VIII

Roshanne

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

She found him in the training ground, sweating from too much training, when he saw though he quickly drop his sword and bows, greeting her.

"Your highness? What brought you here?" He asked looking at her, Roshanne glares at him.

"Let's talk." She spoke before turning around, Alastair of course followed her, when they are out of earshot she turns towards him.

"Why did you fail to mention to me that you were humiliated by that bastard?" Alastair's shoulder tense and his brow furrowed.

" Where did you hear that from?" Roshanne clenches her fist and glares at him.

" It does not matter where I have heard it from, why did you not tell me about such incident?" Alastair looked away and shakes his head.

" It's of no importance." It ire her, when Alastair think of himself as a person of no importance it makes her want to punch him herself, her brother is reckless when it comes to himself, he never think twice!

"It's of no importance? You were seriously thinking about that?" Alastair's jaw clenched, he stood even straight and took a deep breath, she knows that he did that trying to defy her.

"I am fine." He stated through gritted teeth. Roshanne glared at him.

" You were humiliated by a bastard! You who's a true born son! You who's a prince! You who is the Son of Ereya! Your mother would be disappointed." At the mention of mother Alastair's shoulder sag and he looks hurt, Roshanne closed her eyes and sighed.

" I know that you don't engaged in silly fights my sweet brother, but do know that you are prince still, and that your life matters more than that pretender." Alastair looked down at her hand and nods her head.

" Mystica is a she dragon... She never once showed any signs of dominance, for years she have laid eggs... So imagine our surprised when it was her who mounted Sunstar." He finally explained, Roshanne nods her head. A dragons dominance is base on their rider... If their Rider is not strong nor does not possess great control over them and their bond is weak, the dragon became submissive. They are the mirror of their rider.

" You are a fool to always think that your dragon is a girl. But then I think it is safe to say that changes are near. It won't be long brother, we will be free from the clutches of that old man and his bastard son." She promised him... Alastair nod his head.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

DAE

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

When the princess left Dae decided to head to her own room to rest, she doesn't know what's the reason why the princess suddenly left, she thought that they were just fine, they were having a good conversation until she had mentioned what had happened during their travel, though she didn't get to dwell to much in her thoughts when a strange figure stood by the window of her room, the tall man's back was against hers, it wasn't until he had turned to look at her that she had finally recognize him.

"Quite beautiful isn't it?" Her brother asked her when they are looking at each other, Dae did not open her mouth and just stared at him... She doesn't know him, for all she knows he could be as unpredictable as their father.

"It wasn't just long ago when you're room was just a small four cornered wall, devoid of any paintings or tapestries, it has no richest nor anything of great interest. Just a small book shelves with a couple of old worn books." He looks around the room, admiring every golden gilded furniture.

"Now you own this big room, with richest enough to buy you a couple of lands and some lord titles as well a few Loyal soldiers." His gaze then falls on her, Dae did not miss the look of smugness in his face nor the cruel glint in their eyes... It reminded her of her father.

"I'm sure that you would prefer it here... Rather than in that small room wouldn't you sister?" He slowly approached her, Dae had held her breath waiting his next move... She stood frozen under his gaze.

"You must thank father, if it wasn't for him you wouldn't enjoy this luxurious life... Thank him for granting you this kindness." Dae bit her lip and looked down, all her life, when her father would give her things, even if its small or something big she was taught to thank him, thank him for sparing her life, thank him for giving her foods, thank him for giving her clothes, thank him for the water she drinks, thank for everything.

" I will give thanks to him once he arrives here." She whispered to him, her brother didn't speak, just looked at her with small smile on his lips, she thought that that was it, that he just came there to remind her to say thanks to their father... But she didn't know how wrong she is... Before she could do anything her brother suddenly lunches towards her, pushing hard against the wall before grabbing her cheeks, his finger nails digging into her skin making her wince in pain, tears swells in her eyes but she couldn't cry! She couldn't sob! Nor she couldn't scream for help.

"If you are grateful to our father then why aren't you doing anything?!" She winces when his nails dug again to her skin. She held his hand trying to lessen his grip but it won't do, he is much more stronger than her.

"Why haven't you spread your cunt? Like your mother of a whore?! Why aren't you by his side tending to his needs? Why are you here?!" She whimpers and looked him in his eyes, there were dark, sinister. Like that of their father's eyes when he is mad at her.

"The king... Does not request assistance from me." She tried to reason out. It was true, the king had yet to call for her, save from the few occasions of visitation he did.

"Then make him seek your presence! Go to him! And do what father bids you to do!" He finally let's go of her, he steps back and watched Dae as she falls from the wall, he fix coat and looked down on her.

" Do remember that their will be consequences when you failed to do as you're instructed to do. We wouldn't want to anger father... Would we?" She nods her head, satisfied with what he did her brother nods his head.

" I have heard that he, unexpectedly went to the golden hills to see what was happening there, he will be there for two weeks... Prepare yourself when he returns, dote on his every need... Do not leave his side until your wedding day." Dae just silently nods her head, that's all she could do in this situation, to silently follows order.

"Good... Now excuse me, I still have a lot of things to do. And perhaps woo that princess." Dae watches him a he left her... He must be Frederik, she knows that Frederik is arrogant, that's what her maids had always talked about. Dae slowly rose from the ground and looked at the closed door... The princess would devour him alive before he could really do anything, she would burn him before he could touch her, she wouldn't even let her near her, she doesn't know what makes her think of that... And what makes her so sure, but nevertheless that thought gave her comfort. And she knows that it shouldn't but it did.

Oh how Dae had wished that she was the princess, how she had wished that she could glare at her brother with open disdain, how she wished that she could send him away with just one word, but above all she wishes that she had a dragon like the princess, to protect her from all the harm that has to come. Dae looked down at the garland that she was making, she wanted to give to the princess, but she had already seen it when it wasn't even finished. Dae set it aside and sat down by her bed as tears began to fall from her eyes... This room, and this place is just like her tower, the difference was... This one is a gilded with gold.  Oh how she wishes for freedom, real freedom, if she had known that the price of her freedom would cost so much... She wouldn't have to bargain with her father, but then she thinks bargain or without bargain her father would still use her nonetheless, after all that man gets whatever it is he wants. She stood up and opened one of the drawers, inside it is a small box with a lock, she inserted the key given to her by her father, once Opened she saw the small vial inside with purple substance inside it. The poison, her father told her that one drop is enough to kill three grown adults... Her father wanted her to murder the king, and his family. But doing so she must stain her hand with their blood, she closed her eyes as guilt started to form inside her... She hadn't done it yet, but she could already see the image inside her mind, eyes blood red, with skin turning black as bluish vein appeared on their body... She had never seen this poison work before, but her father had told her how it works. Of what are the tell tale sign of this poison, Dae imagine the poison working on the king, with how frail he looks, she knows that he wouldn't last longer, he would drop dead on his feet the very moment it hit him... But then she started thinking of the princess, of her golden hair and eyes, of her smooth skin, the image of a twitching, black skinned with bluish veins doesn't sit well with her, she wouldn't look beautiful... No! The princess wouldn't look beautiful killed by a poison! In fact Dae thinks that it doesn't suit her at all! Dying due to poison! No! If the princess is to die, she would have die by the sword, pierced by an enemy, or perhaps on her dragon's back, falling from above and hitting the ground with a large impact that it will break her bone! Yes, that kind of death suits the princess well, because she knows that she had fought valiantly. A death worthy of a princess indeed.

But then Dae could not see her dying at all... No, she sees the princess being able to stand up, and fought again, if someone is to die... It would be her. And the thought did nothing but bring comfort to her.

Dying by the princess hand is better than dying on her father's hand nor on the birthing bed... Because she knows that her death would be swift.

The ringing of the bells had snap her out of her thoughts, she had heard of it again, and whenever the bells rang it will surely followed by an hour of silence... After that Neviska would enter her room to bring her snacks, indicating the beginning of the afternoon.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

She sat by the corner, her eyes were alert, looking at the people gathered the ball room, the room was filled with warm light from the hanging chandeliers, and the soft music as well as the soft murmur of the guest, Dae looked at Dais and did not see the king sitting in his golden chair, he was absent today, from what she had learned the king and his son went to the Golden hills to see about the war, and as she sat by the corner she could not help but feel unwanted, the people kept to themselves, none dared to venture her way, she was only ever accompanied by Neviska.

"My lady? Do you want something?" Neviska asked her, Dae looks up at her and shakes her head, she looks around once again trying to see any familiar faces, but she found none... Her brother and the princess was somewhere in the room, she had last seen her brother having a conversation with one of the lords.

"There's so many people." She told Neviska as she looks around, and they all wore pretty dresses, but one thing she notices about everyone in the room... Is that they almost all wear the same colors, white and gold, or gold and light colored dresses such baby blue and pale pink that if you don't look any closer you'll mistake it for white, all of them wore the same color, all except one... And that is the princess, among the crowd you could easily spot her, in the center wearing bloody red gown with gold threads.... It made her stand out among the crowd, it made her tye center of whispers and attention, in which Dae is glad, though she could feel her brother's gaze on her... Before they went to the ball her brother had spoken to her again, told her that she should at least do something to gain supporter or friends, for it was the most important thing in a kingdom's politics. Though Dae just nod but she has no intention of having any political friends, she does not know anything about politics, she's afraid that if she does that she might just get in trouble.

Whilst everyone's eyes were on the princess, Dae could not help but notice a rather pale and lonely figure sitting by the side of throne alone, she wore a plain yet elegant gown, wore a couple of jewelries and wore golden tiara, but the woman had a long and blank look on her face, dark circles form beneath her eyes and she looks tired, If anything she looks like a ghost.

"Neviska?" She called for her, Neviska leans down a bit and hummed awaiting her question.

"That woman, sitting by the side of the throne... Who is she? And why does she looks like that?" A solemn look pass on Neviska face when Dae had mentioned the woman, she looks at the pitiful woman before answering.

" She is the queen my lady, her grace Antoinette Regalia. She just recently lost her son, the former crown prince Khalil." Dae's eyes returned to the poor woman, so she was a mother she thought, she had heard about the prince from her father during their travel to meet with the king in the plains of Eastcarin. The prince was said to be a good prince, a man who prefers to read than to ride in battle but nevertheless was good in politics, he was love by their people, and when he was sent to the Golden hills it was said that he took a spear in his shoulder which knock him off of his horse and he broke his neck in the process... His head was then decapitated by the second prince of Adari. The battle to retrieve his head was a bloody one from what her father had told her. The woman, the mother of the prince was still clearly in mourning yet no one had dared to offer sympathy to the poor woman. No one dare talked to her and people avoided her like how they avoided Dae.

"She must be lonely." She told Neviska who nods her head in agreement. Dae continued to watch the lonely queen as she wallow in her own grieve, and Dae for a moment wishes to comfort the woman, for she knows what sadness feels like, what hopelessness feels like, she knows how crushing and frustrating it was, they may have different causes but nevertheless they both know what pain and sadness meant.

"Well if it isn't the famous Red princess of the west." Dae's view of the queen was suddenly blocked when a man in red and white robe stands in front of her, startled by the sudden appearance of the stranger Dae had looked up at the man. He wore a smile, that doesn't quite sit well with him.

"It's finally good to see you... You have been quiet the topic of the noble families this day." He looked down upon her and despite the smile that he flashes Dae couldn't help but be intimidated by his sheer presence alone. She just stared at him, not knowing what to do with him, no one had talked to her save from Neviska in the party.

"Oh.... my bad... Let me introduce myself." The man spoke again, he stood straight and harrumphed.

"I am Bishop Admon from the family of Lawson." A bishop! Dae slowly rose from her chair, her cheeks turning pink upon the realization that she is speaking to a man of high standing, from what she knows the kingdom of Solvira is divided into two main powers. The Royal family and the temple. Though she does not know why the temple must share the power of the royal family... Lysos isn't exactly a religious kingdom, they have gods and goddesses like that of the Solviran people but there's are different and their temple are subservient to the royal family.

But Solvira is different both the temple and the royal family held power on their own and is free to use and act however they want... It seems like they are two individuals ruling the same land.

And Bishops and Cardinals are as well treated as the Kings and Queens of this land.

"I... Forgive me for my rudeness Bishop Admon, I wasn't aware." She quickly apologized to him, the bishop only smiles at her and waited for her to continue.

"If I had known, I would have greeted you properly." She winces internally at the way her voice waver and how uncertain she was  if she should have said the last sentence.

"Ahahaha, it's no problem, I wouldn't expect a lot from a princess that came from the west, after all Lysos isn't really known for being religious, isn't it? Your people are as barbaric as the Drakes that roams that land." Dae's lips turns down, her brow furrowed when the bishop had said that. They aren't religious that is true, but they still do have their gods and their temples. And her father's family often goes to the temple to praise, festivals are held every year in the name of their faceless Gods...

"That's not true at all sir." The man's brow rose.

"The people of Lysos aren't barbaric at all. They all have laws and the same decorum as your people. And we may not be as religious as you are, but we also answer to our gods." She told him, the pretense smile that was on the bishop's lips disappeared and was replaced by a scowl.

" My... You are quite a shameless woman... No wonder you had caught the king's attention, after all he have quite a thing for shameless women, you must have crawled to his bed. For you to address me as a sir is quite insulting my lady." Dae was surprised by the sudden change of topic, she looks at the Bishop wide eyed.

"I am not knight, I am higher than a knight, so you should address me as your Excellency." Dae flinches at the harshness of his voice.

"Bishop Admon." Their attention was quickly drawn to the woman who had spoken, Dae saw the princess approaching them, with her regal looks, Dae couldn't help but swallow as the princess approached them.

"Ah, Sainte Roshanne." The bishop bows in respect and reverence for the princess... Sainte? She thought having not heard of that term before. Was that perhaps her nickname?

"I see that you had made an acquaintance with lady Dae." The princess turns towards her but did not smile, just looked at her with indifference that had hurt her... Did she do something wrong for the princess to act like they are not friends? Weren't they supposed to be friends like how she had told her.

"Ah, I was merely trying to see if the rumors about her being quiet... A brazen woman is true." Dae's face had Redden at the insult so shamelessly thrown at her, she had been scolded many a times when she was young, had been called a fool or stupid, but never brazen! No she was not that kind of woman.

" I am not a brazen woman... I was merely stating a fact when you decided to call my people barbaric, if there is a brazen person here it is you... Your Excellency." Dae did not know where that courage had come from, maybe she was just mad for being called brazen, or was it because the Bishop was dragging her through the mud Infront of the Princess.

"Wh-what? Ho-how dare you?!" The bishop looked at her horrified while the princess for a moment looked surprised. The whole place suddenly became quiet, and only then did Dae noticed the everyone's attention is on them. People were looking at her and was murmuring, she clenches her fist and swallows, she was suddenly over come with a great sense of fear, as people's attention was on her now.

"Come again?" The princess asked her, Dae looked at her and she felt her stomach churning at the look of the princess. She looks enraged at her... And Dae could never understand why at her? She was not the one who had thrown insults.

"I..." She tried to speak but could not muster anymore words with how the princess looked at her.

"That is not the way you should speak to a man who represents the sun gods Lady Dae." The princess squinted her eyes, and Dae couldn't fight the urge of looking down.

"I... I apologize, I misspoke." She quickly apologized to the princess.

"No, you did not... You forget yourself my lady." She flinched again, when she looks to the side she saw her brother looking at her furious, and that's when dread began to creep on her... She knows what will happen once he got her alone... She suddenly remembers the cane and the whip her father had used on her when she misbehave, when she forgets herself.

"Apologize to the Bishop, right now lady Dae." Dae swallows and nods her head, she turns towards the man, and no matter how against she was to the thought of apologizing to the man that insulted her people she knows she must do it.

"I... I apologize your Excellency." She apologized, making the man looked even more smug at her defeat. She felt it quiet unfair to be honest, she shouldn't be the one apologizing, but at the same time she felt frustrated... Why didn't the princess took her side? Shouldn't friends help each other?

"No, that's is simply not enough... You should kneel." The murmuring of the people suddenly became even more loud for Dae, they were whispering, looking at her, waiting for her reaction, waiting if she'll do it. The she looks at her brother, now red in the face, she knows that if she kneels it means she showing everyone that her family is weak... And she knows that she will receive a beating so harsh that she won't be able to stand up again for days. But if she don't, then she will ire the princess more, she would fall out of her favor and she may lose a friend... The only friend she has...

"That's quite enough bishop Admon, the lady apologized already, you should just accept it." The princess softly spoken to the man.

"People will talk, and if my father found out about you humiliating his bride... I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to protect you from his wrath... You wouldn't want your head to be displaced at the temples gate.... would you?" The princess whisper low enough just for the three of them to hear. The bishop seems to sober up at that implications, and so he nods, turned around and left. Soon after he goes the princess turns to look at her one last time, Dae felt shame when the princess shakes her head in disappointment and left her there.

A hand on her shoulder made her flinch, it was big and cold. And when she looks up she saw her brother.

"You and I both... Have a lot to talk about sweet sister. Say, why don't we go to your room... You must be tired." All she could do was silently follow her brother as he guided her out of the busy banquet hall... She looks behind her at Neviska who looked at her wide eyes as her brother steer her out of the crowd... And lady Neviska could swear that the lady had mouthed the word Help.