New Horizons (Part 7 of the Ignaius-Saga)

The Meeting

The following morning was a bit of a rush to get dressed and eat breakfast, although for Variel, it was just to keep up with Tanier. The king had some appointments before the meeting, which left Variel with some time to himself, though not much. It wasn't long before he was heading through the halls of Palewind Castle, making his way to the meeting he was both looking forward to and dreading for various reasons.

He heard someone approaching and glanced over to see Elina walking from a different direction. He felt his stomach tighten and his muscles tense and looked away, facing forward in hopes that she would ignore him.

She didn't. In fact, she sped up her pace in order to come up beside him, then slowed down.

"Lord Variel," she said with a tone of greeting.

He didn't look at her. "...Lady Elina..."

"How are you this morning?" ON the surface her tone was pleasant, but it was making him angry.

"Well enough," was the most vague and non-committal answer he could find that wasn't a blatant lie.

"I do hope you are enjoying your stay in my family's home."

"...No you don't..." He couldn't help voicing his irritation now, hoping it would make her leave.

It didn't.

"You look quite nice today. I'm sure your followers will be impressed."

At last, Variel stopped and rounded on her. "What do you want, Elina!?"

She stopped as well and faced him, hands clasped before the folds of her dress. She had her head cocked to the side and wore a look of feigned innocence. "Why, I am merely being polite, Lord Variel. I would appreciate it if you offered me the same courtesy, as you are staying in my home. Here, allow me to teach you: First, it would be proper to tell me that you are sorry for my loss, as my father is recently deceased and you have not expressed your condolences yet."

Variel knew what she expected, knew what she thought of him. In most situations, she would be right, but in this moment in time, an anger he couldn't entirely explain was taking root, and he could feel himself slipping. He could feel someone else taking control.

"I have not given you my condolences because I feel no sorrow for your father's death or for your loss." It was satisfying to see her eyes widen in surprise. "Your family is fortunate that His Majesty decided not to tell the world what your father has done, that we decided to play along and pretend his death was a tragedy. It makes me sick to think I was made to participate, and your coy, condescending little games begin to infuriate me."

By now, Elina looked mortified. "How... how dare you speak to me that way as a guest under my roof!?"

"How dare you show your face to me, speak to me, or suggest I have been impolite after the trespasses of you and your father? You stood before the court and wept to convince everyone that I had violated you simply because you were jealous that I had managed to earn some of the king's favor before you had managed it! Your beloved father arranged for the king and I to be abducted, had me tortured, raped by more than a dozen men, all to gain power and hurt my family! He had been spying on my house for years and sabotaging my father at every turn! He attempted to win favor with the crown prince by pretending to set up an escape for the king and his children at Stoneshield, all while plotting to have them all murdered and blame my family for it!"

Silence rang in the hall for a few seconds. Elina stood there stunned, having never before even imagined this side of Variel or that anyone would dare to speak to her that way, save for perhaps the king himself. It was Variel who spoke next, and while he was no longer shouting at her, his voice was just as filled with venom.