The Fallen Queen

Chapter 8: Intonation

The roads they had taken felt completely unfamiliar to Felicity as the hours passed by. They were definitely going uphill, so she assumed the General had taken her advice and was guiding them to the mountain pass. He had to be desperate if he was actually taking her advice. Maybe he did not have a choice. The main road would give her plenty of opportunities to escape.

What would she even do if she was able to escape? Felicity knew there were a couple in court that would not have taken Ional's rule laying down. Her Uncle was one of them. Duke Baldrick Grey was a force to be reckoned with. The first born son of Felicity's grandfather, King Alerick the II, He had given up his title for adventure and exploration. Felicity remembered him seldom being at home when she was a little girl, but he always brought back the most interesting souvenirs and tales. In the years since her father had died, and only because she had begged him, Balderik had stayed close to home and even taken a seat on her council. He was fiercely loyal and one of the only members of her counsel who had reservations about the agreement with Soria.

If Ional was smart he would have seen to the Duke before he made his move. Felicity did not remember seeing her Uncle amongst the crowd. She sent up a silent prayer to whoever was listening; hoping that he did not die in some dungeon somewhere.

"What are you thinking about?" Came a voice at Felicity's side.

She looked up to see Thomazo sitting on the ground next to her. The party had stopped for lunch only a little while ago. The spring sun had come out and was now, directly overhead, it felt lovely on her skin. Rashor was laying out just a short space away. His eyes were closed, but every now and then he brought a roll to his mouth and took a bite. Hellino sat on a stump across from Felicity and Thomazo. He too seemed to be enjoying the lovely day. He had taken off his cloak and stretched out his legs in front of him. If Felicity did not know better she would say he looked relaxed. Milza stood next to him; the only one ready to fight. Her eyes scanned the tree line even as she ate her meager lunch.

"I," Felicity paused, "Was thinking about my Uncle." Deciding honesty was best here, as she looked down at her lunch. A roll, dried meat and block of cheese.

"I don't remember seeing him at court when Ional took my crown. He wouldn't have gone down without a fight. So, I was wondering if, maybe, he was, well, dead."

It was hard to get the last word out. They felt like acid even as they left her lips. Thomazo's face filled with understanding as his lips formed an 'O'.

"Do you think he killed him?" Felicity asked and looked pointedly at Hellino, who smirked and waved his roll in greeting. Felicity rolled her eyes and looked away.

"I don't know," Thomazo said with a shrug as he took a bite of his cheese, "I suppose he might have had time to take out your Uncle beforehand."

Felicity's face fell.

"But," He continued; mouth full of food, "What I do know is; there was fighting in the palace and at the docks as we were leaving. It's why we had to change our plans and go by land. So, someone was fighting for you. Which was more than my people ever did for me."

There had been fighting? Well that explained why Hellino had deigned to ask her about the roads the night before. If not her Uncle, her people were fighting for her. Felicity felt pride wash over her. Pride and duty. They were fighting; then there was no way she would just lay down and let this happen. She had to fight too. She had to get back to them.

The General's voice broke Felicity out of her train of thought. Her eyes snapped over to the man to see him asking something of Thomazo who answered back with a shrug. A ball of anxiety formed in the pit of her stomach. She could only imagine what Hellino was asking of him. Could she really trust Thomazo to keep silent about their conversations?