The Ligrel clan had arrived; it was the day the king dreaded most. When he walked in and saw a protector of the Ligrel clan sitting in his study, he paled.
"Protector Klienn" the king gulped. He did not bother to ask how he had gotten in without the palace guards finding out. This was, after all, the Ligrel clan; entering a little palace in this small kingdom was nothing.
He paused at the door and looked at the elderly man. If not for his grey hair and wrinkled skin, one would have not been able to tell he was elderly; because he was as tall as ever and sat firmly upon his seat. No one in his right mind would assume him frail or weak.
"What's this about Helen marrying?" Protector Klienn asked and the king visibly gulped. But thinking back that this was Lady Wickshire's wish and he was supposed to say nothing about it, he found his voice.
"She fell in love and married," he said simply and the protector's eyes narrowed.
"And you think you have the right to arrange a marriage for an heir of the Ligrel clan?" the protector said.
"Heir? We both know Helen will never be considered a descendant, talk more of an heir. She wanted this, begged for it. I waited for information for a while and no one came up with any. She is twenty-five and I was getting worried my niece would never have the chance to marry, so, I granted her wish," the king said, looking right at the protector.
There was silence for a while, then he blinked and the protector was standing right in front of him, causing him to stumble back.
"You have grown in courage, Larken. Is it this new wife you married that gave you such courage?" the protector said and just on cue, Queen Raine strolled in. but she paused at the sight before her. The elderly man stood tall staring down at the king and the king was crouching away in fear.
"Who...?" she started to ask when she felt the air in her lungs escape her. Her throat clamped up, causing her to kneel in a struggle to breathe. In seconds, she felt her vision deem. As life was fleeing her body, a blue light burned on her left shoulder, causing the material on her dress to burn away. The light surrounded her in a protective halo and soon, the air in her lungs returned; causing her to go into a coughing fit.
"Please stop!" the king begged. Like lightening, Lady Teel appeared in front of her daughter and stared hard at the protector.
"Who are you?" she asked, her aura darkened and killing intent sipped from her into the air.
"Lady Teel, I have heard of your accomplishments, but you are still far from having the ability to throw me that look," Protector Klienn said with a blank expression.
"Take Raine and retreat, Lady Teel, this is a protector of the Ligrel clan," the king said frantically.
Lady Teel paled at his words and her aura disappeared as quickly as it had come.
"What have we done to offend you?" she asked.
"I want to know who you married Helen to?" the protector asked but the king knew, they had already offended Lady Wickshire, he was not going to reveal anything that would cause them any more troubles. Lady Teel and her daughter, Queen Raine, understood that too. Between who to fear most, the answer was clear; even the Ligrel clan have to bow before the Thraine house.
"You can't find out about him from us, because we don't know. He appeared here two months ago and soon, Lady Steinhouse wished to marry him. We don't know who he is. We only know that we have to be respectful. He had means..." Queen Raine said in between each breath.
"What means?" the protector asked.
"I... Protector Klienn, only my niece can answer that question. When you talk to her, you will know," the king said. He almost fainted under the protector's slicing stare, but he could say no more. After all, Lady Wickshire wanted this marriage. She would have a way of protecting those involved. He hoped his niece had an explanation that does not end with mentioning Lady Wickshire's name.