BLOODY VENGEANCE

The three princes gather for a meeting.

Gudmund returned to his room and sent all the servants away as he sat on the chair and gazed through the window. His brothers followed him into the room and looked outside the door to make sure that no one had followed them. Askild scanned his brother's countenance before he allowed his youngest brother take another step forward. "Di* are you alright?"

"There is no need to fear, Askild. I am back to normal and I will not never hurt you even if I'm not." Gudmund did not react at all seeing the caution in his brother's eyes. His second brother had always been the cautious one between them and he did not mind it since it was about Ivar's safety.

Ivar brushed his brother's hand away and quickly approached Gudmund as he sat on the bed. He seemed a little hesitant at first but he steeled his mind and asked him. "Di, is there a reason why you deserted our plan and cut Elif down like that? Who is the female servant you wanted to save so badly?"

Gudmund turned his face away, sighing deeply about the situation that he had gotten himself into. He and his brothers had been facing hard times ever since they went back to the past before the downfall of the great Krudak kingdom. His heart....no, the goddess's heart was the solid reason for his recent behavior. Although he had become stronger and faster than any mortal in the Kingdom, he could not control the rage and bloodthirstiness in his heart so he had feared that he would destroy the very kingdom that he wanted to save....

...Until he saw that woman again. 

His cold stony heart started to beat under his chest and he was happy but confused at the same time when he laid eyes on her in this life. This person was none other than a servant whom had risked her life in his past life to help him and his brothers escape the palace back then. It was obvious that his brothers did not remember her but he could never forget the faces of the people who had spilled their own blood to protect the royal sons of Krudak. 

"She is no one important, brothers. You need not worry about her." He quickly changed the topic in case they continued to question him about it. "How about Father? How is he doing now?"

Ivar understood his action but did not comment on it. "He has remained in his chambers all day since that old woman left. That priestess...why did she have to such things in front of Father? She almost exposed you before she fainted!

Askild looked a little bit worried so he interjected. "You might have to appease Father soon or you would not be able to leave this room. How about you go and talk to him?"

Gudmund shook his head wordlessly. He understood why his father was behaving this way towards him. The King had always avoided war and promoted peace during his reign unlike his ancestors who worked hard to expand their territory and make them the most superior race in the planet. He was obviously worried about him starting a bloodshed across the three kingdoms like the past. But things like this could no longer be helped. "There is no need. He cannot hold me here for long now that people from the Yottera Kingdom are coming here. How is the preparation for Princess Selene coming along?"

Ivar revealed a scheming cocky smile despite his eyes that brimmed with hatred and said. "Everything is already in place. I will make sure that your fiancee will never forget her visit here for the rest of her life."

Gudmund nodded, knowing that he had chosen the right person for the job. Ivar had also been one of Selena's victims in their past life and he had paid a great price for falling into her hands. "The Yottera women are very deceitful and cunning. You should be very careful in your dealings with them."

Askild waited for the youngest to nod to their brother's words before he finally spoke up. "Are you sure that we can get that purple diamond from her? I hear she wears it around her neck and does not allow anyone touch it."

"That's why we must get it at all costs. That diamond was passed down from her mother as it was handed down by their goddess, Drika. It have a connection with their powers of illusion." Askild told them. He was the one in charge of doing all this assignments and investigations among them because of his overly cautious behavior. 

Gudmund nodded solemnly. "This time, we are the ones who will destroy our enemies and make them regret their past actions. At the meantime, I will continue to hone my blade to defend my position. We cannot let them attempt to dispose me again."

Askild and Ivar shared a determined look among themselves and chorused. "Yes, Senior Brother!"

Meanwhile, the old priestess finally woke up and was escorted out of the palace with some guards along with her temple maidens. Niva, her successor noticed how disconcerted she seemed and held her arm to support her while asking with her face filled with concern. "Nama, are you alright?"

"Hmm?" The old woman sluggishly turned her focus to the young woman and composed herself while reassuring her with a faint smile. "I am alright, child. When we return to the temple, I will be going into seclusion for a few days. You will be take over for the meantime."

The young woman nodded obediently, leaving the old woman to her thoughts. Her mind went to the visions she had seen when she grabbed the Crown Prince's hands and she found them unbelievable. She was also grateful to him for hitting one of her acupuncture points to make her fall unconscious but that did not mean she did not have questions.

What were the meaning of all the visions she had seen? Who was this person that was claiming to be the Crown Prince? Why did he possess the powers of a god? How would all of this affect the throne and the people of Krudak? 

She had to find out.