The Wicked House of Caroline

From the wide-eyed, almost slack jawed fallen expression on Luther’s pale face, it was obvious that he never expected her to respond. He stood in place, frozen for a moment as the Grand Hall went so quiet that Beks could hear Luther’s sharp inhale.

His eyes crinkled up as his voice shook. “What...what did you say?”

Beks held open the royal order for the guests to see. “I, Rebecca Anastasia of Caroline, eldest daughter of the Duke of Caroline, formally break my engagement to King Luther Walter dun Kadmus by Royal Order of King Laurence Thomas dun Kadmus.” Her voice was steady, as if reading any regular proclamation that didn’t concern her directly.

But each word that came from her mouth seemed to stab at Luther and he staggered back. The disbelief on his face deepened before he shook his head. “No..., no you wouldn’t.” He seemed to shake himself from his stupor and closed the few paces between the two of them. No one stood in his way and Beks didn’t resist when he grabbed the royal order.

She could almost see him trying to convince himself it wasn’t real as his hands grasped the sides of the parchment and trembled. As his face darkened and his breathing grew uneven, she was sure he’d try to rip the royal order if a special woven fabric hadn’t been used.

“The date is listed on the upper right-hand corner, just below the royal order number,” she said loud enough for everyone to hear. “If you check the royal order records, this date and number will match.”

She knew it would because she had already checked. A record book documenting all royal orders was prepared for each new monarch while they were still the crowned heir. They would begin to use their record book upon the death or abdication of their predecessor. The original record book was kept with the monarch in their study, but every month, it would be checked and copied by royal scribes so that the royal orders could be referenced by the courtiers and public.

Laurence had just become King and hadn’t made many orders, so no one had thought to make the copy yet. Then there was the chaos of Laurence’s accident and kidnapping. The record book was forgotten.

The Third Consort reached them and snatched the royal order from Luther’s hands. His eyes scanned the document and his jaw clenched. With his hands still gripping it, he turned towards the entrance. “Vice Chamberlain! Check the late King’s royal order records!”

Pulling himself out of his stupor, the Vice Chamberlain nodded and ran out the door.

Luther looked at Beks filled with disbelief and hurt. “Are you serious? You want to break off our engagement?” She remained standing firm and gave him a nod. His eyes reddened as he choked out. “Why?”

It’s fairly obvious? I knew you weren’t the most attentive person, but this is borderline delusional. Beks tried to keep a straight face so as not to give him a dumbfounded reaction at his ignorance. Didn’t he notice nearly everyone in the room looking at him as if he were an idiot?

Even if they didn’t know about her efforts being in vain, or her frustration and resentment that the power she was trying to use to not only keep the kingdom functioning, but improve it, was severely weakened, if not taken away, rendering her ineffective after twenty years of training, then they could at least understand if she was upset that Luther showed her immense disrespect by naming a Wife of Choice before he married a Wife of Convenience.

What was worse was that only the King or Queen was allotted two spouses. With three older brothers, most people didn’t think Luther would one day become king, at least until not recently. This meant that Beks never thought she would be given the title of Wife of Convenience and have to share her husband.

While she wasn’t as stunned as the other guests in the room, it didn’t mean Luther’s ignorance wasn’t shocking.

Beks didn’t answer him and remained standing in place. Guests had begun to whisper amongst themselves as gazes lingered on her, Luther, and the new oracle. Beks looked at the other woman, as well. From the histories she’d read on oracles, marriage wasn’t completely out of the question, but it was exceedingly rare.

Many Great Oracles had lovers, but a marriage could be used to control them, so the Temple was hesitant to grant them. Of the marriages Beks read about, they’d all been with common men and women; never a royal.

Which made her wonder if the Temple would allow the new oracle to even marry Luther, as then her interests would be inevitably tied to Kadmus’ interests, which could become a problem for the Temple.

As her mind was questioning the possible outcome of her now ex-fiancé’s marriage, the Third Consort scowled at Beks as if doing so would make her wither up and die. He didn’t like her; he never liked her, but her action was an affront to Luther and weakened the solidarity of the royal family.

“After all we’ve done for you,” he said in a low, hoarse voice. “We gave you the best education. Housed you. Fed you. We treated you like a family member! If it weren’t for us, you’d be dead due to your weak constitution!”

A few people gasped and there were some unintelligible murmurs, but Beks wasn’t troubled. She met the middle-aged man’s eyes with mocking ones.

“I don’t recall you funding any of that,” she replied. “It wasn’t you who provided the medical attention to increase my chances of survival. It was the late Queen.”

She heard her father let out a quiet snort behind him. “Looks like the new King learned to take someone else’s credit from his father.”

The Third Consort’s face heated up. One hand almost crushed the royal order as the other pointed at Beks. “The only reason you’re here is to ensure the kingdom’s prosperity!”

“That didn’t require me to be trapped on the palace grounds and excessively monitored,” Beks replied. She had the best of everything, but she paid a price.

Before the Third Consort could retort, the Vice Chamberlain returned clutching a white, leather book with gold embossed characters in front of it. His face was flushed from his run to Laurence’s study and back, but from the expression on his face, he’d already verified the authenticity of the royal order Beks had brought.

He panted as the people in the Grand Hall turned towards him. He carefully opened Laurence’s record book to the first page. He swallowed hard. “Royal Order 47-0004 was issued by King Laurence to break the royal order engagement given by the late Queen with Royal Order 46-0523.”

The hall burst to life with murmurs, gasps, and rapid chatter at the proof that Beks’ royal order was real and documented.

Across from her, Luther looked at her, betrayed.

“Is this about Iris?” he whispered in a choked voice, as if they were the only ones in the room.

“That is part of it. I never agreed nor did my parents agree to me becoming a Wife of Convenience.”

Luther let out a sharp breath. “Beks, the situation has changed. I am now the King.” He stepped forward with a pleading look. “No one is more fitting to be the Wife of Convenience than you. You prepared your whole life to support the kingdom! Everyone knows that! To step away from the position would be a waste of your talent and ability.”

She’d already seen what working under him would be like and she wasn’t satisfied. Still, she didn’t want to slander him in front of the courtiers. She didn’t want Laurence to have to take back a kingdom completely ruined as soon as she left.

“I want to go home with my family,” Beks said instead.

“Your family?” The Third Consort continued to berate her. “You ungrateful woman! Do you think that everything you have, everything you learned, and all the opportunity you had was given to you by your family? It was the royal family who made you what you are!”

A woman who now speaks her mother tongue with a foreign accent? My gratitude is overflowing. Beks didn’t react to the Third Consort outwardly and watched him yell at her as if his anger weren’t directed at her.

“Then shall we compensate you?” the Duke of Caroline asked in a smooth voice as his lips curled into a grin.

The Third Consort glared at him and grit his teeth. “The amount is not small.”

The Duke of Caroline shrugged. “I’m not poor. Send me the bill.”

The Third Consort let out a bitter, furious laugh. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’ve always been an arrogant man, Duke Caroline. Lady Rebecca has never gone against the royal family before; you must’ve had something to do with her decision.”

“Yes, I support it,” the Duke said, as if it were obvious. “It is the will of my daughter and I will respect it.” He narrowed his eyes as his smile turned cold. “I respected her decision to come to Kadmium twenty years ago. Or does the Third Consort forget that we didn’t send her or force her upon the royal family? Beks agreed to be taken here.”

There was some bitterness in his voice. Beks knew he regretted allowing her to go, but also understood why Beks agreed in the first place.

“I don’t believe this.” Luther’s trembling voice reached her ears and she looked back at him. A determined look filled his face as he looked towards Vice Chamberlain. “Vice Chamberlain Celis, call for a royal scribe! I want to make another royal order!

Another wave of murmurs filled the room and Beks had an idea of what he’d say. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do what he wanted just because of a royal order. There were reactionary laws in place to prevent particular acts of tyranny.

“What is your order, Your Majesty?” the Vice Chamberlain squinted, uncertain.

Luther looked back at Beks with pride and defiance on his face “Since my brother’s royal order broke our late mother’s, then I will also give a royal order and re-engage Lady Rebecca of Caroline to me!”

He seemed so confident and while a few people gasped at his proclamation, a few courtiers grimaced, as if embarrassed for him.

Beks shook her head. “I refuse.”

Luther blinked, blindsided. “What-”

“Royal Protocol Volume One, Marriages and Heirs, Section One, Paragraph Five: Both parties must be in agreement to a royal marriage,” Beks recited.

Luther frowned. “This is a Royal Order.”

“Your Majesty,” the Vice Chamberlain’s voice shook as he winced. “Under Royal Protocol, royal family members cannot use their position to coerce a marriage partner. If the prospective marriage partner is unwilling, they cannot be forced, not even by a royal order.”

“You can thank King Hidalgo, who forced five women to marry him in succession after the wife before them died under ‘mysterious’ circumstances,” Beks said. “He was executed by his brother for his misdeeds against the kingdom, and the law was created to prevent forced marriage by a royal from happening without agreement from both parties and the guardians of those parties.”

His plan had burst into flames before it had a chance. Luther looked at Beks, unable to understand why she was doing this. “We’ve known each other for years...why are you doing this to me?”

She met his gaze and tilted her head to the side. “I should ask you the same question,” she replied in a soft voice. She grasped the sides of her dress and stepped back, lowering her head, and bending her knee. She took a deep breath and then stood up straight, meeting his gaze. “I wish you a prosperous reign, King Luther.”

Beks turned around and seemed to be surrounded by her family without a word. Her father led the way in front of her, allow the crowds to part so they could leave from one of the side exits.

The Duke of Enidmore stepped forward with some reluctance on his face. He opened his mouth, but the Duke of Caroline shook his head once. Duke Enidmore took a deep breath and gave him an understanding nod before stepping back.

They were halfway to the exit, when the Third Consort’s voice filled the room. “Do you really think you can leave so easily?”

“There is no reason for you to hold us now that the engagement and coronation are over,” Beks replied, turning her head to the side. She continued following her father as her older brother put his arm around her shoulder, as if worried she’d turn back.

“Hold! Stop at once!” The side exit they were planning to leave from was suddenly blocked by a half dozen royal guards, forcing Beks and her family to stop. Her eyes narrowed just a bit as her father frowned.

Captain Ryger marched in front of them and turned to face the family, a frown across his stern face.

“On what grounds, Captain?” Duke Caroline asked.

“Duke of Caroline, we have reason to believe that you colluded with Marquis von Glasser to kidnap King Laurence!”

Beks jerked her head back as the guards began to surround them. For a moment, she was in disbelief at such an accusation. Granted, they did collude to kidnap Laurence, but Marquis von Glasser was not the mastermind. He didn’t find out until it happened. She controlled her expression, trying to remain stunned, if not insulted, as the room filled with confusion.

Her father, mother, and older brother moved around her and the children. Beks reached out, bringing her two younger siblings against her, with her arms in front of them as their father glared.

He slowly turned his head towards the Third Consort, appearing calm as he smirked. “Do you have any evidence to back this accusation?”

“Captain Ryger,” the Third Consort said, without taking his eyes off the family.

Captain Ryger stepped forward. “Marquis von Glasser was last seen at an inn in Greenhills before disappearing. There was a sighting of a carriage bearing the seal of the Duchy of Caroline nearby.”

The Duke of Caroline raised a brow. “And that is proof of what?”

The Third Consort’s face flushed as Captain Ryger barely contained a flustered expression. “Duke Caroline, I am afraid you and your family cannot leave until inquiries have been made and your connection to King Laurence’s kidnapping has been made clear.”

The Duke of Enidmore stepped forward with a furrowed brow and frown. “Your Highness, Your Majesty, the Noble House of Caroline have been loyal to the kingdom for centuries. The late Queen fostered their eldest daughter. They would not plot against King Laurence.”

“I’d like to believe that as well, but they are not without motive,” the Third Consort said with narrowed eyes. “Lord Anders! Come forward!”

An older man with graying hair stepped through the crowds and bowed as he reached the Third Consort’s side. “Your Highness.”

“Lord Anders, you were the one who went to fetch Lady Rebecca from Sagittate over twenty years ago. Tell us, was the family willing to part with their child?” Lord Anders didn’t hesitate. “No, Your Highness. I remember distinctly.”

The Duke of Caroline appeared unimpressed. “She was three years old at the time. What parent would be so willing to send off their child?”

Lord Anders frowned, as if recalling what happened all those years ago. “The Duke and Duchess were unwilling and even appeared ready to come to an altercation with the delegation sent to retrieve Lady Rebecca. If Lady Rebecca had not appeared and agreed to come with us, we would’ve had a conflict.”

“And after twenty years, they must’ve harbored immense resentment, especially considering Lady Rebecca was not allowed to leave Kadmium,” the Third Consort said. “They must’ve seen her as a hostage and have been waiting years for their revenge.”

Luther looked at Beks with shock. “Is this true?”

She almost wanted to break royal bearing and walk back and smack him upside the head. Did that fool really believe they’d try to kill Laurence?

“Of course, it’s true! Why else would they support Marquis von Glasser and his daughter to take away the late King when he was most vulnerable!” That came from one of the nobles the Third Consort had been speaking to when they arrived.

The Duke of Caroline almost rolled his eyes. “You’re saying we colluded with a kidnapping as revenge? If so, why are you only bringing this to light now?” He smirked at the Third Consort and then looked at Luther. “Is it because my daughter rejected your son, so this is retaliation?”

More murmuring and a few whispers of agreement. It was strange that if there was such suspicion, it would only be brought up now.

“We were still investigating, but now that that you are threatening to leave-”

“Threatening?” Her father almost laughed. “We’re not threatening anyone. The ban has been lifted and nobles can now leave the city. It’ll be my daughter’s first time out since she arrived. I’ve planned an entire itinerary before returning to our duchy so that my daughter and small children can see the kingdom.”

He might as well have told the crowd that his family planned to go on vacation after this and whatever happened here had nothing to do with them.

“Your Grace, as people of interest, you are not allowed to leave until the investigation and trial concludes,” Captain Ryger told them in a steady voice. “I’m afraid I will have to take you in to ensure that you won’t flee during this time.”

The Duke lifted his chin. “We are loyal citizens of the kingdom and have nothing to be afraid of. We have done nothing to harm His Majesty King Laurence.” That was true. “Nor did we collude with Marquis von Glasser.” Also, true. If anything, Marquis von Glasser had been forced to collude withthem. “We will wait until a trial is held and our innocence proven.”

Deo’s gray eyes scanned the crowds as the guards closed in around them. “I don’t think he’ll let it end in our favor,” he said in a low voice.

Beks tightened her hold around her younger siblings and narrowed her eyes. “At worst, it will be an exile to the four winds.”

Her younger brother looked up at her. “How do you know?”

“I spent an entire year reviewing punishments for different offenses from the last several hundred years,” Beks replied in a quiet voice.

Her brother glanced back at her with some concern in his eyes and squinted. “What did they make you do?”

Beks took a deep breath, her jaw tight. “Clearly, more than the Fourth Prince.”

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

The throne room was filled with voices arguing back and forth. Iris sat in the viewing balcony, watching Luther hold court below as his father and two other nobles explained the findings supporting the Carolines’ involvement in the late King’s kidnapping.

The Third Consort was determined to destroy the Carolines. In particular, Lady Rebecca, as despite the rumors spread that she was mistakenly identified, the general populace of the kingdom still believed she was the Daughter with Dawn in Her Hair. The identity had been so closely linked to Lady Rebecca for the last twenty years, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that rumors of misidentification weren’t taken seriously.

But it still bothered Iris. It was as if that woman’s last two decades set her up to be a saint and it was difficult to tarnish her reputation and make the kingdom - and Luther - forget about her.

She drew her lips inward as she watched the two farmers in thin, patched clothing be shown a drawing of the seal of the Duchy of Caroline, but wasn’t thinking about them. Her thoughts lingered on Luther.

In the past two days, he’d been upset that Lady Rebecca had refused to marry him. Iris was overjoyed. It had taken all her strength not to show any sign of pleasure when Lady Rebecca rejected the engagement and even provided the royal order. She didn’t want to share Luther with another woman, and was glad that she insisted on being his escort to the reception that night in order to prompt that woman to refuse marriage.

Luther wasn’t convinced that Lady Rebecca would reject him. He had told her several times since that night that Lady Rebecca had always been loyal, not only to him, but to the royal family. He didn’t understand how someone so obedient would turn against them and had convinced himself that someone influenced her decision.

“Are you certain that this is the seal you saw on the carriage that night?” Iris refocused her attention on the court floor below. The two peasants shrunk back, intimidated by the nobles on all sides watching them. Lord Anders stood beside the large drawing of the seal.

One man in tattered clothes began to nod followed by the other. “Yes, yes, the carriage it was on was large. Far larger than normal!”

“It must’ve belonged to someone powerful. That’s why it caught our eye when we saw it that night,” the other man rushed to support his words.

The Third Consort nodded with approval at their testimony before turning to the courtiers. In Kadmus, it seemed that if a noble was accused of a serious crime, then their peers would judge with final punishment being approved by the monarch. In the Temple, the High Council would trial the accused, and in other kingdoms, it was solely the ruler who decided on the fate of an individual.

In this case, Iris wished it were the latter.

Too many people involved meant too many opinions. The Carolines had supporters amongst them. Even if they weren’t condemned to the fullest, their sentencing could be light due to pressure from allies. That wouldn’t do.

Rebecca of Caroline shouldn’t appear in front of her ever again.

“Up until the evening before his disappearance, Marquis von Glasser had maintained contact to assure us that he was on his way. It is too coincidental that he disappeared at the same time that his daughter kidnapped the late King,” the Third Consort seemed to reiterate. “It would be negligent of us to ignore that and the fact that a carriage belonging to the Carolines appeared near where he had been staying.”

“What if it was just a coincidence?” a noble asked.

“Such a thing can be considered a coincidence?” another snorted with distaste.

“If the Carolines were colluding, wouldn’t it make sense that they would take the King to Sagittate? We were informed that there was no evidence of King Laurence being taken to the Caroline’s territory during this time. In fact, the body was found opposite the direction of the territory.”

“Isn’t that a common tactic to confuse pursuers? Do the opposite of what you think would be done?”

“Oh, then now every prospective criminal will do the opposite of what’s logical? What kind of backwards reason-”

“Esteemed nobles.” Duke Seneca rose from his seat near the front of the court. His corner of the stands was where the Five Noble Houses would sit. At the moment, there were only four, but Iris still narrowed her eyes. In other kingdoms, high ranking nobles were at each other’s throats to gain dominance over the other.

In Kadmus, they appeared to be allies as Duke Enidmore and Duchess Latana had been questioning the accusing party since the start of the trial. In Iris’ memory, none of the Five Noble Houses had acknowledged her child, either. Duke Seneca had even admonished Luther.

At the sound of Duke Seneca’s voice this time, the room heavy with tension quieted down.

“When the carriage was allegedly spotted, it was already night. In the Greenhills area, only the high street has oil lanterns along the street. All other locations would require individuals to bring their own light source. Even then, most hand-held lanterns have a limited area they can illuminate. From the testimony of the witnesses, they had been on the embankment leading out to a country road when they saw the carriage pass. The carriage was moving, giving very limited time for any distinguishing markings to be identified by light of a hand-held lantern,” Duke Seneca said in a calm, collected voice. “Therefore, is it not possible that the witnesses made a mistake?”

“No!” One of the farmers said. “I know what I saw, Your Grace! It was indeed a wreath circling a sword.”

Duke Seneca narrowed his eyes. “Was there text surrounding it?”

“Yes, it looked like that drawing!”

“What did the text say?”

“I...I don’t know.” The two witnesses looked at each other. Rural peasants were often illiterate.

“Then how can you be sure?” “Duke Seneca, you are holding their ignorance against them,” Lord Anders sneered. “I take it you don’t take the testimony of commoners to heart?”

The two men in tattered clothes frowned at this, but Duke Seneca remained composed. As expected of someone of his standing.

“I am unconvinced that the carriage belonged to the Carolines. There is too much room for error. In addition, aside from a carriage vaguely resembling that of the Carolines’, there is no actual proof that they colluded with Marquis von Glasser,” Duke Seneca seemed assured of this and took a seat.

Iris narrowed her eyes at the stubbornness of the old duke, but at the same time, glared at the Third Consort. The Third Consort was unprepared for the Carolines to leave, but she had already done her part.

Her attendants had arranged for certain clerics who followed them to ‘heal’ the former King with their biha. Just enough each day to keep him alive, but unconscious and weak. They were to lessen the amount day by day so it looked as if King Laurence could not survive and died naturally. It would take any fault off the clerics. They couldn’t be held accountable if the former King’s constitution would not allow for biha to be absorbed.

She even had the Third Consort’s assurance that the clerics wouldn’t be held responsible. For a man who constantly blamed others, it was surprising for him not to blame the clerics.

Both she and the Third consort had a similar goal: for Luther to become king, and he couldn’t until King Laurence abdicated or died. The sooner he died, the better, as she didn’t want any chance of him surviving and ruining their lives. He was the bastard who’d kicked them out of the royal family in the first place, refusing to acknowledge their child as a royal, but allowing that woman to remain.

She wouldn’t let that happen again.

“Considering all testimonies and arguments today, We give a vote to the court on whether or not the Noble House of Caroline has a part in the kidnapping and subsequent death of His Majesty King Laurence,” Luther said, sitting up straight, though his voice was strained as he spoke.

Iris watched the nobles vote. A few people abstained. The Ducal houses all voted for the Carolines’ innocence. Regardless, the majority agreed that the Carolines had a legitimate motive and while solid evidence was lacking, there was enough suspicion to condemn them.

However, the most important fact was that someone needed to take the blame. Lady Eleanor and Marquis von Glasser were still missing. If no one were arrested, charged, and punished, the populace would be upset and, most importantly, see the royal family as incompetent. Luther couldn’t have that right now.

After hearing the court’s opinions, Luther seemed to sink back in his seat just a bit. He turned to Chamberlain Wilton, who was seated to his left with a thick book in front of him. The man was still healing from his injury, but due to his experience, he was best suited for the trial and was familiar with punishments.

Luther gave him a nod and Chamberlain Wilton took a deep breath.

He turned the pages of the book in front of him. He stopped and ran his finger down the page. “In accordance to precedence, for the crime of colluding with a state enemy, the Noble House of Caroline will be stripped of their titles. Stripped of their land, and exiled to the four winds.”

Luther’s head snapped to the side. “Exiled?” Iris wasn’t sure he was upset or disappointed.

“The head of the house should be executed for their hand in killing the king,” the Third Consort said in a low voice.

Chamberlain Wilton did not falter. “It cannot be proven that the House of Caroline took direct action. At best, the evidence is lacking and it is unknown whether they were aware of the Marquis and his daughter’s plan. For their indirect involvement, they will split and exiled, their lands, wealthy, and titles confiscated by the royal family.”

“If not of their involvement, we would’ve caught Marquis von Glasser and forced him to tell us where his daughter went!” the noble with the Third Consort argued.

Iris inwardly sneered. How sure were they that they’d be able to do that? Still, she wanted the Carolines executed, as well.

A loud thud sounded and all eyes turned to Luther as he brought down the staff beside him. His hand turned white holding it as he grit his teeth.

“We approve the punishment of stripping the Carolines of their titles, land, and wealth, and exile them to the four winds. The punishment is final.” He raised the staff and slammed the base against the stone floor once more, causing his father to look at him with horror. Luther seemed to notice this, but kept his eyes ahead. “Execution is too much in light of their centuries of service and loyalty to the empire, as well as guarding the northern passes. In addition, there are two small children who could not have any connection to the collusion. Kadmus law says we cannot execute anyone under the age of sixteen.” His lips pulled into a wry smile. “Even I know that much.”

Iris sank back against her seat, trying to keep her frown from being too obvious. Luther was still too soft, but she couldn’t do anything if his decision were final. He’d announced it to the court and taking it back would be an embarrassment. As court was dismissed, Iris stood up and left the viewing balcony.

She climbed down the spiral staircase and out into the side hall. The Third Consort passed.

“Lend me your guards. I will make sure none of them will return,” she heard him whisper in passing.

She didn’t acknowledge his request and kept walking, but her hand lowered and rested over her stomach.

╔═════════════════ ∘◦ ♔ ◦∘ ═════════════════╗

She wasn’t surprised at the verdict of the trial.

In the face of royal strength and respectability, what was an innocent family? Someone had to carry the guilt of Laurence’s kidnapping and ‘death’. Since Lady Eleanor and her father were hidden, she should’ve known that focus would be directed towards them.

This wasn’t how she wanted Wrath to learn what a scapegoat was.

When her family was arrested, though they kept up a proud appearance, Beks was sure that her father, mother, and older brother all considered this possibility. After three days, the trial was over and the verdict given.

She was right. Exile to the four winds.

She looked around her single person cell. The adults in her family had already been split up upon arriving. Her father and older brother were in a cell one level below. The cells there were carved with script that severely weakened a person’s ability to gather and use biha, rendering them unable to use it.

However, her mother and younger siblings were held on the same level as her, in another cell. It was said that they didn’t have biha wells when they passed beneath the bihar gate, which illuminated when someone walked beneath it with a biha well. Beks wondered if her mother and younger brother’s wells were simply too small to be noticed.

No one said a word to reveal them.

The day before, Chamberlain Wilton had come to tell them their verdict. Beks was quiet when she heard it and asked how they would be separated.

The adults would be separated and the two underaged children would stay with their mother. Though expected, Beks was relieved.

“My lady.” A shadow fell over the metal bars of the cell door. “The carriages have arrived to take you to the borders.”

She drew her lips inward and took a moment to collect herself. She turned around, the iron clamped around her ankles and heavy chain clanking as she did, and gave the royal guard a small nod of her head. “There is no need to address me by a title I no longer have.”

The royal guards didn’t seem to know what to say. They silently opened the door and Beks, still in the dress she’d worn to the coronation reception, stepped out. Her hair was down, as her nectaria hair pin had been confiscated. It could be used as a weapon.

One guard stood in front of her while the other was behind and walked through the damp, narrow dungeon halls that smelled of blood, sweat, and urine. They passed the cell where her mother and two younger siblings had been. The door was open, meaning they’d already been removed.

“My lady, I mean Miss Caroline,” the guard behind her said. “I don’t believe you or your family hurt the late King.”

Her lips pulled in a melancholy smile. “Everything we’d done was for his sake and for the sake of the kingdom.”

“You have always put the kingdom first, Miss. Because of your work, my wife was able to give birth safely. Thank you for supporting us for many years,” the one in front of her said with a tight voice, unwilling to have to part in such a way.

The royal guards had the best benefits of all the soldiers in the realm and it was thanks to her.

“We’re about to exit,” Beks said. “Put away your thoughts. Right now, you are royal guards and I am a criminal. Live your lives well.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The sunlight pierced her eyes and Beks squinted for a moment and almost stopped at the top of the steps exiting the dungeon. They were in an older part of the grounds and the area was maintained, but not as glamorous as the Gilded Palace or even the Old Tower.

There were many overgrown trees, uneven walkways, and lack of flowering plants. In front of them were four wooden prisoner carriages each drawn by two horses. The carriage driver was accompanied by a royal guard and there were about another half dozen royal guards ready to escort each carriage.

Her family stood in a line, waiting to receive their exile markings. Despite having been in jail for three days and wearing the same clothing, they didn’t look bad. They’d gotten food, drink, even wine in some cases. The guards had provided pillows, blankets, and even brought bowls of water and towels for them to wash their faces in the morning and evening.

Beks had laughed to herself then, thinking she was a very important prisoner.

“Beks.” Deo called for her first and as the guards gave them space, she walked towards him. Unlike him and her father, she, her mother, and the two younger ones didn’t have their wrists bound in iron shackles. Her eyes reddened.

Her family didn’t deserve this. The bridge of her nose soured as her eyes brimmed with tears. She stopped in front of her family and lowered her head. “I’m sorry. You are being punished because of me.”

“No one should apologize for existing,” her father’s low, proud voice told her. “Least of all a Caroline.”

“Raise your head, Beks,” her mother said, not sounding afraid or ashamed. “You have done nothing shameful.”

Beks took a deep breath and stood up straight. She looked at her proud parents, her confident older brother, reassuring younger brother, and resentful looking younger sister. Wrath was young and Beks could understand her anger, so she didn’t defend herself.

“His Majesty King Luther!”

Beks closed her eyes and let out a low breath. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see him or not. She turned around to face Luther as he arrived. He seemed to have come in a rush and despite being out of breath and flushed, he was gaunt and appeared exhausted.

“Give me a moment with her alone,” Luther told the guards. He reached forward and grabbed her arm before anyone could stop him. The royal guards had to step in to keep her father and brother from going after them.

They didn’t go far, just further away where their voices wouldn’t be heard.

“King Luther-”

“I won’t restrain you,” he said as he turned to face her, his hand still gripping her wrist. “I won’t be like my mother. I will let you come and go as you please. If you want to take part in governance, you can be my advisor. I will pardon you. All I ask is that you stay.”

She didn’t recall ever hearing such desperation in his voice. She drew her head back and looked at him with wide eyes. “Has your father agreed to this?”

“What does my father have to do with this?” He looked at her with a glint of madness in his eyes.

Beks let out a small chuckle and shook her head as she met his eyes. “Do you not realize how blindly you follow your father?”

Luther almost choked and frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“You do everything your father says. Since we were children, you have been this way,” Beks told him. “No matter what he says, to you, he can do no wrong.”

“He is my father. Everything he does is in my best interest,” Luther said. His casual, matter-of-fact response broke her restraint.

“And what do you think everything I’ve done for you was for!” She nearly screamed as she pulled her wrist out of his hand. The chains at her feet rattled as she stepped back and shot him a scathing look. “All that work, time, and energy I put in to try to educate you and make you a responsible, dutiful prince. Were all my efforts to make you self-sufficient in vain because of your father?”

“Beks-”

“I was groomed by your family to support it and this kingdom, and I have! And for all my efforts, my family is in chains and going to be separated! I can count the number of months I’ve spent with them in the last twenty years on one hand, Luther. Don’t you understand? Your father's efforts have taken away my foster brother, my reason for being raised in Kadmium, and now my family. Do you think I will want to stay in a place that dares to take everything from me and leave me as nothing?”

Luther’s eyes were wide and red. He opened his mouth but no words seemed to come out. He shook his head. “We...we are partners.”

Beks closed the gap between them and brought her face close, her eyes boring into his. “Then why didn’t you act like it?”

“My lady, calm down-”

“Your Majesty, are you all right?”

Each of her arms was grasped and she was pulled a few steps away from Luther. Her chest rose and fell, and she took a deep breath to calm herself.

“Beks,” Luther said in a tight voice. He could barely get the sound out. “Beks, I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t know your family-”

“My family did nothing wrong!” She almost snapped back. “Do you really believe that it was our carriage? Did you investigate how many of our carriages have that seal? Could it have been fabricated? And how stupid do you think we are that if we were doing something in secret, we would brazenly use our seal as if advertising we’re doing a crime?”

Luther swallowed hard. “We cannot let you off if the court cannot confirm your innocence.”

“It’s not about our innocence, Luther. It is about the facade of strength that the royal family has. If no one is captured and punished, what will the kingdom’s people say? What will other countries say?” Beks said, almost wanting to tear her hair out. They’d come this far and he was still so naïve, listening to his father without question. “If no one is captured and punished, Kadmus will look weak and weak underyour rule.” She tugged her arms away from the guards, who released her out of respect. She stepped back. “Luther von Kadmus, you are a disappointment.”

Luther sucked in a sharp breath and then narrowed his eyes. She’d never said such hateful words to him. She’d always been so supportive and encouraging. Even when he made an error, Beks would patiently help him figure out a way to correct it. “How can you say that?”

“From your affair with the oracle, your blind allegiance to your father, your irresponsibility, your ignorance, and to using me and my family as a tool for your own gain without my consent. It was one disappointment after another. Any affection I may have had for you is gone and will not return.”

With each spiteful word, Luther twitched, as if struck each time. He stared at Beks as if he were looking at a stranger who was wearing her face. This was not the Beks he knew. This was not the Beks she usually was, but she was angry.

Luther’s jaw trembled and he narrowed his eyes. “My father was right about you.”

Beks smirked. “Coincidentally, so was mine about you.”

His glare hardened. “You are a jealous, self-centered woman who only wants power.”

“And you are an incompetent fool who is so easily led astray that you will lead this kingdom to ruin within...I estimate a year.”

His face flushed with anger. “Beks!”

“Uncle Timur was right,” she said as she took a step back. “It would’ve been better for me to be engaged to the twins.”

She turned around and walked back to the carriages. Several men, including Chamberlain Wilton had arrived. She ignored Luther’s frustrated and angry yelling. Two knights followed her and for a moment she wasn’t sure if they were guarding or protecting her.

“Miss Caroline, please bare your right arm,” Chamberlain Wilton said. A high table was brought forward and a round cushion was covered with a towel. In front of it was a large man holding a piece of wood while the smaller man next to him held a rectangular plate with a shallow amount of black ink.

Her father stepped forward and first adjusted his arm on the cushion. He twisted it so the bottom of his forearm was up. The large man carefully dipped the wood into the plate, then tapped it on a clean plate of the same shape, before positioning it over her father’s arm.

Thad and Wrath both turned their head away as the piece of wood lined with tiny, shallow needles pressed into her father’s skin. He didn’t flinch. Rather, his gaze was impassive as he looked down and watched the ink mix with the thicker blood and slide down his skin. The large man carefully peeled the wood off, revealing a mess of inky blood.

Another man quickly placed a piece of cloth twice the size of the wood over the fresh wound and Beks saw characters glow from between the man’s fingers, where he was pressing down against the mark. After ten counts, the cloth was peeled off, taking blood and ink with it. There was no swelling or redness. It revealed the tattooed markings of a Kadmus exile.

The script created by hundreds of tiny needles would react to stele buried around the Kadmus border from three hundred or so years ago. The stele had bihar infused script that created an invisible field around each stele. When someone with the exile marking tried to cross into the stele’s field, a burning sensation would spread through the body in an instant.

The closer one tried to push through, the higher the pain. With stele that overlapped, it was impossible for an exile with the marking to cross over into Kadmus. They’d die from the pain first. It wasn’t unheard of to find bodies on the border. Perfectly healthy when they died with no wounds. It was as if they simply collapsed and died without warning, but they’d have the marking.

“Sir, your neck.”

Beks clenched her jaw as she watched her father tilt his head down, exposing the back of a pale, corded neck. A piece of wood the size of a gold coin was pressed against his skin, against his nape, and then slapped over with another piece of cloth once the wood had been pressed.

She could see the black ink run down her father’s neck and back. The cloth was removed and in its place a coin-sized marking. Beks’ nails dug into her palms. They were called ‘suppressors’ and it drained a biha well, never allowing a person to gather enough to use their powers.

“Your turn.” Deo stepped forward to accept his markings. His reaction was like their fathers.

Before Beks could step forward to receive her mark on her arm, her mother stepped forward. She’d pulled up her sleeve to reveal light brown marked with several lighter streaks. “Knife wounds?” Chamberlain Wilton seemed taken aback, having not expected the former Duchess to have such injuries.

“Sword. The one by the crook is from an arrow,” she replied. Beks raised a brow. Her mother almost sounded as if she were bragging.

The large man was just as careful as before and soon, her mother bore the mark of an exile. Beks stepped forward, but chains rattled and Thad beat her to the table.

“Sister, I will go first,” he told her with reassurance.

Beks smiled fondly as her heart ached. “Thad, you and Wrath are underaged.”

“Little boy, we do not mark underaged children,” the large man said in a gruff, but somewhat impressed voice. “Are you not afraid?”

“I am with my family. What is there to be afraid of?” Thad asked. Their brother grasped his shoulder and pulled him back.

“Beks will be fine,” Deo said. “Your sister is stronger than you think.”

“She doesn’t have a biha well or a core!” Thad argued.

Beks’ lips pursed into a line. “There is no need to remind me, Thad.” She took her place in front of the table and turned up her arm. The shade of her exposed flesh wasn’t as pale as her father nor as rich as her mother’s, but it was smooth and flawless.

“Is this your decision?” Luther had been standing a few steps away, watching with a pale face as each adult was marked. His eyes were fixed on Beks’ bare arm.

Beks looked him in the eye. She reached up with her free arm and grabbed the large man’s hand as it hovered over her arm and pressed down.

“My lady!” The man’s voice was horrified, completely forgetting about her title as he tried to pull away, but was too late.

Beks held Luther’s gaze with defiant eyes as the sharp pain shot through her arm. She refused to let any pain show on her face. It was in stark contrast to her thoughts.

Why did I do that? It hurts! There are hundreds of needles, Rebecca Anastasia, what are you thinking? Be dramatic now? Her mind was screaming, but she still removed her hand with grace.

As soon as the large man removed the wood with the needles, the other man placed the cloth on her and began blowing on her skin to try to reduce the initial irritation. It didn’t take two counts for the arm to become numb at the bihar infused cloth.

When it was removed, Thad was staring at her with awe while Wrath looked at her as if she were crazy. “That has needles....” the little girl said.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Beks replied. Now.

Luther stood in place, visibly trembling as he clenched his jaw. “You and your family will be exiled to the four winds,” he said in a low, angry voice. “Your father to the eastern desert, your mother to the barren islands to the west, your brother to the frozen north, and you to the Forbidden Valley.”

Beks narrowed her eyes.

“Forbidden Valley?” Chamberlain Wilton tensed up and frowned. “Your Majesty, Miss Rebecca is going to the Southeast Jungle.” When he’d explained it to Beks the night before, Beks volunteered to go to the Southeast Jungle.

Her mother was from the West Islands, so she’d fare best at sea. Her father and brother could go anywhere, so they were the most flexible. As for her, she wasn’t scared of jungle animals and had even joked ‘maybe I’ll finally find Snowflake’. Chamberlain Wilton said he would make the arrangements. The Forbidden Valley was south of that.

“No,” Luther said behind gritted teeth. “If she thinks she’s better off with my brothers, then she could find them. Make sure she never sets foot in Kadmus again.”

“That was not part of the agreed upon punishment. You’ve only been king for a few days and you’re already abusing your power,” the former Duke said with a mocking voice. “The future of the kingdom is bleak.”

Luther seethed. He turned around and stormed away.

“Beks, I hate to say it, but you really dodged an arrow with that one,” Deo said, watching Luther’s back grow smaller. “It’s good that you didn’t marry him.”

“What are we going to do? Beks is going to be taken to the Forbidden Valley!” Thad said with panic across his face.

Wrath looked at her sister warily. “Do you like animals?”

“Wrath, no one who enters the Forbidden Valley lives!” Thad said, throwing up his arms. “There is no guarantee she’ll even get across!” His eyes reddened and Beks knelt down in front of him to embrace him.

“No one is telling me to go across. They just want to abandon me there,” she said. She stroked his hair back and held his hands. She switched languages and her voice softened. “I won’t go deep into the valley. When they’re gone, I’ll come find you.” She looked up at her parents and older brother. “I will come find you all.”

Her family’s face softened. Her father’s eyes reddened as well. “Then, I will wait for you, my eldest snow flower.”

Beks stood up with tears in her eyes as she reached up to embrace her father. He smiled weakly and rested his head against hers since his wrists were bound. She let him go, squeezing his hands and pressing gold plats she’d hidden in her sleeves into his large palm.

She then hugged her brother. He chuckled as gold was pressed into his hand. “We’ll see who finds who first.”

Beks then turned to her mother. The two women weren’t shackled at the wrists, so they wrapped their arms around each other. Beks quickly slid as many gold plats as possible into the folds at the back of her mother’s dress while she felt something long and thin slide between her shoulder blades beneath her dress. Her thick hair covered any outline against the fabric.

“Don’t worry about us,” her mother told her proudly. “I will take good care of your brother and sister. Just...just take care of yourself.” She kissed her daughter’s forehead and cheeks, cupping her face for a moment longer as if to bore her daughter’s face into her mind.

This was the second time she’d done this.

Beks looked at her younger siblings. “Thad, Wrath...Sister will make this up to you,” she swore to them. “Until then, take care of yourself and Mommy.”

“We’re in less trouble than you,” Wrath told her in a dull voice. “You should take care of yourself.”

Beks knelt down and wanted to hug her, but Wrath drew back. Instead, Beks offered her hands. Wrath hesitated, but reached out and touched her. Her eyes widened as she felt the gold plat against her hand. Beks smiled at her. “A reservation for next time.”

She closed Wrath’s small fingers around the plat and hugged Thad once more, also giving him some gold.

She stepped back and Chamberlain Wilton approached her. He held up a neatly folded leather cloak. It looked durable.

“My la-Miss Rebecca,” the man said, his voice a bit choked. “This is all I can give you. It is not much, but it rains often in the tropics. This is made of eldor shark. Very light, but extremely durable.”

Beks raised her arms and accepted the folded bundle. It was heavier than she thought. She glanced at Chamberlain Wilton, who gave her a small nod.

“Thank you, Chamberlain. For everything.” Beks bowed her head towards him respectfully.

He stepped back and bowed.

She was led to the last of the prisoner carriages. She was surprised to find that inside had some cushions on the seats and wasn’t nearly as blood-caked or disgusting as she thought they’d be. Her ankles remained shackled, but she wasn’t locked onto the carriage structure.

The door closed, making her only source of light the narrow, barred windows at eye level. Beks heard the horses neighing and hooves on gravel before the creaking. The carriage began forward and Beks leaned back against the side of the carriage. Prisoners were taken through a small, separate back entrance so as to be out of sight of the residents of the Gilded Palace.

As they clunked along, she looked out the narrow window and suddenly sat up.

Her chest tightened as she took a deep breath and calmed herself as her eyes watered. Along both sides of the narrow, dirt compacted path were guards and servants, bowing their heads and giving her a curtsy as her carriage passed.

For twenty years, this was her home.

She lowered her eyes onto her lap and looked at the bundle the Chamberlain had given her. She spread apart the fabric and looked down at the several gold plats, the small dagger, and a familiar, fist sized urapearl hiding within the bundle.

Her eyes crinkled up as a small smile tugged at her lips.

Well...on the upside, at least now I’m free.