Ashes of Revenge

Chapter 25: The Heart of the King

The King left the throne room, leaving Fernando alone with . . . Elizabeth. He rubbed his eyes, wiping away the faint sting of tears.

Arthur didn't know if he had stabbed Raven in a fit of rage or if she had impaled herself, but he had no idea why she would do such a thing. It also arose another question: why did Raven even pull her dagger in the first place if she wasn't going to use it? Even after she was stabbed, the hand that clutched the knife was holding onto his arm. . . .

She was alive. . . ?

She was alive. . . .

She was . . . alive. . . .

He had sent Elizabeth to her death years ago. . . . And she had survived. . . . And come back to him a completly different person. . . . And now she was gone for good. . . .

And his wife. . . . He had begged her not to go. . . . He had begged the Farian King not to harm her, only Elizabeth. . . . But he had lost them both. . . .

Arthur stumbled into the wall, his crown banging into the stone. He had killed his wife and . . . child. He had done it for the good of his Kingdom. The deal the two Kings had made had provided four years of peace. Raven – that creature – was wrong, he did provide for and protect his Kingdom.

Now, he had a wife and son that he loved.

The King knocked against Victor's door, and he was met with silence. He opened the door slowly and walked into the room, his eyes landing on Victor.

Victor was sitting in his chair at the desk. His feet were on top of the wood, and his crown had been tossed beside them. In his hands was his father's helmet.

When the King walked in, Victor didn't look at him.

"Victor," Arthur said in a soft voice.

"You killed my father," Victor whimpered out.

"It was . . . he was . . . it was unintentional."

"How the bloody hell do you unintentionally kill someone?"

Arthur tensed at Victor's use of words and tone; he slightly sounded like Raven. "They weren't supposed to be killed." The King grabbed Victor's crown.

He felt guilty for his Knights being killed; that's why he had visited the families of the deceased. Thankfully, he had done so because he met Dara, married her, and saved his Kingdom from war once more.

Victor turned his head to look at the King. A particular anger shot into his red and puffy eyes that made it look like he could kill the King. Again, it reminded Arthur of Raven, the way that she had looked at him from the moment he entered the throne: pure hatred.

"I made an agreement with the Farian King that Elizabeth was the only one that would be killed." His voice cracked.

Victor continued to glare at him, and the King looked back with tear-filled eyes. The Prince looked away, turning his attention to the floor.

"He didn't abide by my wishes and killed everyone."

"Then go to war," Victor gritted out.

"If I went to war with the Farian Kingdom, then the Monstro and Shifter Kingdoms would have followed . . . and then the Telik. . . . There was nothing I could do."

"Yes, there was!" Victor finally yelled as he stood and faced the King, who didn't even so much as flinch.

"Sit down and allow me to explain myself," Arthur commanded in a low tone. "I will not allow you to villainize me."

Victor remained for a few seconds before he complied with the King's order and sat again.

"I lost my wife that day." Victor noticed the lack of Raven. "I wanted to attack the Kingdom, but an all-out war would begin. The Kingdoms have been on the brink of war for years now, and the only thing keeping them at peace are the compromises that each King makes. What happened to Elizabeth kept us at peace for four years."