Chapter 37: Chapter 37

KAMORA

The walk to the forest was silent.

There was not a single sound, except for the crunching of their feet, and even the air seemed to have stilled.

The moon shone brighter than usual, almost like a warning.

“We have arrived,” the man said suddenly, pausing in the middle of a dark path after almost half an hour of walking.

He turned around to look at them, his expression grave. “I’ll ask you this for the last time. Are you sure you want to go ahead with this?”

Kamora swallowed and nodded. “I am sure.”

The man sighed and shook his head, then pointed down the path. “Just keep on walking straight down. The road will be very dark, but I assume that you made preparations for it?”

“Yes,” Gwen answered before Kamora could.

The man stared at them for a long time, then sighed again. “I wish you good luck. Hopefully you find what you came here for.”

He turned around and went back the same way they came, leaving just Kamora and her sister under the cover of the night sky.

After he had disappeared, Gwen turned to face her sister. “You know, Kamora, the old man is right. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Kamora looked at her, her expression determined. “I have made up my mind. I have to do this for my sake.”

Gwen sighed and nodded. “Okay then.”

Together, they both walked down the path leading into the forest.

The sounds of crickets slowly began surrounding them, and Kamora could finally feel the wind blowing on her skin.

As she walked down the path, she tried hard to remember if anything was coming to her. “I can’t remember anything.”

“That old man did say that you were never seen in this place,” Gwen answered from behind her. “Perhaps whoever had hurt you did so in another place and then dumped you here.”

“You think so?” Kamora said, glancing back at her sister.

The forest had become much darker thanks to the canopy of trees, and Kamora frowned slightly as she tried to see her sister’s face. “You said that you made preparations. Did you perhaps come with a lamp?”

“I did,” Gwen answered. “But it’s still a bit bright. Let’s walk down a bit until it becomes totally dark, so we can conserve it. I sadly didn’t bring enough oil for the lamp.”

Kamora nodded and continued the walk.

The environment was peaceful—far too peaceful, Kamora noticed—and she was beginning to feel that something was wrong.

They both had been walking for hours, but she wasn’t able to remember anything.

Then suddenly, a piercing scream tore through the air, and Kamora winced in pain, holding her head as a memory flashed through her mind.

“What was that?” Gwen said, sounding alert.

When Kamora didn’t answer, Gwen called out for her, slowly. “Kamora? Are you okay?”

“I remember something,” Kamora said suddenly, her voice wavering.

The air stilled unnaturally, and the hairs stood up at the back of her head.

“Gwen?”

“I’m sorry, sister,” Gwen answered, her voice suddenly cold. “You should have listened to me when I told you to head back.”

“Gwen—”

Something hard hit against the back of Kamora’s head, and she fell down, immediately unconscious.

***

Lord Maroke didn’t know why, but ever since he woke up he had been feeling very antsy.

It was as if something wrong was going to happen.

His body so far hadn’t shown any sign of going to collapse. The drug had been working well for him so far.

He had checked on his documents and all, and even had Greyson report if anything strange had happened in the manor.

“My lord, perhaps it’s a side effect of the drug,” Greyson replied, trying to calm him down. “You have been taking it more often than necessary.”

While that was true, Lord Maroke didn’t believe that was the case.

Sighing, he dragged his hand through his hair. He was currently in his study, reclining on his seat and facing the ceiling.

“Any news about the princess?” he asked.

“So far, there has been nothing special, my lord, though there was something she did that seemed a bit suspicious to me,” Greyson replied.

Lord Maroke sat up. “What is it?”

“She was found giving a servant one of her best horses. A very large and tall stallion. I don’t think it’s normal for nobles to do that,” Greyson said.

Lord Maroke nodded, his brows bent in a slight frown.

“It is abnormal. And one can’t say she gave it as a gift to the servant either. No matter how kindhearted the princess might appear, she doesn’t seem like one who would willingly share her prized possessions with anyone, and with a servant nonetheless.”

“You think they are up to something?” Greyson asked.

“Very much so. Did you get a good glimpse of the servant?”

“Sadly no, my lord. But with a horse as huge as that, it wouldn’t be hard to track her down. Do you want me to do that?”

“Yes. It might seem like a small thing, but that servant just might be the key in helping us uncover just who exactly the princess is.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Any other update?”

“None that I can think of.”

Lord Maroke tapped his hand rhythmically atop his desk. The wheels in his brain spun rapidly. “Greyson, is it possible for one to regain their memories using magic?”

“I haven’t heard of such, my lord. But doing so would require the help of witches. They are not to be trusted.”

“I know, but certainly not all of them can be that bad.”

“My lord…”

“I am at the end of my tether here. It’s painful seeing my wife walk about unable to recognize me. Do you know just how much I have longed for her?”

He stood up from his seat and began pacing. “Find out if it’s possible. I’ll do anything to make Kamora remember me.”

“Yes, my lord,” Greyson said, bowing.

Suddenly, the study door burst open. Jarosh walked in with tears streaming down his face.

“Father, Kamora is missing!”