“Lost it? I don’t understand what is that supposed to mean? ” Lin was going into a little frenzy.
” I remember, I had first seen it on my brother Jin. He would go about proudly flaunting it. When we would try grabbing it or pulling it, he would get so angry. He had it where ever he went. ” The wolf king recounted. ” After he was cursed and banished, our kingdom was in shatters. My father was unable to carry on the task of kingship due to his emotional condition. There was war everywhere. There were even in fightings inside our palace. Every rat wanted it’s share when the elephant was dying. I still remember when your father had sent his support in the form of our marriage proposal, ” The wolf king turned to face his queen. “Though it was a marriage of convenience, it was my only weapon against the rebels. I would be forever indebted to your father for that. ”
” It was for our entire wolf nation. For our kind. My father didn’t do you any favour. He just chose the best side in the battle. ” The queen politely intervened.
“However, even after taking over as the king, there were many issues that were very hard for me to tackle. My father had already passed away and I didn’t know who else I should have trusted. The most important thing was knowing the location of our Spirit conjurer. It was our most valuable and most guarded family heirloom. Only one living member of the Royal family was passed down the knowledge. As you all must already know, our wolf tribe is protected by many Spirit Creatures. They maintain the balance in the tribe and also protects . All kings have always had access to the Conjurer, except me. It was becoming very very difficult on my part. ” The king took a pause.
“So to find the location of the Conjurer, there was only one way left. I had to somehow contact my brother. Which in itself was another impossible feat. It was then that I had called your father and the high shaman, ” The king again turned to his wife,” to discuss. At first they too dismissed the notion. But after I explained carefully what was at stake, the high shaman came up with a suggestion. Though he repeatedly warned me of it’s possible dangers. ”
” What was it? ” Roe asked eagerly, unable to take anymore suspense.
“The high shaman told me that the mer-witches were the only living being who could help me with the quest. ” the king announced.
” The Mer-witches of the South? ” ” They are vicious. ” ” Oh! My goodness. That’s suicide. ”
There was a combination of murmurs across the room. Everybody had their own opinion.
When suddenly Lin burst from nowhere, ” I understand all your adventures, but what about Mia. While we sit and listen to stories, who knows what that beast is doing with her. ” Lin banged on a table as it cracked in two.
“Lin, calm down. She is my daughter too. The only reason I am sharing this right now is for us to be able to track that thing. You need to know where it came from and where it might have gone. ” He said pointing to the drawing of the pendant.
“Lin calm down. We are all in this together. Mia will be alright. She had to. ” Xie held Lin’s shoulders as Boshu too came limping beside him.
” I shouldn’t have left her outside the boundary. I shouldn’t have. ” Lin was still too trapped in his guilt to pay proper attention to what the others were saying.
” The next part of the story involves me going to the mer-witches and trading my ancestral sword for a quick visit with my brother. The place that Jin was in could only be accessed by the mystic waters. And those waters were only navigable by the mer-folks. ” The king said.
” Like the Tree of knowledge.” Remarked Roe out of nowhere, ” it was only navigable by that little weird fish like creature. ”
Everybody in the room turned in her direction.
” Fish like creature? A mer-witch you mean? ” Her father asked.
” No. No. Not a female. It definitely looked like a boy. ” observed Boshu.
” There is no male left amongst the mer-people. Couldn’t have been a boy. ” The queen said.
” And Mia too came from the waters, didn’t she? ” Xie put in.
“She came from the waters? What do you mean? ” The king asked as if a little worried at the observation.
” Well, unlike us, we had to cross many lands and hurdles to reach the Land of the lakes. But Mia just popped out of the waters there. ” Xie explained.
” What are you even talking about? It’s impossible for anyone except for the mer-folk to tread those waters. “The king asked puzzled.
” She definitely came from the waters. We all saw it. Didn’t she, Lin? ” Boshu looked at Lin.
Lin nodded in agreement. ” I too thought it was very weird but we already were in pretty strange surroundings so I hadn’t given it much thought. Also the creature refused to take anybody else other than Mia to the Tree of Knowledge. I was pretty opposed to the idea but we had no choice. We all know how the myths go around the Tree. ” Lin gave his view.
The wolf king however was having some thoughts running in his head. He rushed out of the room as the queen followed. The others were about to follow in their suit but just then Nanako came back to her sense.
” Lin, did you find the pendant? ” was the first thing she asked after opening her eyes.
“Nana, the wolf king said he lost it. We are trying to figure out where he might have lost it, ” Lin tried explaining.
” Not possible. The pendant is still with a wolf and that too from the Royal Family. ” Nana barked out as everyone looked at each other with surprise.