Crowns And The Nine Kingdoms

Chapter 9 - Nine Pillars

“May the Nine Angels guide you, my Queen!” Sir Rufforth Bearlakes said to Queen Annysha as she departed Castle Pines.

Despite being bound in her iron cage, Queen Annysha was now covered with clothes for warmth, and her wounded feet were bandaged.

The journey to White Peak continued until dusk, and they arrived at the religious city after noon. White Peak was a city of ivory, bathed in white and resembling a heavenly realm. Its residents, dressed in long white cloaks, had eyes as blue as the sky and hair as dark as night. They were devoted to the Nine Angels of the Nine Kingdoms, their faith rooted in the Nine Scrolls, which served as their sacred texts.

The scrolls recounted a thousand-year-old prophecy:

*The Light flashes through the grounds of White Peak, 
Men and women from above 
Reach the icy grounds, 
And they live and love, 
Eat with birds and the fallen graces from above. 
A king was chosen for all of thee, 
With his bride to be, 
Yocious and Maya from the light 
Had nine children, the future’s sight. 
The one with sacred blood 
And a maiden with sacred mind, 
The knight against all odds 
And the risen to the sky. 
The protector of the realm 
And the queen over the realms, 
The son of the moon 
And the daughter of the sun, 
The unburnt and born into fire, 
They all rose from those lands. 
They are all the angels, 
The children that gave us the future to the end.*

This prophecy was recited daily at Castle White, the first and last castle standing, believed to be eternal.

The nine children of King Yocious and Queen Maya were: Rubeus (the Blood Angel), Andromeda (the Mind Angel), Emerus (the Nature Angel), Alexa (the Sky Angel), Diamus (the Earth Angel), Perla (the Water Angel), Silvus (the Moon Angel), Luna (the Sun Angel), and Saphrus (the Fire Angel).

White Peak was governed by the Nine Scrolls, which outlined nine laws. Breaking these laws resulted in punishment or trials. The leaders of White Peak, known as the White Ravens, included one Highest White Raven, two High Ravens, and six Pillar’s White Ravens.

As Queen Annysha was escorted by the White Guards of White Peak, the residents watched her with a mix of curiosity and disdain. She was led up the ivory stairs to the Nine Pillars of White Peak, the court for all Nine Kingdoms.

Inside, she was left in a dark, quiet dungeon beneath the city, with only the dim light from the guards' lamps illuminating the path. The sun's warmth was a distant memory as she was thrust into the darkness of her cell.

The dungeon was filled with wild prisoners, their clothes tattered and faces scarred. The iron door to her cell slammed shut with a resounding bang. Queen Annysha sat on the cold ivory floor, tears streaming down her face, her luxurious crown a stark contrast to her grim surroundings.

She could see nothing but darkness until she heard a haunting melody:

*As the sun rises, 
Thou shalt fall, 
Thou shalt be drowned, 
And thou shalt be burned. 
For the prophecy shall be fulfilled, 
Bloods to bloods, 
And powers to powers, 
The son of lords against the gods. 
The war is coming, 
The sun is rising, 
Their voices are heard, 
Their moans will end. 
The war is coming, 
The war is coming, 
For our world shall end...*

“It’s the Song of the Prophecy!” Queen Annysha exclaimed in despair.

“That prophecy is false!” shouted another prisoner with a hoarse voice.

“Our world shall end!” the singer declared.

“Is there any woman here?” Queen Annysha called out, her fear palpable.

“I’m Lara!” came a response from nearby.

Lara was close to Queen Annysha’s cell.

“How did you end up here?” the Queen asked.

“I killed the Queen of Castle Vale! I struck my sharp knife into her pregnant belly! I was ten years old when I was sent here!” Lara’s voice was filled with bitterness.

“Queen Andorra?” Queen Annysha murmured, realizing the connection.

“Queen Andorra was my mother,” Queen Annysha said, her voice trembling.

“Who are you?” Lara demanded, pressing against the bars of her cell.

“She is Princess Annysha...” an old, gravelly voice spoke from the shadows.

“You’re a filthy whore! You were betrothed to the Prince of Pines and yet you married your cousin! You’ll stay here forever! Incest!” Lara spat.

“When I get out, I’ll make sure you die and walk through Thorns!” Queen Annysha retorted angrily.

“Filthy!” the other prisoners taunted her in unison.

“Enough!” the old man’s voice boomed, causing the floor to tremble.

“Craaaack!” The dungeon floor cracked and trembled violently.

The prisoners fell silent as the cracks spread across the floor, reaching Queen Annysha’s cell.

“Are you a giant?” she asked, her voice filled with awe.

“Small humans are stupid!” the giant replied with a thunderous voice.

“You’re a giant!” Queen Annysha said, realizing the scale of the situation.

“Haron!” the giant introduced himself.

“Where are you from?” Queen Annysha asked.

“Whales!” Haron answered.

“You’re from Fisherland!” Queen Annysha said.

“Fishers are ocean lords!” Haron declared.

“The Thorns Ocean is bigger than the Fisher Ocean!” Queen Annysha argued.

“The Thornish elves tried to kill my wife!” Haron roared.

“You’re the one who killed the ten elves!” Queen Annysha exclaimed.

“Small humans are stupid!” Haron repeated angrily, stomping his feet and causing more tremors.

“Small humans are stupid! Small humans are stupid! Small humans are stupid!” Haron chanted, shaking the very foundations of the dungeon.