A Golden Heart

by Alia Johnson

  The brawny demon was regal yet dangerous.

  Vashti bowed low, giving her allegiance to him and showing respect in front of his people. She knew a court’s custom, having been beside her father most of her life. There were several murmurs of approval already starting to grow.

  “Stand, my Queen,” ordered Magnamar loudly, drawing excited gasps from the crowd. If it had not been assured before, now they knew who she was to them.

  Vashti complied and stood tall, again, noticing Mar now held his hand out to her with a confident smirk. It wasn’t a full smile, she knew that those were reserved for her, but it gave her the confidence to take his hand and walk up to the throne with him. She hadn’t noticed before, but a smaller throne had been constructed beside him for her to sit on.

  The soft cushions looked comfortable, but the horns sticking up from the sides and the back gave warning that she was a threat to be reckoned with. Magnamar enfolded her in his wings, so they had privacy, while he leaned down to give her a slow and thorough lick on her neck which left Vashti with stars in her eyes. She glared at him for distracting her. Mar did give her a bigger smile, then.

  Dropping her hand, turning back around to the crowd, and folding his wings against his back, he yelled, “During this Hunt, I decided to take a wife, a true mate. A wife that will rule by my side with might and honor. She will protect you and give us something that we haven’t had in hundreds of years since Baklan first came home. A golden hearted Queen of the people!”

  The roars of approval shook the area, the drums thundered, and looks were thrown between the couples and guardians, ones of joy to remember for all ages. Vashti truly felt honored that they were so welcoming to her.

  The chants sounded through the area, “Golden Queen! Golden Queen! Golden Queen!”

  Dramon strolled up to the throne and bowed low to the King. When he straightened, he pulled Mar into a tight hug. After their embrace, Dramon pulled Mar down into the crowd after giving Vashti a smile of greeting.

  Vashti could hear Dramon say, “Come speak with the elders for a moment, my King. There was an issue brought before the council that they worry for naught over.” Magnamar looked over his shoulder to make sure Vashti was being cared for while he checked on the problem. Cassira was fetching her a cool drink and food, while Talia, the new guardian that had been recommended by a reining council member, stood at her side.

  Vashti gave him a nod to let him know she had heard the request and to not worry about her; she could make it without her husband for a few moments. Magnamar nodded back and followed Dramon to the table where the elders sat with their heads together, discussing the issue.

  A light tap on Vashti’s arm made her turn away from watching the celebration. A man in the shadows, bowing low, held out a folded piece of parchment to her. “This was given to me by the Lady Medorah, my Queen.”

  “Thank you, kind sir.” Vashti took the paper and unfolded it reading the contents quietly.

  Vashti,

  Meet me in the hall behind you. I must tell you of Gorius in private.

  Medorah

  Vashti became excited after she read the letter. She had wanted to know what had happened during the Hunt with her friend, but it was better to talk away from the crowd watching her every move. Talia, the guardian at her side, became worried when Vashti didn’t tell her what was on the note. “My Queen?”

  Vashti looked up, folded the note, and placed it back on the side of her throne. “I am going to speak with my friend, Medorah, Gorius’s new wife. This is private, if you could wait here for me, Talia. I’ll be back in just a moment and bring her over.”

  Hesitating, Talia voiced her concern, “My Queen, should I alert the guards to accompany you?”

  Vashti shook her head and stood up. “No. There’s no need now that the King has announced that I’m at his side. I’m not going far and will be right back.” Vashti had decided that she would grab Medorah and sit her on Mar’s throne if she had to, so they could talk.

  There was also that tiny matter of an apology for getting Charon and Gorius mixed up that she felt guilty about… and almost losing Medorah during the Hunt when Charon captured her.

  Talia bowed her head, afraid to argue with the Queen. She would watch her new Queen to keep her safe whether she wished it or not to keep her new position. This was a step up from kitchen duty. “Yes, Queen Vashti.”

  Vashti walked behind the throne to not draw attention that she was leaving and began to walk to the open hall behind them. Talia began to follow her discreetly, keeping to the shadows to not anger the new Queen.

  King Magnamar approached the elder’s table with Dramon. The men’s heads were almost stuck together; they were leaned over so far to talk with one another. After they noticed the King standing over them, patiently waiting for them to stop gossiping, the elders stood and bowed low.

  “Apologies, Your Highness. We have an urgent matter we must discuss with you.” The most outspoken of the council members greeted Magnamar, giving a nod of greeting to Dramon. His name was Olander.

  Magnamar and Dramon sat at the table in the open area to hear what they had to say. It must have been important since it wasn’t a formal meeting. The elders did love their celebrations and hated when they were interrupted.

  Olander leaned forward as if sharing a dark secret. “We have heard stirrings from the men about the three brothers causing trouble, Your Highness. The youngest one made some atrocious comments about Queen Vashti, not knowing who he spoke of.”

  “Brothers?” asked Magnamar quietly. He didn’t know who they were specifically. There were many brothers in Baklan.

  “The ones who smell as if they rot from the inside out. I’ve heard many men have stayed away from them because of it.”

  Magnamar now remembered Gorius mentioning the odor from the men during training was causing the men to become angry with the three brothers. “Yes. Edger, Wason, and Santos. What did they have to say that causes you all such worry?”

  The council member in charge of the guardians belched loudly, drawing the King’s gaze. His name was Petri. “Hogwash about being cheated out of the company of one of the brothers' wives. The one that joined the guardians in the kitchen, Your Highness. This fine meal here is because of her, and they won’t be getting her back, no sir.” He continued with his meal, slurping his food loudly to the disgust of the people around him.

  Olander cleared his throat loudly, glaring at Petri as if he could smack some sense into the man. Petri only cared about food. “What Petri fails to mention, is that Edger made a muttered statement around one of the men that shocked him to his very core. He stated that the golden-eyed Vashti was claimed first by Wason, the one that passed during the Hunt, and was now, by right of family, the property of the second eldest.” Looking around, Olander added absently, “Though I haven’t seen the two living brothers here, the safety of our new Queen must be looked at closely. Also, Petri, I’m afraid that guardian you love in the kitchen so much was reassigned without your knowledge.”

  Mar ignored the startled gasp that came from Petri. The councilman acted outraged, like a personal insult had been delivered now that she was gone, so Mar would let them argue about the guardian.

  The guardsman that had accompanied Vashti, and then Magnamar, cleared his throat to get the King’s attention. He was shaking in his boots to speak with the King, but the guard knew he needed to tell him what had happened on his assigned journey to the hall with the Queen.

  Bowing low, he said loudly, “My King.” The arguing councilmen stopped fighting, too interested in what the guard had to say.

  Magnamar was shaking with anger after being told about this claim on his mate. The grooves of magma flowing through his veins were getting hot. The council was moving farther away from him. He knew his eyes looked crazed, and the heat that he was putting off was uncomfortable, but he didn’t care. His mind was already full of the ways he could end it all with the brothers.

  “Speak,” he o
rdered to the guard.

  The guard’s spine straightened after the growled order. “King Magnamar, Edger was in the hall when we escorted Queen Vashti. He bumped into her side, and I thought nothing of it after Queen Vashti waved us back. He was very apologetic about the accident and introduced himself to her. The Queen kept us from intervening, but I noticed Edger took the second hall that leads behind the throne.”

  Magnamar stood abruptly, upsetting the food on the table with his long legs. It caused Petri to give a shout when food and drink splashed over his massive body, ruining his meal. Mar didn’t bother to apologize. Vashti was in danger, and she didn’t know it.

  Turning to view the throne, he asked, “Where is the Queen?”

  Stammering, the guard replied, “I… I don’t know, my King. I was ordered to guard your person, and there are two guards stationed at the front of the throne.” The entire table looked around the room for their new Queen.

  Magnamar was already running toward the throne. One thought raced through his mind, where was Vashti? “Dramon, get Gorius moving and meet me at Edger’s home.”

  “Maybe she went on a walk among the people to greet them, Magnamar,” Dramon tried to reassure him.

  He turned with teeth bared, and eyes full of molten lava. “If she would have left through the front of the throne, the guards would have followed. She must have snuck out the back.”

  “Well, why would she go willingly with Edger?” Dramon asked out loud.

  A shy voice from a person blocking Magnamar’s path with a brave stare spoke up, “She didn’t, my King.”

  Magnamar tried to take a deep breath not to scare the shaking woman, but he was running out of time. “You are one of Vashti’s new guardians, right? What did you see?”

  “My… My King, Queen Vashti received a note from a man. He… Here it is.” The guardian’s shaking hand tried to hand the note to Mar. “The Queen said that she was going to get her friend that waited for her behind the throne in the hall and bring her back. I foll… followed and noticed two men in the shadows waiting, but before I could defend her, they had bound the Queen and taken her away. I couldn’t see their faces in the darkness of the hall. Forgive your loyal servant Talia, Your Highness!”

  Mar took the note and read it over quickly. Gritting his teeth, Mar crushed it in his grip.

  Talia fell to her knees and wept in her hands, waiting for the judgement of the King.

  Dramon kneeled on the ground and pulled Talia’s face up to see it better. “You are Talia? Former wife to Edger’s brother that left to join the guardians?”

  She nodded her head. “Yes. I chose the guardians over those men hurting me every day, sir. Please... don’t send me back! Please!” The stark look of fear was clear to see on the middle-aged woman’s face. It was clear that she had been through much with the brothers.

  If only he had been informed, Magnamar thought.

  Magnamar then said, “I’ll send them back to you, Talia…” Talia cried out, burying her head in both hands again to shield herself from the harsh words. Dramon wrapped his arms around her to comfort her. The King snarled, “… in pieces.”

  The guardian stopped crying and looked up in the King’s eyes with new hope. The Horde King, not known for his lies, had made her a promise.

  The first smile Talia had felt in years blossomed across her face after realizing her husband was finally going to receive the punishment he deserved.

  Chapter 23

  Vashti knew she had made a mistake as soon as she realized all the candles had been removed in this passage. Turning around, she was about to run back to the throne when a faint moan reached her. She feared Medorah was hurt in the dark or had fallen and couldn’t get up. The last thing she was going to do was leave her friend there by herself.

  “Rah, are you there?” Vashti asked quietly. She moved closer to the area where the moaning was coming from.

  “Here.” The muffled voice sounded as if they were in intense pain. Turning the corner, Vashti felt the gag descend over her mouth, cutting off her scream. She wrenched at it with both hands and began to call for the fire to defend herself when she felt a blow to her head that silenced her struggles.

  The smell was what woke her up. It was as if she had landed in a heap of garbage that no one had bothered to take out and had sat and molded for days. Opening her eyes, she looked around, but the trash inside the room was piled up so high there wasn’t much to see.

  Until Edger stepped around the mass, smiling brightly at her. The smell had been similar to when he had run into her in the hall, but she hadn’t placed it until now.

  She was furious. The heat inside her was boiling to the surface. Vashti could feel the bonds tied at her back beginning to catch on fire. The odor coming from the house easily hid the smell of burning cloth, while her body propped against the wall kept the smoke contained.

  Someone behind Edger began to shout, “Edger, you know Talia saw us and will tell the King! We need to leave now!”

  Growling and baring the teeth he had left, Edger replied, “Your wife couldn’t see who it was in the dark. We will tell the King we saw Vashti being carried out of Baklan by people sent by Romule to avenge their Prince. Stick with the plan, Santos!”

  Vashti froze in shock when she realized that the story Cassira had been telling her of the wife that the brothers had shared was Talia. Cassira had been trying to respect Talia’s privacy by not giving her name to Vashti. The sorrow Vashti had felt over what Talia had endured speared through her heart yet again, bringing back her own fears. Vashti would avenge her, she promised herself, while the men were arguing over what to do with her.

  “Edger, will you help me? I think I hurt my ankle.” The tears in Vashti’s eyes were for Talia, not for any hurt she may have felt, but Edger didn’t need to know that.

  Smiling brightly, the crazed look in Edger’s eyes returned to Vashti. “Our wife needs help, Santos.” Edger kneeled at Vashti’s feet while Santos ran his hands through his hair and paced the room. Santos was dangerous since he was saner than Edger, though not by much. Santos knew they were in some type of danger and would try to move her soon. Vashti knew she had to be careful around him, but first, she would deal with the cause of this.

  Edger.

  Fire lit up in the palms of her hands, but Vashti was careful to lean forward not to catch her dress in the blaze. She liked the pretty gold scales Cassira had brought her. Edger leaned forward to grab her ankle to view her injury, but before he could touch her, she wrapped both hands around his neck and squeezed as hard as she could, letting loose the rage inside her. It was an awkward position like they were moving to kiss, but Vashti wanted to watch the life leave his eyes as she stared into them, wanted him to know the person that caused his death was merciless.

  The screams coming from his throat were horrifying to hear, but Vashti held on and savored his pain. Santos was running toward them, but a purple sword slashing through his belly stopped him cold. He grasped at the weapon and tried to pull it free, but it wasn’t budging. Vashti recognized that sword out of the corner of her eye, so she wasn’t worried. Mar would be there soon if Gorius was in the room.

  She still wanted to burn both of the brothers for the pain they had caused Talia.

  “Move, Vashti.” The order made her release Edger’s smoldering neck quickly. Trusting Mar, she leaned away from Edger. The broadsword arching toward them took the neck of Edger from its perch. Edger died beside Santos. Again, a head fell at her side, but this time, it was different.

  Vashti was furious at Mar.

  “You got blood on my dress, Magnamar!” There were now droplets of it spread across her chest, while Mar’s armor still looked clean. She wasn’t sure if Cassira could clean the shiny scales.

  Mar’s knees hit the ground in front of her, caging her in between the wall and himself so she couldn’t look at the carnage around them.

  Vashti focused on him instead of her dress. It took her back to the time when they were
in the Forest together about to claim each other. She felt herself getting wet, even in the stench filled house surrounded by blood and death.

  “You sit with blood and gore all around you, my Queen, yet you look good enough to eat,” remarked Mar casually. Vashti knew he wasn’t as calm as he appeared. His eyes were spitting fire, and his veins were pulsing to a hard beat.

  “Mar?”

  In front of his men, he smirked. “I won’t take you here, golden one, but when I have you back in our room… You. Will. Be. Mine.”

  The intensity of his promise rocked Vashti. She sat back with a gasp, allowing him to swoop down to cradle her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.

  Mar growled, “No one touches my mate.”

  Vashti couldn’t wait for the party to be over with.

  The Horde King carried his Queen back to the celebration, while the guards behind him carried the body of Santos and Edger. Gorius kept pace with him, the blood on his sword dripping at his side. This was a procession of warning to everyone in Baklan of the change that was about to occur.

  They walked up to their thrones, where Mar sat Vashti on her cushions. She adjusted her skirts primly with the blood drying on her skin. The guards threw the bodies at Mar’s feet and moved off to the side. Vashti could see Medorah in the crowd watching with shocked eyes at the spectacle she was witnessing. She decided to wiggle her eyebrows at Rah to make her smile. Rah closed her mouth and quirked a small one in return.

  Crossing his arms against his broad chest, Mar growled, “Talia, come here.”

  The shaking Talia come to stand in front of the bodies, staring down at them with the echo of distant pains on her face.

  Mar leaned forward slightly, “I made you a promise, and I have delivered. Is this sufficient?”

  Talia smiled, nodded her head, and bowed low to the King, all the while keeping her eyes on the dead men.