A Carnival of Dreams

The Sucession

Thalissa, the recently widowed queen sat on her husband's throne. It would be a few days before one of her boys was crowned, so for a few more days she would act as regent.

"I suppose you are all wondering why you are here." she said to her three children.

Alliraine, her oldest and only daughter, nodded; her sons Faustis and Iridan merely stood there, looking grim.

Without quavering, she began to explain. Without this purpose, she would be crying because she was sitting on Irikos's throne. Without him by her side.

"All three of you must be provided for. I will rule for a week, maybe more, as regent; then one of you will follow your father in ruling the island."

All three nodded to this statement. They had been hearing various versions of it since King Irikos was found face-down in his breakfast, with raw, red strangle marks around his neck.

"Alliraine."

Her daughter looked up.

"You must marry abroad." There was a small tremor in her voice, but Alliraine didn't appear to have heard it. Her head was bowed toward the floor, and a tear trickled downward. The whole island knew that she was infatuated with a tanner's son--who had been sleeping with the miller's daughter across the street.

It would hurt now, but maybe there would be happiness in it. It had been that way for Thalissa.

"I have arranged for you to be betrothed to the third prince of Emen. I hope you'll be happy there, but the least I can do is make sure you'll be secure."

Alliraine collapsed, weeping, to the floor.

Next, Thalissa broke with tradition. "Iridan." To address the younger before the elder was a grave insult, but in this case it was important.

Faustis gaped. "Mother-"

"Iridan, you will be the star of a string of balls. Many maidens of noble birth will converge on here in a few weeks, and you will marry one of them. And Faustis-"

She pulled a bellcord, and two members of the Royal Guard entered the room, axes drawn.

"You are under arrest for killing King Iri-Iri-Irikos." She paused and composed herself, and then waved to the guards. "Take him away-"

The guards lunged for Thalissa. She dodged, but one's axe managed to slice open her stomach. She toppled forwards and lay in a heap, stomach juices spilling onto the stone floor. All she could do was watch as Faustis assumed command of the guards.

"Leave her. She'll die in a bit." Faustis smiled. "Now kill my brother. Mother wanted him to take what is mine by birthright."

The guards cut down Iridan with two swift strokes, both through the neck. His corpse toppled to the floor.

Faustis walked over to where Alliraine cowered in a puddle of her tears. He yanked her head up by her hair, and cupped her chin in his other hand, almost gently. He looked into her eyes.

"Now it's just you and me, sister... Let's build a pure dynasty, together." he said, as his maddened eyes bored into her head.