Her Queen

As the days spanned into weeks it became harder and harder for Todryn to reach Ashran, he tried everything he could think of. Every spare moment was spent with her which proved increasingly difficult with his added responsibilities once the excitement of his return faded.

Sighing Todryn leaned against a stable post, chugging wine with G’ja as they devised solutions to the predicament that his sister was in. Although, truth be told he knew G’ja was humoring him more than anything. He could see more clearly just how difficult it would be to help Ashran in any way. Not only was the King keeping her under constant lock and key for Chasi’s safety but Ashran had become outright obstinate.

He had tried everything he could think of, he had snuck her foods and water. Salves for her bruises which healed almost completely by the time he got the medications to her anyway. He knew logically that she was not like him or anyone else for that matter.

Sadly, a part of him had begun to resign himself to her fate. He hated it, feeling so helpless. Staring blankly into space he was jarred back to reality when G’ja clapped him on the back.

“Come along my prince, the banquet waits.” Todryn nodded, tonight was the night of his twin sisters fifteenth birthday. No expense or extravagance had been spared for Chasi, sadly looking back to the darkened east wing his heart ached for the twin that would never be celebrated. Turning he followed his friend into the hall to feast.

 

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Ashran peered through the crack in the stones onto the courtyard, watching as her brother vanished from her sight. Curious at all the activity she studied the people coming and going in the palace. She knew the day was being held in Chasi’s honor and she felt the bitterness well up inside her. This was her birthday as well, she knew there would be a massive feast and parties that would last well into the night, tomorrow everyone would be to drunk and tired to care where the soulless outcast had gone too. Stepping back from her perch against the window she massaged the skin under her collar far to use to the ache to care as she shifted to her stone slab, she ran her fingers along the stones until she found the faint groove which had taken her weeks to scratch out and pulled out the long thin shard of steel.

She had discovered the metal after her brother had cleared the guards bodies from the chamber, Gods only knew what he had done with them. No matter, she sat upright, tilted her head she wriggled the steel shard in the lock, praying that she would get it unlocked.

Hissing in pain when the shard slipped and she stabbed her hand, watching as blood welled she waited patiently for a few moments until she saw the wound close in on itself and the pain in her hand recede. Picking the steel back up she set back to work.

It felt as if hours had past as she wore into the lock until finally and heard the audible click as the mechanism released the lock and the collar fell into her hands. Laughing she threw it down and ran to her abandoned bathing chamber. Immersing herself in the pool she giggled happily as she washed weeks of dirt and blood from her hair before emerging and walking purposefully to a dark wall.

Crouching down she shifted a large stone and pulled out the clothing that had taken her months to steal, little by little and pulled them on. Loose wool leggings and a wrap as well as the saffron shirt and a cloak. As she was about to leave she reached into the crevice and retrieved the medallion that Todryn had given her years ago.

Standing she sent a silent apology to her brother, but she couldn’t involve him in this, he had too much to lose.

 

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Todryn looked around laughing at the raucous humor of the soldiers around him. The tables were laden with food, dancers and magicians danced and spun around the room with animalistic grace. He glanced at his sister, Chasi sat upon her throne laughing with her hand maids, flirting with the young servers. He fought to ignore the painful tug in his heart; Ashran at this moment was locked within her chambers, cold and alone. He had no malice for Chasi; she was a young healthy carefree princess.

At that moment Chasi caught his eye and waived him over. Smiling he rose from the table and strode across the room dodging people and trays of food as he went. When he reached her he kneeled and smiled at her.

“Hello sister.” Her brown eyes smiled at him excitedly.

 

“Look Todryn, father had it made for me.” She exclaimed excitedly, pushing her hand into his face he was forced to admire the elegant golden bracer.

“It is stunning.” He conceded, smiling more when her grin widened.

“You should ride with me tomorrow; it feels as if I haven’t seen you at all since you returned…father works you to hard.” Chasi said, Todryn smiled, slight guilt tugging his heart over his neglect of her.

“Of course, I will clear time for us.” At that, Chasi leaned forward and clutched him in a hug.

“I am so happy you have returned safely brother.” She whispered softly.

“As am I. Now…I am sorry to be a bore but I fear I drank too much wine and I wish to retire if it wouldn’t offend the lady of celebration” he gave her a playful wink and she laughed delighted.

“No, go on you old man.” She laughed and she waived at him dismissively. Smiling he nodded his goodnights to his father and queen and rose and strode purposefully from the room, intentionally swaying slightly.

Now, to see Ashran.

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Pushing through the stone tunnel entrance he crept silently into the chamber that kept Ashran. Striding up the steps he was careful to keep the food he had smuggled tucked closely to him as he emerged onto the main floor of the chamber.

His anticipation melted away when he looked around in confusion, the chamber was empty…he strode over to the stone slab and picked up her collar in confusion. Was witchcraft another of her many talents? When he spotted blood he wiped his finger and frowned when he found it still fresh.

 

Standing he looked around frantically, had she been taken? He explored every crevice and corners of the chamber his blood chilling when he heard an animalistic scream tear across the nights festivities.

“ASHRAN!” Dropping the food he sprinted down through the steps of the bathing chamber through the tunnel, slamming into the door of his room he ran, his lungs screaming at him as he sprinted down the open hall of the palace.

“What have we here?!? The soulless one has taken flight!” The king’s voice rang out across fresh silence. Todryns hand went to the hilt of his sword as he prepared to turn a corner and kill any who had harmed her when the hard body of G’Ja slammed into him with all the power of a charging bull.

“OOMPH!” The air escaped his lungs and he brutally cuffed his second across the face before the warrior could pin his arms over his head.

 

“Milord! STOP” G’ja hissed. “You cannot help her”

“I MUST TRY!” Todryn hissed, fighting to get past him. G’ja leaned forward and grabbed the collar of the prince’s shirt to hold him down.

 

“No, if you go in there she is dead…do you hear me! If you care for her do not expose your affections!” G’ja hissed. Slowly Todryn felt the fight go out of him.

“What happened?” he asked as G’ja helped him up.

“They caught her trying to escape; she was also wearing a medallion that the king claims she stole.” G’ja whispered as they straightened their clothes and headed for the audience.

“What medallion?” Todryn hissed. His sister was not the type to steal baubles.

“I don’t know, it’s from Babylon, expensive from what I heard.” G’ja said shrugging. Todryn felt a chill run down his spine. The necklace he had given her all those years ago…Gods teeth!

Ashran fell to her knees as two guards chained her to the platform in front of the royal thrones. Looking behind her she looked into the eyes of her twin, the girl so much a stranger peered back at her with blatant hatred and disgust. Peering around the room she saw all the people in fine clothes and decadent food…this should have been hers. She WAS the natural heir to the damned throne and she was treated less than a slave.

Feeling a hot fire build in her chest she nearly fell over in shock when a guttural snarl emerged from her chest. Blinking she looked around, breathing a sigh of relief, everyone was so engrossed in the Kings speech she had been unnoticed.

Looking through the crowd she saw Todryn in the back, G’ja right behind him, both staring at her with horror in their eyes. Disheveled and bleeding Todryn looked ill. 

“What should I do with it?!” The king announced. ‘It?’ Ashran looked at him with disdain. “Feed it to the dogs?”

‘Nononononono’ Ashran felt nauseous. The king peered back at her, rage simmering in his eyes.

 

“No, this creature will know no harm at my hand from this day forth…Al-bur rah!” The king summoned his closest friend and general.

Ashran watched as the grizzled older man approached and kneeled at the knee of the king.

“Some moons ago you expressed an interest in adding the creature to your harem…does that still interest you?” The king asked, Ashran suddenly felt sick.

Al-Bur rah smiled, revealing blackened teeth and a thin scar running along his jaw, the combination made him positively fearsome. “Yes my king.”

“There it is done; she is your problem now…Guards…take her.” The king waved her away and she was in shock until the moment they touched her. Then she lurched to her feet and shrieked, kicking and screaming. She felt someone’s arm crush under her fist she fought.

“Gods damn the banshee! Cut out her tongue!” The king yelled, at Al- burrahs protest he added “Don’t worry; it’ll grow back by tomorrow.”

Fighting even more, it took a dozen guards to cart Ashran to the dungeons.

 

Todryn felt frozen in place, his inaction had cost her her freedom on even a larger scale than before. Nauseous over swept him and he dashed behind a pillar and lost his days meal on the ground.

“What should we do milord?” G’ja asked. Todryn ignored him and stormed to his room followed by his friend.

 

Ashran awoke the next morning, certain her legs were broken again. She had taken more of a beating the night before than ever before and her face was hot and swollen, the pain of her severed tongue made her gag and vomit.

Gods, surely she had taken more of a beating than any human could. How much longer would she have to wait for the spirit of death?