SCULPTURED DESIRE

Zyran drained the contents of his cup, the amber liquid warming his insides as he sat by the crackling bonfire with Ezekiel, Ali, and Aaron. The dancing flames cast a flickering light on their faces as they discussed their ongoing mission.

"Lord Uriah has been tirelessly writing reports all day," Ali remarked to Zyran, who gazed into the heart of the fire, lost in thought.

"We've been stationed at this camp for nearly four months," Ezekiel said, idly turning his cup in his hands.

"I wish we had apprehended the culprit directly instead of beating around the bush," Aaron added with a hint of frustration.

"If we had acted too hastily, the culprit could have used the evidence against us," Ezekiel pointed out.

Zyran's hand paused momentarily as he continued to study his cup.

"Any word from Oaken Vale?" he inquired of Ali, who shook his head.

"No, Your Highness. It's unusual. Princess Amira typically responds promptly. It's been a week, and there's been no word from her."

"Do you think she's in trouble? She can be so trusting," Ali voiced his concern, earning a smack on the back of his head from Aaron.

Ali cleared his throat before continuing, "Of course, that's highly unlikely. Everyone knows the consequences of crossing her."

"How's the investigation progressing?" Zyran asked Aaron, who replied with a shake of his head.

"No breakthroughs yet. Anyone in contact with the traitor Uriah has concealed their tracks well," Aaron reported.

"We must leave no stone unturned. They can't hide forever; they're bound to make a mistake," Zyran declared with a steely glint in his eyes.

Two days had gone by, and Amira remained confined, her clothes taken away, leaving her in only her undergarments. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was smeared with dirt from resting on the cold, grimy floor.

Nora entered the dungeon to bring her food. As soon as the gate was opened, she hurried in, her face etched with sorrow.

"Your Highness!" she called out, her sadness palpable.

Amira lifted her head slightly, managing a faint smile despite her pallid face and parched skin.

"What have they done to you?" Nora asked, kneeling in front of her. "You've done nothing wrong," she cried.

Amira patted her hand. "I'm not offended, Nora. They are just confused. I will be out soon when the truth comes to light. I have nothing to hide."

"How can you not be? You are pregnant, and they've put you in this state. I will go tell His Majesty what I know. You were there because you were summoned," Nora said.

"No, I need you to get word to Zyran. Write to him."

"I will, Princess Amira. Please hang on, but first, you have to eat for the sake of you and your child," Nora said pushing the plate to her.

"Times up," the guards said, opening the gate for Nora to leave.

"I will come back," Nora said before stepping out the cell gate.

Inside the courtroom, the king sat with his hand massaging his temple, as the servants gave an account of what they had witnessed.

"Princess Amira always visits the garden for a stroll, and occasionally, I see her chatting with the servant boy," a servant said.

"She follows him to his place at times."

"I have seen them do things along the corridors," another said.

The king raises his hand to dismiss them.

"Your Majesty, that's all I could gather from the maid," Danielle said with a bow.

"So all this has been going on under our nose for long, despicable" Leyla said.

"Father, she should be beheaded for this," Katia said.

"Shut up Katia," Novalie said.

"Stop telling me to shut up you have seen and heard it. What else are you looking for? Amira is a cheap slut" Katia said again.

"I swear if you don't keep your opinion to yourself, I will hit you, and what right do you have to judge her?" Novalie said, anger evident in her voice.

Novalie dear, you shouldn't side with such people, or are you also aware of her dealings and have been covering up for him_"

"How dare you Leyla" Queen Miranda said with anger.

"Are you accusing Novalie of siding with Amira's deed?"

"Of course not, I am simply saying," Leyla said with a click in her tongue and a little grin.

"Your Majesty, please pass your order. The people are starting to speculate about what is going on; we can't let the third ear hear about it; it will be a taint to Zyran's reputation, " Danielle said.

The king sighed he turned away, and the servants were quick to assist him in standing.

"With all evidence pointing at the,m I have no option than to follow the law and sentence her"

The king gave his order.

Nora carefully folded the letter intended for Zyran into smaller pieces, preparing to attach it to the pigeon's feet. As she was about to release the bird, a sudden arrow pierced the air, striking the pigeon and causing it to plummet to the ground. Startled, Nora instinctively stepped back, only to find Danielle approaching, bow in hand, a determined expression on her face.

"Nora, what do you think you're doing?" Danielle inquired.

Nora quickly lowered her head. "Lady Danielle, I... I..."

"She was attempting to alert Zyran about what was happening here," Savvy interjected, hurrying to untie the string from the deceased pigeon and delivering the letter to Zyran.

"You were?!" Danielle exclaimed.

"Lady Danielle, I.." Nora started to say, but before she could finish, she was interrupted once more.

"Of course, you would never do such a thing. Your master has no escape. How dare you try to divert Zyran from defending the border," Danielle exclaimed.

"No, I wasn't attempting to. Please forgive me, Lady Danielle," Nora quickly apologize

"What would His Majesty say if I bring this up to him a mere maid writing to the prince, what sentence would it be, beheading? Or banishment, I think your family will benefit from your punishment to, you all will be sanctioned." Danielle said with a glare.

"Am sorry please forgive me" Nora said bursting out in tears.

"Right you should nothing and stay still, who knows you might benefit from all this" Danielle told her.

In the eastern region.

After completing his patrol duties and ensuring stability at the border, Zyran was ready to return home. As he prepared to march back, Ezekiel burst into his tent.

"Zyran, we have a critical situation. The eastern kingdom is attacking the people of cave town, where our supplies are sourced. They are destroying the town and leaving it in ruin" he said.

Zyran brow creased and rushed out, he was quick to mount his horse and his men followed they drove out of camp in speed.

Amira remained in her cell at Oaken Vale, anxiously anticipating Zyran's response to her letter.

Despite Nora's return with the news that Zyran had not replied Amira continued to wait, passing the time by etching writings and drawings into the walls of her cell.

As she braced herself for her impending sentence, the dungeon gate creaked open in the distance. Moments later, her cell door swung ajar, but to her surprise, no one entered.

Amira rose to her feet and ventured out, her naked soles whispering against the chilly floor as she navigated her way forward.

She strolled through the passageways, tracing the faint outline of a man moving ahead, until she halted in front of a room along the corridor. Just as she was about to pass it, she caught a whisper of her name.

"Amira is just a pawn in my game to attain the throne; whatever might happen to her has nothing to do with me."

As she peeked inside, she caught sight of Danielle seated with a man sporting silver hair and broad shoulders reminiscent of Zyran.

"No, this can't be," she thought, feeling dizzy and disoriented. "Zyran would never abandon her. I refuse to believe such falsehoods."

The man turned, and she was finally able to see his face, he had Zyran's face, and he was grinningevillyly at her.

Danielle smiled, standing up from her seat as she walked over to Amira, who had fallen to the ground.

"See, you don't belong here, both you and your Bastard. You are nothing but a pawn." She heard the echo of Danielle's voice followed by Zyran's laugh.

She crawls on her knees, trying to get away from their blurry image as tears stream down her face.

Amira picked up her pace and began limping away.

"Take care of her," Leyla said to Ichabod who bowed and began tracing Amira to where she ran off to"

Danielle stepped out of the room and gave Lady Leyla a nod.

Amira tumbled down the back staircase, feeling a sharp pang as she hit the ground and curled up, groaning in agony. She clutched her aching stomach and noticed a growing stain of blood on her gown.