Blood King

Chapter Thirty Four (partly edited)

Chapter Thirty Four

            Celina couldn’t believe what Herald had told her. The letter specified that if Xavier didn’t send her to Labadire as a potential bride for Radu, whom of which might not survive his injuries, if did not wish for war. What’s more this incident didn’t even happen in their land but in Labadire’s, and blaming it on man wearing blue who was supposed to be dead thousands of years ago. What’s more Celina felt as if she may have been partly to blame with the death of Rosa who had publicly belittled her and those of the maids who used to be Celina’s handmaidens die horrible deaths on their way home.

            It had been a number of days since she had last seen her Brother; it was almost like he was actively avoiding her at every turn. She could understand his reason for not wanting to talk about the letter, but the war itself was a serious matter that had to be dealt with right away. But where in the world was he?

            “It probably won’t come to war,” Maria said to Celina drawing her out of her thoughts. “The King of Labadire would have to be pretty stupid to do a stunt like that.”

            “His son might die,” Celina said. “Or is already dead, and who knows what happened to Eleanor, nothing was given about her. And there have been no news about them since, that letter arrived nine days ago, a lot can happen in that time.”

            “Calm yourself Princess,” Ann said softly. “Worrying about it will only make it worse. Try not to think about it.”

            “It’s all I can think about Ann, I can’t think about anything else even if I try. I keep thinking back to the Fall Hunt and thinking that if I hadn’t been separated from the others, if I had been more self-reliant, if I wasn’t the way I am now then maybe none of this would have happened. What’s more the necklace that Tharen gave me began to glow.” She grasped the gem that was hidden in her dress. “I saw it glow and did nothing like a complete fool. And now that man, this Pheynix Sitri Solomon, a man who is supposed to be dead over thousands of years ago, is killing people in my name! I cannot stand it!”

            Maria and Ann looked at each other before Maria responded. “Princess, why would you think he’s killing people for you?”

            Celina wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “Because of that rumor, that those who’ve tried to harm me are… killed by this man who follows me in the dark, deep in shadows, attacking those he believes who have done me wrong. But Radu has done nothing too me, if anything the boy was always kind.” She bit back a sob. “I hate this, I hate those rumors.”

            Ann offered Celina a handkerchief. “Have you been hearing people talk about it again? Is that what bothers you so?”

            Celina nodded as she held the handkerchief close to her mouth.

            “Want me to go and silence them for you Princess?” Maria said as she punched the palm of her hand. “I can be very persuasive.”

            “No,” Celina said quickly. “I don’t want you killing anyone for me; it’ll only get worse for the both of us if you do.”

            “No, no, no Princess, I never said I was going to kill them, just rough them up a bit steal their money and then throw them in a barrel before kicking it into a nearby river. No daggers involved I promise… mostly.”

            Celina laughed slightly, she could tell that Maria was trying to make her feel better about it all. “You don’t honestly mean that do you?”