The Heir of the Last Wolf Clan: The Golden Ring

1. She had worn the shade of green I had seen in my Rib dreams. It caught me. She stood in my chamber and her jade eyes sparkled. Beautiful. "What is your name?" I was in her space. She didn't flinch, she didn't bow, she just smiled. "Aevida" I heard her say. Her eyes smiled and I saw a green pearl on her ear. "Aevida" I pronounced it the way she did. She nodded. "Would you like to try on my ring?" Her eyes were drawn to it just as I suspected they would. I slid the ring in. It entered with ease. My eyes dilated. She was the flower in my Rib dream. I kissed her. Her eyes were wide with shock. "You are my Rib". It kept on. She snuck into my room at night. I kissed her, I found out her name was spelt "Evita" and only her accent pronounced it different. I pronounced it the way she pronounced it. I loved the way she pronounced it. I told her my name was Aurelia. She pronounced it with her accent which made it sound different. I started pronouncing like that "It is time for me, the general, to have the princess. She is to complete her mating moon in the next full moon" I had not revealed that since the last two moons, my Rib dreams had been green flowers, not the sun with a manly figure. I had to tell him I have found my Rib, I have found her, I didn't want the general. He eyed me, the general eyes me. They both eyed me. "I am not marrying the general Father!, I have met my Rib. The golden rings fits her fingers just right. She was the flowers I have been seeing in my Rib dream. "SHE" I hear father bellow. My father wanted me mated to the general. For three moons, we had tried to fit the golden ring but it couldn't. Most princesses have a glance of their true one during the Rib dream Goddess Otte gives. Others don't get a Rib dream and they just court a chosen partner. Some end happily, the golden ring fits in the end. Others don't. Mine didn't. I was sure I could persuade Father to accept her. I was his only daughter. "Evita, come" I called out her beautiful accented name. Her smile fell. The king raged. "You cannot have a WOMAN Rib. You are a woman. It has never been heard of! "More so, she is an alien, a creature from another planet!". I was locked and chained till my next moon which was two days away. Evita was beaten. The dreaded day came. The general smirked triumphantly. I knew my golden ring was never going to fit his bloodied fingers no matter how long we court. It will be forced. My 21st moon has come. Evita was battered. Her Jade eyes were full with sadness. Tears were at the brim of her beautiful eyes. Her hand shook. He wanted to spite me by making sure she was my Golden ring bearer. The woman I loved had to watch me with another man. "You cannot have her Aurelia. She is not acceptable for you." "She is a WOMAN," he whispered into my ears. He slid himself into me. 2. My golden ring slipped into his big fingers. I cringed. He slid his wedding ring in mine. I cringed again. I eyed my ring. I was tempted to cut his finger off and collect it back. I cringed at his words. Father was smiling ear to ear. He was also smiling widely. I was the only unhappy one on my wedding. The wedding came to an end. The coronation was three days after. It happened too. The heavy crown was served and placed. Mine was also served and placed. The people of Dywhard cheered. *** *** “Oona, you b***h of a best friend. Where have you been?” Oona had been my best friend since my seventh moon. She was in her eighth. A moon older. I walked forward to receive her hug. That was the warmest hug I've had since Evita. “I'm so sorry Aurel.” She hugged me tighter. She whispered”it was forced wasn't it?” We withdrew. I nodded “I'm so sorry hon!” “How did you get yourself in?” It was the third day after the coronation I was in my honeymoon period. The only people who were allowed to see me at this period were my chamber maidens, my guards, the councilors and the Dyh himself. I have been locked for three days all alone. “Oh come on, I did a little persuasion and reasoning plus a season of bribe” she winked. Her face fell again. Oona knew the palace well as she was my playmate. She also knew a lot of guards and a lot if palace maidens were are friends “How are you?” She held my hand tighter. “I am a bird,” I replied. “You are not a bird, Aurel.” I looked at her. “you would soon be free from this period. The people of Dyhward hopes that the next time they see their Dyana, she will be heavy with the heir” My face hardened, I looked away. “I do not want to be intimate with him EVER again!” her eyes widened subtly. “So the rumors are true…” I blinked. “The people of Dywhard whispers that their Dya, now their Dyana, had presented an alien slave girl as her ribs” “She had also claimed to have seen flowers in her rib dream…” she looked at me. I stared back blankly. Her eyebrows knotted. When I didn't give her an answer, she didn't have to ask further. She was my best friend. “Aurelia! Why didn't you tell me that you had seen flowers in your Rib dream!” I gently removed my palms from hers. I bent my head. She sighed. She reasoned out. “So it means the general is not your Rib.” “Well, it makes sense if the flowers represent a woman” I breathed out “But a woman cannot another's woman’s rib. It is unheard of” my palms tightened. My jaw knocked. I hated her statement. It sounded like Father's. “And even if it's a woman, why a slave?! She sighed. She looked at me. She bent in front me. “Aurel, there is only one way you can escape all this” I locked eyes with her. “What do you propose?” I asked dull. “You must play along and birth a child as everyone expects you to” my eyes widened. “Listen to me Aurel. You have to do what I say if you want to save your woman” *** *** “The Dyh has arrived” the head guard of my chamber announced. He came in. Oona's words were echoing in my head. He came forward and stood me to my feet. I did not resist. He put his hand under my chin and the other on my waist. I pull my face to one side. “My Lieta” he smiled and gently rubbed his fingers on my cheek. meaning his love. I tried not to cringe. He knew I was not comfortable with the closeness. “You are mine” I heard him whisper. I looked at him and I glared. He smirked. I hated him. “You don't have a say. You are mine forever” I breathe out and try to stop glaring. I stop “I'm sorry for breaking our honeymoon but there will be a battle within the northern zone” he tightened his hands on my waist. I did not resist. I nodded “Be the obedient wife. Don't show immediate acceptance as he might suspect. But don't resist” “The new King must appear as the new leader along with all the soldiers. We will be on the battlefield so we might be gone for three days or more" A feeling of relief in my chest. Then I hear him say "And the former King, your father will also be battling. I'm sorry for breaking our honeymoon fest". I swallowed. Nodded. "You shall stay here till I arrive and I've forbidden anyone to visit you except the maids and few members of the women council" his hold tightened again. “Be a normal wife, if you have to get intimate again, don't protest. The only way you will be free is if you can bear an heir or heiress” Oona's words rang "I do not want you leaving this room and do not sneak out. I hate when I'm disobeyed" I nodded at his words. “If you bear a child, he will soften, you will gain his favor. You can use that to free her. “The rumors would be gone. You would have gone so far no one would suspect a thing. You can be with her that way” her words rang again. He threatened me. Kissed me on my head. Two contradictory actions. He left and I had a bad feeling about something. everything. 3. *** The Battle *** The Dyh fought and won. The former King's men were all dead. "We won the battle brother” Former King Geraldine said aloud. The new King stood a little behind him. “Yes we won the battle but you could not prevent the death of our brothers, your loyal men that were under my command in my time as general” Former King Geraldine turned. “Do you insinuate their blood is on my hands?” “I do not insinuate. I merely speak the truth. You were never fit to be a leader. It is a good thing I am now king.” Geraldine's eyes widened. He looked down at the knife that had been stabbed through his chest by his former general. He looked back at his eyes. “Your generation is dead. Join them. And don't worry. I will keep your most precious treasure safe.” He drew his mouth near Geraldine's ear “your daughter.” *** *** “Bring Oona to me this instant! Your Dyana commands it!” “I am sorry my queen but the Dyh wouldn't allow it” my head maid knelt before me with her head bowed. “I swear it that if you defy at my second command I shall have your head on a platter” She bowed her whole body “If I could be of help to you my queen I would have been but the Dyh has pronounced a public execution to whoever visits you or allows visitation to you” My lips stopped moving. I wasn't aware of that. I sighed. I bent to her level and pulled her up. “Please Philia. I would die of boredom or perhaps depression if I stay alone for another day.” She inhaled. “Long live the Dyana” she interjected. “I have been in this room for five mornings and six nights. I have been forbidden from even stepping my foot out for fresh air, from seeing my best friend, my drawing room, my lover. I. am. dying.” She looked at me and clasped my hands in her's. “You have been my hand maiden since my 11th moon.you know me in and out. You are my friend Philia. Please if you can't summon her here at least, take me there”. “Aurelia” her hands came to rest on my cheek. Philia was older than me by nine moons. She was also young when she had started serving as one of my hand maiden and she was the most cheerful, at least before, she used to be. She used to make me laugh alot when I was younger and I felt free around her but as time went on, she became more stern till she was like my previous stone hard head maid. I can remember on my 16th moon, she was celebrating her birthday and I had bought a pendant and wrapped it in a box for her. I gave her a smile and wished her. But she immediately gave the little box and told me maidens and maids were not allowed gifts or birthday celebrations. She shunned me even. She told me not to give maidens gifts as I was royal and she was beneath. She shunned me and told me never to think of her as a friend. Since then, I tried not to act too nice to her until it became a normal routine. She bow. I pass by. And soon her hard work and age turned her to my head maid and she was more sterner and colder than before. For the first time in many years, she used my maiden given name. “I cannot take you to Lady Oona neither can I sneak her in because she lives outside the castle and we can't go outside, we will be caught”. “So what do you intend to do?” I waited for her answer. “This is risky my queen but if you wish, I can take you to the girl. The green eyed one” My eyes snapped wide open. “I know the way to her cellar”. I think I just got lucky. *** *** I ran through the bushes and slipped into the thin space of the dungeon gate. Philia had alerted the guards that a cobra had been spotted in the meadows of my room and they had all ran in panic to catch the non existent cobra. I walked into the dungeon and held the letter I wrote tighter. I stopped at the cellar that Philia described. I saw her. My Evita. She was not battered but she lacked strength. It was obvious. Her skin was covered with dirt and her beautiful hair was full of twigs. She must hate me. I couldn't open my mouth to call out to her. I just stared. Her eyes looked up at me and it locked to mine. Just when I thought she would ignore me or despise me, she smiled. Tears rolled down my eyes. I opened the cellar with my hair pin. I hugged her. Her hands were tied in chains. “Evita” her used her accent “Aur…elia” her lips were cracked. She couldn't pronounce my name without hurting them. I bent and kissed her. Her blood tasted like metal. It was the sweetest blood I've tasted. I've tasted only mine. “I'm sorry, I'm a moron, I'm so sorry!” Tears rolled down her eyes at my apology. she was nodding in disagreement. “I want you to know I…” the dungeon's door opened. I heard footsteps. I slipped the letter into Evita's palms. “These are proposals.” The footsteps were getting closer. I closed the door and hid myself. “Report to the high council the Former King Geraldine is dead” my eyes widened. “Yes my Dyh. And what shall I do to the soilders who witnessed the scene?” “Kill them all. No one must know Geraldine died in my hands” tears slipped down my eyes. My so-called husband killed… Without thinking, I stepped out of my shelter “how dare you touch my father you filthy monster?!” I shouted in anger. His eyes widened. He hadn't expected to see me. I then realized I wasn't meant to be there. And everything went from bad to worst “You came to see her didn't you? You dare defile me!” He dragged me out of the dungeon and into the throne room. “Bring the girl” “No, no, no leave her you monster!” Slap! He slapped me “you dare stand against your King”. They brought Evita. “Give me my sword!” My eyes widened. I grabbed his hands. He pushed me to the floor “withhold my wife” He commanded. He went to Evita and pulled her up by her hair. He laughed. “I have waited for this day. The day I will see a reason to kill the alien you chose over me right before your very eyes” “Please no! please NO!” I struggled and screamed. 4. The whole place went quiet. He had plunged the sword in her heart. It pierced her breasts. He pulled it out. “Evi…” I could not complete my words. I watched in horror as the life in her eyes that were locked in mine drained. He released his hold on her Her lifeless body made a thud as it fell to the ground “Monster!! I will kill you myself” I wailed. He flinged my body to the bed. I tried to stand and make a run for it. He pushed me with more force. I fell back. He pressed his body on mine. He was going to have his way with me again. “I despise you! I f*****g hate your very being” He stripped me. He stripped himself. He settled in my middle. Oh no! It was going to happen again. It was happening again. He slammed himself in me. “I hate you Hansellaus!” *** *** The councilors were hot on their seats in an argument. Word had reached them that the former king is dead “So where is the King's body??” Asked Mr Sirith, a councilman “we have to cremate the King's body if he shall rest in peace” “Only the King Hansellaus has information to where our former King Geraldine's body is as they fought the battle alongside each other” the soldier sent said. “So why has he not made his presence here? Or does he think this matter as unimportant.” councilwoman Morgalia asked. “The Dyh is with his bride” answered the soldier curtly to the councilwoman. Everyone understood the soldier's words. And it was not to be questioned as the new Dyh and Dyana were still on their honeymoon period. “Word has gotten out that the Queen claims her husband, our Dyh, killed her father and former King” said Councilman Telecules. His personal assistant had whispered in his ears “That is treacherous” “Hansellaus must not keep us waiting” “You heard the megre just say his claiming his bride” “The Dyana won't lie, she was our royal princess” “What prove do you have Dyh Hansellaus killed him” The chaos doubled. Councilman Theophitin, the oldest councilor, hit the hammer. The place went quiet Morgalia, the second oldest councilor said “we council representative will disrupt the Dyh and demand his presence as it is allowed in the books and we the pillar must know what is going on!” “It is settled” Morgalia, Theophitin and all few other older councilors walked to the Dyh's quarter. *** *** He roared. My apple blade was dripping from his blood. I wanted to stab it in his heart but a dull apple knife could never make it that far. I wanted to repay Evita's death, father's death. He grabbed me by my neck. I could not breathe. “Oona”. My best friend's name popped in my head. The door opened. Thank Goddess Otte. I dropped to the ground. I heard gasps and murmur. I managed to look up. I would be shocked too. A husband and wife that were supposed to be on their honeymoon were stabbing and choking each other. Blood dripped from his chest. My hair was undone and my robe was bloody. I was choking and panting. *** In The Courtroom *** The situation moved to the courtroom. It was judgment time. I had narrated my own part of the story “It is the truth I speak! He killed my father!” “I heard it with my own ears!” “She speaks the truth,” the priestess confirmed. I felt triumph “Where were you when you heard this ‘’truth’”. Uh-Oh. I am in trouble. “In the dungeon” I bowed my head. It was unladylike to step in the dungeon due to its filth. The only women who were allowed to step in it without judgment were the councilwomen. “What did the Dyana go in search of in the dungeon?” I saw my so-called husband smirk across me. Silence. I did not reply. I could not. I heard Hansellaus' voice. “My wife went in search of her lover, the alien girl. I caught her and she framed me for killing her father after I informed her” my eyes widened. “It's not true!” He was twisting it to his advantage. The head council Theophitin shut me. “Speak Dyh Hansellaus”. “I came back with a somber heart from the war as my father in law had passed” I squeezed my hand tight. “but I had to keep a traitor in the cellar so I went down to the dungeon” “I found out my dungeon guards were gone and though I did not think much of it, I entered the dungeon and told my soldier to immediately come and inform the council of his death”. He looked my way. I glared “So I walked to put the traitor in the dungeon to see my wife who I had ordered not to leave our quarters as it was our honeymoon period hiding in the corners.” “That is a total lie” Councilman Theophitin hit his hammer again “comport yourself your majesty,” I looked towards the priestess in hope to hear her also confirm my words. She was silent. “I told her I would punish her for defying my words but she tried to run so I slapped her.” “I knew she had come to meet the girl she claims to love and true to my thoughts…” he brought out a piece of paper. The councilman collected it. It was the paper I had slipped to Evita” The councilman, councilman Sherid, gasped. “The Dyana, the Queen of Dyhward and the bearer of the heir or heiress had planned to elope with the alien girl.” Murmurs and gasps. I had written to Evita an apology and how we could elope together on the next full moon as it was the safest to elope. I had written how much I loved her and how she should bear it. I did not know Hansellaus had seen the letter. “He speaks the truth!” The priestess said and the whole place went silent. The whole council turned their eyes to me. I looked towards the priestess. I squinted my eyes in confusion. 5. “So I did what was right! To put a stop to my wife's infidelity, I eliminate her object of interest” I was going to lose everything including justice. I started breathing faster in desperation. “It only further infuriated her and she refused to lay with me on our bed. She stabbed me with a dull blade in hopes to pierce my heart the same way I pierced her lover's” “No it's not true!” I looked towards the priestess. All the men in the court were giving me disgusting and judgemental looks. The priestess nodded in affirmation to Hansellaus words “Believe me Aunt Morgalia. He killed father and I do not say it out of spite!” Yes, that is right. Councilwoman Morgalia was my Aunty. My mother's younger sister. She was and still is a princess of Dyhward. Since I was young, she had made it clear to me not to address her as aunty in court matters but this was an issue of life and death. She wasn't the best of aunts but she wasn't all that bad Though the last time she had given me a smile was when I was eight moons, before mother died. She always remembers my birthday and gives me gifts but nothing more. No one will know we were ever related. Father was her family too and I wanted her to know I was speaking as her niece presently. She studied me. “We will have the body of the former King Hansellaus to be autopated and presented before Goddess Otte to find out the cause of his death before cremation”. “But councilwoman Morgalia, that will not be necessary. We can all see that the Dyana is furious and speaks lies” Sherid said. I had always resented him. “She is my niece and was our Dya. Let us pay our last respect to the former King and give condolences to our Dyana by believing her words and presenting his body for check” For the first time, I wanted to hug my dear aunt. “There is nothing I would gain by killing Our former King.” I also started pondering on Hansellaus words “I am already King, the coronation rituals has been finalized, the coronation ceremony has been done. There is no reason I would kill him” “It has been presented and concluded” councilman Theophitin hit his hammar “Head council. I shall have to execute my wife's head maid who aided her in her plans and all the guards who had been there that day because they failed in their duty” No! No! No! He wanted to take another dear person to me. Had he not taken enough “No!” I was shaking my head in disbelief. “I found out from my dungeon guards that it was the head maid Philia who had giving them a fake alert so that the Dyana could step in.” “Very well” he hit it again. “This is the verdict” “Geraldine’s body will be autopated and checked to find out who the killer is.” “The Dyana and Dyh will not have any grudge against each other the Dyana had stabbed her husband and the Dyh had retaliated by choking her” “Every servant who was involved in the plot of the visit to the dungeon with the Queen will be punished as the King sees fit”. He hit the hammer. Judgment time was over. *** *** “Aurel! Hon!” I lay my head in her neck as my tears continued flowing. “I am so sorry, about everything” she tightened her hug. The door opened. “I have forbidden anyone to see my wife!” He never got tired. “You dare disobey your king's orders!” “Long live the Dyh!” Oona stood up with just the same volume “I know the honeymoon festivities are still going on.” “But the Queen just lost her father and it will not be fair if I as her best friend and childhood playmate left her alone to mourn” “Forgive me my King but her closest friend and King Geraldine was also a father to me”. He stomped and stormed out. Good riddance. “I just heard the news this noon. I would have come in haste but father set me up with that Duke’s son from the northern part. Remus or something as such.” “It doesn't matter. I'm sorry. I heard about everything.” She hugged me again. “She died right in front of me” she held tighter. “We were going to flee together” her movements paused. “He killed father.” she started stroking me “No one believed me” she released me. “I believe you” her eyes were teary “I will always believe you” “Oona” she was the only person who did not get strict ilas I grew up. Our dynamics never changed. She was the only one I could count on to stand by me in trial” “I love you” I hugged her and there was silence. “When is the official execution day of Philia” she also knew her well because we were playmates. “Five days ahead” she laid her head down between my hear then whispered “Then you must prepare yourself to elope” we released each other. Our staring contest continued. I knew what she was saying. During the second half of the execution, the Dyana will change attire. So I will go into my quarters when everyone is still saying prayers to the holy Goddess and I know Oona was trying to say it was my cue. But I wanted to attend the execution completely for Philia's sake. She deserved my last respect. “Don't overthink it, Aurelia!” she cut my line of thoughts. She knew me well and she knew exactly. She was my best friend. “I will be there that day and I will aid you” “No, no I don't want you getting involved. I don't want you getting killed” “Ohh Aurel. My father is the Lieutenant-general. I won't die so easily. He cherishes his only daughter among many sons.” “Besides I know the ins and outs of this castle. “I will clean off your tracks and also not get caught” “How will you do that?” “I have a plan” she gave me her smart girl smile