Queen Qarinah almost killed me with her evil gaze before running after Torren. Torren had almost left the palace walls before she caught up with him.
''My lord'' she called out. Torren stopped and turned to face her and she fell to her knees.
''Lord Torren, please do not reject my sacrifice, she's the only princess at a marriageable age'' she continued ''What has she done that doesn't please my lord''
''You think this is her fault?'' Torren finally spoke. ''That ritual is for a bride who is willingly giving herself to her groom Qarinah'' he said angrily.
Qarinah had nothing to say at this point. She stuttered ''I..I..I'm sorry, I was only trying to...to..'' She thinks for a while ''yes, I was only trying to perform the marriage rite, forgive my ignorance''
Lord Torren scowled at her ''bring her to me before dawn or our deal is off'' he said and hurried away.
Queen Qarinah returned to the palace to address all the guests who Waited to see what happens. I was so scared as she walked into the palace, Louisa put a reassuring hand on my shoulders.
''Great people of Tron'' Queen Qarinah started to address us, ''nobles from all kingdoms in Galtelo, maids, and guests, I must assure you that nothing has gone wrong. Our charming lord Torren comes from a different part of our world where they do not believe in all marriage rituals but I must promise our princess is safe in the hands of Lord Torren. He will return to take his bride whenever he so pleases. My people, eat, drink and have fun before this ceremony is over'' she dragged me out of the palace while people while our guests ate and watched all entertainment for the ceremony before they finally dispersed.
She dragged me to my room without a word and motioned for a maid to come in.
''Get her out of this wedding dress and dress her like a queen, my men and I will take her to her husband in a while'' she left ''and hurry up'' she echoed in the hallway.
The maid took off my wedding dress and dressed me beautifully, I was terrified to death, I wasn't good at understanding what was going on but I knew it wasn't good at all. In a while, we were on our way to Darca. I rode with my stepmother in a carriage while 2 other men followed us. Darca was very far and it took us the whole night to arrive there without stopping at all, it was almost dawn when we arrived.
As we entered Darca I expected to see vampires and zombies and maybe goblins, I thought I'll see all sorts of scary creatures but no, Darca was filled with normal people. Normal people who lived like me. I was a bit relaxed but when we approached Torren's palace, I got scared.
Queen Qarinah led me into the palace. Lord Torren's palace was decorated with the skulls of his 28 dead brides and this made me scared. I was shivering in fear.
As we approached lord Torren, Queen Qarinah nudged me to kneel at his feet which I did.
''Great lord Torren of Darca, I present to you your bride, wife, and queen'' she said bowing.
Lord Torren smirked with a little smile. ''You may leave queen Qarinah, good job, you shall receive what you desire in your castle tonight''
Queen Qarinah left with her men who had waited outside the palace. I didn't know what to do or say. There was no escaping now. I knelt there while he moved around me in a circular motion before he left.
''This way my lady'' I turned around to see a maid I didn't realize entered. I followed her and she led me to my room. My belongings were already set in there.
''I'll help you get out of that dress so you can have a warm bath'' the maid said and started untying my hair.
''Are you my maid?'' I asked inquisitively.
''The only maid my lady'' she responded shortly.
''The only maid in the palace?'' I was surprised.
''Lord Torren is not a man to be served by anyone my lady, my services here are just to you, tell me if you need anything'' she replied.
I looked around and noticed this room had only my belongings in it. ''Does lord Torren sleep here too?''
''No my lady, he shares a room with no one''
Now I sighed of relief but I couldn't help but wonder why Torren had no maids but only guards.
''What is your name?'' I asked.
''Kahlan my lady'' She responded.
''You know you mustn't always respond with my lady when I talk to you, it makes me feel uncomfortable with you Kahlan''
''I'm sorry my lady but I must if I desire to live'' she responded.
''How long have you worked here?''
''No exact period my lady. I work whenever Lord Torren picks a bride''
''Then you must have worked for the 28 of them, what were they like'' I wanted to know why Torren killed them all.
''Like you'' this was her first response without my lady.
''Do you think I'll end up like them?'' She didn't respond to this question which meant one thing, yes I would.
''Why did he kill them? what was their offense''
''I honestly cannot discuss this with you, my lady, I mean no disrespect. You must have your bath now so you can eat my lady'' she had undressed me and led me to the bathroom.
''Don't be scared, my lady. Lord Torren never consummated his marriage to any of his brides. You might not see him until your third night'' she said while massaging my back with oil. I didn't respond to that, my heart was heavy already. After having my bath Kahlan helped me dress up, it was already dawn.
''Do I serve your meal my lady or would you rest from your journey?''. She seemed to be in a hurry to leave.
''You said your services are only to me, why are you in such a hurry to leave?''
''I'm sorry my lady'' she apologized.
''Where's lord Torren?'' I asked
''Out with his men my lady''
I looked out, the sun had risen already. ''Under the sun?''
''Lord Torren is immune to the sun My lady'' she said calmly.
''There seems to be a lot of things I do not know about lord Torren. Come and sit next to me and tell me about Darca and its people'' I gestured to her and without hesitation, she sat but not next to me.
''My lady, according to my grandmother, over 100 years ago Darca was a land of grief and agony. It lost all its farm products and livestock, people were attacked and killed by Zombies, our land sought help from a lot of kingdoms but none came to our rescue. We had no ruler then, we had no choice but to go to the vampires for help. Nobody knew what the men sent to the vampires discussed with them as none of them ever returned but then days later, lord Torren rose against the zombies from nowhere and warded them off. Since then he never returned to Draven the land of the vampires and none of his brothers has ever stepped foot into Darca to visit him. It is rumored that he betrayed them because he wanted to be lord. That is how Lord Torren came to rule us. He may feed on us for strength but at least we have never been attacked by foes. Lord Torren is the strongest vampire that exists and we serve him with all loyalty.''
That was quite a story but I had more questions. ''Does he have magical powers?''
''More than any creature existing my lady. Lord Torren is not just the strongest vampire, he is the most powerful magic creature in existence'' she responded.
''What about...'' Then she cut me short ''I'm sorry my lady but I cannot answer any more questions, I have to serve your meal or put you to sleep''
''I can manage on my own, you can leave now, I'll rest''
As she wanted to leave she finally said ''Today at dusk is the dahal festival, as the lady of the house you must attend, I'll dress you when the time comes'' with that she left so I wouldn't ask about the festival.
As she left, I wondered 'what this festival would be about, could it be when I would be killed?' With that thought I couldn't rest nor did I have an appetite. Louisa's words kept ringing in my head 'just follow your heart' at this point my heart wants me to run away but how. This palace is heavily guarded.