Forgotten Wife Let the traitors kneel Down (by Patricia Maradiaga) novel Chapter 160

Heartache and Sorrow

25 Points

Alessandro noticed something strange about Cassian. His face reflected sadness and pain, as if he had lost something important. The answer Cassian had given left Alessandro a little worried, so he asked him.

“How did your mission go?”

Cassian took the key hanging around his neck and threw it on the table with evident displeasure.

“I have completed my mission.”

Cassian was someone who always kept his feelings to himself, so Alessandro wondered what had happened on his journey that he returned so broken.

“You don’t look well, Cassian, what happened?”

Clenching his fists tightly, his face marked by pain, Cassian replied.

“It’s Maya.”

“What happened to her? Did you argue?”

Cassian shook his head, still struggling to talk about what had happened, about the price he had to pay in exchange for that key.

“If it were only that, I wouldn’t be like this. I had to pay a very high price for that key. That price was Maya. She’s part fairy, and what the fairy queen asked in exchange for the key was for Maya to stay in her kingdom, to swear loyalty to her. I couldn’t do anything to protect the woman I love, Lessan.”

Alessandro understood why his brother was so broken; having to part from the woman he loved must have been painful. He approached, placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder to comfort him, and said.

“I’m sorry, Cas, it’s partly my fault. If I hadn’t given you that mission, you would still have the woman you love by your side.”

“I don’t intend to abandon her, I will return to get her, I promise.”

Alessandro knew this was the worst time for his brother to leave; the war could start at any moment. Cassian was one of his best generals, and facing King Venobich without him shook his heart, but he couldn’t ask him to change the decision he had made, because if he had been in his place, he would have abandoned everything just to be with Abril

Heartache and Sorrow

“I understand how you feel, and I don’t intend to stop you.”

Alessandro placed his hand over his brother’s heart and said,

“Do what your heart dictates.”

“Lessan, I’m sorry, I know what’s coming isn’t easy, but I can’t be without her. I don’t want a life without her.”

“I know, and that’s why you have total freedom. I won’t hold you back, my brother. Go to her

Cassian hugged his brother and said,

“Thanks, Lessan, I promise to return as soon as possible.”

“I’ll be waiting for you. I wish you luck, brother.”

“I appreciate it, Lessan.”

“When will you leave?”

“I’ll attend the meeting with the other generals tomorrow, then depart early in the morning.*

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Abril peeked her head through and asked.

“May I come in?”

“Sure, come on in.”

Abril entered, approached them, and Alessandro wrapped his arm around her waist while Abril asked Cassian.

“How’d the mission go?”

Cassian pointed to the key on the table and replied.

“The key is there.”

Abril breathed a sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

“That’s great, I knew you guys could pull it off. Where’s Maya? I’d love to say hi.”

Cassian looked down, replying with frustration.

“Maya is not here, she had to stay in the fairy kingdom, but it won’t be for long. I’ll bring her back.”

Abril had many questions, but couldn’t ask any of them. Outside, a great commotion was

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Heartache and Sorrow

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heard, and everyone looked out to the balcony to see what was happening. It was the elf

army.

Alessandro took Abril inside, not wanting them to see her since she apparently bore a strong resemblance to her mother, and he feared someone else might learn of her existence

“Aby, you’d better head back to your room and stay put until I say otherwise.”

“Why?”

“The elf army just got here, and I don’t want any of them mistaking you for your mom.”

“I understand, I’ll go back to my room.”

Alessandro kissed her on the cheek and forehead and said,

“I’ll catch you later, and try not to peek out the balcony.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

After Abril left, Alessandro wanted to take the key from the table to store it in a safe place,

but he couldn’t; there was a small barrier around the key that prevented him.

“What’s going on? Why can’t I touch it?”

Cassian approached the desk and took the key without any problem.

“Damn! Only I can touch it.”

“What?”

“The same thing happened in the fairy land. The queen said I had paid the price, that it belonged to me, no one else could touch it.”

“For now, you’d better keep the key; it’ll be safer with you.”

Cassian hung the key around his neck again, feeling uncomfortable as it touched his skin. It was unpleasant for him.

“I have to go, we’ll talk later.”

Alessandro went directly to the entrance where the elf army was. They were dressed in white armor, their weapons shining with a faint glow. Dantriel approached Alessandro and said,

“Here’s our army, and as promised, they’ve brought blessed weapons, perfect for fighting creatures born from darkness.”

“I appreciate your help.”

“We need a place for our soldiers, and also a place where they can train.

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Heartache and Sorrow

“I’ll make sure they get everything they need.”

“Thank you.”

***

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Several days had passed since Maya had said goodbye to Cassian. At first, she felt out of place in a strange land where she didn’t know anyone, and she was upset with the fairy queen for making Cassian disappear so abruptly. After they were forcibly teleported, the queen approached her, caressed her face with sweetness and longing, as if Maya reminded her of someone, then removed the pendant Dantriel had given her and said.

“You won’t need this anymore, you’re home now.”

Maya could hardly speak, but her gaze said it all. She didn’t just show her anger, hatred, and pain; the pain she felt having lost the man she loved and would never see again. Cassian had promised her he would return for her, but she knew that would be impossible; the fairy queen would never let her go.

As she looked out the window, Sara, one of the fairies caring for her, knocked on the door and

asked.

“May I come in?”

“Of course, come in.”

Sara opened the door, approached her, and asked.

“How are you?”

“I’m better.”

“The queen asked for you.”

“What for?”

Sara shrugged. Maya had asked why, but she actually knew the reason. The queen had been having her come for tea with her, and when she had asked her once, her response had been,

“I just want you to keep me company.”

Maya let out a heavy sigh. She wanted to refuse, but she knew she couldn’t. In that place, no one could disobey the queen; everyone had to follow her commands.

We Shall Survive

We Shall Survive

Alessandro met with his generals, Cassian was present as the general of the first squadron of knights. Dantriel and Ethan also joined as representatives of the elven troops. Many generals showed concern, as some of their soldiers were scared. The attack by those monsters during the ball had instilled fear among the troops. Arthur Kavis, the general in charge of the second squadron of knights, said:

“Your Majesty, many of the knights have asked if in this war we will face monsters.”

“I will not lie about what we will face. Our enemy is King Venobich, but this time he has monsters and who knows what other horrors he will have prepared for us,” Alessandro responded with complete frankness.

“Your Majesty, our weapons are useless against those monsters, Fighting them will certainly lead us to death.”

Ethan interjected, “It is true, your weapons are useless.”

“And who are you? What are you doing here? I thought this meeting was only for generals.”

Alessandro answered for Ethan, “I have asked them to be present.”

Since it had been a direct order from the king, Arthur did not reply, even though he didn’t like the idea of a stranger being there. He just limited himself to looking at him with distrust and displeasure, especially when he opened his mouth again.

“That’s why we will provide weapons capable of killing those monsters, although only the most skilled warriors will survive. So you should choose those who will be useful during the war and those who will not.”

Arthur couldn’t remain silent in the face of that man’s words. “All our knights are great warriors. If your weapons are effective against those monsters, we shall not die.”

Cassian spoke to calm the mood, as Arthur seemed about to attack Ethan. “You have said that your weapons are effective, but how can we know that what you say is true and not just a simple lie?”

“If what you want is a demonstration,” Dantriel spoke for the first time, “we can give it to you While our troops were heading here, they captured a creature born of darkness because we imagined this might happen.”

Arthur stood up, slammed the table forcefully, and asked angrily, “You have brought a monster to our kingdom! You’re crazy!”

We Shall Survive

Dantriel spoke calmly and said, “Please calm down.”

“You bring danger to this kingdom and ask me to calm down!”

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Arthur addressed Alessandro. “Your Majesty, your duty as king is to protect your people. These people are nothing more than enemies of the kingdom. They have brought a monster, they are not to be trusted. Perhaps they are also working for King Venobich. They should not be here; they should be questioned in the dungeons.”

Ethan responded, agitated, “We are not on the side of that monster, so hold your tongue.”

He didn’t know King Venobich, but hated him deeply since he had stolen the woman he loved, and because of him, she was dead. So the mere mention that he could be on the side of that monster repulsed him.

Alessandro told them, “Calm down, both of you. Arthur, they are not our enemies; on the contrary, they are our allies. For them, King Venobich is also their enemy. Today I have gathered you all because, the war is at our doorstep, and this time it will not be against men but against monsters. If we do not prepare, our kingdom and everything we love and know will turn to ashes. So I ask you all to fight by my side against this great threat that is coming, to protect our home together.”

Alessandro didn’t order them; he asked because he knew he couldn’t force his people to fight. A warrior without spirit was like putting a lamb in front of a hungry wolf. He needed warriors willing to give their all on the battlefield, warriors with burning resolve who would fight bravely by his side.

“Let me ask you once more, who will stand by my side, protecting our kingdom and our people from the threat looming over our heads?”

All the generals hesitated for a moment, they were afraid of what lay ahead. Cassian had planned to leave to find Maya; however, he couldn’t leave his brother to face the danger alone. His generals didn’t seem very eager to be on the battlefield, so he stood up and declared.

“I will stand by your side.”

The other generals were inspired by the prince’s support for the king, especially because they knew that Cassian was as strong and powerful as the king; they all rose and responded in

unison.

“We will also stand by your side, Your Majesty.”

The meeting continued for a while longer, and when it ended, everyone headed to the training field where the elven army was located. Dantriel approached a soldier and Instructed him to hand over a sword and bring the creature they had captured on the way.

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We Shall Survive

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The soldier promptly obeyed, drew his sword, handed it over, and then went to retrieve the monster. He returned shortly after with several more soldiers, dragging a cart with a cage covered by a thick blanket. A terrifying roar sent chills down their spines, and one of the soldiers removed the blanket, revealing a hideous creature, as black as ink, roaring and baring its sharp teeth. The creature attempted to escape the cage but failed; the cage, appeared to be made of the same material as the weapons carried by the army.

All the generals were tense, and Alessandro was no exception; he felt the same. He was afraid that the weapons the elves had wouldn’t work because if they didn’t, it would mean that his only hope of defeating those monsters was Abril, exposing her to danger, something Alessandro would never allow. She was the woman he loved, his everything; he would rather lose the war than lose her, as he couldn’t imagine a life without her.

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