Chapter 2: Fear and guilt

I was already aware of his presence but his voice still rattled me to the tips of my toes.

"Brother" Anne spun around and came face to face with Connor, her gaze flickered to me, she must have realized what was going on in my mind because her face suddenly turned shades darker, she was furious but there was nothing she could do instead she turned to Connor speaking hastily, trying to clear her name.

If there was someone Connor hated more than me, it was probably the former king and his scheming daughter, 

"Is it true?" He asked her, even though his question was directed at her, he kept his gaze fixed on my face. Normally, I would have lowered my gaze and kept it glued to the floor, but I held his gaze; even though my stomach trembled, I kept my eyes on him, and Anne, fearing that he might kill her, threw her maids under the bus. 

"No, my king, of course not! These two brainless idiots decided to start gossiping about her highness and I was just-"

"Why are they still in the palace?" His voice was hard and cold and his grey eyes were even colder, 

"A useless maid spoke bad about your queen and you stand there arguing with her? Their heads should be rolling in the dust by now" There was a hard glint in his eyes, his gaze stayed on my face and I could see the hatred for me in them. 

He didn't acknowledge my statement but he still couldn't punish me for causing a commotion, not after Anne had given such a statement. Whatever happened, he would only punish the disrespect to his wife's name and even though I was satisfied with them getting their punishment, I was still very uncomfortable with the kind of punishment he might give to them.

"I want both of their tongues cut out before the end of the hour, I want them to have this engraved on their minds for the rest of their life" He motioned to the guards behind him, I pulled my gaze away from him and looked at the maids, the look of shock and horror spread on their faces, open for anyone to read. 

"Please my lady!" The first girl said as they collapsed on their knees sobbing and holding on to Anne, she gazed ahead unmoved. 

I don't know if I did the right thing but I can't let their tongues be removed. 

The guards dragged them away and their cries dried out as they moved farther away. 

"We're done here" Connor said calmly, even though his face was black with fury. He left without another word.

"You will pay for this, I swear" Anne lips curled in the meanest way possible, if eyes could kill I would be dead from her death glare. 

I let out a sigh of relief when she walked away, the only thing left was saving her maids. It's enough punishment that they'll be put out of the palace shamefully, it'll be cruel to have their tongues cut out. 

I rushed through the hallway, almost running. 

*

I watched through the peep hole as they tied them up, in less than five minutes, they would start cutting and I still haven't come up with a plan to save them. If only I could -

"Open your mouth wide" The thick faced guard said in a bitter tone, his voice snapped me out of thoughts, they don't really care, if Connor asked them to they would behead kids. 

The second girl refused to open her mouth, clamping it shut tightly. 

"If you don't open your mouth within the next second, I'll use this tool and it won't just be your tongue we'll be cutting today, it'll be your lips and teeth too" He said and bent to pick up a tool shaped like a claw with sharp blades, he was going to claw her lips open- literally.

Fear gripped me and I banged on the door,

The thick faced guard signaled to the second guard to check out who it was and I stepped away from the door. The second guard opened the door with a look of irritation, he probably doesn't like the other guy ordering him around or he's annoyed by the distraction but his look changed upon seeing me. 

"Your highness" he bowed his head.

"Connor- the king wants to see both of you" I tried to look as serious as I could, 

"He didn't-"

"Now" I gave him a cool look, the door was only slightly open so I could only see one of the girls from where I was standing, without the lighted candles casting golden light on the rough walls, it would have been dark and grim- I should know I've been thrown in here many times and had to stay in pitch darkness. 

Anger surged through me when he stared at me without moving.

"Would you keep him waiting?" I gave him a hard look.

"Who is it?" The other guard asked from inside the room.

"The queen" he replied gruffly. 

"What does she want?" 

"Us, the king wants us" He replied with the same tone while giving a 'what the fuck' look. He definitely doesn't like talking to the other guy. 

"The king-" he suddenly stopped mid sentence with the sharp ring of his phone, a message tone.

"Shit, you're a lucky one but don't worry I'll still have your tongue" it sounded like he was talking to one of the girls.

He stepped to the door and yanked it open, the other guard had his hand on the knob so the force jerked his fingers off.

"What the fuck man?" He eyed the thick faced guard. 

"Let's get out of here, it's happening" He nodded and his partner seemed to understand what he met, I sighed as they peeled off, whatever event intervened, I was grateful. I leaned heavily on the wall for a second before rushing into the room, it won't be long before my farce collapses and guards come rushing in.

The girls were surprised to see me.

"Your highness" 

No matter what my issue was with Connor, I had lied against them and I can't possibly let them suffer for the rest of their lives.

"I'm going to get you two out of here"

*

I dragged my body off to the king's room, I was beyond tired but glad I was able to help them escape, they would be miles away from the palace by now. I knocked on the door but realized I didn't have to, I was expected to be here tonight, it was another mistress night and I knew I would be a mess in the morning. 

I opened the door quietly and entered the room, I could see only one person's silhouette on the curtailed bed.

"Your majesty?" The soft voice came from the bed, Connor wasn't here yet. An idea struck my mind.