The Crown's Fire - Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Safe Forest
Once Princess Ezme departed the tent, Tarah immediately noted the exhaustion etched onto Queen Dana’s face. “I’ll be staying here, Your Majesty. Why don’t you rest for a while?” she suggested.

The older woman nodded appreciatively. “Alright, I’ll excuse myself first then,” she gratefully nodded. “Please send word as soon as my son is back.”

“I will,” Tarah replied politely, offering a reassuring smile.

Taking her place in her usual seat, Tarah simply watched while waiting for Ezekiel to contact her again. While she waited, she seized the opportunity to engage Wizard Lurio in conversation, seeking further advice on refining her teleportation spell.

“You’ve made remarkable progress. Perfecting the spell in such a short time is a testament to your skill, and I have every confidence you’ll refine it even further with practice,” Wizard Lurio advised, his tone encouraging.

Tarah nodded enthusiastically in agreement, her smile widening at the prospect. She eagerly anticipated the opportunity to hone her abilities, determined to perfect the spell through diligent practice.

As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Tarah sensed Ezekiel’s call through their bond.

[I’m ready to return, Tarah,] he informed her. [Please tell Wizard Lurio to create the portal to where he sent me before.]

[I’ll relay the message, your Highness,] Tarah responded.

Without delay, she informed Queen Dana and Wizard Lurio of Ezekiel’s request. The wizard swiftly complied, wasting no time in creating a portal for the Prince’s return.

Tarah’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she swiftly turned away upon seeing the prince emerge from the portal completely naked. She didn’t think that was what would happen at all.

‘This is awkward,’ she thought, debating on whether or not to make a quick exit while Wizard Lurio was still with them.

As if sensing her distress, the wizard stated, “I should leave first for now, your Majesty,” he informed, almost acting as if he was itching to leave the tent. “I shall inform the Queen that you have returned.”

As the wizard left, Tarah felt a surge of protest rise from within her. Shouldn’t she be the one to inform the Queen instead and leave them since they were the same gender? Then again, she was the Prince’s personal assistant, so she should be the one assisting him right now. Resigned, she inwardly cursed as she hurriedly grabbed some clothes for the Prince, determined to rectify the situation.

Thankfully, it wasn’t the first time Tarah had encountered a naked man. However, Ezekiel’s presence had an inexplicable effect on her, igniting a rush of excitement and adoration in her that made her heart race. It was a strange sensation, one she couldn’t quite understand yet. Perhaps it was because she had harbored feelings for him long before meeting him in person?

“It’s fine, Tarah. You don’t need to assist me with dressing myself,” the prince said in his masculine voice, breaking the awkward silence that had settled between them. It had been a while since they had spoken face to face like this.

Tarah managed a smile, consciously keeping her gaze fixed on his face as she handed him his clothes. “Your clothes, your Highness,” she said quickly, turning away from him to give him privacy.

“Thank you,” Ezekiel’s voice broke the silence. Moving quietly, he got dressed before turning to her once more. “You can turn around now.”

Tarah obeyed, feeling a wave of relief wash over her the moment she saw him dressed in his regal attire. “Welcome back, your Highness,” she greeted him warmly, offering him her sweetest smile. Looking at him now, she couldn’t help but notice the blush that colored his cheeks, causing her own smile to widen.

“Thank you,” he replied simply, his expression a half-smile that caught Tarah off-guard. She blinked rapidly, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected sight of him smiling.

“The dragon soul is no longer troubling me. I believe I am fully in control now,” Ezekiel remarked. “Before returning here, I also experimented with shifting between my human and dragon forms at will, and I did it with ease. It’s truly fascinating to possess this kind of power.”

Tarah nodded in agreement. Inwardly, however, she couldn’t shake off the nagging concern building within.

‘It would be much safer if Vulcan’s corrupted soul was permanently removed from your body,’ she thought, acutely aware of the ongoing threat lurking within Ezekiel.

“Your Highness, may I go out for a while?” Tarah suddenly requested, her mind already racing with the urgency of her mission. She couldn’t afford to waste any time as it was. “I need to practice some spells that require space.”

There was a tense silence before Ezekiel spoke up. “Have Cora accompany you. I will meet with my men,” he instructed. “And do not venture beyond the protection barrier.”

“I understand, Your Highness,” Tarah replied, offering him a brief bow before swiftly exiting the tent, her determination unwavering as she set out to fulfill her task.

With her mind made up, Tarah left the tent. Before she could go too far, Cora quickly approached her.”Your Grace, are you going somewhere?”

Tarah nodded in affirmation. “I would like to practice my magic somewhere where I won’t be disturbed.”

“Come with me then. I’ll take you to a clearing in a safe forest not far from our encampment,” Cora suggested with evident enthusiasm. “It’s just a short walk from here!”

Tarah simply nodded in agreement, walking beside Cora as they made their way through the forest. The moment they arrived, she immediately took note of their surroundings.

“This area is truly ideal,” Tarah remarked, appreciating the serene surroundings.

“Indeed, Milady,” Cora eagerly nodded. “There’s even a hot spring nearby if you’re interested. It’s quite relaxing!”

Tarah chuckled at the suggestion. “As tempting as that sounds, I need to focus on my practice for now,” she smiled. “You can leave me here for now, Cora. I’ll require some time alone. There are spells I need to perfect that require concentration.”

“But Prince Ezekiel might not approve of me leaving you alone,” Cora protested.

Tarah shook her head. “No, he won’t mind. I need solitude to meditate and hone my skills,” she insisted. “I’m certain he’ll understand my need for privacy.”

Hesitantly, Cora nodded before leaving. Grateful for her friend’s understanding, Tarah seized the moment to act swiftly. With determination in her heart, she retrieved the draconite stone and activated its power, rendering herself invisible. Moving in silence, she then walked towards a direction beyond the protective barrier surrounding the encampment.

Ensuring she was hidden from view and alone, Tarah wasted no time in contacting Devon. “My Lord, I have urgent news,” she spoke quietly into the communication bond.

In an instant, a black portal materialized before her. Without hesitation, Tarah entered, knowing that this was her chance to make significant moves. She had many plans to set into motion and now seemed to be the perfect opportunity. While she appeared to have news for Devon, her true intentions lay elsewhere – she needed to relay a crucial message to Asura.