The Crown's Fire - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Finally Awake
At the Kingdom of Ebodia

Elijah, along with his convoy, had finally returned to Ebodia after ensuring that the new monarch of Helion was capable enough to handle their kingdom’s affairs. Now, he was in Atlas’ office, sharing his summary and reports.

“Our King did more than enough by killing Devon and freeing them from his tyranny. Not to mention the extensive assistance we provided, which no other kingdom would dare or even have the heart to offer,” Elijah remarked.

Atlas nodded and said, “Cora won’t be back yet. She’s having a hard time finding Lady Tarah.” Atlas elaborated on the situation in Zion, particularly Cora’s strong suspicion and the peculiar custom of the Queen Regent covering her face with a veil.

“Cora’s hunch is based on more than just a feeling. She’s noticed many similarities between the Queen Regent and Lady Tarah. Their mannerisms, speech patterns, and even the way they handle certain situations are strikingly alike. However, the Queen Regent never removes her veil, making it impossible to confirm her identity visually,” Atlas explained.

Elijah rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “It’s puzzling. If the Queen Regent is indeed Lady Tarah, why the secrecy? And why doesn’t she recognize Cora?”

Atlas sighed, leaning back in his chair. “There could be many reasons. But we must tread carefully. Zion’s customs are deeply rooted in tradition, and any rash action on our part could damage the fragile trust we’ve built.”

Elijah nodded in agreement. “You’re right. We must respect their customs, no matter how frustrating it might be. Still, the uncertainty is unsettling. Do you have any other leads?”

“Not at the moment. We’re hoping that once our King wakes up, he might provide some clarity. Until then, we continue to observe and support Zion as best as we can,” Atlas replied.

Elijah sighed heavily. “Alright, I understand. I’ll trust in Cora’s patience and judgment. Meanwhile, I’ll head to my quarters for some much-needed rest. It’s been a long and exhausting mission.”

Atlas nodded. “Rest well, Elijah. We’ll talk when there’s more information.”

With that, Elijah left Atlas’s office and walked toward his assigned quarters in Jade Palace. However, it had been a while since he saw their King, so he decided to take a quick detour to visit the King’s bedchamber.

“Summer is already over. How long does he plan to sleep?” Elijah murmured as he walked toward the king’s chamber. The humid air was beginning to cool as fall approached, and it would be nice if their king would wake up already.

On his way, Elijah spotted Titus, the youngest of the dragon royal knights trainees at eighteen. He had heard that Titus was temporarily assigned to be the king’s personal assistant while the king remained unconscious.

“Titus, it’s been a while. Are you headed to the king’s chamber?” Elijah asked.

“Yes, Commander,” Titus answered with a smile.

“Come then, let’s head in together. I’m going to visit our king. Maybe he’ll wake up once he hears my soothing voice!” Elijah humorously remarked, causing Titus to chuckle.

*****

Khal’s voice echoed in Ezekiel’s mind: [Welcome back.]

“I didn’t anticipate being out for this long. Why did it take so much time to recover?” Ezekiel questioned, rubbing his temple. His body felt stiff after spending almost an entire season in a coma.

[What did you expect? You pushed yourself too hard, trying to harness such immense power in such a short time. Dealing with Devon usually takes years, but you rushed it in just a few weeks. You’re fortunate to have that divine blood in you; otherwise, my power would have consumed you entirely, and you wouldn’t have liked the outcome. So, don’t complain about being unconscious for only a season.] Khal scolded.

The door creaked open, revealing Elijah and Titus. Spotting Ezekiel awake, Elijah rushed forward and enveloped him in a tight hug.

“My King! You’re finally awake!” Elijah exclaimed with relief.

“I can’t breathe, Elijah!” Ezekiel complained, and his friend finally let him go.

“Titus, go get the healers. Also, inform the King Father and Queen Mother that His Majesty is now fully awake,” Elijah instructed.

“Titus, no need to get the healers. I am perfectly fine,” Ezekiel commented, dismissing the boy.

“Are you sure? You’ve been unconscious like a sleeping beauty for almost a whole season. But during those times, we made sure to move your body once in a while—well, Titus was the one for that task…” Elijah informed with a wide grin.

“News from Zion,” Ezekiel commanded.

“Oh right, it’s still not good news. For some reason, it’s like Lady Tarah didn’t want her existence known. The same goes for the boy. Well, the sketch for the boy is actually not that clear, and Queen Mineah also admitted that she didn’t have a good view of the child Lady Tarah was carrying on her back at that time. It could be a little girl for all we know,” Elijah reported.

It was something that instantly made Ezekiel’s day gloomy.

“Cora has been stationed at Zion to assist as you last instructed and to monitor the situation there, but those bastards are strict. They are limiting Cora’s movements inside their kingdom and giving us an excuse for their custom and traditions. Last week, they escorted the Queen Regent back with the little prince. And would you believe it? The Queen Regent was wearing a veil that covered her face; the only thing you could see were her eyes,” Elijah said, frustration evident in his tone.

“Are her eyes icy blue?” Ezekiel asked, his expression darkening.

“Cora said that the Queen Regent’s eyes are indeed like Lady Tarah’s. She strongly believes it could be her, but there’s no way to find out. Her lady-in-waiting, Asura, is someone very strict and can’t be bribed. She’s the only one who can see the Queen Regent without her veil,” Elijah answered.

“Tell Cora to come back and leave Zion be for now. They are still wary of us even though we freed their people. It’s normal for them not to let their guard down, and the same goes for other kingdoms. They suffered too much, and most of them are still in a traumatic state,” Ezekiel instructed.

“Ready my horse. I will visit the kingdom of Zion after having a meal with my parents,” he added. There was an easy way for him to recognize Tarah, and today he would find out if that Queen Regent was Tarah or not.