The Chemistry of Lies

Chapter 3

We started our journey up the stairs, the king falling in to walk next to Adelina. "Forgive me, but your dogs are still here. I couldn't bear to give them up. Don't worry, they're still loyal to you." The king smiled softly. "They wouldn't even let Maven play fetch with them, isn't that right, Mavey?" Silver flushed his face in a blush.

Dogs. She has dogs. I felt like I was drowning with how bad this situation was getting.

"I see you found the sword I had made for you?"

"Yes, it is balanced exactly as I like it, thank you."

"I apologize for the gem in the hilt. I know you don't like flashy and unnecessary things on your uniform or weapons, but I couldn't help myself. Just a little thing to remind you of ho - here." She smiled at him. I saw light catch on the blue gem on the top of the pommel. The grip was made of leather, the edges sewn with silver twisting up to the pommel. On the grip was a fire design that appeared to be burned in - I could swear I've seen the design before, but couldn't put my finger on it. The metal looked silver but had little swirls of some other metal melted in.

"How did you remember I love aquamarines?"

Cal looked over his shoulder. "That was thought up right after you left. Remade every year until it was perfected. A new dress, sword, and flower planted every year." He shared a smile with Adelina as she made a "coo-coo" motion.

"Hey!" The king protested but he straightened and the dark aura returned to surround him as Cal pushed open the huge hall doors.

All the cowering royals stood as the king passed. Adelina took her place standing next to him, Cal next to her with Evangeline. Walking by to take my place with Maven, I noticed a knife strapped on her belt and another peaking out of her boot. I peaked a glance at her face, noticing a scar leading from behind her ear and disappearing down her back.

The king opened his speech with some lie about the Scarlet Guard, then announced the mission. "My two sons, Tiberias and Maven, will be going on a mission with their betrothed, er, I mean, and our newly returned Captain of the Guard." The three of them stepped forward. "Back after nine years, my court, Adelina Titanos!" I'd rub my eyes if it wasn't considered unladylike, the court dropped in bows. Beside her, even the princes dropped. Even the king's head was lowered!

"The Captain is back to her Guard," Cal started. "And they caught three of the four prisoners we have. She will be leading patrol and the search party with me. We'll be joined by my brother, Maven - "

"And his espoused, my sister." She smiled at me and I shrunk under her blue eyed stare. Her eyes reminded me of the dark blue sea - powerful, but also peaceful. Then, while staring at her eyes, green shown through. Her eyes are the bridge from the parents to me! Hopefully the queen could see that. But we aren't siblings. The two of us in the same room is dangerous. "I also request Ptolemus join us." The boy smiled, and rose, bowing.

"Feel safer, court! Our strongest stand to stop these terrorists." They repeated the chant as Adelina and Cal lead us out, a sentinel and member of the Guard feel in line behind us.

"It's so cliche!" Ptolemus laughed at her reaction from his place in front of Maven. "Strength, power, blah blah blah. It could be something so much better!"

"Like what?" Cal asked with a smile in his voice.

"You can't have a sustainable government founded on strength, everyone has their limits. And power is mainly based on fear - children only fear the monster under their bed for so long."

"Did you just call the government fake?"

"It was a metaphor!" But Cal and Ptolemus were laughing, even I couldn't suppress a grin. "Lady Mareena, this is where we leave."