Entangled web of destruc.., p.8
Entangled Web of Destruction, page 8
Roselynn locks the door and slides a chair against it, hoping it will prevent someone from accessing the room. She brushes Kyle’s hair to comfort him before she searches for something she can use as a weapon. Gripping the hand mirror, she sees her rough complexion and dirt smeared on her face.
Breaking the mirror, she creates glass shards and wraps the ends of the glass with a cloth to protect her hand. She lies on the floor a few feet away from the door to listen for anyone who may enter the upstairs as Kyle plays within arm’s length. Hopefully, Aurlynn will arrive in Orchard Ridge soon. She must be as exhausted as Roselynn is after the long night of not stopping.
Her stomach rumbles, reminding her that she has not eaten since last night, and she gave all the food to Kyle during their ride. Roselynn’s eyes become heavy, as she tries to stay awake, but fatigue overpowers her.
17
Constantina
Splintered Vale
Several days passed since King Jonathan’s death.
The destruction of the fires is evident in the courtyard adjacent to the royal bedchambers. It also serves as another reminder of the events from the night her husband was murdered. She must address the king’s advisors in a meeting shortly and obtain updates about the surrounding villages being surveyed for damage. Hopefully, the carnage is not as bad as she has envisioned. She knows they will question her about Kyle’s absence, and she is prepared.
“Kayleen, your grace will strengthen our family. Your father would be so proud of you,” Constantina says as she kisses her daughter’s forehead. “Maggie, can you take Kayleen?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Maggie is one of the nursemaids helping Constantina until her ladies-in-waiting return. Maggie’s mother was a nursemaid to Jonathan many years ago, and hopefully, she has the same determination to protect his heirs as her mother.
“You are to stay in this room and not leave without my authorization. Alexander will always have two knights stationed outside the room. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I should not be gone long. I will return to take Kayleen to her father’s funeral.”
She takes a deep breath and looks at her reflection in the foggy mirror. Dark, heavy circles and red eyes from crying reflect her stressful last few days. Her black dress is covered in dark lace with long sleeves. The crown peaks out from her thick red hair. She brushes the loose locks out of her face and forces herself to smile.
There will be challenges as she tries to gain the trust of the advisors, nobles, and others who are only loyal to her husband. Fighting to become the queen regent will be tough, but she will not stop fighting and discharge those against her from the court. Hopefully, there is enough loyalty to prevent a battle of who shall rule, until her son comes of age.
A knock at the door interrupts her thoughts.
“Your Majesty, it is time,” Alexander informs her, holding the door open.
“I need a few more minutes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was never a thought that she would raise her children without her husband or rule a kingdom until her son was old enough to take the throne. Tears stream down her face as she brushes her daughter’s thin hair. Her family had trained her to become a leader from a young age, and with the guidance of her husband, she will not let anything stand in her way.
“Stay strong, little one. I will return soon.”
AS THEY WALK THROUGH THE gardens, the smoky air penetrates her lungs without warning. She coughs, holding on to her chest, and waves Alexander away. The cathedral where she and her husband wed smolders. How much destruction can her family take? Will there be a way to prevent Richard from attacking again in the future? She wrings her hands together as the thought of her son not returning causes panic.
“I don’t know how to hold myself together after my husband’s death, the birth of my daughter, my son’s absence, and the fear that my friends are not returning. I am too fragile to address the council, and they will sense my vulnerability, ready to exile me back to my home with or without my children.”
“Your Majesty, those without loyalty can leave the kingdom. I pledge my commitment to House Ainsworth and its descendants, including your role as queen regent. Any man, including Richard, who attempts to rise against you will be dealt with by either Charnell or me. Don’t let fear distract you from raising your son to take the throne.”
“Your friendship with my husband has meant much over the years. I promise we will find your sister.”
Alexander bows.
They continue to walk to the Great Hall in silence as she takes in the gardens’ scenery and the castle markets in view. Pausing, she watches a few farmers staring back at her from the gate’s iron bars. Their eyes are empty and appear hopeless. She brushes off Alexander as she walks toward them.
“Your Majesty,” a woman says, curtsying. “The war has destroyed our homes, and we have nowhere to go. We seek an audience with the king but have been denied.”
“Lilian, you are the daughter of the late Sir Grady?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Is this your family with you?”
“Some, but not all. Our home was in Giles, which the army destroyed a few days ago.”
“Alexander, can someone check with the inn to find openings for these families? Lilian, we will not fail you again. Please wait for someone to escort you and find a place to stay, until we resolve this matter.”
“Bless you.”
As Alexander informs a few knights of her plans, Constantina continues her journey to the Great Hall. The war has displaced more families than anticipated, and they must act quickly to meet their needs. She waits for Alexander to catch up before entering. Not because she needs an escort or fears everyone, but because she needs a friend.
“Are you ready, Your Majesty?” Alexander asks as he places his hand on her shoulder.
“What choice do either of us have? I am sure Splintered Vale will be overrun by those seeking shelter before the night is upon us. How do we stop chaos from ravaging our land once they know the rumors of my husband are true?”
“Your presence is all the people need. Do not worry about the housing crisis. I delegated that task to my commanders a moment ago.”
THE ROOM BECOMES SILENT after Constantina announces the untimely death of her husband. Her hands become clammy as she secretly wipes them on her dress, not breaking composure. Some Privy Council members glance at each other, as if they want to say something but do not. Jonathan was the one who talked with the five members, not her. That was not her job, and everything is changing too quickly for her to catch up.
“Your Majesty, please accept our condolences for your loss. There were rumors the future king had not been seen in several days,” Earl Welch inquires.
“There is no need to worry about the rumors. The future king is safe and being watched over as we speak. Please join us in a few days to welcome the new addition to the royal family, Princess Kayleen Sterling Ainsworth. I have decided not to post an announcement of her birth, until we can address the crisis of the war.”
“The birth of the princess can bring joy and hope to your people, Your Majesty,” says Earl Wilson. “Please allow us to partake in a celebration of the blissful news.”
“We can share the news later. Please respect my decision, for we are posting a notice of the king’s death as we speak and gathering data about those we have lost during this senseless war. Our priority is to rebuild what we have lost and ensure those who have survived receive the necessary supplies. It would be an honor to see you at our king’s funeral by the lake shortly after this meeting for a private farewell.”
Alexander approaches the front of the room, joining Constantina.
He informs the council, “The meeting has concluded, and we will reconvene in a few days. Please respect our queen regent. She needs private time to focus on her family. This meeting has been adjourned.”
He escorts Constantina from the room as whispers erupt.
They walk to the lake in the western part of the castle to see her husband, one last time. Behind them, she hears footsteps approaching, as she knows the advisors are following her to attend the burial. She can’t allow the rumors of her son’s disappearance to concern them or anyone else in Splintered Vale, so she reluctantly leaves Kayleen with Maggie.
The funeral fades quickly, and everyone leaves Constantina alone at the lake with Alexander protecting her. She holds her husband’s medallion engraved with the family crest of an eagle as she watches the flames burn on the makeshift raft.
There is no turning back after this day, for everyone knows the truth. The whispers of a few advisors still replay in her thoughts as they brought up concerns about not seeing the children, sorceress, or Grandmaster of Arms in days.
“Until we meet again, dear husband.”
She places a white lily onto the water. She tries to blink back the tears, but she is not strong enough and falls to her knees on the platform, crying.
18
Nelia
Orchard Ridge
Fifty royal knights accompany Nelia and Charnell to Orchard Ridge.
Hopefully, they will arrive before King Richard’s army, but Broken Rest is closer to the village than Splintered Vale. They can see smoke billowing into the morning sky as they reach the top of the ridge overlooking the town. The adversary’s flag soars in the breeze. The chaos of destruction unfolds, as the sun breaks through the shadows of the trees.
Closing her eyes, she chants, calling upon the doves, who magically appear in a cloud of white smoke, perched on a tree limb, stretching, and shaking their feathers.
“Ladies, find Roselynn and guide her to safety. Do not return until this chaos has ended. Both she and the young prince are safe.”
The doves flap their wings, darting toward the town.
“Charnell, we can’t allow the darkness to consume our world.”
The aching bellowing of her stomach tells her a powerful being is nearby, and she knows it’s her rival. The thought of seeing him after their last encounter is unthinkable and unnerving. The warlock is testing her, but she refuses to allow him to win and cause self-doubt, even if she doesn’t trust herself anymore.
Revenge is simple, but her powers are not strong enough to destroy him. In the past, maybe she could, but after years of not practicing, her powers have gone dormant and become almost obsolete. She is no match. He could destroy her, but, as he said a few days ago, he has other plans. However, she still does not trust him.
“Nelia, we must go,” says Charnell.
Nodding, she seizes the reins, wrapping her palms around the leather. She kicks the horse with her heels, following the party and moving toward the town. The hooves grip the drought-stricken path, warning of the natural consequences of dying land and lack of essential rain. The people only hope more rain will soon show itself to help the land and crops.
She rides past the two enemy guards and knows her challenger awaits her. In the distance, she can see the warlock facing away from her in the town square. Ash covers his long black cloak, and his hair is painted with soot. Memories of their last encounter come crashing around her as she gets closer. She fights off the recurring thoughts to focus.
His fiery red eyes focus on Nelia, and the sun glares off his pale reflection as he conjures a powerful blue flame with his hand, casting it away quickly.
“Nelia, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” He smirks. “Do you seek me out for a friend or enemy?”
“Where is the prince?” she asks.
“Aww, that means neither of us has him.” He cracks his knuckles and rubs his fingertips against one another. “Is it not true that those with powers will eventually unravel like a snake shedding its skin?”
“There is no time for your riddles or antics, warlock. I bring forth a warning from Splintered Vale by the queen’s order. Leave Orchard Ridge immediately or face the consequences of your actions.”
Fallen embers plummet around them as they stand several yards apart. They grew up in the Hidden City together due to their fathers’ roles in the hierarchy, and both were trying to find their purpose in life. Nelia’s sister, Aurora, was the heir to the Hidden City, and Elbas wanted nothing more than to be an Elder like his father, but that is not what the Elders wanted.
“Returning empty-handed will be my fatal flaw, which I am not about to do,” he warns.
He conjures a blue flame, sending it in her direction too quickly for her to react, and she turns to brace for impact. The blast takes her breath away as she falls to the uneven ground. Speckles of blood gather on her palms, and pain engulfs her body. Her horse gallops away to reveal the warlock standing in the same spot.
“I refuse to fight you, not here, not now. My only plan is to save the young king from the destruction you and Richard have brought forth.”
“It’s a pity to see you weak from your time away. If your sister were here, she would be disappointed as well as the Elders, knowing they all made the right decision sending you away.”
“Antagonizing me to fight will only bring pain and relentless hatred toward you.” With a flick of her hand, a powerful blast of fire knocks the warlock a few feet back. His grin, his most unique quality that once caused ladies to fall for him, now sickens her. She snarls, “I do not have time to fight you, warlock!” Twirling her finger, she pulls the dark magic and sends a powerful blast of wind, striking him in the chest with incredible strength that thrusts him into a building.
“Sorceress,” screams Charnell.
He startles her, but she refuses to face him, not now, not as the dark magic is consuming her. She closes her eyes as the tears swell and trickle down her cheeks. No matter what the two of them have gone through, she loves him. It’s another reason why she left him years ago. After the late queen’s murder, anger over her failure consumed her, and the darkness grew rapidly, which in turn would have destroyed their relationship.
His rough hand embraces her arm, pulling her back from the shadows.
“Nelia, where is—”
The six-foot-tall enemy climbs out of the ash-covered debris, eyeing his target as he straightens his clothes. A gentle smile does not give them comfort but more of a warning because he is not done making her life miserable.
A shrill yell cuts through the chaos as a hawk arrives at the warlock’s location.
“Until next time, sorceress.”
He winks and conjures a horse, disappearing with the remaining men from Broken Rest.
“Are you going to tell me what is going on?” Charnell asks.
Lord Ryan interrupts, “Roselynn is hiding in a cabin in the Stormy Peaks with a few of my men, and the weather is treacherous.”
“Sorceress, please stay here until I return,” orders Charnell.
Lord Ryan escorts Nelia to the Wolverine Inn, which is miraculously untouched by the assault upon Orchard Ridge. Small smoke bands roll out of the wreckage of destroyed homes. The muffling of fear and tears overcrowds the cries for justice. Livestock runs loose around the surrounding fields, avoiding the havoc of what remains.
Nelia leans against the bar and listens to Lord Ryan’s plans to rebuild Orchard Ridge.
TREES SURROUND THE SMALL CABIN, hiding its existence from the world in the snowy mountain terrain. Charnell sees a few restless horses taking shelter in the makeshift barn adjacent to the home, and there is no other movement or any evidence of a fire, which concerns him with the freezing temperatures.
The floor creaks underfoot as he walks toward the door. Taking a deep breath, he opens the door, revealing a room full of dusty furniture, and nothing appears to be disturbed. His heart races as he tours the room to uncover no evidence anyone has been in the home. Outside, he sees a few royal knights bringing the horses out of the barn.
“There are no signs of anyone inside the home,” Charnell warns.
“Do you think they fled?” a knight asks.
Looking at the cabin again, he can see a room inaccessible from inside the home, or maybe he overlooked the door. Entering the house again, he runs his hand along the interior wall but finds no hidden passage or anything resembling a door. Crossing his arms, he looks at the wall to see an image becoming distorted as a magic field flutters and stabilizes again.
“Roselynn!” he says as he pounds on the wall. “Roselynn, it’s Charnell!”
The magic field evaporates to reveal the door.
“Charnell, we are so glad you are here,” she says, hugging him. “Kyle is getting anxious and hungry.”
Inside the room stand two townspeople and two dove ladies dressed in white gowns with silver ribbons intertwined, and their silver hair flows to their waists. A bright light illuminates the room as they vanish.
“I don’t know where Nelia found the ladies, but they kept us concealed until they knew it was safe.” She wraps a blanket around Kyle. “How is Aurlynn?”
“I am afraid I have no news. Our task is to bring you and the king back to Splintered Vale.”
“So, the rumors are true.” She brushes back Kyle’s hair. “The queen?”
“Safe, as is the princess.”
Roselynn hands Kyle to one of the knights as she and Charnell walk outside.
“Is Nelia with you? She can find Aurlynn.”
“She is. I am sorry, but our primary goal is to return to Splintered Vale. Once we return, I will consult Alexander, and we will find her. Richards scouts are all over the place, and our journey back home will be dangerous, so we can’t divert from the plan.”
“Kyle can ride with me down the mountains.”
Traveling down the mountain will take a few hours, as night will settle upon the land soon, and they will travel home after sundown. He hopes that there are no other problems that will find them, and everyone can make it home safely. However, fear exists that something terrible could go wrong.
