The eldest child was afraid of going against the King's orders but she still said, "Is that alright, Father? She looked down on the Daikirin. No matter how strong she is... The four of us can deal with her. Father doesn't have to even get involved."

The King was silent for a while. Then he frowned at her and just looked away.

The eldest child understood. She took her siblings and reluctantly went away.

A while after they'd left, the King vanished from the throne room and resurfaced beside Hidaya.

She turned and smiled at him without a word. Then she went on with feeding the Daikirin.

"Still the same after thirteen years. Tell me, is it so hard to speak?"

She sighed but still didn't turn around. "You saw my name on the list of those that have read the Book-sword and insisted on making contact. I just didn't want to, but I can speak quite okay."

Miki Abbas laughed. He could remember how he kept searching and sending letters to Hidaya, but she refused to meet with him. He had tried to make her a commander then, but she refused.

He took a deep breath and said, "I don't know who is going to win this war. But even you don't support Bihanzin after what he did during the talisman war. How did you feel when you heard of your brother's marriage to his daughter?"

"You know I can't let my brother have ties with Bihanzin. He and his godforsaken black ravens would be dead by now if I can help it."

Abbas looked at her in shock. "You don't commonly curse," he murmured.

Hidaya paused. She glanced at him. "I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay." He shook his head. "As for me, I don't hate Bihanzin. People were unaware that Ururu stopped only the sale of talismans that increase the years of pol. They reserved it just for themselves. It's a pity that some people will always be blamed for others' actions." He sighed. "Anyway, what are you going to do about this current war?"

"Just picking my brother and our mom. Whoever wins is not my concern."

"But Daljari has once been of help to the Wilberforces. Your father sold some 'dangerous' incantations to him, you should have been involved in the talisman war."

Stolen novel; please report.

"I also helped him when he needed it the most," she snapped. "Do you know that his wife, Niyashi's mother, was an Uzzus? The boy never ages. I have severally had a narrow escape while trying to prevent the Lord King from finding out about their secret. Stop pretending as if you were unaware."

"Well, yes, that is a fair repayment," replied Abbas. He sounded unyielding. "But I still want to know your actual age, if you don't mind."

She ignored him.

"Haha..! Silly me. I forgot a woman should never be asked about her age. But tell me, how old is Armad?"

"I don't know that either. Ask the stars."

Abbas didn't get angry. He took in a deep breath before asking, "What is the real reason behind this visit? I am sure you could be more discrete if you wish, but why alert me of your presence?"

Hidaya's face changed. She suddenly looked much older. She turned to face him and said, "I come to plead with you about something."

~Several months ago

~the Kingdom of Sisiya

~ Jekis city

~ Bihanzin's palace

On this day, King Deniz Iluru went to Sisiya, seeking the princess' hand in marriage for his son. The princess rejected him. This was the story known to the public. But the real thing that happened was far from it. Bihanzin and Iluru had a secret meeting at the exact time Bizaya chatted with Nostalgia.

Bihanzin produced the map he received from Ikenga several weeks ago, the forbidden map of the whole underground world. Iluru looked on greedily. There was nothing he couldn't do to possess this map. All the treasures and hidden cities of the underground world be his. With a little effort, he could expand his territory and claim more riches than his predecessors combined.

"Are you sure? I can turn my back on you at the last minute?" Deniz said.

Bihanzin shrugged. "A real man won't do that. A real man must wholeheartedly believe in what he wants if he wants to succeed. I know that the combined strength of three jinzidal Kings is more than I can handle. I need your help." He pushed the map toward Deniz. "This is all yours if you help me win the war."

"Hahaha. You are scary indeed." Iluru laughed. He took the map and threw it in his bag of holding. Then he went on, "Let me make sure that I get everything correctly. You stole the Yura-shira sword, a long time ago, knowing that one day a descendant of Bayajidda would come looking for it. Then you could exchange it for this sacred map. Surely, your calculation is one of your most admirable traits."

He paused and stared at Bihanzin to gauge his reaction. Bihanzin remained calm and expressionless, so he went on, "And because the map is useless to you, you kept them for just a day such as this..."

King Iluru froze as a sudden realization dawned on him.

"So it was all intentionally done? The nickname of the black orphan, the rescue by Daljari, the..."

He paused. His whole body was shaking now. Hundred of years of scheming! He didn't know who this man in front of him truly was.

Bihanzin just laughed.

"It was already set in motion some nine hundred years ago. You can't stop me now even if you try."

When King Iluru left, he couldn't go home and went to the dungeons directly where his uncle Deniz Ururu was imprisoned. He needed council.

~Bayajidda Route

~The Battlefield

The battlefield had changed: Deniz Iluru and Bihanzin had now ganged up on Daljari. But Armad was unaware of it. He was forced into the pocket dimension of the Lord King, and now, he was lost.