her at the thought of his lips upon her. He was bidding her farewell, she convinced herself. Now he planned to leave her, but was it too late? Would he be safe or would the spirits still come for him?
“Lucinda!” Geenessa’s voice interrupted her thoughts. A rush of wind was encircling the throne room around them. The torches and candles unlit and black ash was falling from the ceiling. Her hands were aching and she realized her grip on her throne had caused indents in the arms and pierced her palms. “Calm yourself, my Queen!” Geenessa cried.
Matthew knelt in front of her and rested his palms tightly on the top of her hands as a swirl of ash encircled them. “There is no way you could have known what they would do!” He said to her over the sound of the wind. “It is not your fault! No one blames you! I know you never would want harm to come upon me or anyone! Enough Lucinda! You must stay calm!”
She breathed deeply and focused on the sound of his voice as the wind around them and the rain of ash ceased. “Why didn’t you tell me about the attacks before?” Lucinda whispered.
“Because there is nothing that can be done. It seems that Nycilla’s followers do not want what happened to her to happen again. They fear that Thomas has returned and that your care for him,” He hesitated and looked away from her. “Your care for me will lead to your end.” He shook his head. “It is best if my uncle and I not stay any longer, my lady. Forgive me, but we should take our leave.”
She wanted to say more to him, but had no words. How many times could she say that she was sorry before the words lost all meaning? She simply nodded at him and he departed toward where his uncle slept. Four assassins, she thought, and they were spread throughout the kingdoms . She had brought this upon him, yet she did not know how to remedy it. She did not know how to protect him.
Lucinda looked down at the young woman with the thigh wound. “Are you alright?”
“I am so sorry, my Queen. You must believe me! I was out of my mind!”
“I do believe you.” Lucinda said gently. “You are dismissed, but you will be under watch.”
“I will do it myself, my lady.” Zekiel said looking curiously up the staircase to where Matthew disappeared, and then back to Lucinda before departing.
Genessa picked up Matthew’s dagger and studied it. She set her eyes upon Lucinda. “Have you heard of the double edged sword, my lady?” Lucinda shook her head at her governess in confusion. “It is a sword with two sharp ends. It can be a powerful defender but it can also be dangerous to the beholder if not handled properly. It can be a gift or a curse, bring forth both good and bad. Be an ally or an enemy. It is really up to you to learn to wield the sword to your advantage.”
“I know my powers have been erratic—“
“I am not referring to your powers, your Grace. He calms you yet he also makes you lose control. You thrive in his presence and yet it is painful to you as well. He brings forth both light and darkness within you.” She handed his dagger to her. “Perhaps you invoke that in each other. Nevertheless, you both have much to offer each other, though there will always be a chance of danger. You must decide if the risk is worth it.” She bowed and left Lucinda’s presence.
It was still dark when Matthew and Jonathan made their way toward the sea. “Just enter deeper and deeper into the water until you are submerged.” Lucinda instructed them. “Do not be afraid. I will tell the sea where to take you.”
Commander Jonathan hugged her. “It is a miracle to be here and to witness your kingdom. To witness the woman you have become. Your mother would be proud.” He said with tears in his eyes. “Have courage, my lady. You have a tough journey ahead, but the best is yet to be seen.”
“Pray for me, Commander.”
He kissed her
“Lucinda!” Geenessa’s voice interrupted her thoughts. A rush of wind was encircling the throne room around them. The torches and candles unlit and black ash was falling from the ceiling. Her hands were aching and she realized her grip on her throne had caused indents in the arms and pierced her palms. “Calm yourself, my Queen!” Geenessa cried.
Matthew knelt in front of her and rested his palms tightly on the top of her hands as a swirl of ash encircled them. “There is no way you could have known what they would do!” He said to her over the sound of the wind. “It is not your fault! No one blames you! I know you never would want harm to come upon me or anyone! Enough Lucinda! You must stay calm!”
She breathed deeply and focused on the sound of his voice as the wind around them and the rain of ash ceased. “Why didn’t you tell me about the attacks before?” Lucinda whispered.
“Because there is nothing that can be done. It seems that Nycilla’s followers do not want what happened to her to happen again. They fear that Thomas has returned and that your care for him,” He hesitated and looked away from her. “Your care for me will lead to your end.” He shook his head. “It is best if my uncle and I not stay any longer, my lady. Forgive me, but we should take our leave.”
She wanted to say more to him, but had no words. How many times could she say that she was sorry before the words lost all meaning? She simply nodded at him and he departed toward where his uncle slept. Four assassins, she thought, and they were spread throughout the kingdoms . She had brought this upon him, yet she did not know how to remedy it. She did not know how to protect him.
Lucinda looked down at the young woman with the thigh wound. “Are you alright?”
“I am so sorry, my Queen. You must believe me! I was out of my mind!”
“I do believe you.” Lucinda said gently. “You are dismissed, but you will be under watch.”
“I will do it myself, my lady.” Zekiel said looking curiously up the staircase to where Matthew disappeared, and then back to Lucinda before departing.
Genessa picked up Matthew’s dagger and studied it. She set her eyes upon Lucinda. “Have you heard of the double edged sword, my lady?” Lucinda shook her head at her governess in confusion. “It is a sword with two sharp ends. It can be a powerful defender but it can also be dangerous to the beholder if not handled properly. It can be a gift or a curse, bring forth both good and bad. Be an ally or an enemy. It is really up to you to learn to wield the sword to your advantage.”
“I know my powers have been erratic—“
“I am not referring to your powers, your Grace. He calms you yet he also makes you lose control. You thrive in his presence and yet it is painful to you as well. He brings forth both light and darkness within you.” She handed his dagger to her. “Perhaps you invoke that in each other. Nevertheless, you both have much to offer each other, though there will always be a chance of danger. You must decide if the risk is worth it.” She bowed and left Lucinda’s presence.
It was still dark when Matthew and Jonathan made their way toward the sea. “Just enter deeper and deeper into the water until you are submerged.” Lucinda instructed them. “Do not be afraid. I will tell the sea where to take you.”
Commander Jonathan hugged her. “It is a miracle to be here and to witness your kingdom. To witness the woman you have become. Your mother would be proud.” He said with tears in his eyes. “Have courage, my lady. You have a tough journey ahead, but the best is yet to be seen.”
“Pray for me, Commander.”
He kissed her
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