Stone Throne (beta)

Part 4 (the end)

The sight of my home city filled me with joy. I rode into as the sun was rising and through the gate I could see the crowded streets smell the bakery shops wafting through the air. Somewhere I heard the faint laughter of children and I smiled.

"Halt." Two armed guards commanded me at the city gate. They were but young boys, but their blue armored uniforms looked spiffy on them. "State your business in Sedile."

I pulled back my riding hood and announced loudly, "I am princess Samara, returning home." There was a stiff moment where I thought that they might not recognize me, but then they kneeled before me. People in the streets turned and gasped when they saw me. My hair had been cut and dyed and my clothes were undoubtedly soiled from the long, hard journey.

"Would you be so kind as to gather a company to escort me to the castle gates?"

"Of course ma lady," the taller one responded eagerly.

Soon I was surrounded by a company of city guards and I felt a light wave of relief when the captain of the guard joined us. The plan I had thought up along the ride was risky, and it would depend on them. As we made our way down the main street I watched as news of my arrival spread like wild fire at first whispers then shouts as the towns people started following us toward the palace. With all of the strange news floating around I could not condemn their curiosity. In fact, I was counting on it as I trotted through the city with my precession.

I wearily eyed all the intricate statues that had been generously scattered throughout the city. They were each a work of art. I rode past a statue of a small child frozen mid laugh.At one time they had made me feel safe, but now their affect felt like more of an entrapment. It alarmed me that my enemy could bring them alive at will, making the small laughing child a nearly unstoppable force. When my father commissioned the work I never imagined that they might someday be used against us. The idea was that if the city ever came under siege we would have an army of statues at the ready.

My breath caught in my chest at we walked through the open castle gate. On the other side of the open plaza in front of the castle doors stood my mother and father.

"Do not leave my side," I told to the soldier leading my escort. He nodded to the others. I hoped they did not have orders to kill me on sight. As we slowly made our way across the plaza I silently prayed to the forgotten God. I stopped fifteen feet away and so did my guard. The people from the city poured in around us. There were so many of them, from all walks and stages of life. Rich and poor, young and old.

I faced my father. No I reminded myself, this man may look like my father but it is not my father. I can do this. I am the rightful ruler of this kingdom and as such I have to protect my people no matter what the cost. I swung down from the horse and the guards parted, allowing me to approach the shapeshifter.

"Samara, my Love, how I missed you," He smiled and out stretched his hands. Seeing him was like rubbing salt into my wounded heart. Bile rose in the back of my throat at the sight of his smile. How I wished that it was real. How I wished he was truly my father.

I tried to calm myself down. The shifter was saying something, but I did not hear it as I took in my surroundings. My mother stood completely still. She was wearing her make up thick, but it did not hide the bruises. The past several weeks had been hard on her. I met her eyes and they were full of tears. On either side of the castle door was a guardian statue. They were giants, nearly fifteen feet tall, each armed with a spear and shield. I would have get them out of the way. I locked eyes with the shape shifter. They were the same color that my fathers had been, but I had never seen such dark malice in my father's eyes. He held out his arms, as if expecting me to come to him.