The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 4

The ride back to the inn was filled with a heavy silence. All Adelaide could think about was her poor brother, all alone in the inn, hoping to be brought good news. Her tears poured as the image of her brother fighting in the war played on repeat in her mind. He couldn't possibly go to war in the state he was in, right? They wouldn't let him. He would only drag them down. Right? There had to be some way of keeping Henry safe and away from the war without him being sentenced to life behind bars. There had to be something she could do to prevent all of this from happening.

After what felt like a never-ending trip, the family arrived at the old inn. With blank stares, the family walked in silence up the stares towards their room. As she opened the door, her eyes immediately went to her brothers joyful grin, happy to see her home. His grin quickly turned into a questioning stare upon seeing Adelaides tear stained cheeks.

"Adelaide, what's wro-" Henry said before being cut off. Adelaide ran and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tightly. Henry grunted from the sudden shift and the pain in his leg, but he wrapped his arms around Adelaide anyways. She dug her face in the crook of his neck, her tears rolling down his back. "I love you so, so much Henry." Adelaide whimpered. "I love you too, Adelaide." Henry whispered back, his confusion lingering in his voice. He pulled away and saw his mother and fathers matching somber expressions.

"What happened? What was the announcement?" Henry asked, his voice dripping with dread. Mother sat on the bed beside Henry and put her hand on Henrys arm, looking at him longingly.

"Henry," She started, "The kingdom of Ira... They've declared war on all the kingdoms. All first born are required to fight."

The cooler drained from Henrys face. He sat frozen for a moment, then looked down at his leg and sighed heavily. Within a moment, he swung his legs over the side of the bed before standing up, and quickly falling right back down. He gasped and looked worryingly at the bandage around his leg.

"Alright. I'm not sure how I'll do it, but if I must, I must." He said, his voice lowered. Mother raised her brows before putting her hands on his shoulders. "Henry, you are not going to war. You are in no condition to be doing anything but resting." She said. Henry looked at her, confused. "What is the penalty for not going?" He asked. Mother looked away before replying. "Life in the dungeon... but it doesn't matter. We'll go away for a while, where they won't be able to find us. They'll never notice one man missing, and it'll all be ok! We'll be alright. You'll be alright, Henry." She said, getting up to pace about the room. Henry shook his head and sighed before trying to get up again. 'Mother, I would rather die at war and keep my honour than rot in a dungeon with nothing to my name. If the king demands I go, then go I shall." He replied sternly.

Adelaide noticed how quiet Father had been since they had gotten back to the inn. He was probably trying to find a way where they could get Henry out of this situation, but Father knew Henry was right, and dying at war would be a far better fate than spending the rest of his days in a cell. And if he knew the king, the king would hunt down any one of people that went against his orders. Henry could not escape this.

The family was quiet for the most part of the night, all lost in their own minds, desperately trying to find a way out of this situation. Adelaide was mostly angry at the king. He could draft all of the other first borns for all she cared. They all worshipped him anyways. But taking Henry away, a man who didnt even live in the kingdom, it wasn't fair. The king did not own Henry, and Henry owed the king nothing. And the king certainly didn't have any right to take him away.

A thought crept into Adelaides mind. She was strong. She knew self defence. She was healthy. She could take his place. It was the perfect plan. She was a woman, so they may even have her stay at a base and not send her to the front.