Free Game of Temptation by Anda J. Santoso Page B

was not going to show a sign of weakness to these
animals. She stood in the middle the symbol of House Cathak near the throne
itself. It was a sapphire circle representing eternal peace and in the middle
was the ruby sword of Dosalam with the emerald vine of Rehanathi, symbolizing
the unity of the two races.
    Niraya stood up and bowed her head slightly.
Not too much to defer, not too shallow to offend. "Princess Alethi
Cathak."
    Alethi could hear her title emphasized. The
bitch witch did plan to take the throne and make her a traitor in front of
witnesses. "Niraya." She did not bow and met the woman's eyes.
    "We are all glad that you have
arrived," she stepped down and hugged her. "We were afraid the elves
have killed you."
    Alethi stepped back politely. "They
have honor still, Niraya. Thank you for holding the throne in my absence."
    "Of course. I expect you will preside
over the plans on how we will infiltrate Rehanathi, then."
    Alethi cursed in her head. The bitch witch
was quick. "An attack? What for Niraya? And where is Orrin?"
    Niraya sighed, her face looking distraught.
"He had returned to us saying that you have traded yourself for the
Imreal, but droplets of it spilled over the king and he died because of it. We
are afraid it was poison and not the essence of Imreal and now, we are looking
to see if he is part of this terrible assassination plot from the elves."
    "Imreal's essence is blue. Perhaps he
had changed it. Was the liquid blue?"
    "I am afraid it was clear, princess. We
did not know what it looks like."
    Alethi clenched her teeth and showed anger
as appropriate, but not for the reasons everyone thought. Imreal was the blood
of the world and the blood of her father. The damned thing was red and she had
not seen it yet. Orrin was alive and he was probably kept alive for the bitch
witch to know where the Imreal was. The bitch witch used them to get the Imreal's
magic to use for herself!
    "I see."
    "What do you want us to do with the
traitor?" Niraya asked keeping her face straight.
    "Nothing. We cannot prove that he is
indeed a traitor."
    "He killed the king! He should be sent
to the gallows!" A noble burst out while another said, "Only he knew
what the true Imreal was and he switched it!"
    Alethi cursed herself once more. In finding
out Niraya's intentions and Orrin's condition, she had boxed herself into
ordering Orrin's death as a traitor. She knew she had no chance of winning now.
The nobles and Niraya would force her to kill her birth father and launch an
attack against Rehanathi – both of which she could not and would not do. If she
did not, she would be branded as a traitor herself.
    She glared at Niraya and the bitch witch
looked at her astonished.
    "My dear," she put her hand over
her heart and stepped back. "Do not tell me that you are not going to
sentence Orrin or go to war against those who sought the king's life!" She
shook her head with a look He sof disbelief on her face when she did not
answer. "What have the elves done to you…Gaurds!"
    It all happened too quickly as she heard
swords sliding out of their scabbards and rhythmic footfalls grow louder. Above
her, she saw a glint of an arrowhead pointed at her. An arrowhead of elfin
design. And then a flash followed by silence and the rustle of leaves and a
wayward chirp of a bird.
    She opened her eyes, surprised to find
herself in an open field near the forest of Rehanathi itself. Beside her,
Liushan peered over the distance into Dosalam.
    "Elfin politics are long and
troublesome, but human politics are quick and harsh." He turned to her.
"I take it you are no longer in line for the throne?"
    Alethi shook her head. "I still am. I
have not been officially unseated, but I am sure Niraya would be more than
happy to take my place." She sighed. "I know you helped me get out of
there with good intentions and I thank you, but now that you have saved me, it
only made the people believe that I have sold Dosalam to your kind. Now they
believe that I am,