Chapter CXIII: Victory
As soon as Isabella stepped into Lord Erkmen’s bedroom, her eyes darted around the room, searching for the rope that would ring the archer’s bell and ignite the lighthouse. Time was against her, and her heart pounded with urgency. But before she could locate it, Erkmen was upon her, his hands rough and invasive as they roamed her body.
A wave of disgust surged through her, but Isabella forced herself to stay calm. She needed to end this quickly. She feigned submission, throwing herself onto the bed and allowing Erkmen to crawl on top of her. His breath was hot and foul against her skin as he fumbled with her dress, lifting the fabric to expose her.
In that moment, Isabella acted. With a swift, practiced motion, she unsheathed the small blade hidden in her sleeve and slashed it across Erkmen’s throat. Blood sprayed across her face and chest as the blade cut deep, severing his jugular. Erkmen’s eyes bulged in shock and pain, his hands instinctively flying to his neck to staunch the gushing wound.
Isabella, drenched in his blood, used all her strength to push him off her. He fell to the side, choking and gurgling on his own blood, his body convulsing as life drained from him. She watched him die, her breathing ragged, the scent of blood thick in the air. The feel of his blood soaking through the fabric of her dress was nauseating, but she forced herself to stay composed.
For a brief moment, guilt flickered in her mind. But then she remembered how he had tried to rape her once, how he had relished in her suffering, and the guilt quickly faded. He was a disgusting old man, he wouldn’t be missed by anyone. She felt a grim satisfaction as she wiped her blade clean on the sheets.
With Erkmen’s body lifeless beside her, Isabella quickly locked the door from the inside, securing the room, so no soldier could come in and attempt to ring the bell. She moved to the window, pushing it open, and looked out over the castle grounds. Below her, she saw the Allendorian army beginning to encircle the fortress, the red rose banners fluttering in the night breeze.
***
The King was informed that a woman from Rhyk sought an audience with him, claiming to be the wife of Senator Arun. Curious and intrigued, he ordered that she be welcomed into the palace and that they meet later in the day.
When they finally convened, the King greeted her with a warm smile, saying, "Lady Rhavika, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
Rhavika inclined her head graciously, her demeanor composed but with an underlying intensity. "The honor is mine, Your Majesty, the famous Dragon King…" she replied smoothly. "Though now, I am Senator Rhavika, having taken my husband's position upon his sudden disappearance."
The King’s expression shifted from polite curiosity to surprise. "Disappearance? Arun? What do you mean?"
Rhavika’s eyes darkened slightly as she explained, "My husband never returned to Rhyk after his visit here, Your Majesty. His ship did, but with everyone in his entourage except for him and his new wife, the girl from Tzal you gifted him, Dara. So, I came here, hoping to gain your assistance in finding him."
Confusion spread across the King’s face, but he quickly masked it. "Of course, Senator, I will help with whatever I can," he assured her. Then, after a brief pause, he asked, "But do you think it is possible that Arun simply... ran away?"
Rhavika’s lips curled into a half-smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. "I find that very unlikely, Your Majesty. Arun was broke; where would he go? I managed our finances, which were largely inherited from my father. He had no money to go anywhere, much less survive this long with his… Expensive habits."
The King’s expression tightened. "I paid Arun a substantial amount in gold as Lady Dara’s dowry," he explained, "as a compensation for the annulment of their marriage."
Rhavika’s eyes narrowed, her confusion deepening into something more volatile. "Why would their marriage be annulled, Your Majesty?" she asked, her voice laced with a rising tension.
The King took a deep breath, suddenly realizing this conversation was veering into dangerous territory. "Upon their visit," he began slowly, "I took Dara to my bed. Since their marriage had not been consummated, Arun demanded an annulment. I paid the compensation to keep him calm and avoid a scandal.”
A beat of silence hung in the air before Rhavika’s confusion transformed into a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Their marriage was consummated, Your Majesty," she stated firmly, her voice rising. "On the same night of the ceremony."
The King’s face drained of color, his eyes wide with shock. "What?" he managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.
Rhavika’s gaze was piercing as she continued, her tone accusatory. "Their marriage was consummated, Your Majesty. I was there, I shared their bed on their wedding night and many nights after that… That doesn’t make any sense. Dara was even pregnant when they left Rhyk."
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