Xavier sat on the front deck of the ship, clenching and unclenching his fist in silence when Edward came out and found him seated there. There has been a resounding silence in the last two days since their father’s death and the mourning had continued since then, despite them being a long way from home. It was a tradition to mourn those born into the royal bloodline for at least a week. For an alpha king and an alpha of alphas; it was three weeks. So being away from the kingdom was not an excuse. Today, however, was different. Xavier had sat on the deck since the ninth hour and now it was the thirteenth hour and he was still there, unmoved. Edward had come out of his cabin to have a view of the sea and the journey ahead and also to clear his head. He had tried reaching Kailani again today, but just like the last two days, his magic had failed him. He concluded it was grief taking a hold of him and tempering with his magic and chose to believe she was fine. This wasn’t the first time
Princess Kailani sat in her chamber at the Royal Estate, trying to read the book gifted to her by the queen. It was a part of the few gifts she gave her the last time she came to visit the South of the capital, which was six months ago. It was called Medea, written by Euripides and it was a good read in her quiet time.When Edward had wander-walked to her in the bathroom the morning of two days ago, one of the things she had spoken to him about was the book gift Mia gave her. Reading this book brought her closer to Mia, the amazing soul she was fortunate to have in her life. She prayed for her almost every day now at the temple for the moon goddess to keep her safe, and while she prayed for her, she also prayed for protection for her mate and his brother, the alpha king.It was the least she could do.She had wanted to come along with them immediately after Edward spoke to her about their voyage, but king Xavier had other plans. She was the princess by marriage and having heard of her
Kailani and Sir Aira hurried through the path and, getting out, they found a carriage already waiting for them. It wasn’t the one she had been used to in the last few years of becoming a princess. Nothing of it screamed royalty, just like the hood she had on.They approached but didn’t get in though because Aira held onto her hand to stop her from moving closer to the carriage and it surprised her at first, but a moment later she saw two men around the carriage. They weren’t a part of the king’s army. From what she could tell, they were watch guards, not soldiers, but she couldn’t risk not obeying Aira at this crucial time. The men soon noticed them standing not so far away from the carriage, and they approached.“Can we help you?” the tall guard with blond hair asked with his brow raised. Aira raised both hands as her way of telling them she wasn’t there for trouble and she stepped towards them. “Fine men of Wahala. My carriage broke down a while ago and I had to put it together.”
It was barely four hours of her eyes shut when she heard the town crier’s horn in the middle of the street. Her eyes snapped open at alert and she rose from the bed and over to the window to peep through.He wore a black robe and a white hat on his head, the decorations of a town crier.“Great people of Wahala. The new king, Elliott Ainsworth, requests that all well-meaning citizens of this great kingdom assemble at the town square at eleven hours today for a formal meeting and announcement. He hopes to disclose the way forward for the kingdom and also share his vision with all who are willing. In respect for the king, we all are to be in attendance and show our support and pledge allegiance. Come one come all.” He finished and blew the horn.A king had never required the people to pledge allegiance to him before. It was wrong to. If the kingdom was conquered, the people are to obey and do it because they have no other choice, but that wouldn’t be the case if there was no war or conqu
Mia’s eyes were barely shut when she heard a small bang against the bars of her dungeon. Her eyes fluttered open immediately, and the drowsiness vanished. She wasn’t even deep in her sleep because most dreams she had dreamt since coming on shore had been nightmares and most times like today; she stayed half awake and half asleep. There was someone outside her dungeon. There usually was no one there at this time of the night, but today there was. Mia knew it, and it scared her.It’s been a terrible first week, being poked and dragged, spat on and stoned by people for fun. She was treated worse than an animal; she was treated like filth. The guards barely gave her food and when they did, it was rotten or sour. She hated what she had to eat, but there was a life in her growing and she needed the food and the strength it gave. The most morning she’d get dragged off to the market square and paraded as Mia Ainsworth, Luna Queen of Wahala and the people would laugh and tease her. Yes, the kin
There came a loud bang against the bars of Mia’s dungeon. Her eyes shot open immediately and her heart slammed against her chest as she thought about what might be the reason for this early invasive intrusion.“Rise and shine, my queen!” the guard mocked, his wide set of teeth coming into display as he grinned at her.She dragged herself up to sit down, her eyes taking a long moment to adjust to the happenings, but on all those times, she didn’t break eye contact with the guard outside her dungeon.She picked up a few things. They had allowed her to sleep longer than usual, which was weird. They didn’t like her enough to let her sleep, and now her mind raced with thoughts of what that might mean. She stayed silent and waited for the mean guard at the dungeon door to speak.“Rise and move forward.” He ordered, and she did that, dragging her legs towards him. “today is your lucky day, queen. The king requests presence with you.” he informed her with a mischievous look and she felt her h
She stood, not daring to sit as she watch the king dig at his food without uttering a word. He didn’t command her to sit and so no matter how her legs ached and trembled from standing for so long; she didn’t sit. The dungeon guard told her those who came here never returned, and she didn’t want to end up like those people. She wanted to live and this would keep her safe.After a long moment of eating, king Ferro Damien picked a white serviette and wiped his mouth before tossing it on the table and looking up at her.“Queen Mia,” he called out with a smile too good to be true. He signalled the guard to take off the chains on her hands and legs before ushering her to sit with his hand. She sat, and on the table before her was an empty plate with a knife and fork. He beckoned to the chef, and she stepped forward, picked the plate and moved to fill it up with meat and salad. The chef then moved the plate over to Mia and set it down before stepping back.“Eat, you don’t have all day!” he to
Trigger warning* attempt rapeAs the circus of the day ended, the guards in charge of Mia carried her away from the market square and into the carriage. They drove back to the palace and dragged her back to the dungeon. The guard tossed her inside and shut the bars, locking it and slipping the key into his pocket. After her time with King Ferro, he ordered his guard to return her to the circus. Just like every other day, the men, women, and children mocked and taunted her there. They stoned her with their rotten fruits, vegetables and rocks and even made bets on who could get a clearer target. Today, however, she broke down and cried bitterly. She cried because she knew her death was coming. This time tomorrow she would be no more, according to King Ferro’s words, and that meant she would live out her last hour being treated like filth and an animal. She mourned her death and that of her child and she didn’t care anymore at this point. They must have been something in her tears becaus
Three months later“My king, this is the monthly report of the work tasks already put in place at the warriors’ institute.” Sir Kole stepped forward to present the scroll to King Xavier, who sat on the throne, and beside him was Luna Queen Mia, who was heavily pregnant.He had asked her this morning before they both stepped out of their chamber if she would feel comfortable being in the throne room. He saw that her due date drew closer with each passing day. She had smiled and told him she was okay and able to carry on her duties as queen and counsel for the king. This was the ninth month. They were preparing themselves with every passing day for the due date, but they knew they would never fully prepare for the birth of their child. Still, it was better this way. The king wanted her in good working condition and treated her almost like a child who couldn’t help herself. It annoyed her most of the time, but he didn’t look ready to change his ways, at least not until their child was saf
He drew a sharp breath and turned to find her eyes filled with panic and unexplainable fear.“What was that?” she asked with a still terrified voice.“It’s my being responding to the call.”“The call, the call of what?”“The slave ship. It has come to the border of the Wahala kingdom. Though freed from being a slave by my lord, I still feel the brokenness in me responding to the dark magic of the ship.”The only thing Kailani heard from everything he just said was, “The slave ship is at our border.”“Yes!” He nodded, already heading out of the house, and Kailani followed behind.As soon as he stepped out, he waved his hand around, reciting the portal chant at the same time, and a big, black circle appeared before him.“What are you doing?” Kailani asked, her voice holding much scepticism. Her question reminded him that she was still with him.“I promised to inform the King if the ship was ever to land on the shores of the kingdom, and that’s what I’m going to do.”“And what’s this hol
He stood on the balcony and watched the princess through the open window of the upper floor, changing into her night robe. She no longer lived in the Royal Palace with her father but now lived at the Othman’s estate with her husband, Niall Othman, as a dutiful wife.He was miserable without her, but he couldn’t imagine how miserable she must feel being married to a man she didn’t love or want to be with. Being united for the rest of her life to a man who placed little regard on her. He married her for her name and probably bore her the same contempt she bore him.Or maybe he loves her.That could also be true, but he didn’t want to accept that it was true.She looked beautiful even now, and he hoped Niall told her that every chance he got. Ace hopes Niall told her she was beautiful, precious, and the most priceless possession he ever had the privilege of attaining.She deserved to know that.Ace snapped out of his thoughts when he heard voices and footsteps coming from not so far away
A month laterA lot has changed for Ace in the kingdom. Since finding out about his family and lineage, King Xavier has welcomed him into the family with open arms. He also inducted him into the council of elders, a decision that brought confusion to the council at first because the council of elders was made up of men of noble backgrounds with power and title and wasn’t occupied by commoners. Xavier later told them who he was and how he was the heir to the land and fortune of House Don, as Lady Iris never married. He told them he was the son of Iris Don, changed his name to Lord Ace of the House Don, and awarded him his birthright. With his mother being Iris Don, questions rose about whose son he was, and Xavier asked if he wanted the truth about his father known. Ace wasn’t ready to do that. Learning about his father’s existence was one of the worst moments of his life. And if he could live his life without acknowledging his existence, he would gladly accept it. Xavier told him he u
A short story about AceAfter the battle...Ace’s eyes opened in the room, and he did not know where he was. He looked up and saw Xavier towering above him with a cut on his face that should have healed a long time ago. However, for some strange reason, it hadn’t.He was in Wahala. The last memory he had was in Klean with Princess Xoe. She had asked him to mark her because her father wanted to marry her off to Niall Othman, the noble son. He saw the look on her face, which told him this wasn’t what she wanted. This was not what he wanted either, but what could he do? They were on a mission, and that had to come before anything else. Not being able to do anything else offended him, but that was the point. He had to accept his fate. There was no greater pain than being unable to be with the one you love, whom you were created for, but perhaps this was his wage for all the evil he had wrought in the world. Yes, he wanted to be a better man and worked towards that, but it still didn’t undo
The news of Lady Lily’s death broke his heart. He knew her as a child because her father, Lord Crow of Shelled, was an ally to the crown. She was gentle and kind, and when he learnt Elliott had married her a few summers ago, it grieved him because she deserved better. She didn’t deserve this cruel fate; she didn’t deserve to end like this.“Then we shall put them to rest together.”They couldn’t send Lady Lily’s body back to Shelled; she was an Ainsworth, and so it was their duty to guide her to the life beyond. Abiding by the custom of the land, Xavier sent words to Lord Crow about the passing of his daughter.Then he sent for the priest and the ceremony leader to help put everything in place. With their help, they wrapped up what they could of Robb and organise his funeral on the pathway as well as Lady Lily. Just as Edward had made Mia stay back while he showed Xavier the room, Xavier made her stay back while they carried Robb’s body away for the last rites.After taking the rites
Sorcerer Zor’d levitated to where Edward stood in the cloud, leaving Elliott and Sir Marx behind. “I see you have joined the side of Doom. You are like me now.” He said it with a smile that wrinkled up the side of his face.“I am nothing like you,” Edward answered through gritted teeth.“We serve the same master now, and that means we have the same goals and objectives. We are the same,” he insists.“I will say it again. I am nothing like you.”“Deny all you want, but I know the truth. Those who had joined the side of Doom had always thought themselves better, seeking the greater good, but in the end, they all end up in the same place.” Zor’d told him, moving towards him in the sky.“I’ve been there. The quest that led me to Doom was that of power, and it has been the same for everyone. Doom takes power from the dead and gives it to their own, and in turn, their subjects reap souls for the rest of their lives.”“Stop talking,” Edward ordered, his hands balling into a fist.He scoffed,
“Men, together with me!” Xavier yelled. Seeing that over half of them had fallen on the battlefield already.Elliott had the advantage and had reduced them greatly with the help of his sorcerer. He had seen in the vision the great war, and this couldn’t have been it. He didn’t believe this was the battle in which he would fall. He didn’t want to accept it, yet there was no other option playing out before him. The enemies were on the verge of winning and trampling them under their feet.“They are circling us!” Sir Valerio shouted. “Back-to-back, everyone!” At his command, the men turned around so that their backs faced each other so that they could keep track of the enemy’s movement. It’s not like it would do much at this point.“Hold your ground!” Xavier said. With great command, the men did as he told them.The armies of Elliott launched at Xavier, growling and with yellow eyes. He caught one of the attackers and ripped his mouth open before tossing him away.“Hold your ground!” He ye
Kailani raced as fast as she could to the Palace Du Royale, where Alpha Chado had told her Edward was headed when they last saw him. The ongoing battle had made it easier for her to ride here with ease because the soldiers, guard, and army were nowhere on the road. Most of them had assembled at the Black Cove for the battle, and the rest were at the palace, guarding and keeping it safe. It was good enough for her and aided her movements, as she no longer had to hide to avoid confrontation or arrest.She slowed down when she drew closer to the gates of the palace, where her trouble would start. She knew there would be soldiers on guard at the palace to protect and defend it against intruders like her. She already fixed her mind on fighting them with everything she had way before she reached the palace, and there was no turning back.She pushed at the gate, and it opened with little to no restraint, and she stepped into the palace estate compound. Her heart was beating loudly at this poi