Eternal Darkness (The Amagarians 1)

“The Nurian king will be present as well, along with his high chancellor,” her king responded coldly.

Her heart jolted. “I would confer with you Father, then privately with King Ajali.”

“Our tribunal decreed in your absence, Princess, that the Fyran King is the one that has the right to punish you for attempting to break your oath.” He surged to his feet and paced the room, his royal robes swishing on the ground.

Saieke flinched. They held a tribunal and made a judgment when she was missing? She had only been gone for five days. She opened her mouth to restate that she had no promise with King Ajali and hesitated. Now was not the time. Her heart thudded and slight fear snaked through her. According to their laws, they would have ordered punishment for her as well, if they thought she had broken a blood-oath. A tribunal normally took weeks to convene…but in five days?

Saieke?

She froze at the soft brush against her mind. Saieke slammed down mental barriers that she did not even know she possessed. She did not want Drac to be aware that she felt fear from her own kingdom. Her heart stuttered at how he would deal with a threat to her, and they were her people.

“Very well, my king,” she murmured and inclined her head in acquiescence.

Saieke had always found the tribunal room grand and intimidating. This was where their laws were made and decided on, then recorded into the Oclui. It was a fierce room that showcased the heritage of their nation, from the olden bricks that still made the walls, the sculptures, and the many paintings of kings. The ceiling was cavernous and was stained glass.

The seats were arranged in a circle, with a throne that sat high and opposite the audience. The council seats were arranged behind the King. The Fyran King had arrived with his high chancellor and about one hundred warrior seated behind him.

Saieke flinched.

The King of Nuria drew her gaze like a magnet. Power rolled off him in waves, yet his chakra was fully contained. His skin was smooth and a deep bronze. His hair was twisted into hundreds of small plaits that flowed over his shoulder and down his back. He had it held back from his handsome face with a thong. It was the contrast of forest green eyes against his dark skin that made him so riveting.

He glanced at her and held her gaze. Before, it would have seared her and made her anxious. After being with Drac, she doubted the power of another’s glance could make her anxious. She had to admit, though, that King Ajali appeared to be a power to be reckoned with. If she had met him before she fled, she might have succumbed to him from sheer intimidation.

Saieke stood before the podium in the center of the chamber and faced the gathering before her. Her mother sat beside her father, and she could see that tension was holding her form rigid. Her nervousness made Saieke anxious.

The entire sixty council members were there, along with her king’s ten most trusted advisors. Her queen had several of her lady advisors with her as well. Saieke looked at the warriors behind the Nurian king. They present a united and powerful front. Ten of his warriors stood apart from the rest and formed a tight semi-circle around him. They looked deadly with their flat gazes and hands lightly resting on the hilt of their swords. Her gaze encompassed all and she smiled briefly at Sir Hugh and the members of the princes’ council that she sat on.

“Princess Saieke is here before the council to account for her actions that had us presuming her missing for the past several days,” The high chancellor Azul announced to her king.

“Begin, Princess,” he commanded.

She glanced at Lachlan quickly, who stood to her left. His face was blank as he surveyed the gathering in front of them.

“In Tarylion, my blades and I came under attack and we had to seek sanctuary.”

Her king raised his hand. “Why were you in Tarylion, Princess?” He asked silkily as he leaned forward.

She looked at her queen. “I was distressed that I was being forced into a marriage without my consent, and I thought to leave briefly with my blades accompanying me,” she said into the stony silence.

There were a few murmurs from the council.

“You were breaking the pledge your king and lord made to the King of Nuria?” a voice to her far right asked. She glanced at councilor Camden.

“Not precisely, my lord.” she uttered, amazed at her own gall and calm. “I was given to believe that King Ajali would arrive in twelve weeks’ time. When I learned that he was to arrive in but a day’s time, I panicked as I felt walls closing in on me. I thought to clear my mind and see how to resolve what I was feeling.”

She flinched when another councillor asked, “So you sought to flee and break the blood-oath your king made, to give yourself time to extricate yourself from said oath?” he asked with menace.

Her pulse hammered. “No, my lords, I sought time on how to reassure the nation that I would one day lead, that it was indeed in their best interest that I should wed King Ajali. I was aware our people were not as settled as I was.”

“This council and your lieges were fully settled, Princess,” Councilor Camden said.

Saieke communicated silently with Sir Hugh. He asked a question of his own before she was pinned any further.

“You were attacked, Princess? Were you not wearing your armband proclaiming you as the Princess and heir of Boreas?” Sir Hugh questioned, bringing the matter back to what she wanted to discuss.

“I was. My attackers were Mevians, and I was attacked because of my identity.”

There was a ripple of sound that travelled through the tribunal. She noticed that even the Nurian king seemed more subtly alert.