Day 13

Ferox entered into the not so well guarded castle. Servants were cleaning blood off the walls and mopping up blood from the floor.

“What happened?” He asked.

“Which time?” the slave asked in return.

“Speak girl.” he said in a stern tone.

“We were attacked and slaughtered. If it wasn’t for the queen’s betrothal to the Dragon Rider prince, we all would have fallen. Two assaults, one while tending to our wounded. But what do you care? I am but a slave.”

Ferox looked around.

“Whose blood is this?” he asked.

“My son’s, my friends, some guards, some from the tribes meeting for the peace talks. There are rumors that the queen attacked her own peace talks.”

“Do you think she did this?” he asked feeling justified in his beliefs.

“No, after the queen’s head injury she can’t stomach the smell of blood. She even puked when she saw her dead soldiers and today again when she saw her dead friend’s blood. She was angry when the shadow of death killed everyone loyal to Black Beard. She even lets us look at her face and she cancelled the traditional execution for such gatherings and had a dance in which everyone could participate. We got to dress as equals.” The slave began to cry “We really like her.”

“Who?” Ferox asked “The queen?” he was surprised.

“Natrica. She treated us as equals, never looked down on us. Couldn’t understand her and she couldn’t understand us, but she communed with us. It was right for the queen to honor her as she did.”

Ferox began to feel conflicted.

“Who was this woman that didn’t speak the queen’s language?” he asked.

“She didn’t speak any language of the land. Only the queen’s Viden can communicate with them. He kissed her. Even the shadow of death loved her. You should be careful, the shadow of death is unpredictable and with her friend who cared gone, no one can stop her.” The slave sounded worried.

“Shadow of death?” Ferox asked.

They had referred to this a few times.

“The woman, who’s shadow is the last thing you see.” she said as if he should know this.

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Ferox walked through the castle he saw out of a window the ash piles where people had been burnt. He began to realize the depth to the attack. He walked past the first room were injured people lay. Mystic healers were healing them. He saw a second room with injured people. Spice a slave girl he had once met as a sickly child walked out of the room.

“Slave who are these people?” he asked her.

“I am not a slave. I am the physician in charge.” Spice answered.

“You are Spice, slave to the great physician…” his voice trailed off.

He remembered that her master had died.

Spice looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“My apologies, who are these people?” Ferox asked again.

“The wounded from the slaughter.” Spice answered.

Nikki came to visit the recovering.

“Who is that?” Ferox asked.

“Go home. Son of Barron.” Spice said.

“Indeed, you are not a slave. For you have found your voice.” He was annoyed by her.

“I have the ear of the queen who personal made me the physician in charge. Who are you that I should answer you?” Spice asked seeing his expression of annoyance.

Then Spice asked not really expecting an answer

“Who did this? Whose men attacked us?”

“Black Beard Gruff.” Ferox answered.

“What!” Spice was angry “You know Black Beard Gruff?”

Ferox was surprised.

“Yes, he is my friend.”

Spice then ran off and Ferox followed.

Spice ran to Tẽra.

“My queen, I must speak with you.”

“Spice come in. Who is your guest?” Tẽra asked looking at Ferox who now regretted following Spice.

Spice had indeed told the truth. She did speak with the queen.

“This man is Ferox son of Barron Bull Benz of the lands north of here, a large town called Norcumbrea. He has told me that Black Beard Gruff is the one who attacked us.”

“Black Beard the one who escaped the dungeon, the one Natrica was afraid of? The one I stripped of office?” Tẽra asked “Whose men Joe killed. How did he find so many loyal to him as to attack us during peace talks?”

Tẽra looked at Ferox.

“Speak, tell me how Black Beard, had an army to attack me with?”

Ferox gulped.

Nikki knocked on the door.

The queen spoke a language he had never heard before.

The blond woman walked in and spoke to the queen. Then she sat next to her at her right hand.

Tẽra told Nikki everything and asked her to stay and advice. She would explain what was being said.

Tẽra looked at Ferox.

Spice looked at Ferox.

Nikki looked at Ferox.

‘Gulp!’

“Black Beard told the people and his former soldiers that you are ill and that if we do not kill you and those protecting you…” he looked uncomfortable “You would kill us all in your madness. We have seen what you have done without being sick. Knowing you are weak and being remind of what we have lost because of you. It was easy to get an army and find people in villages willing to fight. After all the orphans have nothing to lose. The childless widow has nothing to lose. Believing you were weak and fearing the crazy, people…” his voice faded “Came for your head” he finished.

“Yes, I heard them calling for my head as they killed everyone within these walls. Slave, free, royal, or just here by mistake like you.” Tẽra said.

She then called for her guards.

Zazo came in “My queen.” He bowed.

“I have had confirmation that it was Black Beard Gruff that attacked us and set the villagers against us. Use whatever Skiopia men you can trust. Lock him up in the dungeon. I have peace talks to attend to.”

“What are you going to do with Ferox?” Spice asked.

“Let him go.” Tẽra answered.

Spice looked confused.

“What is he going to do? Ran off and tell them I still have my head and send another attack?” Tẽra asked “If someone enters these walls with the intent to harm us, they will die. Just like the last lot and if that happens, I will let the Lovac tribe hunt them down like they requested.” Tẽra kept a calmness and composure that made what she said scary.

“The Lovac tribe is dead. You killed them all.” Ferox said bravely.

“No, we were sent to die in a mine far underground. But we are alive.” Autumn said behind him.

“You stand with the woman who sentenced your tribe?” Ferox asked confused and afraid.

“A knock on the head made her a new person.” Autumn answered Ferox.

“I have heard we have a guest in the dungeon.” Autumn said to Tẽra.

“Do not touch out guest. She must remain unharmed.” Tẽra said firmly.

Ferox left the room stealthily he was very confused.

“Black Beard attacked us and set the villagers against me.” Tẽra informed Autumn.

“I found the woman Sugar. She is cleaning up. She was taken captive. Sugar went crazy didn’t leave even a breath of life between all of them.” Autumn told Tẽra.

“Tomorrow please find Jessica and then Black Beard. I will have Zazo and his trusted men follow to back you up.”

“Why don’t you marry Zazo?” Autumn asked.

“He is betrothed.” Tẽra answered defensively.

“Fooled me.” Autumn replied shrugging.