“We must send word to Alayna.” King Eamon stated gruffly. “And the West. Prince Isaac would want to know.”
“You giving up already?” Clifton asked in disappointment. “I do not want to send word until Arnos is finished making his assessment. I will not lose hope. She will fight this. I will fight this.”
“Cliff,” Eamon’s apologetic tone and gentle hand had Clifton fleeing from his comfort as if betrayed. “Do not speak that way to me, Father. I refuse to lose her. Not after everything we went through to be here. She will beat this.”
“I pray she does, son. I do. I just want you to realize that should Elizabeth remain… asleep for much longer, the hope of her waking is slim. Her sister, your queen, deserves to say goodbye to her sister too.”
“She won’t have to.” Clifton barked and stormed out the castle doors and to the stables leaving his father with a worried frown and a heavy heart.
∞
Prince Isaac waltzed through the doors of his personal chambers, the deep, navy drapes drawn closed, candles lit upon every surface, and a willing woman draped seductively over his bed. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of her and waited until his eyes adjusted to the dim room. “Not tonight, Rayna.”
“But you just got back.” The maid pouted and slipped off the bed and to her feet to walk towards him. She draped her arms around his neck and tried to convince the prince to give in to her temptations. “I said not tonight.” Isaac barked, removing her arms and walking past her into his room. “I do not wish for you to be in here.”
“But you have been gone for months.” She whined with a playful smile.
“And much has changed. You must leave.” He tossed her dress towards a chair near the door. “And this—this display you have set up is no longer appropriate.” He began blowing out candles as he reached for the oil lamp and adjusted its brightness.
The maid slipped into her dress with a frown. “Something is different about you, Isaac.”
His head snapped up. “Do not address me so informally.” He scolded, his dark eyes heated.
The maid crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to study him. “Do you have a new lover?” She asked boldly.
“What does it matter?” He asked on a growl as he opened his doors to allow several attendants to bring his trunks inside his room.
“It matters, because you are not yourself. Normally you cannot keep your hands off of m—” He cleared the room in two steps and jerked her arm as he tossed her out of his chamber door. “Do not disrespect me in the presence of attendants, maid. I will not have it.” His voice was low and dangerous, and Rayna smiled as she slipped her hands to his sides. He pulled them away as if her touch disgusted him. “Leave me.” He ordered.
She stepped back as if he slapped her. “Fine.” She murmured. “But don’t think I will be back, Prince.”
He waved her away and went back into his chambers. Sighing, he sat on the side of his bed as he loosened his collar. What had overcome him lately? Normally, he would jump at the chance to have a woman in his bed. He shook his head. No. Not anymore. He was the future king of the West. He did not need to settle for maids and servants. He needed to think of a future queen. His mind wandered to Elizabeth and Prince Clifton. Now there was a pair befitting of the role as king and queen. He thought of the slight dimple to Elizabeth’s left cheek when she smiled. And the light glint of mischief that lurked beneath the depths of her icy, blue eyes. His lips tilted into a smirk as he laid back against the cushions and stared at the canopy of rich, cream velvet that draped over the top of his bed. Prince Clifton would have his hands full with that one, he thought. He missed them, he realized. There, alone in his chambers, annoyed with himself for even thinking it, yet he missed them. He missed her. Elizabeth understood him. Yes, he was not the most respectable of men, but he wished to change. She saw that in him. That ability to be a good man. But he also knew Princess Alayna thought her sister daft for even thinking it possible of him. Perhaps Alayna was right, he thought. Without Elizabeth’s belief surrounding him every day, what would become of him now? He thought of Rayna, naked, lying on his bed in wait of him and he felt nothing. Not even a smidgen of attraction for the one maid he had taken into his chambers multiple times in the past. He ran a frustrated hand over his face and sighed into the darkness. Sitting up, he relinquished all thoughts of sleep and decided brooding into his fireplace a better option.
He sat, a small blanket strung over his legs and stared into the flames. The hypnotic fans of orange, blue, and red taking his mind back to the Northern Kingdom. Back to the clearing by the boundary line. And back to the very moment his sword pierced through Prince Eric of the Southern Kingdom. He clenched and unclenched his fist, remembering the feel of his sword and the slight resistance that tugged upon it from inside Prince Eric’s chest. Right through the heart, Isaac thought. He absentmindedly ran a hand over his own heart and thought of how Elizabeth had saved him that day. In more ways than one. Not only from their enemies of the South, but also from himself and his self-destructive ways. Now, back in his kingdom he felt like a stranger. No one knew of Prince Isaac the heroic rescuer of Prince Clifton and Princess Elizabeth. All that remained here was Prince Isaac the scalawag. He shook his head in disappointment. Perhaps the only means of escape from his old self was to escape his old kingdom. He pondered that thought a moment and then contemplated where he might travel. Neighboring realms looked promising, he thought. Or the Southern Kingdom, once Samuel took the throne. He could help the young king if Prince Ryle allowed it. He could visit the Eastern Kingdom. Elizabeth. He blinked, the vibrant flames searing through his mind and bringing him out of his revelry. No. She needed time to adjust to the East and her new marriage. He did not wish to interfere with that no matter how much he missed her companionship.
∞
Alayna read the letter in her hands and eased herself onto a chaise in the conservatory. Prince Ryle stood alert as he studied her face. “Something is wrong.” He observed.
Alayna nodded, her smooth caramel gaze locking onto his. He noted the tears puddling at the corners. He quickly made his way towards her and sat, gently cupping her face in his hands. “What is it, Alayna?”
She sniffed as the first tear rolled over and down her cheek and he lightly swiped it away. The understanding in his sharp, blue eyes was almost her undoing, but she cleared her throat and slowly pulled her face away from his tender grasp. “It is Elizabeth.”
“She writes of bad news? Is she not happy in the East?” Ryle asked.
Alayna shook her head. “It is not that. This letter is from Clifton. Elizabeth has fallen ill. Her amputation has become infected. She has not been awake since they left here. Prince Clifton says Arnos, your healer, feels there is not much time before she passes.”
“No.” Ryle stated quietly in disbelief. “We must leave at once. You have to see her.”
Alayna shook her head. “I can’t leave, Prince. I can’t. Not with Samuel here and our kingdom still recovering from the battle with the South.”
“Then I will go.” He stated. “I was to ride there by week’s end any way. I will just leave earlier than planned.”
Alayna nodded. “Please, ride swiftly and send word as hastily as possible. I cannot bear the thought of losing another member of my family, especially my sister.”
He grabbed Alayna’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “I will, my Lady. I will send a messenger right away.”
She watched him leave and then began a letter to King Anthony of the West explaining the situation of her sister to him and the possibility of her death. Penning the words, she cried, not just for the potential loss of Elizabeth but also the recent loss of her father. She somehow felt this never would have happened had he still been alive. He would at least know what to do, who to send for. She enquired of the Western Kingdom’s healer and the possibility of sending him to the East to aide in Elizabeth’s care. She swiped a hand over her face and called for her attendant.
“Jessa, I need you to take this to one of the messengers. Possibly Hector, for he is the fastest rider, and have him deliver this to King Anthony of the Western Kingdom as quickly as possible.” The young woman nodded and bowed before scurrying away.
Alayna sighed as she leaned against the cool, stone wall at the top of the landing. She leaned over the edge and spotted Jessa’s blonde hair and her handing the letter to Hector. He glanced up and nodded at Alayna before turning to leave. Good, she thought. King Anthony would receive the letter by nightfall if Hector galloped the whole way. She turned and made her way to the Council Room and drew back the heavy drapes. Maps of the Realm laid upon the large table and she briefly scanned over them. Her eyes settled upon a darkened blot in the middle of the Realm. The Land of Unfading Beauty. It spread like a virus, she realized. Starting in the very center, the very heart of the Realm and leaking out over the meadows. She thought of Edward and how he managed to survive all this time and his commitment to the Realm never wavering. She sensed dark days laid ahead for the Realm. Would she be able to maintain the strength of the kingdoms? Would they be able to fight Lancer and the darkness that continued to spread over their lands? Not without Elizabeth, Alayna thought.
Elizabeth brought everyone together in a way no else could. Her marriage to Prince Clifton had forever sealed an alliance with the East, but if she were to pass, Prince Clifton would lose his heart along with her. The East’s strength was only as strong as its leaders, and the loss of Elizabeth would definitely weaken the future king. The West, her mind conjured up images of Prince Isaac, he too would be upset at the loss of Elizabeth. And Alayna knew her own relationship with the West was not as solid as she wished it to be. It was Elizabeth who created strong ties to the other kingdoms, not her. She scolded herself for her lack of benevolence and sat at the head of the table to filter through parchments. She tossed them aside on an angry growl and glanced out the window. The boundary line, the light fog on the horizon, crept closer and closer. She had to stop it. She would stop it. She fisted her hands and walked to the window and stared at her unassuming enemy. “I will figure out a way, Lancer.” She whispered to the air. “I will. I will destroy you and your lands.”
CHAPTER 2
Edward waited at his spot on the other side of the boundary. He waited for what seemed like days for someone from one of the kingdoms to come to his and Elizabeth’s spot. Why had they not communicated with him? Yes, much was happening in the Realm. His father’s passing. Elizabeth’s wedding. But a war was still upon them, did they not realize his dangerous predicament? If Lancer found out Edward possessed the darkness, Edward knew his days would be numbered. Yes, Lancer would see it as beneficial at first, but Edward knew the unstable ruler would dispose of him when the time was right. He glanced up as a horse stepped through the trees on the other side. Prince Samuel of the South dismounted and walked nervously to the boundary line. He waved shyly as he lifted a letter from his trouser pocket and slipped it upon Thatcher’s neck. He nudged the small rabbit over the line and Edward eagerly unwrapped the parchment and read.
Dear Prince Edward,
I am sorry to be the one to come to the boundary line, when I know your heart must desire one of your family over me. However, I am afraid I am the best there is to offer at the moment. Princess Alayna does not know I have come to see you. I fear if she did, she would not approve. Though I know the future queen trusts me, I do not feel she wishes for anyone to know the news I am about to tell you. For she does not even know I overheard her and Prince Ryle discussing the matter. I am sorry for the suspense, therefore I will continue with what I had planned to tell you.
Your sister, Princess Elizabeth, has fallen ill. Her injury from this very clearing has become infected, and word has it, that she never even made it to her welcome party in the East, but that she fell asleep on her journey and has yet to awaken. My heart is saddened by this grave news. The future queen has requested Ryle to go back to the East and survey her sister’s health, while she also has sent letters to the West in search of the best healers the Realm has to offer. I ask you, my prince, is there anything across the boundary that might save your sister? Perhaps you could send it to me across the line and I could take it to Prince Clifton? I know he has experienced the power of miraculous healing from the Unfading Lands, and I wish to use that same healing upon Princess Elizabeth. From what I have heard, it may be the only thing that can save her life.
He watched as Prince Edward paced on the other side and read his letter. The prince looked up and shook his head. He then sat to return a response and Samuel waited patiently. He had come to this clearing many times before the battle to spy upon Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward. He had watched Princess Elizabeth learn the sword, converse with her brother, and even witnessed the princess enjoying her own quiet time of just escaping the castle walls. Now, as he stood in the small clearing, the peaceful sounds of the Rollings River rushing by, the leaves rustling in the wind, and the sweet scent of roses filtering through the air, he realized how perfect a spot the clearing actually was for such an escape. He glanced up as Thatcher crossed back over the line, the small rabbit not having aged but a few days over the course of the last five years. The rejuvenating effects of the Unfading Lands maintained the rabbit’s youthful appearance much like it had the prince’s. He grabbed the letter.
Future King,
Thank you for coming to the clearing. I have been worrying myself sick over the condition of my father’s lands. I also thank you for your news in regard to my sister, Elizabeth. I had not heard the news and am deeply saddened by it. Unfortunately, the Unfading Land’s healing powers do not come from a plant or creature that can cross. It is part of our atmosphere here. I cannot send you anything to help her heal. The only thing that would heal her is for her to cross, but please, do not think this a wise decision. Her safety would be greatly compromised if she did. I assure you, she is much safer in the Realm than the Lands. I wish for you to send a letter to Prince Clifton for me.
Samuel glanced up as Edward sent another rabbit across the line and with it another letter tied to its neck. He fetched it and continued with the first.
This letter must go to Prince Clifton and Prince Ryle. It contains a most valuable secret I have stumbled upon and will aid the Realm in the battle against the Lands. The battle we all know is coming. No one must know of the contents of that letter but Prince Clifton and Prince Ryle. Please show me you understand this.
Samuel glanced up and nodded passionately, holding a hand over his heart. Edward nodded in return.
Please deliver this letter personally, Samuel. Convince Alayna you must see Prince Clifton. She must not know what is in that parchment, but I only trust you to deliver its contents. Seek out the prince, give it to him yourself, and please… hurry back with his response. I will return to this clearing in a week’s time. I wish to know his response then. Take care, Samuel, and thank you for your service to the Realm.
Samuel rushed to his horse and vaulted into his saddle. The wind whipped over him as he galloped towards the castle as fast as his horse could carry him. When he reached the front steps, he made his way to the Council Room where he knew Princess Alayna would be seated. He knocked and upon her voice, entered. She glanced up in surprise.
“Your Grace.” He bowed, trying to stifle his heaving breaths. “I wish to speak with you.”
“Of course, Samuel. Come in.” Alayna invited warmly. She waved a hand to one of the chairs and he ignored it.
“My Queen,” he began. “I wish to make a visit to the Eastern Kingdom.”
“And why is that?” She asked, her brows rising in surprise.
“I—I wish to see Prince Clifton, my Lady. For I was wishing to speak with him on personal matters.”
“Personal matters?” Alayna looked confused and Samuel fidgeted on his feet. Understanding donned on her face and she smiled. “Ah, I see. I guess it is quite difficult for you to be in the midst of growing up and not have
an older brother or father to talk to.”
Samuel lightly blushed. The princess thought him a mere boy needing guidance. He shrugged. Whatever allowed him to leave, he thought. “Yes, my Lady. And Prince Clifton and I have… a bond, so to speak.”
“I understand. Say no more, Samuel. Please feel free to take a guard with you. Should you arrive before Prince Ryle departs, perhaps you two can journey back together.” Alayna smiled as relief washed over the young prince’s face.
“Yes. Of course. Thank you, your Grace.” He bowed swiftly and made his way to the stables once more. Gathering a guard for company, Samuel set out towards the Eastern Kingdom at a reckless speed.
∞
Clifton paced outside the door to his personal chambers. Arnos and Mary were tending to Elizabeth, and he had yet to muster the courage to go inside and find what condition his wife was in. It had been a long night, he recalled. He spent most of the night feeding the fire and sitting next to Elizabeth’s side. Not once had her eyes opened. Not once had she awakened to find him there with her. He wondered if she even remembered making the journey to her new kingdom. He heard footsteps echoing down the hall at a fast clip and glanced up to find his brother pacing towards him. Clifton dropped his crossed arms to his sides as Ryle stepped into the light of the lantern. “How is she?” He asked.
“Not good.” Clifton replied.
“I’m sorry, brother.” Ryle placed a firm hand on Clifton’s shoulder and squeezed in reassurance. “Arnos is inside?”
“Yes.”
“And what are you doing out here?” Ryle asked.
“I—needed a breather.” Clifton admitted and rubbed a hand over his tired face.
“Come.” Ryle motioned for them to step inside the room. Lanterns cast a soft glow, and the fireplace maintained a warmth that under different circumstances would have been quite inviting. But the still, pale face of Princess Elizabeth lying in the bed sucked all joy from the room. All warmth. All comfort. He watched as Clifton rushed to Elizabeth’s side and replaced Mary. Mary stepped away and nodded her greetings towards Prince Ryle.
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