CHAPTER 80: THE PLAINS OF SHATALS

"What?" Aeron became confused.

"Yes," Devic continued, "and tell me, Aeron, how do you think your mother made it out alive that night? Your father could have escaped as well, but he didn’t. He chose to stay."

Aeron frowned. "I don’t understand what you’re saying, Ser."

"You want an explanation?" Devic asked. "Then I’ll give it to you. Only I know this truth, because I was the one the king sent to warn Lord Lucian, your father, that an attack was coming. The king ordered me to tell him to flee, to take shelter immediately."

"I warned him long before they reached his gates. But instead of running, your father had another plan. He knew if he fled, they would keep chasing him. And he had a pregnant wife, and she will be due any moment. He would not risk her. So he made his choice. He stood and resisted, buying enough time for your mother to escape. The king did all he could to save him, even though it went against the law. So tell me, do you still despise him so much?"

Aeron’s jaw clenched. "He’s still the king. He had the right to stand against anyone he wanted."

"That’s not how it works here in the capital," Devic replied. "Not when there’s evidence against a high lord. Even the king has limits, Aeron."

Aeron closed his eyes, his thoughts spinning. He had no answer. He just stayed silent.

Devic’s gaze softened. "And then there’s Nyella. Tell me, are you truly angry at her? Or are you angry because she kept the truth from you? Or maybe you’re angry at yourself for falling in love with the king’s daughter when you still believe her father murdered yours."

Aeron said nothing. He knew Devic was right.

"You know she loves you," Devic pressed.

"Yes," Aeron admitted quietly.

"Then will you really leave her at the mercy of gods-know-what?" Devic asked. "Will you abandon her just because she’s a princess? She led her people into a battle she should never have been forced to lead."

Aeron frowned. "But isn’t that the custom? That the heir to the crown leads in battle? Who else should lead, if not her?"

Devic shook his head. "That custom is true when it comes to wars against men, against enemies we know. But this? This was no ordinary war. These are not men you fight, Aeron. They are something else entirely." He looked hard at him. "You still don’t know, do you? You don’t know who you are, or why you carry the power you do."

Aeron stiffened. "What do you mean by that?"

"No one told you what the Watcher who appeared before the council said," Devic said, looking Aeron in the eyes. "You really don’t know why you have such powers, do you? You really don’t know about the darkness you’ll face."

Aeron frowned. "What do you mean, Watcher? And what darkness?"

Devic took a deep breath. "The Watchers are a group of women. Gifted women who see things."

"Things like prophecy?" Aeron cut him off.

"Yes," Devic confirmed.

Aeron’s jaw tightened. "Just like the one who made a prophecy that caused the death of my father?"

Devic opened his mouth but no words came out. He looked like he was caught off guard, dumbfounded.

"So where are these Watchers anyway?" Aeron continued. "Where do they live? Why have I never seen one or even heard of them before?"

Devic steadied himself. "First of all... the Watcher who gave a prophecy about your family was later confirmed to be a blind Watcher. Blind Watchers... they lose their sight, and when they do, their visions break apart. They mix truths with lies, future with past. They see, but they do not see clearly."

Aeron’s face looked worried. "So what did this Watcher say about me? And how sure are you that she isn’t blind as well?"

Before Devic could answer, a movement behind him caught his eye. One of the Phoenix Guards, far in the distance, raised his hand and made a signal. It was urgent. They had to leave.

Devic then turned back to Aeron. "I’ll answer that when we meet again. For now, what’s important is that you find the princess, wherever she is. Only you can do that now."

"What?" Aeron said. "I thought that’s where you were going, with all these guards following you."

"No, young dragon," Devic said. "We are heading south, to bring more allies and armies. The next battle will be in a few nights. If we don’t return with as many battalions as possible, we are as good as dead, and the kingdom will be lost."

Aeron’s brows furrowed. He wanted to argue, but Devic was already reaching into his cloak. He pulled out a folded map and put it into Aeron’s hand.

"Find the princess," Devic repeated. "Use this. You now know where the battle was held and where the rest of the armies are. Good luck to you, young dragon."

And with that, Devic turned and hurried away to join his men.

Aeron stood still, staring at the map in his hand, before tightening his grip. He mounted his horse and continued his journey.

It didn’t take long before he reached the south, the place marked on the map, the Plains of Shatals. This was where the battle had been fought.

At first, he couldn’t see clearly; the air was thick with dust. But as he drew closer, his heart froze.

Hundreds of bodies lay scattered across the plain. Lifeless. Rotting.

"This... this was the cost of the war?" He muttered to himself

Aeron didn’t realize when tears slipped from his eyes as he fell to his knees. He lowered his head, overcome by the pain of what he had witnessed. For a brief moment, he even forgot why he had come.

But then... as he tried to rise, the sound of hooves closed in around him. In an instant, he was surrounded and spears were pointed at him from every side.

"..."