the entire conversation. She knew more than most. She knew that her days in Blackthorn were numbered. She hoped that Philip saw enough value in her to let her stow along, should he decide to flee to Gradenia. This might be her last chance to prove her worth. “Philip,” she whispered, dropping the sheet she had wrapped around her, “Please, take me with you.”
Stomping his foot into his boot and pulling his belt tight, Philip turned and looked at her, equal parts enraged and annoyed. “What?” he asked, shocked at her tenacity.
She swallowed hard, wondering if perhaps this time she had gone too far. But Rose was determined. “Take me with you, to Gradenia. I can’t imagine my life without you.” Philip placed his hands on his hips, sighing heavily, and glancing down at the floor. She was not exactly sure how to read this, so she decided to continue. “She may be your wife. She may be your queen. But I’m the one who knows how to please you. I’m the one who loves you. Please, take me with you.”
Philip squeezed the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes tightly, attempting to regain his self-control. Finally, he began to walk across the room. Rose stood to meet him, hoping for an embrace, an indication that he saw her usefulness. He stared into her eyes for just a second before drawing back his gloved hand and backhanding her right beneath her eye, sending her reeling onto the bed. “You’re a whore,” he spat in as calm a voice as he could muster. He turned quickly on his heels and walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Rose tried to hold back her tears but she couldn’t. She began to sob and then her entire body began to convulse. It wasn’t just the pain, though she felt as if her eye was about to explode right out of it’s socket, it was the defeat, knowing she would never be good enough for him. He was right. She was a whore. And it seemed like that was all she was ever going to be. After a few moments, she finally began to regain her composure. She wiped away her tears and let her sorrow turn to anger. “Well,” she said aloud to the empty room, “I might be a whore but I will never be your whore again.”
***
The herald from Gradenia was waiting in the Throne Room when Philip arrived. He was a slight man with dark black, greasy hair. He wore armor like a knight but it was jointed by black mesh. He held his helmet in his hand and glanced at Philip impatiently, as if he had more important things to do than wait around on an indolent king.
“Your Majesty,” he began in a thick accent, as Philip sat down on his throne, “I am Henry de Ville, Mercenary and Messenger for His Highness King Leopold II, Ruler of Gradenia, the Isles of Capresia, and the Territories of Dawsinia. I arrive before you this morning with an urgent message from King Leopold.”
Philip could hardly keep from rolling his eyes as the greasy little man made his announcement, as if those titles were any more substantial than th e ones he held himself. Henry (pronounced On-Ree) handed him a sealed letter, with a slight bow and a clicking of his heels. He took the letter, broke the seal and quickly scanned its contents.
Re: Your request for assistance
Dear Philip:
I hear that matters have gotten out of hand and Caleb’s forces are infiltrating your kingdom. What a shame! Perhaps if you had heeded my words in the first place, you would be enjoying the comforts of your new wife with limited interruption. Nevertheless, you are my cousin and I will come to your aid. The monies you’ve sent are just enough to allow me to cover your escape. Abandon Blackthorn, bring whatever treasures and troops you have left with you, and we shall regroup when you have reached Gradenia. I am sending 1000 of my best cavalrymen to cover your escape and hold off the Arterians from following you but at this
Stomping his foot into his boot and pulling his belt tight, Philip turned and looked at her, equal parts enraged and annoyed. “What?” he asked, shocked at her tenacity.
She swallowed hard, wondering if perhaps this time she had gone too far. But Rose was determined. “Take me with you, to Gradenia. I can’t imagine my life without you.” Philip placed his hands on his hips, sighing heavily, and glancing down at the floor. She was not exactly sure how to read this, so she decided to continue. “She may be your wife. She may be your queen. But I’m the one who knows how to please you. I’m the one who loves you. Please, take me with you.”
Philip squeezed the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes tightly, attempting to regain his self-control. Finally, he began to walk across the room. Rose stood to meet him, hoping for an embrace, an indication that he saw her usefulness. He stared into her eyes for just a second before drawing back his gloved hand and backhanding her right beneath her eye, sending her reeling onto the bed. “You’re a whore,” he spat in as calm a voice as he could muster. He turned quickly on his heels and walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Rose tried to hold back her tears but she couldn’t. She began to sob and then her entire body began to convulse. It wasn’t just the pain, though she felt as if her eye was about to explode right out of it’s socket, it was the defeat, knowing she would never be good enough for him. He was right. She was a whore. And it seemed like that was all she was ever going to be. After a few moments, she finally began to regain her composure. She wiped away her tears and let her sorrow turn to anger. “Well,” she said aloud to the empty room, “I might be a whore but I will never be your whore again.”
***
The herald from Gradenia was waiting in the Throne Room when Philip arrived. He was a slight man with dark black, greasy hair. He wore armor like a knight but it was jointed by black mesh. He held his helmet in his hand and glanced at Philip impatiently, as if he had more important things to do than wait around on an indolent king.
“Your Majesty,” he began in a thick accent, as Philip sat down on his throne, “I am Henry de Ville, Mercenary and Messenger for His Highness King Leopold II, Ruler of Gradenia, the Isles of Capresia, and the Territories of Dawsinia. I arrive before you this morning with an urgent message from King Leopold.”
Philip could hardly keep from rolling his eyes as the greasy little man made his announcement, as if those titles were any more substantial than th e ones he held himself. Henry (pronounced On-Ree) handed him a sealed letter, with a slight bow and a clicking of his heels. He took the letter, broke the seal and quickly scanned its contents.
Re: Your request for assistance
Dear Philip:
I hear that matters have gotten out of hand and Caleb’s forces are infiltrating your kingdom. What a shame! Perhaps if you had heeded my words in the first place, you would be enjoying the comforts of your new wife with limited interruption. Nevertheless, you are my cousin and I will come to your aid. The monies you’ve sent are just enough to allow me to cover your escape. Abandon Blackthorn, bring whatever treasures and troops you have left with you, and we shall regroup when you have reached Gradenia. I am sending 1000 of my best cavalrymen to cover your escape and hold off the Arterians from following you but at this
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