What made me open my eyes, on that extremely cold night, was the noise of an angry growl. Gooh!

The skies rumbled.

The loud fear-inspiring growl of a dragon ringing in my ears, as the din of ferocious lightning followed it.

I was in an enclosed place. Yet, I could still tell that this lightning that seemed to want to tear apart the skies, wasn't natural. It was man-made. The work of an extraordinarily powerful Gifted!

"The Dark Lord!"

"The Dark Lord!" One of Caterina's guards stormed into the cell. Juddering, with sweat all over him. At a glance, one would think he had just run thousands of miles to reach here. He breathed heavily. "He's here!"

"He's here!" The guard repeated, panting.

Everyone in the room, took a step back. In obvious dread. Their display of fear, worse than when a person hears a mountain lion was headed their way.

"I thought you said, He'd never come to save her!"

"You were certain He would never leave the camp for her!" Judge Tyrion, Caterina's husband yelled with fright.

The panic, that infused every of his facial pore was a kind I've never seen before.

He started stuttering. He and every guard in the room "..." . Words unable to leave their once-chatty mouths.

Judge Tyrion accompanied his wife, tonight. And for the last hours I've been the butt of their joke.

As Caterina boasted of how she easily trapped me, using my healing Gift against me. "Create an injury, and any Gifted healer, would walk towards it, to try heal it" she said, laughing.

While her husband responded, speaking to me, "such a shame that if this branding iron wound, was on others, you could heal it with just a touch. But now, on your own body, your healing Gift can't even help you".

"What a waste" he said.

"I'd rather not even have a Gift. Than have a Gift, that help others, but can't help me" Caterina said. Her husband nodding along.

"I won't help anyone with it, since it can't help me" Tyrion concluded.

I hissed. Recalling a few memories from the last hours.

As a couple, Caterina and Judge Tyrion really fit. I won't help anyone with it, since it can't help me. They were truly the most selfish persons I've ever come across! Either in Armalith or beyond it.

They were the kind of couple to tear down the only bridge left to cross a river, simply because they had crossed, and the bridge no longer served a purpose for them.

They'd tear the bridge down, without care for the others who still also wanted to cross the vast river.

"It can't be" Caterina mumbled, she faced Tyrion, a fine-looking man in his forties. No wonder she was set on making an example of any female that his stare lingers on.

"The Prince never leaves the camp at this time of the year".

When soldiers were being trained.

"It's not possible" Caterina added. Faced her guard that ran into the cell "did you see the Dark Lord with your own eyes? Because if it's just the lightning, it could be a natural..."

Her words ceased as the building shook. Gboom. Gboom. Like heavy bolts of thunder just struck it.

And along with that, came footsteps.

Fury-laden footsteps. Shaking the building, the exact way, fierce lightning caused violent tremblings in the skies.

How could one single man be this powerful? Because of the last times I saw Him - laughing, being quiet and unable to end Hunter, I almost forgot how hazardous his Gift was!

"The Prince must've entered the building!" Judge Tyrion yelped "release her!" he cried.

The guards ran to the device controlling the chains.

I was chained upside down. With my feet in the air, and my head, facing the worm-infested pool.

Few metres above the pool, was where I was.

"Now!" Tyrion fired.

The guards turned the device to the left. And started sprinting out of the cell. Through a stone door there, I did not notice earlier.

If I had not witnessed the race for their lives, I'd not have believed it. That someone without the Gift of speed, could run as fast as Caterina, her guards and her husband, just did. They fled, like they were escaping, last minute, from a house on fire.

And if I did not feel so weak, from my injury and arid throat, I'd have laughed so loudly. My laughter, accompanying them, all the way to their home.

And then, I noticed something.

The chains weren't moving me away from the centre of the pool.

It was lowering me. Closer to the pool!

The guards may have meant to release me. But, their fear did not make them take note of which direction they turned the device.

I yowled. My heart, doubling its beat "help!"

No one was in the room with me. I'd die a slow miserable death, if I fall into this pool. "Help!"

And then, the chains seemed to be lowering faster than earlier. Moving me closer, and closer to the surface of the pool.

"Help!"

"Help!"

I don't want to die now.

I have to save Marjol!

My brother. My parents. My people!

The beat of my heart tripled. Sounding in my ears.

"Please!!!"

At that second, a strong net encased me.

And I was pulled in the direction of the bare floor. Away from the pool!

I just escaped death! My dry throat, taking in breaths. It felt unbelievable. My escape.

And then, the net was removed from my body. And my long hair, covering my face, was moved.

And right there, staring into my eyes, was Regalis!

He came for me.

Left his camp for me.

And saved my life again!

Would I be disloyal to my parents and loved ones, if I said, I was so happy to see him?

His eyes moved from my face to my shoulder, where my cloth was torn, and displaying the fresh burn on my skin.

His countenance changed. From expressionless to fury and pain.

"Konstanza told me, she heard your screams. But, I could never have guessed, that this was how much you suffered" he said softly.

My branding-iron wound, looking so red and angry.

He patted my hair "silly girl".

"You should've just lied that you would keep quiet, next time, she hurts any other person" he said.

Why would I tell Caterina that? When if I could, I would've told the world what Randall did to Marjol, so the world could fight him, in unison with me.

But then, I didn't trust the world. They may just choose to keep quiet, in spite of the pain, their next door neighbour is going through.

Hence, why should I lie, that I will take the path of silence, when I despised it?

"Konstanza saw everything. She was snooping through the window" he said.

He removed the chains on me, "when my father decreed this marriage, I could never have known he was sending a brave woman my way. A warrior woman, who fights for others, fights for what she believes in, even at the risk of her life".

"And beauty" he added. Looking at my burn.

"What is beauty? It fades with time" I responded "Pretty faces get old. Nice bodies will change. But a..."

"Good person will always be a good person" Regalis completed the popular adage.

"So, you care not that you now have a permanent scar on you?" he asked.

I grinned. Giving him my honest reply, "so far as Ingrith and her young are safe. I'm satisfied".

Confusion flickered in his eyes. Like he was both surprised and astounded by my answer.

"Never have I met a woman who didn't value her looks, like it was the most precious thing ever" he said.

I tried to laugh but my dry throat, hurt.

"Except Nadia" he said.

"And now, you" he added. As though he was seeing me for the first time. Seeing me with a brighter light than he used to.

The way he said 'and now, you'. The words came, accompanied with a tremendous level of awe and admiration in his tone.

"You are right. The lives of others is more important. Beauty is not everything" he said.

I chuckled quietly. Of course, someone who looked like Regalis, saying beauty wasn't everything.

When with his enthralling eyes alone, Caterina would've been too enchanted to look away, talk more, of hurting a strand of hair on his skin. And as for beauty fading for most people at old age, I had no doubt his looks will be one of those that will age like fine wine.

"I know what you're thinking" he said.

I laughed. My gullet hurt. "I'm sorry" I said.

His gloved hand touched my cheek "I'm the one who should be sorry. I let the world think, you didn't belong by my side. Never again" he vowed.

Lifted me into his arms. Whispering, like he was ashamed, profoundly and immersely sorry. "I wanted to run away from you. Flee from what I was starting to feel for you. So, I fled to the camp".

His eyes stared deeply into mine. As though he wanted me to gaze back and see his soul. To feel the sincerity that came with his heartfelt words.

"No more, will I leave your side. No more" he swore.

He marched out of the cell. Walked through the hallways of the torture centre, until we stepped out.

And what I saw first, was Tyrion, Caterina and their guards, fleeing.

After everything they did to Ingrith, me and whoever else they've used their status to oppress, I couldn't believe, all they'd get from this night, is a few sweat drops on their foreheads, from escaping for their lives.

Without warning, Nadia stepped out. Blocking their path. Orabella, Konstanza's grandma stood behind Nadia, holding a fire torch. And with it, I saw a lot more clearly.

Nadia, in her military uniform. Shallot, resting feet away.

Nadia looked at Tyrion, and then, Caterina and the guards. She grinned, "where are we running off to?" As the Judge and his men cringed backwards.

Caterina pulled Tyrion's hand "take a stand, guards! We can fight him" Caterina said, talking about Nadia.

The guards pulled out their swords, swung it. Ready to fight Nadia.

I wished my cheeks had the strength to cackle. These five guards would never believe that the person they were about to challenge, was a woman.

"First person who moves against me, dies" Nadia told them.

"Second person, gets you all killed" She said.

The guards cringed once more. Looked at Nadia from head to toe, and dropped their swords. Though they were five in number, the possibility of them, being able to defeat a Gifted serving in the military, was highly unlikely.

"Good choice" Nadia moved her hand and the storm magic she wielded, came like a strong breeze, and tore off the lid on the excrement pit of the building.

The foul odour from the pit was disastrous. It had to be where the faeces of criminals was disposed, when they were in the torture centre.

"Jump" Nadia said.

What? She wants them to jump into a pit, full of both fresh and decomposing excrement?

"Jump" Nadia repeated. Taking steps closer to them. The wind twirling round her.

Well, I guess the excrement pit wasn't even as cruel as the pool of flesh-eating worms, they threw the Gifted farmer's body into.

One of the guards obviously knowing that worse could befall them, jumped into the pit. And another guard followed. And another.

Tyrion was the last to jump, after Caterina tried to hold him back.

And so, the only person left now, was Caterina. And her heavily madeup face.

"I can not jump in there" Caterina said, and looked down the pit. No doubt, beholding the extensive meal of faeces that awaited her in there. "I won't!"

The guts of this woman!

"My father is a Minister in the Capital! Appointed by King Randall himself. My uncle, is the Minister of Ministers. My brother, Governor of the Midlands!"

What a powerful family. No wonder she could act as she pleased. 'Cause normally, in Armalith, men were the ones you hear, enforcing laws.

"You can't do anything to me" Caterina's voice rose "if you hurt me..."

"King Randall will have my head" Nadia completed.

"It's good you know" Caterina boasted.

So, all in all, till now, Caterina still wasn't even remorseful. If she couldn't jump, why not own up to her mistakes? Like, was her heart so hardened that she could never be sorry for her actions?

Since I met Ingrith, I've been able to hear from Konstanza and Orabella, some of the things Caterina has done.

She blinded a fellow woman for wearing the same fabric with her. Ordered that the tongue of her servant be cut out, for serving her meal late. She felt he served her food late, because he spent more time talking, instead of cooking.

And on another female servant, who dared to wear makeup around Judge Tyrion, Caterina had the servant's face, mutilated with a blade! Also, chopping off that same servant's ears!

Nadia nodded "then, so that one day, I won't wake up in the camp to receive an Imperial order, that my head, be sent to the Capital, I've to handle you another way" Nadia said.

She tapped her chin "what can King Randall not kill?" Nadia said, pretending to think.

She looked at Regalis "such a shame that the Dark Lord doesn't kill women".

The next second, I felt her storm magic. Starting to rise. "What can twenty of King Randall not kill?"

A dragon. I thought.

"Nothing! There is nothing King Randall cannot..." Caterina didn't get to finish her statement. As she was lifted from her feet on the ground. And put in the air!

Her body swerving around in the breeze, like a common tomato leaf. You would have thought, she weighed nothing!

This time, for the wind to do as she willed. Nadia did not move her hands. They remained folded across her chest. Proving that her ability to control her weather Gift had to be intensely powerful.

With the direction, the wind moved Caterina, she must have guessed Nadia's intentions, as she started wailing, "General! I'll enter the pool of faeces!"

"Please General! I'll enter there".

"I only wanted to teach the Prince's bride a lesson!"

A lesson? Then, what of Ingrith? And her baby? Or the Gifted farmer she slayed? Was she just toying with them too?

The wind stopped blowing. But not before dropping Caterina at Shalott's feet.

"So, Shalott, what do we do to a cruel woman who hurt not just the bride of your master, but also many others?" Nadia said.

Shalott growled. Her jaws, spreading wide. Like she was angry. Furious, even.

Caterina who had moved beneath Shalott's neck, tried to stand up and flee.

However, Shalott was faster!

And her heavy limb landed on Caterina. Gbooooooom.

The sound of bones cracking, shattering and pulverizing, was one I would never forget. Even, in my declining years.

An oppressor, crushed to death.