Bound

I: Andronika (Mark My Words)

The sky was overcast, as it usually was in the northern Kingdom of Kynæn, but the harsh winds and ripping tide promised a storm. Andronika could feel it in her bones, and it put her on edge as she knelt before a collection of stones. The marked but nameless grave that sat at the base of the cliff was hidden beneath a copse of trees, keeping any wandering eyes from stumbling upon the area she held most dear. Andronika had stopped watering the soil with her salty tears long ago, but each visit still made the imaginary hole in her chest throb.

"Milady!"

The familiar voice called to her from outside, but did not enter. Her Croí , Philomena, knew better than to venture inside without permission. The heavy sigh that left her mixed with the wind as she laid war toughened fingers on the nearest stone. With dark head bowed, she prayed, "You're death won't be for nought. Mark my words, one day I will avenge you."

"Milady!" Philomena called again, "We must go!"

The howling of the wind increased, and the sound of the waves thrashing against the rocks grew louder as Andronika gathered her skirts and emerged from the trees. Her Croí's wide, black eyes looked at her in worry as they rushed to the nervous horses, but she brushed her concern off, rolling away the growing anxiety she felt as the storm drew closer and closer to the shore.

The minute she walked through the main doors of the castle, her advisor, Koenraad, was there to greet her, a weary look making the creases in his aged face deeper. He rarely smiled, a trait she oddly admired in the man, but he also never expressed his exhaustion. Something must have happened that he was keeping from her.

"Ríon, I must speak with you privately," he muttered lowly, giving a pointed glance in Philomena's direction. Andronika waved her off then ushered him from the main corridor and into the map room, shutting the heavy wooden door behind them. She watched patiently as Koenraad pace the room twice before he found the courage to speak.

"There has been a rumor of a threat on your life," he began, watching her face as he delivered the news, "A small group of people within the court have been talking about your lack of heir. They fear the Valdis bloodline is incapable of continuing on, and seeing as you are the last of them, it is important that you do something to fix that because if this threat is true..."

He trailed off, not wanting to voice aloud the harrowing truth. If Andronika were to die, Kynæn would return to those dark days after the last heirless king. The queen let the silence fill the room in respect of the memory of her advisor's old friend and the cousin she never knew. Koenraad was right though. Of the Twenty-three years she had lived, seven of them had been spent as queen, and while she was the youngest ruler to ever lead Kynæn, it didn't excuse her from one of the more simple tasks as queen.

Except she didn't want a king to rule her kingdom as she sat dutifully at his side and never lifting a finger. She was a warrior. She was a queen, and she could do this on her own.

"Koenraad-" She stopped herself, catching the tired look in his wrinkled blue eyes. The bruise like marks beneath them had grown darker these past few days, and Andronika cursed herself for not noticing sooner. She cleared her throat instead of arguing, turning her gaze to the map spread out on the large oak table in the middle of the room. "Does this...threat come from within my borders?" The words were bitter on her tongue. Threats were so vague and unpredictable, but promises were solid. A promise to end her life could be dealt with in a swift manner. Threats meant waiting.

Patience was such an inconsiderate virtue.

Koenraad seemed hesitant to respond, "From outside, I'm afraid. King Weorran-"

The loud bang of her fist echoed throughout the room, causing her advisor to jump. "Damn him!" She snarled, "What does he want from me this time? Land? Jewels? Money?"

"O-oil I believe. Our scouts have witnessed advanced projects taking place, and Cois Nikostratos reported back with word on these new machines that are suppose to create tar. As you well know the only place oil can be found is here. They've ruined countless farms in search of their own."

The queen's bent posture straightened as she turned to face him once again. "Ishka is the only place where oil has been discovered. That is holy ground! Oil must be removed delicately. He would kill me and risk the wrath of the goddess for something as trivial as oil?"

She didn't wait for him to respond before storming out of the room and into the hallway. She turned to the nearest scurrying maid, "Elwyn! Have Ines report to my chambers immediately." The girl did as she was told, and Andronika rushed across the throne room to the hallway that lead to her fuils' chambers and the armoury.

"Wait! Milady, wait! What are you doing?" Her advisor called from his shocked position in the map room's entryway.

She threw a sly smile over her shoulder, "Killing two birds with one arrow, Koenraad. And we both know I never miss." 

Thanks for reading! =)

Edited by CalliL13