Chapter V
3rd Era, 845, 17th of Last Nightingale
Sepheran Kingdom
Province of Skyhail, Sepheran Imperial Capital of Sephera, Royal Palace
Elisabeth Cantillon
“May I say that the bear cloak makes you even more beautiful than usual?” Tiberius commented with a charming smile that made Elisabeth blush.
“Oh, t-thank you, Tiberius,” she answered.
They were strolling through the snow covered garden, through the Green Corridor of Monarchs. Or the White Corridor at the moment. It was lined with the statues of previous Kings of the Gail dynasty. Ones it had had 2,000 years’ worth of Kings and even Queens, but the first Gail King-Victus II-destroyed all of them. He also tried to destroy every record of every King before him. But he was forced to halt those plans with a protest from all the mayor Houses. The threat of Civil War saved Sepheran history.
“I wonder how this place looked with all the statues,” Elisabeth mused.
Tiberius looked at her.
“So do I, so do I.”
He had wondered for many years how it would have looked if his ancestors had been allowed to remain.
“I would have liked to see Queen Justine’s statue,” he remarked.
Elisabeth looked at her handsome friend.
“Oh, I’d love that. I’ve seen her statuette and two paintings of her. She was beautiful.”
Tiberius smiled from under his beard.
“I’ve seen them too. She really was beautiful. And, she’s proof of that everyone in the Kingdom has potential for greatness.”
He gently held Elisabeth’s hand. She blushed but squeezed his back slightly.
“I mean, her mother was a slave. The daughter of a slave, Queen?” He chuckled. “I’d pay a wagon of gold to have seen all those nobles faces when Justine ascended the throne, not to mention the first woman ever on the throne. How unorthodox!”
Elisabeth giggled. She agreed completely. She looked up when snow started falling, creating a new lair on top of the older snow already there. She pulled the bear cloak around her even more. Even though it was cold, it was beautiful.
The beauty broke when she laid eyes on another man strolling around the garden. Lord Praetor Augustus. The previous King. Augustus III the Conqueror. The man who had avoided her since she got here and held a deep and ancient grudge against her House. And the monster that took her brother from her.
Tiberius noticed her eyes narrowing and looked to find what caught her attention.
“Oh,” he realized it was Augustus. “Let’s turn here.”
He gestured down a side path.
Elisabeth slowly nodded in agreement. She recognized the two men with him. Lord Colton and the Court Mage.
Seeing him caused her to start thinking of her brother. By Lady Nightingale, she missed her big brother so much. But he was halfway around the world, fighting savages in the holy lands. Five years ago King Augustus had-as one of his last decisions before becoming Lord Praetor-ordered several families to send knights to protect the holy lands around the holy city of Al-Rhuidean. Where the Council of the Gods was first conceived. They also had to send a son to lead the army. In House Cantillon’s case, Balin Cantillon and his wife. She understood that it was a glorious venture to be a crusader and visit the holy lands where the gods rose a city and walked upon Nyshara millennia ago. And she herself would love to see Al-Rhuidean ones before she grew old and died. A pilgrimage. But that didn’t mean she wanted her brother to travel there. For all she knew he was dead. Would she even recognize him if she saw him today?
“Are you alright?” Tiberius asked gently.
Elisabeth took a deep breath and fought not to cry because of the thought of her big brother. Be strong, be strong.
“I met Lady Praetoress Amelia yesterday,” Elisabeth stated.
“Yes? I know she just got here from the Summer Palace so, she made a point to meet you the same day. She does you great honor, unlike the Lord Praetor.”
“You’re telling me,” she snorted.
The Lady Praetoress had been so much nicer than the Lord Praetor. While he had avoided her, she met her, she was nice and with a warm smile on her face. She even gave her a hug and said she would be happy to see her join the family.
“How about we go to the library and relax?” Tiberius suggested. “The snow is falling faster than before.”
Sounds perfect, Elisabeth thought.
“Yes, off course.”
They held hands while walking back inside the royal palace.
3rd Era, 845, 17th of Last Nightingale
Sepheran Kingdom
Tundra Island, Caer Nora Castle
Victus XI Gail
Young King Victus paced quickly walked down the stairs to the entrance of the castle at a quick pace. He was waiting for news about the end of the rebellion. For the last several days the rebels had bene beaten over and over again. Only one holdout remained. 17,000 strong, Lord Commander Mormont assured the obliteration of the last Northmen. He wished he didn’t need to destroy them, but he couldn’t let them rise up again in the future. He didn’t know what to do. Why wouldn’t these people submit? Did he have to order a slaughter to bring them to loyalty?
Victus was flanked by two Royal Guards when he reached the entrance hall and locked eyes with Lord Commander Cassius himself.
“A raven arrived from Lord Commander Mormont’s army,” Caer Nora’s Lord proclaimed.
He walked to meet Victus halfway.
“How d-did it go?” Victus instantly inquired. He swallowed nervously, praying for the best. Praying to hear that it was over and he could return home to embrace his future wife for the first time.
“Victory Your Excellency!” Cassius exclaimed.
He reached his arms out to his sides with a smile on his wrinkled face.
Victus sighed in relief. Thank Selene, he thought.
“Send him my thanks and tell him to thank his soldiers!” He declared joyfully.
Cassius bowed his head.
“Yes Your Excellency. He’ll be pleased I have no doubt.”
At least he could return home to the comforts of the palace and to marry Lady Elisabeth. He could spend a few nights of joy and love with her and for a short time he could let Chancellor Roy Colton act for him. But then he would have to abandon the bed he would share with Lady Elisabeth and return to running the Kingdom of his forefathers.
He turned on his heels and pointed at a Steward.
“Prepare my entourage to leave on the morrow!” He was excited to finally go home and leave this hold ridged land.
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