Kitanna
Chapter 202: HIDDEN TRUTH

Chapter 202: HIDDEN TRUTH

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: HALLELUJAH ~ LEONARD COHEN]

Nix got on his horse, galloping straight to the palace. He tried to think of something else; maybe there was a mistake, and nothing happened to Hieron, but his thoughts couldn’t go straight.

Hieron had been there with him all his life, more than a grandfather; the old man was his only family. Even though they bickered always, Hieron had always loved Nix more than anything in his life.

Reaching the palace gate, Nix didn’t allow the horse to stop as he jumped down from the horse, running inside the palace.

"Nix," Kitanna called out, her eyes filled with tears.

"Where is he? Where is Hieron?" Nix asked, staggering inside the palace. He didn’t know what he would do if anything should happen to Hieron. He would blame himself his whole life because he should have followed him. He should have protected him. Nix blamed himself.

Kitanna ran to hug her husband tightly, holding him so he wouldn’t fall apart, because of the look in Nix’s eyes. He was really scared of losing anyone close to him anymore.

"Kitanna, where is he? Please take me to him; I want to see his face," Nix said in a small voice, holding Kitanna tightly as his whole body trembled.

When Kitanna was sure that Nix had calmed down, she let go of him and said, "The carriage Lord Hieron left with returned, and there was nobody inside, just this silk stained with blood." She replied.

Kitanna was shocked when she saw the carriage Lord Hieron left with return without the man. She thought the man decided not to go on the journey anymore, not until she opened the carriage and found the inside stained with blood. She panicked and sent for Nix to be called back inside the palace.

"Maybe he’s still in the mountains; let’s go. Get the troops ready!" Nix ordered when he rushed to leave the palace. He staggered, almost losing his balance, but Kitanna was there to hold him.

Nix turned to hug Kitanna closely; deep down he was scared. He didn’t want to go and see his grandfather lifeless. The fear made his hands shake.

"Nix," Kitanna consoled him, even if he didn’t say the words. She knew Nix was trying to act strong while he was hurting inside.

Nix finally regained himself; he made his way towards the palace entrance ready to leave for the mountains when another carriage entered the palace.

It was Lady Hash, and she wasn’t alone; just beside her was Hieron in flesh and healthy like an oak tree.

"Lord Hieron!" Kitanna shouted, startling everyone, including Nix.

"I wasn’t even gone for that long; did you all miss me?" Hieron teased, looking at his grandson’s face.

Nix was too stunned to speak; he went to stand in front of Hieron, checking his body to make sure he was doing okay and not joking.

"What happened? Your carriage returned without you!" Nix asked worriedly.

Lady Hash balanced her weight on her walking stick, "I didn’t expect giving you a ride would get us this much attention." The woman joked, her words filled with sarcasm.

Hieron laughed at the joke before his face turned serious. "It was a trap, on my way to the mountains, Deonisia blocked my path, saying a whole lot of things that I don’t remember. She was going to kill me when someone stepped in to save my life," Hieron turned to point at Lady Hash, looking at her with newfound emotions.

Lash Hash waved her hands dismissively, "I was passing that road by accident; I don’t know why I left my normal route. Anyways, I was there early enough. When my men told me someone was getting robbed, I was going to mind my business when I heard this old man’s voice, so I stopped to give him a ride." The woman confirmed, her words laced with sarcasm.

Kitanna hugged Lady Hash, "Thank you, thank you for saving his life." She replied amidst tears of joy.

"Just tell him not to fall in love with me. That’s why I avoid helping." Lady Hash remarked.

"Were you on your way to save me?" Hieron nudged his grandson playfully.

Nix stood there, unsure of what he felt. Everything was just happening so fast; he pointed at Hieron’s carriage that returned earlier. "Your carriage returned filled with blood; anyone’s mind would run wild."

Hieron nodded, "I don’t know what that old fox was playing at by sending that carriage back here, but it’s not my blood, as you can see."

Nix raked his hands through his hair; his always neatly combed hair was now looking disheveled. "What about Deonisia?" He asked.

Lady Hash snapped her fingers, "We brought her home, not just her, Panha too." The woman smiled proudly.

Kitanna hugged the woman again, "You’re the best!" She exclaimed.

"I know, I know. Losing your eyes to bandits makes you prepare for the worst while on the road. My men might look few, but they are the best." The woman boasted to the queen, trying to lighten the mood.

Lord Hieron left his grandson and walked to stand beside Lady Hash, stretching out his hands; he said, "Please have lunch with me."

"I should have left him back there, yes?." Lady Hash said, using her stick to move away from the man.

Kitanna laughed at their jokes, going to stand beside Nix who held her hands tightly. They all walked inside the palace, ordering for Deonisia and Panha to be locked in a dungeon.

"I found someone who saw the killer’s face," Nix remembered the young girl he met, before the news about Hieron was brought to him.

"Really?" Kitanna asked in surprise.

"Yes, I had guards stationed in her house; we will go to question her later. Also, I sent the piece of silk found earlier to be checked by every merchant; the owner would be found soon. Oh, here they are already here." Nix pointed at the guards he sent to find the original owner of the silk because it belonged to a nobleman.

"Greetings Your Majesty," The guards bowed deeply.

Nix acknowledged their greeting with a nod, before he asked, "Did you find out who owns the silk?" He asked.

One of the guards who acted as a spokesman said, "The owner is someone proclaimed dead, so it’s a little confusing."

Nix tilted his head, "Dead? Who is it?"

"The silk is linked to only one person, the former queen dowager’s aide." The guard replied.

Nix turned to give Kitanna a knowing look; the only aide they ever knew was-

"Man-uel," Kitanna muttered as if reading Nix’s mind.