Pounding pain surged through Maze's head which jerked her awake. The pain, mixed with taste of blood and the smell of burning bodies made her empty her stomach. Not that there was anything in there. She noticed it was dark, only light came from her village being on fire. The stench of smoke burned through the airways and made her eyes sting. All she could make up from all of this is that she was in a iron cage with other few young girls and that they were moving off. The screams of the ones remaining alive pierced her ears and her attention came back to he pain she felt. All over sudden she felt overwhelmed, saw nothing and she was gone again.
Three days passed when they finally got to the palace. Palace of a mad king that sells his people into slavery. Men become soldiers or the ones that soldiers train on and women are sold to wealthy families as slaves or to rich men to do unspeakable things. Unfortunately Maze was a woman.
When they passed the heavy iron gate Maze couldn't help but gasp at the grandiosity of the gate alone.
People gathered on the sides and the cheer made her lungs tremble. Flower petals gliding in the air and then Maze realised how people look at her and the other prisoners. The disgust on their faces. "Where are we?" she asked out loud to herself.
"Welcome to my kingdom. You're in Tyran." Maze jumped at the voice behind her. The same voice she heard before she was captured.
The man riding next to the cage was wearing an armour, although it was the finest from all the soldiers she saw so far. He must've been important. She didn't dare to look at him for long as she felt she should keep herself invisible.
When they came to a stop she heard the mans horse carry on and dared to turn around and take a glance. By the time she got her aching body to move all she could see was long, black hair braided on A purple cloak. Suddenly she heard the cage door open and a man walked in making all the women cry with fear, getting away as far as possible. He locked his eyes on Maze and made his way towards her. She tried to fight him off, but with no effect.
He latched his hand onto her arm and dragged her out onto the middle of the road. She could only hear her heart in her ears at this point. What are they going to do to her? Where are they taking her? No other prisoners has been taken out to the front. The man kept dragging her. Suddenly he threw her down and her body was shocked with pain again. She managed to gain her focus and she felt hands around her that stabilised her on her knees.
"Don't look up." the same voice said again to her and she plastered her eyes to the sandy road beneath her knees. Foot steps started approaching. Maze looked slightly up but as soon as she did the man cleared his throat, clearly indicating for her to keep her head down.
"Lucian! My son! Finally you have come back with the glory I sent you out for! I knew my son will win this war. After all you are, my son." Clearly a man approached them.
"Father."
"And what is this?" Maze didn't dare look but she felt all the eyes on her. Her body stiffened immediately.
"This, my father, will be my wife."
Gasps filled the air and even Maze was shocked. Shocked enough to look up at the men talking beside her.
She saw apparent groom to be and she couldn't help but noticing the scar along his right eye. He's piercing blue eyes scowling her, tanned skin, and strong features... she looked over to the other man and he must've been a king as he wore the finest clothes she could ever imagine. He was old, with grey short hair and a grey beard. He looked at me with absolute horror and more disgust than she got from the crowd collectively. She started backing away from them but the younger man looked at her. "Stay down, woman!" he raised his voice and her body turned still as a rock. The king started chuckling.
What was so funny? Maze definitely didn't find anything funny in this situation.
"Look at this! My son! My BLOOD! Has chosen a wife!" with one flick of the kings, finger she was raised to her feet and displayed to all as the king mocked his son. "Father, a Prince chooses his wife and I choose this woman. I understand, it is a unusual choice.... but it's still my choice!" the prince stepped forward and carried on. "Did you and your generals trust my plan of invasion on Arron? Or Haress. Where I bring this woman from as my trophy wife. Trust my decision, father." The prince grabbed Maze's chin and for a second she could've sworn he blinked at her with a hidden smirk. He walked towards the crowds gathered. Everyone listening in on the Princes defiant speech. "Is it not my right as a Prince?" He addressed the people and they have bursted into lung shaking cheer again.
Suddenly the silence rolled in and the King spoke once more. "As a Prince, the future King, with the blessing of the people I pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss your bride, son!" The King announced and pointed to Maze. The soldiers let go of her and she immediately fell too her knees. This could not be. Surely the Gods made a mistake.
The prince strode surely to her, picked her up and kissed her. For a second she felt like it was just the two of them and nothing else happened but then everything flooded in and she tried to struggle away but his grip on her was too strong.
The King looked at them both last time and started back to the castle. He clearly was not happy for the newly wed couple. People started surrounding them and cheered throwing more flower petals in the air.
Maze was petrified. It was surely a dream. It must have been. She will wake up any moment now.
She started pinching her skin but she was not waking up. Tears started pooling in her eyes but she couldn't let go and cry. Not there. Not in front of all these people. Someone said something and then she felt someone leading her somewhere. She heard all the screams again over the cheers and she smelled the smoke on her hair and clothes. Her skin sticky from sweat and dust.
