The grand doors to the throne room were thrown open by servants. The kings and queens of the four neighboring kingdoms entered, each with a group of courtiers.
"Remember today, Kit. The alliance formed here may stand for a thousand years, even against our common enemy, the Darklords." Queen Athena said to Kit in a quiet voice.
"Congratulations, mother. This alliance will be your greatest legacy."
"Nonsense, you are my greatest legacy." The queen replied.
The first of the many nobles approach Queen Athena. Alex cleared his throat to announce them. "May I present King Alfred Ironguard of Samia... and his daughter, Princess Frost Ironguard," Alex announced.
King Alfred bowed and kissed the Queen's hand. Kit looked over Princess Frost. She didn't smile but instead looked at him with a frosty look. Kit found it ironic that her name was Frost, and she reminded him of frost with her icy expression. Not taking her disrespect to heart, Kit decided to ignore her. After Queen Athena and King Alfred exchanged a few words, King Alfred and his daughter stepped aside.
"May I present King Guilhem Sagarus, ruler of Baynard..." Alex high-pitched voice sounded once again.
"Queen Athena." King Guilhem bowed slightly.
"And his son, Prince Petrus. Alex finished.
"Bow when you announce us, boy!" Prince Petrus shouted, before slapping Alex to the ground.
Kit's anger flared, he may be a prince, but he had no right to bully, even to someone of lower standing. Before his mother could stop him, Kit stepped forward and sent a fist into Prince Petrus's face, his knuckles ripping the soft baby flesh on his cheek.
"We still honor rules in this castle, and even sniveling princes aren't above them." Kit blurted, enraged.
"How dare you! Is this the greeting we get from Mirador. I'll see you burn for this!" Prince Petrus shouted, his high-pitched voice echoing throughout the room. All nobles in the room turned to see the commotion.
Before things got out of hand, King Guilhem turned to his son, "Hold your tongue, this is Prince Kit."
Queen Athena cleared her throat nervously, "I don't know what got into my son. Kit, apologize."
"No can do, I will not apologize to a cowardly spoiled prince." Kit said.
Kit was surprised by his outburst, although it did feel good, besides Prince Petrus deserved it. He always thought of himself as better than everyone else, even Kit's mother.
"No need, no need. I like to see a girl who will fight for her people." King Guilhem stated, trying to calm the tension in the air.
---
The festivities went on, and Kit started feeling bored. He hated these political meetings with a bunch of flattering nobles trying to manipulate events to there own benefits. He found anything to do with politics boring. He would rather be out fighting beasts or traveling the world, but, alas, he was a prince, so he was bound to the kingdom.
As more kings arrived, Kit noticed someone watching him from the crowd. A young woman, with a blank, passive expression on her face, and long black hair that ran to her waist. Something was different about the woman, but Kit couldn't pin it down. His eyes wandered down her dress, sizing her up.
Suddenly, the Queen stands and addresses the crowd. "For too long, we have fought amongst each other, squabbling over land while our enemy abroad grows stronger. Today we change that. Today, the Five Kingdoms become one, a clenched fist that will stand strong against all threats. To seal the alliance, please raise a glass with me to a brighter future... for us all!"
The assembled crowd of nobles cheer in unison, raising their glasses to towards the queen, before drinking it. Kit noticed two people not raising their goblets, King Guilhem, and Prince Petrus.
"Before my father died, burned alive by the Darklords, he told me one thing... Our lands will never be safe from them until we are one. One kingdom. One king." King Guilhem said, addressing the crowd of nobles. As he glanced around the room, he brought his gaze onto Queen Athena before finishing... "There will be no alliance. There will only be my kingdom."
When King Guilhem finished speaking, Kit heard the clank of armor coming down the hall... along with the screams of servants.
"No, how is this possible? The gates are sealed and the bridge is drawn." Queen Athena said, her voice quivering.
Vince looked to the queen, "The secret passage into the castle."
"How? The only people who know about it are you, me, Gabriel, and... King Guilhem cut her off, "Your brother, Javig." He is quite handsome but far too trusting. He never suspected his latest lover was one of my spies." King Guilhem laughed.
Kit was stunned, this man betrayed the five kingdoms for more power. "Typical, nobles." Kit muttered through gritted teeth.
"But don't worry, she has already gone to the underworld, and you will soon join her." King Guilhem grinned, revealing glistening silver teeth.
Watching the conflicted and confused nobles, some angry, some thoughtful, some happy, King Guilhem raised the glass to his lips. "Now then, let's get this over with, I have some big plans for my kingdom."
The doors to the throne room bolted open. Men in strange, glistening armor charge in, leveling crossbows at all the assembled guests. A man holding a crossbow towards Kit releases the arrow. Kit's reflexes reacted, as he dived into a roll, the arrow penetrated the wall just where he was previously standing. (Too close!")
Gabriel runs across the room towards Kit and Queen Athena, shouting, "Take cover!" Arrows zip through the air, striking fear into everyone. Screams echo throughout the throne room as the assembled nobles get shot down. Turning to his mother, Kit watches as an arrow pierces her heart.
Her eyes open wide, and her expression falters, as she falls to the ground.
"The queen!" Gabriel shouts.
"Mother!" Kit yells as he started making his way towards her now dead body.
But before he can get to her, the girl he saw looking at him from the crowd, drags him back towards the door. "We have to go..." the girl says. "No, I'm not leaving her!" Kit shouts, sadness filling his heart. Kit looked up, only to see Prince Petrus gleefully disarm and cut down another nobleman with a quick well-placed strike, and grin as the man's head fell to the ground.
"Ha! I've had better fights against my stablehands! Pathetic!" He grunted.
A few yards away, Gabriel fights back, impaling a Baynordian soldier with his sword and dropping another with a gauntlet to the skull.
"Kit, I need to get you out of here. Now!" Gabriel shouts across the commotion and panic.
Across the room a Baynordian soldier bars the door to the outside hallway. In his hands, he holds a massive axe. King Alfred tries to flee, but the soldier swings the axe at him, beheading him instantly. Kit watches with a sickening feeling making its way inside him. The soldier soon turns and spots Kit. Axe in hand, the soldier walks across the room towards Kit, his every step shaking the ground.
"You're next." He states.
Kit's mind worked fast. Glancing around for something to use against the soldier, Kit grabbed one of the goblet's and threw the contents into the soldiers face. The soldier immediately brought his hands up to cover his eyes. "My eyes!" he screamed.
Taking advantage of the opening, Kit kicked the man in the groin, leaving him reeling in pain. Taking one last fleeting glance at his mother, Kit turned and fled into the corridor.