Chapter 5
1513 Words
“Here’s to my brother being a maiden no longer!” toasted Prince Aric as Rafael took his seat at the table down from him in the great hall. Kiera stood behind his chair and the two servants behind her to each side. Rafael maintained his grip on Kiera’s chain.
Prince Rafael was unamused by his brother. He looked at him with an intense glare. Aric took a sip of his drink and lowered himself back down to his chair without causing further scene.
“Well, if it weren’t for the chains, I wouldn’t recognize your little slave,” said Princess Yasmine sliding into her chair next to her brother.
“That was awful nice of Tenille. You know she will be expecting something in return,” Yasmine said snidely.
“Quiet! A word from the king,” yelled a guard.
“As this festival comes to a close…” the king rose from his chair and began speaking.
Kiera was only half paying attention because the prince grabbed a roll from the basket in front of him and passed to her behind him without looking. She stared for a second and then carefully took the roll. Kiera was starving. She ate it quickly and then listened to the rest of the king’s speech.
“A few of my children deserve recognition for the work they’ve done for the kingdom this last year. Prince Aric as the master of coin and his work at keeping us the richest kingdom in all the realms,” he paused for the crowd to applaud.
“To Princess Yasmine for training our soldiers and growing our recruits exponentially this year as the second in command of my army,” he paused again for people to clap.
“And Prince Rafael,” the king looked at him.
Kiera’s ears perked up at the mention of the prince. Rafael met the king’s gaze but did not rise for the recognition.
“For raining fire down on the fleet of the Naxon army, defeating them before they were even able to make it to our shores!” with that the crowd went wild with cheers.
“Papa’s favorite once again,” nudged Yasmine to Rafael.
“Why do I bother?” she asked sarcastically.
“You’re the one he chose as leader of his army,” stated Rafael.
“That’s because you do not need an army to win battles,” Yasmine tried to hide the scorn in her voice.
Yasmine turned her attention to the food that was being served. Servants brought out copious amounts of food. There were trays of meat, fish, fruits, cheeses, and pastries. The prince passed back a piece of salted meat and another roll to Kiera.
As she finished that she saw him raise a goblet of wine behind him. Parched, she took it and drank all of the wine it held. He refilled it himself and passed it back to her. Not wanting to seem greedy—or would that be considered gluttonous? Anyway, not wanting to seem like a lush, she only drank half of the goblet and passed it gently back to the prince. He finished what was left in the cup; drinking after her.
“Father! Father, I too have an announcement to make,” piped up Gian.
Before the king could respond one way or another Gian began speaking, “It is with the utmost excitement that I tell you that I am going to be a father. One of my ladies, Jennice, is with child,”
At this announcement, Kiera, like most of the people in the room, could not evade her eyes. The rows of people in front of the royal family clapped and cheered but quicky quieted down as they took in the expressions of the people sitting before them. Puzzled and confused were most of the looks Gian got from his siblings and the king himself. Even Rafael turned his attention to his annoying younger half-brother.
“What? Father! I thought you would all be excited. You will finally have a grandchild. I will be the first of my siblings to have an heir! Why aren’t you happy?!” screeched Gian.
“Because, Gian, you’re an imbecile,” said Yasmine aloud.
“What did you call me?” he stammered.
“You half-wit, you’re not going to be a father,” Yasmine told him.
Gian marched over to his sister demanding an explanation. Up close, Kiera could tell he by his features that he was still in his teen years.
“Aw, did your poor dead mother forget to mention the fact that we can’t bear children?” Yasmine mocked.
“Wha-What lies are you spewing?” Gian yapped.
“You really don’t have a clue in that tiny brain, do you? Hm, well, allow me to shed some light,”
Yasmine turned in her chair to better face Gian as he stood beside her.
“The curse prevents us from having children, it was made to end this era of evil. For us to have children we must choose the light, to be good, and conquer our inner sin. Then might we have a chance at procreating,” she spoke.
“What does that mean?” Gian was puzzled.
“You must be the opposite of your sin and sorry to say but the opposite of lust is chastity. As it is, you may never have children,” Yasmine smirked.
“She may be pregnant but the bun in her over isn’t yours, Gian,” said Tenille.
No one was aware she had approached. Kiera and the servants to both Rafael and Yasmine were engrossed in the conversation between her and Gian.
Gian walked back to the girl that was gushing to the rest of his harem in excitement and grabber her. Gian became enraged and slapped the girl. He had two guard take her by the arm to bring her around to the front of the table and the rest of the crowd in the great hall.
The guards threw her to her knees and another walked over and drew his sword. The girl was sobbing, begging for Gian to listen to her.
“You are charged with treason for…” Gian looked around for help in saying the right words not knowing what crime she actually committed.
“Adultery!” someone in the crowd shouted.
“Yes, you are charged with committing adultery and are hereby sentenced to death,” Gian nodded to the guard.
In one fell swoop the sword sliced her head from her body. Blood ran out from her neck and washed the floor in front of them. Kiera was terrified. She wasn’t aware blood had a smell until now and it made her nauseous being around so much.
Yasmine turned to Rafael and he met her stare. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “He would’ve killed her eventually.”
“Heartless,” Rafael said to her.
“And you’re jealous,” Yasmine puckered her lips and blew him a kiss in a mocking way.
Gian approached the two again with Prince Gammen walking up to listen in.
“There, now its all taken care of,” Gian boasted and cracked his knuckles.
“Congratulations, you killed your w***e,” Yasmine taunted.
“He couldn’t even do it himself. Now that’s virility,” sighed Gammen
“Judge all you want but none of you have any heirs. Wonder why that is?” Gian whined.
“Gian, even I have f****d more women than what you have in your entire harem in a single night. Don’t get me started on the number of women these two have f****d,” Yasmine gestured at both Rafael and Gammen.
“Aric! Aric, will you get your brother away from me, please?” Yasmine called out to Aric.
Smiling, Aric walked over to one of the king’s guards and whispered to him. The guard came over to Gian and told him that he had been ordered to go to his bedchambers. Gian tried putting up a fight but the guard easily handled him and exited the hall. The crowd laughed and even the king was cackling along as his son was sent to bed.
Rafael took the opportunity to take his leave as well.
“Sister, until next year,” Rafael said to Yasmine.
“Aw, don’t wait so long next time,” she replied.
“Aric,” Rafael said to him.
“A year should be too soon,” Aric smirked.
“Farewell, brother,” said Gammen.
Prince Rafael and his small entourage left the hall.
The prince and Kiera entered the bedchamber and as he did the night before, Rafael lifted the bedframe and slid her chain under it.
- Writer
