Journey of a Betrayed Hero- Volume 2

by Brandon Varnell

“Yes, something is the matter,” Alice said through gritted teeth. “Who gave you permission to let everyone know about what happened with Jacob? And do not lie to me and say that you have no idea what’s going on. I was informed just a moment ago that several tellers were wandering around Alyssium with parchments bearing the royal seal.”

  Despite her words, no one there seemed surprised. Indeed, from their calm expressions, it almost seemed like they’d been expecting her reaction. The thought made her frown.

  The youngest among them stood up. “I apologize, Your Majesty, but I was the one who sent the notice out to inform the public.”

  “Chastity.” Alice narrowed her eyes. “What right do you think you have to go over my head on this matter?”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, Your Majesty, but I was under the belief that the law dictates that when something of vital importance to the kingdom happens, the people are to be notified immediately.”

  “Yes, but only when it is of vital importance,” Alice stated. “While the… betrayal of Jacob is indeed a serious matter, it does not affect the citizens. What’s more, it is not you who decides what the citizens are and aren’t allowed to know. That is the monarch’s obligation and duty. That you not only made the public aware but also went over my head on this matter is every bit as grave as what Jacob did. Should I perhaps inform the citizens that you are a traitor trying to use his position to usurp the crown?”

  Chastity twitched as a vein appeared on his forehead. “Your Majesty, while what I did was in error, I felt at the time that you were in an unfavorable situation. We all know that you and the hero were once close. Imprisoning him must have been difficult. It had been my hope to alleviate your burden by—”

  “Your job is not to alleviate my burdens,” Alice cut off. “It is to give me council so that I might make the best choice for my people.”

  She knew what Chastity was trying to do by appealing to her emotions. He was attempting to make her believe that his only desire had been to alleviate the stress placed on her by the crown, that he was being understanding of her position. Alice knew the truth. He was attempting to undermine her authority.

  It had long been known to her that many of the White Council members were against a female monarch. There hadn’t been a queen without a king for five hundred years, and that queen had nearly brought their nation to ruin when a dark clansman infiltrated the kingdom’s government. It had taken two hundred and seventy-eight years for their nation to recover. Since then, the idea of a queen ruling had become a frightening prospect for them.

  From the time she’d become queen to now, the White Council had done everything they could to undermine her authority. It was mostly small matters, a comment here that questioned one of her decisions, a remark there about how her father would have made a different choice regarding one policy or another. They sought to make her lose confidence. However, through thick and thin, and even after Jacob had disappeared, she had refused to bow down to their whims. It was the reason she and the White Council clashed regularly.

  She watched carefully as Chastity attempted to control his emotions. His hands were clenched, knuckles white and arms shaking. He took several deep breaths, as if to keep from lashing out, and then he settled down…

  … and smiled.

  “Yes, you are right. Of course, Your Majesty,” he said at last. “I will accept full responsibility for what happened.”

  “Hold on there, youngster,” one of the older men said. “There is no need for this matter to get out of hand. Alice—”

  “Your Majesty,” Alice corrected. “Please refer to me by my proper title, Justice.”

  Justice was an old man—the oldest one on the White Council. At nearly ninety-four years of age, he was almost ready to kick the bucket. His face, lined with wrinkles, sagged in several places. He sat with a noticeable stoop and walked with a cane, making most people mistake him for a feeble old man. Alice wasn’t fooled. Justice was not only the leader of the White Council, but the most powerful sorcerer on the council.

  “My apologies, Your Majesty,” Justice replied easily, as if he was not bothered by the testiness in her tone. “It is sometimes hard not to remember when you were a young ball of energy and refer to you as such.”

  So he was trying to play the grandfather card, was he? He hadn’t brought that one out in a while. However, she could play this game just as well.

  “I do not think it’s that hard, considering it has been over ten years since you last called me Alice,” she said, smiling. “Refrain from doing so again.”

  “Of course, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing to her.

  “I will only give you all this one warning,” Alice continued, addressing everyone this time. “None of you are in a position where you can make decisions that affect the people of this country. Your roles are advisory ones and nothing more. If any of you goes over my head like Chastity did, I will send you to stay with Jacob—and since Chastity has set the precedence, everyone in Terrasole will know by the marrow. I hope I have made myself clear.”

  She received a round of affirmatives from everyone, though in the case of Kindness—the female—all she got was a nod. It was good enough, for now.

  Seeing that her point had been made, she left the room and began walking down to a different section of the castle, one far removed from the castle proper.

  “It looks like Chastity is bolder than the others,” Listy said now that they were no longer near the White Council.

  “He is certainly foolish,” Alice determined. “Did that man truly think I would not see through his ruse? He might have gained a council seat due to his skills as a magician, but he’s clearly lacking as a politician.” She glanced at Listy out of the corner of her eye. “I want you to keep an eye on that man.”

  While there was no evidence to suggest that something was afoot, Alice’s instincts were warning her about Chastity. She did not like the aura that surrounded him.

  “I will make sure to tail him when he leaves after the council meeting,” Listy promised.

  “Thank you.”

  Exiting a door that lead to a courtyard, Alice walked through a wonderful garden with an array of colors. It was like a sea of multi-colored blooms. Flowers of many types spread their petals, releasing a soothing aroma that calmed her mind. She always loved walking through the gardens. It reminded her of when she and Jacob had played hide and seek there.

  She and Listy reached a tower. The guard standing watch saluted as he opened the door.

  “Please wait here, Listy. I won’t be long.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. I will wait here.”

  Alice smiled when she spotted the look on her friend’s face. Listy did not approve of how she was going down to see their prisoner, not that she didn’t understand why. Still, her maid said nothing, and for that, Alice was grateful.

  She walked down a flight of circular stairs, entered another room, and looked at the guards. There were two. Both sat at a long table, playing what appeared to be a game of cards. She coughed into her hand.

  “Ah… Your Majesty,” one of the guards stuttered. Both stood up and saluted.

  “Has there been any word from the prisoner?” she asked.

  “No.” The guard shook his head. “We’ve learned nothing. He barely even speaks to us.”

  “I see.” She sighed. “Then perhaps I can get him to speak. Carry on with your game.”

  The two guards turned red, but she was already traveling through the jail cell, stopping only when she reached the cell that had one particular prisoner.

  Jacob looked the same as always. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and his body was covered in sweat, showing that he’d been exercising a little while before she’d come in. She took a moment to admire the way his abs flexed as he shifted around to get comfortable, fondly remembering a time when she had licked sweat off those abs…

  She shook her head. Now was not the time.

  “How have you been, Jacob?” she asked softly.<
br />
  Jacob looked at her, then looked away and grunted. “The food sucks, I don’t get to take baths, and my guards keep trying to interrogate me. Other than that, I’m fine.”

  “Perhaps if you stopped being so stubborn and told us where your companion is, they wouldn’t interrogate you so much.”

  “You know me; stubbornness is in my nature. Is there some reason you’re here, or were you hoping to interrogate me as well?”

  “You know I would not interrogate you. I… merely wanted to see how you were doing.”

  “In that case, since you have now seen how I’m doing, why don’t you go ahead and leave?”

  Alice closed her eyes as if doing so would somehow block out the pain. His words hurt more than he knew—or perhaps he was saying them because he knew they would hurt.

  “I remember a time when you and I used to be close. What happened to those times? Do you really hate me this much?” she asked.

  Years ago, before Jacob had even entered the war against the dark clansmen and Alucard, back when he was still being trained, she and Jacob had been thicker than thieves. They’d done everything together. They had even slept together—well, they had tried. Her father had put a stop to that when he realized she’d been sneaking out of bed to sleep with him.

  Even after the war, they had been close. In fact, they had been even closer after the war had ended. Alice could still recall the feel of his hands on her, of his strong arms as they wrapped around her waist, of his shoulder as he let her rest against it, of fire and passion and his body as they bared themselves to each other. Those days had been some of the happiest she’d had.

  “I don’t hate you,” Jacob sighed.

  Alice was startled. “E-excuse me?”

  “I have never once hated you,” Jacob said. “I do not hate you. I don’t think I could even if I tried.”

  “T-then why have you treated me like this?”

  “Because I’ve come to realize something.” Jacob finally stood up from his small bed. Looking at her with his eyes that reminded her of a clear sky, he gave her a frown that shook her down to her core. “You and I live in different worlds. What we were, what we tried to be, it can never happen. I’ll not go down a road that will leave me picking up the pieces of my broken life again. You’ve already broken me once, Alice. I’m not the type who’ll allow himself to be shattered twice.”

  Alice felt an acute pain in her chest, like a thousand hot needles poking her heart. Jacob was basically saying that their relationship had been a fool’s errand from the beginning, that everything they’d done had been meaningless. What made the situation worse was that she could not refute him. They had tried, they had done their best, but in the end, her duty had consumed her life, and she’d left Jacob to fend for himself.

  “I… yes, you are right,” Alice said at last. “I guess… we really are different.”

  Yes, they were a lot different. Jacob would not have abandoned her had their positions been reversed, but then, he was also not a monarch. He was a man who lived by the beat of his heart. She was a woman who lived in the cage known as royalty, with all the responsibilities, obligations, and trappings that came with it. They came from different worlds.

  “For what it’s worth, I am sorry,” Alice continued. “I never meant to abandon you.”

  “I know.” Jacob’s smile, unlike the last one he’d given her, was reassuring. It made her feel even more awful than if he’d spat at her. “I think that makes it worse.”

  “I suppose it does,” Alice said, and then she left.

  She didn’t want Jacob or anyone else to see her tears.

  ***

  It was later at night. The meeting between the White Council had just ended. Chastity had left with the others, though unlike them, his destination was not the residential district but the market district.

  While it was known as the market district, it didn’t have just vendors, stalls, and shops. The market district was also home to taverns and inns. Chastity’s destination was one particular tavern with a faded old sign that said Hero’s Stop.

  It was, in all regards, an average tavern. Fairy lamps hung from the ceiling, the warm wood panels and inviting atmosphere lent itself well to the establishment. Numerous patrons sat around tables or in booths, while barmaids wandered around taking orders and doing their best to avoid harassment. The sound of chairs sliding along the ground was barely heard over the obnoxious singing from a couple of men who’d had a little too much to drink.

  Chastity found an empty booth and slid in. While he waited for his acquaintance to arrive, he ordered an ale from the barmaid, subtly flirting with her by complimenting her eyes and hair. From the way the girl blushed, Chastity knew that he’d be getting some tonight. This was only confirmed when she came back and slid her address to him along with his ale.

  “My, aren’t you popular,” a voice said as a cloaked figure slid into his booth. Chastity could see nothing of her face save the gentle curve of her jawline and her lush ruby lips.

  “Are you jealous?” he asked.

  The figure’s laugh was like tinkling wind chimes. “Hardly. I have more than enough men waiting on me hand and foot. I’m merely stating that I understand how you feel.”

  “Is that so?”

  Chastity wouldn’t deny that he was a little disappointed. He hadn’t seen this woman without her hood up, but from what little he’d managed to glimpse, she was a woman of extraordinary beauty.

  “How was the meeting with the White Council?” asked the woman.

  “It was the same as always,” Chastity grunted. “Just a bunch of stuffy old men whose time in this world has long since passed. The only bright spot in that council is Kindness, but she never speaks and so I’ve been unable to properly get her in my bed.”

  The figure nodded along with him. “I understand the feeling. As one of only two girls on my council, I often have to deal with arrogant old codgers as well.” She paused. “Tell me, did the queen come in and put a stop to what you were doing?”

  “She did.” Chastity scowled when he remembered the queen’s pompous reprimand. “I don’t understand why those old men put up with that bitch. She has no good qualities. She’s arrogant and stiff. That woman needs to get laid.”

  “Are you sure that’s not just your own perception of things?” asked the cloaked woman. “It sounds to me like this woman does a good job of keeping people in line.”

  “You’re taking her side?!”

  “Am I not supposed to? Shouldn’t we women stick together?”

  It was difficult to determine if this person was making fun of him or not. Damn it. He really wished he could see her face. It would have made determining her personality much easier.

  “So, the events at the meeting played out as I expected,” the cloaked figure said, tapping her index finger against the table. “That’s good. It means my predictions of her were accurate. This will make predicting her in the future that much easier.”

  “If you say so.” Chastity glanced around the room, listening into some of the nearest conversation. “It looks like everyone is talking about Jacob Stone becoming a traitor.”

  “Speaking of, you mentioned that Jacob is being held in a prison located within Avant Heim.”

  “That’s right. The queen is keeping him inside of the castle dungeon, lord knows why. I guess she wanted to keep her toy around to have fun with him.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing,” the cloaked figure said.

  Chastity stiffened when something rubbed against his crotch, causing blood to well up inside of him. It took him a moment to realize it was the woman’s foot.

  “Do you not enjoy being played with?”

  “I… I don’t mind being played with,” Chastity admitted. “But I prefer to do the playing.”

  “Oh, my. Perhaps once this is all over, I’ll let you play with me. How does that sound?”

  Chastity took a shuddering breath, trying his best not to become too aroused, o
r let this woman know about it, at least. He couldn’t afford to let her have the upper hand. He needed to be in control at all times.

  “I certainly wouldn’t object. However, if and when this happens, it will be done on my terms.”

  “Of course.”

  Perhaps it was the way her lips curled, but Chastity had the strangest feeling that he was playing into this woman’s hands. The thought bothered him. However, it was just a strange feeling that he had, so he pushed it aside.

  “You mentioned before that you can help cement my power base,” he said to get them back on track.

  They had been speaking for nearly two weeks now. She’d been a huge help in getting him recognized enough to be granted the honor of becoming a White Council member. The other council member had died of an illness. He suspected that this woman was somehow involved, but he had no proof, and in the end, he didn’t care. It was because the previous Chastity had died that he rose to this position.

  “I did,” she conceded. “However, before we get into that, I think we should get rid of your watcher.”

  “My what?” Chastity blinked.

  The woman smiled. “You mean you didn’t know? Someone has been watching you this entire time.” Chastity panicked. He was about to look around, but the foot on his crotch suddenly pressed painfully into him. “Ah ah ah. Don’t look. If you look, you’ll give away that we know about her.”

  “W-what are we going to do?” asked Chastity.

  “You leave that to me,” she said as her lips curled into a cruel smile.

  Chastity had never seen something more beautiful, or more terrifying, in his entire life.

  He offered up a silent prayer for whoever was spying on him.

  CHAPTER 3

  POLITICAL DEALINGS

  It was late in the evening when Enyo and Fellis decided to gather information. They’d chosen a bar that had more traffic than most, with numerous patrons coming into and out of it, sitting at tables, and just making as much noise as possible. She and Fellis sat at the bar. Fellis had bought an ale. Enyo thought about getting something to drink so that she’d look more natural, but she didn’t want to drink unless required. She still remembered the horrid taste of alcohol from the last time.