Solaris

Chapter 1

ROYAL DECREE

Since birth, I had been taught to keep my head down, eyes to the ground and never to talk back. It wasn't that my parents were in any way abusive, rather than the people who were in power in the kingdom were. My mother knew I was a strong-willed and expressive girl, hence, I heard that same phrase many times throughout my life; But one lesson my parents had taught me stood out above all else, avoid the royal family at all costs. See, as a child I had never understood why my parents wanted me away from the royals but now as an adult, it had become clear as day. The royal family was evil. I had seen it and witnessed the extent that they were willing to stoop in order to get what they want. I had heard of villages being rampaged and burnt to the ground upon the king's order. Young girls captured and taken to the castle to become concubines or simply being used as whores for the men in the army and discarded when they became bored. Men had been slaughtered, hung or worse, decapitated for speaking ill of the king.

Something that always struck me as odd was the fact that the king never actually came to any of his raids, instead he sent is a son, the prince, on his behalf. Perhaps the king was a coward or maybe he just liked others to do his dirty work for him. Nevertheless, the prince was known to be just as ruthless, spilling blood and taking lives like they meant nothing. A shiver of terror ran down my spine. Like father like son.

"Soleil!" I was pulled out of my thoughts as I heard a screech. Mother ran frantically into my bedroom where I was sat on my cot with a book clenched in my hands so tight that my knuckles were turning white. She stood in front of me breathing heavily, her eyes wide with fear.

"What is it, mother? What's wrong?" I questioned her, the book slipped through my fingers as I stood up and my heartbeat quickened, expecting the worst.

"Its the royal knights! They have arrived in the village!"

"Wh-what? Why Mother?" I tried to put on a brave front but my voice cracked with fear. A knot of worry settled in the pit of my stomach and my mind was racing trying to think of a logical reason as to why we were being summoned. My body was shaking with terror and anticipation.

"I don't know dear. But the last time the soldiers came they cut our rations in half and so many people died of starvation!" Tears welled in my mother's eyes as she began to sob.

"There, there mother," I pulled her into an embrace, trying to console her. "I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe they came simply to check on us." I lied through my teeth and mother knew it too. "It will be alright." Another lie.

"Maria! Soleil!" My father suddenly burst through the door out of breath and sweaty.

"Father!" Upon seeing my father I ran to him and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Thank the gods you are alright!" He squeezed my shoulders as reassurance that he was indeed alright. After a few seconds, he let go and my mother and I stood in front of him waiting for him to tell us the news.

"It's the soldiers, they are calling everyone to the courtyard now. They haven't told us anything except to bring our families." Standing in front of him, I could see that my father was shaking but doing his best to hide it from my mother and I. "Now both of you listen here, keep your heads down, eyes to the ground and do not talk back, ever. And most of all, know that no matter what happens I love you both, entirely. He pulled mother and I into his arms and kissed our foreheads. I closed my eyes relishing this moment because I knew when we walk out the door nothing is guaranteed. Nothing.

"Let's go," I gathered up the courage and finally spoke when I knew my voice wouldn't shake.

We walked through the village towards the courtyard which was not only the center of the village but also where all the shops were located. At every turn and corner, the kingdom's flag was adorned; A red flag with two clashing swords pointing downwards and a magnificent golden crown in the center with red jewels adorned on it. Upon looking at the flag, an unexplained bitterness filled the entirety of my body to the point I could actually taste it.

As we reached the courtyard the crowd started to thicken so mother grabbed ahold of my hand making sure we wouldn't lose one another. Instead of weaving through the crowd people were pushing each other in order to get to the front. I winced as someone roughly elbowed me in the side, causing my eyes to water with pain.

"Hey! Watch it!" A short and burly man yelled at me as if I was the one who had hurt him. Shaking my head, mother and I continued moving through the crowd until we were standing near the front.

I looked to my right and noticed father was no longer beside me. "Mother, where is father?" Mother looked her right, to her left and then behind her.

"I suppose we must have lost him in the crowd."

Suddenly loud drums started playing as a signal for the crowd to settle down.

"Attention loyal people of Thantous!" The royal messenger was stood upon the edge of the water fountain that had long dried out. He was a lanky looking man with an interesting mustache that curved at both sides. "I come here bearing a decree from his Royal Majesty Emperor Desmond, ruler of Thantous!"

"Long may he reign!" The crowd yelled. As citizens, we were always expected to send blessings upon the emperor and pray for his good health so that he may remain our leader. I stayed silent.

The messenger cleared his throat as he began reading from the scroll he held in his hand 'People of Thantous! As you know we have been at war with the kingdom of Seydor for quite some time now. We have fought and won many battles but the war is far from over. Due to the circumstances of war, we have had to recruit many new soldiers, however, we lack people who can take care of these brave knights and look after all their needs. Hence, I have commanded that from every family, one young and able-bodied woman will travel to the castle and work there. If a family lacks the presence of a young girl they will send a young man instead that will be trained with the knights to join them in battle. Seydor is a rich kingdom that possesses many resources and goods that we here in Thantous need, therefore, failure to comply with the conditions set forth will not only lead to your execution but of your family's as well.'

As soon as the royal messenger finished reading, chaos erupted throughout the crowd. People were screaming, yelling and crying knowing the fate that awaited their daughters and sons, wishing there was some way to save their children.

"ENOUGH!" The messenger yelled in a loud and unpleasantly dominant voice causing the crowd to quiet down once more. Looking around, I noticed that the soldiers had surrounded the crowd, their swords now are drawn pointing towards us, almost threatening us, daring us to speak out. I knew then that there was no escape.

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Hey Everyone!! I really hope ya'll enjoy this chapter. How do u guys like the ending??!

Fun fact I actually finished this chapter a couple hours ago but then I accidentally deleted everything FML. SOOOOOO I had to rewrite it. That's how much I love you guys!

ANYWAYYSSSS don't forget to comment down below, hit the star button and share this story!

Until Next Time,

Iamsmarterthansmarty

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