REONE
Anika's statement had rendered everyone speechless—including Reone.
"What could your dad possibly know about the Temple of Echoes?" Lyrian asked, deeply confused.
"I don't know," Anika admitted. "But he's hiding something. That much I'm sure of."
"Well, if your dad knows anything about the temple, then he needs to tell us," Sire said.
"King Arnab doesn't need to tell anyone anything," Lhanak replied coolly. "He is the King."
"Lhanak, is it?" Diamond said sharply. "You should probably know that some of us here are royalty too."
"And your positions—whatever they may be—have no bearing here… your highnesses," Lhanak shot back without hesitation.
Diamond gasped in indignation. "Well—"
"We understand, Lhanak," Reone cut in before Diamond could finish. "It's just that the Temple is still a bit of a mystery to us, and from everything we've heard, it's a dangerous place as well. Anything King Arnab can tell us could go a long way in helping us complete our mission—and in helping us stay alive."
"They're right, Primi," Anika said with a frustrated sigh. "We need to make my dad tell us what he knows."
Primi snorted. They all looked at him.
"Don't get me wrong, I agree with you guys. But good luck getting King Arnab to tell you anything he doesn't want you to know. He's a stubborn man."
"He is stubborn," Anika said, lifting her chin. "But so am I. I am his daughter, after all."
"She's got a point there, Primi," Romi added.
Primi looked at Anika and sighed. "I guess it's worth a try."
"Wait. My friends and I are coming with you, Anika," Lyrian said firmly. "We're on a tight schedule. We can't afford to sit around waiting."
"She's right," Reone added, backing her up.
Anika sighed. "I'd rather go to my father alone, but I understand where you're all coming from. You can come."
"Thank you, Anika."
"Wait—can you come too, Primi?" Anika asked.
"Me?" he said.
She nodded. "As Captaon of his guard, you're a favorite of my dad. If he won't listen to me, then maybe he'll listen to you."
Primi looked thoughtful before shrugging nonchalantly. "Alright. You can lead the way."
Anika nodded, but with next to zero enthusiasm.
It had been her idea to confront her dad, but she found herself dreading the whole thing. Anika knew it wasn't going to be easy.
Still, she summoned all of her courage.
She could do this, Anika told herself. After all, she had the truth on her side.
"Anika, are you going to stand there,staring into space or are you going to get a move on?" Primi asked her in an impatient voice.
His gently chiding breaks from her reverie, Anika turned to all of them with s serious expression. "Let's go."
Reone,Lyrian,Primi and the others followed her solitary figure, none of them knowing whst was going to happen next.
---
REONE
"This is unlike any palace I've ever seen," Seren said as they entered the King's Hollow.
"I don't think it's a palace at all, Seren," Mickey said.
"It's not. They just call it a Hollow," Lyrian explained.
"You guys keep talking about these palaces so much that it's making me curious. What are they like?" Anika asked.
"Why don't you visit us sometime and see for yourself?" Diamond suggested.
"Oh—no… my father only lets me leave the Nest as far as the forest, and only on a mission. Anything outside of that is strictly forbidden," Anika explained sadly.
"Well, that just sucks," Diamond said.
"You're telling me," Anika replied with a sad smile.
Once inside the Hollow, they found the elders in the living room, having tea.
"Them again?" Reone said despairingly.
"Who are they?" Mia asked.
"The elders," he explained. "They aren't big fans of us 'outsiders.'"
"That, and any kind of change," Anika clarified. "They're not exactly chummy with me either."
She broke into a bright, fake smile as she approached them.
"Greetings, elders," Anika said.
"Greetings, Princess," they replied respectfully.
"I see the outsiders are still here," one female elder said, eyeing Reone's group warily.
"They are. And Elder Adia, is that any way to address the people who helped save our Nest?" Anika said sternly.
"Of course. My apologies, Princess," the elder muttered, though it was clear she only said it because she had to.
The elders still hadn't warmed up to the group of strangers, even after they had saved them. There was too much bad blood between them and outsiders.
"Shouldn't you be apologizing to us, not her?" Nova asked, as logical as ever.
For a moment, the elder just stared at them, but relented when Anika gave her a challenging look.
The elder grudgingly apologized to Reone and the others. "Can we help you with something?" she then asked with fake sweetness.
Anika chose to ignore her demeanor this time.
"Yes. We're looking for my father," Anika said.
"He is in his study and said he must not be disturbed under any circumstances," another elder said, her voice hostile.
"I'm afraid this is important. I need to talk to him urgently," Anika announced.
She didn't wait for their reply—just turned to the others. "You guys stay here. I'll go get my dad. And the elders can arrange tea for you, right, elders?"
The group of Diviners didn't look pleased with the prospect, but they didn't dare snub the Princess or King Arnab's honored guests.
"Of course. It's the least we can do after what they did for us," another elder said with a forced smile.
Reone didn't trust them—or their tea—but he said nothing.
"Good. I'll be back soon," Anika told them.
*****
The chamber was dim, lit by a single torch hanging Arnab placed on a nearby wall.
Inside of it, Arnab was busy dragging a chest from its hiding place beneath his desk.
Once the chest was out, King Arnab stood, reached beneath his robe, and pulled out a thin golden chain. A small, ornate key hung from it.
"I hope this key still works after all these years," he murmured.
He knelt and slipped the key into the lock of the old chest, turning it with a soft click.
The lid creaked open. The King lifted it with satisfaction.
He rifled through stacks of ancient scrolls inside the chest.
"Where is it? I know I put it here," he muttered, urgency tightening his voice.
He pulled one scroll out, unrolled it slightly, scanned it—then shoved it back.
"No. This isn't the right one."
His movements grew more frantic.
"I know that scroll is here somewhere…"
Then he pulled out another scroll—thinner this time. Dust billowed into the air as he opened it, making him cough.
Despite that, he peered closer.
Then his eyes widened.
"Yes," he breathed. "I've found it. The scroll about the Temple of Echoes."
He moved quickly to his desk, spread the scroll across its surface, and began reading.
"I hope I'm wrong about this," he murmured.
The longer he read, the more alarmed his expression became.
"No… This isnt good.I need to..."
"Dad?"
The voice came from behind him.
The King froze.
Slowly, he closed the scroll and tucked it into his sleeve. Then he turned, anger flashing across his face.
"What are you doing here, Anika?" he snapped.
"I want to talk to you, Dad."
"I told you I'm busy."
"I know that was just an excuse so you could avoid answering our questions—questions about the Temple of Echoes," Anika said calmly but firmly. "And I bet that scroll you're hiding has everything to do with it."
The King pressed his lips together, realizing he'd been caught. He removed the scroll from his sleeve.
"Oh, you mean this?" he said casually. "This is just—"
"Save it, Dad," Anika cut in angrily. "I can tell by your face that you're about to lie to me."
Usually, Anika was more respectful when speaking to her father, but she didn't want to waste time dancing around the truth. Lyrian, Reone, and the others were waiting in the great room, growing more impatient by the minute.
"Don't you dare talk to me in that tone, young lady," King Arnab warned.
The urge to back down was strong—but she stood her ground.
"I'm just telling the truth, unlike you, Dad," Anika said.
"No. You're being disrespectful, and you don't know what you're talking about," Arnab replied coldly.
"Yes, I do," she said. "You're my father. I know when you're feeding me lies—and when you're not. Just tell me why. I know you have a good reason. I'll understand. And so will the outsiders waiting in the great room."
"They haven't left?" the King asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No," Anika said.
A brief look of relief crossed his face. It only confused her more.
"They're waiting to hear what we know," she continued. "The Temple of Echoes is a mystery to them. Anything you can tell us could help them complete their mission—but they're running out of time. So please. Come and explain what's going on."
The King closed his eyes.
When he opened them, he exhaled heavily.
"Alright, Anika," he said quietly. "But I'm afraid you're not going to be pleased with me when I do."
Anika frowned. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because the secret I've been hiding," he said slowly, meeting her eyes, "affects everyone in the Nest."
He paused.
"Including you."