Chapter Eight: The Crown Prince's Game
"We're here, Maribel…stay on guard." Nadeira bit her lower lip as the carriage wheels screeched to a halt on the cobblestones before the castle.
Guards yanked the doors without ceremony.
"Out," one barked.
Nadeira stepped down, keeping her head high, but Maribel followed gently behind her. The girl's golden hair caught the sunlight like fire, too bright for this place.
The guards did not like it.
Rough hands shoved them both forward. Nadeira stumbled but caught herself.
Maribel gasped when a soldier slammed his fist into her stomach. She doubled over, clutching herself.
"Stop!" Nadeira snapped, spinning around. "Don't touch her!"
"She's fine," another guard grunted, grabbing Maribel by the arm and yanking her forward.
Maribel tried to straighten, pain was written across her face. "I-It's okay, my lady," she whispered weakly.
Nadeira's rage boiled hot. "No, it's not okay! They are hurting you. Do you hear me? It is not fine!"
Her shout only made the guards laugh. One of them caught her hair in his fist and dragged her across the stones.
"Aaagh!" Nadeira cried out as her fingers clawed at his hand, but he only pulled harder.
"Orders of the Crown Prince," the soldier hissed into her ear.
They threw both women down in a grand hall…. At the far end sat Crown Prince Levius.
His silver armor caught the torchlight, his polished boots resting lazily on a step as though he were already king.
When he saw her, he smirked. "Nadeira." His tone was smooth, almost kind…until it wasn't. "Still alive. I must say, you are stubborn."
Nadeira pushed herself up, ignoring the sting in her scalp. "How dare you," she spat. "How dare you sell me off like cattle to that Baron? You told me you loved me."
Levius chuckled as though she had told a joke. He leaned back in his chair, eyes rolled around like he was possessed by a fish spirit.
"And you believed me? Oh, sweet Nadeira. That was the easiest part of all. You wanted to believe someone could save you."
A knot of ice formed in her stomach, climbing into her throat. "You…"
A guard slammed the hilt of his sword into her shoulder. Nadeira bit down on the pain but refused to fall.
Levius's smile widened even more. "Careful with your words. My guards are loyal. They will not hesitate to kill you and your… servant."
At his gesture, Maribel was shoved to the floor beside her. Blood stained her lip, her golden hair fell across her face.
Nadeira's hands curled into fists. "Touch her again, and I will-"
"You will what?" Levius cut in smoothly. "Defy me? You have no power here. I hold your life, and hers, in my hand."
The doors behind him opened dramatically and Victoria entered. The gown of red silk she was wearing and trailing behind her looked like it was made of someone's blood.
Jewels glittered at her throat. She smiled like a cat about to eat a bird.
"Perfect timing," Levius clapped his hands. He stood up, lifting Victoria's hand with performative affection. "Nadeira, allow me to introduce my future bride."
Nadeira's rage started curling in her gut. "Her?"
"Me," Victoria agreed with a sneer. "And I expect you to show proper respect. You should bow to me now."
Levius nodded at his guards. "Yes. Bow. Apologise to her. Do that, and perhaps I'll let you walk out alive."
Nadeira lifted her chin. "Never."
So the room grew colder…
Levius's smirk vanished. He flicked his fingers, and a guard stepped forward, raising his hand to strike her across the face.
"No!" Maribel shouted.
Her hands trembled as she reached out, and suddenly one bubble of water started floating in the air, glowing bright blue, and wrapped itself around Nadeira like a shield.
The guard's strike hit the bubble and stopped short.
Gasps echoed in the hall.
Levius's eyes narrowed. "Magic."
Maribel's shoulders shook. "Please… don't hurt her."
"Unlicensed magic," Levius growled. He snapped his fingers again. The guards turned on Maribel, striking her down with kicks and blows.
"Ooch! Ah! Please!" Maribel closed her eyes, protecting herself from their eyes.
"Stop!" A tearing shriek clawed its way out of her chest…she was thrashing against the guards holding her. "Leave her alone! Please, I'll bow, I'll apologise, just stop hurting her!" Grief shattered in her, and Nadeira could only gasp, the sound swallowed by a river of tears.
The bubble disappeared and the water splashed around her…
Levius and Victoria both smirked, clearly being satisfied with this view.
"Do it then," Levius said coldly. "On your knees. Apologise to your new crown princess."
Nadeira's ribs felt like they were trying to tear their way through her skin.
Her pride was bleeding, but Maribel's cries hurt her deeper than any wound.
It was her fault for bringing the poor fish into this…Nadeira had no idea that there would be no king…Slowly, with trembling hands, Nadeira bent her knees.
"Good girl," Victoria mocked.
But before Nadeira could lower her head, the energy changed immediately... A sudden chill rolled across the marble floor.
Levius frowned. "What is-"
A sphere of water appeared, hanging in the air. It looked brighter than the one that Maribel formed…somehow, it snapped forward, wrapping itself tight around Levius's head.
The prince staggered back, clawing at the bubble.
His eyes bulged, his mouth opened as wide as an ogre's ready to eat its food, but no air entered.
His hands thrashed wildly as he tried to tear the water apart.
The guards didn't know what to do or how to help, so they just stared in horror.
"Levius!" Victoria shrieked.
Nadeira could only watfh, her own body couldn't stop shaking. She had not moved. Maribel had not moved. The water had chosen on its own.
The Crown Prince of the realm was drowning without ever touching the sea.