(This is something I have been working on for a little while... thought you all might enjoy the beginning... more to come. The title is still in the works).
The castle was full of sunlight, after the darkness of her father's mansion. Marcus, one of the many servants was leading her through the halls she knew by heart to the throne room. White marble covered every surface, the walls the floor, each step. The ceilings and windows alone showed a difference, in one room rose wood, another gold leaf. She wished that it was darker, like her father's. Darkness would be easier to hide in. Darkness would mask the mood which she was sure shown in this bright place. Even Marcus could tell she was troubled, though he would never dare to speak. The labyrinth walk ended before two enormous oak doors, carved with the symbols of the king's household.
She took a deep breath as Marcus opened the doors with a flourish. Prince James turned with a smile, his father was hiding one, she could read it in his eyes.
"Lady Marianissa" She bowed, Marcus closed the doors behind her, she jumped as they slammed closed behind her. Standing aimlessly around the room were the king's advisers. The king motioned for her to move forward.
"I'm told Lady, that you have a message for us?"
"Yes sire, and a name. But both are for your ears, meaning yourself and the prince's, no one else."
"A message and a name? Who from?" the king motioned for the others to leave. Thankfully they trusted her or thought they could. Lord Bondmic had the nerve to wink at her, he would not be winking later. She waited till everyone had left than took a couple of more steps toward the throne.
"The message is of course from my father." She paused James was staring at her in that annoying way of his that she both hated and loved. "the name is one I think you already know."
"And must we hear the message first?" the king was light hearted today, she had that effect on both of them. If only they knew what kind of danger they were in.
"You may hear them in which ever order you wish." The king pertended to ponder for a moment. Marianissa did not mind the order. Although she hoped they would want the name first, somehow she figured it would make it easier. After all the message was more like an action a final and very complete action.
"I think we'll hear the name first." Marianissa smiled, how was it that she knew he would want the name first?
"Nissandra Diana Messadria" James looked quickly at his father in shock, she had expected his look. The king's was harder to judge. the king was the only one she wondered about, did he know or guess who she was? Was he the only one who guessed the truth of her blood?
"how do you know that name?" James whispered.
"Perhaps we should ask for the message before we ask questions." The king was still impossible to read. But than again Marianissa knew that he could not read her either.
"Are the message and the name connected?" James asked, he had stopped flirting with her, which always meant he felt the situation had gotten serious. She felt the dagger at her side, they were almost to the point that she would put it to the kings throat. "Maria?" Only the king ever called her by her full name. Her father called her nissa, James, Maria, but than again it was not her true name.
"They are connected, though my father did not plan the connection." She did not speak directly to James, her feelings for him were already making this difficult. For a brief moment she saw a bloody dagger protruding from the chest of Lord Baron, the man she had killed in order to get this close to both the king and his son.
"One more questions my dear before I have you give me the message. Does your father know that name?" The king was very eager for this answer. He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. Marianissa took a couple of steps forward, it was the perfect excuse, to get within striking range. She would tell the truth there was no need to lie, but there was another question under the surface, that the King also wanted to know. She would answer them both.
"No, my father never knew her by that name."
"Who?" She had anticipated James asking that questions.
"Her mother" The king whispered, so he had made a guess at who she really was, interesting. The king leaned towards her "You have her eyes" He whispered. Marianissa had known they had met long ago, she wondered what history would have been like if they had followed the path that had been set for them, instead of trying to make their own fate. James looked both incredulous and confused, Marianissa dearly wanted to laugh at him, it was an amazingly handsome look.
"But" James began, but the King held up his hand.
"Before the whole story is told, I think it best we hear the message." Marianissa bowed her head and with her left hand clasped the dagger which soon would mix the blood of both the kind and the prince. After all she needed to keep her promises.
"The message is simply this." With lightening speed she flew at the king. Seconds later the blood of the king and the prince were mingled on the blade in her hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment