The Kingdom of Cards

Chapter 11

Elizabeta rode up to the tall castle gates, which opened for her. Roderich followed her, slumped forward in the saddle, gripping the horn. Raivis glanced around nervously. They unsaddled and, holding the reigns of their horses tightly, walked up to the bottom step of the great castle.

The king was the first to come out to greet the guests, the queen followed. Both of them stood tall until they were almost pushed over as Feliciano, the young jack, came running down the stairs, nearly tripping several times.

"Aunt Elizabeta!" He flung his arms around the stiff queen of clubs, who patted his head like he was someone's random child, gently pushing him away. He smiled with excitement.

"Okay, Feliciano," Ludwig said, as if calming a dog, "So Queen Elizabeta, what brings you to the Hearts Kingdom?"

Elizabeta stood a little taller, and dove straight into business, she knew that the King of Hearts was a businessman, "I need to speak to you and your court immediately," she said cooly.

The king narrowed his eyes, intrigued, but also tainted with suspicion. "Why?"

Roderich sighed, he was never one for dancing around the bush... unless there was music, "The Spades along with our Kingdom have been attacked, you may be next," he said before Elizabeta could respond. If looks could kill, Roderich would be dead 40 times over. Roderich looked away from her as if he hadn't noticed her cold glare and watched the king take in the news.

"Let's meet somewhere a little more accommodating?" Ludwig suggested, waving for them to follow him inside. The Heart's castle was a little fortified, it had luxuries, but not nearly the quality or quantity of the Club's or Diamond's. It shone, perfectly clean and everything had a purpose or meaning. It was comfortable, Elizabeta and Roderich had grown up in the castle.

They felt at home. They hadn't seen it for at least two decades, when the Midnight WildFire had struck the Hearts during the Great Drought.

Living in the Club kingdom was isolating, they didn't have a lot of friends.

Many looked at them with suspicion as they walked by. King Ivan was a taker, he asked little and took all. That's why his kingdom is so big, and why everyone is afraid of him.

Elizabeta and Roderich knew him better, but who doesn't have a healthy fear for an undefeatable warrior? Raivis, on the other hand, was following his queen and jack without a thought or care in the world. Though, he was scared by Ludwig's big German Shepards.

Ludwig caressed the dogs to show they were affectionate. Finally, they came to the end of the hallway, and Ludwig asked his guests to stand outside a moment. When they finally walked in, they found a war room. There was a large map of the kingdoms and a clean green board that looked as though it had never been used. Kiku and their best knights, Sadik and Heracles, where already standing around the table.

Ludwig stood beside his queen and Elizabeta, along with Raivis, stood in front of him. Roderich stole a chair and sat exhaustedly at one corner of the table. When Ludwig gave him a look, Roderich muttered:
"Caught in that damn snowstorm, I'm going to sit."
Ludwig chuckled at this, 'nothing's changed.'

They stood in awkward silence before Ludwig spoke up, "You say you were attacked."

"Yes," Elizabeta said cooly, she continued after a short silence. "The Aces."

Ludwig laughed and Elizabeta raised her brows. "The aces! If they're attacking then let them come, what do they carry, white flags?" Feliciano shot him look.

Elizabeta sighed exasperated, "Why does everyone think I'm joking?!" she said, "I never joke!"

Kiku touched the king's shoulder. He stopped mid laugh, "I apologise, I should have known that you would not learn the art of joking with Ivan." Roderich smiled at this and Ludwig gave a slight chuckle. He turned his attention back to Elizabeta, "So, you were saying."