Blood Promises

Chapter-1-

♦...............................................................................................................♦

Eva Windweaver squirmed anxiously in the thick red-gold doorway behind secretary, who announced in the flat intonation of a deaf man,"Eva Windweaver."

Arrogant bastard didn't even reveal her full name as if she were a lowly servant herself.

"Bid her enter." An amused male voice declared.

Eva recognized the critical tones of the glorious, ruthless King Theodore Garrick at his court.

Theodore Garrick was not only an angry man but also an ambitious one. The Kind who would aggressively place anyone into critical positions to keep his power. Eva had always sided somehow with Theodore in hopes of becoming one of those favoured ones.

Eva knew for a fact that she found her match as she was his equal in ruthlessness and lust for power and Eva knew that she needed to tamp it down.

With downcast eyes, she slid into King Theodore private receiving chamber. It was a duplicate of the main throne room, but smaller.

The floor was made of hard marble, as were the jewel-inlaid tawny walls and ceilings. Even the line of servants off to the left was brilliant and flawless.

The arrogance display of raw wealth left Eva with such illness and envy.

"Come closer, Windweaver." The terrifying voice of King Theodore emerged from the far side of the throne room.

Fear struck Eva. Theodore himself was present as he promised. Even though Eva requested this meeting, yet horror attacked her as serpents twist in her stomach.

Hastily Eva knelt and made her obeisance at the foot of a magnificent throne in a shape of an ancient tree.

Eva kept her head down until Theodore cleared his throat, "Rise and indulge in the glory of Theodore Garrick."

Eva Rose and assumed the worst was gone, yet she saw an angel warrior of a man with a thick, messy head of golden hair. The Archmage stood to the right two steps down from the King in the position of the kings champion, High Lord Anakin Windoom, stood one step down of the Archmage.

To the King's left stood his high advisor, Mavrik Ierdrebin. One step below him stood high priestess Syrarth Shrolvo. What Eva saw made her blood run cold. How Did Theodore know the topic she was to discuss requested this powerful council.

"You served me devotedly as a royal army officer in the changing lands of Astax, Eva, and you served me well in Xascon."

Theodore's words wrapped around her, living things, penetrating the edge of her mind, seeking rift in her mental armor. Eva blinked them away, instantly regretting the demonstration of lack of control.

She urged her mind back to the subject the King and his council obviously discussed today. Xascon? The furthest Kingdom? Why that?

Images flowed unbidden through her mind. Or possibly were summoned forth by the King's will. Whether Eva craved it or no, the memories overtook her. A more savage, crude place she'd never witnessed. The prisoners turned colonists who lived there, scraping a living from the untamed wilds, were little more than barbarians, criminals, and rebels banished from Xuclistan to live or die as their will to work ordered.

The original who inhabited the land were once highborns half-breeds of natural race.
"Xascon Had been at Peace for a very long time," Theodore commented.
That should be great. Right? But why did she hear dissatisfaction in Anakin's answering grunt? Eva waited carefully. She wouldn't speak unless she got the order.
"His Royal highness saw it fit to have a full settled colony in Xascon. And it's clear that the wardens will be replaced with a high ranked officer.
Was this the true reason they summoned her to this meeting? Did they they see her fit to become that high ranked officer?
"All these years you served me well." Said high advisor Mavrik.
Was this how he saw her like a faithful voiceless bitch that would get the job done?
Approval was clear on the Archmage face. Yet when she gave high lord Anakin a side glance she could see unspoken words.
Mavrik continued, "You would be the perfect choice to control that land as well as anyone. And you've always placed his royal highness interest above all. Don't you agree?"
She was about to answer but a fast movement to her right forced her to remove her gaze from her King for a second. Petrified, she shifted her gaze back to the lower steps of the golden throne. It was an insult to look away form the king while spoken to and she knew that first hand. Eva could breathe easily when she saw her King staring at the wide open golden door.