The carriage rushed through the rocky path, jostling Noori in its uncomfortable seat as she sat with a deep pondering expression etched upon her face. "I can't just stay back here any longer," she muttered to herself, her voice carrying a note of determination. "I must find the Soul Whisperer quickly." Her fingers clenched tightly around one another, her knuckles turning white with the force of her grip.
The jumpy road stretched on for what felt like an eternity, disorienting Noori for a moment. It had been almost an hour since the carriage had set off, yet it still hadn't reached its destination. "I don't remember it to be this rocky." The palace of the banquet couldn't be far from the main palace, and Noori had been there once before for a dance practice. Her thoughts whirled until she finally brought them to a halt.
"Where are we headed?" Noori leaned into the window on the side of the carriage, intending to ask the coachman, but her question died on her lips as she froze. "Where is the coachman?" she hissed, her voice laced with confusion and growing concern.
The horses continued to run as if under a spell, their hooves pounding against the rocky terrain. Noori realized with a start that they had veered off track and had been running like this for a while now, a fact she had failed to notice until this moment. There was no coachman to direct the horses, but Noori could have sworn there was one when she first entered the carriage.
As the carriage continued its tumultuous journey along the rocky path, Noori's panic intensified. Her skin turned ashen, her grip tightening on the door as she desperately tried to pull it open, only to find it jammed shut. "Darn it!" she hissed through gritted teeth, frustration boiling within her.
With each passing moment, the carriage seemed to veer onto an even rockier, more inclined path, causing it to shake violently. Noori's body collided with the interior of the carriage, jolting her painfully. She winced as her burn wound pressed against the unforgiving walls, adding to her agony.
Her breath grew ragged, her heart pounding in her chest as she realized the gravity of the situation. With no other option, she glanced out of the window one last time, her eyes widening in horror as she saw nothing but the sheer rocky surface ahead.
"It's heading towards a cliff," she whispered to herself, the weight of the impending danger settling heavily upon her. Without hesitation, she knew what she had to do. Summoning all her strength and resolve, she kicked fiercely at the door of the carriage, each blow reverberating through her body. Finally, after several agonizing attempts, the door cracked open, splinters flying as it gave way to her determination.
A gust of wind rushed into the carriage, tousling Noori's hair as she braced herself against the opening. With a surge of adrenaline, she propelled herself out of the carriage and onto the rocky ground, her heart racing as she narrowly avoided disaster. The violent impact sent Noori tumbling across the rugged terrain, her body careening over the rocky landscape. With a sickening thud, her head collided against a distant boulder, jolting her to an abrupt stop. Gasping for air, she lay sprawled amidst the sharp, unforgiving rocks, her skin grazed and bruised from the harsh landing.
Agony seared through her body, every nerve ablaze with pain. Noori's eyes squeezed shut as she struggled to endure the overwhelming sensation, her brow furrowing in agony. Each breath was a battle, her chest heaving with the effort to draw in air amidst the torment.
As the pain threatened to overwhelm her senses, Noori's consciousness began to slip away. A haze descended over her mind, darkness creeping at the edges of her vision. With one final, desperate gasp, she succumbed to the relentless agony, her body going limp as unconsciousness claimed her.
-
The tension in the banquet hall was palpable as whispers and murmurs filled the air, swirling around like a tempest of gossip and speculation. All eyes were trained on the entrance, anticipation mounting with each passing moment, yet there was no sign of Noori's arrival.
Dastan, already brimming with frustration from his encounter with Farris, could feel his agitation mounting further. He clenched his jaw tightly, his expression darkening with each whispered comment that reached his ears. Unable to contain his unease any longer, he called for his personal guard, urgently whispering instructions into the man's ear before sending him off with a determined nod.
As the murmurs grew louder, speculations ran rampant among the guests.
"What do you think is keeping the Princess of Nuria?" one guest murmured, casting a concerned glance towards the entrance.
"Perhaps she's offended that the Crown Prince brought Lady Silvia instead of her," another speculated, eyebrows furrowed in thought.
Meanwhile, across the hall, a darker conversation unfolded.
"You heard about the rumors surrounding the Nurian princess? They say she's ruthless," one guest whispered, eyes darting around cautiously.
"Ruthless? I've heard worse. Remember what she supposedly did to—"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! You don't want to be overheard discussing such matters," another interjected, casting a wary glance towards nearby guests.
After a few tense moments, Dastan's guard arrived with hurried steps, his expression clouded with concern. Dastan immediately noticed the unease etched on the guard's face, prompting him to inquire urgently, "What news do you bring from the palace? Where is she?"
"Your highness, the Princess departed in the carriage over an hour ago, bound for the banquet hall," the guard responded, his tone tinged with apprehension. Dastan's impatience grew palpable as he pressed for more information, "And? Where is she? It shouldn't take this long to arrive."
The guard shook his head, his demeanour grim. "There is no news, Your Highness. The carriage carrying the Princess has disappeared," he revealed, causing Dastan's brow to furrow in confusion. "Disappeared? What do you mean disappeared?" he demanded, his voice edged with frustration.
"How could a carriage just disappear?" Dastan's voice carried a mix of disbelief and concern as he struggled to comprehend the situation. The guard, visibly troubled, shook his head in response. "I have no idea, Your Highness."
"Then go and find it! Who else knows about this?" Dastan's urgency was evident as he issued the command, his tone firm and commanding.
"Not many people, Your Highness," the guard replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "The guards at the main palace were questioned not long ago, but they reported nothing out of the ordinary."
At that moment, there was another announcement at the door, signaling the arrival of the king and queen at the banquet hall. "Your Majesty, the king, and Her Majesty, the queen, have arrived," the announcer proclaimed, prompting a respectful hush among the attendees as they bowed in deference, the murmurs fading into silence beneath the rhythmic beat of the drums.
Dastan seized the opportunity to slip out of the hall, intending to retrieve his horse. His guard followed closely behind, concern etched on his features. "Your Highness, where are you going?" he inquired, his tone laced with apprehension. "The envoy will be here any moment now. You can't be missing."
"I will be back before anyone finds out," Dastan reassured him, his determination evident despite the urgency of the situation.
Meanwhile, Farris, still awaiting Noori's timely arrival at the palace, was informed about the missing carriage incident. His expression darkened with anger. "Do you know what this means? How could this happen?" he grumbled furiously. "Find her! Before this turns into a disaster. And where is the prince? Does he know about this?"
"Your Grace, the prince is at the hall," the attendant replied.
Farris clenched his jaw, his frustration evident. "This man is going to bring the whole nation to doom with his childish behavior," he hissed, then turned to stride back towards the banquet hall. Along the way, he spotted Dastan exiting with purposeful strides.
Farris's gaze narrowed as he watched Dastan's brisk movements, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface. "How convenient that he should be strolling about while chaos reigns," he muttered to himself, his steps quickening as he closed the distance between them.
As Dastan approached, Farris wasted no time in confronting him. "Do you know what's happening?" he demanded, his tone sharp with frustration.
Dastan paused, his expression guarded as he regarded Farris. "I am aware of the situation," he replied evenly, though the tension between them was palpable.
Farris's eyes narrowed further, his voice low and menacing. "Then you know that the Princess is missing," he stated, his accusation hanging heavily in the air. "Did you plan it? Was it your plan to get rid of her in such a way?" Farris wasn't soft with his words this time.
"I don't have time to waste on you. I have important things to do," Dastan replied curtly, his tone conveying his impatience, before turning to walk away.