Chapter 26

The city was swiftly cleaned by the Royal Army soldiers with the help of Jonathan's Guards of the empire. The Dark Army soldiers were all arrested and placed in different cells within the palace where it was difficult to tell whether it was night or day for the difference was in the similarities. After the celebration, the Emperor would decide their fate. As the Oracle and the High Priest walked to the front gate of the palace, several guests and royalties were already making their way out. No celebrations lasted for more than four hours in the palace unless it was a swearing in ceremony in which case all the royalties would spend the night dining and wining until dawn when the ceremony would take place. The city would be teeming with people as celebrations and parties would be everywhere.

The High Priest entered into the palace ahead of the Oracle to inform the Emperor of the Oracle's presence. Unlike Lord Parafon, the Oracle could not enter the palace unless she was permitted to do so by the Emperor or she was summoned by the Royal Court or the empress. The Emperor was sweetly surprised that the High Priest would intercede for the Oracle for they had lately disagreed on almost everything. The Emperor had even began to believe the High Priest hated the Oracle. He allowed the Oracle entrance, finding no compelling reason to deny her access to the palace. However, she had to wait until the former Emperor, Royal Dulatap, left the palace. It was against the tradition for the Oracle to appear in the presence of former emperors within the palace.

When the palace was finally deserted by all the guests except for the usual residents, the Oracle was shown in, finding the High Priest, the Emperor and members of the Royal Court already in their positions in the royal court. The Emperor had summoned the royal court for he wanted to promptly replace the traitorous and now deceased former Prime Minister, Makiaus. He wanted to replace him as soon as possible for the vacancy of that position reminded him of Makiaus' betrayal. He had delegated so much power to him then that he had become entrenched in the Emperor's life to an extent the Emperor considered him more of a brother than Prince Mamadu. While appointing the Prime Minister, it was customary for the Oracle to be present though her presence wasn't mandatory.

However, the Oracle and Lord Parafon pleaded with the Emperor to slightly push forward the appointment with a few more minutes to give them time to present before the Emperor an urgent and delicate issue that required an urgent solution. The Emperor agreed willingly and adjourned the royal court for one hour, asking the members to get refreshments and use that time to reflect on who was best to replace Makiaus. At first, such appointments were the preserves of the emperor and he performed it at his own discretion. But since Micaleaon took over, he had tried to democratize his reign, making the common residents elect those who would represent them in the royal court and the elected members then participated in the election of the Prime Minister with the Emperor having the veto vote. This is how Makiaus was elected.

The Emperor sat on his throne, the Oracle and Lord Parafon standing on his either sides. He looked at the High Priest and felt pity for him. He felt that he had been a little too hard on him in their earlier conversation. Lord Parafon was a close friend and someone he always looked up to in times of difficulties. But he had just been betrayed by his blood brother and someone he considered like a brother and it was about time people started respecting and fearing him too. Too much leniency was going to put his reign in jeopardy. Democracy or whatever it was, had a limit. He called on the High Priest to state the reason for the abrupt urgent meeting.

"My Lord," the High Priest began. "I have thought about our earlier conversation and come to the conclusion that you were right. I have, with the help of the Oracle, considered it carefully and agree that it was the most reasonable and necessary thing to do under the circumstances."

Looking at the high priest suspiciously, "what are you suggesting, you want your daughter bound? What is this Lord Parafon ?" the Emperor asked as he crossed his legs and folded his hands together next to his chest.

"I know my decision sounds rush My Lord but trust me sire, it's for the best. I would like Pell to be bound sire and I request that it be done immediately."

The Oracle explained to the Emperor everything from the beginning, starting from the time prince Medan was presumed dead and the mystical portal mirrors that they had mysteriously found in their rooms. She explained to the Emperor the writings on the portal mirror and the mission that had seen Malin cross through the portal from the upper dimension into Dalawa empire. She explained the eminent danger faced if Malin was not unbound the Pell's spell in time for he could do nothing other than think of her.

The Emperor was extremely reluctant to believe anything they were saying, especially the theory of there being two dimensions. However, the events of the previous night softened his stance and made him give a little credence to their story. But even though he allowed them to proceed with their insane theory, he didn't believe any of it neither did it even scare him. He had planned to change the law and extend his reign for another one hundred years since he had no heir and he could not let someone else take over power during these turbulent times. He needed to steady the ship first before he could hand it over to another Captain.

But when Lord Parafon informed him of the possible breaking of the curse against giving birth, termed the barren curse and that in the next twenty two hours the first child would be born after thirty years of drought, he got really excited. It was this excitement that Lord Parafon used to win him over, explaining to him the consequences that could befall the empire should the first child be born before Prince Medan was awoken. The child would instead of being a blessing, would be a curse for the empire would be lost in perpetual war to an extent that no man would even consider being intimate with his wife and the empire would be permanently depopulated.

The Emperor eventually agreed to give them the benefit of doubt, asking them to be free to use anything and anyone in the palace that could aide in their very weird quest. Twenty two hours wasn't along time and after that time he would have proven them very wrong.

"I'm glad My Lord but for now all we need is to free Malin from the spell so that he could start preparing for the final battle ahead sire," the Lord said.

"Are you sure Lord Parafon? I don't want you to feel pressured. Haven't you found any other way to rescue him like you said you would?"

"No My Lord, I haven't. Plus there is no time to think My Lord."

"Then it shall be done as you wish Lord Parafon but let it be known that it was you who agreed to this willingly and I pressured you not into agreeing with it," the Emperor said as he for the guard standing behind him to move closer to him. He ordered the guard to bring in the empress. Binding someone's soul was a preserve of the empress and the Oracle but when it was being done in the presence of the Emperor and in the palace, it was the empress' responsibility. It was her who usually decided how extreme the binding should be depending on the reason for such binding.

Bowing before the Emperor and then nodding to the Oracle and Lord Parafon, the empress sat on her seat next to the Emperor and asked calmly, "you called for me My Lord, how can I be of service to you sire?"

"I want a girl bound," the Emperor answered and explained the details to the empress, only the details that surrounded Pell and Malin and nothing more. He didn't want the empress to be bothered by the weird quest of the two.

"I've heard you My Lord but Pell cannot be bound by anyone. She is a goddess and as such, only a goddess can bind her. However, such kind of a spell can be broken not only by binding the person sire."

"My Lady, do you happen to know any other way?" Lord Parafon asked.

"In the case that My Lord just explained, the spell can easily be broken by just a kiss," the empress replied. "Malin needs to be kissed by a woman he loves and lucky for him, such a lady is in the palace. All you need to do is to get Revina to kiss Malin and the spell will be broken."

They all praised the empress' wisdom and wondered why they hadn't involved her early enough.

"Thank you My Lady," Lord Parafon said as he felt great relief. At least he wouldn't have to see his only daughter go through the excruciating pain of binding. "I'll inform Revina right away," he bowed and headed towards Revina's room, leaving the Emperor as he held the empress' hand, smiling lovingly with her. Lord Parafon didn't take long in the Revina's room.

"Was it that easy Lord," the Emperor asked as Lord Parafon walked back into the courtroom.

"No sire," Lord Parafon answered. "I found no traces of the girl My Lord."

"What?"

"She is not in her room My Lord and the guards didn't see her leave her room either."

"But that's impossible, how could they have not seen her? Is she a ghost? How about the boy, is he gone too?"

"No My Lord, he is fast a sleep in his room, finally getting rest."

"But where could the girl have possibly gone? Is there someone or any relatives she has in the city where she could have gone?" asked the Emperor.

"No sire, she knows no one in the entire empire except for the people currently within the palace," Lord Parafon replied, getting greatly worried about Revina's disappearance. The last time he saw her she was torn apart and in her condition, she was capable of doing anything including hurting herself.

The Emperor ordered a search within the palace and in the entire city. The Royal Army were to go into every houses, occupied or unoccupied to look for her. They were to search every street, everywhere. They were ordered not to return until she was found. Jonathan was to remain in the palace to watch over Malin. They didn't know how long it would take for him to wake up but they wanted him to wake up to a familiar face. The Oracle and the Emperor remained in the palace while empress Regina and Lord Parafon headed to the source of Revina's woes, the well of dragons.

Revina had had a troubled sleep as she kept turning and tossing on bed. She couldn't shake off the heaviness in her heart and during all that time she had slept, the scene of Pell and Malin kept playing and replaying in her dreams until she got scared of falling a sleep anymore. When she finally got out of bed, she realized the palace was too occupied by Malin and Pell for she could see them everywhere. She couldn't bear the thought of being so near to Malin and yet so far. She couldn't bear seeing Malin's face or hearing him call her his best friend. It was best if she just left and never returned.

Just like Lord Parafon had suspected, she headed to the well of dragons. She wanted to at least try and understand what really happened. Maybe the well contained the answers she needed. Pell was a good woman, or so she had thought. How she could have stolen Malin from her that easily stabbed her heart with sharp thorns of pain. But she couldn't blame her. She may have not known. It was Malin's fault. All his fault. Maybe Pell was another one of his victims.

The more time she spent here and the more she thought about her situation, the more the urge to end everything consumed her. It could be easier to just die and forget everything than be alive and suffer with sorrow and hurt forever. She walked closer to the well and wondered for a while whether there was a chance she could still convince Malin. But no. She could not undergo such humiliation again. This was best, ending it was best. She closed her eyes and flattened her hands, contemplating jumping into her peace, jumping from her pain, jumping to her death.

"Revina!" Lord Parafon called out to her from behind her. She almost fell into the well out of shock. "Don't do it princess, please."

She turned around, her hands still flat and looked at Lord Parafon and the empress, standing a few yards from her wearing worried faces. They looked like they cared. But they didn't know how she was feeling. "Why shouldn't I Lord Parafon, why shouldn't I?" she asked as tears welled in her eyes.

"I know how you feel young lady," said the empress as she moved cautiously closer to the well. "But killing yourself is not the best way to ease your pain."

"Of what use is my life. He rejected me, he betrayed me and humiliated me. I...I ," her voice collapsed as she let out aloud wail of pain.

"I know you feel bad but this is not the right way..."

"I know it's not the best way but for me it's the only way. Do you know how it hurts to love someone so deeply and then be betrayed and hurt by that person? It hurts just as deep as you love them, maybe more. I feel completely lost, broken. I feel..."

"Trust me Revina, I understand how it feels. I may not know exactly how you feel but I recognize your pain. Life is a sea that's full of disappointing tides and waves my dear. Please, get away from the well."

"I thought he was different, I thought he was not like... I love him empress, I just love him too much to watch him fall for another woman. I just can't take it, I'm sorry but I can't." Revina said and turned towards the well, this time more determined and ready to jump.

"He loves you so much too Revina," the empress said as she moved much closer to the well. "He loves you just as much as you love him."

"That's what I thought too, that's what I believed until he..."

"If you kill yourself Revina it won't be only you who would be dying. You'll be killing him too. He will be too devastated to live without you Revina. If you love him as you say then please, don't ruin him by taking your life."

"What are you saying empress?" Revina asked as she hesitated from jumping into the well.

"She is under a spell Revina, a magical spell he cannot break through without your help. You have to believe me when I say he loves you because he does but his feelings for you are nothing compared to the strong spell that enthralled him."

"What? Are you saying that Malin really loves me?" Revina asked as she wiped out tears from her eyes and moved slightly away from the well.

"Yes princess," Lord Parafon replied. "Malin loves you more than anything in this empire. More than he loves his own life."

"Then why...who enthralled him? Why did he...?"

"Pell enthralled him. She has a strong spell that can enslave just about anybody and make them do as she wishes. That's what happened princess, Malin really loves you," said Lord Parafon.

Revina left the wellside and threw herself onto the empress, hugging her tightly as she wept softly.

"Take it easy my dear, take it easy," the empress soothed her, rubbing her back gently.

"Thank you, thank you both... I.."

"It's ok my dear," the empress said as she pulled her away from the tight embrace. "Stop crying already. Remember, Malin is still under the spell and time is running out. You really need to unbound him before Pell return for him."

"How will I do that? I don't know or have any magic."

"You don't need magic to save Malin, you only need your love to save him."

"I don't understand. How?"

"You just need to remind him the taste of your love. You only need to kiss him and the spell will be broken in an instant."

"What? Again? The last time I kissed him he forgot everything just moments later and you want me to kiss him again?"

"Unfortunately princess, that's the only way to save him and return him to his normal self. If you don't, Pell will have won against you. You don't want that to happen, do you?" Lord Parafon said.

"But he won't let me do that if he still loves...if he is still under the spell, right?"

"No, he won't," replied the empress. "That's why you'll have to surprise him."