Binarius by Kendra McMahan Page A

Gods!”
    Everyone around the room gasped,
and then fell silent.
    “ It would be wise to watch your
tongue in front of your King” interjected Dorrin.
    “ So the Queen doesn’t mind it
then? Just the King?”
    “ How dare you!” Dorrin was now
standing. Almost instinctually the King put his hand up as if
asking for a pause.
    “ How dare I, you ask? This whole
Kingdom is filled with nothing but liars, and their lies. I am a
prisoner, not a guest. I will not hold my tongue anymore! You wanna
know what I think about your precious, faceless God? He is a demon!
A creature of deceit! Sit there for as long as you like and think
that you are on the right side of things, but you aren’t. You are
expendable and no God will save you. Not after you have lost your
humanity and your values. I hope you all rot!” She flung all of the
dishes that were in her reach across the table, and across the
room.
    Dorrin unsheathed his sword and
Bricius rose from his chair, shielding Etheldra. “Etheldra, perhaps
it’s been a long night. Go back to our chambers and I will be with
you shortly.”
    “ I don’t need your company. Maybe
I will take one of the younger guards in me…I mean with me. He
would love to see the silk sheets!”
    Etheldra spit in his face. She was
oddly relaxed as she leaned her body around him and asked Firinne
if she would join her. Firinne did.
     
     
     
    Etheldra slammed the door to her
and Bricius’ chambers. Their room was twice the size of Firinne’s.
The bed frame was wrought-iron, with gold embellishments. The
sheets were indeed, silk. There was a huge sitting area with a
fireplace — big enough for Firinne to stand in, although the
thought made her sick.
    “ Well, that was fun, wasn’t it?”
said Etheldra, and then added as she gestured to the room “Admiring
how your uncle is paid for his devotion? Bit sickening really.
Meanwhile, people are suffering all across the lands.”
    Firinne nodded. “What
was…that?”
    “ What, my performance?”
    “ Yes, I mean…do you have a
death-wish?”
    “ Oh, they won’t kill me.” She
shooed the suggestion away with her hand.
    “ Bricius might not, but Dorrin”
she paused, “he’s got the taste for it.”
    “ Well, I won’t have to worry about
that after tonight. I’m done Firinne. I’m leaving. I can’t take
this anymore. I don’t want to be a part of it.”
    “ But where will you go”
    “ I don’t know. I’ll find
somewhere. Anywhere. I’m so sick of being afraid. I mean…here you
are, off trying to save your whole Queendom on your own. No, fear.
What’s my excuse?”
    “ Hang on…I’m terrified Etheldra! I
may walk around here like these people are beneath me and I don’t
need their help, but I am alone in all of this. I don’t know how I
will be able to do any of it on my own.”
    “ Of course you don’t! But at least
you’re trying. Sitting around here, traveling with Bricius,
preaching Aldithenih…it’s making me sick.”
    “ I can’t say I blame
you.”
    “ So will you keep quiet for me
about it all, and could I sleep in your chambers tonight? I promise
I will be out of your way at first light.”
    “ Actually, I’m going to be leaving
here at the same time. I didn’t tell anyone because I can’t trust
any of them, but I have somewhere else I have to go…”
    “ Oh, that’s perfect! Which way are
you headed?”
    “ I’d rather not say…for my sake,
and yours.” Said Firinne.
    “ I understand. Let me just pack up
some things, and then we can head to your chambers.”
    “ Okay, what if Bricius comes
looking for you?”
    “ He won’t. Never does.”
    And Firinne thought that this
wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. She thought
that Etheldra had probably been unfaithful to Bricius in the past.
This wasn’t something new in their relationship, it was only that
it was out in the open now. She thought that Etheldra was right, he
wouldn’t come looking for her — for fear of what he