Guards burst into her rooms without bothering to knock.
Hours had definitely passed, she was sure of that, but it couldn't have been days could it? Maybe it had been, she seemed to remember it getting dark...After getting over get original grief, her sadness had been replaced by determination. Determination to get her people free from Esmeralda's clutches. As to how she had no idea. But she knew she had to free them.
The guards ordered her to her feet before clasping her wrists in irons."If you even think about running, we'll shoot you quicker than you can even take a step." One of them warned, which caused her to eye the crossbows held in two of the guards' hands.
In total there were seven guards and, as she was pushed out of her chamber, two went in front of her. The one that spoke before, who was obviously in charge marched next to her, the pair with crossbows went directly behind her, their weapons trained on her back. Two more guards filed in behind them, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. It seemed Esmeralda would not be taking any chances this time.
"Esmeralda must have a high opinion of me if she needs seven guards to stop me escaping." Lucy taunted.
"You will address Her Majesty with her property title or face the consequences." The guard next to her growled.Lucy ignored him and said, "Is it demeaning having so many of you just for me? A feeble princess?"
"I'm warning you, Your Highness," The guard spat, "If you do not shut up, I will have you killed and face the retribution of her majesty. She seems intent on keeping you around for a bit, although I don't see much point." He added unkindly.
"So talking and running away equate to the same punishment around here now?" Lucy asked, stealing a sideways glance at the man next to her to see his reaction.He stopped, causing their mini procession to stop too and Lucy to walk into the man into of her. Taking a step backward, Lucy turned to the guard, raising an eyebrow in question. "I don't think your queen would like it if we were late for whatever it is you've dragged me out of my chamber for."
Instead of replying straight away, the guard took a step forward, shoving his chubby finger in her face. Lucy was able to take a good look at him and tried to fight her smirk one she realized he was a few inches shorter than her.
He was rather portly for a guard, but she supposed he mustn't just be an ordinary guard. In fact, now that he was facing her, she saw the three gold bands on the left side of his chest, which was hidden before as she was on his right side, which signified his status as a general. He had dirty blond hair and small piggy black eyes. She also noticed that his fingernails were rather dirty, as his left index finger was almost touching her nose.
Finally, Lucy was drawn away from inspecting the fat little general in front of her when he spoke."You are incredibly lucky that the Queen is reserving a very special punishment for you, which I believe involves you watching as all your pathetic, loyal subjects die very painful deaths right in front of you, eventually resulting in the deaths of your precious little friends in Perland when the Queen decides to expand this disgusting little kingdom. Of course, you will die when every last soul on Magonia who has ever given you a kind thought dies. I'm sure the Queen will think of a unique way to punish you before your ultimate demise." General Warthog (which Lucy had decided to name him) spat, resulting in a large amount of spittle to splatter into Lucy's face.
Disgust marred her features as she lifted her hands to wipe the spit off of her face, the chains at her wrists clattering as she did so. His words didn't hurt her, grief had changed her, the only pain that could affect her would be the pain happening right now, not the pain in the imminent future. She knew that, even if Magonia was in Esmeralda's complete control, she would not be able to take Perland.
Shooting General Warthog an icy glare, Lucy walked forwards, pushing the guard in front of her as she went. "Come on, you useless pigs. We can't keep Her Most Illustrious Majesty waiting." She said with feigned cheerfulness. She rolled her eyes as she heard General Warthog sputtering behind her and continued pushing the surprised guard until the others had caught up with them.
The rest of their journey to the throne room was significantly quieter. None of the guards spoke to her, it appeared that none of them wanted to, and she couldn't be bothered to speak to them either.
YOU ARE READING
The Stolen Throne
FantasyThe Kingdoms of Zyron: The Stolen Throne - Book One in The Sorceress Series. Fear is something Princess Luciana of Magonia is well aquatinted with. The main source of which is her stepmother Esmeralda. Fear that wraps its dark tendrils over every fi...