Dolores knocked on the door to Delvin's chamber in the middle of the night.
'Brother, it is me Dolores' she said. Sheila opened the door and let her in. She walked in and met Delvin on the floor, wincing in pain.
'What happened here?' she asked, as she and Sheila helped him to his feet. 'I can't lay him on the bed, his wounds will ruin the sheets.' Sheila said, 'i already filled a bath with hot water. Let's put him in there,' she suggested. Dolores agreed and they helped Delvin to the bath chamber.
Delvin winced in pain as he was immersed in the hot water. He opened his eyes slightly. Dolores was releasing a bright energy into the water while Sheila soaked a towel in a bowl of hot water.
'You didn't answer my question,' Dolores said as she finished channeling the energy. 'What happened?' she asked. Sheila hesitated, before answering. 'It was Tan'y'ju' she finally answered. Dolores paused thoughtfully. She stood up and walked to the door. 'That beast is getting out of control,'.she said and took the towel from Sheila. She pressed the hot towel on Delvin's face. He hissed and opened his eyes. Sheila soaked another towel and began to clean his arms. He tried to take the towel from her hand but she didnt let him take it.
'Just stay still and let us clean you up,' she scolded. 'If you hadn't insisted on hugging me, maybe you wouldn't look like you survived a wrestling match with a bear,' she added and continued to clean his arm. Dolores paused and looked at Sheila, then at Delvin.
'I always found your closeness suspicious, but I didn't expect our king to have little to no self control and composure' she said and pressed the hot towel hard on his nose. Delvin popped his eyes open and glared at her.
'It is not what you think,' he said and tried to sit up, but both women pulled him back into the tub. ' I'm fine, the wounds on my body are almost completely healed,' he said and lifted his already healed arms. They allowed him to sit up and saw that the stab wounds were almost completely gone.
'The funny part of this is that, I cannot die by a sword or by these regular beatings. Nothing can kill me, not even the beast. I am trapped in a life where I can only endure this suffering' he said and sighed. Sheila walked out and returned with a bath robe. Delvin stiid up and put it on then left the room. Sheila and Dolores were left alone in the bath chamber. Sheila started to bail the crimson water out of the tub.
'I can't seem to understand, what exactly is the duty of the guardian of the black dragon. All I've seen him do is trash and toss Delvin as he please.' Sheila said.
' That is his job' Dolores replied and carried a bucket closer to the tub to help her. 'It was the same thing with my father. It has its perks though. He can heal himself, and also has emense strength. It also grants him some other divine abilities, I assume you've never seen him use them,' she added. Sheila looked up at her. 'What is the dragon's role, I mean why does he torture his guardian?' she asked.
' It's a long story. That beast was cast down from the divine realm for trying to overthrow the heavenly Almighty. He came down to earth and with his minions possessed this land of Colgard. Over the generations, in order to maintain absolute power, he has taken the king as his guardian, using torture and punishment as well as hunger for power as a means to control them. Delvin is quite stubborn, but he will be fine.'
Sheila sighed and glanced out at the main bedchamber. Delvin had changed into sleeping clothes and was pacing around the room.
'Can you ladies come out for a bit? ' he asked. Sheila dumped the last bucket of dirty water down the drain and joined the siblings in the main bedchamber. Delvin sat on the side of the bed while Dolores sat by the window. Sheila walked over to Delvin and stood beside him.
'Sit,' he said and patted the bed beside him. She slowly sat down beside him. He cleared his throat and began.
'This is the worst trashing I have ever received from that beast. We need to find a way to fight this.' he said. Dolores lookd out the window.
'Father sent me away because I suggested fighting the beast. And he met his end for it,' she started, 'but I do have a solution, Hertomas, the kingdom to the west. It is now governed by your old friend, Koragen. When the divine beasts were banished. Hertomas's founders created a shield to protect them from the attack of the beasts' she said. 'You can go there for a while to find a way. I will hold things here's she added. Delvin thought about this.
'It is a good plan, but how soon can we embark on this trip?' he asked.
'Give me three months. I will have everything set.' Dolores replied and bowed, before leaving the room. Delvin turned to face Sheila, who looked genuinely worried.
'Isn't it dangerous for you to leave the kingdom? Rebels,corrupt officials, uprisings....' she tried to list the impending dangers. Delvin held her hands and calmed her down.
'It'll be fine' he said and smiled. 'We better start packing '
'We?'
'Yes, you don't expect me to travel without my personal maid do you?' he asked.
Belinda rubbed her still flat tummy and smiled. Blake stood a little distance from her and leaned on the wall.
'How far gone are you?' he asked.
'About four months.' she replied and exhaled cheerfully. 'I am finally in the second month of the second trimester, I'll soon feel the baby moving ' she added and giggled. Blake took an apple from a basket nearby and bit into it.
'I am making my moves as you instructed, the yound princess is more gullible than she seems and there are no protective charms on her' he said. Belinda turned towards him and smiled.
'Very good brother. Our plan is falling perfectly in place.' she said.
Dolores walked into Stel's room and saw her admiring a blue rose, oblivious of her entrance.
'Where did you get that flower?' Dolores asked, jolting the young girl to reality.
'Mother, I didn't hear you come in' Stel said and stood up to bow.
'Of course you didn't. Where did that flower come from?' she asked.
'Blake gave it to me.' Stel replied still admiring the flower. Dolores glared at the flower, it seemed normal.
'I don't trust that boy,' Dolores said and sighed. 'Just be careful' she said and stroked her hair.