Zora held her hands clenched, hearing her brother-in-law's tale. "So you see, this magical device could have taken him anywhere," he added worried.
"But, that cannot be. Surely, they must know where he went. He couldn't just vanish into thin air. Go back and find out how that thing works," she stated, distressed.
"I tried to get it out of them, but as I understood from their whimpers, the con artists were surprised by the magic as well. The item had not worked for centuries. It only started working when reaching the Seven Hill Kingdom."
The princess pressed her lips. "And unlikely story, don't you think?"
"Not if we take into consideration all that has happened in the past year," he replied calmly.
She looked down, guilty. "I just want him back."
"Rest assured Zora, I want my brother home as much as you do. And I will do everything in my power to bring him to us. If he is alive, we will find him," he stated with his hand over his heart.
Zora had to sit down, overwhelmed with emotions.
"I know you do not consider me the most trustworthy person. But I do love my family. Oh, so very much. I would rather die than cause harm to any of my brothers again," he said wholeheartedly.
"I understand. Now please go and make arrangements. I need to think."
King Nathaniel bowed and quietly exited. Only then did Viniria get out of her hiding and looked at the door with a suspicious squint.
Zora rubbed her forehead, still processing what had happened. "It seems he is in the clear," she told her friend.
"I would not be so sure about that," the forest guardian added.
"My dear friend, could you please let me see the device again?" the young queen said. The magical creature handed her the shiny wire. With both arms, Zora held it tight and said, "Take me to my husband, Aidan."
The wire glowed, opening a portal. As the pregnant woman leaned in to enter it, the device was quickly snatched from her hand.
"Have you gone mad? Who knows what would happen! You might have ended up in the middle of a volcano for what we know!" Viniria yelled, scowling.
"Please, I need to know if he is alive!" Zora cried.
Her friend carefully placed the magical portal out of the princess' reach. "And if he is not? Are you willing to kill yourself and your baby trying to find out?" she said mad. "Zora, you are usually wiser than this!"
Frustrated, the princess uttered, "Don't you think it would be easier to see where the magic leads?"
"Magic is not that simple! Especially if it did not work for so long. There are a hundred things that can go wrong if we do not know how to use it! Honestly dear, pull yourself together!" she scolded her as if she was a child.
Zora side-glanced the fairy-like creature.
"What?" she replied annoyed.
"Tell me, Viniria, since you are so wise in the ways of magic, how come you did not save him?"
The fairy creature exhaled. "As I already told you. I only learned of this after Aidan disappeared."
"And how did you learn of it?" Zora inquired, looking down at her. "Your wording suggests you had someone tell you what happened. Who was it?"
Pressing her lips, Viniria looked away. "I cannot say. But I assure you, I have a very good reason for that."
Zora nodded slowly, sad but also angry. She took an already opened letter from her desk and stared at it. "I need to send out aid requests to neighboring kingdoms. Perhaps someone saw him."
The creature nodded.
"Do you mind leaving?"
Zora's words pierced her like a tiny dagger. She raised her eyebrow, surprised. "Are you certain you want me to leave your side? Your life may be in peril now that Aidan is not here to protect you."
"I am more than capable of solving my own problems, thank you! Now, please, let me do my work," she replied calmly.
Letting out an irritated sigh, Viniria took the magic wire and climbed out the window. Using her vines as a sort of bouncy cushion, she landed safely four-stories bellow. Zora watched her reach the forest from her high tower window. She was not the only one.
Queen Olivia was on the lookout from their castle. "The forest creature left. By her walk and grumbling, I can assume that the two had a bit of a scuffle."
Her husband listened, pleased. "Excellent! Now it is time for the next stage of my plan," he said, dabbing his fingers with a menacing smirk.
Sitting back at her desk, Zora touched her large belly before taking out the stiff parchment, a message from her dear friend Anna. She wrote about her new home far away in the north and how others treated her. Overall, she wrote she was settling in nicely, but had a very difficult time getting used to the cold. The last part was not written but easily noticeable from her shaky handwriting.
Zora took her quill and drafted a letter, letting her know about her situation. She asked for help in finding her husband and asked of the people of her kingdom to be on the lookout for the prince of the Seven Hill Kingdom. Once done, she started a letter to her father with a similar content. Before ending, she pondered a bit before adding, "Furthermore, I would humbly ask of you to send a few of your knights to help me in these troubled times. I remember the loyal knight Theodor promising that he would come to my aid if I ever needed it. Unfortunately, such time seems to have come. I hope you will fulfil my wish. Your loving daughter, Princess Zora of the Seven Hill Kingdom."
Sealing the letters, she carefully placed them on pigeons and rested her body on the armchair. All of this stress had made her dizzy.
Not even half an hour later, there was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?" she said, placing her hand on her tired forehead.
"I apologize for disturbing you, Zora. However, this is an urgent matter," Nathaniel said through the door.
The young woman jumped, with a mix of dread and hope. "Come in."
"Dear sister-in-law," he started solemn. "A guard had informed me of this note," he said handing her a yellowish piece of parchment which she immediately snatched.
"Is it about Aidan? Where did the guard find it?" she blurted with her eyes going left to right.
"About a fingernail away from his head. A little closer and the arrow carrying the note would have to be retrieved from his skull," Vulpus stated.
Pacing while reading, she said excited, "Of what luck! The bandits captured Aidan at our most western boarder. And they agree to let him go for a ransom."
"That is wonderful news. How much is the ransom?"
"Does it matter? I hardly think a few gold coins here or there are more valuable than my darling husband," she quickly replied. Rushing out the door, she left the elderly man in a state of shock. "Zora, where are you going?" he uttered, following her.
"It is stated in the note that I should personally deliver the ransom gold. You ready the men while I prepare the rest," she said determined, putting a warm fur scarf over her shoulders.
"But your condition? You mustn't put yourself at risk!" he said, concernedly extending his arm.
"Do not worry yourself. I have my ways. Now hurry. The faster we act, the faster he will be back," she stated with a confident smile.
The king obliged, handpicking a unit of his best men to lead the way.
"Make sure the princess is safe at all times. Shoot your arrows at the first sight of danger. Understand!" he commanded while she approached. Once Zora entered the armored carriage, she looked out to inspect her armed entourage. Clenching her trusty harp, she ordered the carriage rider to go.
Watching the princess rush out of sight, Nathaniel smirked. Oh, how eagerly had she fallen into his trap.