The Mountains Blade

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter 22- Visitors

Avelina Greywater hugged her mother tightly. The queen patted her daughter gently, shushing her. "I thought you were going to die." Avelina sobbed. The queen pulled back from her daughter from where she sat in her bedroom. Instead of a hospital bed, she had opted for a velvet chair in her chambers, claiming that the infirmary was already buzzing with new injured. Hopes arm had been shot, clean through, the upper flesh. So much blood had pooled down her dress, Avelina wasn't sure where it was coming from.

The king still held his queens hand, sitting beside her looking over like a worried mother hen. 

Avelina placed herself in a chair in front of her mother, watching as Ashered moved to stand behind the chair, pulling the curtains shut. 

"The rebellion has been brought to us." Ashered said turning to look at his oldest daughter. 

Avelina straightened at his unusually hard gaze. She had never seen him look this way before. 

"We need to call a council meeting."

~

An hour later, Avelina and her father sat in the council room. Avelina wore another black dress with gold buttons and shimmering fabric. 

Alaric sat beside her father, Opal across from him. Arthur and Hale  stood with their arms crossed at the entrance.

"The rebellion has begun and this is who we have to work with at this moment. We cannot trust anyone outside of this room. The citizens of Goldmoon have become stressed. They are angry because of the invasion of the wolves and shadow people. They no longer believe we can protect them." Opal said shooting an icy glare to Alaric. 

"They aren't wrong." Avelinas eyes widened as everyone turned to her. She hadn't realized she had spoken out loud. She took in a large gulp of air as Opal glared at her, Alaric eyed her curiously and her father waited for her to continue. 

"We couldn't even keep Elwyn safe."

"She was trained to protect you. She did what she was supposed to." Arthur added from where he stood. 

Avelina pressed her lips together angrily. "Why? I don't understand why? She's younger, weaker, maybe smarter but much easier to kill than I am." 

Avelina threw her hands up in exasperation. "And what is Alaric doing here? His son is the reason Elwyn is gone in the first place."

"His other son is going to help us stop this war." The king said. 

"How?" Avelina asked. 

"We have discovered that the plan that was executed here was not Evanders but Aldrics. I have written a letter to Dane and he confirmed it. As a wolf, we can not disobey our higher ups, thus Aldric had control over Dane whilst he was near." Alaric was clenching his fist angrily, his eyes growing darker. 

The change in demeanor locked in the truth for Avelina. "He wants to overthrow the king." Ashered added on. 

Avelina blinked in confusion. "If thats so then why would he try to take me?" 

"Confusion, chaos, rebellion. All of that makes for a good distraction as he takes the throne for himself. If Evander is murdered it would be easy to play it off as part of the rebellion." Alaric added. 

"Then why take Elwyn? It still doesn't make sense."  Avelina pressed. 

"Aldric is simply a bored child. And your sister just so happens to be a martyr." 

Avelina clenched her teeth in frustration. She was set to ask further questions but the entrance of a familiar face had her halting. 

Avelina laid eyes on her childhood friend, brother to Dane, son of Alaric, Markarious Venice. He was now the same height as Dane. His skin was smooth, no scarring on his face like his brother. He wore black pants with a black shirt, a bulletproof jacket slung over it. His hair was tousled as if he hadn't brushed it. His golden eyes found hers before anyone else's. They lingered on her for what felt like an eternity. It felt as if something came alive inside of her at his gaze. He studied her with uncertainty, thin lips pulling down. His body was drawn out from a story book, muscles ripping against fabric, shirt open on the top to highlight his olive skin. He had one hand planted on the holster of his sword as he walked fully in, the door creaking to a close. 

"Your majesty."  He said with a deep throaty rumble. "Close your mouth." Opal snapped under her breath to Avelina. 

With cheeks reddened, she did as she was instructed clearing her throat.

"I'm sure you remember Markarious." Ashered started with a raised eyebrow, gesturing towards the bowing knight. 

Avelina hummed in response nodding, afraid of her voice giving away her sudden intense attraction to the man across the room. 

She had always thought him handsome, but in the few years that she hadn't seen him, he had become stunning. 

Avelina subconsciously smoothed her dress and the king let out a soft laugh.

"We should get to the discussion, time is working against us." Alaric suggested. 

Avelina nodded at him, watching as Markarious stood off to the side, not sitting, ever alert of his surroundings. His eyes periodically shifted between the three at the other end of the table and Hale, never once again to Avelina. 

She frowned at this and a small smile twisted some at the corner of her lips at the thought of Elwyn laughing at her silliness.

"Avelina did you hear any of that?" The king asked. 

Blinking Avelinas eyes widened in horror as she realized she had been daydreaming of better times.

"Um-" 

"Markarious and a few of our own are going to get Elwyn." 

Avelinas eyes widened and a smile broke out on her lips. "Really?" She exclaimed. 

Ashered nodded. "Yes, as king I may not be able to leave but that does not mean that I will let my daughter stay somewhere unwillingly. Alaric has assured us that the king does not have any idea of what is happening. He should get his letter within the week, explaining what Aldric has done and hopefully help us retrieve your sister. If not, Markarious will be going in place of Alaric to make a deal."

"Why not alaric?" Avelina snapped. 

"I have agreed to stay as a volunteer hostage." 

Avelina blinked in confusion. "A what?" 

"Alaric is important to the king." 

Avelina wanted to press further but Markarious cut her off. 

"Now that everything has been decided, I will prepare for my travels."

Avelina stood up abruptly as he turned. "Wait." 

Markarious turned looking at her in question. "I want to go."