Tabit paused and spun to look at them. She said to Tania, "Can I come with you?"
Tania raised an eyebrow. Tabit's sudden question amused her. "Sure. But I thought that you would want to help Lerna. She needs to know a lot of things about the kingdom and the palace and the treasury and... basically everything else!"
"Oh, I think my brother can help her!" Tabit replied quickly. "And then there are so many people who would volunteer for her!"
Both Lerna and Tania were surprised. "Tabit," Tania said, narrowing her eyes. "What is it that you are after?"
Tabit pursed her lips. A deep crease formed between her forehead. She gathered her gown and sat beside Tania, exhaling roughly. "I miss..." she paused, wondering if she should reveal or not.
"Miss whom?" Lerna asked. Now both the girls were just too intrigued. They turned to look at her suspiciously.
"Oh come on!" Tabit huffed. "Don't look like I have committed a crime!"
"Then come out with it!" Tania urged.
In a very low voice she said, "I miss my mate."
"What?" Tania rasped, shocked.
"What?" Lerna jumped out of her place. "Mate?"
They both took a long time for the information to process. It was so sudden that they were taken aback.
"You have a mate?" Tania said and not asked.New novel chapters are published on
Tabit nodded with her lips downturned.
"And he is in Draka?"
She nodded again.
"Oh my God!" Tania squealed as Lerna's eyes widened.
Lerna's chest caved in out of sadness. "I wish she could hear my story..."
"Lerna," Tabit said. "Mother won't understand anything at this point of time. Not only is she miserable after father's death, she feels that everyone has betrayed her. I don't know what to say, but she has been like that over the last few months ever since Meissa tried to claim the throne. So, please don't feel guilty or sad. Mother has got into this situation herself. It's not your fault. Everything can't be your fault."
Lerna chuckled and shook her head.
"Don't worry so much," Tabit added. "Give time and everything will settle down, okay?"
"Okay," Lerna said as her lips curled up at Tabit's optimism.
"Now!" Tabit rasped. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I got an idea," Tania interjected.
They both whipped their heads to look at Tania.
"Why don't you disguise yourself and come out of Orion?" Tania suggested. "You can disguise as a Draka soldier and get out of Orion Kingdom."
Lerna and Tabit blinked at Tania for a long time as if wondering what she was suggesting. And then it dawned upon them.
"Yes, she can get out of Orion as a Draka soldier and no one is going to point their fingers at her!" Lerna clasped her hands. "I will cover her over here!"
"Once you reach Draka, you can meet Fafnir!" Tania added.
"Calaman's horns!" Tabit exclaimed. "That's a great idea! But what if--" she bit her nails. "What if people come to know about me in the Draka army?"
"No one will!" Tania waved her hand. She got up and grinned. "You will be personally escorting Eltanin and me to Draka."
Lerna giggled. She loved the plan. She clapped her hands as she got up like a little girl. This was the first excitement she experienced ever since she came to Orion. For the rest of the day, the three girls formed one plan over the next to safely take Tabit out of Orion.
Little did Tabit know of the wild adventure coming next.