Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Twenty-Four: The New Year's Gala

"Slaves over the age of eighty that are not sold at the end of the first auction are to be disposed of."

Polaris was completely horrified when he found not his king being threatened, but his king huddled in a ball against another hedge, having entirely lost control of his specter abilities. Polaris felt the blood drain from his body as he watched King Darren's skin change color, change texture; as his hair grew long, then shortened, then became curly, then wavy, then straight. The spectacle didn't end there. The control was so lost that Polaris could examine as King Darren's bones twisted, turned, changed position, and even changed shape completely beneath his morphing skin.

"S-sire?" Polaris managed as he sheathed his sword. King Darren didn't even seem to hear him. "Sire!"

"Please, for the love of God someone help me!"

Despite the dread which claimed Polaris's heart at the sight of King Darren's image transforming continuously, he dropped to his knees at his king's side and placed his hands on Darren's shoulders.

"Your Majesty!"

Finally, King Darren looked up at Polaris with eyes that changed color and shape at their own will. Polaris almost jumped away in terror, but somehow he managed to keep himself contained.

"Polaris!" King Darren cried gratefully. "I'm so sorry that I didn't listen to you! Please. Please, forgive me!"

"Of course!" said Polaris. "Of course, sire. Come now, let's get you back in the palace and see if we can take care of this."

Polaris still struggled to navigate his way to the labyrinth's exit. Meanwhile, the king continued to shout in horror at random moments and was thus too disconnected with reality to tell Polaris which way to turn. Eventually, Polaris draped his coat over Darren's head with the hope that if the king couldn't see, he couldn't hallucinate. For the most part, this helped. However, there were times where the king felt and heard things that weren't there, and Polaris fought to continue to direct his insane sovereign safely out of the labyrinth.

Meanwhile, Polaris strived to withstand the eerie feeling of his king's body changing shape beneath his arms. He had never experienced anything like this, and now he had to do so alone, at least until he exited the maze. Over and over he reminded himself that he was not the one in distress at that time; it was his king, and it was his job to aid the king. The king who now was officially in no way fit to rule.

***

Later that day, Polaris paced the floor of his parlor at Thorncove as he played over in his head not just the miracle worker's diagnosis of the king and queen, but also that stunning display of madness from the king himself. Meanwhile, Drake lounged comfortably on the sofa while he waited for Polaris to share what was on his mind, and Garnet sat in a chair enthralled in a novel, only present in case her services were needed.

After having concluded that Nadia would be fine on her own, Rein arrived but neglected to announce her presence since it appeared that Polaris was deep in some extreme thought process. She sat behind a lit sconce to watch the discussion unfold below her whenever it may begin. Due to Nadia's health being her primary concern, she was highly ignorant to the current situations which took place in the Kingdom of Noelle. This was her chance to catch up.

"I must confess..." Polaris stopped in front of his lit fireplace and rested the arm which held his glass of bourbon on the mantle. "Not only was the king not himself during the examination, but he made quite the scene afterward."

Drake hesitated. "Explain..."

Polaris wasn't entirely sure how. "It appears His Majesty went to take a walk in the labyrinth where he lost complete control of his senses and his specter abilities. I can't explain it Drake, it was quite horrific. He was hallucinating and his body... his body went wild! Physically wild! It was morphing without cause and changing color. I've never seen anything like it. He is very ill, yet still those words don't do his condition justice."