One Hundred refusals (21)

A serialised romantic fantasy

Previously…Chapter 20

“Call all guards of the Castle! All soldiers! Protect the Queen!” Ash bellowed, a legion of birds landed onto the floor as Birdling soldiers dressed in black. Most of the Court had come to breakfast unarmed, the guards rushed into the hall, the ladies shrieked, but before all hell broke loose, a single voice overpowered all the noise and the commotion.

“Birdling soldiers! I am your future King, and ruler! I command you to stop this instant! You shall not touch my wife! You shall not disgrace this court!” to everybody’s surprise it was prince Sturnus. His voice had never before sounded so loud. But there it was – a melodious voice of a true King. The swords of the Birdling soldiers froze in the air. All eyes turned to prince Sturnus. All stopped, except his own father, King Olor.

“Do not take orders from that dimwit boy of mine! His mind is clouded by lust. He is a pathetic creature, and always has been!”

While Birdling soldiers stood confused about who’s orders to follow, King Olor himself charged at Gema. Ash stood guarding her, but before his Snakeling sword clashed with a Birdling sword, prince Sturnus jumped over the table, and his sword was the one to stand in the way of his own father.

“I said, this court shall not be disgraced! Nor will the good name of Birdlings!”

“You are a disgrace!” King Olor growled in his face.

“You disgrace the good name of our people! Birdlings are honest folk. Healers, singers, and poets. We honour the will of the Foreverold, not defy it!”

“What do you know about the Foreverold?! You who fell for a Hebenian whore…?!”

King Olor felt his own son’s cold blade gutting him. He fell to the floor without any words of regret.

“I know that the Foreverold does not approve of lies, treachery, and scheming for power. I had endured it far too long,” said Sturnus, sheathing his sword.

“No other’s blood shall be spilled in this hall today. I promise,” he turned toward Pearl, “my love, my deed is dark. I have lost my homeland forever, for a murderer of a Birdling is forbidden to enter Avem, but…”

“Look out!” Pearl shrieked, because the blood-covered King Olor was up, and swinging his sword above his son’s head.

Ash’s narrow Snakeling sword danced through the air shining like a swift strike of lightening. It cut the throat of the King of Birds in a fine red line, as it seemed, but the wretched man fell unto the floor gurgling blood, and a few seconds later he moved no more.

After a moment of silence, prince Sturnus was the first to speak.

“You saved my life, Lord…”

“Lord Ashier of the Snakeling island, at your service, Prince of Birds.” Ash bowed to him.

“Our deed was cruel, Lord Ashier. We murdered the King of Birdlings,” said Sturnus looking down at his father’s body.

“But in our defence, we saved the two Queens,” Ash replied.

“One Queen,” Pearl objected. “Though we are sisters, I shall not claim the Throne of Hebeny. It is Gema’s, and always has been.”

“Another throne might wait for you, my love. If Birdlings forgive the spilling of my father’s blood, as my wife you shall become the queen of Avem,” Sturnus looked deep into Pearl’s eyes.

“I beg your pardon, but this is my wife,” Val stepped closer to Pearl, and took her hand.

“No… what nonsense, we got wed yesterday. We shared our love last night! Did we not, Pearl?”

“Forgive me, Sturnus. You married Queen Geminaris, which I am not. You woke up to the sight of me, but I did not lay with you last night,” Pearl said apologetically.

“What? Then who…? Why?” Sturnus was more confused than ever, turning his pale face from Pearl to Gema.

“That would be me. I do apologise for the mix up. It has something to do with a tiny curse, but let us not get into such meaningless details. I did lay in bed with you but I was not the one whom you made love to,” Gema blushed while explaining. The whole court listened with their mouths ajar. What a breakfast – a conspiracy, a murder, and some dirty secrets…

“What? But who…?”

“Me…” chirped a little blue tit bird, landing by prince’s side, and turning into a very red Cinnia.

“I do not believe this. No, Pearl… I need proof!” Prince demanded.

“Oh, let us just clear things with a tiny test,” said Gema, stepped closer to the prince, then she looked over her shoulder to give Ash a smug grin, before she kissed prince Sturnus.

“Am I the woman you kissed last night?” She asked afterward.

“No.”

Pearl had already climbed over the table to follow Gema’s example. She gave Val a guilty smile, and kissed Sturnus.

“Was it me, Sturnus?”

“No… but who?” the poor prince yawped.

Cinnia did not wait long before embracing him, and giving him a sweet kiss. It was clear prince recognised his secret lover, both wrapped around each other, and stood kissing for quite a while.

Their togetherness was interrupted by Birdling soldiers coming to pick up the body of King Olor.

“Hail, King Sturnus. What are your orders?”

“Do you still recognise me as your King, even after I murdered a Birdling?” he was surprised.

“You did not make the killing strike, my Lord. You are the heir of Avem. Not all Birdlings approved of your farher’s schemes. He put our good name to shame. We hope you shall make a better King of Birdlings.” All The soldiers bowed to Sturnus.

“Howerever you, sir, are forever forbidden to enter the land of Avem, for you have murdered a Birdling…” the captain of the Birdling soldiers addressed Ash but was interrupted.

“My first order is - this Lord is allowed to enter Avem. He saved my life, and…” Sturnus gave Ash a sly grin, “I believe this man is the future King of Hebeny?” The prince had heard rumours about the curse, and Gema’s meddling with Ash a year ago.

Ash bowed, and turned toward Gema.

“Only if such is the will of Queen Geminaris.”

Gema stepped closer to him, her stunning body wrapped in the red silk dress, the crown glistening on her chestnut hair, and a seductive smile rising on her beautiful face.

“There is nothing I want more than you as my king, Lord Ashier,” she said, and gave him a kiss full of passion. The court erupted in gasps, and murmurs. Some of joy, some of surprise. But perhaps, the most shocked of all were the Snakeling guests present at the royal wedding breakfast…

“Gema, dear, you do realise you’ve just destroyed my reputation?” Ash whispered in her ear.

“Oh, well… I guess, there’s nothing left to lose anymore. You are allowed to punish me tonight however you please,” she whispered back, feeling the sweat break out on Ash’s cold skin.

“I shall have my revenge. I will not touch you before the wedding night,” Ash said with the coldest smile.