Royal Blood

by Faith Soprano

  Elloriann wiped away her tears as she walked. She took a deep breath and raised her head. She was going to save Carla if it was the last thing she did. She’d never been more certain of anything in her entire life.

  37

  King Talon knew that he wasn’t a good father. He liked to believe that he wasn’t an absolutely terrible father either. He had done his best to give his daughter everything she needed – food, clothing, education. He gave her the means to someday be a successful queen. Yes, he had never spent much time with her, and he’d never done anything to make her happy. However, he’d also never done anything to actively hurt her.

  Until now.

  Two throne chairs were set up in the courtyard. Elloriann was supposed to be beside the king, but he knew she wouldn’t be. She’d probably never sit beside him again.

  There hadn’t been a public execution in Evlirone in many, many years. In fact, there hadn’t been any kind of execution since before Elgadara became queen. Evlirone didn't even have executioners. Mari had to hire one from a nearby land.

  Talon never thought he’d have to order an execution to take place. He certainly never thought he’d be executing the person his daughter loved.

  The king wondered if Carla was the only person Elloriann had ever loved. Perhaps she loved some of the servants and teachers who’d raised her. Whether she loved him or not, Talon did not know. She had no reason to love him other than that he was her father. But without a relationship to support it, that was hardly a reason at all.

  Carla was led out by several guards. She was limping a little. She had bruises on her neck as well.

  Talon watched as she was led to the stage where she was to be decapitated. He wondered what it was that made Elloriann love her. He didn’t know Carla. But Elloriann did. And clearly there was something about this strange-looking servant that made the princess of Evlirone value her life above all else.

  There was a part of Talon's mind that screamed at him to stop this. To resist Rondall’s manipulation, to call in his allies and push back. To save Carla and be what may.

  But that would be unfair to everyone else in Evlirone.

  Rondall sneered as Carla’s head was lowered onto the chopping block. He didn’t even look happy or satisfied, he just looked...a different kind of cruel. He was enjoying this, but not because he felt it justified. Merely because his power allowed him to end the life of someone who dared to cross him.

  The executioner raised the ax.

  “Stop!” a voice came from somewhere near the courtyard entrance.

  An open carriage, moved by 4 carriers, entered the courtyard. Inside it were 2 people – one was clad in armor, the other was dressed in neat, neutral clothing, carrying only a small sword. The latter quickly exited the carriage, walked up to the king, and bowed deeply.

  “Your majesty,” he said, his head lowered. “I am the footman of Earl Lester of Damion County, Lacrest.” He motioned toward the armored man behind him. “Rumors of this execution have reached the earl, and in these rumors he has recognized a slave that had been stolen from his estate 3 years ago. We request that the earl’s property be returned to him.”

  Rondall was already on his way toward the new arrivals, red in the face.

  “I don’t care where she was stolen from!” he screamed. “She attacked me and she has to die!”

  “Prince Rondall,” the footman said with a bow. “An honor to meet you. We understand your position, but surely you understand that the earl needs to reclaim what is rightfully his.”

  “My parents bought this slave fairly!” Rondall yelled. “The princess stole her from me, and then they both attacked me. The slave has to die. You’re not taking her!”

  The armored man stepped off the carriage and raised the visor of his helmet to face Rondall.

  “Your highness,” he said, “I understand your rage, I truly do, but I cannot simply give up my property. This is a matter of honor, you see. I have been robbed and I cannot let that go. I have no emotional attachment to the slave, I merely need to reclaim what is mine. What will my peers think of me if I simply allow something like this to pass?”

  “I don’t care.” Rondall’s face twisted in anger. “You’re not taking her.”

  “In that case, I’m afraid I have no choice but to challenge you to a duel, your highness.” The earl straightened out, raising his head. “I am prepared to fight for what is mine. Are you?”

  King Talon had to force himself to close his mouth that had dropped open somewhere in the middle of this exchange. He found it quite difficult to believe that this earl was a real person, that he had arrived here to reclaim Carla because of a rumor, especially on such short notice; and he had an especially hard time believing that the earl had just challenged the prince of Mordielle to a duel because of a stolen slave.

  “I can’t believe this!” Rondall cried. He turned to King Talon. “You cannot possibly allow this.”

  Talon felt uncertain for a moment. He was facing yet another life-altering decision, and he found himself with a complete lack of relevant experience.

  Professor Azlo approached the king, leaning in to whisper into his ear.

  “My king,” she said as the king leaned toward her, “when Elloriann first brought Carla here, we spoke about her situation. Carla had mentioned that during her time in slavery she had indeed belonged to an earl in another land. She was later sold to Mordielle’s royals by slave traders.”

  Talon turned to face her.

  “You’re telling me this is real?” he said quietly.

  “I’m saying that it could be.” She knew it wasn’t. She knew that the ‘earl’ was Kay, one of the cleaners, whom the king didn't personally know and would not recognize, especially not through a tiny slit in the armor helmet. Nor would he recognize the ‘footman’, Zayne, who was in actuality a lumberjack that Mari hired every year to chop wood for the castle, and who was also an amateur actor who’d often performed in puppet theater plays the servants would sometimes stage for Elloriann when she was much younger. Professor Azlo had not been informed of whatever play was currently being performed in the courtyard, but she’d observed enough to understand precisely how she could help. “If nothing else, this is an opportunity. If the duel happens and Rondall loses, Carla lives. That is infinitely preferable to the alternative.” She glanced at Rondall who was staring impatiently at the king. “I would advise to make it vague, but allow this. If nothing else, it takes the decision out of your hands.”

  King Talon rose from his seat.

  “Prince Rondall, you have demanded that this person be executed and I’ve obliged. But if the earl feels that his rights are being violated, he is free to act accordingly. A challenge has been issued. It is up to you, your highness, whether to accept it or not. I cannot affect your decision. This is between you and your honor.”

  It really wasn’t quite so simple. If Rondall refused to accept the earl’s challenge, an even bigger problem would arise, because the earl’s demand would be unsatisfied, and the conflict would remain unresolved. But Rondall was angry, volatile, and pompous. He was also very arrogant and highly emotional. A rational mind would look at the situation calmly and make a logical decision. Prince Rondall would not.

  “Fine! Set it up. We’re dueling.” He grinned at the earl. “I’m taking this slave and I’m chopping her head off. And I’m taking your honor too.”

  Rondall stormed off, closely followed by his guards. Kay turned to the king, inclining his head. Zayne bowed deeply.

  “Thank you, your majesty,” Kay said.

  The king nodded, then walked in the direction of the castle. On his way, he gave a nod to Mari, communicating a need to have everything set up for the duel. She nodded back, walking away to set things in motion. The king shook his head in disbelief as he headed for his quarters.

  38

  Carla was led away from the courtyard, back into her cell.

  It was getting dark, so the duel would have to take place the next
day. If nothing else, Elloriann had already given Carla another day of life. Carla smiled as she sat down on her uncomfortable bed.

  The spectacle in the courtyard had been...fascinating. Carla recognized the performers and understood the main idea behind what was happening, but was still amazed by the fact that Rondall was so easily provoked. Carla still struggled to wrap her head around the magnitude of the things currently happening around her. First there was a possibility of war because Rondall wanted her dead. Now the prince of Mordielle was going to participate in a duel because of her. Whatever Carla might have thought her future to be like when she was younger, she never could have imagined one day being the center of so much royal upheaval.

  Hannah soon arrived with dinner for the guard and for Carla herself. The guard checked the soup and water, then broke the bread in half to make sure that nothing was smuggled into the prisoner’s cell.

  Hannah entered and silently placed the food on the bed next to Carla, gently tapping the side of the spoon handle as she did so.

  Carla ate her dinner. When the guard was turning away from her, she examined the spoon. As she pulled at the tip of the handle, it separated from the rest of the spoon, revealing a small hiding place inside. There was a note.

  Carla had to strain her eyes to read it in the dim light coming from the torch that hung outside of her cell.

  I’ll fight Rondall again tomorrow. Let’s hope this time he fights fairly.

  If I lose, we’ll make mayhem in the courtyard. Take that opportunity to run. It might not work, but at that point, it will be your only chance.

  I love you.

  Carla kissed the tiny piece of paper, then hid it in the inside pocket of her shirt.

  She wished she could tell Elloriann not to do this, but at the same time, she didn’t. Elloriann was putting herself in danger for Carla, and that made her heart hurt. But it was Elloriann’s choice, and Carla would be lying if she tried to pretend like she wouldn’t have done the same.

  She lay down on her wooden bed and prepared for a night of staring at the ceiling in fearful anticipation.

  *****

  “Are you absolutely certain?” Gerome asked for the 3rd time as he helped Elloriann into the armor.

  “Honestly, do you think my answer will suddenly change if you continue asking?”

  “No, I just...” He sighed. “He’s almost choked you to death.”

  “He only beat me last time by throwing sand into my eyes.”

  “Oh,” Gerome said, raising an eyebrow, “and you’re so certain he won’t do something like that again?”

  “No. But there will be a crowd watching him this time. Besides...” She waved her hand up and down to indicate the metal plates covering her entire body. “Armor.”

  “That might not help.”

  Elloriann sighed in exasperation.

  “Gerome, honestly, what choice do we have?”

  “I could do it.”

  She let out a nervous giggle.

  “No.” She raised her hand to silence him as he was about to object. “Just...don’t. You know quite well I could give you a long list of reasons why that’s not going to happen, so just don’t.”

  Gerome sighed.

  “You’re right, I’m sorry.” He smiled at her with as much certainty as he could muster. “You can do this.”

  “That’s right. Supportive talk. That’s what I need.” She smiled back, with even less certainty, and the smile fell away almost instantly. “I know he could kill me, Gerome. But I’d rather die than do nothing.”

  39

  Talon wanted to see Elloriann. He wasn’t sure what he would tell her, but he wanted to see her nonetheless. Deep down he hoped that his actions in the courtyard would placate her, that she would be less angry with him when she learned of the possibility that Carla would survive, but he knew that it was unlikely.

  Part of him wanted to ask if she had anything to do with what had happened. Was she behind the miraculous appearance of Earl Lester? Was it truly the earl that had owned Carla before, and if it was, had she contacted him? Or was it someone else, and in that case, who was it?

  Talon went searching for Elloriann, but quickly realized that he didn’t even know where to look. She wasn’t in her bedroom or at the library. He ordered a guard to find her, but she returned an hour later with a guilty look on her face and an admission that the princess was nowhere to be found.

  So the king went down into the basement, to the cells. He thought, perhaps, he’d find Elloriann there. And if not...well, perhaps it was time to meet Carla properly.

  King Talon was raised in a very strict household. His parents believed that everyone should know their place, that children should do as their parents say, that attempting to change the world would make it fall into chaos. He didn't always agree, but he also rarely questioned it.

  Talon was the youngest of 3 children, and as such, third in line to take the throne. It was unlikely that he would ever rule his home land. Instead, he was used as a means to create an alliance with another land through marriage.

  When Talon was married off to Elgadara of Evlirone, he accepted it as a given, because he'd always known that was how marriage happened for royals. And despite this being an arranged marriage for political reasons, it was the happiest thing that had ever happened to him. Not only did he get to leave his land and his oppressive surroundings, but he also found a true friend in his wife.

  Talon soon realized that Elgadara's goals and morals appealed to him a lot more than the ones that had been forced upon him his entire life until then. Unlike his parents, who cared only for upholding tradition and making sure nothing ever changed too much, Elgadara genuinely wanted to make her land a better place. And unlike his parents, she actually cared about Talon's own thoughts and opinions. Even though Evlirone was Elgadara's realm, and Talon was merely a foreign prince with little power of his own, sent over to Evlirone like a gift from another land, Elgadara treated him as an equal, and they ruled together. For the first time in his life, Talon felt like he could have his own beliefs and values, and they would actually matter. Ruling beside Elgadara gave Talon strength to become a better person and leader.

  They were both aware of the limitations of their time, resources, and surroundings, and knew that not every change they wanted to make would be possible, and not every change they did make would be accepted with open arms, because what they believed to be good would not always be what others believed to be good. But they did their best to rule with the intention of making their land a good place to live for as many of its inhabitants as possible.

  Elgadara believed in equality of all living things and wanted to make Evlirone a land that was safe and fair for everyone. She had many plans, big and small, to achieve that goal. For one, she often expressed a distaste for monarchy, and if she'd lived longer, sooner or later, she likely would have initiated a change in regime to something that gave more power to the land's people.

  But she didn't live longer. She died only a few years into her marriage to Talon, and then the king was alone. And lost.

  Like all royals, he'd been trained to rule a land and he was good at it. But he had been trained by people who cared more for keeping things as they were than they did for the welfare of the land and its people. The values of his ancestors were forced into Talon for close to two decades, and sometimes falling back on them seemed so much easier than having your own beliefs and sticking to them. Especially when there was no one beside you to give you support.

  After Elgadara's death, he did his best to rule Evlirone the way he and the queen had planned to do together, but he didn't have Elgadara's courage or certainty, and sometimes his upbringing made itself known. Sometimes, just like this parents had intended, he thought that everyone should know their place, that children should do as their parents say, that attempting to change the world would make it fall into chaos.

  “Your majesty.” The guard currently standing outside Carla’s cell bowed to the king. />
  “Give us a moment, please,” the king said.

  The guard moved farther down the hall, allowing the king and Carla to have a private conversation.

  Carla stood up from her bed. She bowed to the king and kept her head lowered for a few seconds, but it wasn't like before. It wasn't a slave's reaction born of fear, but there was no genuine respect in it either. In truth, Carla herself wasn't even entirely sure what she was feeling in that moment.

  “Your majesty,” she said.

  The king walked from one outside edge of the cell to the other a few times, looking at Carla through the bars.

  “Why does she love you?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Is it because she saved you?”

  “Maybe in part.”

  “Is it because you're in her employ? Does she enjoy that she has power over you?” Talon knew this was not true, but he wanted to challenge Carla, to see what she would say about Elloriann and their relationship.

  “She does not relish having power over someone,” Carla replied. “A difference in status is not something on which she would base a relationship.”

  “You seem awfully certain. You’ve barely known her a year.”

  “And you barely know her at all.”

  Carla flinched at her own words, lowering her head and closing her eyes for a moment. Since when was she this defiant? And to a king, no less. But for all she knew, Elloriann’s plan would fail, and tomorrow she would die. If this was her last day, she could afford to be a little defiant.

  She forced herself to raise her head and face the king again. His eyes were angry. And a little sad.

  But only because he knew that Carla was right. He’d missed his chance to get to know Elloriann. And now someone she'd only known a year was more important to her than her own father.

  The king slowly reeled in his emotions, staring at Carla all the while.