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Monday, August 8, 2016

Chapter 8

"So", said Argath. "You know."

"I do", said Jeraddin.

The General and the Princess stared at one another from opposite side of the desk that dominated the late King Sharan's study. They were like a pair of poker players trying to see what cards the opponent had by studying their facial expressions.
Argath was leaning forward, her scaly fingertips forming a roof. As for Jeraddin, he merely sat upright in his chair, arms crossed. Seated next to him was Risha, whose eyes were focused downwards, on the rich pattern of the carpet that covered the floor. The final person in the room was Lorenzo, who was standing behind his mistress.

"There is one thing I do not understand", Argath said, after a brief moment of silence. "Why stay here? Why didn't you and your family immediately sneak out the palace and escape the country?"

"If I did", Jeraddin said, "I knew that I would have to spend the rest of my life sleeping with one eye open. Not out of fear of my own life, but that of my wive's and children. That's why I'm in this room, Your Highness, to offer you a deal."

"And why should the Princess make a deal with you?" Lorenzo asked, a contemptuous snort coming from his nose. "We could easily take care of you and your family and lay the blame on the doorstep of the kingdom's enemies."

"I'll pluck out your remaining eye first, mongrel", Jeraddin growled menacingly.

"Lorenzo, hold your tongue", Argath said, admonishing the fox in a sharp tone. "Still", she mused, "he makes a good point. What will I gain from allowing all of you to live?"

Jeraddin swallowed, time to put the cards on the table.

"You will gain my unquestioned loyalty. I shall serve you just as diligently as I served your father. That is what I offer you."

Argath rubbed her chin with one hand, while the fingers on its twin tap-danced on the surface of the desk. Finally, after what seemed to both Jeraddin and Risha as an eternity, she spoke:

"Your offer is not without interest and I would be willing to accept it. However, there's one thing that has me concerned."

"What is that, Your Highness?" Jeraddin asked.

"Let us say that I allowed your family to leave the country and live out their days in peace, provided that they never again set foot on Vinolian soil; what guarantee do I have that you would still keep to your end of the bargain?"

"My word of honor, your highness", Jeraddin said stiffly. Though I doubt such a thing means much to you, he thought.

"How chivalrous", Argath said dryly. "Normally, I'd almost be inclined to accept such an explanation. Unfortunately, there's too much at stake here. I'm going to need something else to guarantee your fealty."

"I believe I can guess: You want a hostage, don't you?"

Argath nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, yes, that would be one option. There is another one, though."

Jeraddin's ears perked up.

"What is that?" He asked, leaning forward eagerly.

Argath smiled, showing of a set of gleaming white fangs.

"Why, killing another member of the royal family, of course", she said.

Jeraddin couldn't think of anything to say, he merely stared at the Princess in stunned silence.

"Such a deed would bind you to us", she continued. "Of course, it would have to be carried out in the presence of a reliable witness and involve a written confession. Anyway, whichever of my half-siblings you choose, neither should pose much of a challenge to a seasoned warrior like yourself, even if they're dragons. We're talking about an untrained youth  and a cripple, after all..."

"No!"

Risha had been quiet during the entire conversation between Argath and her father, but now, that one word, escaped her lips and it seemed to envelop the whole room in it.

"Dad, don't do this", she pleaded, touching Jeraddin's arm. "I don't want you to kill anyone!"

"My, what a naive girl", Argath said mockingly. "Do you really think that your father became the war-hero he is today without shedding some blood?"

"T-that was different", the lynx girl protested. "My father would never kill someone that couldn't defend themselves."

As she said those words, she looked pleadingly at Jeraddin, hoping that he would say something that would confirm her opinion, but he did not. Instead, when he spoke, it was to ask Argath a question:

"May I have some time to think about it?"

The Princess nodded assent.

"You may." 

She picked up a silver-bell which sat on the desk and rang it. Immediately, the doors opened and a servant entered.

"Escort the General and his daughter to their room", Argath commanded. "We shall continue this conversation in a bit."

Once they were alone, Argath turned to Lorenzo.

"There are guards posted in the garden, right?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Have a few posted below the General's window, as a precaution."

"It will be done. Princess, may I ask a question?"

"What is it?"
"Why allow the General and his family to live? Surely, we could have found a way to get rid of them without casting suspicions on to us?"

Argath did not answer immediately. Instead, she walked up to the large map of the world, which covered one of the walls. She stood there, her head tilted sideways, as if she was studying some great painting. Eventually, she motioned for Lorenzo to come closer.

"What do you see?" She asked.
"I don't understand, Your Highness" the fox said, puzzled. "Its a map of the world. What about it?"
"Its the reason why I prefer Jeraddin alive and serving me, rather than dead and buried. You see, though he does not know it, he will help me accomplish the second part of my revenge against my father."

"I don't understand; the King is dead, what else is there to do?"

Argath let out a soft chuckle.

"Taking my father's life was only the beginning. Its not only his death that I hungered for for so long, but to surpass him completely."

She  reached out and touched the surface of the map, allowing her fingers to glide over sea and land.

"I shall expand Vinoli's borders, making it a greater nation than it has ever been. When future historians mention the reign of King Sharan, it will be only as a footnote, to that of mine."

*****

As they followed the servant back to their temporary quarters, Risha found that her mind was overflowing with questions. Among other things, she wondered about Argath's remark earlier. Had her father actually killed someone in cold blood before? No, she couldn't imagine him being capable of something like that.

The Princess is just trying to get under my skin, that's all, she thought to herself. It was a comforting thought and she grabbed onto it like a drowning man would a lifeline. She also wondered what had become of Merees; she hadn't seen the younger Princess since that terrible scene in the dining hall. Was she still somewhere in the palace or had she left? Probably the latter, since every second she remained in this place meant that her life was at risk. Still, I would have liked to have seen her one more time, if only to say goodbye.

At last, they reached their destination. The servant excused himself and headed back. As soon as they stepped over the threshold, Risha and Jeraddin noticed that there was something different about the room from when they had left it. Or rather, the room itself was the same as before, but now, in addition to Nasari and Leorin, there was a third person there. Said person was wearing cape with a hood, which obscured their features.

"Who are you?" Jeraddin asked, positioning himself in front of his daughter. Neither Nasari nor Leorin seemed hurt in any way, so the newcomer was most likely not dangerous. Still, he was not about to take any unnecessary risks.
With a quick gesture, the stranger lowered their hood.

"Princess Merees!" Risha exclaimed joyfully.
While the two friends embraced each other, Nasari turned to her husband.

"The princess appeared just after you two had left", she explained.

"I'm sorry I didn't come before", Merees said, "but it took me a little while to find the room you were in. However, when I arrived, you two were gone. I heard from Nasari that you had left with my sister's henchfox." She turned to Jeraddin. "General, please tell me that you didn't make some sort of deal with her?"

"I did, I thought it was the only way to guarantee the safety of my children."

"So, what deal did you make?" His wife asked.

Jeraddin slumped his shoulders and let out a heavy sigh.

"She has agreed not to harm any of you, provided that one of you either stays a hostage...or, I kill one of the two remaining members of the royal family."

Upon hearing these words, Merees instinctively took a few steps back.

"General", she said. "Your children saved my life; without them, I would have joined my father and half-brother. I owe them a debt that I intend to repay, but I have no intention of giving up my life: I mean to live on so that I can one day take down Argath and make her pay for all that she has done. Do you really intend to take my life? Very well, but it will come at a cost."

Having said that she assumed a stance and began circling around the room, wisps of smoke coming out of her nostrils.

"Believe me, Princesss", Jeraddin said. "This is not something I wish to do."

Risha had positioned herself between the two and now she looked at Jeraddin beseechingly.

"Father, you don't have to do this", she pleaded. "I don't want you to kill anyone! If Argath wants a hostage, then she...." An audible gulp escaped Risha's throat. "....She can have me", she finished.

"No, she can't!"

Nasari, who previously had been sitting on the bed, now stood up in her full height, her eyes blazing with determination.

"I'm not leaving any of my children in the hands of...of her", she said, anger making her incapable of even speaking Argath's name. "That's why I will be the hostage she desires."

Upon announcing this, Nasari looked at Merees.

"Your Highness", she said. "You said you owed my children a debt, may I entrust you with their protection?"

"Absolutely" Merees said, solemnly. "You can count on me."

Jeraddin relaxed visibly and gave his wife a look of sincere gratitude. He felt an immense relief that he wouldn't have to take somebody's life, especially that of a person whom his daughter was obviously very fond of. Than, a thought struck him:

"How are you planning on leaving the palace?" He asked. "Our children should be able to leave through the gates once we've wrapped things up with Argath, but what about you, Princess? I doubt your sister is going to let you out of her sight."

"There's a tunnel which leads out past the palace-grounds", Merees explained. "It was made in order to allow any old people, women and children among the courtiers and staff to escape, in case it looked like the palace would fall to an invasion. As far as I know, its never been used, but I used to play in it when I was little."

"Or, we could sneak out through the garden", Leorin suggested, those being the first words he had spoken in a while.

He walked over to the window and peered down into the garden. When he turned back to the others, it was with a crestfallen look on his face.

"Never mind, there are two guards standing right below the window."

"They weren't there before", Jeraddin said. "Argath must have placed them there. I must hand it to her; she seems to think of everything."


"Let us hope she's overlooked the tunnel", Merees said and turned to Risha and Leorin. "I apologize if I sound callous, but I would prefer not to remain here much longer. Why don't you say good-bye and then we'll go."

"We already said good-bye.", Risha said, while glancing at the ring her father had given her.

Leorin nodded, trying his best to seem mature. Then, his true feelings took over and he rushed to his mother, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Good-bye, mom. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie", Nasari replied as she gently touched the tip of her son's ears. "You and your sister will always be my treasures."

Jeraddin nodded in agreement.

"And mine", he said.

"You won't be separated forever", said Merees. "That's another thing I promise you."

"Wait! Risha asked, looking at her mother. "If we return here and Argath finds out, won't that mean she'll..." She left the final words of the sentence hanging in the air, unable to pronounce them.

"Well", Nasari said with a wry smile on her face. "You'll just have to be careful and make sure she does not find out. Don't worry about me, children, your mother can take care of herself if it comes to that. Believe me, I'm tougher than I look."

"I can testify to that fact", said Jeraddin and planted a quick kiss on his wife's cheek, her whiskers tickling his nose, causing him to sneeze.

Having said farewell for the second time, Risha and Leorin took one last look at their parents and their old life, before following Merees out the door. Now, all they had to do was reach that tunnel and hope that luck was on their side.



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