Elincia's Point of View

Helmsforth Temple

Kheri stood beside me as we listened. “Where is he!?” My sister seethed.

All I could was close my eyes in annoyance. “We don’t know, Priestess.” One of our guards answered in her room.

She was still in the medical wing of the temple. “You may leave, guard.” I told him, and he quickly walked out as I opened my eyes. “Stop.” My words quickly grabbed my sister’s attention.

“What did you just say?” Arceana asked in a deadly whisper.

“I told you to stop.” I answered. “Stay away from Arthur from now on. I will deal with him, and keep you two separated, but antagonizing someone we have no chance of besting is asking for death.”

Her eyes widened as she focused on me. “He stabbed me, Elincia.” She told me. “The man ran me through, and you expect me to just-!” With Arceana screaming, I used my magic to cut her off.

“Enough, Cea.” Shaking my head, I looked at her. “The man was poisoned. He was not in his right mind.” My fist clenched as I continued. “In truth, we were lucky. Arthur is far stronger than either of us assumed, and there is more going on than we know.”

“You expect me to sit here and forgive a man for almost killing me?”

“We have wronged Arthur, ourselves, many times over. The man has done nothing but aid us, and we have spat at that help time and time again.” I answered. “He let us off by asking for favors, but he has barely even used them, and if he does, they are for the most mundane situations!”

“This is not up for debate, Elincia.” Arceana began in a threatening tone.

Looking down on my sister in her bed, I spoke back in a similar tone. “You are right. It is not.” Was my cold response before I opened the door to her room. “Until my sister has recovered fully, she is not to leave this room.” My order made her eyes widen since she knew I had the authority to do so. “Once she has recovered, and it has been cleared by me, only then will she be able to leave.”

Typhon, who had been in the room, was torn on what to do or say. “Um… Should I-“ He began, but I cut him off.

“Please stay here with my sister.” I looked at her out of the corner of my eye. “She will need the company.”

Even Kheri looked to me surprised. “Are you certain-“ The Zugal General began, but I turned to her sharply and she stopped.

“Keep my sister safe and under guard at all times. Restrict her magic if you have to.” I turned back to Arceana. “Stay here until I get a chance to calm things down. I will be the one to handle the situation with Arthur Pendragon.” Without saying anything else, I left.

Kheri quickly followed after me as many sentries took their positions. “Are you sure you want to do this?” I glanced at her in response, but didn’t answer, which made her sigh. “What about Arthur? Can you truly fix this situation?”

I frowned. “I need the chance to do so.” A disgusting thought went through my head as I placed a hand over my stomach. “This might be the only chance we have to talk to him without my sister’s interference. Given my possible condition, I do not think he would harm me.” My frown deepened as I remembered how he first acted. “We can only hope he has found a way to fix the poison inside him or one of the ones with him has.”

We entered the General’s office, and she quickly closed the door behind her. “Is that even a possibility?”

Sitting down at her chair and desk, I placed my head face down with my hands on my head. “I have no idea, but I have hope. I certainly wasn’t expecting a giant creature to approach the mountain for Arthur’s sake.”

“What of the Farro family? They’re actions are borderline treasonous.”

“That is speculation, and it will remain speculation until I say so. I admit that Arceana may have wronged Aydalia, but I have tried to make up for it with her children.” Sitting up, I covered my mouth slightly, but not enough to prevent me from talking. “You need to do something for me, Kheri.”

“Anything.” She quickly replied.

“Inform me when Arthur returns. Keep a lookout for him, but use only people you trust to report only to you or myself.” I told her. “Word of this cannot spread.” Then I bit my lip. “And have another group go through Helmsforth and make sure Arthur is not being accused of attempting to assassinate Arceana. If he leaves…”

Kheri finished for me. “Lestrania will likely fall.” She said bitterly.

It was hard to accept, but it was the truth. “Indeed. We need to do crowd control and be ready for his return. Can I ask this of you?”

She simply nodded. “Of course.”