Maple was stunned at her mother's cleverness. Her shenanigans surpassed even hers. How could she forget that Aed Ruad had attacked Silver Vales and Draoidh. Since he was a crown prince, it was natural that he was acting under the orders of Anastasia or maybe the king himself.
Etaya continued, "There is a huge misunderstanding amongst the subjects of those kingdoms regarding us. And we have to take advantage of it. They hate Anastasia. Her marriage to Ileus will be frowned upon. That is why even if they are married, they are hiding it from the public eye."
"Why don't we start a rumor that Ileus married Anastasia? That is going to increase the hate about her amongst those kingdoms," said Maple. And that would give some respite to her burning heart.
Etaya raised her eyebrow with surprise. "You don't look as stupid as you often talk Maple."
Offended Maple scowled. "Why do you keep putting me down Mother? It is getting tiring."
"Did you not hear what I just said?" asked Etaya, glaring at her. "I said that we need to take advantage of the situation and that means that we can't go around telling everyone that they are married. If this news is leaked, then it will reach Vilinski in no time and the council will never allow Anastasia to marry Aed Ruad. We have to bring her here as discreetly as possible, drug her and then marry her to my son!" She stared at Maple. When Maple rolled her eyes, she roared, "Do you understand?"
Maple exhaled heavily and nodded. "I understand! And stop shouting!"
Etaya narrowed her eyes. "It seems that you are trying to go against me at every possible opportunity."
Maple bit her bottom lip and remained silent.
"If this continues, I will have no use for you!" Etaya said very coldly.
Maple looked at her mother in horror with wide eyes. "Sometimes I don't understand you Mother. Have you no emotions for me?"
Etaya laughed in a humorless way. "For a very long time I have hatched this plan, Maple. No one can topple my plan." She pointed a finger at Maple. "Even you. If you think that you can do anything to overturn my agenda, trust me, I won't spare you."
Maple gasped at her mother's viciousness. She was too power hungry and wanted to see Aed Ruad on the throne of Vilinski.
"You better be prepared to leave for Yelgra to find out where they are hiding. It is a vast forest and I will send an army that will stay corporeal. Faes turn into shadows!" said Etaya, more as an order than a request.
"Won't Anastasia turn into a shadow?" asked Maple in a shaky voice, still feeling chilled under her cold gaze of her gray eyes, which Aed Ruad had inherited.
"She is a descendant of royal bloodline, which is extremely powerful. She will stay corporeal until she realizes that she can turn into a shadow. And then too, she can turn into a shadow at her liking."
"Oh!" Maple's mouth fell to the floor.
The door of the room opened and Aed Ruad entered. The two women looked at him. Etaya gazed at her son with complete admiration and pride. "What is the news from Yelgra?" she asked him.
He took a deep breath and shook his head. "Ileus is in Ixoviya. No one is able to find Anastasia. It's like she has disappeared into thin air." He crossed his arms across his chest and sat on the edge of the bed. "Our men are keeping an eye on Ileus, but the sly werewolf is too intelligent. He comes to know of our plans before we even execute them. Two days back I had sent a few demons to attack him. They followed him to an inn, but the bastard simply vanished from there! I had hoped to retrieve jāmbiya from him." He pursed his lips. "It was impossible. Now the dagger is with Dawn. I don't know when did he slip the dagger to her!"
"Don't worry too much about that Aed Ruad," said Etaya. "I wouldn't mind if Dolgra is killed," she chuckled. Then she turned her eyes to her daughter and said, "If you are ready, you can leave in a week."
"Yes Mother," she replied in a low voice.
Aed Ruad glanced at Maple and said, "Mother, I would like to accompany Maple. Together we can find Anastasia and will be able to thwart wizards' attempts in case they attack us."
"Are you insane?" Etaya retorted. "I don't want my son, the crown prince of Vilinski, to go on a hunt in Yelgra forests to find a girl! Don't lower yourself to that level. It is a task best suited for Maple. She should be the one who should hunt for Anastasia."
Maple cringed. She lowered her eyes when Aed Ruad peered at her. "Yes brother, I will go and find her."
"Good," said Etaya. "I will pick up the people who will accompany you this time and you will go with a plan."
"Okay."
Saying that Etaya turned on her heels and walked out of her room, leaving a shaky Maple behind. Aed Ruad got up and ambled to her side. He cupped her face with his hands and forced her to look at him. "Don't be so sad Maple," he said. "Mother is always this demanding. Once you get Anastasia, I will marry her and then throw her in the celestial prison. And then—" he pressed a kiss on her forehead. "And then we are going to rule Vilinski together."
She gave him a tight smile. On the inside she said, 'We will see who rules Vilinski, brother.'
Aed Ruad continued, "I think you are better prepared this time because you know who you are dealing with. You will go with more power. I suggest that you mull about what all Anastasia did to you and what are her powers. Study it in your mind and you would know how to attack her."
"I will," she replied.
"In the meantime, I am going to send more of my people to comb the forest. She must be hiding there." He kissed her again.
She glared at his back when he left.
