Hearing the doctor's words, the former Commander finds it hard to be still.
She already refrained from physical activities to the point where it was tormenting for someone like her who lived as a warrior for years.
Of course, she often dreamed of laying down her sword but... to not be able to use it again... she never once imagined that.
She relied on her strength to protect herself. She had gotten so used to that and the thought of not being able to do it anymore frightened her to the core!
The doctor didn't miss the appalled look on the Queen's face.. "I've treated many kinds of people, Your Majesty. And that's why I understand how you feel. Please look at things in a light way."
He paused and continued, "I can't guarantee anything but you might be able to recover completely if you take things slow. You only have to wait until the tear is healed."
"All my life, I rely on my sword, doctor," Iria muttered. "For me, it's not just a sword but a part of my life. What would become of me if I can't use it anymore?"
She still had many things to do and most importantly, promises to fulfil. What if she can't lead anymore?
She'd rather die than relying on others again.
Losing Rion was hard enough.
"If you're patient enough to wait and take a good rest, things might become better, Your Majesty. In life, nothing is certain. You might be able to wield your sword again with ease like before," the doctor replied. "A determined mind is the most important in your case, Your Majesty. If you believe that you can do it, then there is always a chance."
The doctor quietly stared at the Queen before he returned to his seat. "I will prescribe you some more medicines and stronger painkillers. There is a long winter ahead of us and with the added tear in your shoulder, you will need it."
Iria sat still with her gaze fixated on the floor.
What was she supposed to do? She felt too lost and hopeless.
*
The doctor's words lingered in the Queen's ears even when she was on her way back to the palace.
As a former warrior who leads her soldiers to victory many times, she never had much fear in life apart from losing her loved ones. Yet now, the unfamiliar fear was swallowing her from the inside, making her unable to think of anything else.
She narrowed her eyes at her right shoulder and recalled that day. The day when she obtained this injury. She squeezed her clothes as the incidents resurfaced in her mind.
"Your Majesty, shall we return to the palace right away? Do you have any place where you have to drop by?" Elian who was riding a horse beside her carriage asked her and that snapped the Queen out of her stupor.
"No," she muttered. "I want to rest."
With that said, they straightly took the path that would lead them to the palace, until... they heard some gossips that piqued their interest right away.
"Do you also hear about that strange sound in the Wesdale Forest?"
"Of course! The hunters heard a strange sound in the abandoned house inside the forest last night. Everyone has talked about it since morning. The sound is... Ah! I forget. What did they say?"
"They say it resembles the cries of children. The hunters are so scared and they flee from the forest right away."
Elian who was very invested in listening to the chat was almost startled when he suddenly heard the Queen's voice.
"Is there an abandoned house in the Wesdale Forest?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's been there for years," Elian replied, shifting his attention back to the Queen who was inside the carriage.
Iria thought about it for a while and said, "Let's take a look. They talked about children and I think it will be worth a try. The Wesdale Forest is not that far anyway."
"Your Majesty, it can be dangerous if your suspicion is true," Elian said to the Queen.
"We won't enter," Iria insisted. "We will just take a brief look at the surroundings and try to know if there is any clue. We're talking about 33 children, Elian. We just can't let it slip." Making a deliberate pause, Iria repeated, "Let's go there."
Elian had no choice but to do as the order. As such, they changed their way and went to the Wesdale Forest which was in the east of the capital.
* * *
Arin Helev was still in the province which wasn't far from the palace. As it had only been around two hours since he left the palace, it was still early.
The King finished talking to the families of the missing children in the province and right now, he was standing near a house in the province, chatting with Officer Dillon, the one in charge of the cases.
"The situation is very similar in each case, Your Majesty," the officer said to the King. "The children are mostly from lower-class families and... there is one more problem."
"What is it?"
"Yesterday, I looked around several provinces and asked the people if they saw or hear anything suspicious. Then I realized that the number might be even higher than 33," Officer Dillon replied.
The King raised a brow at the news. "What do you mean?"
"Some people told me that there were several homeless children, especially orphans with no families who live on the streets and depends on stealing. But strangely, the number of those children are decreasing these days and they could be hardly seen now. That's the case in almost every province nearby," the officer explained.
"You suspect that they are abducted too?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. But... the people said that it's been a few months since they hardly saw those children. Besides, most of them are older than those 33 children. Some might be even between the age of 14 and 16 and the number of those children alone is more than hundred."
The King glanced around, feeling troubled by the situation that had become more and more complicated.
14 to 16. They can cause more damage than those 8-year-old kids and Arin Helev was well aware of that. However...
An arrow was suddenly released in his direction and he was very quick to catch it!
Seeing this, Antony quickly glanced around and instructed some of the guards to search the area. Then he ran towards the King. "Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
The moment he spoke, the remaining guards quickly stood around the King in the form of a circle to shield him in case another arrow was released again.
Arin Helev looked at the arrow which he caught and something attracted his attention right away. "It's a letter," he muttered and took the small letter which was attached to the shaft.
Antony and Officer Dillon exchanged glances, bewildered.
The King read the letter and in a split second, rage was more than evident in his eyes! He squeezed the letter and ordered, "Let's go to the Wesdale Forest. Hurry!"
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