Page 20 of The Healing Dragon
I must return here when everyone is gone to bed and pick up some food. I ignore the growl coming from my stomach at the smell of roasted potatoes and meats in the air. Whatever they made smells amazing and I’m hoping there are some left at the end of the night.
I keep walking deeper to a louder gathering down the hall. There is no light in between rooms, making the hallways fall into darkness. But a small light at the end brightens as I get closer. The noise coming from the room also increases. This is where the soldiers have dinner, if the loud laughter and hooting are anything to go by.
Before I can reach the dinner hall, I notice a small dark hallway to the left. A solo soldier stands guard outside a set of doors. There can only be one thing behind that set of doors if a soldier must stand guard at all times. I take a closer look and realize I know the man standing there. This might be the best opportunity to hash out this conversation.
“Oliver,” I say.
The speed with which his hand snaps forward to take my neck is impressive, coming from the old man. The cloak falls off my head to my shoulders, revealing my face.
“What do you think you are doing?” Oliver asks me. His eyes widened in surprise and a hint of fear. “Even you are not immortal, boy.”
His face is so similar to the ones I saw growing up inside the Black Castle walls. His eyes are a copy of his mothers. The main chef of the Black Castle, Rosa. She was a loyal toughwoman with a spine of steel. I witnessed her run a kitchen full of people with command and precision.
Three generations of his family have served the castle and the King. That’s how I know Oliver. He lived in the Black Castle with his family growing up. I personally didn't know him as by the time I was a child he had married and moved to the Duelo home. But my grandfather always made time to greet him when he visited the Duelo estate.
“Let's talk somewhere where we won’t be spotted,” I say.
We go into the room Oliver was guarding and as I predicted, I’m inside Lord Duelo’s office. The red oak wood desk in the middle of the room looks just like the one he has in his home back in Ignis. His bookshelves are a burnt orange color that reminds me of the city of fire. Janelle had similar colors in her childhood bedroom.
“Are you here for her?” he asks, obviously referring to Janelle. Before I can answer him, he continues. “You need to convince her to leave. It’s not safe for her here. It never truly was, but her father is doubling down on his plan.”
“Doubling down?” I take a step closer to him.
“Thank you for not giving up on her.” He looks outside to make sure no one is coming. “She needs you now more than ever.”
“What do you mean, doubling down?” I ask again.
“He is seeking allies, and he is finding them. Maybe it’s an urge for change or maybe some find boredom in the status quo, but more than one type of creature wants to see your brother fall.”
I grab Oliver by his shirt collar and forcefully push him against a bookshelf. “What are you talking about?” He doesn’t say anything right away, stunned by my sudden outburst. “What is Duelo planning?” I seethe.
“It will be best for you to see it. In two nights, there will be a gathering just outside the woods’ clearing.”
I let him go and move to the window as I don't hear a ringing in my ears.
“I’m here with her, not for her.” Silence follows my words. “We’re here for the Red Book.”
“Brandon will have her back?” he asks. “That must be why she returned.”
“She must return the Red Book first.” I look around the room. “Where is it?” I wonder if I can locate it somewhere among these bookshelves.
“It’s not here. He’s not forthcoming with its location.” His eyes look up.
“This is not the time for you to have conflicting loyalties,” I say with irritation.
I push regardless of the fact that I know he's not withholding information. I want him to give me something.
“You think I’m loyal to that monster?” Oliver looks appalled at the thought.
“Why else would you fail to warn us, Oliver?” My words are closed to a breathless whisper.
The betrayal that cost so many lives weighs so heavily on my heart.
“I didn’t know.” His head hangs low. “Did they make it?”
He is asking me about the remaining family he has in the Black Castle. His first thought at seeing me wasn't about them but how I could help Janelle.
He had one cousin left inside the castle before the attack and he survived. Everyone else departed out of their own accord as they built families of their own.
