Kitanna
Chapter 59: THE MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS

Chapter 59: THE MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: HEAD ABOVE WATER ~ AVRIL LAVIGNE]

Nix rode his horse out of Morado; he left the palace alone without any of his men. As he got closer to the rocky paths, he dismounted from his horse and tied it to a tree.

He climbed the hills until he got to a cave that had water covering the entrance. If an outsider were to pass there, the place looked normal, like a fountain. But for Nix, who knew that it was not just a cave and rocks with water flowing from above but a home for the only person he trusted. He entered the water and started walking on it; as he moved, the water got deeper. If it were someone smaller, the water would have covered the person, but as Nix was not just anyone, the water stopped at his chest.

He stepped into the cave, his body already drenched; the guards who were protecting the place from intruders surrounded him immediately. They were positioned in hidden places to stop outsiders from getting into the place; the cave was never to be discovered by people. One of the guards squinted his eyes to look at Nix; he immediately dropped his weapon and knelt down with one of his knees.

"Drop your weapons; this is Lord Nix Zeno, the last descendant of White Lord Hieron. Show your loyalty," the guard shouted in a heavy voice.

Other guards immediately dropped their weapons and bowed to Nix. The guard who was the first to recognize him got up immediately and went to stand in front of Nix.

"White Lord, I’m sorry we failed to recognize you immediately. Please come in," the guard said in a respectful tone.

Nix nodded his head; he scanned the area. The last time he was here, he was just a boy. After his training, he was made to go and live in the palace, which was why most of the guards might not recognize him.

His shoes made heavy sounds on the cave floor, causing echoes as he stepped inside with so much authority. The fresh breeze helped in drying the water that was on his body. Nix entered the room he grew up in as a boy; he picked up the wooden sword he used the first time he practiced swordsmanship. On the handle, there was a rough inscription which says ’fight until your hands can’t move.’ Nix dropped the sword.

The door opened, and an elderly man stepped in; the man held a stick that was guiding his path, his eyes looked dim. The blue color of his eyes was now dull. His hair and beard were gray, but his face still had the stern and rough look.

"Nix Zeno. Boy," Lord Hieron smiled. He could tell it was his grandson; his presence could be known from far. He exuded power. Hieron was proud of the man Nix grew up to become; he wielded strength that was unheard of.

"I see you still train the young ones, even with your eyes getting worse." Nix said to his old man. He was glad to see that his grandfather was still as vibrant as always, even though age has taken away his sight. But it had nothing to do with his strength and authority because the man still controlled armies singlehandedly. Nix walked to where he was standing.

Hieron raised his hand when he noticed the shadow in front of him. He touched Nix’s face, down to his chest, and he smiled.

"I see you are still getting your harsh trainings." Hieron patted his shoulder.

"If you are still in the field, why will I quit? It’s inherent." Nix said to his grandfather. He moved his hand to help Hieron walk until they got to the wooden chair; he made sure his grandfather had comfortably seated before moving around to sit.

Hieron dropped his stick to the side; his eyes still moved sharply like he was seeing everything around him clearly. Stories passed around that he could see with his mind because nothing went unnoticed in front of the man, and even behind.

"Did you receive the men I sent to you?" Nix asked after he had settled.

Hieron lifted his face gently, "I did, I see that the evil seed I told Dunstan about has germinated and even taken over the palace." The old man had a sad look on his face; the palace was no longer how it used to be. The people of Morado now suffered, and nothing was being done about it. He sighed tiredly.

"Who is there?" Hieron called for the guard that was standing outside, "Call our newest guests." he ordered.

The guard immediately bowed and ran to call the guests who came to stay with them a few moons ago. Hieron was surprised to get a letter from Nix that he was sending two persons from the palace. It was unlike his grandson to ask him for a favor; Hieron was very much glad to help. But he was even more disturbed when he heard that things were going awry in the palace.

The guard returned with the two guests; the men stepped inside the room and bowed.

"White Lord Nix." Clephas smiled with a slight bow, standing beside him was the man he met in the prison who was now looking healthier. And it was no other person than the personal eunuch to the former king.

Nix stood up and bowed to the men before taking a seat, "I see you are doing really well here Clephas." He said casually.

Clephas and the man, Severus, joined them at the table. On the day Clephas was leaving the palace, Nix noticed he was trying to run with someone; he had asked him to go and get shelter where his grandfather lived, in the mountains. Everything was done without the knowledge of Kitanna.

"How are things at the palace?" Hieron was the one to ask after everyone had settled.

Nix shook his head, "The princess was reduced to a maid." This statement caused Hieron to hit the table angrily. Kitanna was the last survivor of his best friend’s lineage, and she was being reduced to a maid.

"Let me in on everything that happened." Hieron’s voice was hard and low.

Nix pushed himself up and moved forward using his two hands to support his jaw; he began, "Things changed immediately after Kitanna’s birth; I came back to the palace, only to meet a new queen." Nix broke the news.

"What do you mean? Is Almaria not the queen?" Clephas asked looking at everyone on the table confused.

Severus shook his head, "No, Almaria used to be the queen’s personal maid. She was the one who helped in the birth of Kitanna."

This revelation left Clephas in shock. "Wait, she was a maid? What happened?" Clephas asked, trying to wrap his head around the whole thing.

Severus was the one to speak, "When the queen got pregnant for the king, she became very sick, and it was the first time she actually carried a pregnancy to the point of delivery. Other times, either she miscarried. The queen kept saying she felt like she was being poisoned, but King Dunstan told her she was just being paranoid. Her health deteriorated after giving birth to Kitanna," Severus said in a low voice. If only the king had looked into the matter when the queen complained. He thought.

"Then who is Khelan?" Clephas asked, his face wrapped in confusion.

"That is where the story gets interesting." Severus responded,

"I was standing at the door that day when the queen’s maid Almaria came to tell the king that she was pregnant for him. At that time, the king’s wife had not taken in; the king was shocked at the revelation because he did not remember touching someone else. But Almaria had an alibi, who said they saw the king enter her room that night, and he was drunk. King Dunstan being a kind man, asked her to keep the baby but not to break the news to his wife."

Clephas, who was listening to the story, felt like his head was going to split soon. His mouth was left agape; he turned to look at Nix and his grandfather, but the men held calm expressions like they knew the story already.

"Almaria had the child before Kitanna was born. She trained the boy in secret until when Kitanna was born. Immediately after her birth, just a few moons later, the queen died. Almaria, who still had her breastmilk pumping, suggested to the king to breastfeed Kitanna. And that was it; she convinced the king that if Kitanna grew up without a mother, she would be unhappy. The king decided to accept Almaria and her son as part of his family and also made her the queen. When Kitanna grew up into a girl, the king fell sick, and it didn’t take long. He died," Severus wiped the tears that were falling from his eyes. He could still remember how the king lay on his sick bed, struggling for his life.

"Even on his deathbed, he only asked for Kitanna. But Almaria made sure they didn’t meet. After the king’s death, everyone who worked for the former king and his wife died mysteriously. I was put in prison as the key suspect of the king’s death; for many years, I did not get a trial or hearing," the eunuch concluded.

Hieron sighed; he didn’t know things got this messy after the king invited him to the palace, which was the last day he went there with Nix. He didn’t know things would change that fast.

"Nix, you spoke of a cousin of this Almaria in your letter." Hieron turned to ask his grandson.

"Yes, she was there that day we came to see the princess. There were two women who were assisting the queen that day. One was Almaria; the other was her cousin, Deonisia," Nix said in a low voice.

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