Something shook.

Zyanna's confused eyes flickered to look at mine, but I was caught in the same state.

I moved away from her, my gaze helplessly torn away from her lips, and started to get up when she stopped me, and rapidly shook her head.

I cocked my head at her, as she slowly raised her forefinger and placed it against her mouth. She then brought the hand that I had pinned down, and put it against her chest, as she drew a cross in the air in front of it.

She was telling me to cease the sound of my breathing. 

She and I both sucked in our breaths at the time, as subtly as possible, and looked around the room.

A peculiar sound was being released, almost like clothes colliding with each other in a rush, tendrils of it escaping so silently that it could have almost gone unnoticed.

Something didn't feel right.

We tentatively separated from each other's proximity, trying not to make any noise, as I tried to sense any movement.

My eyes travelled around the room, but I couldn't see anything suspicious. Zyanna bent down and checked the space under her bed, but came out shaking her head with a silent no.

We couldn't see anything else until Zyanna raised her palm and pointed at the tall wardrobe standing in the corner of the chamber.

I nodded my head at her and we started to quietly walk towards it, while my baffled self tried to theorise who or what could be there, especially at this time and place.

We reached the wardrobe and as I was about to turn the knob downwards, when a sudden familiar voice from behind us pulled us both out of focus.

"I'm sorry, the door was open so I thought I'd let myself in-" Aaliyah paused, a stunned look running into her face, probably similar to the one I wore at that moment. "Brother? What are you doing here?"

"Uh, Lia. Though I could ask you the exact same thing, I just came here to check on Zyanna, and see how she was recovering," I quickly responded.

Aaliyah folded her arms and arched one of her eyebrows at me, almost in a scrutinising manner as if she didn't exactly believe me. "How coincidental. I remember you asking me to make sure Zyanna was tended to well, so I thought I'd see to it myself in person."

"At this hour?" I questioned, as Zyanna flickered her eyes cautiously at our exchange, her attention still partly directed at the wardrobe behind us.

The little detectable remnants of the sound suddenly stopped within seconds, as if it was only a figment of my imagination.

Perhaps there was something wrong with the wardrobe?

"I was actually going to find you after, brother, but it seems that I'll be killing two birds with one stone now."

I sighed, not wanting to begin an argument with Lia and wake up the resting soldiers or servants as me and my sister were quite good at doing that most of the time.

"Well, if it's something important, can we take it outside, Lia?" I didn't want Zyanna to be disturbed more than she already was, and it was the middle of the night after all.

"It is something important, Eli, and we can discuss the matter where I want to take it. I need to show you something, and do not tell me to wait until the sun rises."

Zyanna gave my sister a curious look and I quickly realised that they hadn't even exchanged the proper introductions yet.

But Lia crossed me to it. "Oh, and Zyanna, hello. My name is Aaliyah. I'm the much smarter sibling here, as you should be able to tell. If you can't, then take my word for it. I'm sorry I couldn't fully introduce myself the other day, but I figured I'd see you again after you came to return Eli's horse. I definitely didn't think you'd be all bloody and messy the next time. All I can say is, I'm glad you're still alive."

Aaliyah grinned, seeming proud of herself for some unknown reason, and winked at me.

I rolled my eyes, wanting to repeatedly slam my head into a wall.

Actually, slamming Aaliyah's clever head into a wall instead didn't sound too cruel at the moment. I could try and cover up the mark it would leave with-

"Greetings, your highness. I'm Zyanna Samaria Karas, honoured to meet you once again. I apologise for my state, we could have definitely met in a better situation, as you said." Zyanna bowed her head down with a faint but comfortable smile, not forgetting the fact that she was in the presence of the Princess of Yandestine.

Aaliyah chuckled, waving her off. "It's all fine, and truth be told, my brother should be the one apologising for letting you come to this state," My sister's glance shifted to me, as she slightly narrowed her eyebrows in disapproval. "But right now, Eli and I need to make sure something like doesn't ever happen again. Are you feeling sleepy, Zyanna?"

Zyanna blinked quizzically, her body subtly shooting up into a more upright posture as she immediately shook her head with a humoured 'no'.

"Lia, I think Zyanna needs her rest, even if she says otherwise. We can go and attend to whatever it is that you need, despite the ungodly hour you've chosen-"

"Brother, listen to me because I say this for a reason. Zyanna was a victim of the attack that happened, and anything she remembers can provide useful to us. We need a fresh person's perspective on this, someone from outside the kingdom, and who could be better than someone who's already acquainted with you, and also caught up in all of this madness?" She tried to convince me but I still wasn't too sure about her suggestion. I didn't want Zyanna to be any more muddled up into this chaos than she already was.

Aaliyah shook her head at me, knowing I won't be swayed at that moment, and turned her head to look at Zyanna. "I won't force you to do anything. It's only a request. You live in the forest, a place that's practically a bridge between the palace and the villages. Even if it's a small detail we can obtain from you, it would suffice."

I internally grumbled because I knew Zyanna wouldn't deny my sister's request. Mainly because I knew that Aaliyah never makes requests unless she had already foreseen that the answer was nothing but a strong acceptance.

Zyanna swiftly sold a glance to the wardrobe before turning and nodding at Lia. "I can do whatever it is that is needed of me, Princess Aaliyah." 

I quickly walked to Lia and took a hold of her wrist, dragging her outside the room. "I hope this is going to be worth the rush, sister. Also, I want the nearest guard to do a thorough check around this room, not a corner abandoned. I suspect something in there is in need of immediate attention and repair. Do you understand?"

My sister's inquisitive glance questioned my instructions but she didn't say anything. "At once, brother. I'll set the guard up, and you meet me in front of the Yelastine with Zyanna."

"The Yelastine? Lia, you know we aren't allowed to enter that place except on days of festivities-"

"Trust me on this one, brother. I have a feeling we'll have to break a lot more boundaries from now on. After all, they already are on the very brink of destruction."

***

A short chapter, (only a filler) but the next one's ready and coming very soon.

The Yelastine means 'treasure' in Yandestine's imaginary language of Annani. 

Quick question...what do you guys think about the pace of the book? Do you think I should pick it up a bit?

Stay blessed and amazing,

OceanaCamerons 🌹🌹🌹