Zara paced the length of her chambers, her fingers tracing the hilt of the dagger hidden beneath her cloak. The Oracle's words echoed in her mind. This blade will serve you in moments of despair, but it will also reveal your strength.
She had dismissed the Oracle's warning at the time when she was at the king's council for the initial marriage discussion, believing the dagger was simply a token of the journey. Now, she wasn't so sure. Erythian's presence loomed over her like a shadow, and though she had promised herself to protect Calithea at all costs, doubt crept into her thoughts.
Her marriage to Erythian had been a calculated move, an act of duty, not of love. But the reality of living as his queen was more challenging than she'd anticipated. Erythian was a man of strategy, constantly working to solidify his power, yet he remained a mystery to her. Zara had no idea what his true motives were, and the lack of trust between them gnawed at her every day.
"I need to know what he's thinking," Zara whispered to herself, gripping the dagger tighter.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Mirenna.
"Your Majesty, Lord Erythian requests your presence in the council chambers," the attendant announced.
Zara's jaw tightened. What now? she wondered, but she nodded and followed.
In the council chambers, Erythian stood at the head of the table, his hands resting on the edge as he addressed the gathered lords and advisors.
"We must move forward with the wedding preparations," Erythian said firmly. "Alaric's attempts to destabilize us will only grow stronger if we show hesitation with merging both our clans."
One of the advisors spoke up, his voice laced with concern. "But Your Grace, a wedding in this moment would garner so much attention and the queen's safety—"
"I will ensure her safety," Erythian interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Zara walked in, her commanding presence and her aura filled the room as the entire council members stood up and bowed in reverence to her.
"And what about my say in all this?" she asked, her voice calm but edged with defiance.
Erythian turned to her, his expression unreadable. "Your say was given the moment you agreed to this union. We are stronger together, my Queen. That is all that matters."
Zara's eyes narrowed. "Stronger together? Or stronger for you?"
A tense silence fell over the room as the two of them stared each other down. Erythian finally dismissed the council, leaving only the two of them in the room.
When the doors closed, Zara spoke again. "Do you truly believe this marriage will save Calithea? Or is it just another way for you to consolidate power?"
Erythian's gaze hardened. "I care about Calithea's survival. Whether you trust me or not doesn't change that."
"And yet, trust is the foundation of any alliance," Zara shot back.
Erythian took a step closer, his voice dropping. "Do you trust and believe Alaric more? Is that it?"
Zara's heart skipped at the mention of Alaric, but she quickly masked her reaction. "This isn't about Alaric. This is about whether or not I can trust you."
Erythian leaned in slightly, his expression softening just enough to catch her off guard. "Then trust me when I say this: I will not let Alaric get away with this!"
Later that night, Zara found herself in the secluded corner of the palace gardens, the dagger in her hand. She moved silently, practicing strikes and parries against an invisible opponent. The Oracle's words echoed in her mind as she worked…"all is not as it seems…"
the weight of her decisions were pressing down on her with every movement.
Her muscles burned, but she didn't stop. This was the only time she felt in control, the only time she wasn't drowning in the chaos around her.
"You're improving."
The voice startled her, and she whirled around, dagger at the ready.
It was Erythian.
He raised an eyebrow, his hands held up in mock surrender. "I didn't mean to disturb you."
Zara lowered the dagger but didn't relax. "Why are you here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he said, stepping closer. "What are you preparing for, your grace?"
She hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I'm preparing for whatever comes next."
Erythian studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Good. Because Alaric won't stop until he gets what he wants."
"And what does he want?" Zara asked, her voice sharp.
Erythian's jaw tightened. "Power. Control. And possibly, you."
Zara's heart skipped again, but she forced herself to remain calm. "My job is to make sure he doesn't get any of it." She said as she continued to practice with her dagger.
Meanwhile, Alaric stood in his war tent, listening to the reports from his spies.
"The queen is uneasy," one of the spies said. "She doesn't trust Erythian, and she's been training with a weapon in secret."
Alaric's lips curved into a smile. "Good. The more divided they are, the easier it will be to break them apart."
The spy hesitated. "But Erythian is pushing harder for the wedding to move forward. He's convinced them it's the only way to secure Calithea."
Alaric's smile faded. "Of course he is; Then we'll have to move quickly. If the wedding happens, it will strengthen their position. We can't allow that."
He dismissed the spy and turned back to his map, his mind racing. He thought of Lysandra, the fire in her eyes and the way she had stood up to him…it made him tingle.
He wanted her. Not just to spite Erythian, but because she intrigued him in a way no one else ever had.
"She's mine," he muttered to himself. "Not his."
The tension in Calithea continued to rise as the wedding drew closer. Zara found herself growing more restless with each passing day.
Her distrust of Erythian only deepened, and she spent hours trying to piece together his true intentions. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't figure him out.
One evening, as she stood on the balcony overlooking the kingdom, she felt a presence behind her. She turned to see Erythian.
"Do you ever wonder if this is worth it?" she asked, her voice soft.
Erythian stepped beside her, his gaze focused on the horizon. "Every day. But we don't have the luxury of doubt, My Queen, Not when so much is at stake."
Zara looked at him, searching for any sign of vulnerability. But Erythian's face remained stoic, unreadable.
She sighed, turning back to the view. "I just hope we're making the right choice."
Erythian didn't respond, but she felt his presence linger for a moment before he walked away.
In the shadows, Alaric's spies moved closer to Calithea's borders, their orders were clear. The time to strike was near.
And as Zara stood on the balcony with the dagger hidden beneath her cloak, she couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
To be continued…