This story was written for the 2025 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Twenty-six words, one for each letter of the alphabet, were pre-selected by a random word generator (MacChatGPT) and were included for each section of the appropriate letter in the Challenge. The chosen word is highlighted within the text. To start the story from the beginning, go to https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=4443.
When last we met in Part N – Nest:
Rowan had retrieved the egg from the galea bird through stealth and some luck. He and Springbounder were heading back to Marvelous Marco to get information about Adriana’s location. However, readers will have to wait to discover what happens next to them.
King Yarek wants Adriana dead (see Destiny—Part 9). It’s time to learn more about his story.
Destiny Part 15 (observe)
King Yarek was beside himself. He had killed King Petyr in battle, nineteen years before. The execution of Queen Alora followed that. It wasn’t until both monarchs had been disposed of that he discovered the existence of a child, Princess Alondria. The midwife, who had given the news to Yarek, was permanently disposed of. Now, the only thing left was to find and get rid of the heir to the throne. That was easier said than done.
He proclaimed, “Bring Forth the Child of the Queen, or Die.” Striking fear in the hearts and minds of those beneath him always worked for him. This created panic, and many chose to flee Tirea. They all realized that even knowing of the child’s existence meant their death.
His proclamation didn’t work. No one came forth. So, the self-proclaimed king hired assassins to search for female babies that were recently born and to kill them.
After a short time, with no success, Yarek sought out the services of a known soothsayer. The soothsayer foretold the child’s existence and that it could not be traced. However, he did note that the child would return in nineteen years to take back the throne that was rightfully hers.
Yarek was willing to wait the nineteen years. He promptly poisoned the soothsayer to ensure no one knew of his plan.
Nineteen years had passed. Now, Yarek felt pleased, for he thought his problems were over. The king had made an assumption. That assumption was the Princess had died in the Burn of the Blue field and since he hadn’t heard back from Rowan, Rowan also. With the Princess and Rowan dead, he had little to worry about.
Yarek was a stickler for proof. He sent a scout to the Forbidden Forest to retrieve the remains of those who perished in the fire. He gave the scout a magic wristband to track and communicate back to Yarek when the bodies were found. The wristband could also emit a deadly shock to the wearer when Yarek activated it remotely.
The scout knew of the forest’s penchant to lose people permanently. In situations like this, it is best to observe your surroundings. The scout took his time wending his way through the woods. Yarek was able to direct him using the magic wristband’s tracking ability. Knowing that Yarek was observing the paths he was on, the scout marked trees on his way in so he could find his way back without the wristband. This scout was no fool. He was a young man when Yarek took control of Tirea, and he knew what happened to those with knowledge that the king did not want made public.
Reaching the blue field, the scout searched for a long time but found no bodies. He removed his wristband and laid it on the ground when he reported his findings to Yarek.
He heard a scream of great magnitude, “ALORA’S CHILD STILL LIVES?” The scout could feel a tremendous spark of electricity standing ten feet away from the wristband as it melted into the ground.
But the scout, who had observed well, still lived. Not only that, but he now knew that Princess Alondria was alive, and she had returned. The people of Tirea needed to know.
To be continued in P – Peaceful
