The guards' armor could be heard making its way down the halls even from where she sat, rhythmic and purposeful. All this posturing was tiresome. Such a big show to be made, yet by day's end, it meant nothing. Truly, they could not afford to waste such effort. However, appearances must be kept, and Queen Lenara Edhelbor knew the consequences for failure; they were too dire to risk.
Nearly two years since Meike had been in the homeland state, two years since her and Sir Cedric Balthair Leandro had left on a mission. Sir Leandro had been her father's right hand man and trusted confidante, now dead. Two years... Somehow, it felt like so much longer. Time slowed to a crawl as she watched her father die and took over his position as leader, the weight of …show more content…
"But I believe you've more information to share before we're truly done with you," The frowns on her guards' faces upset her. They must consider it foolish, what with the lengthy interrogation the prisoner had already gone through and to no avail. Worse yet, they could believe her to be favoring Meike simply due to their long-standing relationship, hesitating to execute an old friend and postponing it based on emotion. "You should be grateful for my mercy. Any other leader would slit your throat themselves simply for the trouble my men have gone through searching for you."
Mercy. An unwilling gift. The knight's betrayal cut deeper than it should have; someone she'd known for so long, a dear friend, a childhood hero. Honestly, regardless of their difference in status, she looked up to the rough and tumble tomboy swearing to protect her, and in her foolish daydreams she truly believed those words. Never did she imagine a future where Meike hadn't taken Sir Leandro's place to serve at her side. But Meike had come willingly, and there was more to be told about the goings on, information obviously
Nearly two years since Meike had been in the homeland state, two years since her and Sir Cedric Balthair Leandro had left on a mission. Sir Leandro had been her father's right hand man and trusted confidante, now dead. Two years... Somehow, it felt like so much longer. Time slowed to a crawl as she watched her father die and took over his position as leader, the weight of …show more content…
"But I believe you've more information to share before we're truly done with you," The frowns on her guards' faces upset her. They must consider it foolish, what with the lengthy interrogation the prisoner had already gone through and to no avail. Worse yet, they could believe her to be favoring Meike simply due to their long-standing relationship, hesitating to execute an old friend and postponing it based on emotion. "You should be grateful for my mercy. Any other leader would slit your throat themselves simply for the trouble my men have gone through searching for you."
Mercy. An unwilling gift. The knight's betrayal cut deeper than it should have; someone she'd known for so long, a dear friend, a childhood hero. Honestly, regardless of their difference in status, she looked up to the rough and tumble tomboy swearing to protect her, and in her foolish daydreams she truly believed those words. Never did she imagine a future where Meike hadn't taken Sir Leandro's place to serve at her side. But Meike had come willingly, and there was more to be told about the goings on, information obviously