The Devil's Country

A Foreign Letter

(Elizabeth Nicholas' perspective)

I sit and wait. I sit and wait. I sit and wait. This craziness has taken ahold of me like wildfire. The man I loved betrayed me. The man whom I loved betrayed my family. Took my kingdom. Took my home. I'm free to roam most parts of the castle, but am I free. They say I'm free to do whatever I wish, but that is but a lie. They say when the time comes I will join them in ruling, but will I? My room is the room in the castle left untouched, but for how long? Questions scatter my train of thought as I receive knocks at my door. I go and unthatch it to just see the man I once loved stand there with flowers.

"Hey, I-." I slam the door in his face, and I walk to my bed to rest. "Eliza, please."

I sit and I rest more. I wish Trice would ravage this kingdom. I wish Trice would be at our doorstep with thirty thousand men. It is the only time I wish I could leave; however, soldiers watch me everyday. They stand outside my door. They stand outside my stained glass window portraying my once happy family. I've lost everything. Most of my dresses have been sold for money. Most of my things in my other private room are gone. It's just my bedroom I sleep in that hasn't been touched.

"I'm sorry, it had to be done. You're father wasn't a good man." I hear outside my door. "In a few days Esterlyn and Iceborough. are coming to Salem in order to discuss an alliance. Terris may also be joining us."

I remember those kingdoms. Iceborough is the northern kingdoms whom are still monarchy ruled. Esterlyn is just monarchy with extra steps. Terris has been taken over by these rebels too, but I know deep down I will never be into this rebellion.

"I want you to join us in welcoming Esterlyn, Iceborough, and Terris. It would be sign of unity and can even increase your chances of being on the Royal Council."

"Royal Council? Is that what you traitors call yourselves. You took something I desperately loved. I loved my kingdom. I loved you, but you ruined everything just like you said you would when I saved you from being executed. I should have never saved you. I should of left you to be beheaded and  then see your handsome face on a stick." I said walking over to the windowsill.

"It is an urgent request and quite important. If you recall, I didn't ask to be saved." Quinn continued to follow me. "We received a letter two well known generals will be arriving at our doorstep with full forces. They may decide to help us unite the east and the north or destroy us and expand the Esterlyn. These generals are well known. Your father served with one of them. I'm not asking you to join us, but I want you to be with us when the time comes. The people still like you. I still love you. In this hour we have done what other people have not done. I want you tomorrow to be with us. Please."

"I will promise I will be there, but I will not speak on behalf of the rebellion." I said tears rolling down my cheeks.

**************************
That night, I leave my room. A guard follows me as I roam the castle. Its been ransacked, but people are making it as it was before. New flags decorate the rooms. The guard in shiny bronze armor with no helmet follows me. I recognize him as he was one of the guards who protected me from other soldiers when I got captured. We roam the castle. Tears roll down my cheeks seeing great diamond treasures gone. Probably sold in order to gain money for the kingdom. I want to run away, but I can't. I arrive at the once Throne Room. I see nine scoundrels gathered around a table. They plan something at the table. I see a map of the north. It seems as though they want to take over the north. The guard sees this and points me towards the door to the city.

"We should go this way Madame." The guard said trying his best to seem friendly. I walk where he points. I see people around the city. They all seem to be busy with their families and friends. I walk the streets now with four guards. They each have the same symbol on their uniforms of two birds holding on to each other's wings. It must mean unity. The right bird is black with a red stripe running down the middle of it. The left bird is white with a blue stripe running down the middle of it. Its a magnificent sight, but I could care less what these traitors have. I know they are friendly to me, but I still can't trust. them.

"Look! its the treasonous princess!" I turn around to see a civilian with a scythe. He's about to charge me but a guard cuts him down.

"You traitors! She deserves to have her head on a stick." Tears fill my eyes as I hear these sharp words of hatred. I see the guards having problems keeping people tamed. I see the guards struggling to keep the crowd back away from me as I descend into an alley way. I see a guard get trampled by the crowd. I see the guards struggle more and more. Then a brute of a man crushes through the soldiers sending them flying. He charges me as I feel a hand grab me. I look over to see a man in a black hood pull me inside a building. I hear crowds shouting outside. He leads me through the shop. Then down a long narrow corridor. He stops at a door and opens it. Inside is a smeltery and weapon building station. The man takes off his hood. I recognize him right away.

"Madame, I am William Kyros. I built weapons for the army. I need to know if you are hurt." He said with his dirty blond hair shining in the moonlight.

"I am fine." I replied looking around.

He carries a double sided ax. He puts it on a rack with other exotic weapons like a spear with a sword on one side and spear point on the other. He runs over to his water closet to draw water from a well inside of it. He must of just refilled it as it almost overflows of fresh water. He brings over a clean bucket made of brass. He hands me the bucket. I drink a good sum of it. We hear men shouting outside of the shop, furiously.

"Why did you save me?" I asked him. "Everyone hates me with a burning passion, yet you saved me."

"I am a man of honor just like my brothers. We need you alive if we are ought to make an alliance with my brother's armies." He said looking at a map of the world inside the wall. "My younger brother was cast out of the eye. I never saw him again. He ruined our name for many years. My other brothers ran away because of it. Peyton became an officer in Medford Keep. The second youngest brother went to go find a new life in Trice. I on the other hand stayed here. I wanted to make weapons for the army like my father. I inherited the shop, and the king was kind to me. I still make weapons, but production is slow because of the lack of iron I have to work with. Anyways, I've been trying to redeem my family's name here in the North since I owned this shop. This may redeem my honor to the Royal Council or whatever they call themselves."

"So, you're a loyalist?" I asked him. I looked at the map of the eye. The middle island is always different on different maps. I watch as he points at the northern gate out of the eye. It's a fifty meter walk through the bottom of the wall.

"Not exactly, I just do what I am told. My brother will be here in two days most likely. I say we hold out here until then. I can send a raven to the Council saying I am in possession of you, but you will have to act as a slave girl until they can get troops together to come and rescue you. That means you will have to lose the dress."

"WHAT?" I say looking at him in distraught.

"I mean like you are going to have to put on other clothes that aren't one hundred gold coins." He said blushing.

"Oh, I can do that." I replied as he handed me common clothes.