The Northern Gate: Two Worlds

IV. - The Princess of Darkness Part 2

The darkness spat her out. No matter what she did, she could not fall asleep. She sang herself a lullaby. She counted sheep and even stared at the glowing walls for what seemed like an hour. Nothing helped. Gretta's words burned into her brain like a mark from a hot poker. If I were lying, why did the Duke call out an emergency council meeting?

Wide awake, Amy found herself lurking barefoot around the halls of the second floor of the Castle. From her chambers, she made her way downstairs, walking as casually as she could. It wasn’t in her intent to draw attention, but as it turned out, being a Duchess drew a lot of it. Everyone in the Castle knew her, and each time a court attendant or a guard saw her, they curtsied or bowed or saluted. They could even have break-danced for all she cared. It was unnerving. Amy just responded each time with a fake half-smile.

She looked around and was glad no one was in the halls as most of the court-dwellers were already in their quarters or probably drunk from all the festivities earlier.

There was still some commotion from the throne room on the first floor, but it had died down to just a few chatters and the occasional sound of breaking plates. The second floor was entirely quiet; Amy could hear her breathing. She treaded along the halls slowly, leaning into the doors of the rooms as she passed. All the rooms were locked and behind their doors was silence. She was now at the final door at the furthest end of the hall.

The last door was slightly ajar. Blue light spilled through the gap in the doorway. She leaned in and listened. Distorted voices of men and women chattering came from the other side. This was it. The room she was looking for. The Council Chamber. She leaned in closer, careful not to touch the unlocked door.

"... does the King have in mind?" a voice was saying. Amy tried to identify the voice, but she wasn't familiar with it.

"As I've told you already," she heard the Duke's unmistakable deep voice. "The King has already deployed a team to locate the Crown Princess."

"Former Crown Princess," another voice pitched in. It sounded female.

"Yes. Former Crown Princess," the Duke corrected. "The King has disowned his only daughter, but that is not the issue here."

"What is the issue then, Your Grace?" asked a man. The voice sounded familiar. It was louder and clearer than the others, which meant whoever spoke was near the door. "What calls for urgency?"

Amy drew her ear closer and raised her hand to find something to support her weight as she leaned in.

"It came to the knowledge of the King that his daughter had obtained a powerful artifact called the Norax. A gemstone that contained great evil," replied Duke Henri. "That is the issue at hand, Gideon."

Amy thought she felt the edge of the door frame, so she put her weight onto it. It was too late when she found out that she had pressed on the door itself and not on the frame as she intended. The door gave way, and she stumbled into the room. A collective gasp rang through the room as everyone turned their heads to see the Duchess fall to the floor.

"Oh, crap," muttered Amy under her breath. She contemplated whether to stand up and embarrass herself in front of the Council or play dead. Before she could decide, she was approached by one of the Council meeting attendees.

"Your Grace," a voice said.

She looked up and saw Ser Gideon kneeling in front of her. "Ser Gideon," she said, mouth open like a fish-out-of-water.

"Are you hurt?" asked the knight. "Let me help you up." He offered his hands to her.

She stared at the knight. "Your eyes are so blue," she said and regretted it as soon as the words left her lips. "Oh, I mean, yes, I'm alright. I was just --"

"Are you alright, my Duchess?" Amy heard from across the room. Even though she couldn't see him, Ser Gideon blocked her view, but she was sure it was the Duke. "Gideon, what are you waiting for? Help her up."

"Yes, Your Grace," the knight responded. He took Amy by the hand and lifted her to her feet. He bowed in front of Amy and stepped aside.

"Thank you, Ser Gideon," she smiled awkwardly and turned to her husband. "Yes, Your Grace, I'm alright. I was just. I was just lost. I thought this was the bathroom, and I --"

"No need to expound yourself, my Duchess, come," Duke Henri said, cutting her words short. "Sit here beside me." He gestured towards a chair to his right. The Duke was sat at the head of a long table. To his either side were empty chairs. Seated next to the vacant chairs and around the wooden table were ten Council members.

"Yes, Your Grace," she said. She exhaled a breath of relief as she was saved from embarrassing herself in front of the Council. Being the wife of the Duke has its perks, as it turned out. She looked back at Ser Gideon, but he was looking at the Duke and the Council. She moved towards the front and sat on the empty seat beside Duke Henri. Her husband leaned in towards her as soon as she sat down. She thought the Duke would kiss her on the cheeks, and she tensed for a bit.

"Why are you on foot, my love?" he whispered to her.

Amy looked down at her bare feet. "I outgrew all of my shoes," she said and thought she sounded like a child. Her cheeks flushed.

At that, the Duke let out a little laugh that Amy found endearing. She smiled at him.

"I see," he said. He turned from her and faced the Council. "As you all were made aware, the Duchess had suffered an attack from a vicious Avernatti. The blow took a toll on her memories. We are still looking for a way to resolve this. For the time being, I deem an introduction by everyone is necessary."

"Aye," said the Council.

From where she sat, Amy could see the entire chamber. It looked like every room in the Castle. Everything from the high ceilings, glowing walls, and black stone floors were the same as others she's been in. The room was void of decors and only had a long table in the middle. There were shelves filled with books along the walls, but otherwise, it was empty.

"Good," said the Duke. "Let's start with you, Lady Annabeth."

"Yes, Your Grace," answered the tall, regal woman seated beside the vacant seat to the left of the Duke. She was the only woman in the council aside from Amy. She looked at least forty years old. "I am Lady Annabeth, the Keeper of the Council," she said and tucked a stray lock of her long, black hair behind her ear. "I am charged with keeping all the records of the Council. If you require any information regarding matters of the Castle, My Duchess, please do not hesitate to approach me. I know everything." She smiled at Amy and bowed her head a little.

"Nice to meet you, I guess?" Amy said red-faced. She didn't know what to say. It seemed fitting at the moment. "I mean, we already know each other, but I just forgot. You know, clubbed in the head and all." She forced a smile.

At that, Lady Annabeth chuckled a little. Amy felt her tense muscles relax as the Council members seemed nice to her. After the Keeper of the Council, Amy was introduced to everyone else according to rank. She met the Gold Keep, a short and fat elderly man named Lord Rendell. She also met the War Council, a trio of broad-shouldered and muscular men who were a little older than the Duke. Their names were Lord Leonard, Lord Tydrell, and Lord Sven. Amy was also introduced to the Scholars, a group of elderly mages who advised the Duke. They were Lords Elmrod, Riven, Aegen, Branfort, and Andall.

"And, lastly," said the Duke. He looked at Amy. "I presume you know him already as he is your assigned Knight, Ser Gideon of Robinsdale. The Defender of the Court. He is also the captain of the Dukesguard and your protector."

Amy looked at Gideon, who was standing in front of the closed door. He made a full bow before the Council and then looked back at them. Amy thought she saw him glance at her. She looked at Duke Henri, then to the vacant chair across her. "Why doesn't he have a seat at the table?" She asked no one in particular. "I mean, if he is part of the Council, he deserves a seat, too, doesn't he?"

"Your Grace," Gideon protested.

Everyone in the room fell silent. All eyes were on Amy. "It was just a thought, though. I just think it makes sense," she said, breaking the silence that enveloped the chamber. The council then turned their gazes to the Duke.

"It has always been this way, My Duchess," the Duke answered finally after a long stillness. "How could he protect the Council from a sudden ambush if he is not standing guard at the door? He did not even notice you were behind it earlier. What more if he sat at the table? Bearing all those titles I've given him, he should be thankful he is even inside this room. He is exactly where he should be." There was a sudden coldness to his voice that wasn't there earlier that Amy felt a shiver run through her spine.

"I-I did not know. I'm sorry I even asked," Amy said, feeling defeated. She shot a glance toward Gideon and saw that he was standing still, unfazed by the seemingly harsh words of the Duke. Amy turned her head down and stared at her feet. It was a mistake coming here, she thought as she wished she had just stayed in bed.

"I understand, my Duchess. Don't feel sorry that you don't remember the Council procedures," replied Duke Henri calmly, but Amy could see a slight crease on his forehead. "And to you, Ser Gideon, I mean no offense. I trust in you more than anyone. That is why I named you Knight to the Duchess. In times that the Kingdom is under duress, I expect you to be more vigilant than ever, and that also applies to everyone."

"No offense taken, Your Grace," Gideon responded. "I am deeply honored by your trust. I swear on my life that I will not break it."

"Good," said the Duke. "Now, going back to the issue at hand. Who amongst you still has a question?" The wall's glow seemed to intensify as the Duke's mood fluctuated. Its light came from his power, Amy remembered. It made sense that the wall's glow changed according to his temper.

No one dared to open their mouths.

"When did this all start, Your Grace?" asked Lady Annabeth after a few moments. The air in the room still felt tense. Amy was sure Lady Annabeth felt it, too, hence the question to break the quietude. "When did the King know this was happening?"

The wall's light seemed to return to normalcy. Duke Henri let out a short, audible breath. "The Princess was born without magic amongst the most powerful mage family in the Kingdom, and she resented it. The King said He and the Queen could notice glimpses of bitterness and hatred ever since their daughter was young. They, being her parents, had turned a blind eye." He exhaled again. He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Despite the cold, the Duke's forehead was damp with sweat. "Only until in a fit of rage had the Princess lifted a servant high in the air with an invisible force that they had known their daughter dabbled in the Dark Arts. They reprimanded Princess Margaux, but instead of submitting, she fought back, nearly killing the Queen. The King managed to better the Princess in the slightest. He banished her for attempting to murder her mother, but she threatened him. She said she had found the Norax, and she would wield it to take the Kingdom. She set the throne room on fire and fled into the night. Shortly after, the High Court was called for a meeting. I obliged. The rest, you know," the Duke finished, almost breathless.