by N M Zoltack
“I was there that night. You were sleeping so peacefully. I had every intention of leaving the room so the two of you could rest, but I heard someone coming. Even now, I cannot say why I hid behind the door, but… I saw… The king entered the room. He… His hands are so…”
The maid held up her trembling hand.
"So big," she murmured. "He took his big hand, and he covered the baby's face, and he stood there for some time. The babe… Bates… he never woke. He felt no pain at least, but… As soon as the king left, I rushed over to the baby, hoping I thought wrong, that the king… He couldn’t have… but he did.”
This was why the maid had appeared familiar. Rosalynne had seen her stand by the cradle just before Rosalynne had realized what had happened to the Bates.
The babe hadn't died in his sleep as Rosalynne and everyone else had assumed. Not naturally. No wonder her father had been so cold and aloof about the babe’s death.
Because the king had murdered Bates.
In the end, Rosalynne was the one to sink to the ground, unable to move, to think, to process this horrific news. The king, her father, had killed. Rosalynne wasn’t naïve. She knew he hadn’t been above murder. After all, he had killed the Lis in order to become king, but to murder a baby merely because he was not the father was beyond cold and calculating.
To prevent war, her father had killed a royal couple, but there had been no reason to kill Bates, none, not even jealousy. It wasn’t as if the king had been heartbroken to learn that Queen Aldith had cheated on him. No, he had been merely worried that none learn about the disgrace rather than the act of adultery itself.
Perhaps it is just as well the king never truly taught me how to rule. Then again, I have learned how not to rule. Anything and everything the king would have done, I will not. I will not rule that way, not based on fear or worry. I will do what is best for the people and not myself.
Slowly, Rosalynne stood. She nodded to the maid and wiped the maid’s tears and then her own. The queen lifted her head high.
She knew what she must do. Rosalynne would do everything in her power to ensure that Tenoch Proper would survive this. She would survive this. The king, her brother, and the baby had died or been killed, but she would not falter.
“Thank you for telling me,” Rosalynne said. “I appreciate the courage it must have taken to share such news.”
“You… You don’t hate me?”
“Why would I?”
“What about…”
The king.
“Relationships can be complicated,” the queen admitted, “but not ours, not mine with the people of Tenoch or even the people of Vincana. Everything will happen as it should.”
“With a Rivera on the throne,” the maid said.
“If the Fates allow it.”
Author’s note
I hope you enjoy learning more about the characters in Keepers of the Flames. A lot more action in this one, the start of the war, the hint of dragons returning possibly… The story continues in the next installment!
If you loved Keepers of the Flames as much as I did writing it, please write a review. The more reviews, the more motivated I’ll be to release the next book faster!
Until the next book,
N. M. Zoltack
Other Books By N. M. Zoltack
In the Eye of the Dragon
A Time of Turmoil
The Deceit of Tongues
Keepers of the Flames - available for preorder
The Triumphant Return - coming soon
When Claws and Swords Collide - coming soon
The Might of Magic - coming soon
Blood and Ashes - coming soon
About the Author
N. M. Zoltack loves epic fantasy more than life. Game of Thrones is amazing, and George RR Martin really needs to finish the last books. More than willing to talk theories and it’s up for debate which is better—the books or the show.
For more information:
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