Warrior Queen

CHAPTER 25

MATHILDA'S POV.

It had been a month since Cam and Lissa left. Jeph and I had read half of the library but except of a few mentions of the forest and the force surrounding it, nothing else was written about how to break it.

"Look, maybe this will help us." Jeph said passing me a spell book.

"Hmm.. can be helpful but it says to pass the spell to someone than the original object. How can we pass the spell of a forest to another object. Moreover, it says someone, not something."

"Where can we find someone who would..."

"No."

He gave me a stern look which would have him hanged if anyone saw us. I gave him one in answer to his.

He smiled and my heart melted.

"You look so beautiful when you give me that look."

"Yeah? Well, Don't look too closely. you will be killed."

The door banged open and several voices reached us. We stood up as my father and duke Rayland came into view. They were talking about something but stopped abruptly.

"Father, duke Rayland. What a pleasant surprise to see you both here! We did not expect you here." I said.

"My King, Duke Rayland." Jeph bowed.

"Rise soldier." My father's voice echoed through the library.

"We didn't know you would be here with him, princess," Rayland said.

"Let me introduce you father. This is Jephrey, He is a soldier and also helps in the kitchen in his free time. He is a magnificent reader and a good friend." I said, ignoring Rayland completely.

My father just nodded and dismissed him.

"We would like a private word with you Mathilda." 

I just nodded too. We don't have a talking relationship, he orders as the king and I follow as the princess.

Jephrey left but Rayland just sat there. I glared at him but he just looked at me with boredom.

"We are planning a big feast for your mother and I would like if you would organize it."

I just stared at him. I blinked a few times to dispel the moisture pooling in my eyes. 

"For her death anniversary? I would love to. Thank you father." I said happily.

"For Queen Ann. Her birthday is approaching. You have approximately eight to ten weeks to plan the whole feast." 

My heart crumbled and slowly, anger replaced the hurt and I saw red.

"She is not my mother. She never was and never will be. She is just a woman who has taken my mother and your wife's place. She is just a liar and a freud." I grabbed the book I was reading and walked out.

"Mathilda. Stop."

"No father. I will not allow anyone to disrespect my mother like this." 

"You will respect Ann as my wife and queen of the kingdom and arrange a feast in her honour. "

I laughed. An ugly and hoarse laughed. 

"Is that an order, My King?" 

There was no politeness or respect in my tone or on my face. I could see how he was at the end of his patience with me or with the kingdom's politics but so was I.

"Yes. It is."

I nodded.

"It will be done, but remember this. You nor anyone in this kingdom will ever see me like this again. The next time you or anyone see me, they will see me as me and you can't do anything about it. Father." The word was like a filthy curse as it left my mouth.

"What do you mean?"

"Every action has its consequences."

I left them in the library and shut the door but it never closed. 

The whole castle started rumbling and shaking. 

I grabbed the nearest pillar as my father and duke came running out.

"What is happening?" 

"You should take cover, my king."

But my eyes were stuck on the view outside of the window. "Look out Father."

The dark forest was shining. Shining like the sun but instead of yellow or white light, it was doused in a transparent silver glow.

A beam of light shot toward the sky and then the world exploded.... BOOM!