"Your majesty." Chorused the Court officials as they stood then bowed
Queen Aveedah  ascended her large throne which was designed with red cotton and golden lace,the gold jewelry that hung on the head of the chair matched the crown that laid on a pillow by the right hand side of the throne, as she sat, she waved at them, allowing them to take their seats. Keevah walked in and took the seat closest but still below Queen Aveedah's throne.
"Summon Eric." Queen Aveedah ordered and a guard quickly left, as quick as possible, the voice of the announcer was heard.
"Eric has arrived, your highness." And in came a tall black haired man. His brown orbs, dark and his gaze intense, as he entered he didn't even bother to look at the council members, he just slightly bowed to the them and made his way to the Queen, when he came directly in front of Queen Aveedah, he gave a deep bow and the intensity of his gaze lessened.
"Your highness, the investigation have been concluded and the culprit has been undoubtedly identified." He reported, his voice low, his gaze also low but his tone firm.
"So?" Queen Aveedah asked.
" Your Highness, I made sure to cover every loophole, every evidence was double checked but I still got the same result, the late King's murderer is king Kebarah Aarah of Bydreen, his Majesty's younger brother." He announced.
His voice trembled a bit when he pronounced the culprits name.
Queen Aveedah stood up and descended down the few stairs below her throne, she stopped in front of Eric, put her index finger below his chin and raised his face till they were looking into each other's eyes, He tried to avert his gaze but the look in her eyes told him otherwise.
"Repeat what you just said." She ordered. Everybody in the courtroom could sense the danger in her voice, her normally cold voice was colder, her eyes threatening and her tone daring, nobody could lie in that situation, nobody.
Immediately, Eric went on his knees and said. "Your highness, I tried everything to discredit the investigation but I swear on my life every single evidence pointed to a relative, the dragon head mark present in the royal family fire was evident on his heart, the fire was definitely a dark blue one indicating that the one who wielded it is an older person, your highness though you are the strongest and a very experienced fire wielder, your fire is barely blue, this is because the blueness of a fire is dependent on only the wielders age, the Ice knife that was used to stab him was made from the sorcerers of the water who are also the people of Bydreen. Your Highness, king Kebarah attended your wedding though he stayed by your side throughout the wedding, that is not enough reason to ignore the evidence. If I am wrong your highness, I will gladly take any punishment you deem fit for me." he concluded his voice still firm but his fear was now palpable.
                        *********
Across the jungle rode two men and a red haired lady. One with a ginger brown hair, a lean physique, his skin a bit tanned, his blue eyes shone in the sun, his chiseled jaw beardless but not clean shaved, his pink lips parted a bit as he majestically rode his horse. His partner, less eye catching but cute with his blonde hair, bright brown eyes,his red lips and his body muscular, more muscular than his companion's.
"Velaine, aren't you curious about what's happening in the palace." The blonde haired asked.
"Leo patience,the real drama is yet to begin." The blue eyed man replied, a wicked smirk on his face which revealed a deep dimple on his left cheek where his mouth raised a little.
Irina who quietly rode by Velaine's side remarked
"Who knows, we might miss the main event."
"Irina, do you know why you make mistakes all the time? You lack patience, if you go there now, I am sure Keevah will sense you, he is a sorcerer after all, he has to sense his fellow sorcerer. A woman who was informed that her father was murdered by her uncle will definitely need sometime alone, she will vent her anger alone. Lest you have forgotten, Aveedah is a fire wielder, their temper is their worst traits, when she finally gets a solution, there will be chaos in the court, chaos is the best opportunity for an intruder, he will come and go unnoticed." Velaine explained as he spared a mocking glance towards Irina.
"Velaine, you are the wisest of all, after all, who else can make pawns out of masters?" Leo praised, his admiration of Velaine evident as he smiled widely revealing his white set of teeth while Irina blushed out of embarrassment.
                      ***********
  The sun was beginning to set when Queen Aveedah finally dismissed Eric and Keevah, immediately after Eric's explanation,she had dismissed the court,then asked Eric and keevah to her military strategy room. They had reviewed the evidences, checked with the witnesses involved. She tried everything but as she saw more, she began to doubt her uncle. Could the man her father loved more than the world itself really have murdered him?
Could the man she saw as a second father really kill her father?
To think that she almost married his son,his stupid, frog-faced son just because of the high regard she held him and to think that bastard left her at the altar. As these thoughts kept running through her mind, she could feel her anger rising, her palms were already heating up, her blue eyes were beginning to look like violet, she mustered all the patience she had in her to peacefully order them out,one look at her eyes, Keevah knew going out was the best thing for them. Before they left, Eric asked
"Your Majesty, do you wish to see the heart" Eric asked totally oblivious to the turmoil building in her .
" Eric!" Keevah hissed, how he felt like slapping him. Exactly how dumb can he be?
Queen Aveedah looked like she was going to blow up everything in flames and instead of him to quietly leave,he had to drop the greatest bombshell.
"Bring Him." Queen Aveedah ordered her eyes blazing, though she didn't want to see her father's bare heart, she knew that was the eye opener to this case. Eric left while Keevah just stood a bit surprised by her reply, he asked with his eyes if he should leave, seeing that she ignored his presence he took it as his cue to stay. Just then, Eric came in with a little box, on it is a Gold embroidery and jewellery, he knelt and handed the box to her, her hands shaking, she collected the box and opened it. True to his words, the dragon head laid majestically on her father's heart , the heart itself looked dried up as if burnt then cooled, the slit caused by the Ice knife on the left side of the heart had shrunken but was still evident. Tears filled her eyes but she held it back, she took the box with her and ascended the stairs until she was outside at the top of the building, where she could see the moon. She kept the box on the balcony, the heart in it, then extended her hand, where a small ball of fire formed its light orange colour blazing.
" Father." she called and tears came running down her cheek.
"I'll make you proud and I'll make your murderer pay. He will bow, he will weep and he will wish he could bring you back. Father today, I'll fulfill your wish and make you fly with the wind, you will go with the birds, free and happy." With that, she dropped the ball in the box and quietly she watched it burn, her rage burning in sync with it, the only difference was the flame in her heart will only be quenched by her uncle's blood and sweat and she will quench it.
"Goodbye father, we'll meet again." she uttered quietly, a sad smile on her face as she emptied the box then left the place, the box in her hand, burning rage in her heart and plots of revenge in her mind.
Irina watched as the Queen left, even a blind man could see the anger in her eyes and the fire in her heart wasn't only visible to a sorcerer's eyes.
"Velaine, your pawn is ready for the  Game."