The women that had been chosen by Mallach as candidates for his bride were all standing before him and the king, and the evening sun streamed down from the high arched windows, beating upon everyone. The older ladies had fans, while the younger were expected to stand quite still.
The king rubbed his hands greedily.
“Well, my boy,” he cried, walking down the line of eager young bachelorettes, “which one of these lovely, available, royal women do you choose to be your wife?” Mallach took a large breath. He was silent for a moment. “Come now, Mallach, don’t keep these eager ladies waiting!”
“I choose none of them, father.”
“Wh-what?” The king started laughing awkwardly, “Oh, ladies, he can be such a jester when he wants to be!” He grabbed Mallach, hard, by the arm. “Don’t keep these women waiting, Mallach. They have come a long way to offer themselves to you.”
Mallach pushed his father’s arm away.
“I said, I will not be taking any of these women as my bride. I have made my choice.”
He motioned to Octavious, as Elbizar’s face grew redder.
“What the bloody hell do you mean by this?” he cried, scaring most of the young girls standing in front of them. One of them started to cry, the woman next to her hushing her, rubbing her back.
Clara, still hooded, came in slowly from the east entrance. Octavious guided her to Mallach. He linked his arm with hers, nodding reassuringly.
“I have made my choice father.”
“And who is this?” he spat.
Clara pulled down her hood, and to the king’s utter horror, there was the Siren, standing in front of him, daring to wear a crown.
“No.” he said, hoarsely at first. “No. No! NO, NO, NO!” he yelled. “I forbid you to marry a commoner!”
“I am not a commoner!” replied Clara loudly. “I am Clara Reilly, princess of the Sirens!”
“Poppycock!” screamed Elbizar, his face deepening to shades of crimson. “Where is your proof? Where I say?”
“I will vouch for her, being Queen of the Sirens.” Grinned Cora, her cowl already down, her red hair also trailing behind her.
“I turn away your voucher! You’re both lying! Guards! Come and take these tr—” But before he could finish his command, the main doors to the throne room burst open, demimals in all shapes and forms flocking in.
“As the Demimal races’ top historian, I bloody well vouch for her!” boomed Aeden. Clara laughed, shaking Mallach and clapping.
“So do we!” cried the ostrich barmaids from Pandeus.
“As do I,” came the rumbling voice of Lady Moyra from the lips of Cora “and if you find fault with me, I have not eaten in many days… you will find me just south of Sumoian borders. Look for the dragon.”
Shouts of agreement continued from the ever growing crowd, and one particularly familiar voice came through. It was that of Lady Moonstone.
“We forget things in our old age, do we not?” she grinned as she met up with Cora. She linked arms with Cora and grinned wider at the king.
“What say you, your majesty?” asked Aaeden, stepping far closer than he should have.
But the King could say no more, for he was in such a rage that he could not speak properly.
YOU ARE READING
Siren
FantasyClara Reilly has been banished from her home by her half brother, Edward. Leaving nothing to chance, Edward hires in advance a deadly assassin known as "Orcus". What neither Edward or Orcus knows is that Clara is half Siren - and carries the curse o...
