Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Sword of Defense

"All Slave Auctioneers must carry proof given to them upon being appointed, stating that they have been affirmed by the Association of Slave Owners. If proof is not available upon questioning, it will be assumed that the auctioneer in question is not legally appointed."

"Your queen will now choose the sword she deems most important by which to rule."

Queen Ariana rose and set the orb on a marble podium between the thrones and leaned the scepter against the same podium. She then made her way down the steps of the dais and lifted the sword with the black hilt from the floor. She returned to the top of the dais and with both hands held the sword out towards her audience.

"These are dire days in our beloved country of Noelle," Ariana spoke. "Days where many of our cherished residents may not feel protected no matter where they may be within our very boarders. This is a grievance that is unjustifiable. Every Noellite deserves to feel safe with their families inside their own homes. We all deserve to be able to sleep at night and to commute about without worry. I vow to you right here and now, to make our kingdom safe again from the threats of the outside world. For as long as I rule, threats will not be tolerated in the slightest. Everyone will be able to sleep soundly at night, without worry that their children could be in danger. That is my promise to you."

The words caused Rein's stomach to flip and Polaris had rubbed his face so excessively throughout the coronation that it had begun to turn red. Drake finally forced Polaris's hands into his lap before someone noticed his blatant displeasure in the ceremony.

***

Maurice finally decided that he had hesitated long enough and he needed to complete this assignment swiftly. With his teeth clenched, he forced his hands down and drove the dagger through the flesh and tissue of the king's neck. Of course, this didn't immediately kill his sovereign. Rather, the king's eyes burst open in response to the excruciating pain which shot into his head and chest from his throat.

King Darren attempted to scream, but the blade had savagely severed his voice box and mercilessly blocked his airway. He managed to drag a minute dosage of new air into his lungs, but not without drawing some blood in with it. He gazed up at his killer who stood petrified before him, and he coughed up the blood he had sucked into his lungs.

***

One of the dwarves in the throne room took the sword from Ariana's hands and placed it where it was originally on the floor. Another servant handed Ariana the orb and scepter.

"All rise," said the prime minister. The audience obeyed. "Please pay your respects to your new sovereign, Her Royal Majesty, Queen Ariana of Noelle."

Everyone in the throne room stood from their seats. "Long live the Queen!"

As Queen Ariana stepped down from the dais and walked down the flower-sprinkled aisle, everyone in the room either bowed or curtsied to her. She elegantly strolled passed the porcelain vases which held arrays of flowers at the end of each row of seats, and she soon came upon Polaris. Her brows creased above her widened eyes, one with white lashes and the other with pink lashes. Her pale mouth gaped open and teared the painted pink heart in half in stunned disbelief of her Royal Advisor's colorless attire. Polaris only grinned in return and said not a word. There was no need to speak as his grin had said enough. To have gazed upon the offended expression on the queen's face was the prime moment of the whole coronation ceremony and it had made the entire nightmare worth the suffering.

***

The principle secretary couldn't bear to stand there and watch as his king slowly died painfully by his hand. He quickly returned the footstool to where he'd found it, rushed back behind the curtain, and hastily exited the chamber through the door to the secret passageway. He didn't even bother to snatch the flambeau from the wall to light his way. Instead, he continued through the dark in the opposite direction from which he came. Maurice couldn't risk anyone seeing him near the royal bedchamber. He made haste down the stony passageway through the dust clouds and cobwebs until he exited out into the rear courtyard near the stables. While he kept a frightful eye out for anyone who could possibly spot him, he ran long and hard back to the rocky staircase which led down the cliff to the beach where he had sat immediately prior to his caper. His throat grew sore from his desperate panting as he quickly descended the stairwell until he finally touched down on the sandy beach and collapsed at his original spot. Maurice leaned back against the cliff and struggled to catch his breath. Steadily, he began to relax. He had successfully gone unnoticed.