Present Day (Two Years Later)
Jesika marched through the dim prison hallway. Querencia's respected war commander, Sir Reven, was by her side. A sword swung with her steps where it hung from her hip. They descended through the prison stairway, not stopping until they were all the way to the deepest, most secure part of the prison. A gargoyle stood at the entrance to the section, guarding beside one of their most trusted knights. Jesika started to open the door, when Sir Reven stopped her with a hand on her arm.
She frowned, turning to him. "Yes, Sir Reven? Why the wait?"
He looked deeply into her eyes, gently probing with his gaze. "Are you absolutely sure you are ready to hear what he has to say? Sure you are ready to see the man who killed your parents and destroyed your life?" Sir Reven asked, his tone more serious than she had ever heard it.
She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. If she was being completely honest with herself, she had felt anxiety bubbling up in her all morning in anticipation for this meeting. She had waited months after the battle to recover emotionally and physically from the man's betrayal. Yet, she stood right outside the door to where the man was kept, and she still did not feel ready to face him.
But it was time. If she didn't get her answers now, she may never have the courage to try again. And that was something she could not live with. Swallowing past the nervous lump in her throat, she opened her eyes, leveling a determined look back at Sir Reven.
"I am more than ready to face him, Sir Reven. Let's get this done."
Seeing the steadfastness in her tone and in her eyes, he nodded slowly. Turning, he told the guard to open the door. The guard did so and the two of them walked in.
There was only one cell in the bottom of the prison. It was large, five feet dense iron pillars barring the huge cell. The cell was the size of the castle dining room, cold and foreboding. Jesika's eyes scanned the cell for any sign of the man, but he was nowhere to be seen. She glanced at Sir Reven to see the same concern she felt on his face.
"Audric of Grumor, come to the bars at once! Her Majesty, Queen Jesika Ivory Snow Binet has come to demand a word with you!" Sir Reven shouted in a firm tone, his voice echoing off the prison walls.
There was no reply, nor was there any movement. Jesika felt dread fill her stomach as she noticed words written in blood on the prison wall inside of Audric's cell.
The words spelled out an ominous, mocking message:
Long Live The Queen
Jesika tapped Sir Reven, pointing at the message on the wall, alerting his attention to it. She could see her hand trembling and knew the rest of her body was doing the same as Reven read the words. Jesika dropped her hand, turning to look at Reven. There was a grim expression on his face as he avoided eye contact with her. Speaking in a low tone, he said:
"I will alert our army, Your Majesty. It appears Audric has escaped."
***
Sakura sat in her hunting post, high up above the forest below her. She was on the hunt for some deer. Venison meat had been on her mind for weeks, and now that she finally had a day off, she was determined to see her craving come to fruition.
So far it had been a peaceful morning. Every once in a while, a bird would land on the post and say hello to her, but mostly the beasts of the forest kept away. Unfortunately, so did the deer.
She noticed some rustling below her, and her heart skipped a beat. She slowly pulled out her bow and readied an arrow, watching the area of movement closely. Right as the head of the deer poked out, something grabbed Sakura by the shoulders, yanking her into the air.
