#2: Unbroken Oath
Library
The bewildered man found the company of the books as the only comfort he can only find. A hand dropped on his shoulder. His eyes turned teary as soon as he saw who it was. "Wise Cressen. You are alive", Varick stood up and held the old man's hand tightly. Wise is a title given to men who crawled their way to learning the secrets of the land from a young age. These are individuals who dedicated their lives to being vessels of knowledge. "I guess I was spared due to my age. I'd be dead meat soon", Cressenchuckled and assisted Varick to go back to his seat. Both have no idea how to start the conversation. "I was the first person who saw that Claudius the Peacemaker died in the hands of the child he treated as a son", Cressen opened.
"All he ever wished was to have a son but all he kept getting were lovely ladies", Varick tried to lighten up the flow of conversation. "If I recall, you both really get along with each other. Bookish", Cressenlaughed at his statement. Two continued to reminisce all their joyful moments with Claudius, the King who never waged a war in his entire rulership. "Guide him", Cressen looked at pair of sorrowful emerald eyes. "He threatened me with my daughter and- How am I going to serve a King that I don't wish to?", Varick shook his head. "Was it him? A baby crow cannot eat on his own. It's the parent crows who feed worms on its mouth", Cressen patted his shoulder and pressed it harder. "That child- His tears were river as he held the King in his arms. Help him, I'm begging you. If not for us, then for the future of the next generation", Cressen said before leaving the man on his own.
Throne Room
Volde stared down at Varick from his seat and studied him, a good-looking snow-skinned man. "Do you know how to hold a sword?", Volde raised his brow. "No, Your Grace. I spent my whole childhood learning how to read different symbols of the different Kingdoms, even Riverdellian and Leuronna's writings", Varick explained his inability to hold a sword. "Your ancestors are known for being great warriors, aren't you a disgrace to your family?", Volde furrowed his brow looking away. There was a moment of silence. More of it, it's only the two of them. The King somehow thought that he might have offended the man. "Speak", Volde permitted him to speak. "The only disgrace I will bring to my family is forcing myself to become what I'm not. I believe we all have a place in the realm and not all men have their place on the battlefield", Varick looked straight into Volde's eyes.
"Enough with your preaching. We're here to discuss the re-establishment of the peace between the allied kingdoms", Volde crossed his arms. "Before that, Your Grace. You need to have a Kingsguard. Your father, the Hand of the King has a different task at hand. He cannot protect you and guide you at the same time", Volde suggested. "I know of a man. He will remain loyal to whomever I oath to", Varick opened the door and invited a man to enter. Volde's eyes widened as he looked at the tall Eire knight with his full armor. "It's no tale. You are the size of a giant", Volde nodded and stood. "Speak your name, your origin, and who you serve", Volde commanded. The tall man looked at Varick who gave him a nod as an assurance. "Geryon from the House of Erythia, I serve the King of whom Varick serves", Geryon answered. "Wise Cressen ", Volde called out. The old man slowly entered with a dagger and a golden plate. They were all gathered in the middle of the throne with a small table where the golden plate lay flat. Varick looked at the dagger, examining any signs of disfigurement. "I won't poison you. Not now", Volde noticed the hint of suspiciousness in his eyes. "Lord Varick, it is time for you to choose your fate. Do you wish to serve the man who holds the scepter and oath to protect the realm of men until the day you die?", Cressen looked at the man's eyes.
"Your Grace, tell me, why does it have to be me?", Varick held on to the dagger. "No particular reason", Volde looked away. "Why did you choose me?", Varick repeated. "It wasn't me who chose you. The council wanted you here", Volde furrowed his brow showing irritation. "You could have said no. You are the King", Varick opened his palm. "Regardless of whoever whispers in my ears, I still have the final say. Whatever will be the decision is my responsibility, even the death of the former King", Volde said in a soft voice. Varick pressed the dagger on his finger and dripped his blood on the golden plate. Geryon did it as well. "I, Volde Raven, First of my name, 111th King of Eragon name you as my Royal Adviser and my Kingsguard", Volde announced. "Aren't you supposed to bless the Kingsguard with your sword? Your Grace", Varick looked at Geryon waiting for the ritual. "The next time I draw my sword, it will be used to stab a traitor", Volde sat on his throne once again.
Boundary of Orden
Moat Castle Hall
"Our brother swore his loyalty to the Ravens", Lester, the eldest brother of the Evregarden slammed the table. "He's a captive of the Ravens. We should plan out how to rescue him", Tyrone tried to convince his teeth and mentally cursed the Ravens. "We cannot attack aimlessly. Raven started to earn allies from different foreign kingdoms. How sure are you that he didn't bend the knee to these foul birds?", Oliver tried to calm the brothers. "You know him since he was a child. He was hard to reason with. I don't believe he was made to bend the knee just for any materialistic exchange", Norman sighed deeply. "A letter was sent just this morning; The Queen is taking Varick's daughter to Andor as a representative of the Capital. Since Varick swore on Raven's name, and so it goes with his child", Mance stood up and looked outside the window overlooking the direction heading to the capital. "Poor girl, she has no idea what kind of place they are taking her", Lester covered his face knowing the misfortune that his niece might go through.
The door opened with two soldiers carrying an unknown Knight. He was wounded and covered in mud. "What happened to him? He has a Knight pin for our House. Speak man, whose nobility do you serve?", Oliver raised his head. "Lady Zefania. I- wasn't able to stop them", the seventeen-year-old knight had his tears falling down his face. "I am so weak! I was spared by the lady herself", Dillon gasped for air. The soldiers dropped him on the ground. "My lords, Lord Varick's house, Evregarden, had been burned along with the fields. They slaughtered every man and old woman. The children and young women were sold to Leurona, I saw their sigil while I was- running away to save my life", Dillon punched the floor. Lester's eyes widened along with the brothers. Mance started to walk heading outside. "Where are you going?", Lester grabbed his arm. "We don't know whose house will burn next. I will get my men and protect my house", Mance had teary eyes. "I have to excuse myself as well, brother. Mance is right. We don't know who's next", Norman also passed through them. Dillon grabbed onto Norman's feet. "How about Lady Zefania? Who's going to rescue her?", Dillon held tighter. Norman's heart broke for the young girl. She was lovely and sweet and so is with her daughter. Norman removed his grip and left with Mance.
A hand dropped on Lester's shoulder. "Go, home brother, when we are able to secure our family, then that's the time we can save both Varick and Zefania. I'll stay here in Moat Castle, I'm the only one who wasn't able to have a family. Unlike all of you", Oliver nodded and went to view the window. "You can't do that. Lady Zefania is in danger", Dillon pleaded.
Road to Andor
Cariage
"Don't you love the smell of the fresh air? We just came from smelling burning flowers, houses, and peo-", Aya stopped when Zefania sniffed. "You're ruining your face. Come on, stop crying. I'm bringing you to a paradise", Aya held onto the poor girl's chin. Zefania slapped her hand. The Queen was displeased but held her anger. "You will thank me when we're there. You will be treated by them as their princess", Aya crossed her arms. The carriage stopped and it made Zefania's heart beat faster. She slightly wished she didn't kick Dillon on the cliff so someone would be there to protect her. Thinking of it, she shook her head and convinced herself that Dillon might get beaten badly for his refusal to hand her to the Queen. "Time to go, Princess", Aya grabbed her arms and pushed her outside.
Zefania's eyes widened as she sees a Palace hidden in the forest. It was enormous. Zefania's eyes glanced at two marvelous waterfalls. "I told you, you'd thank me when we get here", Aya pushed her to follow the man in front of them. He was wearing a different set of clothes. "Welcome to Andor, the Land of the Trees and Mountain", he spoke Andorian tongue. One of the soldiers stepped in and translated it into the common tongue. "I brought a gift for the King", Aya looked at the soldier. "The Queen-", the soldier was cut off. "Of course, Your Grace. We are awed that you came here by yourself", the Andorian spoke the common language. "Forgive me for not speaking in your tongue a while ago. I am Nova, the messenger of the King Zakili", Nova, the long brown braided hair introduces himself. His hazel brown eyes looked down on the lady. "I believe His Grace will be pleased with your gift", Nova had a poker face looking at the lady.
Throne Room
Zefania gulped as soon as she saw the man sitting on the throne. He's eating raw meat. The bones are still attached to it. Blood is dripping in his mouth. Big brown eyes, dense eyelashes, arched eyebrows, jaw tight and small, and nose heading inside like a falcon. It was exactly how her father described the eye-catching features of the Andors.
Zakili reached out his hand to Zefania. His long slender fingers are stretched out to her. Zefania looked at Nova. "The King wishes to see you closer", Nova bowed his head. Zefania gripped her dress and stood on her ground. "Try disobeying what he wants and I'll make sure to burn all your uncle's houses", Aya threatened. Zefania took one step after the other. Her heartbeats kept increasing. "I smell fear", Zakili signaled her to stop. The twenty-three-year-old King looked at the Queen. "My former Kraljica died because of a disaster. Now, we have no mother for the lost children. Will she be willing to foster them?", Zakili looked straightly at Zefania. Aya and her translator looked at each other. He whispered what was said. Aya's eyes widened." You're making a mistake here, Your Grace. Kralj. We brought her here as a slave", Aya clarified and stepped forward. The warriors all went in the middle to protect their King. "Your gift is accepted. Whatever I do with her is my own decision. Your debts to Andor had been paid. Lead the guest to their room", Zakili ordered. The female servant with a mask started to entice the soldiers as they follow them. It was only Zefania, Nova, and Zakili. "I have no idea what you just said a while ago. I begged for your mercy. Let me go back to my family", Zefania cried. Zakili went down from the throne platform. He lifted his hands seeming to cup Zefania's face. He slapped her. "Starting today, you are the mother of the lost children", Zakili whispered in her ears.