Chapter 9 - THE PRINCE WHO CHOSE THE WRONG DOOR
Kael received his mother’s letter at sunset.
A white raven descended onto the temple steps carrying a message sealed with the royal crest.
The handwriting belonged to Seraphine’s personal physician.
Your Highness,
Her Majesty has fallen gravely ill. The royal physicians fear she may not survive another sunrise.
She asks only to see her son.
Kael read the letter in silence.
Then read it again.
Elara watched him.
“You’re thinking of going back.”
He folded the message.
“She’s my mother.”
“She ordered me killed.”
“I know.”
“She murdered my family.”
Kael looked toward the drowned city.
“I know that too.”
His voice broke.
“But before she became the Queen everyone fears, she was the woman who held me when I woke from nightmares.”
Elara said nothing.
Kael continued.
“When I was nine, I broke my leg falling from a horse. She stayed beside my bed for six nights.”
He swallowed.
“I cannot pretend those memories don’t exist.”
Elara looked at him.
She understood better than she wanted to.
She had spent her entire life longing for a mother she had never met.
Kael had a mother whose love was tangled with cruelty.
Neither situation offered a simple answer.
“Then see her,” Elara said.
Theron immediately objected.
“It could be a trap.”
Kael nodded.
“I know.”
Aldric stepped forward.
“I’ll accompany you.”
Kael looked surprised.
“You served her for twenty years.”
“And I failed to question her for too many of them.”
The commander tightened his sword belt.
“I know the palace. I know its guards. And I owe you my life.”
Kael accepted.
Before leaving, he approached Elara.
They stood beside the still water.
For a moment, both seemed unsure what to say.
Finally, Kael removed a silver pendant from his neck.
It bore the royal emblem of Aurelith.
“My father gave me this before he died.”
Elara looked startled.
“You should keep it.”
“I’ve spent most of my life wearing it because I thought being a prince meant inheriting my parents’ responsibilities.”
He placed it in her palm.
“Now I think it means deciding which responsibilities I refuse to inherit.”
Elara closed her fingers around it.
“Kael…”
He smiled sadly.
“Don’t let Theron talk you into any heroic sacrifices.”
She laughed softly.
“And don’t let your mother put you in a dungeon.”
His smile faded.
“That seems considerably more likely.”
He stepped closer.
Then, with a tenderness that surprised them both, he kissed her forehead.
Elara felt the warmth of his hand against her cheek.
“Come back,” she whispered.
Kael nodded.
“To you? I’ll try.”
They separated at dawn.
Elara and Theron traveled toward the Forest of Hollow Stars.
Kael and Aldric rode south toward Valtherion.
Three days later, the Prince reached the capital.
The city was nearly empty.
Black banners hung from the windows.
The palace gates opened before him.
No guards challenged his arrival.
That frightened Aldric more than any ambush.
“Your Highness, something is wrong.”
Kael dismounted.
“I know.”
They entered the throne room.
Queen Seraphine sat upon her golden throne.
She looked perfectly healthy.
Kael stopped.
“Mother?”
Seraphine smiled.
“My son.”
His expression darkened.
“You’re not dying.”
“No.”
Aldric reached for his sword.
The Queen’s smile disappeared.
“Forgive me.”
The doors slammed shut.
Black chains erupted from the floor.
They wrapped around Aldric’s arms, dragging him toward a pillar.
Kael drew his sword.
Then Lord Malrec emerged from behind the throne.
His hollow voice filled the chamber.
“Welcome home, Prince.”
Kael looked toward his mother.
“You did this?”
Tears streamed down Seraphine’s face.
“I had to.”
Malrec raised a crown of twisted iron.
The Prince stepped backward.
“What is that?”
Seraphine began shaking.
“Kael, please don’t fight.”
Malrec smiled.
“The Crown has waited a long time for you.”
May you like
Then the chamber filled with black fire.
And the last thing Kael saw before losing consciousness was his mother turning away from his screams.
