Of Blood And Royal Bones

Chapter 15: A Tender Kiss

Jurgen's heartbreaking screams dragged on for what felt like hours and Kassia did nothing to staunch the flow of salty emotion that dribbled down her cheeks. Her and Adem shared the space in silence save for these screams, both slouched against the walls of their cells with blank expressions on their faces. She did not attempt to block out the noise. She wanted to hear every note of his pain because at least if he was screaming she knew he was alive. Listening to his screams was also a suitable punishment for her stupidity, she thought. She deserved this, though Jurgen did not. But none of that mattered. What mattered most was that she must redeem herself by freeing them all. Though how to go about it...

    "How did the second princess escape?" She spoke finally without breaking the blankness of her countenance.

    Adem did not look up or break the blankness of his complexion either as he answered. "The second princess is the soon-to-be ruler of the Land of Life. Though she should not have had access to her full abilities, she did indeed. Evidently, she can shift her form to that of a peculiar-looking colorful bird. She was able to slip through the bars in that form."

    Kassia's eyes moved to Adem. "I have so very many questions just from that information alone."

    "It isn't as if we do not have time to spare." He pointed out. "Ask away."

    "The Land of Ice," Kassia counted on her fingers as she listed them, "The Land of Temptation, The Land of–"

    "Nay." He interrupted, bringing his own dark fingers up to count. "The Land of Health," he corrected, "Temptation, Life, and Knowledge. The four stones of life, as our dear Goddess has apparently directed us to live by."

    Kassia leaned her head against the wall.

    Another blood-curdling scream echoed to their cells and Kassia shuddered. "Why is it that the second princess should not have had full access to her abilities?"

    "If the princesses were to have full access to their powers while their mothers ruled as all powerful queens, it would be far too problematic. So, to ensure that this did not become an issue, the Goddess above placed the power of the lands in the queens and the queens alone. When a queen dies, their daughter receives the full power of their land."

    "I am unable to access my full abilities though my mother has passed." She pointed out.

    "You are different somehow, Temptress. Your mother died centuries before you were born in the mortal lands. There is something that we have not yet uncovered about your powers." He said thoughtfully.

    "Then this must mean that the Queen of Life has passed and the second princess has become the Queen, no?"

    "While it is the only fathomable explanation, it cannot be true." He muttered.

    "And why ever not?" She crossed her arms.

    "Only a Smelter like myself can slay her, and clearly I have done no such thing seeing as I've been locked away like an animal for months."

    Kassia's mind raced. "No, you must have miscalculated something."

    He turned challenging eyes to her.

    She continued. "Four queens that can only be slain by a Smelter. Four stones of life. This Goddess you speak of seems to strongly value balance. If there must be a balance in power, then there must be a Smelter accompanied to each queen. You cannot be the only one."

    He shook his head. "I was not the only one. I've spoken already of the evil Smelter who murdered your mother."

    "He succeeded in murdering two queens before his enigmatic death." Said Ziam suddenly from his favored corner.