Isidorus was in a meeting with the ministry members when Adrianna summoned him. Most of them had only one thing in mind, which was to fill Mihr's position. Isidorus was dejected with the way everyone showed his or her greed for the position. It had not even been three days since his death and the ministry people were behaving like hawks who had their eyes set on the post of the Military General. He wanted the Queen to interfere in the matter and quiet them. However, he wasn't saying much to her because he knew that even she needed some rest.

Apart from that Ziu's residence had exploded. The damage had been huge. It would take some time to build it up. Since a lot of ground of Level Three that was under his palace had blown, Isidorus was searching for a similar kind of soil that would float in the level and sustain construction. That kind of soil was only available in the moors outside the Land of Gaira—which was where the spirits resided. And no one dared to even go there.

​​

So when Adrianna summoned him, he thought he would take the opportunity to discuss the matter with her. When he appeared before her, he found that she was already in deep discussion with Inyanga and the rest.

"They were asking about it," he updated her.

"Let them," she replied with nonchalance.

Isidorus drew his head back with a slight jerk. He was shocked at her answer. Either she was taking it too lightly or she didn't want to address that situation at the moment.

"What about Ziu's position?" he asked in a very low voice not wanting to attract her wrath. Although none of the members had asked about it, he knew that they would soon.

Adrianna looked sharply at him and bared her teeth in a low snarl as if that was the most hateful word she had ever listened. Except Dmitri who understood her well, everyone cringed. "Let that position remain vacant for as long as I feel the need to fill it." She spoke like a tyrant.

"Yes, my Queen," Isidorus replied as a thin line of sweat appeared on his forehead.

When Isidorus mentioned the name 'Ziu', it was like a thousand needles had pierced her body. Adrianna's face flushed red. After a pause she ordered, "Arrange a meeting with the ministry. I will be there in an hour."

"Yes, my Queen," Isidorus replied with respect and immediately left.

"This is a bad decision Adrianna," Dmitri noted. "What kind of victory celebrations are you talking about? This was a victory which cost so many lives."

Adrianna stared directly in Dmitri's eyes, "You are right Dmitri, the celebrations are to celebrate the dead—those who gave up their lives, those who were willing to give up their lives, those who stood with me." She said all that in one breath. She was extremely agitated. Her fists curled tightly.

Dmitri had only one thing in his mind—his baby. He walked to sit next to her and placed his hand on her tummy. He stroked her hair and lightly kissed on her cheek. "Relax baby. I am saying that only for our child. These past few months have been extremely worrisome. There was a lot of mental pressure on all of us."

Adrianna kept her head on his shoulders and nodded. She needed to relax.

"Now that you have already declared to host a grand feast for the subjects, go for it, but after that I want you to unwind, take a breather, okay? You will not step out of the Wizard Kingdom. Whatever you want will be presented to you right here. In fact you won't go anywhere else other than the palace, ministry block and noble court."

"What?" Adrianna was shocked. "No! I will visit Level One and Two and if need be, I will go out of this realm."

"No!" Dmitri rebuked her. "You are not going anywhere else."

Adrianna sighed. Her husband was as stubborn as a mule sometimes. She conceded with slumped shoulders. "Okay, if you say so."

Dmitri smiled. "Thanks dear."

Inyanga watched the two of them with a faint smile and then got up to leave. She said, "Adrianna, I think my work here is over. I would like to take my leave."

Adrianna understood that she wanted to go back to her kingdom. She raised her head from Dmitri's shoulder and said, "Please wait for the grand feast. It would be my pleasure if you could attend it."

Haldir felt as though his heart had lurched out. Every wisp of air left his lung when Inyanga announced that she had to leave. Promptly he added, "But what about the cult theory? I think you should help us in finding more about it." He sounded too convinced.

Even Adrianna was shocked. She raised her eyebrow again. She communicated mentally to him, "Why don't you simply open up with your feelings?"

"What feelings?" came the answer back.

Adrianna smacked her head.

"Well, if Adrianna isn't interested I don't think there���s any point in developing or finding about it," Inyanga replied to Haldir's dejection. She turned to Adrianna and said, "Do you remember the rain-check I asked you about?"

Adrianna nodded with a smile. "What can I do for you?"

"I have come to this part of the world for the first time and so I was thinking of going as a tourist to visit places. And I would prefer to drive."

"That is wonderful," Adrianna answered with a grin. "Would you like me to send someone with you?"

"I can go!" Haldir reacted quickly before Adrianna came with someone else's name. At the risk of not sounding eager, he added, "I mean even I haven't visited anywhere in many years, so if the Queen allows, I can accompany Inyanga. Plus it is only out of protocol that I am saying so because after all Inyanga has helped us in the war." Haldir didn't know how silly he appeared to be. His face was red till the neck. His ears were twitching and his heartbeat was so loud that everyone in the hall could hear it.

Dmitri's mouth fell open. Inyanga didn't know where to look while Adrianna narrowed her eyes. She was literally holding her laughter to the extent that tears came out. "Do you have a license to drive, Haldir?" she asked suppressing herself.

"I can get one," he replied and waved his hand in the air. A pile of licenses appeared in the air dropping around him.

"See that they are valid or not. You may accompany Inyanga but you better be here for the celebrations."

"Yes, my Queen."

"Then just be careful," Adrianna rose from her place. "I have to go to the ministry. I will come back soon," she said.

"I am waiting," Dmitri replied with his trademark lopsided smile.

Adrianna got sucked in a vortex.

When she reached the ministry, she saw how eagerly every member was waiting for her. She sat down in her chair at the head of the table. Even before she could speak, the Minister of Transport, a witch named Yanga, interjected, "My Queen, Mihr's position is of utmost importance, which should be filled soon. My son, Kenai was only a few years your senior at the Wizard Academy. He is a young, strong wizard and the fact that he is the son of a ministry member, you should consider him to make your Military General."

---

A ritual was taking place in a remote area of the town that was surrounded by heavy vegetation. A werewolf was being sacrificed.