Chương 59: Divine Justice

Declan slowly made his way forward, leaning on his cane, until he stopped behind Teresa, who was gazing out over Virelia through the grand window of the royal palace. He bowed respectfully.

"My Queen". Teresa turned to him calmly.

"Declan. How may I help you?"

"I don't know what you said to the King, but whatever it was…it worked. His Majesty seems completely reborn. He trains every day, drinks nothing but water, follows a strict diet, and, above all, thinks of nothing except the war. I have come to thank you".

"I merely motivated him as any mother would", Teresa replied lightly. Declan smiled.

"You are far too modest, my Queen. You are one of the most intelligent women I have ever known". Teresa returned the smile. A short while later, Oscar entered the room. Declan immediately bowed.

"Your Majesty".

"Mother, you may take your seat. The council is about to begin". Teresa nodded, cast one last glance at Declan and took her place at the table. Oscar approached him with a faint smile.

"You spend quite a lot of time with my mother, Declan. If you weren't a eunuch, I'd think there was something going on between the two of you". If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Declan smiled without losing his composure.

"She is simply a remarkably perceptive woman, Your Majesty. Just like you. Like mother, like son".

"Indeed…" Oscar's expression grew serious.

"How goes the search for the leader of the enemy coalition?"

"My spies are working on it. Some have been killed merely for asking questions, so it isn't easy. But I am certain of one thing: whoever is leading them is a mage". Oscar turned toward the window, deep in thought.

"That's what I believe as well. They want to conquer the kingdom out of revenge…for the witch hunts". The blades of Felicity and Father Leandro clashed with a sharp metallic crack. Felicity launched herself forward with a flurry of swift, precise strikes. Leandro evaded them with fluid movements, parrying some before counterattacking with an upward slash. Felicity stepped back just in time and managed to block the blows that followed, though with visible effort.

"You're very skilled with those two swords", Leandro said.

"They belonged to your father and your mother, didn't they?"

"Yes", Felicity replied through gritted teeth as she parried another strike. They exchanged several more evenly matched blows until they both stopped, each with the tip of their sword aimed at the other's throat. For a brief moment, they locked eyes. Then they smiled and sheathed their weapons.

"Sweet Feli, you've improved tremendously. You'd be capable of cutting down entire companies of soldiers".

"And you're still damn strong, just as you were back then. Now I understand why you were my father's rival. Your defense is impenetrable, you dodge with effortless grace and every one of your strikes is lethal. Anyone with little experience would die from the very first slash".

"You flatter me". A man dressed in the same tunic as Leandro hurried over.

"Father Leandro, we've captured the twin witches". A smile spread across the priest's face.

"Excellent work. Come, Feli. I'll show you how the daughters of the Devil are punished". Felicity hesitated for a moment, then, torn between curiosity and unease, followed him. They arrived at an execution platform. Two red-haired twin girls, barely more than adolescents, were tied to a stake above a pile of firewood. Felicity's eyes widened.

"What is this?" Father Leandro smiled serenely.

"Oh, sweet Feli…this is where divine justice runs its course".