The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 27

Adelaide brushed her fingertips over the wooden walls of the halls as she walked down them for what she assumed to be her last time. A part of her was saddened by the thought of never again entering the queens office. That part of her was silenced as the reminder of Toski's power there bloomed in her mind. She grimaced, then smiled as she remembered the state in which she had left his beloved workplace. It was more than likely that he would come to the conclusion that Adelaide was the culprit, but now that Adelaide was protected by the queen's pardon, she wanted him to find out, and she wanted him to know that she had bested him, not once, but now twice.

Adelaide reminisced on the woman she once was. She laughed at the thought. She had been weak; feeble minded when no one had been there to protect her. She would never go back to who she once was, and she thanked the heavens for It. Now, Adelaide was a soldier. A spy; protector and conqueror of the queen of Extollentiam. And she reveled in it.

Adelaide snapped out of her thoughts. Her eyebrows knit together as she realized what had come over her. She had never felt such a burn in herself. It was a hunger, a hunger for power and for a moment, she hadn't recognized her own thoughts.

Adelaide shook her head and walked fast down the hallway, her Hand dropping from the wall. Something slithered in her mind, watching her, but she ignored it. Whatever it was retired to the back of her consciousness, but it remained all the same. A shiver ran down her spine.

The sun had long since set as Adelaide stepped out of the building. Lanterns shone from the distant tents, at least one hundred feet in front of her. She looked around her, squinting her eyes. The visibility around Adelaide was dangerously low this time of night, and if it weren't for the stars scattering the sky, Adelaide wouldn't know where the sky began and the tips of the trees ended.

Adelaide walked towards the distant lights, no sound coming from the leaves underneath her boot. Though Adelaide was positive nothing good could ever come from Toski's hand, he had trained her well while Adelaide slept under the same roof as him. Every night, Toski would take her into the woods to better train her in the arts of being a spy. The thought made Adelaide shiver now as she thought about what Toski could have done to her in their time alone together. She chose to shove the thought to the back of her mind, feeding it to whatever monster had found its home there. It was as if feeding coal to a flame.

A twig snapped at Adelaide's side, and she had a dagger to the culprit's neck before she could stop to see who it was she was threatening to kill.

The man inhaled sharply and threw his hands up in surrender, shock written in the whites of his eyes. Adelaide squinted, trying to make out his features, and relaxed slightly when she made out the familiar green eyes.

"Aragon?" She asked, her blade still to his neck. He smiled, his shoulders easing slightly as he realized she probably wasn't going to kill him. He chuckled, using a hand to gently push the blade away. It didn't budge. His other hand remained raised.

"In the flesh,: he remarked, ""And I was hoping for it to remain that way."

Adelaide squinted as she withdrew her weapon, securing it to the hidden strap on her thigh. Aragon quirked a brow.

"Heavens, Aragon, why would you sneak up on me like that? I could have killed you." Adelaide snapped as she rolled her eyes, disregarding how little she knew the queen's nephew, and how intensely he watched her.

"And oh, how grateful I am, mighty Adelaide, that you would find the mercy in your dark soul to spare a mere mortal such as I!" Aragon took a dramatic bow, his eyes never leaving Adelaides. She rolled her eyes again, but her lip twitched as she turned away from him, walking towards the lights once more. She was halted to a stop when Aragon spoke again, his voice even and deep.

"I heard what you told Flora."

Adelaide whipped back around to face Aragon, her eyes wide. His face was unreadable, wiped of all arrogance that had lingered there moments ago. "What?" She whispered. She didn't know Aragon, and there was a good chance he would kill her where she stood if what he was saying were true.

"I had gone on a walk to clear my head, and I came across my aunt's little secret entrance to her office. I went in, wanting to visit with her, when I heard another voice in the room."

Adelaide's heart drummed in her chest, and she prayed he only heard the very last minute of their conversation. Even if it were a bit gruesome. Aragon continued.

"I opened the door just enough to see it was you, and the surprise of your unannounced return spiked my curiosity. I heard it all, Adelaide. I heard of your schemes, your whispers of killing the king. I heard my Aunt's whispered promise. To say I was shocked would be an understatement."

With every word Aragon spoke, Adelaide reached her fingers ever so slowly to retrieve her dagger. Aragon stepped towards Adelaide and she sprang into action, grabbing the dagger and pointing it to his chest, her arm outstretched. She didn't leave time for him to speak.

"Hear me, and heed my warning, nephew to the Queen. I will kill you, and I will do so swiftly. I will drag your body to the frozen river so that no one will know what happened to you." Adelaide barely believed her own words, and had to choke back the quiver in her lip as she said them. But Aragon didn't know Adelaide, and had no reason to believe her words held no merit.

Anger flashed in Aragon's eyes. Blood began to stain his white shirt where Adelaide's blade pointed, but she held it steady.

"Listen," he hissed through barred teeth. Any facade of charm was long gone. "I am of no threat to you, woman. You truly believe I do not know of the way my aunt is abused in her own home? do you really believe I willingly sit back idly while my own semblance of family suffers at the king's hand?"

Adelaide's scowl softened. She hadn't thought about that. If Aragon was on the queens side, then he would have no reason to be against her. So why would he sneak up on her?

Adelaide squinted, trying to find the answer in his forest green eyes. "Why have you come to me, then? Why not let me be on my way? Time is of the essence."

Aragon's eyes deepened, and his tone was low when he spoke.

"Because I want to join you."