Royal Bloodlines: A Devil's Tale

The Fallout

PALACE Of ARWOS

A banquet hall adorned with ornate tapestries is set with the finest foods and wines.

King Edric sits upon his throne at the front head of the hall, looking edgy.

He has dressed himself in his finest robes. His crown, encrusted with precious gems, rests on his head. He fidgets nervously even as his three queens who sit by his side, whispering words of encouragement and reassurance.

His beautiful daughters sit on a line of guilded chairs a few steps from the throne, all dressed in lovely gowns and elaborate jewellery. But Shella is neither with them nor with the other guests in the room.

Theo and the councilmen sit around the long table where the lavish feast is set. They drink but none touches the delicious foods, yet.

The tension in the air grow palpable as time passes. Suddenly a trumpet sounds from outside the gates, signalling the arrival of the elvish royal convoy.

Edric takes deep breathes and composes himself in readiness to welcome the most sovereign king into his palace.

Several seconds pass before the doors at the front head of the hall bursts open. A group of elvish warriors stride in, their armor glinting in candlelight. Behind them comes King Tolis, resplendent in his regal attire.

All eyes fall on him as he moves with a fluidity and ease that seems almost supernatural, leaving behind a sense of awe and wonder that will linger for days to come.

King Edric steps forward flanked by his three queens. They bow deeply in a show of respect in front of the elvish King.

"Your Majesty, great ruler of the City Of Pearl, we welcome you to our lands. We are deeply honored by your presence." Mila's mother, the king's first wife, says with a gentle smile.

King Tolis regards the human king and his wives with a sense of detachment, his eyes cool and calculating.

"Your kindness is greatly appreciated." He says in a voice dripping with insincerity, his gaze flickering over the other guests in the hall before returning to king Edric and his wives who have delightful smiles spread across their faces.

"Your Majesty we have prepared a grand feast in your honor. I hope you will enjoy the delicacies we have arranged." Edric says gesturing at the foods on the long table. "Please join me and my council." He adds turning to lead the way to the table even before his guest agrees.

King Tolis hesitates, uninterested in a feast with humans where he and his entourage would have to eat foods made to appease human tastes. But he realises that lowering his self-regard may get him what he wants.

He grudgingly follows King Edric to the head of the table where the best seats were reserved for them. Theo welcomes Lahore and the other elvish officials to join the table.

Tolis expeditiously moves to reveal his reasons for his unexpected visit after King Edric finishes introducing his son and the members of his big council to him.

"Our kingdoms have enjoyed many years of rest, your Majesty. But I have heard of the latest hostilities. My trip to your Kingdom bears witness to the magnitude of my concern that this might no longer be the case." He says, smelling the contents in his glass of wine before hesitantly taking a sip.

"King Adriel's delusions should not trouble you, your Majesty. He is no longer in a position to cause menace, thanks to my shrewdness." Edric glorifies himself.

"My concern is with the sword of Zedon. Apparently your attackers were in a hint for it. Should it fall into the wrong hands, you will be among the first to fall." Tolis warns.

"Hearsay about the existence of that blade in my Kingdom is a mere fabrication. My estranged wife was not in possession of such an item. Her arrival and disappearance though peculiar has no bearing in relation to that sword. Furthermore she left me with our daughter Shella, such a reckless woman could not be a guardian to a prized blade." Edric explains with revulsion painted on his face.

"Unlike humans we elves are secretive for benevolent reasons.That being said, could she have divulged any information regarding her departure to her elvish daughter?" Tolis questions.

"Our daughter, she has my genes too not just elvish." Edric corrects. "That not withstanding, she was too young when her mother left to understand anything. But perhaps it's better that you hear from the horse's mouth." He adds as he rises and walks briskly towards the large doorway before whispering several words to a guard outside. He then returns to his place and continues with the argument.

A few minutes pass before Princess Shella steps into the hall and walks boldly towards the long table. Unlike her sisters she hasn't added a single decorative item to what she was dressed in earlier. But the outstanding features she inherited from her elvish mother makes her stand out nevertheless.

"She looks totally elvish." Tolis observes

as he watches Shella approach and Edric gestures to her to take a seat. His eyes momentarily glow with emotion, a stunned expression on his face.

"Your reputation precedes you, my lady. Perhaps you should consider coming back to your own kind." He says as he shakes her hand.

Shella returns his smile, fighting the irresistible urge to stare at his enchanting features.

She silently hopes that the elvish King isn't capable of sensing her admiration as that would be embarassing.

"I too have heard of the prominence of your kind, your Majesty. Nonetheless my heart belongs in Arwos." She assures.

King Tolis nods. "My visit here testifies to the gravity of our situation. I imagine you are no stranger to the legend of the sword of Zedon." He says. "I had imagined that you may have acquired some knowledge pertaining the sword's last known siting from your mother." King Tolis adds.

Shella falls silent for a moment, figuring out how she could use this moment to her advantage and get what she wants.

"King Adriel might be of more use to you regarding the whereabouts of that weapon. He also holds my sister hostage. Perhaps we can devise a plan that caters for both of us." She suggests.

"I am genuinely sorry about your sister. But it is important that I do not wage war on any human kingdom." Tolis responds.

Shella nods but fails to keep her displeasure from reflecting on her face.

"If I tell you all that I know, will you help me rescue my sister from King Adriel's captivity?" She asks. "I have heard that you possess some mystical powers. And your standing in this lands is immense. Surely it can't be that hard for you to save an innocent young woman from a monster like Adriel. He would after all comply to any demands you make." She adds.

Tolis inwardly marvels at her shrewdness. But her father shakes his head in distaste.

"His Majesty's visit to this Kingdom is a tremendous honor that no other kingdom can replicate. We should thank him in every way possible, not pressure him with senseless demands!" He chastises and his sudden outburst earns the attention of every eye in the room.

"I am doing what I can to get Mila back, father. I don't expect you to understand since you never cared about her enough to rebuke that false treaty." Shella responds, making her father's face turn red with shame.

But he appears more infuriated than embarrassed. How dare she call him out on his failures in front of their esteemed guests?

"You have lost all noble grace and become so insolent!" He accuses. "When will you learn to be a proper woman?" He snaps.

Shella rises from her seat and casts him a cold glare, anger making her eyes glow.

"Perhaps you should become one yourself. After all you have terribly failed in being a man!" Shella mocks walking away from the table and heading for the door at the rear head of the hall.

King Edric shifts uncomfortably in his seat. King Tolis and his men frown at him, disgusted by his contemptible behaviour.

"I am deeply sorry about that shameful squabble. My daughter has her mother's wild genes." Edric announces after a while.

"She is a brave and wise woman." Tolis disagrees. "I will help her get her sister back in exchange of the information she claims to have."

"If you don't mind your Majesty, I invite you to sojourn us for tonight. We should revisit this matter tomorrow after you have rested from your tedious journey. I am sure Princess Shella will have also returned to her senses by then." King Edric says in a tired voice.