Crowns And The Nine Kingdoms

Chapter 16 - Reigns And Lies

"May the Nine Angels bless us, My Queen!" The Fisher Servant welcomed High Queen Krynah as she stepped onto the muddy ground of Fisherland. The royalties of Fisherland greeted her warmly, their smiles wide as they escorted her into the throne hall of Castle Fisher.

The long tables were set with fine silverware, overflowing with delicious seafood dishes, their enticing aromas filling the room. As the feast commenced, High Queen Krynah presented her gift to the gathered nobles.

"I, the High Queen of the Nine Kingdoms, would like to offer these thirty barrels of special wine, crafted by the Silvan themselves," she declared, her voice carrying the weight of her authority.

The Fisher royalties eagerly filled their glasses with the violet-hued drink, their faces lighting up with pleasure as they tasted the wine. Claps and grins spread across the room as the queen raised her glass.

"This glass, full of wine, is a tribute to the Nine Angels of our world!" Queen Krynah proclaimed, her grin turning wicked as the room echoed with cheers. Hundreds of Fishers drank deeply, their spirits high.

But as the wine coursed through their veins, the queen's smile twisted into something dark. "As you taste this drink, the screams of our horses will come as your lips turn purple! Your seas and oceans are ours!" she declared, her voice filled with malevolence.

Chaos erupted as King Robin and Queen Valene, parents of Queen Valerie of Pines, fell to the ground, gasping for breath. The poison from the pokeberry dew raced through their veins, turning their laughter into moans of agony. Their lips darkened to a deep purple, veins bulging beneath their skin, and their eyes turned red as tears streamed down their faces.

Outside, the Silvan Tribe descended upon Castle Fisher, their horses' screams filling the air as they raised their spears and swords. The mud turned to crimson as blood mixed with the earth, the Fisher nobles falling one by one.

Yet, not all was lost. Some Fishers managed to escape, sailing their fleet into the safety of the sea. The unconquered islands of Fisherland, unaware of the tragic purple celebration, remained untouched by the carnage.

---

Back at Thorns, the Maester carefully examined Braylon's body, his brow furrowing as he inspected the mouth. "This is not blood! This is a Pasturio Potion!" the Maester exclaimed, his shock evident. "He's alive!"

Before the Maester could react, Vera materialized before him, her hand swiftly wrapping around his throat. "Shhh! No one should know about this, or else I'll kill you!" she hissed, her voice deadly.

Vera disappeared back into the shadows, leaving the Maester trembling. Regaining his composure, he reported to King Orion, "My Lord! There are no marks or signs of blood on his body!"

"Then how has he died?!" King Orion demanded, his voice filled with confusion.

"Perhaps it was a heart failure," the Maester suggested hesitantly.

"No one in our family has ever died of heart failure!" King Orion snapped, his suspicion growing.

Before they could discuss further, a Valish guard burst into the room. "My Lord, the King of Pines has just arrived," the guard announced.

"Where is my son!?" King Henrick of Pines demanded as he stormed into the hall.

"Your son?" King Orion echoed, shocked by the intrusion.

Cardon, overhearing the exchange, stepped forward. "Son?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"Annysha was pregnant when she married Syantus, and Syantus knew that!" King Henrick revealed, his voice carrying the weight of the secret.

"Seize him!" King Orion commanded, his anger flaring as Valish guards surrounded King Henrick.

But Henrick was not finished. "Why don't you seize your lord!? He's committing treason! He threw his own nephew to the Nine Pillars! He proclaimed himself King of Thorns, even though he is the King of the Vale! He refused to give the throne to the rightful heir!"

"Clash!" The sound of steel interrupted Henrick's rant as a sword plunged into his chest. Blood splattered, his words cut short as he fell to the ground, gasping his last breath. His six guards stood frozen, their cowardice evident as they watched their king die.

"Never drown a man in his own blood," King Orion declared coldly, his gaze piercing as he commanded the six guards. "Take your king's corpse home."

The guards, now bearing the lifeless body of King Henrick, began their somber journey back to Castle Pines. Queen Valerie, unaware of the tragedy, ran to her husband's side as they arrived. Her shock was palpable as she saw his bloodied corpse.

"Henrick!" she cried, her voice breaking as she fell to the ground beside him. "What happened!?" she shouted in agony, her tears falling onto his pale face.

"Mother?" Prince Kadrick's voice trembled as he saw his mother weeping.

"Father!?" Prince Ronrick gasped, standing beside Kadrick as they both looked upon their dead father.

"Holy Angels!" Prince Fredrick screamed as he rushed to his father's side, horror etched on his face.

In the background, King Father Hurthon Pines, nearly blind, stared out of a window. "I thought we were not a part of the Great War," he whispered, the weight of his words heavy in the air.

---

Meanwhile, at Castle Verde, High Queen Krynah stood before her grandmother, Mother Gerylda. "We can't attack Whales! Giants live there!" Krynah protested, her voice tinged with fear.

"We can't attack them, but we can rule them," Mother Gerylda replied calmly, her mind already plotting their next move. She planned to travel to Castle Fisher, unaware that the High King was watching her every move.

"Where are they going?" High King Erin asked his servant as he watched them from his window.

"I don't know, my king," the servant replied humbly.

"Send a spy!" High King Erin commanded. "I want loyal guards all around this palace."

"As you command, my lord," the servant responded, bowing low.

At that moment, a man clad in Verdeenian armor entered the room, his face grave. "My Lord," he said, addressing the king.

High King Erin turned, surprised to see the man. "Lord Commander!" he exclaimed.

"My brother! I haven’t received any letters from him!" Lord Commander Joffer Leaveshire said, his voice filled with dread.

"He's probably relaxing with whores at Castle Nix," High King Erin replied dismissively.

"Have you received any gratitude from King Barton?" Sir Joffer Leaveshire asked, his tone probing.

"I haven't," King Erin admitted.

"You've married a princess of the Silvan Tribe. Do you know what family her grandmother belongs to?" Sir Joffer pressed.

"Of course! It’s Silva," High King Erin replied, confident in his knowledge.

"You haven't listened to your Maesters. She belongs to Mermea!" Sir Joffer revealed, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

"We should travel to Thorns," King Erin decided, urgency in his voice.

His horses were readied, and he, along with Lord Commander Joffer, embarked on the journey to Thorns. The innocent High King, unaware of his wife's true lineage, left her behind, focused only on the road ahead.

"Where is he going!?" High Queen Krynah asked her servant, watching her husband from the window as he rode away.

"They said they are going to hunt, my queen," her lady servant sweetly replied, concealing the truth.