KEEPER OF THE DESERTED ISLAND

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?

BEFORE THE WAR

Jerrick and Avery, the acting king called the officials to the meeting when they received the petition that Avery needs to pass through the proper procedures and other norms so he can be properly crowned as the king since he was the one that made himself the king instead of the people choosing him.

He came to the meeting and told the officials that he is ready to heed to their petition they had sent to his table

“So how do we go about it? We need to have it as soon as possible” he said to them and the official in charge of it stepped forward

“Since you are not new to the court, I believe you know the necessary things to do for the coronation, we will send the list to you so you can approve and we will set aside a date for you to be crowned as soon as possible” the official said respectfully

“That’s good then, bring me the list as soon as possible and I will make sure to review them immediately” he instructed and they all bowed

Jerrick followed him to his chambers so they can discuss other affairs since he has been to the border on assignment and came back that day to attend the meeting when his father told him it was important for him to be there

“How was your trip to the border? Do we need anything to be adjusted or added?” Avery asked sitting on the chair in his room

“the border needs extra soldiers, it seems the security is weak” Jerrick reported standing in front of the table

“we need to strengthen the border like you have suggested but we need more soldiers in the palace because I can sense that the werewolf side might attack soon. They have been too silent and that is bothering me” he replied adjusting his seat

“I wonder why they have not attacked all these while too but I think they will attack on the day when you will be too busy to notice any attack since they are that meticulous” Jerrick supported

“a day that I will be too busy to notice an attack? What day do you think will fit this description?” he asked looking at Jerrick who raised his brows

“if there will be a perfect day for them to attack us then it will be the busiest day ever which will be the coronation day” Jerrick replied immediately and Avery snapped his fingers to indicate that he was correct

“Make sure the best of our trained soldiers are placed both within and outside the palace, they must never have access to the palace” Avery instructed

“to fight them will be so hard since our powers will be suspended for three days before the coronation, it’s part of the laid down rules but we will try our best to beat them and stop them from entering the palace, be rest assured father” Jerrick replied

“What should we do about the citizens? How do we protect them?” Jerrick asked further

“We will leave them at the mercy of the soldiers at the border so don’t concern yourself with that too much, the palace is more important, they will learn how to take care of themselves when the war comes” Avery said without remorse or pity

“I will do as you have instructed and put everything in place as soon as possible so you wouldn’t have to worry” Jerrick said and bowed

“You should eat and rest up since you just came back from a trip, we will talk later in the day” Avery said to him before dismissing him so he can focus on other things

Jerrick was passing through the corridor to his quarters when he saw Shirley moving with the other women with their instruments in hand as they started the embroidery work for the day, he was tempted to stop and run to her but he just sighed and faced where he was going, he had been ignoring her ever since the day he kissed her forcefully and had her placed in the lowest place in the palace, he was hoping that she would eventually give in and extend her hand to him for help but with what he was seeing she couldn’t care less

“She is one stubborn lady, I wonder how I lived with her all these years without knowing how tenacious she can be” he remarked as he watched her go and went on his own way when she had disappeared into the building.

THE CORONATION DAY

All the necessary things were set in place and the list was brought to Avery who made sure that all things were provided as requested, everything was set up as early as possible so the event can run smoothly and it was announced that no one is permitted to use their power for the next three days before the priest also carried out the power seizing ritual

“The powers have to be preserved for the day so that we can use them during the coronation, the environment has to be charged with all the energies as much as possible” the chief priest explained to Avery

The coronation was picked to be the third day of the new month and everything was set up, the palace was guarded heavily.

Jerrick went to the servants’ quarter to make sure that Shirley won’t be out of the palace that day but he was late, she had gone out early to sell the scarfs

“I must bring her back here as soon as possible, this palace is the safest place she can be” he muttered as he headed for the gate but he was called back by the guard his father sent to call his attention

“I really need to get through to her, she will be in danger if I don’t” he said with a worried look as he head back to the palace to see his father who was calling for him

The celebration started and everywhere was filled with food and drinks, the performance group did their well-prepared performance and all other events were carried out before the chief priest came up to take over the ceremony

Just as they were about to crown him, they heard the sound of the men fighting as the werewolf side had attacked them but thanks to the invoked power protecting the atmosphere of the palace, they were not able to use their own wolf power or penetrate into the palace but they were able to capture as much citizens as possible.

The coronation was carried out nonetheless and the werewolves were forced to retract when the energy was too much for them but not without them promising to be back to take revenge on the new king, Avery

******

Shirley and Convel finished eating the food they were served by Lady Carolyn who quickly served out the foods she has remaining and closed down the tent so she could attend to the princess and her husband she finally reunited with all these years.

She closed down her store and took them to her house which was not really far from her store, she ushered them in and told them to settle down the small chairs that was placed at the side of the room

“How have you been my princess? You must have been through a lot seeing how rough and patched your skin is” Lady Carolyn remarked moving closer to her

“Don’t bother about my skin, I am alive and that is what matters. I have been through something I never imagined I will ever be through” she replied with tears welling up in her eyes

“You will be alright my princess, I heard what happened to the king and the queen. The prime minister is really a wolf in sheep clothing, a heinous beast! How can he do that to your family after what you have done for him and his son over the years?” Lady Carolyn cursed

“Didn’t Lord Jerrick do anything? He just left you there to suffer? How dare he call himself your friend? I never liked the look in his eyes back then so I am not surprised” she blabbered on

“or wait! By chance did he ask for you to marry him before he can help you out? He did right? I know he will play that card, that good for nothing peas sized head” she cursed again and the princess gave her an eye signal that Convel was there making her seal her lips immediately

“All that aside, enough of talking about me. Where is my baby? Where is she? I need to see her before I go crazy” Shirley said holding the hands of Lady Carolyn whose expression turned dark immediately

“What happened? You said she was alive and well so why are you turning dark at my question? Talk to me please” she said grabbing her hands tighter

“Yes she is alive and well but the issue is she is not with me right now, she is staying with another person on the island not far from here” Lady Carolyn replied

“with another person? On the island? Why? If the place is not far from here why is she not in your care? Who knows if she’s being suffered just like me? Why would you do that to me?” she said raising her voice but Convel intervened immediately to calm her down

“Don’t you think we should listen to her first? We don’t even know the reason why she is staying away from her and who she is staying with so why are you jumping into conclusion? You should be thankful to someone who helped raise our child when we failed to instead of shouting at her. Our child is alive, she didn’t say that our child is dead so please calm down” he said calmly and tears dropped down the cheeks of Shirley before she released her grip on Lady Carolyn’s hand

“I’m sorry for acting that way towards you, it’s just that I couldn’t wait to see my baby whom I have missed so much, she is one of the reasons why I live daily because I keep promising myself not to die until I see her again and hold her in my arms. You don’t just understand how much I have missed her” she sobbed and Lady Carolyn hugged her

“who else will understand you if not me? You can be rest assured that she is being taken care of so don’t worry. I will take you to her as soon as possible so please calm down and rest since you have been through a lot” Lady Carolyn said consoling her while she sobbed away on her shoulder

****

Aurelia came into the room at the right time to see Gaia hitting the boy who just woke up from his three days sleep, she had prepared a tonic beforehand because she had expected him to wake up that day which he did just as she had predicted

“You shouldn’t hit a sick person” Aurelia cautioned before placing the tonic she prepared in front of him

“drink it up, it will boost your energy” Aurelia said motioning to the boy who bent to pick up the tonic but a necklace with a globe pendant fell from his neck unto Aurelia’s feet and she bent down to pick it up with her eyes twitching.  

“You, what is your name? can you remember your name?” she asked picking up the necklace

“My name is Hector” he managed to reply before picking up the tonic bowl and gulped it down at a go

“Hector? What a weird name” Gaia muttered and rolled her eyes but she shut up immediately when Aurelia eyed her

“where did you find this necklace?” she asked stretching it to him

“My mother gave me before she was taken away from me and that is the only possession of hers that I have” he slowly replied

“You should not lose what your mother gave you so make sure you keep it safe with you all the time” she said to him and helped him hang it on his neck

“You should rest up to make the tonic work well, don’t stress yourself” she added and picked the empty bowl before going out

She got out and looked up into the sky before sighing at the night view with the empty bowl and tray in her hands

“What is this eerie feeling? I feel like a disaster is coming soon” Aurelia remarked and walked to the kitchen to drop the bowl in her hands.