Empire of Kingdoms Awakening

Chapter 23

The queen's feet caused dust to swirl above the cracked and covered stone. It stuck to her leather clothing as she wandered. The air whistled through the road, causing her dual swords to clank against her hip.

There was once a time in which she could not walk the streets. She missed people bombarding her in adoration. That day, she faced empty roads.

When she would finally see someone, they quickly headed inside. Doors and windows slammed shut as she passed by, but it didn't phase her. She focused on the one thing on her mind.

The queen understood that they feared her for what she had done. The aftermath of dealing with the traitors caused those who supported her to question her state of mind.

She was ruthless. Anyone she or her men came across who did not comply with the new order was executed or imprisoned. There was no guilt.

The queen was persistent that it was to get more information to help keep her and her people safe, but the truth was that she enjoyed it. It made her feel powerful, unstoppable. The people feared her mind twisted beyond recovery after the news of Caster.

Breannelyse came to the steps that lead to the castle. She couldn't help but look back upon her silent kingdom. It didn't matter to her if it was due to mourning or fear. The queen found it peaceful after fighting for so long.

Her heavy boots thumped against the steps before she pressed the heavy door open silently. When she forced herself to address what was happening, she was quick to start bringing her home back to its former glory as well as her kingdom.

"Why are you acting out this way?" Her commander asked once she shut the door with a soft and broken voice. Breannelyse did not see him standing near the doorway, watching her as if watching a stranger.

His face sagged with exhaustion. The queen had been making him work a lot harder than the previous years, and the tasks consumed the energy he had left. The most tedious of the tasks was trying to understand what was going through her head.

She had the ability to end it once and for all, but she chose to stand down. Her commander was beginning to accept that you cannot reason with the unreasonable. She toyed with the people as if some sort of plaything.

As he reached out for her hand, she chuckled. "I'm the queen. I know what's best." He wanted to believe that Breannelyse knew what she was doing, but he couldn't. She was irrational when furious. He had never seen someone who lacked compassion the way she did.

She looked him over before curling her lips. "Can I trust that you will remember your place and stay out of my way?" Her tone was full of sass as she crossed her arms against her chest, tapping her fingers restlessly.

The commander knew it was best not to speak and moved aside. Confrontation with the queen would make him look like he had other plans, which he did not. He was solely looking out for her well being.

Breannelyse flipped her long hair over her shoulder before she trotted down the stairway that led to the dungeon, her boots pounding against the humid stone. He followed closely behind.

She found the gloomy space peaceful. Candles lit the hall with wax dripping to the floor. The sound of it falling was the only noise present other than the occasional groan. Dampness in the air made her feel like she was where her heart desired. It stuck to her skin.

She opened a cell door as her nose scrunched at the pungent scent. The scaping of the metal against concrete ground caused the commander to wince as the bars vibrated. In the corner was a man.

He was huddled in his small space, chained and restricted. The scent was radiating off of his stained clothing covered and soaked with blood, bile, and sweat. It's been weeks since he was able to walk free.