The First Queen

18 - Taken at Vigil

I'd been talking with the High Chancellor about Xanthe and we agreed to let her out of prison for the time being but the guards had their eyes on her.

The battle at The Western Pass has been going on for about four days and Xanthe's Eyes have been telling her that Azumond appears to have the upper hand despite the ambush but that many of Liza's soldiers have gone AWOL.

As for Julius, he's been acting like a kicked dog and yipping at my feet. I'm still not sure what to do with him but I do feel proud of myself every time that Julius places me before him; it's hard to get a selfless idea into the minds of selfish people.

Julius was meant to meet me in the dining hall for dinner and a chat but it's eight o'clock and dinner has been served but there's no sign of Julius anywhere.

Hopefully, he's not gone and ran away.

I waved Sir Wraith over to the table and he leaned down to hear me, "Can you go and see where Julius is?"

"At once, Your Highness." He nodded to me before marching out of the dining hall, leaving me on my lonesome (aside from Nyx who hasn't left my side since the drunken incident).

Whenever I have time to myself, my thoughts tend to drift to those of Athena but I've been trying my hardest to push her out of my mind.

If what she said is true, then I didn't know her like I thought I did. She doesn't deserve the real me, she can have the gossipy, throne-stealing Elia she thought I was.

I picked at the carrot on my plate and then I heard the door open and a cool chill washed over me.

"Sir Wraith, have you found Julius?" I called out, stuffing my mouth with the orange vegetable, "Sir Wraith?"

I called out again but got no answer. The footsteps proceeded to get closer and I rubbed my temples.

"Xanthe, if you've got information for me, then--" I started but was cut off by an unwelcome chuckle.

I glanced up and saw The Conqueror leaning against the dining table, her head tilted to the side and an ingratiating smirk plastered on her lips.

"There are many things I love and admire about you, Frost. Especially your tenacity... And your loyalty." Liza smiled, leaning over the table and plucking my fork from my fingers.

"How did you get in here?" I gasped and she shrugged, putting a chunk of potato in her mouth.

"Fairly easily, I just followed my scouts." She confessed and my eyes widened but she pressed a finger to my lips to hush the next words that would come out of my mouth, "Don't fret, Little Queen."

"What have you done?" I asked, my heart beating so fast in my chest.

She stepped around the table and pressed a finger to my chin and lifting my head so I could look her in the eyes.

Despite my shunning towards her, I still happen to think that she's attractive and for some ungodly reason, I can't get that out of my skull!

"Your Mistress of Whispers and I have been chatting. She tells me that King Julius is the weak link of your kingdom; he's useless and selfish and disrespects you at every turn..." Liza told me, "We can't have someone like that on your team, now can we?"

"Liza... What have you done?" I pressed her and she shrugged, inching her face closer to mine and I couldn't avert my gaze from her piercing blue eyes.

"Julius won't be a problem for you anymore." She answered cryptically.

"What does that mean?!" I snapped and she smirked.