Legacy of Fire and Sand

Chapter 58: Chambers

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting the castle in a blanket of darkness. A cold, distant moon hung in the sky, and a tense silence pervaded the corridors. Inside the lavish chambers of King Valen and Queen Elara, the atmosphere was anything but calm.

Elara sat on the edge of their grand bed, her eyes dark with worry as she gazed at the empty space beside her. Valen, shirtless and brooding, stood by the open window, staring out into the night. His hands clenched into fists as he felt the absence of Ashara keenly. The last few days had been filled with court obligations, endless meetings with lords and strategists, keeping him away from the one thing that had brought him any sense of peace and pleasure—Ashara.

"She hasn't been here," Valen said, his voice thick with frustration. He turned back to Elara, his intense gaze searching her face for answers. "Not once since the wedding preparations began. Have you seen her?"

Elara sighed, her expression softening as she rose from the bed and crossed the room to stand beside him. "She's been busy, just like us. And the King—he's been keeping her occupied." The last words were spoken carefully, a hint of something unsaid lingering between them. She knew more than she was letting on, but she kept the truth from Valen for now. It wasn't the right time. Not yet.

Valen's jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "Occupied with what? I thought she was with us now. The King—" His words were cut off by a bitter laugh. "That bastard has a way of keeping people trapped in his web, doesn't he?"

Elara placed a gentle hand on his chest, feeling the tension beneath his skin. She could sense the storm brewing within him, the warrior's instinct that always simmered just below the surface. Valen was not just a lover; he was a man of pride, a man who valued loyalty and strength. The idea that Ashara had been out of their reach for so long gnawed at him, and Elara could feel the weight of it.

"She'll come to us," Elara whispered, pressing closer to him. "But we must be patient. There are forces at work here that we cannot see."

Valen looked down at her, his expression softening as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I hate this, Elara. I hate that we're not together. That she's out there, alone, dealing with gods know what."

"I know," Elara said, her voice steady. "But we'll have her back. Soon."

Valen nodded, though the worry did not leave his eyes. He trusted Elara implicitly, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He needed to see Ashara, to touch her, to feel her warmth beside him again. Their bed was cold and empty without her, and the nights had been long and restless.

"Let's go to her," he said suddenly, his voice resolute. "Now. We'll find her and bring her back here."

Elara hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. She had kept the secret of Ashara's condition to herself, knowing that it was too soon for Valen to know. The King's actions had only intensified her fear that something terrible was on the horizon, but she couldn't let that fear control them.

"Yes," she agreed, her voice firm. "Let's go."

They dressed quickly, their movements synchronized as they prepared to leave the chambers. Valen strapped a sword to his side, a habit he could never quite break, even in the safety of their own rooms. Elara wrapped a cloak around her shoulders, the deep green fabric a symbol of their house. Together, they slipped out of their chambers and into the dimly lit corridors of the castle.

As they walked, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls, Elara's thoughts churned. She knew that Ashara had been with the King, and she feared what that meant for her. But she also knew that Ashara was strong, that she had endured more than most could bear. Elara just hoped that strength hadn't been pushed to its breaking point.

They reached Ashara's quarters, but the room was empty. The bed was made, the fire had long since died out, and there was no sign of her. Valen cursed under his breath, frustration mounting.

"Where is she?" he muttered, his eyes scanning the room as if she might materialize out of the shadows.

Elara, however, knew where to look. She took Valen's hand, guiding him back into the corridor and toward the King's chambers. As they approached, the sound of voices grew louder, and Elara's heart sank as she recognized the King's harsh tones.

Valen's grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, his muscles tensing as he heard the voice of the man he despised. Elara placed a calming hand on his arm, silently urging him to stay calm. They couldn't rush in, not yet.

They stopped just outside the heavy wooden doors, listening. The King's voice was clear, filled with a twisted sort of pleasure as he spoke. "You'll bear my child, Ashara. There's no escaping it. You belong to me, and I will not stop until I get what I want."

Elara's heart raced as she heard the King's words, and she felt Valen stiffen beside her. She knew that if Valen stormed in now, it would be the end of them all. The King was too powerful, too dangerous. They had to be careful.

But just as she was about to pull Valen away, she heard a soft, muffled sound from within the chambers—a sound that chilled her to the bone. It was Ashara, her voice weak and filled with pain. The King was doing something to her, something that made Elara's blood boil.

Valen's face was a mask of fury, but Elara tightened her grip on his arm, shaking her head slightly. "We can't, not yet," she whispered urgently. "We need to be smart about this."

Valen's eyes blazed with anger, but he nodded, trusting her judgment. They couldn't save Ashara if they were dead.

Together, they turned and slipped back into the shadows, retreating to their chambers. Once inside, Valen's anger erupted, his fists slamming into the walls as he cursed the King's name.

"I'll kill him," he swore, his voice a growl of pure rage. "I'll gut him like the dog he is."

Elara watched him, her own anger simmering just below the surface. But she knew they had to be careful. The King was a powerful man, and they were in his domain. They had to play this game carefully, or they would all be destroyed.

"We'll find a way," Elara said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "But for now, we need to stay strong. Ashara needs us."

Valen turned to her, his eyes blazing with determination. "We'll get her out of this, Elara. I swear it."

Elara nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of the secret she still kept. Ashara's condition complicated everything, but they would deal with that later. For now, they had to focus on survival.

And as they prepared to wait for the right moment to strike, Elara couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread. The King was a monster, and he wouldn't stop until he had what he wanted.

But she would not let him win. None of them would.