treachery.
Dragged from the chamber, they were led into a procession of tunnels. Every now and then one of the Akkedis guards would strike them with their heavy scaled fists. They had been instructed not to kill them, but it was clear that they were determined to make them suffer for the colleagues they had lost in the chamber. By the time they reached the dungeons, both were bruised and bloody from the blows.
With hands and feet chained together, they were strapped to the walls, the chains pulling tight so that their feet only just touched the ground. As they hung there, a female Akkedis approached them with a bucket before throwing freezing cold water all over them.
Ganry cried out at the shock of the water on his bruised body.
“You do well to remain quiet, human,” the female said to him.
He looked at her. She was familiar, and he realized she had served them in the rooms.
“You do well, Arriba, to stay away, in case I get loose,” he answered her back with viciousness.
She hissed and walked out of the chamber, leaving the two males hanging in their chains.
23
“Do not treat me like a fool, boy,” Lord Josiah spat. He was so close to Artas that spittle showered his face. “I demand to see the Queen, and we all know that you cannot meet such a request because she has abandoned her people, is that not so, sir?”
Artas remained calm. He too had a noble upbringing and followed the etiquette that any situation dictated. This one was forcing him to remain civilized in the face of revolt.
“Our Queen is on a mission to save this Kingdom, Lord Josiah. That does not mean that the Kingdom is in jeopardy. Indeed, Queen Myriam is busy making this Kingdom stronger.” Artas would not divulge the whole tale, not to this minor royal from the outlands.
Stood in the middle of open ground on the outskirts of the castle was not an ideal place to have such a discussion. Many townsfolk were gathering to witness the confrontation. Rumor had spread that there was to be another coup, and this was not news the citizens of Palara wanted to hear.
“You say she is on some dangerous mission, yet she does not take her army,” the Duke spat back. “Putting herself in danger. For all we know she may be dead already and the throne stands vacant.” He pauses for his words to take effect with the surrounding throng of people. If they thought she was dead, then they would be more accepting to a member of her family, such as him, taking up the crown. “So it is good that I am here, on hand, to take over the throne while she is absent. I will be Regent until she returns.”
“That will not be necessary,” Lord Parsival interrupted his fellow Lord as he stood by the side of Artas. “We have a Regent, and I suggest you bow down to him, Lord Josiah. He was put in place by our own Queen, through all the official channels. You, sir, would simply be another usurper and this Kingdom has had its fare share of them.” Parsival did not intend on allowing this arrogant Lord to overthrow their present Regent.
“How can this foolish boy be the Kingdom’s Regent? He does not even carry one drop of royal blood within his veins. This is an absolute insult to the people of this Kingdom. I will take charge immediately, and any who stand in my way will suffer my wrath,” Lord Josiah threatened.
Lady Leonie now joined in the affray. “Sir, we have documentation to support Regent Artas Holstein, who’s family have served the royal bloodline for many years. Indeed, they died with the King. They have earned this badge. Our Queen would not have chosen him had she not trusted him.”
“For all we know these papers could be falsified,” the Lord intimated. “You three could have killed our Queen and taken the power of her seat for yourselves.” He gripped his sword hilt and took a menacing step closer towards them. It was obvious that the minor lord was looking for a fight, and Artas would either have to back down, or call his bluff.
“This
Dragged from the chamber, they were led into a procession of tunnels. Every now and then one of the Akkedis guards would strike them with their heavy scaled fists. They had been instructed not to kill them, but it was clear that they were determined to make them suffer for the colleagues they had lost in the chamber. By the time they reached the dungeons, both were bruised and bloody from the blows.
With hands and feet chained together, they were strapped to the walls, the chains pulling tight so that their feet only just touched the ground. As they hung there, a female Akkedis approached them with a bucket before throwing freezing cold water all over them.
Ganry cried out at the shock of the water on his bruised body.
“You do well to remain quiet, human,” the female said to him.
He looked at her. She was familiar, and he realized she had served them in the rooms.
“You do well, Arriba, to stay away, in case I get loose,” he answered her back with viciousness.
She hissed and walked out of the chamber, leaving the two males hanging in their chains.
23
“Do not treat me like a fool, boy,” Lord Josiah spat. He was so close to Artas that spittle showered his face. “I demand to see the Queen, and we all know that you cannot meet such a request because she has abandoned her people, is that not so, sir?”
Artas remained calm. He too had a noble upbringing and followed the etiquette that any situation dictated. This one was forcing him to remain civilized in the face of revolt.
“Our Queen is on a mission to save this Kingdom, Lord Josiah. That does not mean that the Kingdom is in jeopardy. Indeed, Queen Myriam is busy making this Kingdom stronger.” Artas would not divulge the whole tale, not to this minor royal from the outlands.
Stood in the middle of open ground on the outskirts of the castle was not an ideal place to have such a discussion. Many townsfolk were gathering to witness the confrontation. Rumor had spread that there was to be another coup, and this was not news the citizens of Palara wanted to hear.
“You say she is on some dangerous mission, yet she does not take her army,” the Duke spat back. “Putting herself in danger. For all we know she may be dead already and the throne stands vacant.” He pauses for his words to take effect with the surrounding throng of people. If they thought she was dead, then they would be more accepting to a member of her family, such as him, taking up the crown. “So it is good that I am here, on hand, to take over the throne while she is absent. I will be Regent until she returns.”
“That will not be necessary,” Lord Parsival interrupted his fellow Lord as he stood by the side of Artas. “We have a Regent, and I suggest you bow down to him, Lord Josiah. He was put in place by our own Queen, through all the official channels. You, sir, would simply be another usurper and this Kingdom has had its fare share of them.” Parsival did not intend on allowing this arrogant Lord to overthrow their present Regent.
“How can this foolish boy be the Kingdom’s Regent? He does not even carry one drop of royal blood within his veins. This is an absolute insult to the people of this Kingdom. I will take charge immediately, and any who stand in my way will suffer my wrath,” Lord Josiah threatened.
Lady Leonie now joined in the affray. “Sir, we have documentation to support Regent Artas Holstein, who’s family have served the royal bloodline for many years. Indeed, they died with the King. They have earned this badge. Our Queen would not have chosen him had she not trusted him.”
“For all we know these papers could be falsified,” the Lord intimated. “You three could have killed our Queen and taken the power of her seat for yourselves.” He gripped his sword hilt and took a menacing step closer towards them. It was obvious that the minor lord was looking for a fight, and Artas would either have to back down, or call his bluff.
“This
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