Aetherean: River Of Blood

Chapter Eight: A Lady's Luck And Curse

Third-Person Point Of View

The people in every corner of the hall are looking fine and well in their dresses, but it is the Daerothrions who wear expensive steels of gowns.

The sons of the conquerors are the most feared in the north, and as they go south, no one's more than sure of the Daerothrion's confidence in every way, for there are others that display a formidable challenge that seizes the Dead Lands too for the taking.

As Vheneess approached the grand doors of the palace's halls, a prince materialized from the shadows, swiftly pulling the princess into the concealed corners of the ancient palace.

Anticipating a familiar touch of a prince on her arm, Vheneess's eyes met not of Baeron, but those of Aeron, the third prince and leader of the Grand Squadron.

Vheneess found herself swept away by the whimsical currents of her own playful musings. Her second brother is a man to his words; when he pledged to visit her in the morn, he unfailingly made good on his word, even if their encounter will be postponed until the late hours of the day, it was the very moment she harbored a false hope of encountering the second prince.

"Aeron," Vheneess called out.
"Shouldn't you be attending to your duties beyond the palace walls?" she queried. Aeron motioned for silence.

"I should, indeed." Aeron cautioned.

"Where is Theodore? What have you done with him?" Vheneess demanded, her voice tinged with concern.

"We cannot be overheard," Aeron cautioned once more as he keeps looking around that someone might be eavesdropping, for he knew he is on the opposition's side which is against Prince Baeron, the liberator, and Vheneess, simply because she is a pure-blood.

"I mean no disrespect, but following your attempt to betray me to our father and leave Catchfire to fend for himself, I find myself disinclined to engage with you at this moment," Vheneess declared, her tone firm.

Aeron's eyes narrowed as he spoke, his eyes gesturing subtly. "If you truly believed I intended to go against you," he paused for a moment, his gaze steady. "I shouldn't have let you go back to your felidont," he asserted.

"I leaped." Vheneess said.

"You would never reach the royal palace if it weren't for me." Aeron asserted once more but this time with confidence and embellishment of his own part in the play.

"Oh, do not overestimate yourself, brother, I broke free from your grasp." Vheneess shot back.

"Fair enough, but understand, I am trying to help you here, so don't give those eyes." Aeron stated, trying to please the grumpy disposition of Vheneess after what happened.

"What do you want? Asking forgiveness from a princess? You are the third prince, are you not?" Vheneess told his brother.

"If that would please you, should I beg then to end your displeasure." Aeron retorted trying to soften Vheneess, he continued. "Very well, as your brother and as your prince, forgive me. I don't want to give cold orders to my men when I go back to the High Ridge."

"Certainly," Vheneess declared not thinking who's the true authority in the situation, his third brother, she continues, "if that is your wish. But you have to prove first that you are not going against mine." The princess added. Aeron too, stood as an heir to the Aethereal throne, the third in line, should the kingdom lose the two royal princes in bad luck, so to speak. So it is quite a marvel at how the princess can tame the prince with just the subtlest gestures. Only fate holds the answers, and now the time hastens, slowly unfolding them.