I was sitting in my room when it happened. Staring out the window, waiting for the return of my soul, seeing if I could spot him before news came of his victory and how he was safe and sound and would return to me soon. It wasn't a very big room, only just big enough for four bookshelves, a big bed, an assortment of drawers and dressers, a tea area, a desk, and whatever else I desired to clutter up my room with.
I had felt unusually morose for the past few days or maybe it had been weeks, I had begun to lose count.
I had felt the stir, felt it in my heart anyway. But no one else seemed to feel a thing. It became a burden and a heavy cloud over my shoulders. It became worse every day.
Now I could barely eat anything, even the most tender of lamb that was offered to me. I was even losing my focus on the matters of my kingdom, which always used to be one of my top priorities. Once.
I had thought that it was just temporary. A simple spell of worry that had twisted my gut into knots but would untangle itself as soon as my mate came back to me.
But then the messenger came. And he brought news.
He burst into my room, gasping for breath. I almost screamed for help when he did for it was quite a startling occasion. Things would usually only happen like that when your castle and city has fallen and they are going to hold you captive for ransom. I regained my composure in just enough time as he looked up and said, "Your highness, we are winning the war." I could have shouted for joy at that, but then he kept talking. "But the cost to do so was great. All of your brothers were lost in the last battles." Now I knew why I had felt what I did. I almost fell flat on the floor. Luckily I had been sitting in my tea area and a chair was nearby. I gripped the frame hard enough to make the wood groan beneath my hands and sat down and tried to calm myself. I tried to steady my breathing. It didn't work. I tried to stop the bile rising up my throat. It barely worked.
"All but Prince Cordell and Duke Sawyer were killed according to our latest information. They took them hostage as well as a number of soldiers." My breathing eased but it became way too hot in this room and now the bile that I was able to hold off before came back at full force. I threw up on the ground beside me, barely missing the dress that I was wearing. He rushed over to me. Concern was etched across his face as he knelt before me.
"What do they want for the return of them." Those were the first words I'd spoken all day. My voice shook with sorrow and bitter anger.
"I'm afraid that it's not that simple your highness." He said with a tone that sounded worried, but remarkably quiet.
"What do they want for them." I snarled the words this time, my voice was overflowing with anger now.
"They want you and ten thousand coins in exchange for both Prince Cordell and Duke Sawyer."
"When do they want it." My voice was shaking again, but not with sorrow this time, this time it was with pure rage.
"Your highness, you can't seriously be thinking about going through with this scheme can you? They will kill you!"
"Start accumulating the money." My voice was foreign and cold to me as my head swam with too many thoughts too fast. It felt like I was not myself and for just a second I wasn't in my body anymore. I could see the room, I was in it, with a worried messenger at my side grabbing napkins off of the table to clean up the puke with. I couldn't feel anything around me except the coldness that now dwelled in my heart. And then I was me again. In my own body, not flying off to who knows where, just me, myself.
"But you know that the pack can't function without a herus, they rule over ninety percent of the year."
"Are you questioning my decision?" I growled the words as I felt my canines extend past my jaw. He was starting to look very worried now.
"O-Of course not your highness but shouldn't you talk it over with the council and then make a decision?"
"No. They can't rule my life forever." He went silent at that.
"Is there anything else that I should know?"
"They said they want it in two days or Prince Cordell and Duke Sawyer will cease to exist." He said the words so quietly, as if saying it too loudly would make those two days come now and they would cease to exist.
"You may go now."
"Is there anything you need before I go your highness?"
"There is one thing that I need. Tell the commander of the guard to come to me immediately."
He quietly finished his cleaning and then backed out of the room with a bow.
The commander arrived shortly. By this time my canines were no longer visible and I had had time to think about what must be done. I still had to go through with it but it might have to come down to tricks to get out. "Commander Hadyn do you know why your here?"
"I believe it concerns two missing citizens and a matter of ten thousand coins."
"You are correct. I also want you to acquire a reasonable force to take with me when I go to make the trade."
"My men are at your disposal." His voice was strong but if you listened closely you could hear the sorrow laced through it.
"And while you're doing that would you please go tell the Secretary Of My Treasury to see me?"
"Yes your highness." He sketched a bow and then left me there.