Chapter 285:
He reached for a messenger bird perched on a nearby branch, murmuring a few hushed words before sending it off. Returning to the cave, he sank down onto a moss-covered boulder, clutching his aching head in his hands. And waited.
“Your Highness?” Yaz’s voice broke through the haze of pain. How much time had passed?
“In here,” he rasped, his throat dry and scratchy.
Yaz appeared at the cave entrance, flanked by two soldiers loaded with supplies. Vladya accepted the offered waterskin, splashing the cool liquid over his face and neck.
“How long was I gone?” he asked Yaz as they made their way out of the cave, his voice still rough.
“Two days, my Lord,” Yaz said, concern coating his tone. Damn it. Daemonikai would have noticed his absence by now.
“My Lord?”
“What is it, Yaz?”
“Permission to ask—”
“Denied.”
“Your Highness.”
“I do not want to hear it.” Vladya knew Yaz was very worried about him, but he did not want to deal with Yaz’s worry right now.
If he were lucky, he wouldn’t have to deal with anybody’s worry.
He simply wanted to get back to his abode and have the healer prescribe something new for his headaches.
Because, apparently, the current so-called medicinal concoctions he’d been taking were nonsensically ineffective.
gαℓησν𝒆𝓁s．𝒸𝗈𝗺 brings magic to life
At the fortress, he passed through the familiar intersection and was almost at Blackstone when he heard a familiar voice.
“Lord Vladya?”
Vladya did not turn. “Not now, Ottai.”
“Yes, now,” his friend insisted, his voice firm. “If you do not grant me your time, I shall follow you all the way to Blackstone. And mark my words, I shall plague you until you give in.”
Vladya stopped with a resigned sigh.
“Figured as much. Everyone, leave,” Ottai ordered. Within seconds, the meeting of paths was deserted, except for the two of them.
“It is the madness, is it not? It creeps closer. Tell me what troubles you, Vlad.” Vladya met his gaze. “Nothing.”
“You know better than to lie to me,” Ottai hissed, stepping closer, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You vanished for days, now you return with bloodshot eyes, as if you haven’t slept in weeks.”
“Fine. It’s the madness. I lost track of time. Zoned out for days.” He stated bluntly. “What are you going to do about it?”
Ottai paled, his anger replaced with a wave of pity and sorrow. “Vlad…”
Vladya turned and began to walk away, unable to bear the weight of his friend’s concern.
“Tell Daemon about this. Please.” Ottai’s plea hung in the air.
Vladya stopped, whirling around. “And what difference would it make? He already contends with enough burdens. He does not need the weight of my own struggles.”
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