An Unexpected Reunion Ends in a Choice Between a Journey to the Altar or Death.
Floravera is a magical kingdom, filled with people, magic, & dragons. There are multiple kingdoms like this around the globe. However, Floravera is known to be the Prett...
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"The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself" - Rocklynn Valente
Everyone quietly murmurs to each other. I watch as Windsor takes a step closer to Hillston. Preston Hillston. Who shouldn't even be in here. "MR. Kelvick long time no see" I stand up to shake his hand. We should all know by now that I don't cower.
He takes a step closer to me, and shakes my hand with a firm grip. He has green eyes like Liam, but less vibrant. They're almost dead... like his hair. He's completely bald, and is wearing leathers like Liam's. "Oh please call me Vincent. We've known each other for far too long to be formal like that." He chuckles.
"Vincent it is. Have a seat please." He nods then has a seat where Liam was, Liam now stands. "Windsor. Have a seat." He swallows but obliges. "Liam, Hillston... this is for higher royals." I state both boys eye me, and all eyes in the room are on them.
"If you don't mind Liam should stay in here with us, anything that's said I'll tell him anyway." I bite the inside of my cheek.
"Fine, but Hillston needs to go." I turn to him, he nods, he looks embarrassed as he stands. "I'll have a separate meeting with you after this. Okay?" He nods then leaves.
All eyes are on me again. "Liam take his seat. Let's get this started, I have a busy day today." I grab my notebook. As I re-read my plans. "First off, I have I am invoking Hurden II." Collective gasps sound around me. Everyone knew what the Hurden II was, but KettleVille, as it was approved here after they took their leave.
"What is that?" Vincent asks.
Liam speaks up. "An act to make more guards to strengthen the kingdom, she's also recalling all of her guards in the other towns" his eyes plead into mine as he speaks. He still doesn't like this idea.
"Do you plan to wage a war on us as well?" Windsor speaks up. Asking me. "What is even the reason for this!?"
"Someone broke into the tree last night. A man in armor. He killed 7 guards, severely injured 2 dragons who are still not awake, and then injured 3 other guards. One of them died this morning might I add. The other one's neck was dislocated, he may never even walk again." All the eyes at the table widen. Even Liam's. he didn't know the guard died. Vincent is even surprised.
"It was just one man?" Vincent asks
"Yes. One with 2 swords." I state. I didn't mention the magic, no one knows about that.
"They're skilled. I don't know what Hurden II rules are but I can send some men to help with this." He states.
I look up at Liam to see if he's thinking anything at this. His face is unreadable, which could mean he's mad, but there's no telling. "No thanks. For now I need to go to Hillstock and fix their problems."
"Hillstock?" Cecile questions. She is queen of Bullock, biggest farm lands known. "Also, what did they steal from the tree? Why are you invoking a defense strategy that will just get them all killed?"
"They stole something valuable, and my strategy is to prevent them from being killed." She rolls her eyes at me.
"What is so valuable that you need to build your defenses?? They already have it, why would they come back?" She questions with an attitude. Is she stupid?
"If you must know, they stole a spell book. A spell book that controls this." I pull the wand out of my jacket. "If this wand can create towns, and a tree that gives life, and what not. What do you think the spells can do?" Everyone's eyes widen in horror as they learn about the book. It's supposed to be a secret, but telling them is apart of my plan. I have 2 plans. One for everyone to know, and one for only me to know. Unethically it's really just 1 plan.
"You will definitely need help." Cecile says. "We should help to stop whatever is happening so the book can be returned, and no one else dies." Everyone nods with her.
"I already invoked Hurden II. So no one can help us until it is revoked." Cecile sighs at that.
"Revoke it then, and make a new one. You can keep your plan to strength, but don't isolate the town, and draw your resources. Instead let us in to help strengthen." Thats exactly what I'm trying to prevent. No one here can be trusted.
See my plan is to find out who got the book. They don't know that he used magic, as far as they know he just has spells. However if you aren't Valente bloodline then you have to have the wand. This man did not have the wand. He is a Valente, and I will find out who he is. First I must cut off all access to the town, and strength it. Second I see who it is through the actions of everyone. I have to do this cautiously.
"It takes 48 hours for an act to be fully invoked, then it must stay that way for 7 days before it can be revoked." I state. That's a lie, but a well formulated one as no one has say over what I do to my acts.
Cecile sighs. "Very well."
"Does anyone else have an input?" I question. No one speaks up. "Good talk. Meeting adjourned." I stand, then leave. Everyone follows out behind me. I head up to my room. To grab my things.
I walk up a few stairs then I hear someone behind me "Arabella." It's that gruff voice again. I turn to see Vincent at the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes?" I ask.
"May I ask why you didn't want to unite with us?" He questions. No one around us can hear what we say.
"I didn't want to unite Floravera with you because well... that requires a lot of change to the townspeople." I lie to him. He raises an eyebrow at me.
"You didn't want to because that meant uniting with Liam. Marrying him." He states... so calmly.
"How did you know that?" My eyes narrow at him. Is he reading my thoughts now?
"I know my son, and the girl he cares for, and he does care for you. All your fears of marrying him, or being with him and ending up like... all the other royals. I understand it. But you know Liam, he won't let that happen." He states.
I take a breath. My eyes still narrowed on him. "Why? Because you trained him to prevent one's death by taking someone else's life? Or because you need him to marry me, so you can take Floravera and make everyone suffer like you do?" I snap at him. He took Liam from me. Royals took my dad away. Then a fucking poison took away my mother. People keep disappearing around me and he seems to be front and center of it all.
"I didn't train him to be a killer. I trained him to defend himself, and those that could not like his mother that night. So he could prevent it from happening again. And I don't want to take over Floravera." He states.
"Right. You don't want Floravera?" I let out a chuckle at that. My lack of sleep is making everything so funny and infuriating at the same time.
"No, I don't want Floravera. I want my son happy, and safe. And he can do that by marrying you, and joining both our kingdoms as I step down." He states
"Like you'd ever step down." I retort
"I am stepping down. Starting the 1st of the year." He says.
///:. .:\\\
I sucked at this chapter. I'm really bad at writing multiple people in one time lol so it wasn't the greatest. If you are confused about anything, ask away. I will explain better as the author POV instead of Arabella's.
