Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Two: A Plot Enacted and Threats Cast

"The Sovereign and his Parliament of the Kingdom of Noelle hereby hold that a 'Person' is defined as a citizen who possesses a free will and individual voice unobstructed by another absent of Royal Blood, Noble Classification, or Royally Appointed Authority... Therefore, a Person cannot be controlled or spoken for by another Person."

Makiar opened one of the large iron doors to welcome home Sir Rallian, who trudged into his castle with a heavy sigh. Slowly the seventy-two-year-old count, who appeared to be in his late forties due to being of a slowly-aging race, removed his mustard yellow coat and handed it to his butler along with his ivory dress cane.

"How was your meeting with the queen, my Lord?" Makiar asked.

"It was quite a bore at first, but it grew interesting rather quickly," the count replied. "Thank you, Makiar."

He peeked into his drawing room where he found Nadia asleep on the magenta settee. He gestured towards her as he spoke to Makiar. "Send her and Nazar into my study, please."

"Yes, my Lord," Makiar replied with an obedient nod of his head.

Then the count turned to the two slaves he had brought with him, Garnet and Mauro, who stood patiently by his side and waited for his next command. He waved Mauro away and then addressed Garnet.

"Fetch me something to drink; whatever is immediately available. Then learn the status on the cuff and report back to me."

"Yes, Master," said Garnet with a graceful curtsy.

Moments later, the count entered his posh study and sat at his desk right before Makiar entered with Nadia and Nazar. The count turned to Nazar and held out the sample of the seal for the Kingdom of Saíd.

"Have this seal forged for me, promptly."

"Right away, my Lord."

Nazar bowed and left the room. Then the count turned to Nadia.

"Nadia, have a seat."

Nadia sat in front of the count's embellished maple desk. From a simple glance of the room she gathered that the count certainly enjoyed his research and studies. The walls were lined with bookcases and a maple table had been set at the center of the room with a large map of Xyntriav stretched across the top of it. It seemed that this might be one of the few rooms which the slaves were rarely allowed to touch as there were books and papers aimlessly scattered about. The candlesticks which sat on every table and shelf were burnt to the base so that melted wax stuck to the furniture. Ink-stained quills lay on his desk and other tables, which created stains on papers scribbled with the count's own handwriting. Then Nadia couldn't ignore the used plates and chalices that were set aside in a corner of the room. They only just started to attract flies, even though she had yet to smell anything besides the faint scent of incense.

Count Rallian waved everyone in the room away so that he could be alone with Nadia. He leaned back in his throne-like seat and Nadia could only shyly glance at him once. In the window behind the large, intimidating man, she caught sight of a dim glow through the lavender curtains, but she looked away as quickly as she had looked away from the count. The last thing she wanted to do was bring any more unwanted attention to herself, or to Rein whom she suspected was the light in the window.

"I am Sir Rallian, Count of Helvetica," the count began. "The queen and myself are old acquaintances. This morning, she informed me that you were to be sent to the palace. Do you know anything about that?"

Nadia shook her head without looking up from the cream and tan rug on the stone floor. Slowly, realization seeped into her heart and mind that she had indeed went from princess to slave in but a couple hours. This would be her new life and there was nothing that she could do to prevent it. Her eyes watered, but produced no tears.