49: The Talk About Deer

The Talk About Deer

Drayce frowned, "I suddenly heard Seren was in trouble so I had to let that witch go. My wife is more important than some random witch."

"Yeah, I forgot you keep your sharp hearing senses active to check on your wife," Arlan teased.

"To protect her, if she is in trouble," Drayce countered, "when you will get your woman, I am sure you will do the same and won't shut your senses."

"I am not fond of eavesdropping and there won't be anyone for whom I would do it."

Drayce shook his head, "Who knows."

Arlan ignored him and said, "Let's talk about that young Black Witch first so I catch her."

"You sure have to so we can know what she is up to and what she is doing among humans. From what I had gathered, she arrived here in Selve yesterday."

"She's in Griven?" Arlan asked in surprise. "How come I didn't sense her presence? I have been in the city, so at the very least, I should have felt traces of her magic."

"That means she must have been here in Selve when you came. It is possible she left before you arrived here, highly unlikely given such a small time gap, or…" 

"Or?" Alan prodded.

"Or your powers are getting useless," Drayce commented with a frown. 

Before Arlan could say anything, the elf stepped in. "Or, there might be a third option."

"What is it?" the two young men asked. 

"There can be something which is suppressing her powers and hiding her existence," the elf answered. 

Arlan asked as he scoffed. "Are you saying this Red Dragon can sense her but not me? Did you forget I am the same kind of my friend?"

However, the elf had an explanation prepared for this question. 

"Because King Drayce's mother is a witch, it makes him half a warlock, thus his ability to sense a fellow witch is more accurate than others."

"And how would you explain yourself? Are you saying you have witch blood too?" Arlan asked.

"My mother was a powerful priestess from the Moon Elf Clan. I happen to have inherited her strong spiritual abilities."

"Well, you do look like a priestess…" Arlan chuckled. 

"If you are praising my peerless appearance, then I graciously accept your flattery, Your Royal Highness," Yorian countered. 

"Are you two done mocking each other?" Drayce interrupted them, returning to the issue, "That Black Witch is carrying nightshade with her. We need to know what she was planning to use them for. If she uses them for some evil scheme, then we need to stop her."

"I will find her, don't worry," Arlan assured. "Those who deal with dangerous and forbidden things are not spared in my kingdom."

A beautiful smile like that of an angel's spread across the prince's handsome face.

"Seems like the soil of this kingdom will taste the blood of a Black Witch soon."

"Always ready for violence," the elf commented. "Just remember, not all Black Witches are evil.

"I don't have anything against Black Witches in particular. As long as she doesnt do anything wrong, I won't kill her, but if she does something in my kingdom, then I will prove my previous words right. She will get the most cruel death and I will publicize it such that no one from her kind would dare step in the lands of Griven." 

As he spoke those words, Arlan's expression was solemn, opposite of his typical playful one, and his eyes showed the dark side hidden inside him. 

The elf sighed as he stood up. "I believe you two friends must have a lot to talk about so I'll excuse myself."

The pair  didn't stop him and silently watched him disappear back into the manor.. 

Drayce picked up his cup of drink and emptied it. "What are you up to these days? Anything interesting?"

"Nothing much. Just enjoying hunting a beautiful deer."

"Deer?" Drayce passed him a questioning gaze. 

The prince gave him a profound smile as he toasted him to drink. "Hmm! Deer are beautiful animals, aren't they?"

"If you say so," Drayce smiled back. 

Drayce then changed the subject. "You didn't look that surprised when I mentioned about black nightshade."

Arlan emptied the cup of wine and smirked. "So you noticed."

"You can tell me."

"It counts as kingdom affairs. I think I should deal with it especially when your hands are already full with your wife's condition," Arlan replied. 

Drayce merely stared at him without a word, and in the end, Arlan gave in.

"Recently, we noticed a huge amount of banned herbs being smuggled to Thevailes. Black nightshade is part of the list. Your enemy, Zaria Lynx, is in Thevailes, probably scheming together with Samer, that lunatic. 

"It is not bad to be cautious, but my gut feeling tells me, they target not only Megaris but also your allied kingdoms like mine. Does black nightshade have some special use for witches?"

Drayce replied. "For curses. It is a common ingredient used for black magic rituals like blood sacrifices." 

"Zaria Lynx must be plotting something terrible."

Drayce nodded. "Looks like it. I got some intel about it as well. Once I am done dealing with my current affairs, I will look into it."

"You take care of your wife, I will take care of that Zaria Lynx as well as this young Black Witch. Rest assured."

Drayce toasted a cup with Arlan. He noticed that a rare flush had appeared on the man's face. "Do not drink much. It won't stop you from having nightmares."

"Don't worry. I am fine."

"Lie to someone else. No one is around so you can stop the act and be yourself."

"I am being myself."

"A while ago, I saw you staring in a daze at the moon reflection in the pond."

"You notice the strangest things." Arlan laughed. "Just reminded me of someone."

"Who?"

A light smile painted on his lips. "Someone foolishly brave."

"The deer you mentioned before?"

Arlan merely down another cup of wine, a show of tacit agreement. 

"It's surprising that deer have started to get your attention now."

"Is it?"

"What do you plan on doing?"

"To get that deer by my side."

"Is the deer that important?"0

"It is, so the Crown Prince of this kingdom can sleep peacefully."

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