The King of Ruin

An Escape

Mari's pov

"Remember don't give anything away," Bianca says as she walks me to Val's room, where we all will walk down to the meeting room. "And don't get nervous when you sit next to Val,"

"I've got it! Don't be pushy!" I say taking a step away from Bianca and making a face. Hopefully, it's enough to convince Val we dislike each other.

"Bianca when I said you would be watching Mari, I never in any way said that you are allowed to push her."

"I didn't even touch her!" Bianca says holding her arms up in surrender. Val frowns at his Captain before taking me by my arm and leading me down the hall.

Inside I instantly spot my parents and brother. Wrenching my arm out of Val's iron grip, I sprint over and hug Blane. He steps back in shock before embracing me. I breathe in his familiar scent and don't let go for another few moments.

He doesn't either.

"Mari, you look well," Father says, placing his unwanted hand on my shoulder. Almost to keep me from leaving and so I talk directly to him. As if I could leave. I'm near magically inept and guards would catch me before I got five feet.

"No thanks to you. But yes I am well, thank you for writing. No, I must have confused you with Hertha, who actually wrote me,"

"Blane...Mother...Father." I push my father's hand off of me and leave for someone else to talk to before the meeting.

A few moments later Bianca ushers me to Val's side.

A male who I think was the seventh King of Caledonia, not the current King, urges us to be silent. He introduces himself as King Lyander. King Farley's Father. "Today is a day like no other. Today we remember those who fought in the thirty-eight & fifty-six Year Wars. Those who lived, those who gave their lives when our predecessor King Coryander divided from the other continent. His short reign gave birth to our kingdoms,"

King Lyander pauses for breath. "Though Seraphina is a great neighbouring country. We have become an even greater one. Today we remember what it is like to be free. We hold council every six months as a reminder to keep peace with one another,"

This kind of talk drags on for half an hour. We've already heard it. Myself included. My tutor taught me a brief history of the past. It was a great way to pass the time. So I went in-depth on my own. I enjoyed every moment of it. Although I could never find who split Seraphine from Seraphina.

At least not in Aletheia's archives or library. The mage is a hard person to find any record of. It's as if the mage is a spirit.

As history claims Seraphina and Seraphine were once one huge continent. Its people were mixed. Humans, fae, werewolves, witches, half breeds of all kinds. Until King Coryander decided he wanted a pure continent of fae. Seraphine became one of fae and Seraphina mixed.

Seraphina's first King, Vesryn the close friend of King Lochlan. King Lochlan was the first King of Altearia.

King Vesryn and his Father opposed King Coryander and his ideals. For thirty-eight years the two armies battled it out. Then the mystery mage split the continent in two. King Vesryn's half became Seraphina and King Coryander's half became Seraphine.

Nine years after the great divide, twelve Lords begged King Vesryn for aid. King Coryander wasn't who they thought he was. Thus began the fifty-six-Year War.

Now every six months, the royals gather in one of the twelve kingdoms. This time it happens to be in Caledonia, the South Court. One of the calmer kingdoms.
______

The hours drag on and my attention wanders.  I'm brought back when Father's voice echoes around the room. A dreaded sentence.

"My youngest daughter, Hertha, when she is old enough she shall marry the Lord Enro of Astraea, the East Court."

"What?" I question. He would honestly say those words in my presence. When he made a similar announcement six months ago. "No. You will not sell off Hertha. Not like me."

"It is not your concern where Hertha goes. She is my child and she will marry whomever I wish." Father states. Does he think he can get away with this? Has he forgotten who spent the most time with Hertha?

"Does her opinion mean nothing to you? Do your daughters mean nothing to you? Of course, they don't. They're only tools to marry off and make babies. They're of no use or consequence."

"You are to wed Val, show some respect in his presence." Father tries to turn this around on me. On how I should be an obedient female, but I am not about to let that happen. Not this time. Not ever.

"We aren't talking about me. We're talking about my sister. The one who wrote when you and mother forgot or simply didn't care," My emotions raising with the ever-growing thought of my little sister being in my position. "You are a heartless, cold, old male. You deserve what is coming for you!"

"Enough! Bianca, take her to her rooms," Val growls. It seems he's had enough bickering. "and don't let her out."

Getting up from her seat Bianca takes my arm and leads me down various halls. We round a corner and she pushes me against a wall. "What were you thinking? Voicing that kind of opinion. That little outburst may have compromised our escape!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Don't you have a brother? Aren't you protective of him?" I growl, using my height to stare her down. Bianca doesn't budge.

"I get that you're protective of Hertha but you need to worry about you right now." She growls, deep in thought about her brother.

After a few moments of sheer tension, we're shocked back to reality by a red-haired female running down the hall. "I'm with Bekkers!"

The female sprints faster than a normal fae should be able to, but I'm not one to be talking.

Tonight's full moon has given me a boost. Most fae from Aletheia get a boost from the moon as it wanes and waxes. On full moons and solstices, our powers are amplified tenfold. It's a more prominent feature in royals. Blane, Hertha and I all have the feature. Mother doesn't but Father does.

The female grabs my hand and drags me with her. We leave Bianca standing where she is. She has to sprint to keep up with us. At the far end of the hall, a male with a darker shade of red hair holds open a portal..which shouldn't be possible. As I get closer I see he's drawn the portal spell on the wall with chalk.

"Go through and don't stop until you reach the other side!" The red-haired female shouts. She lets go of me and stops in the middle of the hall. I don't question her.

I slow enough to grab Bianca's hand and then I speed up. We make it to the portal and tumble through. Exiting the portal feels like a breath of fresh air.

"Where are we?"

"Welcome to Kalistié, the North Court."