A War Of Traitors( ARTK, Book 2)

Chapter 15

Janor 15th, 3329 A.G

It was here, under this tree- that Tiffan had buried a part of her husband. His other bones were spaced out across the forest along with we the ashes and bones of millions, but it'd never bothered Tiffan. As a child she played in it with servant's children, all oblivious to what was just below their feet. Growing up in such a large territory- it hadn't been too many years before they learned to get used to death.

As the sun beat down on Tiffan's face she couldn't help but think of how much death she'd caused- and how she felt no remorse. While alive, her sister had annoyed her more often than not- but she'd still been her sister. Tiffan pictured it then: Her hands reaching out, slowly closing around "The queen's" neck. The image made her smile.

Someone would live through the coming war, and Tiffan was bent on it being her. Her first ancestors hadn't founded the most populated place and largest family in the world for it to end with her, to go down in flames or be torn down by giants. The queen would want her own revenge, and Tiffan would have no choice but to use the largest army in the world.

A few paces to her left, one of her guards shifted. "My lady-"

"Leave me be. I'm thinking."

"I would but.. my lady Vanora is-" She felt her presence then before she heard her. Somehow, Vanora had managed to walk silently across the forest floor- scattered with rocks and fallen branches. Tiffan opened her eyes.

"How did you do that?" She asked, noticing in that moment that Vanora looked younger than when she'd arrived too.

"Do what?"

"Don't-" Tiffan sighed. "If you wish to stay, you will tell me how you make so little noise."

"You were in your own world for a moment there." Vanora shrugged. "That is all. I don't waste blood magick on pointless things."

Tiffan's wet nurse told her as a child that blood witches were evil, and she wasn't the only one. Trust one and they will always betray you- The wet nurse had said. Get involved in their craft and the gods will never allow you into the Lodah.

Tiffan had learned from Vanora that most blood witches believed something different. One could choose to go to the Lodah or the hells if they hadn't done anything to deserve the hells, as the hells were only a punishment for those who deserved to be punished. According to her, the gods would never hold the type of witchcraft one practiced against them- nor would they punish someone for enacting vengeance.

After a prolonged eye contact, Tiffan broke first.

"You have no heir. Who will rule after you?" Vanora suddenly asked, though it was a question she'd been holding onto for a while.

"What?" Tiffan had given it no thought since becoming the commanding lady. She figured, if lucky- she'd have forty more years to deal with it and could focus on ruling for at least a decade.

"When you die, if it is without an heir- chaos will ensue. The army will divide. A civil war will ensue between the Drabek's and Peres's if nothing is done, and House Raynerus will burn to the ground in the process. Only it won't be because of the queen- it'll be because both of those families have been waiting on you to die since you took your father's title so they can make claims to it."

"And the Rands of Voryn?" Tiffan raised an eyebrow, hardly believing a word Vanora said.

"I haven't seen them in my visions. I don't believe they'd get involved."

"How can you be so sure?" Tiffan frowned. "The Peres and Drabek claims would be as weak as the Rand's. I suppose I could name one of the families my heirs to save Voryn from war, but what would the point be? I've never seen this magick you claim to have."

  "You are smart enough to know I can never demonstrate it in front of people-" Vanora glanced sideways, towards the guards who'd given them room for a private conversation. "Even your most loyal guards. This territory is famous for it's persecution of blood magick practitioners. If I were to openly practice, you could not save me from the anger of your own own people. You would be forced to allow a punishment to save your reign from-"

"I will not be forced to do anything by anybody." Tiffan almost smiled then, leaning against the tree. "If they have a problem with that, I shall hand them over to my loyal guards to deal with- ow!"

  Staring straight ahead, Tiffan hadn't noticed Vanora putting her back to the guard on her side- and felt her grab her hand a moment too late. Vanora purposefully sliced Tiffan's hand with a nail, then pressed a thumb to the wound so she could lick it.

  "I could have your head just for that-"

  "But you won't." Vanora interrupted. "That, I have seen. You will die- but not for many years. You will produce an heir of your own blood, and once you are gone they will hold Voryn together when it seems like it just isn't possible. In time everyone will know their name more than King Jesper's or Queen Nara's."

  Tiffan only laughed then. Out of everything people had told her trying to get something they wanted- that had to be the most far fetched. Nara had only been a queen for a short time, and yet whispers of her actions had already reached each territory. Some on the continent were preparing for her arrival, reinforcing and building second walls- but most still dismissed her as a mad woman or child.

  "You expect me to believe a word of that? My womb is cursed. It's a miracle Gervaise stayed with me as long as he did. If I were to become with child again, my survival would also be a miracle. I will never have a living child-"

  Vanora grabbed her hand again. "You will."

  "How?" Tiffan raised an eyebrow. "I could never-"

  "Marriage." Vanora shrugged. "And magick."

  "No one in their right mind would marry a forty two year old who's lost over twenty-"

"Oh, I beg to differ." Vanora said. "Life has a way of proving us wrong."