Chapter 7 The truth

Vilandra and Ava were on their way to the beautiful garden outside the castle. They wanted to enjoy the good weather as long as it held on. Both sat on a little stone bench near the fountain, which was shaped like the crest of the kingdom. A dragon and a snake entangled. That was the place where they ususally were when they talked. It was far away from their parents and their betrothed. They wanted to take Marianna along, but she turned them down. Vilandra found that was really weird. Since their parents took her in, she backtracked more and more everyday from everyone. Every evening she hung out alone in her room and nobody saw her until the breakfast. Nobody understood what was up with her, but no one dared to adress the subject. Her parents thought that she had to settle in her new enviroments, before she would take part in any family business. They wanted to give her time. But Vilandra couldn´t do that. She wanted to help her or do something to make her remember. Vilandra liked her, enjoyed her company and it was never boring with her. Not that Ava was dull or something. But Ava was really quite and if she had anything to say it was most times about Zan and how sweet he was. Vilandra didn´t need to know that. There was things she didn´t want to know about her brother.

It was like she would tell her something disgusting about her brother. Speaking of Rath, he was pretty strange the last few days.

" Ava, did you notice something strange about your brother?" Vilandra had to know if she imaged everything. Maybe she was not the only one who observed the change.

" Vilandra, my brother is the strangest creature on this planet. If he would act like a normal person, he wouldn´t be Rath", replied Ava amused. Brothers were a species of its own and definitely extraordinary.

Vilandra had to laugh about that. Ava was right. But she knew that something had happened." No I didn´t mean that. Rath was alway a little bit different than us", she made a devaluing gesture with her right hand." Did you not notice that he has changed since the girl lives in our palace?".

Ava thought for a couple of minutes." Now that you remind me. Yes he is more open and he seems not so moody anymore".

" That´s what I noticed too", finally Vilandra could breath again. So it was not her imagination. Rath was really changed." I think he has a thing for our new arrival", she was not surprised and also not disappointed. Maybe her father would realise that she and Rath were not made for each other and would break off the engagement.

Ava was not so excited about this new developement. She wanted her brother married with Vilandra. Besides her father would never be ok with it." No. I don´t think so. I mean even if Rath would feel something for her, it could never work" No Rath wouldn´t be so stupid to start anything as long as he was engaged

" And why not", snapped Vilandra. She knew what Ava was thinking and she was wrong." Because he is supposed to marry me. I don´t want him and he doesn´t want me", Vilandra became really angry at this point. Why could nobody understand that she didn´t want to marry Rath. He was like a brother to her. Besides he was so not her type. She wanted to be romanced off of her feet. With someone who enjoyed every minute he was with her. Not somebody who thought romance was something for weaklings." I for one hope that Rath falls deeply in love with her!"

" How can you say that", now it was Avas turn to get angry. Why was it so difficult for Rath and Vilandra to accept their destiny. They would learn to love each other in time." We don´t even know who she is. She could be a spy from the enemy!".

" That´s ridiculous", Vilandra couldn´t believe that Ava thought that." Do you even hear how what you are saying".

" How do you know that", Ava was so angy that she couldn´t think straight. But she knew that something was wrong. " It could be all an act to gain our trust and then when we at least expect it she kills us".

Vilandra shook her head forcefully. She didn´t feel treathened by the girl. Not for one moment. She felt only sadness and some other things." That´s the stupist thing you ever said to me. She is a scared little girl and not some assassin".

" Fine", Ava heaved her hands in the air. If Vilandra didn´t want to listen, that was her problem. But nobody could say that she didn´t try." If you think so".

" I will prove it to you", Vilandra couldn´t let Ava think so bad from the girl, who must have gone through hell and back. Besides she wanted to have the last word in this fight.

" How?"

Vilandra would do something from which she knew that nobody was better than her." I will visit her in her dreams tonight. Maybe I can find something in her mind. Sometimes you have a memory, only she is deeply buried in your subconcious" Vilandra asked herself why she didn´t thought about that sooner." I will enter there, rummage around and maybe find something useful".

" Ok. But be careful", Ava didn´t want that Vilandra jeopardised her life for such a silly quest.

" You know me", Vilandra couldn´t wait until tonight. She was excited about the things she would find. Maybe she could help the girl to remember, not matter how bad it was. A little smile appeared on her beautiful face.

Ava didn´t share the same optimism like Vilandra. It was not like that she hated the girl. She was nice and sometimes really amusing, when she put Rath in his place. But Ava could feel that there was more to it than meets the eye. And her feelings never let her down so far. Maybe they would know more tomorrow and could put their fight aside.

Later that evening just before midnight

Mael and King Salem were in the conference room. In a couple of days, they had a meeting with the other planets. It would surely be a battle again. All those leaders who wanted to hold on their principles or their tradition. They couldn´t understand the other side and then everybody would scream around. In the end nobody would be satisfied and the meeting would be cancelled because of the fight. That was the same everytime. King Salem wondered why he still went to this meetings, he knew how it would go. Mael was excited about it. He always had so much fun on this things. To see how the old blockheads lost their cool was always fun. Just as he imagined the stupid faces, a knock was heard.

" Do you expect someone", King Salem gave strict order that nobody should disturb their conversation.

Mael shook his head no. His children knew that they weren´t allowed to bother him when he had something important to do.Besides it was really late" Maybe it´s one of your children".

King Salem saw on his timer on his right wrist" That can´t be. They sleep usually at this time". He thought that at least. He turned to his brother, who didn´t have a clue who would bother them at this time. Before he could make up his mind if he should let him or her in, Mael went to the door and opened it. He was suprised to see the royal messenger standing in the treshold.

" Excuse me Duke Mael, I didn´t want to disturb, but I have important news", the messenger was slightly out of breath. He must have run the whole way. The first sign, that it would be bad news.

" What is it?", now King Salem strode to his brothers side. A bad feeling spread through his body.

" We know who the girl is", the messenger couldn´t say the name. It was bad, really bad.

Mael who didn´t have the patient like his brother, lost his nerves" Don´t keep us in the suspense here".

" Her name is Marianna and she is Khivars daughter".

King Salem lost his colour for a moment. He turned to Mael, who didn´t look better.Then he turned back to the messenger" Are you sure? I mean do you have prove?".

" Yes your highness", the messenger pulled a piece of paper from his cape and gave it to his shocked king. He couldn´t believe it either that this little girl was supposed to be the daughter of this gruel monster.

King Salem took the paper and read it. Mael moved closer to his brother and tried to read over his shoulder. After they had everything they both faced it other and said only one word at once" Oh Damn"

Meanwhile in Vilandras Bedroom

Vilandra was in bed for two hours now and tried to fall asleep. But the thought what she could find in the mind of the girl didn´t let her find rest. Or maybe it was the little fight with Ava earlier this day. But whatever it was she had to shake it off. She made herself comfortable and cleared her mind. Five minutes later Vilandra feel in a deep sleep.

Dreamplane

Vilandra was in a empty corridor, which was illuminated with a faint light. On each side of this hall there were doors, which lead to the dreams of the people. It was really freezing in there and Vilandra was cold. She crossed her arms infront of her breast and hoped that hear hands would be warm. Then she was on her search of the doors which would lead to the girls dream. After she searched for almost an eternity she found what she was looking for. Slowly she took the doorknob and tried to turn it. But the door didn´t budge.

" What the hell", That never happened before to Vilandra, the access was never denied to her. What did the girl try to protect behind this door.

But Vilandra would not give up, not after her interest was awakened. She concentrated on the doorknob and within a few seconds her hand glowed green. Afterwards the door opened easily and she stepped in the dream. Slowly she glanced around and realized that she was in another corridor, which was really scary. The walls were bare except for a few candlesticks here and there. It was the last place she wanted to be. Suddenly she heard footsteps, which moved in her direction.

Luckily she was invisible and she didn´t had to worry about to be discovered. From a distance she saw a small figure with a grimm face. Shocked she regnorized that it was the girl. She wore the clothes of a soldier and by the look of it she was a member of them. A sudden dull noise to her right startled her. The girl made a face and stopped her walk to listen at the door. After a couple of seconds the sound came again. The girl didn´t hesitate and opened the door. Vilandra followed her quickly. But what she saw was too bad to put into words. A woman lay on the ground and a man was bent over her with the weapon, a bronze statue, still in his hand.

" How could you that?", whispered Mariana sad." Why did you kill my mother?"

" She was nothing, she had to die", retorted Khivar cold.

" You egoistic bastard!", screamed Marianna outraged towards her father. She couldn´t believe that he would be so cool after he killed his wife." How can you be so cold about that!".

" Don´t speak to me that way, young lady!", Khivar arose from his grouched position and went to his daughter.

" And if I do it after all?What do you want to do? Kill me like Mother?" spat Marianna and glared with so much hate in her eyes at her father.

Khivar shrugged" If I have to".

" You will atone for this!", threatened Marianna before she turned to the door." I swear by my life, you will punished for murder!". She would give everything to see her father hung for his crime and if it was the last she would do.

" What are you doing?", asked Khivar angry.

Marianna swirled around, threw a nasty look at her father and opened the door. " Guards, Guards!", she cried really loud." I need help immediately!"

Vilandra couldn´t believe what she saw. A man killed her mother and she witnessed it. No wonder her mind shut down. But before she could think about the situation any longer, two guards appeared. The girl explained what happened.

" Don´t believe her!", interfered Khivar." She was the killer of my wife! I only wanted to prevent her from doing it".

Vilandra turned to the guards and like expected they didn´t believe the story.

" Don´ t let her fool you with her pretty face", said Khivar as he saw the unbelieving faces of his guards. He knew what they thought." She is more dangerous than she looks".

" Father. How can you say something like that?", tears gathered in Mariannas eyes. " I´m your daughter".

Vilandra forgot for one moment to breath. Her own father killed her mother. That was aweful.

" Your a murderer", retorted Khivar without remorse. " And so will you be treated".

" Father!", uttered Marianna shocked.

Khivar adressed his guards. " Throw her in the dungeon". He made a little break, because another thought occured him. " Or kill her, I don´t care".

Vilandra wanted to blast the gruel bastard to hell and back. She was his daughter and he treated her like a criminell. How could he do that to his own flesh and blood. Disgusted she tried to send him a death glare. But she knew that didn´t help very much at this moment. She decided that she saw enough, she could imagine the rest after all the girl was in a room in the castle of her father and left the dreamplane.

End Dreamplane

Vilandra shot panic stricken out of her bed. She had to lay her hand on her fast beating heart out of fear it would be jumping out of her body. That was the most aweful dream she had to see. No wonder the girl was so weird. After this trauma everybody would react that way. She could still feel the fear and the panic and she was only a observer. She couldn´t imagine how it would be for the girl.

She had lost her whole family at once and that only to survive. Vilandra had no clue how that must feel. She grew up in a lovingly family, which dictated what she did and who she had to love, but loved her nontheless. It could have been worse than marrying a man she didn´t love . Maybe she should be nicer to her parents and her brother from now on. Suddenly the picture of the girls father popped in her head. She had seen this face anywhere. And then came the realization.

OH MY GOD SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF KHIVAR, HER FATHERS BIGGEST ENEMY