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The Stone of Truth - Part 10

"The seed," Laetia whispered weakly.

She was lying on a hard surface; eyes were looking down on her. She recognized Laser.

"You're awake!" A hand moved to and fro over her hurting vision. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes.."

Another face appeared behind Laser. The wizard.

"Dear girl, I am happy to see you awake. Can you try to stand up?"

Laetia was helped to stand. She blinked, trying to chase away the green spots.

"Your sight is still clouded by the potion. It will pass soon enough."

The wizard's face was twisting into green shapes. She put her hand over her mouth. She felt nauseous. Was this the wizard's only way of dealing with a hysterical girl? She felt ashamed of breaking down in front of these grown men.

"My girl, you asked to be rid of the seed. I am afraid I cannot do that as long as you are a servant of the Hialdans. Your masters would notice and put you to death."

Laetia knew he was right.

"But I will give you a choice. I will offer you liberty if you choose to leave your lord's service by your free will."

"Leave my Lord? Sir.."

"Don't speak now. Read this first."

The wizard handed her a parchment.

"What are you doing? Zargoth!" cried Laser.

"Young man, sometimes we have to take chances. Besides, Shrain Hialdan already knows what this message contains."

Laetia opened the scroll.

"Greetings, Lord Ward.

The Stone has been secured. Your Highness may attack Krall at will. One of Corqurst's Councillors must have the Sword. It is imperative that we obtain it; we can only kill the Lady once we have both parts of the Tzel.

I remain your humble servant,
-Lord Shrain Hialdan"

She read it a few times. It was in her Lord's writing. She had no reason to doubt that it had come from her Lord himself. "How can this be? My Lord's army was there to protect Krall.."

"This scroll says otherwise, my girl. The one you call Lord is a traitor of the worst kind. He left Krall to die to the Horseman, while wedding its Queen for her Stone."

"No.."

She could feel the potion running through her veins, suppressing every surge of emotion. Her Lord, a traitor? It was so unbelievable that suddenly the world around her turned into pieces of cardboard. They weren't real. The Lord wasn't real. Treason was a joke, a cruel joke made by an ugly jester. She was the only one alive in that world.

She laughed.

Laser gave her a concerned look. "Is she going mad?"

"She will be fine, young man. Let her in peace for now."

continue to part 11 >>

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