1 The flash back

It had rained heavily all through the night till morning hours with lots of lightening and thunder storms, the rain seem not to be close to stoping keeping everyone in the kingdom indoors, waiting for the rain to stop.

Up inside the palace, King Erikson paced from one corner of his room to the other, he was restless as he waited to hear the news of the arrival of his child. This was going to be his first child.

Erikson is the 4th king of Tolaria kingdom. A small but powerful human kingdom.

His wife queen Ursula had been in labour for the past 4 hours after having carried the pregnancy for 13 months. Everyone in the palace has been under panic as what the whole event will turn out to be. The midwives kept running in and out of the royal delivery room where the queen was as panic continued to rise.

He walked to his window , stood still just watching the rain as it fell his mind occupied with many thoughts, a swift movement outside his court yard caught his attention immediately snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What was that ?"he wondered coming closer to observe well he noticed a female figure all dressed in black standing at the middle of his court yard, she appeared to be facing his direction, As they both stood looking at each other, there was another thunder storm, this made King Erikson to bend away from the window but on getting up the figure was gone.

He let out a hiss believing it was all in his imagination. As he stood there still looking out of the window he felt the presences of a being in his room, he knew immediately that he wasn't alone anymore, someone had entered his room but the question was, who could have appeared just like that? and so he wasted no time turning back..."who is there and what do you want he thundered" showing no fear.

King Erikson is known to be a brave, strong and fearless man so it was unlikely for him to shiver in such situations.

"Hahahahaha King Erikson it is I Nala" are you not happy to see me? Nala answered coming out of the dark where she has been standing.

Nala is a witch, the daughter of Adira, a very powerful witch. Adira is one of the leaders of the Durachi coven one of the strongest and most powerful coven of witches ever known.

"Why are you here"? he asked in anger showing no sign of fear for her.

"You don't have to be like that, just relax I have not come to harm you or anyone neither am I here to cause trouble, I just came to deliver a message as I have been sent that's all" Nala explained.

"What message could you possibly bring at this time of distress?, say whatever you want to say and leave because you are not welcome here" King Erikson answered almost shouting this time.

Nala looked at him with an evil smile on her face and said " you must keep the curse a secret until the right time" else there will be consequences, he who has ears let him hear " she said as she disappeared.

By now King Erikson was having mixed feelings, first was the feeling of happiness and enthusiasm that he was going to be a father soon and second was sadness as his innocent child was coming to the world with a curse which he had nothing to do with and he as a father can do nothing to stop it.

While he was deep in his thoughts again the presence of one of the midwives was announced as she came into his Chambers to tell him that his queen had been delivered of a baby boy.

"My king, please do no be long in there, she lost so much blood so she needs to rest very well" Anna the chief midwife said while they( the midwives) bow as King Erikson makes his way into the royal delivery to see his wife and new born baby.

He could not control his emotions immediately he set his eyes on them,tears rolling down his cheek, Queen Ursula opend her eyes and smilled when he gave her a kiss on her cheek, she was too weak to say a word.

"We finally made it, thank you so much for this beautiful gift" he said holding her hands.

She just gave him a nod and smilled.

The baby was just too beautiful to behold, he had his mother's eyes and lips.

"He shall be called Walter, and I promise you both that I will do everything in my power to protect you as long as I have breath in me" King Erikson promised still holding his wife and carrying the new baby.

"Father! Father!! are you okay?" Prince Hedy called on his father with concern in his voice as he held the King's hand.

Prince Hedy is the the King's second son. He had come to talk to his father concerning what had happened in the market place that afternoon.

King Erikson jumped up with his eyes wide open and body full of sweat, he had been still on his chair and having very deep flash back on the birth of his beloved first son, Prince Walter.