The burning in his heart

Chapter 2

Lynn

"I do," I declared, my voice unwavering, a testament to the deep well of anger and grief that simmered within me. The weight of those words hung in the air, a declaration that appeared to catch Cadmus off guard. The castle walls, silent witnesses to countless secrets and untold tales, now bore witness to my boldness.

It wasn't until I heard his nonchalant response, a casual "Interesting," that I began to feel a rising sense of agitation, a realization dawning on me regarding the gravity of my situation. His eyes, once marked by a mischievous glint, now bore a serious gaze; the playful smile had faded, replaced by an expression I could only interpret as indifference. In a dismissive gesture, he forced my head down, compelling me to bow alongside the others, as he continued his measured walk around the room.

The air crackled with tension, his eyes wandering through all the noble ladies that had lined up before him. Some wore beautiful velvet dresses with a pompous flare, others chose a more revealing taste with silks draping their bodies.

As I raised my head to observe the girls next to me, I met Cadmus's gaze once more. I detected a subtle curiosity in his eyes. Could it be that my defiance had piqued his interest? I soon had an answer as he immediately walked past me again, quick with a trained military style, to repeat his previous gesture towards me. "Head down" he ordered sternly. He was just a perfectionist, that was all. Why did I even think about his interest? He was a monster after all...

With an air of indifference, he ambled through the line of girls, bestowing a stone upon each. When he reached me for the third time, he thrust a black stone into my hand. Its weight felt ominous, the cold, unyielding surface made me gulp.

After completing his circuit, he ascended towards his throne, finally settling into its imposing embrace before addressing the gathered assembly. "Each of you has been brought here with the potential honor of becoming my concubines," he declared, his tone echoing through the grand hall. "War has made the kingdoms unnecesarily tense. That's why I end the tensions my way...."

Seated with an unsettling grin, he proclaimed, "I am a kind emperor." The apparent contradiction in his words sent shivers through the room. "To unite my kingdoms, torn apart by conflict, what better way than to select a lady from each?" It was clearly a symbol of power. He wanted the kingdoms to know who owned them, who they had to serve and that he could take whatever he wanted when he wanted. Cadmus had won the war, he had control and he was the emperor.

The proclamation hung heavy in the air, as the would-be concubines exchanged uneasy glances and the rest of the tatsuya council took their places on the thrones. Zendril to Cadmus´s left and Ladon on the far right, leaving an empty throne just next to the emperor. It was an ostentatious sight. The emperor nodded towards Zendril, who gestured the guards to get ready. "Please escort back to their parents any girl without a black stone in their hand." He said in an informative voice "Oh, and lady Mara dear, you may sit by the side" he said, pointing towards a lovelily velvet sofa that was at the side of the room.

A young girl with blonde hair smiled happy with herself, bowed and made her way towards the soft seat whilst the guards ushered everyone but 3 other girls out of the room.

As the tension swirled, the Tatsuya council took their designated seats on the thrones arranged with deliberate precision. Zendril positioned himself on Cadmus's left, while Ladon occupied the farthest right, leaving a conspicuous void next to the emperor—an empty throne that spoke of both authority and uncertainty.

The emperor nodded towards Zendril, a man of calculated demeanor who, in turn, signaled the guards to prepare. "Please escort back to their parents any girl without a black stone in their hand," Zendril announced with an informative air, his voice cutting through the charged atmosphere. Then, with an almost casual tone, he added, "Oh, and Lady Mara dear, you may sit by the side," gesturing towards an opulent velvet sofa positioned at the room's edge.

In response, a young girl with a cascade of blonde hair beamed with self-satisfaction. She gracefully bowed and proceeded towards the designated seat, a picture of compliance amid the unfolding chaos. Simultaneously, the guards, following Zendril's directive, ushered everyone but four other girls out of the room.

The contrast between the adorned thrones, the velvet sofa, and the girls in their varied states of uncertainty painted a vivid tableau. The room, with the clear political favorite to one side, the group of three girls, in which I found myself, and the 3 men that peered down at us, gave a clear vision of the unjustness we lived in .

In the solemn chamber, the air was thick with anticipation as the remaining trio of us clutched the obsidian stones in our hands. Ladon, leaned in to whisper something into the emperor's ear. Cadmus, visibly scowled, his countenance darkening. Whatever request Ladon had put forth, he accepted and the latter descended gracefully toward where we stood.

Ladon approached the first among us, a vision of sun-kissed beauty with long tresses meticulously braided and adorned with golden rings. "You must be Tatiana," he taunted, his voice carrying an air of both mockery and intrigue as he meticulously circled her.

"She is considered a warrior in her kingdom, sister of the king of Urget" Zendril, ever dutiful, explained to his emperor. "She actually fought against us more than once."

"I remember her," Cadmus replied, his tone frigid. "She killed some of your best... Right, Ladon?" He said this with a chilling amusement, evidently deriving pleasure from Ladon's discomfort.

The redhead examined Tatiana standing beside her as if comparing their warrior statuses. Her demeanor radiated strength, not arrogance, unlike Ladon's. As the largest amongst us all, he seemed to possess a formidable physicality, hinting at a latent strength. She, in comparison, was small but extremely toned. Ladon was easier to read, often wearing an expression that suggested he was looking for trouble. His menacing eyes were paired with a sultry smile, a combination that both intrigued and unnerved.

As he continued his inspection, I exchanged a fleeting glance with the other remaining lady, silently acknowledging the uncertainty that loomed over us. Our fate seemed tethered to the whims of a men who reveled in the games of power.

Moving on from Tatiana, Cadmus approached the next girl, whose head was bare and was adorned with markings. Cadmus's scrutiny was intense, his eyes like piercing daggers. "Aubrey, isn't it?" he remarked, a note of familiarity in his voice.

She nodded, a gesture of silent compliance. I couldn't discern the emotions that flickered in her eyes, but there was a palpable tension in the air. Zendril, standing by, added, "Aubrey comes from a line of skilled diplomats. Her family served as mediators, cousins of the king of Ereshdalia."

Cadmus raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the information. "She is from the cult of the dragon."

"Is that why she has shaved her head?" blurted out the redhead, without a care in the world.

Zendril, maintaining composure, cast a calming smile towards Aubrey. "You may wear your veil if you so wish," he reassured her.

Responding to this invitation, Aubrey promptly unraveled the scarf in her hands, veiling herself. The apprehension etched on her face lessened as she was granted permission to cover. Zendril then redirected his attention to Ladon, his white hair lending an air of wisdom. "It's part of her rite of passage when becoming a woman. Either move on or cease your own futile examination. You are scaring them," he stated impatiently.

"Let him have his fun," the emperor interjected, halting his advisor's protest with a curt remark. The tone, dismissive and indulgent, suggested a detachment from the implications of the examination.

Ladon advanced toward me with a confident smile, an air of inevitability enveloping the moment. I met his eyes with resignation.

"And this one?" he inquired with a mischievous smile, his presence lingering near me, exuding a playful aura that reveled in his authority. "I like this one."

A cold, penetrating stare from the emperor acted like an unspoken command, abruptly silencing Ladon before Zendril could even open his mouth to offer any explanations. "She is Lynn, the heir of the kingdom of Andria," the emperor declared. He knew who I was.

"Indeed," Zendril added with a hint of vexation, as if perturbed by the absence of additional information he could contribute.

Ladon, ever the provocateur, closed the distance between us with a confidence that bordered on insolence. His voice, laced with a mocking edge, reached my ears. "Your Daddy must be furious. Fighting in a war against us only to have his heir robbed from him."

The tendrils of anger snaked through me, igniting a fiery heat in my cheeks. I locked eyes with Ladon, a silent defiance brewing within me. Yet, rather than reciprocating with hostility, he responded with an unsettling blend of amusement and condescension. "Cute," he added, laden with layers of mockery.

The redhead then turned towards Cadmus with a whiney voice "Must you have all of them? It would be awfully rude of you not to share with the rest of us..."

Zendril interrupted "He needs heirs, so he gets to choose."

Tatiana and I switched glances at each other, clearly disturbed by their words. Aubrey, on the other hand, kept her head low and just stared at the floor. I understood her fear. If I didn't have as much hate in my heart, I would probably have done the same. Yet the disgust I felt helped me appear bold and keep my eyes looking straight at those emerald green eyes the emperor had. It was strange, his glare managed to command the room and make me feel observed at the same time. How was he doing that?