The sun barely crests the horizon as two figures face each other in the open courtyard. The air is still, heavy with tension.
Vinson stood tall and stern, gripping his broadsword with practiced ease. Across from him, Kael, younger and agile, twirls his slender rapier in his fingers.
Clang! Their swords meet in a flash of steel.
Vinson wins with brute strength. William could hardly dodge his attacks. He faltered at intervals, the frustration etched on his face.
"Charge!
Vinson's voice was tense; William lurched at him, but he countered the attack with a quick lunge.
Vinson grins.
"Too slow."
He said, playing the sword between his fingers.
"I am only a learner." William growls.
"You came to the right tutor." Vinson says, then pivots and slashes in a wide arc. William ducks and rolls away, dust rising in the air as he bounces back and is on his feet almost immediately.
They circle, eyes locked.
William strikes right. Vinson blocks the attack just in time, a low groan escaping his lips, then shoves William backward. William staggered frantically but was able to regain his balance.
William could hardly keep up; the sweat dripping off his face and gliding down his muscles made him look more manly. The scar on his left eye is making his handsome face a bit pale.
He charges, raising his blade for a final blow—but Vinson simply sidesteps and knocks William's sword from his grip.
Vinson's blade stops inches from William's throat.
Leah was walking through the corridors of the outer court, her violet hair swaying as she walked. Escorted by her personal maid. For a moment her gaze inadvertently darted to where Vinson was, her eyes flashing with reproach and scorn.
"Your actions are predictable, and the frustration on your face makes you liable to the attack of the enemies." Vinson said, slowly sheathing his sword, he turned around to leave when…
"Vinson!
Leah screamed, and as if electrified by a force, Vinson swiftly turned around, unsheathing his sword at the same time, just in time to block William's attack.
"Don't just fight to win, William; fight honorably, eye to eye, a tooth for a tooth. Look your enemies in the eyes." Vinson said and then slowly lowered his sword. For a fleeting second his gaze flashed at Leah before he slowly retracted it.
Inadvertently his gaze darted to the upper terrace of the court; standing there was Helena with a shocked expression on her face. She had seen everything that happened.
Vinson didn't say a word; he walked out of the small field within the court, his long, straight, dark hair swaying.
William was still on the ground, breathless; his blue eyeballs unswervingly darted towards the direction of his sister. A feeling of betrayal overwhelmed him as her gaze locked with his.
He reached out to his sword on the ground and then grabbed it. Rising to his feet, he didn't spare her a glare as he walked out of the field filled with vengeance. Leah could only fondle the ring on her finger as her gaze flashed at Helena before she slowly turned around and walked away.
Her steps were slow, dragging along the corridors, her facial expression ice cold.
"Johanna is pushing him too far." Selena said as she dropped the cup of tea in her hands on the wooden table carved in the shape of an eagle.
"He asked for it. All this while he has been lazing around, fucking women and getting drunk; he is finally ready to make good use of his life." Helena said, curling her lips.
That is what I am afraid of, Helena," Selena begins, her gaze looking distant.
"If William eventually becomes the man he should have always been, the throne will no longer be safe. Johanna knows this, yet she pushed him this hard to attain the very goal I dread." Selena's throat was dyed, her lips pouting, as she brought the cup of tea to her face.
"Brother won't let that happen. He is too smart to easily allow the throne to be usurped by William." Helena chewed on a loaf of unleavened bread.
"I want your wedding to Vinson to be arranged as soon as possible. Before the week runs out, I want you out of here."
"What's the rush?" Helena creased her brows.
"The enemies are playing silent games, Helena. Games that we cannot see, but the result might leave us with a heavy blow."
Helena sighs, her gaze dropping.
"Priest Tailbon will have the courtesy of wedding you both…
"I will not have a man who practices things contrarily to his religion lead my wedding ceremony." Helena cringed in irritation, rising to her feet. They were seated in her chamber in a small section of the room with a wooden table and chair sets.
Selena places both her hands on the desk, then slowly rises to her feet, then crosses both her hands in front of her elegantly.
"Where are you going?" Helena suddenly asks.
Selena turned around, then tilted her head….
"To plan a wedding."
....
Micah had a book in her hand when a maid walked in with a jar filled with wine.
"My lady, some wine?" The maid questioned.
Micah slowly raised her gaze from the book she was buried in. Her dark wavy hair was packed in a ponytail, and she was wearing a green gown with off-shoulder sleeves.
"Of course, fill up two cups." She said that and then shifted her gaze back to the book in her hand.
"Are you expecting a guest, my lady?" The maid asked just to be sure. Micah didn't reply to the maid's question; her attention was fixed on the book.
"My lady, my lady! The maid's voice became a bit firm. Micah jolted back to reality. Then she tardily shifts her gaze to the maid in front of her. She was seated in an armchair close to the window in her chamber; the rays from the sunlight reflected on the pages of the book.
"I asked, are you expecting a guest of any sort? That I may prepare ahead." The maid said, filling up the cup with wine. She was a bit bolder than she should be around a queen.
"Do you drink wine?" Micah asked. The maid was silent for a while before slowly nodding her head to signify yes.
"The other cup is for you." Micah added. The maid was simply astonished.
"My lady, isn't that inappropriate?"
"I insist." Micah added, shifting her direction back to the book.
The smiles were obviously pleased.
"As you wish, my lady." She says, then grabs a cup and begins to drink the wine. Her facial expression quickly changes to that of satisfaction as the savoring taste lingers on her tongue.
After a while Micah hears the loud clang from something falling on the floor. Her attention is quickly traced towards the direction of the noise, and her gaze catches a golden cup rolling on the floor, with some wine pouring out of it.
The prominent red color of the wine could be seen as splashes from the wine stained the floor and the surrounding environment. Micah was simply too dumbstruck to say a word when her gaze landed on the maid whose nose was now bleeding.
Her eyes shone in shock as she crouched down, clenching her stomach, and then threw up on the floor. Micah quickly closed the book in her hand and then rose to her feet.
"Guards, Guards!
Why was her voice shaking?
Maybe it was because she was simply too stunned to take in all that was happening. What would have happened if she wasn't distracted by that book? It could have been her in this condition, battling with her life.
The wine—it was poisoned!
Two guards ran in; they made their way to where Micah stood gazing at the maid whose eyes were now closed. Both guards gazed at each other in apparent shock, then one of them crouched down and checked for the maid's pulse.
She was dead!
That was the message the guard sent when he shook his head from side to side in pity as he slowly rose to his feet. They both carried the body out of the chamber, and another maid came in to clean the room.
Micah, who had been standing for a while, suddenly collapses on the chair behind her, her mind unable to recover from what just happened. Her brown eyes were dilating, and her fingers were trembling.
The light footsteps of Micah were undoubtedly unmatched. Her brown eyes were now cold, her gaze unswerving, and her hair was let down to fall at both sides of her face. As she walked along the hallways of the inner court, looking unfazed, with a purpose she was uncertain of.
"Queen Micah, my lady…"
The maids bowed as she walked past them, but she paid no heed to them. Finally she arrives in front of a great door, with two guards standing at both sides of the door. The guards curtsied and then opened the door for Micah to go in.
Micah stepped into the chamber, walking a little farther; her gaze rested on a figure laid in a hammock swing.
"I need your help." Micah said, attracting the attention of the lady. The lady grinned and then steadily sat up, her lashes batting in amusement.
She scrutinized Micah from head to toe, her intense gaze scanning her potential ally.
"Help you say? What do I stand to gain from this?" The lady rises to her feet, her side profile now in view, her lilac-colored gown dropping down to her feet.
Micah had seen this coming, and she had come prepared.
"What do you desire, Jazell?