|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 11: Compromise - Part I

“King Soldin requests an audience with you.” the voice woke me from my day-dreaming and I glanced up to see a Faeri Guard watching me. They dressed much like the Guards in Trinstone; only a different emblem was blazed on their armour. I could see a black, crumbling rook circles by a blazing white sun, differing to the white and red oak tree of my home kingdom. He unlocked my cell and I was led out of the dungeon. I glanced back at Cedric who watched me go from his bed, eyes dark and sad. I wondered if I would ever see him again. I thought probably not, and I couldn’t help the sadness it made me feel.

The rest of the castle was much more cheerful and beautiful than the dungeons. It was a maze of tall arched passages, doors, stair-cases and rooms. As I was taken to see the king I was suddenly aware of how dirty and unappealing I was, plastered with sweat, grime and blood. A felt a wave of déjà vu as I relieved being marched before Cedric and his father. My hair was a messy braid, my clothes muddy and torn, and I knew that there was blood on my face from where Talan had punched me.

The guard turned me into a room and down a flight of stairs until we reached a passage that looked more like a tunnel than a corridor in a castle. The walls morphed from straight and angular to a curve, and I felt claustrophobia start to seep in. the ceiling drooped lower and lower until the guard was bending his knees and head just to move without hitting his helmet on the stone, and I was for once glad about my short stature. We walked along it until we reached a handsome oak door with a shiny brass knocker. The guard slammed the knocked against the door three times before he opened it. I entered cautiously and found myself in a room of magic.

At least I thought I was magic. It had to be magic. There was steam rising from bottles and strange lights flickered from the roof as if sunlight had been trapped in small glass orbs. Colours I couldn’t name had been liquefied and held in flasks, glittering like gems, and over in one corner of the room sat a magnificent case with a mystical skeleton, with four limbs and six tails, on display. I couldn’t help but open my mouth in wonder. What was this place?

“Do you like it?” I heard a cool voice ask. I turned to see Soldin step out from behind a jet of steam, his crown rowing in the harsh waves that were his hair. “This is my laboratory.” He spoke with little interest, as if describing a bird in a tree.

“Lab - Laboratory?” I asked, “What does that mean?” despite the fact that I knew I was either leaving this room with a death sentence, or imprisonment, I couldn’t stop my fascination.

“Let’s just say it’s the name I gave my room of science.” Soldin said, smirking. Science? The word was still strange and unfamiliar to me. “You may call it magic,” Soldin continued, “But to me it is just science. Formulas and chemicals. I’m not surprised you don’t know anything of it – Jorild and his kingdom are stuck in the dark ages, living out lives with little or no technology to guide them.” he paused, watching me with a mildly amused expression. I quickly wiped my face of wonder – no need to act a fool in front of him. He continued. “Anyway, I have the results back from the blood test – I had my guard collect some from you when you first arrived – and you were indeed telling the truth. You are without a doubt my brother’s daughter.” I could hear the slight distaste in his voice.  I resisted the urge to point out I already knew that I was and looked around.

“I have something to ask of you…” I said softly, keeping my eyes downcast.

“Go ahead, dear niece.” Soldin in a mocking voice. I chewed on the inside of my lip. It wouldn’t help if I lost my temper with him.

“What are you going to do with Cedric?” I asked, “Are you going to kill him?”

“The Trinstone Prince?” Soldin asked, “Well of course. He will be executed once we have gleaned the information we need from him – be thankful you are not facing the same fate as him.”