Chapter Six: Blood In The e
1364 Words
The scream tore through the palace like a blade through silk.
Prince Kael froze trying to trace the source and direction of the scream but didn't have the time to when he saw the princess guard running towards him
"Elira."
The name left his lips in a whisper of dread before began to run abandoning his companion
His boots pounded against the marble floors as he rushed through the corridors of the royal palace in Ravaryn. Servants scattered in alarm, pressing themselves against the walls as the prince stormed past them like a gathering storm.
Another scream echoed ahead.
Higher this time.
More desperate.
Kael's heart slammed violently in his chest.
The princess's chambers were at the far end of the eastern wing, a quieter part of the palace reserved for the royal family. Normally the corridor outside her room was silent and guarded.
Today was total chaos.
Servants crowded the hall.
A maid sobbed quietly into her hands.
Two palace guards stood rigidly outside the chamber doors, their expressions pale.
The moment they saw the prince, they stepped aside immediately.
"My lord—"
Kael pushed past them before the man could finish speaking.
"Elira!"
The doors burst open beneath his hands.
Inside the chamber, the smell of iron filled the air.
Blood.
It stained the marble floor beside the bed in dark red streaks.
Kael's breath caught in his throat.
"Elira."
The princess lay against the pillows, her golden hair disheveled across the sheets. Her normally warm complexion had turned ghostly pale, and one trembling hand rested protectively over her stomach.
A healer knelt beside her, his hands already stained crimson.
"My prince," the healer said quickly, not looking up from his work. "You must remain calm."
"What happened?" Kael demanded.
The healer hesitated before answering.
"The princess began bleeding suddenly. It may have been stress."
Kael did not like the uncertainty in his voice.
He moved closer to the bed, his gaze fixed on Elira's face.
She looked fragile.
Far too fragile.
He took her hand carefully.
"Elira," he said softly.
Her fingers twitched weakly before tightening around his.
"Kael…" she whispered.
Relief flooded him at the sound of her voice.
"I'm here."
Her breathing was uneven.
"The baby…"
The healer finally looked up.
"The bleeding has slowed," he said cautiously. "But the princess must rest. The child is not yet safe."
Kael felt the words like ice in his veins.
Not safe.
The royal heir.
The future of the kingdom.
His child.
His gaze hardened.
"Who was here before this happened?"
The servants exchanged nervous glances.
None answered.
That silence disturbed him even more.
Then Kael noticed something that made his anger rise instantly.
Two figures stood silently near the far wall.
Clad in black cloaks.
Motionless.
Watching.
The queen's guards.
Kael straightened slowly.
"Why are they here?"
One of the guards stepped forward calmly.
"Her Majesty ordered protection for the princess."
"Protection?" Kael repeated, his voice sharp.
The guard bowed slightly.
"Yes, my prince."
"From what?"
The man did not answer.
Kael's temper flared.
"This is my wife's chamber. My child's life is at risk. And yet the queen's guards arrive before I do?"
The second guard spoke this time.
"Her Majesty anticipated danger."
Kael's eyes darkened.
"And how exactly did she know danger was coming?"
Neither guard responded.
The silence stretched long and heavy.
Behind him, Elira winced softly in pain.
Kael immediately returned to her side.
"Rest," he murmured gently.
She looked at him with frightened eyes.
"Something is wrong," she whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"I know."
The healer wiped his hands carefully on a cloth.
"She must not become agitated," he warned quietly.
Before Kael could respond
The chamber doors opened again.
No one announced her.
No one dared.
Queen Zara entered the room like a shadow sliding across the floor.
The torches flickered against the dark crown resting on her head.
The servants immediately lowered their gazes.
The guards bowed deeply.
But Kael did not move.
Zara's sharp eyes scanned the room slowly.
First the blood on the marble.
Then the trembling servants.
Finally the bed.
Her gaze lingered on Elira.
"How unfortunate," the queen said quietly.
Kael turned toward her.
His voice was cold.
"You move quickly, Your Majesty."
"The palace has many ears," Zara replied calmly "and as the queen I listen"
She walked further into the chamber, her movements unhurried.
The room seemed to shrink around her presence.
"The kingdom would suffer greatly," she continued, "if something happened to the royal heir."
Kael's fists clenched at his sides.
"Then perhaps," he said slowly, "the queen would care to explain why her guards were already here."
Zara's gaze lifted to meet his.
For a moment the air between them felt dangerously thin.
"I sent them," she said simply.
"For protection?"
"Yes."
Kael laughed softly.
But there was no humor in it.
"My wife begins bleeding in the middle of the day .. and the queen's guards just happen to be standing outside her door."
Zara tilted her head slightly.
"You sound suspicious, Prince Kael."
"Should I not be?"
The queen's lips curved faintly.
"Perhaps you should be."
Her answer made the room grow colder.
Kael stepped closer.
"What does that mean?"
Zara turned toward one of her guards.
"Bring him."
The guard bowed and left the chamber.
The room waited in tense silence.
Kael could feel the servants watching the two rulers with wide eyes.
Even the healer had paused his work.
Elira shifted slightly on the bed.
"What is happening?" she whispered weakly.
Kael squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"I'll handle it."
Moments later the guard returned.
But he was not alone.
He dragged a man behind him.
The prisoner stumbled as he was forced forward, his hands bound tightly behind his back. His face was bruised, his lip split and bleeding.
His clothes were stained with dirt and blood.
The guard forced him to his knees.
Kael stared.
Recognition struck him immediately.
His heart dropped.
The man kneeling on the floor was one of his own soldiers.
Captain Rethan.
One of the men personally assigned to protect the eastern wing of the palace.
"What is the meaning of this?" Kael demanded.
Zara folded her hands calmly behind her back.
"This man was found outside the princess's chambers," she said.
Rethan lifted his head weakly.
"My prince…"
Kael stepped forward.
"Explain yourself."
The soldier's eyes darted nervously toward the queen.
"I… I was only following orders."
The words sent a ripple of whispers through the servants.
Kael's voice dropped dangerously low.
"Whose orders?"
Rethan hesitated.
Zara watched the exchange carefully, her eyes sharp with interest.
"Well?" she said softly.
The soldier swallowed.
"My prince…"
Kael felt the ground shifting beneath him.
"Speak," he ordered.
The soldier's breathing quickened.
Before he could answer
The healer suddenly spoke.
"my prince "
Everyone turned.
Elira's body trembled violently against the sheets.
The bleeding had started again.
Kael rushed back to her side.
"Elira!"
The healer pressed cloth firmly against her abdomen.
"Too much stress," he muttered urgently.
"She must remain calm or we may lose the child."
Kael's mind spun.
Behind him, Zara remained perfectly still.
Watching.
Calculating.
And smiling faintly.
The guard holding the prisoner tightened his grip.
"Shall I continue the questioning, Your Majesty?"
Zara's eyes remained fixed on Kael.
"Yes," she said quietly.
"But be gentle."
Her gaze flicked briefly toward the prince.
"After all… we would not want the truth to come out too quickly."
Kael turned sharply toward her.
"The truth about what?"
Zara's smile widened slightly.
"About why one of your soldiers was found outside your wife's chamber tonight."
Silence filled the room.
Kael looked down at the kneeling soldier again.
The man refused to meet his eyes.
And suddenly Kael realized something that made his blood run cold.
Either the soldier had betrayed him…
Or someone was trying to frame him.
Zara's voice cut through the silence like a knife.
"Tell me, Prince Kael," she said softly.
"Did you send him?"
The entire room held its breath.
Kael did not answer.
Because for the first time since the night began
He wasn't sure which answer would destroy him more.
- Writer
