The Claim

Chapter Six - The City

She stood with her brother for a good few minutes as he calmed down, took some deep breaths. The city was exactly as she remembered, before the king and his men tore it down. She could point out where her house was, a decent little place, a present from the king to bridge the gap between enchanters and the mortals, not that it lasted. It was about eleven years old when it was broken by the king's licentiousness and lust for another woman who he called wife when she had his son.

It took moments before she realised how far they were from the palace. It was going to take some more planning to kill the king, vengeance for her mother, he was going to die screaming if she had her way but no doubt Merek would try to stop her, hopefully fail to. She didn't want him there, if she didn't need on side to deal with the guards, she wouldn't have to have there, but he was necessary, a necessary evil she was convinced she could persuade if she let the past resurface in his head, let the memories play on his mind like they had hers. 

She often wondered why her twin would never agree with her, why he turned his back on her, disinterested in what could be if they just tried together. The sort of things they could do, unlimited power together, the city would theirs and with it could come the world if he listened, just opened his mind to the possibility but he refused to hear it, her twin just dismissed it. 

It would take time to make Merek see her way, much to her disappointment, but determined, she very much was, like an egg in hot water, he was going to crack eventually, everyone did, and he was no different, he was just going to take some time, a slow cracking egg, not much more.

They found an inn to rent a room from, using the few coins they had to get a room and some food to make them look less conspicuous to the townsfolk, the simple peasants that enjoyed drowning their sorrows in the taverns and inns before going home, drunk as a skunk.

She watched him tuck into his cabbage soup, spooning it up like it was the best meal he'd ever tasted. She just picked at it, eating what she could but it tasted like warm water with farmer's greens floating in it, practically its definition.

"So, work, what are we going to do?" she questioned.

"I do not know" he replied, covering his full mouth while shrugging his shoulders.

"That is so helpful, Merek!" she hissed.

"I will find something, I am sure you can find a job as a seamstress or something" he replied with an annoyed tone.

She huffed and puffed about the idea but hid it under a cold smile to stop people from staring. The last thing she wanted was to be distracted by work while the king was allowed to live with his son and heir, allowed to bear the weight of the crown for moments too long. 

They were lucky he had forgotten their names, they had been erased from existence, probably because of the king's shame and dishonour. He probably did it himself, lied about their deaths, pretended they never existed or just forgot them for eight whole years. 

She wanted that to be his biggest mistake, his foolish mistake. He had forgotten their names, their faces, perhaps even forgotten their existence, something she wanted to use to her own advantage, to better her chances of success. She was a step closer to her goal, to her target, the king, whatever was to happen, her mother would be avenged, one way or another.

They did not talk the whole night, they just got up, having finished their food. They walked up the stairs and walked into their separate rooms for a good night's sleep, but she just sat and thought, thought about what life would be like once she was queen.

She would let her brother rule by her side and invite her people back into the city, where they would live in peace and harmony, having killed off anyone who threatened the peace and harmony she wanted to create. Her brother did not understand that, he did not understand her ways. She couldn't see peace happening while that usurper was next in line for the throne, while her father lived and served his people as king, having ordered the death of her mother and so many others.