Royal War: Sequel to Royal Secret

Chapter 16

"Uncle Thadius?" My eyes had to be deceiving me.  The man who saved me and raised me as his daughter stood alive and well in front of me.  I remembered the last time I saw at the cliffs where he was dragged down and tied up by Sebastian and his royal assassin.  Sebastian's voice still ringing in my ear that Uncle Thadius was to stand trial and be executed for murdering my parents. It was all lies, because Uncle Thadius wasn't dead, he was alive!  My heart soared and joy filled my face as I moved to embrace my uncle.  I was lost in my elation that I didn't pay attention to his demeanor. "Uncle Thadius!" I ran towards him but was stopped before I reached him.  Jace had wrapped his arms around my waist to stop my movement forward as he whispered in my ear.

"Stop Celina! Look at him!" Jace words force me to pay closer attention to the rigid stance my uncle had.  His eyes stared at me devoid of any emotion or recognition.

"I'm sorry child but I do not know you." Uncle Thadius words froze my insides.

"What are you talking about? It's me, Celina!" I begged him for recognition.  To tell the truth, that I was true queen.

"I've never seen you before." Thadius repeated.

"What the hell is going on here? Tell them that you know me and raised me! Tell them that Kristoff is a lying, murdering piece of dirt who is not fit to carry the Richards name! Tell them how we have had to hide and live in god forsaken hovels just to stay alive! Begging for people to even believe that I am their true Queen! TELL THEM!"  I was beyond hysterically when Thadius remained unchanged.  There was no flicker of emotion.  It was like I've never existed.  Kristoff must have done something to him! I swung around facing Kristoff taking in his smug face.  "WHAT. DID. YOU. DO!"

"I did nothing but share the truth to my claim and show the lies of yours.  Your Highness this is Thadius Corvell and he is or was my sister's captain of her high guard.  As you can see he does not know this impostor, just as I've stated earlier!"

"You bastard! You did something..."

"That's enough.  We have heard enough! You made your claim.  With no proof, we take King Kristoff word." Sasha hard eyes bore into me unforgiving.

"Sasha, let us not make any rash decisions." Searcee spoke on my behalf.

"You are too soft, Searcee.  All she has provided us with are words.  True I will not deny that these three are high guard but to whom? I am not blind or deaf to what is going on around here.  I know King Kristoff is not well like by the people here.  And this ruse may be a way to get rid of him.  But the only way that will happen is if a full blooded queen steps forwards.  And we have yet to see her!" Sasha returned to her seat and sat down placing a napkin on her lap to resume eating. Her guards and mate followed taking their seats leaving Searcee and her people standing  beside us.  Searcee sent me an apologetic smile and resume her position at the table.

"Guards take them to the dungeon!" Kristoff ordered also taking his seat.  The guards surrounded us along with my Uncle Thadius.  Uncle Thadius gripped my upper arm and pulled me towards the main doors and I violently jerked my arm out of his grasp.

"Don't touch me!" I walked on own my free will raising my head up higher with all the diginity I could muster as his betrayal. We were escorted down to the  bowels of castle to the unkempt and dismal cells. We were greeted by part of our team of warriors that acted as the distraction team.  Our group was thrown into a cell next to theirs.

"Why are you doing this Thadius?" I tried one more time to reach him free from scrutiny of Kristoff.

"I'm sorry, child as I have stated before.  I don't know who you are."  With that he turned and left the area taking the royal guards with him.

A/N====

Don't kill me I know its a short chapter.  Promise the next one will be longer!

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