Bitter heart

Aurelia

When I awoke at last, the ladies attending me said I had slept for two days. Furry shot through me! That they had met me sleep so long when there was so much to do. “Lord Jaxson has left you detailed reports of every decision made while you rested.” She said, pointing towards a small table laden with papers.

“Thank you.” I said a bit to ruffly.

They readied a bath for me while I flipped through one of the reports. This report was regarding the number of people in the city versus the amounts of food that was available. The people far outweighed the food available. A little note at the bottom was directed to me, the writing small and precise.

It stated that he had commissioned the making of fishing boats and nets. The sea would be able to help even out the alarming difference in the reported numbers. I knew what it was like to be hungry, I didn’t want that for my people. He also wrote that he had sent out hunting parties, wild game would be brought in as it was shot and taken from the wilds.

I was grateful to Jaxson for his foresight in this. He was far more suited to deal with these matters than I was. A soft knock at the door and a young girl brought in a tray of finger foods for me to pick at while I got ready for what would have to be a long day. Sleeping had put off addressing the citizens, something I needed to have done sooner than later.

I grabbed another piece of paper and stepped into the warm water. They had scented it with roses, even a few rose petals floated along the surface and hugged to my skin when they came close. I had sunk in as far as I could without getting the paper wet. This report was regarding the army we needed to assemble. Kairios’ writing was all over this one and was much messier than the one Jaxson had done.

The Queen’s guard had a large store house of weapons. He found swords of all sizes and weights, bows and quivers full of arrows. Shields and spears, everything we would need to arm those we would gather. On the bottom of this page was a detailed plan to get our army to start training now. He wanted them to build strength while learning the basics.

His idea to achieve this was brilliant. They would demolish the abandoned part of this city. They would grow strong from moving the materials and would learn a sense of teamwork and how to follow orders. The evenings would be filled with training. He planned to use the lessons that he had when he was still in school.

Again, I was glad that I didn’t have to deal with these matters. Kairios was best suited to deal with all of that. Though I planned to attend the clean-up and training when I could. I refused to be the kind of ruler who hid up in her castle. I promised myself that if I ever let that happen, I would burn it down.

I let the report drop to the floor and one of the ladies handed me another one.

“What's your name?” I asked her, it was rude of me to have waited so long to ask.

“I’m Kira and she is Mira.”

“How long have you worked in the castle?” I wondered if my friends had gone through all the people here, made sure that any supporters of my aunt would be asked to work elsewhere.

“I have been here since birth,” Kira said. “My mother worked under yours before everything happened. Then I worked for Adara since.”

“And what about you, Mira?”

“She can't speak, the prince cut out her tongue. She came to work here much later, about three years ago.”

“Tell me now if you wish to leave or plan to harm us.” I stared at them with the full intensity of my power.

They both fell to their knees and bagged that I do not harm them. “I am not like my aunt. However, I will not tolerate spying or sabotage. It will cost your freedom or life, depending on the crime.” I was blunt but I didn’t have time to waste.

“We swear to you, full allegiance.”

“Wonderful. I vow to serve you and this Kingdom as its Queen. If there is ever anything that needs to be addressed, tell me. There is too much work to be done for people to be holding their tongues.”

I finished my bath and looked through the piles of papers. Mira and Kira brushed my hair till it was shining like a live fire. They left it long in the back and had pulled the sides into intricate braids. They brought in three crowns for me to choose from.

The first was a black metal headpiece that had tall red rubies. The two in the center were the tallest and encased in a diamond ring. As the crown wrapped around, the rubies got smaller and only had diamonds at the base. It was beautiful but to flashy for me. The second one was made of silver. Dragons adorned the top and came together at the center where a large yellow-gold gem sat. It seemed like the obvious one to choose, but the third drew my eyes.

I picked it up and looked at it closely. The metal had been turned to a dark-shimmering green, then the metal had been worked to look like thorns. The red gems were of all different sizes honed into roses, the largest being in the center around the red roses, little green gems had been fashioned to look like leaves. It was the perfect one for me. It matched my sword and was the simplest of them all. I didn’t want to be laden with jewels, especially if people were starving.

My dress was white with gold embellishments at the sleeves and waist. My chest was covered as the material went to the base of my neck. It had a slice up the right leg and a somewhat scratchy material flowed through the slit. When I strapped my sword belt on, I caught both girls frowning. I smiled to myself while I finished with the buckle. I was not the queen they were used to.

“Where are Kairios and Saira?”

“Lord Kairios went to the abandoned parts to start the work there. Lady Saira has been in town since before the sun came up. Her healing house is full of the sick and injured.”

“And the children that I brought?”

“The younger ones are here at the castle still; they are well taken care of. The older ones wanted to go with Kairios.”

“Thank you, please let the stable know I will be taking my horse today. No escort. Just me.”

They both dipped their heads at the same time and made for the door. One last look in the mirror and I found myself liking what I saw. It was still annoying to look through my wreaked eye, but I liked the effect it gave.

The halls were warm from the sun shining through the windows. Part of me noticed that the ugly furniture and depressing paintings had been taken down or removed. For the first time I found the castle more inviting, like I could make a home here. I would have to remember to tell someone that I wanted it to remain bare like this. There were other things to deal with than decorating a castle.

By the time I made it into the burnt courtyard, Scorch was at the door ready and waiting. She whinnied when I walked up to her and placed my hand on her snout. “Shall we ride today?” I asked her quietly. Her answer was to turn so that I could hop on.

“Open the gates.” I ordered the guards standing there.

…

Adara

That little bitch!

How could I have let this happen! Had I just killed the girl instead of keeping her alive, then none of this would have happened. Keeping her as a bargaining chip was foolish! I intended to give her to the Warlock prince in place for the spell I desired. Now I had lost everything.

My son, Lycus, I hated him for losing to that girl. I knew I should be sad at the death of my son, but the anger was all I felt. He failed me. I had expected Marcus to be killed, I wanted it. That was why I sent him out in the first place. But Lycus, he was a fool!

They kept me in a dark dungeon. The only light I had was from a small candle on the broken table. The worst smells and noises surrounded me. It smelled of body waste and the decay of the forgotten dead. I could hear the rats chewing away at the flesh. Was that to be my fate? Left and forgotten? How dare they!

Food was brought to me twice daily, there was no sun to tell the time. Time had become darkness and the trays of disgusting food were the only indication I had that I was still alive. I screamed and raved at the servants at first. I even went as far as trying to fight my way out of here.

The guards on the other side of the door stopped me before I even got the serving girl down to the floor. The bruise on my face where he slapped me down was a stark reminder not to try again. I would have to wait till another opportunity came to escape this horrid place.

Aurelia never returned. Hopefully she had died from the wounds that Lycus left on her body. Seeing her as a grown woman had been strange. She had looked so much like her father. And that she had been in my presence before angered me further. I should have known who she was when I looked at her!

One day I would get revenge for this. One day I would be Queen again.

The serving girl brought another tray of food for dinner. This one had a simple looking soup that smelled odd and some bread and cheese. The water looked dirty. It felt good to take the cup in my hand and throw it at the girl as she waked away. Where it hit the back of her head, her hand came away from it with blood on the fingers.

I smiled at the pain I had caused. These fools all deserved every ounce of pain I could give them. My stomach growled. I had become used to eating only the finest of foods and the first meal they brought I had thrown on the floor. Rats and bugs filled the pile now. So, I ate what they brought me, if only to keep my strength up.

It tasted as bad as it smelled and looked. Each bite I took I cursed them all. Every one that had brought this on me. They had all failed me. When I finished, I threw my tray at the door and started to pace around the room. I needed to think of a plan to get out of here.

After a few passes I started to feel dizzy, my legs became so weak that I fell to the floor. What was happening? My stomach started to burn, and foam and bile came up my throat. My eyes watered at the pain! I tried to scream for help, but when I opened my mouth, only spit and foam and vomit came out. I started to choke on it, soon I had no air left! They poisoned me and I was dyeing!