A Kings Surrender

Chapter Thirty-Five

23rd October, 1345.
Stormhold Castle,
The Walled City of Rothwell,
Capital of Myknos.

Queen Khasi Malik of Shiv'ra and Myknos

As Khasi was helped into the heavily jeweled gown she had had made for her coronation, she couldn't fight the smile that stretched across her face.

It was an ornate work of gold netting that hugged her curves and left little to imagination, golden beads and diamonds dangling from where they had been sewn loosely into the material, reflecting the bright light of the seemingly sunny day and rattling with each step she took.

She was sure the Mynosian nobles would have their noses turned up in disgust of her scandalous outfit, but like the cowards they were, they would do nothing more. They hadn't even been bold enough to fight for their dead King and still hadn't spoken a word about the Prince she was about to execute.

Her smile widened with supreme self-satisfaction that could only be fully sealed with the beheading of Nicolas that afternoon in the courtyard.

She had made sure to invite the entire kingdom to witness what she would do to anyone who stood in her way or dared to defy her. What better way to celebrate the beginning of a new dynasty than with the shedding of blood?

She had intended to end Nicolas’ life the night she had caught him trying to escape but Lord Black’s counsel, no matter how she hated the man, had been to do otherwise. How he had heard so quickly of the incident, she didn’t know, but when the bird had come bearing his message, she suddenly thought better of her initial plan; especially if it came with the reward of capturing Lord Black’s elusive daughter.

Khasi had fought the nagging feeling that the lady in question had been behind the attempt to rescue Nicolas from the dungeons a few nights prior but with her brother’s unwillingness to talk, she was yet to erase the possibility. She could only hope the trap she had set up wouldn't go to waste; her hands had been itching for a fight, if only to be rid of the fear she had of the bothersome woman.

The man her plan was centered around was locked away deep in the belly of the castle with all hope of escape broken like the bones in his legs. Call her ruthless but she needed everything to go smoothly today. There was no room for error when Khasi was involved.

As if sensing her silent command, the small blade she had strapped to her thigh dug into her skin, its pinch bringing a little bit of comfort to her troubled being. She had underestimated Odeya in the past, ignoring the allies the woman had, but with Alyn gone, Nicolas and Khalid in the dungeon, Khasi was sure the woman had little to fall back on.

She turned to look outside the glass doors that led to large balcony overlooking the courtyard, taking a deep breath of the cold October air. Autumn had come early this year, painting the world with hues of oranges, yellows and browns and filling the air with the rich scent of the coming winter.

'It was indeed a beautiful day for a beheading.' She thought as she took another deep breath of the fresh air. 

Her long black hair shone from a good brushing and had been left to run down her back, like an inky waterfall, at her command. She turned her head to one side loving the way the light accentuated the golden shimmer that coated her eyelids and highlighted her cheek bones. Yes, it was indeed a beautiful day.

Signalling her maids to place her crown, the Jewel of the Sun, on her head, she let her mind travel back to incident that ignited her hunger for the thrones of the Tri-Kingdoms.

She had just turned 8 summers old and her father had gifted her a chance to attend court with him. She remembered feeling too excited to wait, too excited to stay in her chambers, so she ran into her father's chambers hoping to walk with him into the throne room.