Thora,
The King is Dead.
You are hereby summoned to Coldin to pledge your fealty to the future King of Lordorthil at his coronation.
Regards
Taren Dahen, king's advisor.
"How?" Esmilia asks as Thora informs her of her uncle's passing, "How did he die?"
"It doesn't say," Thora says, re-reading the note, her hands shake as awful thoughts cloud her mind.
'This is my fault,' she thinks to herself, she can picture the red-eyed man killing the king.
"I'll gather some men," Esmilia says, sniffing and trying to hide her tears, "To accompany us to Coldin."
"I'll do it," Thora says, taking her sister-in-law's hand and squeezing it reassuringly.
Thora leaves Esmilia to grieve, she pushes all of her feelings deep, deep down and rallies some men to accompany them to Coldin.
"Let us come," Garrett says, once Thora skips over him, "We're ready for a mission."
"This isn't just some mission," Thora says, walking away from the twins, "This is the capital, undoubtedly they will need us to help guard the coronation. This is a matter of presentation, making sure the best soldiers are present to make us look good."
"We are the best," Arwen argues, Thora laughs harshly at him.
"You aren't even second-best," Thora laughs, "You question all my decisions, you don't listen and you've lost every fight you've fought."
"I haven't," Garrett says, drawing the commander's attention to him.
Thora glares at the man, and then back to his brother.
"You stay," she says to Arwen, "You can come," she says to Garrett.
Garrett bows to Thora and then watches as she walks away.
...
Thora and her battalion ride out that afternoon, with the ketas trotting along with them.
"We should have left them behind," Fredrick says, looking to the wolves.
"They would've wreaked havoc on the keep if I left them alone for that long," Thora says, smiling at Azul who looks back to her.
"I doubt the new king will be accepting of them near his coronation guests," Amelia says.
"He won't even know that they are there," Thora responds, "They'll be in the woods."
Thora's chest tightens the closer she rides to the castle, it's almost like it's too hard to breathe. When she rides through the gates of the castle she sees Jarett standing on the steps of the palace, looking regal and stoic.
Esmilia pushes her horse into a gallop and she rides past everyone else, she leaps from her horses back and runs up the steps to launch herself into her younger brother's arms.
Thora watches as the pair embrace, crying and whispering to each other. Thora dismounts her horse when she arrives at the steps of the palace.
Jarett notices Thora and he steps away from his sister and wipes his eyes.
"My king," Thora says falling to one knee as Jarett approaches.
"Not king yet," he laughs, he gestures for Thora to rise and she stands back to her feet, "it's good to see you, sister."
Thora bows her head and wraps her arms around the soon to be King.
Thora feels a part of her breaking, but she has to hold it together for the sake of appearance.
YOU ARE READING
Daughter of War
FantasíaOne would think that Thora would be happy with her position; she is highborn with a powerful family name, and yet, Thora Illian's deepest wish is to be a warrior. Thora has a taste for adventure, for action, but her father would never let her wishes...
