Viata

Chapter XVI: Word of Your Father

 Sunsets are the most lovely on the island of Viata. I do not watch the colors bleed into the shoreline of my country, however. I watch the horizon patiently for the horse which would carry my loyal rider. Daring Tyson, following my orders and bringing news of my father.

It took many hours but a watchman came to my chambers with word of his sightings. A young man with frisked dark hair riding towards the castle on a royal horse. I ordered them to stand down and allow the youth entrance but to be sure it was through the back doors. I told them Tyson was a hired rider from Graiden. Should the stable men recognize them I had made sure they were all dismissed. The importance of that message was above all else the most important situation to the kingdom of Viata.

His face was flushed from excitement. I put my palms over his cheeks after he had climbed off the horse and stood in front of me. His breathing showed that he was still worked up but his face in my hands told me he was cooled from the night air. I had waited days for news of my father but now I was concerned with the wellbeing of this child. He stood tall under the weight of his new found post as my messenger and rider. I couldn't help but smile yet it was so brief that one wouldn't have seen it. I wouldn't have myself but I surely felt it prick the corners of my lips briefly.

"Leave us," I commanded the guard who had followed me into the stables and the second who had allowed Tyson into the castle. They followed my orders.

He stood in silence as the men disappeared through the doors. I watched them but only for a moment. I released Tyson and stepped back, my hands clasped in front of me as I tried to allow my patience to take over.

He simply stared back at me.

"Tyson, speak please. I must know what you have learned."

His eyes suddenly fell. He reached behind him to grab a small bag. It contained little, you could tell from the way the fabric fell away from his touch. It was the bag I had given him to hold his payment.

"I'm sorry, m'lady. This is all they gave me."

I took the bag from him, perhaps a little too sharply. I could feel the outline of the small object that rested on the inside and my eyes pricked. I knew what it contained now. I must return to my chambers immediately.

"Thank you for your service, Tyson." I barely managed to say that small sentence without my voice cracking. "I will have the rest of your payment sent to your home. Go be with your family after your long journey."

He nodded. It was only then that I noticed the cut on the edge of his throat. They had taken a knife to him. He turned to leave but I stopped him once more.

"Tyson, to be clear, no one is to know what you now know or where you have been. I am afraid this must stay between us until I have a hold on this situation."

My shoes banged against the floor as I ran up the steps. Too many steps. Why would they build a castle with so many steps?

The door to my room was opened for me immediately upon my arrival, per usual. Guards kindly looked away. It was respect but in this moment I needed it to be kindness. I sent for Avril with all the strength I held still in my body. Then and only then did the tears fall.

I opened the bag and lo and behold. It was the family crest. My father's ring. Passed down from king to king since the Brienne family had taken power. Kings take power. One must always remember that no king is born to power, they take it. The foolish notion that remains in the minds of our subjects that men were made to be king and this is why we have power over them because this is what the Goddess had planned is only something that was created to make them obey.

The gold felt so cold in my fingers but it wasn't the cool of the metal that made my fingers tremble. It was the way the stone in the middle felt so heavy all of a sudden. Once, only once, when I was a young girl before leaving, I had the opportunity to hold my father's ring. I had been in his chambers for the sole time ever and he was being dressed by a famed tailor. The tailor wanted to make my father a pair of gloves to match his suit. It's cold up north and he was traveling to Novhail. I held the ring for him. He told me that I was a very big girl and only a big girl could be trusted with his ring while he did this important task.

So proud! Lord, I was so proud to hold that stupid ring. I laughed at the memory but the laugh didn't come out as a laugh it came out as a sob because at that moment I remembered the way the stone was shining in the light of the candles on the tables around us but here and now it was not shining. It was covered with a thin layer of dry red liquid and would not shine the way it had then or under the light when he and Kassandre held hands in the throne room. Loud and painful, the sob ripped through my chest echoed through the halls of my castle. I shrank to the floor, clasping my hand over my mouth that no one would hear and come to check on whatever it is that pains their princess.

There are rebels who would have my head. Now I have no father to protect me. Now I must take power like a king.

Avril pushed the door wide open but slammed it shut upon seeing my red eyes and hand over my mouth. She rushed to my side, caressing my hair and kissing my forehead. Giant tears fell from my eyes and stained her skirt while I struggled to keep my voice down. I mounted the idea of what could happen to myself and what must have happened to my father. The pain was too much but I am no longer allowed to feel too much. Too much does not exist now. Not to me.

"What happened, my lady?"

"I am no longer a princess, Avril."

"What do you mean?"

I handed her the ring. Whispering as I could not say it again. This must not leave this room. No one may know.

She gasped when she realized what the ring truly was. What poor Tyson must have gone through to find it.

"I sent Tyson to find news of my father and he brought me this. I need to know where he found it so I may send men to retrieve my father."

"If the news DeVest brings then this is very worrisome."

I looked at her, my beautiful Avril. She was all too kind hearted. She brushed her soft fingers over my brow and I closed my eyes because they were too tired to keep open.

"If what DeVest says is true then this means war has found its way within the boundaries of Viata."