Belinda stared at the figure before her. Was there another witch in the castle. She thought as the figure disappeared with the gas.
"Thank you for your help old dame." She placed a small bag on the table. "Make do with this till I visit again" Belinda said and left the house. All the way back tor he palace, she kept pondering on who could possibly be countering her spells.
When Delvin and the others got back to the castle and went to their respective rooms. After changing out of the ceremonial outfits. Delvin sat at his desk and started to go through some paperwork. Sheila sat down on a stool behind him and stared out the window.
"What happened? Why weren't you announced?" Delvin asked without looking up from the table. "I was rejected." She replied. Delvin stood up and walked to her. He checked behind her neck for the mark. It was still there.
"Was it Tanyju or the priests that rejected you?" He asked . Sheila stood up as well.
"That big lizard did" she said and removed Delvin's hand from her shoulder where he had placed it. Delvin's lips curved slightly into a smile and then returned back to his normal expression.
"Why would he do that?" He asked.Sheila sat down again. They heard a knock on the door. Sheila went to open it and let Stel into the room. The young girl entered and bowed before Delvin.
"My royal mother, the king dowager wishes to see you" she said. Delvin nodded and followed her out of the room.
They went to Dolores ' room and met her seated comfortably on her bed. She was still wearing her ceremonial clothes. Delvin walked up to her and bowed. She held his hands and pulled him up.
" You will never change brother. Sit" she said and he complied. Stel st on a chair opposite him.
Dolores cleared her throat before she spoke.
" I will have to postpone all of your travelling plans." She said and looked at Stel. " In three days it will be Her birthday. And I will like to have a proper grand celebration for her. She already made some requests, so I would be elated if you stayed and helped to plan this" she said. Delvin glanced at Stel.
"Why you didn't tell me, sister?" He asked her. Stel smiled in response
Delvin looked at Dolores "its no problem. I will stay and attend this party" he said. "Is there anything else?" He asked. Dolores shook her head with a smile. Delvin then stood up bowed and left the room.
He returned to his chamber and saw Sheila seated on chair in front of the mirror. she turned her head so as to get a glimpse of the mark. Delvin walked up to her and covered the spot with his hand. "don't think about it" he said. a loud thud was heard from the window area. Delvin turned and saw the dragon. he growled menacingly, releasing smoke all over the room. Delvin waved his had in front of his face and coughed.
"Whats wrong with you lizard? Are you trying to suffocate us?" Delvin asked. The dragons eyes flashed a fiery gold and it proceeded towards them. "You think i let go of the girl, no i only removed the priests attention" it said and took human form. "I just need to keep her away from temple rights and public attention. And now to keep her away from you." He said and sat down on a chair. Sheila hid behind Delvin and faced the wall. Tan'y'ju glared at Delvin who spread his arms as though they could prevent the dragon from seeing Sheila. Tan'y'ju laughed. He stood up and walked up to Delvin. "You seek something that can never be yours." He said and grabbed Delvin's neck and threw him towards the book shelf. Sheila heatd Delvin hit the shelf and slowly turned around only to find herself face to face with Tan'y'ju. The dragon grinned and attempted to grab her hand but she stabbed his with a penknife. Tan'y'ju stiffened and she ran to where Delvin was lying in the ground. She helped him to his feet, checking if he was injured. As she fretted over Delvin she heard Tan'y'ju laugh eerily. She looked up and saw that his hand was unharmed. Then she felt a piercing pain on her right hand. It was bleeding, seriously bleeding. Delvin looked at her hand and then at Tan'y'ju, the dragon returned to his chair. "Did you really think you could hurt a god?" It said and laughed again. He then dissilated into a dark cloud and left the room. Delvin hurried to his tabke and took a handkerchief to wrap Sheilas hand.
"I will send for the royal physician immediately" he said with a look of concern. Sheila glanced at him. He made her sit on the bed and sent a guard to get the doctor.
Something on the floor caught Sheila's eye. She looked down and found a box with the royal seal on it. Delvin returned to the bed with a bowl of water which he quickly heated. Sheila hid the box under the blankets.
"What is your relationship with the dragon?" She asked
"Why is this coming from?" Delvin asked back.
"My question came first" she said.
"I'm the dragons guardian, like it's servant or occupying vessel"
"So your the servant, and I'm his bride? Doesn't that make you my servant?" She asked and grinned. Delvin looked from her hand which he as cleaning.
"You aren't being serious right now, are you?" He asked as the doctor came in.
The doctor was a middle aged man, perhaps in his forties. He bowed to Delvin and set down his box. His eyes perused over Delvin as he searched for the injury. Delvin smiled.
"I am not he patient, my maid is. She has hurt herself with a penknife" he said. The doctor bowed again and quickly began treating Sheila's hand.