in the forest, it traumatized me."

Sollel knew it was bad to laugh, but laugh she did, making Grath, and Zassia stopped on their track and turned to see why the queen laughed.

The moon was up and shining brightly that it was easy for everyone to see each other — easy for Grath and Zassia to see the queen laughing.

Sensing that they might disturb the two, Grath, and Zassia resumed walking and pretended like they didn't see the queen laughing brightly for the first time.

"I traumatized you?" Sollel laughed again. "You're adorable."

"My lady... have mercy." Hakken begged.

Sollel shook her head while laughing a little. "It was our deal to part ways in the city of Ager. I'm just following our agreement."

"It's still traumatizing to be left behind by you, my lady."

Sollel became serious and continued massaging Hakken's hand. "I'm sorry. As I said, just following our agreement."

Hakken sighed. "I know, but please don't leave me behind again. I don't think I can take it the second time, my lady."

Sollel felt bad for laughing earlier seeing Hakken's troubled expression. "Don't worry, just be true to me and I won't leave you. Easy, right?"

Hakken glanced at Sollel, he still looked bothered, but it was different than earlier. Now he looked bothered with a hint of fear, and Sollel knew why, so she changed the subject since she didn't like seeing Hakken looked like that.

"Say, Hakken, I'm curious." Sollel started.

"Yes?" Hakken was now getting used to Sollel's soft hands massaging his while they walked.

"I know a thing or two about the Sappher's arcane ritual of rebirth, but I don't know much about it, so if you could enlighten me, I'll appreciate it."

Hakken was not surprised that the queen knew about the ritual, he did say he waited three lifetimes for her. The queen was smart, Hakken was sure that she figured it out already. "What about it?"

"When you undergo this ritual, do you start as a baby?"

"Yes."

"And... You get to keep the same appearance from your previous life?"

"Yes."

Sollel nodded like she understood something. "Hakken, you do realize that if I accepted your affection, you'll grow old and die while I will stay young. And I get that you can choose the arcane ritual of rebirth to come back to me, but it's uncomfortable on my part to watch you grow up and, you know..."

"I know." Hakken's expression softened. "My lady doesn't have to worry about it. I will not put you in a position where you'll be uncomfortable."

"Meaning?"

Hakken just smiled and Sollel had a bad feeling about that smiled, but she let it go of it and didn't push for answers because whatever Hakken was planning, she won't let him succeed.

You crept into my life, bypassing my defenses, like it was nothing, and now that I let you in, you need to get ready, Hakken because I don't let go of people I care about that easily. You can trash, you can beg, you can scream, but what I consider mine, is mine for eternity.

"My lady?"

Sollel blinked and smiled at Hakken. "Yes?"

"Are you okay? You looked pissed."

"Don't mind me, I just remembered something," Sollel lied, and she didn't feel any guilt. It's not like Hakken was being honest to her anyway. "Anyway, how long do we have to walk to cross the valley?"

"Two more days."

"Then we'll enter shivering valley," Sollel sighed, knowing what kind of place shivering valley was. "Grath, Zassia and I will be fine in the shivering valley, but you? Will you be alright?"

"... My lady could heat me up—" Hakken paused. "That came out... wrong. I'm sorry."

Sollel bit her lips not to smile, but she couldn't stop herself from teasing Hakken. "Of course. I'll heat you up. Should we start below?"

Hakken unconsciously looked at below his hips and Sollel couldn't help chuckling.

"Hakken, where is your mind going? I mean, your feet."

"O-of course, my lady."

Sollel shook her head, let go of Hakken's hand and she walks pass him and went to Zassia. Hakken immediately felt the warmth leave his hands and he didn't know he crave such warmth until that moment.

All Hakken could do was stare at his queen's back, his eyes sporting longing and sadness. Three lifetimes and I'm still crazily in love with you. Not seeing you before was bearable, but now that I get a taste of what it feels like to have your attention, your smile, and your laugh, I'm getting greedy and terrified of losing you. I know you're not mine, but, hell, who cares, mine or not, I love you just the same.

Hakken snapped out from his reverie when he saw his lady turn around and smiled brightly at him. Her blood-red long hair swaying a little because of the subtle wind, her blood-red eyes shining so enticingly, her natural red lips were smiling teasingly, and the whole expression on her face was playful, but still with a graceful air.

A queen indeed. My queen.

CECELIB | C.C.