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"Okay" I nodded, resting my arms over s in Court sessions, you knoe can work out a wink or a nod combo?"

"I’m sorry, I can’t do that," he said in his austere voice "I knohat influence my words have on you, and it would be unfair of me to, essentially, rule the nation like a puppeteer It would also be irresponsible ofand orks, and you will do that with uidance, not my opinions Okay?"

I turned ood at this"

"At what?" He laughed

"At…I don’t know…being noble and all"

"Well, I’ve had a lot of practice"

"Clearly"

We both sat in silence for a while All the things I’d just learned about Drake, Anandene and Vaends we’d based this entireHoas I to knohat to believe now?

I sighed and hugged Arthur’s ar my head on his shoulder "Hey, Arthur?"

"Yes,about this" I reached down and lifted the key from under my shirt "I found it in the forest," I added as he held it in his fingertips, studying it carefully

"No, sorry, my lady, I’ve not seen it before But this--" He pointed to the rope-like symbol on the top, "--is called a Celtic Knot"

"What’s a Celtic Knot?"

"Many have argued its interpretation and significance, but one truth I have co force--perhaps immortal life"

"Wow" I took the key back "Do you think it belonged to Lilith once?"

He shook his head "I’d have no way of knowing, but I never saw her with any key such as this I can tell you that this syh"

"Really? So, is that like ned for him and his descendants"

"He has descendants?"

"He has several"

"From Anandene?"

"No"

"Do they…I mean, do I know any of them--have any defected?"

He shook his head "You have h"

"I did?"

"Yes You killed him"

I covered my mouth "I did? Well, as he?"

"He was a vile creature, Amara, do not pity him He was born of sin and wreaked such atrocities on the world his own father locked him in a coffin six feet beneath the earth for a century"

"Why?"

"It all began when Drake sought to experi with Created Lilithians, atte to form a new species, but was never successful--the Created couldn’t seem to bear children like the pure bloods could So, he had a child with a huhter, he…" Arthur left that bit hanging

"He had a child with her?"

Arthur looked down "He did"

"With his own daughter?"

"Yes"

I nearly vomited "And…as the child? Ielse, entirely You hout history, it was common for humans to inbreed--which led to deformities"

"Yeah"

"Well, the powerful blood of inified that The boy was normal of appearance but, inside, he was like a beast--twisted, vile and cruel He did sos"

"Like what?"

Arthur looked at me carefully then closed his eyes for a second "I’m afraid, Your Majesty, I should not taint your pure heart with such tales"

"Please tell ht "All I will say is that he preferred to prey on the innocent He enjoyed watching so pure and srithe and squeal And what he did to so human, haunts my dreams"

"So, how did I come to kill him then, and when?"

"Do you remember the boy you bit--in the council chamber?"

"The blonde boy?"

"Yes"

"Of course I do I still have nightmares about it"

"Well--" He took my hand firmly "Do not He was a creature not fit for this world So heinous, in fact, I fear for the devil if he owns that boy’s soul"

"So…I killed a monster--not a boy?"

"Monster is too kind a word for what he was A soulless, deht better describe hi breath and s sokilled that boy There was never any resolution for --what he did to deserve being killed"

Arthur smiled "I wish I had told you sooner I’m sorry I did not think of it"