The Castle Guard

11) Envy, anger, love

Two guards held Germaine on both sides not that she posed any resistance it was merely for support as they dragged her towards  the cells near the dungeons in the eastern wing, she was half awake her eyes lolled halfway back making them look completely white, weak beyond measure she herself didn’t understand what happened one minute she was taking her revenge on the prince the next her body was flying across the room hitting the floor with a heavy thud that knocked whatever strength she had within her. She had no idea it was a spell that carried her heavy weight disposing of her beneath the king and queen’s feet. King Aydra was tempted to grab a sword and slice the little wench’s neck then and there perversely he was more angry at her interrupting his party than the attempt on his son’s life “Take her away!” he growled  as guards came towards the scene ‘There will be time for more actions later’ he thought coldly imagining all the torture he would inflict on her ‘finally its been to quiet and I need to at least hang someone the nobles need to be reminded who’s in charge, not to mention an attack in my own castle right in front of me I should have slice her head off right this moment! But I’ll reserve my anger for later’ he then directed his glare at his son cursing his promiscuity knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt this was his fault ‘Cant he just control his damned wenches!’ an idea suddenly popped into his head he’s lips spread into a menacing smile as he stared at his son. Prince Walren on the other hand stared at the beauty before him any irritation from the previous ordeal was gone faster than wind “Your highness!” her voice sounded angelic to him “…are you alright?” she asked bowing Walren relished at the sight of her bosom “I…I am fine” he stuttered his mind was blank all thoughts diverged leaving only one image in his mind ,the attraction he felt towards her was undeniably strong other ladies were rags in comparison at least in his eyes they were, ‘this must be what love feels like..’

Despite having so many people the whole room was quiet as it has ever been since the banquet started, everyone watched as Lady Germaine’s vulgar attack on the prince when she screamed the people near her had immediately retracted away at the sight of her dagger forming a circle around the scene, the music stopped some stared in horror at the scene as it unfolded, others stared suddenly interested at the sudden change in events the whole banquet was for them boring until that moment while some became frozen in their spot due to fear for the prince’s life it was no secret that the prince’s bride had already been chosen prior to the banquet yet there was more than one way to secure their future at the castle and the prince was their ticket to more wealth and power whether they became his wife or just mistresses given protection when needed and free gold, having a bastard child by the prince offered even more promise even a chance at the throne if the current queen would “god forbid” provide no heir their future would be set or maybe the royals would change their choice at the last moment and pick someone else for some reason deeming their first choice wrong although that happened rarely it was enough to send them running to the banquet the fact that they had to attend regardless didn’t seem to take precedence in their minds. Hence when Adriana saved the prince their anger and envy deepened a thousand fold her being more beautiful than they was one thing but seeing her take their only chance at securing a position in the royal court and her prowess in magic made it even worse adding more salt to an already serious wound. Some of them scowled visibly their faces cringed spite ran intricately through bulging veins but none was of equal to the queen, her blood was practically boiling with rage but her poker face remained unfazed putting on an expression of annoyance then worry for the prince ‘the gall that wench has attacking the crown prince at the palace in the king’s ball, it is all I can do not to s***h her throat since the king hadn’t done so himself  I can only wait to see her in the torture chamber in less flattering clothes’ she grinned the images of Germaine’s  earth shattering cries paralyzed the inferno raging in her heart replacing it with a coldness intense enough to send the sun into hiding.

“Are you feeling okay?” Queen Kahlan asked her son for the first time that night  in his chambers after the royal healer checked him revealing that there was nothing wrong with him but she wasn’t satisfied ‘not even a moron like Germaine would make an attempt on the prince’s life without assurance of success she could have poisoned him. Recently enemies of the crown had begun pilling up more than usual anyone of them could have staged the attack using Germaine as a front to cover their tracks, no matter I will beat it out of her if I have to’ she clenched her fists tightly

“Yes mom!”

“How could that moron try attacking you in front of your father and me in front of so many people nonetheless.” She cringed clenching her fists even tighter almost piercing her palm. She sat beside Walren on the bed though he barely noticed her ranting his mind was floating away in purple clouds and her face was the sun staring down upon him smiling serenely. “Mother” he spoke almost childlike “Who is that lady who saved me?” Queen Kahlan noticed the calm expression on her son’s face it was part of what worried her most so much as a touch was enough to send him into a spiral of rage yet the recent attempt on his life didn’t seem to faze him. She suddenly remembered who saved him as she had ignored it in the heat of the moment focusing all her energy on what she would do to Germaine forgetting Lady Adriana’s display of skills, and understood the reason for Prince Walren’s smitten expression wasn’t poison it was something worse ‘A woman’

“She’s Lady Adriana of Nickleshton” she forced herself to speak, “Even her name is beautiful.” He retorted

“What?” her voice almost quacked

“I am going back to the ball!” Walren said conclusively standing up buttoning up his blazer and left banging the door behind him as if no one else was in the room then headed for the ball downstairs.

Queen Kahlan sat alone in his room her rage had returned tenfold.