|[ THE FAERI'S KEEPER ]|

Chapter 21: Long Live the King

"Soldin?" Cedric whispered the word, shock filtering through his system. Soldin? No, it couldn't be.

But hadn't I already known that? Had his father not whispered that name himself before he faded into nothingness? After the shock dispersed he knew that he had always known there was a possibility the other king would be behind it. And after that realisation came a wave of anger and fury, followed by grief. He had killed her? Only one person could be 'her'. Tanara's blue eyes were dancing with delight; delight at watching him suffer in silent agony. He wanted to scream, and kick, and throttle her, feel her slim neck give way under his hands. He wanted to watch the glee fade from those blue orbs as he slipped a blade into her chest, wanted to cut her into pieces before she could taunt him anymore. But he couldn't lose control, not now.  Cedric's face hardened and he leaned in close to Tanara, hoping with all his heart that she could see his anger, and that she was scared of it.

"Soldin ordered you to kill my father?" he breathed, almost inaudibly, "Why would Soldin want my father dead?" Tanara's smile broadened and she leaned closer to him, as far as her bonds would allow.

"Not just to kill him," she hissed, "To kill you as well. To end your family's reign. Soldin is the rightful ruler of Eltor!" She cried, voice rising, "Soldin deserves the throne to the land! We should all see to him as our new Monarch! See him rise above us and reign us forever more!"

"Soldin is a liar and a murderer!" Cedric thundered, silencing Tanara effectively, "What sort of honourable king orders his servant to slay his ally as he lies resting?" the crowd watching sat silent and unmoving, rapt in the conversation being shared between the two people.

"You think he will reward you? Even if you had succeeded, you would return to an ungrateful master, one who would have you returned to shovelling shit for the rest of your life." he took a deep breath, straightening his collar and smoothing his hair. "I think we have heard enough of your words to know you are guilty." Cedric said, his voice at a normal level again, "Take her away and lock her up. I want someone watching her — don't let her out of your sight for even a second." His mind was still stuck on the woman who had tried to kill him. Would she try to save Tanara? Would she even dare to try and break her out of the castle's dungeons? He decided he would visit Tanara himself that night, to see if the woman came back to save her, and to talk to Tanara. To find out if it was her she spoke about. He turned away, cloak billowing after him, as he exited the chamber, leaving Tanara to be collected. There was an explosion of noise as people began to talk rapidly. The noise was cut off with a sudden slam as the door fell shut behind him and he was left with the silence and his own tormented thoughts.

***

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this appearance?" Tanara's smooth voice asked out of the darkness as Cedric approached the prison cell. He looked through the bars into the pale shadows that barely concealed the dark shape of the girl. "My prince! How lovely to see you, and what an honour it is..." Cedric watched as her dark shadow detached itself from the wall and gave a deep, mocking, curtsey.

"I wanted to talk to you, to find out..." Cedric began, but his words were barely out of his mouth before she interrupted.

"You want to know of the girl I spoke of," Tanara laughed, her voice full of mirth. Cedric kept his face smooth, giving away no reaction. She wanted to watch him squirm, wanted him to suffer as long as she was alive. He wouldn't give her the pleasure. Tanara moved out of the shadow and grabbed the bars of the cell, staring into his eyes. Her fingers were grimy and bloody, and one of her nails was missing. Had she tried to resist the guard? Or had she been reduced to scratching at the walls, trying to dig her way to freedom, the filthy rat she was.