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Chapter 26
The wedding had gone off as planned and the guests were now gathering in the great hall of the keep for the wedding feast.
Nobles and merchants from the nation’s cities and neighboring countries wore their best clothes, newly made just for the event. The great hall was alive with the guests and the bright variety of colors created a festive atmosphere along with the loud and pleasant sound of multiple conversations of the guests. Many new acquaintances and relationships were being forged in the interest of politics, peace and trade as the guests were introduced to each other. Occasionally guests could be heard laughing at something funny someone had said.
Josh was escorted into the great hall at the appropriate time and went straight to his seat without moving around the room. He attracted the attention of a servant and requested drinks and food be brought to him. In
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In the instant that the room exploded in chaos Shay knew she had to leave. She turned around and saw Fiere was gone from his seat. She looked around quickly and saw him headed for the curtain behind their table. She knew he was leaving through the rear door and decided to follow him. She was surprised for the briefest of instants wondering why he would desert her. Then she realized he had made the connection with Josh after she had denied knowing him. She hesitated before following Fiere though the door. She turned to look for Josh. He was frozen for just an instant longer before he started to move.The guards moved quickly and began to close the doors at the back of the hall against protests from the guests. One door was closed in time while the second could not withstand the pressure and gave way with the guards and the door crashing outwards. Guests diverted from other exits which had been closed already to the one
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They made their way as best they could in silence save when one of them thought they had found a better way. Josh eventually took the lead pretending that he was as lost as Shay but leading her to the passage which Algwad had told him to. They moved, always progressing downward towards ground level and then below ground. How much time passed they did not know. Shay only hoped that Maica or Algwad did not think that they had found the passages else they would probably have them cut off at the lowest level and their escape attempt would be futile.Shay wondered where Fiere had gone. He obviously knew how to get out. They found a torch, presumably left by Fiere. It burned low but gave enough light to follow the passage. Eventually they found a staircase and descended as far as they could. The air became progressively cooler and the walls and floor damper as they descended further below ground level. At the bottom of the
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Shay felt her grip on the knife wrench free and she assumed that Josh had taken it from her. She rolled away as quickly as she could fearing an attack from him. Then she stood and turned to face Josh.Josh kneeled. He clutched at the knife that protruded from his chest. Shay stood frozen in horror and watched him as he tried to speak.“No!” Shay cried. She rushed over to Josh and caught him as he collapsed. She cradled his head in her lap. Blood poured from the wound in his chest. His eyes were open. He was still alive. He looked at Shay without saying a word. Shay could see the anger, hatred and vengeance from a moment ago were gone now and the old Josh was back.Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the life flow from Josh.“I’m sorry Josh. Forgive me. I
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Sleep eluded Shay as she replayed the events of the last few days over and over in her mind. She thought of her father and Josh. What had they done to deserve to die? How had her life turned to ruin so fast?She felt guilt at her anger towards her father. Life could be cruel and she had learned a lesson. But why did it always seem that lessons were learned too late? Her father was gone forever. The time she had been angry with him, blamed him, was time she could have spent with him. Quality time. There was no possibility to win that time back. Ever.She thought of how he had done everything he could to try and get their mother back without realizing her betrayal. She could understand why he had not told her the truth. Would she have blamed him? For sure. She wanted to believe that she would not have blamed him but she knew she would have. To some extent. That was what he ha
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Gradually the panic in the hall passed and the guests calmed down. Maica cried over the body of Mayle.Slowly the guests anger at her act of retaining them in the hall receded and was replaced by their compassion. They approached Maica and helped her up and into a chair.King Dulman from the kingdom of Fordor assumed control briefly and ordered the guards to remove Mayle’s body to his chambers. Meerde was present and confirmed preliminarily that Mayle’s death was due to poison.The guests gradually calmed down and left for their chambers.Maica remained seated at the table of honor, or what was left of it until the last of the guests had departed the hall to their chambers. Only then did Maica retire to her chambers.Maica sent m
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Shay woke with a start the next morning. She fought the confusion of where she was. Her entire body ached as she rose to her feet. She felt to make sure she still had the book and bookmark and found them inside her pocket. Shay felt as though she was being watched but could see no-one. As she stood there in the early morning light she pondered what to do.She chided herself. She should have kept moving the night before. By now she was sure the search for her would have extended beyond the castle walls. She thought herself lucky that she had not been found yet but suspected she could well be within the net of any search party. Shay turned looking for what she thought might be the best route to take and found herself staring down the blade of a sword.It was Fiere.“Sit down” Fiere whispered coldly.
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Maica sat in the great hall on the throne next to the throne of King Mayle which was covered in black velvet as a sign of mourning.She had already sent for the high priest and asked him to expedite the coronation officially making her the queen of Ethlerry. She added that since she was carrying the dead king’s child, succession was clear and should be granted without objection.The high priest was reluctant to do so stating that the nobles of the kingdom had to come together to vote to confirm the coronation.Maica pointed out that she knew the process but reiterated the dire situation with the kingdom being attacked already following the death of King Mayle. The kingdom needed a clear leader as soon as possible. It would not do to lose the kingdom to an enemy while people pressed their right and title to the throne.
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Maica stepped out on the castle turrets and surprised Galwin who bowed hastily. “Your highness, you should remain out of sight. You make a target of yourself.”“Thank you Galwin but I feel safe enough with you and your men.”Maica stepped over to the wall and looked down at the army below. “How many men?”“Perhaps a thousand Majesty.”“’Tis a small force and easily crushed when reinforcements arrive.”“So it seems. But I recall the army was much bigger than this when they landed and destroyed the catapults. I expect they seek to lure us out to attack them with false confidence given their size. The rest of the army is under cover of the forest I believe.”
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