Sweet Waters Throne

“How would you know?”

“He confessed it before I took off his head”

Katarina slowly stepped back, then she continued “Where are you taking his head?”

“Home, I promised my brother I’ll collect every head of every person who is responsible for his death and I’ll mount them at the top of my city’s gates, for everyone to see” This time Aryan was so serious and she had a frown look on her face, Katarina felt like she was talking to a stranger. “What are you doing here, I thought you will be in Arkala or Penrith”

“Penrith rains throughout seasons and Arkala wasn’t just for us, it’s too crowded with sell swords and cut throats. It wasn’t safe for my sons…”

Aryan wanted to believe Katarina, but she knew these were dangerous times and she shouldn’t believe anyone. “Did you see Prince Ambrose?” she asked.

“Prince Ambrose? He is here?”

.....

The way Katarina was shocked to hear such news even Aryan knew it that she wasn’t faking it, one thing about Katarina was she wasn’t good at lying, her face usually betrays her when she lies. “He is here and he is on his way to Blackmount where I’m positive his sister Princess Thelma is waiting for him. King Artemis has promised to help them put Ambrose on the Silver throne, which that will mean… they are bypassing your son”

“Thelma would never do that, I wrote to her and told her that I was alive, and so was Amabel and Barkis” Katarina refused to believe that her good sister would do something like that.

“Maybe she didn’t receive your letter, or maybe she did but she wants her brother on the throne and not your sons”

“Amabel is the true heir to the Silver throne” there was a panic tone inside Katarina’s voice, like she was crushing.

Aryan smirked softly and then she mounted her horse. Katarina was confused “If you know they are seeking help to overthrow you, why don’t you stop them?” she asked.

“Because I would like to see Artemis try. He has dragons yes and I have my lions, I won’t be the one to lay the first attack. I shall wait” Aryan wanted to leave but then she hesitated “If I were you, I wouldn’t write to the Taelins and proclaim that my sons still live. I will leave the Liberty Cities and sail far, it’s better to see your sons alive than on pikes. After all, only the Mithandirs are the true heirs to the throne, we are all Usurpers” said Aryan and then she kicked her horse stirrup and walked away from Katarina.

She had the bag with the head of the baker, the letter which Artemis wrote to Princess Thelma and a confession she needed to apprehend the Lawsends and deliver justice to her brother. That same day she urged her men to prepare the Stormbrekaer, her ship and sail back home.

Katarina was the one who was stuck without knowing what to do. All day she asked herself did the letter she wrote reach Princess Thelma or not? It had been long and she hadn’t received any reply from Loni, and that’s when she started to get scared for her sons especially since Prince Ambrose was also in Whitebridge. However, Ambrose didn’t stay for long either, the next day when he was sober, he realized he’d lost the letter.

Prince Ambrose was positive his sister will be furious of him, hence he decided that he will tell Thelma that he was forced to burn the letter so as to avoid it falling into wrong hands. He sailed to Blackmount during the golden hour with the two Lords who promised to help him, in truthful these Lords just wanted to see for themselves the dragons and to be assured that King Artemis was truly willing to help them take back the kingdom.

Back in Loni, Princess Thelma was preparing herself to depart after her good sister, Arya of House Greenwood had given birth to a second son. Now since Arya was well enough she knew the island will be left in good hands even if she wasn’t there, and her daughter Allysa will help her aunt in doing the tasks. “I won’t be long, I promise. I shall be here in moon turn” Princess Thelma said to her daughter.

When Thelma looked at Allysa that day, she saw something which wasn’t familiar to her. For the first time she saw her late husband’s face in their daughter, Thelma always thought Allysa was more of a Prophisian and she had that strong North face and character in her, but it was this day she saw the resembling her father.

“Don’t be long, we all need you” Allysa reached out for a hug.

“I know, I love you deeply my sweet courageous soldier”

A tear dropped on Princess Thelma’s left eye, she loved Allysa so much that she hesitated to leave her. If it was up to her then she would have carried Allysa across the Silent Sea, and the Sunset Sea altogether but this was a journey she had to take alone if they were to return back to their home. And she always made it very clear, Loni wasn’t their home ─ Prophis was.

By dawn the next day a ship carrying silks and wines and grapes departed Loni, making it’s way to Blackmount. Thelma carried heavy gifts for Artemis and Aurora, she wanted to charm them since they had accepted her humble request, what she didn’t know was neither Artemis nor Aurora were ready to help her and they planned on turning her down.

In Blackmount it’s possible to say no one even remembered about the Taelins, or their quest. There was a feast in the King’s name inside the walls of the main palace to celebrate the King for completing the task of burning the criminals, and that day Artemis flexed his silver hairs as if he was Alienor Morrow himself. The pride which he once had, grew to a thousand more when he attained his silver hairs.

Well the same could be said to Aurora, she was fill with pride fit to burst. That day she danced all night and laughed even when there was no need of laughter, she wasn’t the same shy and always quiet Queen ─ this night she was the wild Queen and one of the people who was so concerned with this new change of attitude was Lord Balrus and Lord Angun.

These two feared mayhaps the dragons have filled their rulers with pride, Visenya disagreed “They are just happy” she said looking cheerful.

“We all saw what Vizoro did in the arena, she turned the stones black and everyone thought stones can’t be burned” Lord Angun expressed his concerns. “The flames she emits are too hot and dangerous, and she is not even fully grown”

Lord Balrus intervened “Alienor Morrow burned stone houses of his enemies to ashes, the tale has it he once burned a city across the sea in a span of two hours. The city was dead when he was done, no one survived not even infants”

There was a small chuckle and Visenya turned to Balrus “You don’t think my granddaughter will burn a city, do you Lord Balrus?” she asked him.

“All I’m saying is, she must learn to control her dragon. It’s no doubt Vizoro will be bigger than Artodo”

“Of course she will be, she-dragons are meant to be bigger than males. Aurora and Vizoro are a great company my lords, she can control him” Visenya assured Lord Balrus and Angun who seemed to be worried after what happened at the arena, and the sudden change of hairs and attitude to Artemis and Aurora.

The feast was accompanied with music and acrobatic shows, few invited guests seemed to enjoy the celebrations. Lord Akirbus thought this was the perfect time to have a word with Artemis concerning his sister, Princess Aeryn.

Artemis didn’t seem to care “What about her my lord?” he asked while holding a huge cup filled with honeyed wine, he was already drunk. Before even Lord Akirbus could reply, Artemis intervened “What do you think about my silver hairs my lord? Do I look like Alienor Morrow?” then he busted out laughing.

Lord Akirbus wasn’t aware of what to say to Artemis’s silver hairs, but he did say about what he saw in the Mines. “Your sister isn’t happy Your Grace; I think Lord Leoric is mistreating her” yet Artemis couldn’t care less. The only thing he said was “She wanted him, I warned her that he wasn’t a good man. I flew with my dragon to get her and she still refused, I am done with my sister Lord Akirbus, and I don’t care what happens to her. She brought this on herself”