The Four Realms

Chapter 7: Nicholas

My father and I had been strategizing for the meeting today all night, we agreed my best chance was to pit everyone against Augustine. It wouldn't be a challenge for me given I already despise her, however that feeble Hunter seemed to have taken a liking to her. Cassiopeia would be a tough one to crack, she barely said a word at the dinner and balls. My father clasped his hand on my back and said, "You have to fight for what is rightfully yours. You are my only heir, son." Something about that statement didn't sit right with me, so I spent breakfast dissecting it. Had he intended to imply he only cared for my survival because I would go on to take his place. Surely, I meant more to him than that. A servant entered the private dining room and approached me. "The second gathering is scheduled to commence in ten minutes time, it is requested you arrive promptly." she said her hands held behind her back. "Inform them I will make my way with haste." I said rising from my chair and removing my coat and hanging it on the rack. My boots clicked on the stone floor as I strode briskly to the assembly room where the others had gathered. "Let's make this quick." I declared as I burst through the doors. Each of them looked at me surprised. "We must discuss more of everyone's character before selecting. Honestly, we've only known each other for six days. The spring week is only just ending." Cassiopeia argued. I slumped onto my chair and waved my hand at Cassiopeia brushing her off. "Continue then." I huffed. In the corner of my eye, I watched as Augustine squinted at me. "Well before we begin, I thought it might be interesting to all of us what I found in the palace library." Cassiopeia said a mischievous look playing across her face. "Let's hear it then?" I said expectantly. "Well, I was rummaging around in the back for the shelfs and I found this old book, its pages were yellowing, and the red cover was patchy. When I opened it, dust flew everywhere." she began. "I was curious so I leaved through a few pages in the Centre of the book to find it was about our exact predicament." she finished proudly. "Well, what did it say?" asked Augustine eagerly. "It spoke about an alternate way to break the curse. One where none of us have to die." Cassiopeia explained. That caught everyone's attention. "It read and I quote...To break the curse you must find the place beneath the waves it flows, a cascade unseen, a secret show. Where currents swirl and liquid dance, my silent plunge, a hidden trance. Where it falls but never breaks, no surface rocks or cliffs to break my fall, in ocean depths, I enchant all. If you manage to locate me your reward is something sought by many. A treasure bright, worth more than gold. In dreams I gleam, a sparkling prize, individual to each who long for me. Your deepest desire." said Cassiopeia. Hunter initial response was. "How did you memorize that entire paragraph?" "I was up all night analyzing it." Cassiopeia smiled. "This is all wonderful but what the hell does it mean?" I asked utterly confused. "The last part was mentioning a reward. Perhaps what It meant by your deepest desire was any wish the beholder had. For us that could be breaking the curse." Suggested Hunter "Yes that's the conclusion I came to as well. I believe the first bit might be talking about-" began Cassiopeia until Augustine cut her off," An underground waterfall." she said. "Precisely." said Cassiopeia. "A cascade unseen." Hunter said, beginning to understand. Augustine nodded along, "Where it falls but never breaks." she said. I looked at their optimistic faces and sighed. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news...no I don't, however, how are we expected to find an underground waterfall in three weeks with absolutely no clues. Not to discount the fact we are forbidden from leaving the castle." I commented discouraging the entire room. We sat in silence focusing on the prospect of breaking the curse. "It's a long shot but if we could find the coven they would give us a map." offered Cassiopeia. "Witches?" asked Hunter, "But they haven't been around in years!" Cassiopeia shook her head, "Not in the Autumn Realm, they are scarce and most turn out to be frauds but there is a special coven in the mountains north of my town. They would grant me access to their resource and power given my mother's status." she explained. "You're right it is a long shot but what do we have to lose?" agreed Hunter. "A lot actually, like our lives and legal rights in this Nation." I remarked. "Not everyone is concerned with lose of status." said Augustine sharply. "Say we were able to get to the coven and then to the waterfall, how would we do that within three weeks with no means of transportation?" Hunter asked. "We could hijack a carriage." Augustine suggested. Hunter nodded. "And we could leave the night of the ball, slip out unnoticed and disappear." said Cassiopeia. "What time and where would we meet?" asked Augustine. Cassiopeia paused for a moment before replying. "Nine pm sharp and by the stables where the carriages are parked." Everyone nodded except me. "I don't like this plan." I said. Each of them collectively sighed. "Hear me out, what if it doesn't work and we all fall back asleep because of the curse in the pit of an underground waterfall. I think we need a backup plan." I said. "What do you purpose?" Hunter asked me. Augustine narrowed her eyes at me reading my mind she said, "We have to complete the curse break if we don't succeed. That means someone has to die." "Exactly." I said. "I'll do it." Augustine said. "What! No. We should wait before we make a rash decision." Hunter argued. "If it doesn't work, we can't waste time making such an important choice." Augustine said, throwing her hands up. "But-" Hunter started. "No, it has to be me, it would have been anyways if we stayed here." Augustine cut him off. I was bewildered by her confidence that we would succeed, there was no way I would risk my life. I'm betting that if it comes down to it, she won't have the guts and I'll have to kill her anyways. For her sake I hope not. Hunter looked distressed so Augustine requested we'll all take a vote. "All in favor of my death if our efforts are not victorious." she raised her own hand. I quickly followed suit. Cassiopeia slowly and shakily raised her hand cautiously. "Come on Hunter, let's make the vote unanimous." Augustine asked beseechingly. "Alright." He said raising his hand, "But I won't let it come down to that." he added. "I suppose I will see you all tomorrow at nine pm by the stable. Oh, and to any of you with family, don't inform them it would simply complicate our plan." Cassiopeia said, standing and walking to the door. A pang of sadness crossed Hunters face. As I walked out of the door behind Augustine, I was conflicted with the thought of telling my father of the plans and having them halted. The King had told my father I had nothing to fear as he would make sure I lived. The meetings were simply a hoax, the King would choose the poorest and least fortunate of us all and have them killed with no one to remember them. Of course, I knew that it would be Augustine but she had already given herself up so what did I have to lose by going on a silly little adventure around the Realms?