Page 5 of Her Royal Blood

“I’m sure it’s not, but the damage is already done.” She shook her head in defeat.

“Did Polonius say anything else?” I asked. I didn’t want to hear more, but I had to know. “What about the Royal Mage?”

I knew Sire was a traitor, but I prayed Halo had been trustworthy. Aria deserved to have at least one person in her world that she could actually rely on since I wasn’t going to be there.

“Sire Vanoire is the Royal Mage of Tobran, now. Halo Goldlace is alive. The Goldlace family and the Lupine Coalition are cooperating with Polonius. He thanked them in his speech and showed Halo. She looked a little roughed up, but he blamed it on the opposition fighters who he said he’s defeated. She will be the second Royal mage. Lara Goldlace was seen in the projection as well, saying that the Obsidian Valley was working with Polonius and her sister. If you ask me, they are all being coerced. Lara Goldlace is a criminal mastermind. She’s bowing down to keep her sister alive.”

“How do you know?” I asked her, curious to understand more.

“I’ve lived in the Obsidian Valley my whole life and Halo Goldlace is nothing but a sweet scholar, it's Xavier and Lara you had to watch out for, but that kid has a heart of gold. No way she’s actively on Polonius’ side. Like Queen Aria,” she looked at me, definitely knowing what was truly happening. “They are being held against their will.”

“Will you help me fight them?” I asked, barely whispering.

“No,” she shook her head. “But I’ll do my best to heal whoever falls,” she said, closing her eyes. “Get some sleep. Talking is only going to weaken you.”

Clearly she had told me all she planned to share. I don’t think she shut me down because she wouldn’t fight, but rather shesilenced me because she didn’t have any fight left. As I looked around the cell, that's what I saw in the soldier’s eyes as well, defeat, not just of Onyx Rah and its fledgeling reemergence, but of all of the years where they’d already borne the legacy and pain of their dead. It was like lava was bubbling all around them again. They’d lost a generation and now they were losing again.

I closed my eyes and did as the woman, who still hadn’t given me her name, suggested. I needed to sleep. I needed rest because in the days to come I’d have to fight with every ounce of my will and strength to get back to Aria and return a kingdom to its people…again.

I must have finally dozed off because when I woke up, I felt sick and nauseous but stronger and we were no longer moving. The guards were yelling in the hallways and everyone was getting up on their feet. I rose with the rest of them.

“Here we go,” one of the women said.

I had expected to see some fight in her eyes, but they were dead and emotionless. How had they all been brought down so quickly? They weren’t injured like the men. As we shuffled toward the door I watched the others leave their cells and walk with listless bodies as they were chained by the wrists to each other in a long row. We didn’t speak to one another as I waited for a guard to come and chain me to the medic and other soldiers.

I could understand why no one was speaking when I saw a man try to spit on the guard then had his face bashed in with a tight fisted punch. That same fist was waved in front of the rest of the prisoners as the assaulted man struggled to stand.

“Anyone says a word and I’ll bash your head in,” the guard threatened. “Keep your mouths shut or there will be no food and no drink for any of you.”

That’s how they kept the defeated prisoners down. We were marched off of the boat and onto the dock where a commanderstood on a platform. All around us were gates with sharp barbed wires affixed to shards of glass.

“Welcome to the Isle of Vitoria. I’m Sergeant Evercriss. For the rest of your life you can consider me your lord and master, second only to the great Polonius himself. This ladies and gentlemen is where you will die. For some it’ll be from premature aging after endlessly long days of hard labor. For others it’ll be a simple infraction of the rules that will end your life. There will be no mercy and no respite. The only way off of this Island is by Polonius’ special invitation.”

The sergeant was stocky and thick and built like a battle barge. He stood with his feet apart and his hands clasped behind his back, face sour as spoiled milk

“Some of you may be lucky enough to be chosen to work for Polonius, the new ruler of Tobran,” he laughed. “But most won’t. Welcome home!” he said with an evil grin. “You’ve missed breakfast, the next meal is dinner and as soon as you are assigned a bunk and get your uniform, you’ll report to your work detail.”

After announcing the details of our doom on the island, Sergeant Evercriss exited the platform and we were shuffled forward. The Isle of Vitoria was once described as beautiful misery. With tall craggy mountains thickly forested by dense jungle that was parceled between raging rivers and torrential streams, Vitoria was almost uninhabitable. Designed to be a place where the worst criminals were housed and punished away from respectable society, it was now going to be the home of doctors, scholars and soldiers; anyone who had ever opposed Polonius would find their lives ended on the Isle of Misery.

As I passed Sergeant Evercriss, biding my time waiting for the moment when he could become my first casualty of war, he grabbed my arm, though I was shackled to the others. Our line of prisoners stopped as the Sergeant spoke loudly.

“Welcome to the Isle of Vitoria, Lex Redveign Prince of Navarrah City.” Well so much for keeping my identity a secret. “The only way you are getting off this island, is in a casket, as per the proclamation of the great Warlord Polonius. When you’ll be fitted into that casket is up to you. But we’ll be watching…closely.” He let go of my arm and smiled. “Enjoy your stay.”

And that was it, the greatest fight of my life had begun. All I had to do was survive and get back to Aria.

Chapter 3

Aria

I stood on the sidelines of my own wedding. In order to make sure that no one questioned my identity or appearance I used magic to disguise myself as a diplomat from Solbrook. I made my diplomat a scholarly middle-aged man with a strong, tall body. In case I needed to fight I wanted a little braun, however I didn’t want to be perceived as a threat.

Sire Vanoire was busy projecting his magic into the sky, testing the power of the projection and its scope. It was meant to be seen above all of Tobran, much like the sun and stars were seen by all. My wedding was going to be broadcast across all the kingdoms of Tobran through a magical display beamed into the air.

When I approached the guards protecting the wedding venue, which was the courtyard of Polonius's estate, I adopted the manner of a well-educated, highly esteemed man. I made sure to not only disguise my appearance, but also my scent and my wolf.

When I approached the guards I remained calm. I could see the wedding party and the guests gathering in the distance, and only that gave me a moment's pause. It was fascinating andequally distressing to see both my coronation and my wedding being celebrated while I was not a participant at either event.

“Halt,” the first guard said. “Do you have your pass?”

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