THE CROWN AND THE FLAME by ROCHELLE PIETERSE (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📖

his mind. “These traitors, they’re bloodthirsty. Which means they’ll overcommit. Which means we should raid their homeland.”

“Exactly my thoughts!” she concluded joyfully.

“With their entire army here, their home will be completely undefended,” he began. “Once we have their lands, they’ll be easy to break.”

“But what will end this the swiftest?” She asked keeping a fixed glance on him.

“You don’t mean…”

“Ride out with a team of your fastest men and bring back their children. As our guests, of course. Their armies will lose morale quickly, even though we’ll do their children no harm.”

“Of course. And the punishment for the uprising?”

“I’ll handle it quietly.”

He ends the story with Skyelar there, but there’s one moment he leaves out…

“Very well. Good day, your highness,” he turns to leave.

“Is that all?” she asked.

“That’s all… for the matters of the kingdom.”

“And what about the matter of us?”

“US?” He nearly demanded.

“Yes. Please Justin. We must talk about this,” she said hopefulness in her eyes.

“Why?” he looked away. “There is no us. I’m not royalty. I’ll never be fit to rule. That pretty much ends the discussion on matters of us.”

“Must it? There are other ways for us to be together without you taking on the crown…”

His head jerked up, astonished, “But your honor?”

“Let me worry about my honor,” she walked over to him.

“You might not care, but I do. Besides…” he held her gaze and her hand entwined with his, “I swore to protect you. I can’t lie in your bed one day and have a clear head protecting you the next.”

“So that’s it then. You’ve made your choice?”

“I have, your highness.”

“Stubborn as always. And does it matter how I feel?”

“I know how you feel. And that is why I must go…” he let go of her hand, “Before I change my mind and do something foolish. Something you’d come to regret, Scathe…in time. Whether or not you realize it now.”

“Justin…” she began, but he turned and left quickly. He didn’t fail to see the single tear running down her cheek, but he continued on despite the ache in his heart…

Skyelar was staring at him silently realizing he was having a war within himself. She remained quiet waiting for him to speak first.

At last he looked up unshed tears glistening in his eyes but he quickly blinked them away, “And that’s how the Ramsforge nobility lost their land. Your mother handled it quietly. She parceled out the land to the knights and soldiers who served her most loyally. She even forgave the rebels and let them live. Most people in the kingdom never even knew there was a rebellion.”

“I think I know why she kept it a secret,” Skyelar said.

“Enlighten me,” Justin urged.

Skyelar smiled, “She kept it a secret because she didn’t want to fuel the rebellion.”

“Exactly. She said rebellion incites further rebellion. If we made martyrs of them, there’d only be more rebels.”

“My mother never told me that she was so…” she exclaimed, “Impressive.”

“She was a force to be reckoned with. That she was,” Justin smiled.

“I always thought my mother’s main goal was peace,” she said confused.

“She wanted an alliance…” his face saddened again. “But your mother was a true ruler. She did what she had to do.”

“Thank you for sharing this story with me,” she said as she laid a hand on his.

“Skyelar, I…” Justin starts as he turns to go, but then stops. “Tomorrow, against Liath…I’ve seen him fight dozens of duels. I know how he kills. I don’t want to see you end up dead. Your greatest advantage will be that he’s overconfident. He thinks you’ll be an easy kill. Use that against him.”

“What do you mean?” she asked eyebrows raised.

“He won’t be cautious against you as he’d be against another opponent. Let him think he’s won, and he’ll forget to keep his guard up,” Justin smiled.

“So let him get close to killing me as I can without actually letting him do it?” She frowned.

“Unfortunately… yes.”

“And her I thought this might be difficult…” she tried to convince them that she wasn’t afraid.

“Good luck tomorrow,” Justin said then left.

“Sounds like I’ll need it.”

 

Back at Dragonstead, Zayden is preparing to break the captive monk out of his cell. Avery and Lucy was standing with him by the stairs, discussing the last final details for the escape.

“I’ll go down first and give the guards their meal. Once they’ve had the wine, we should be ready to act,” Lucy said.

“Agreed,” Zayden replied as Lucy stood and left traveling down the stairs.

Zayden looks at Avery, “Avery, about earlier…I’m sorry.”

“You should be. You don’t go after your best friend’s sister,” Avery snapped.

“But listen,” Zayden tried to explain then stopped as his anger also rose. “We’ve got more important problems right now.”

“You..,” Avery started feeling stupid. “You are right.”

Zayden sees Lucy waving him forward, “It’s now or never…” he nudges Avery.

The two of them snuck in staying within the shadows, just in case.

“They’re out, but I can’t say how long they’ll sleep. Just hurry,” Lucy urged nervously. She stands look out while the two of them run towards the monks’ cell.

Stopping in front of the cell they hear the monk whisper, “You came… I didn’t think you would.”

Zayden grabs the keys off one of the slumbering guards, “I told you… we’re going to save you.”

“Which one of these keys is the right one?” Avery asked as he watch Zayden with the bunch of keys. “They all look the same!”

Zayden tries the second key and it works. The cell door swings open and they rush in, while Avery gestures to the monk, “Come on, up you go.”

Zayden stops momentarily, “Can you walk?”

“I…I think so,” the monk stammers, but Zayden was already looping the monks good arm around his shoulder. He hobbles forward.

“Giles is coming! Hurry!” Lucy almost shouted.

“Go, Lucy! Get out of here!” Avery shouted back.

Lucy flees leaving the three of them behind. Avery helps Zayden hobble the monk as quickly as they can.

“We’re not going to make it,” Avery breathed.

Zayden could hear Giles’ footsteps pad toward them from the stairs.

“What is this? What the three hells has happened to these guards?!” Giles raged.

As Giles throws the door to the dungeon open, Zayden feels panic and anger.

“Gods! We’re doomed! We need a miracle!” Avery whispered, panic clear in his voice.

Fire and rage burns inside Zayden and with a struggled breath he let out a, “Aaaggggggh.” Suddenly, a torch by the stairway explodes into a wall of flame. Blocking the doorway off completely.

On the other side Giles let out a scream, “Agh! What is this?!”

“Quick! The other way!” Avery said.

While Giles beats the flames out of his robes, they escape through the dungeons back door. They don’t stop until they reached the castle’s far wall, helping the monk towards the exit.

“There,” Zayden said. “You’re free.”

“Thank you. Thank you. You have my eternal gratitude. I owe you my life,” the monk said with gratitude and appreciation.

“It was the least we could do,” Zayden smiled.

“You could have let me die,” the monk said softly. “You did a great deal more than that. A seed planted today provides fruit tomorrow.” He looked at Zayden, “You use your strength and bravery for justice. I pray that your courage will be rewarded. I saw the markings on you the first time we met. And then tonight…”

“Tonight? With the fire?” Zayden asked.

“Now I am certain. Please take this as a token of my gratitude. It will help you,” the monk reached into his tunic and produces a small amulet, holding it out to Zayden.

“What’s this?” Zayden asked as he took the amulet.

“It’ll help you in desperate times. Hopefully, you’ll never need it. Good bye, my young friends.” The monk makes a small bow and leaves quickly and quietly.

Zayden looks down at the amulet in his hand and remembers the fire, “That was…strange.”

Avery stares at Zayden as if he’s looking at a complete different person, “What…what was that, Zayden? Your hands…the fire…”

“I don’t know what’s happening to me,” Zayden confess.

“That was just like in those books Ma used to read to me! There were stories of an ancient people who could do all kinds of magical things with fire. They could even control dragons. I never believed in them but now…” Avery was so excited. “Well, looks like I’m friends with one.”

“Whatever this is, no one can know about it, Avery. I’ve spent my whole life trying to fit in here. If anybody found out how different I am...” Zayden stated. “Well, everyone isn’t as accepting as you. Most would want me dead for this.”

“Hey, you can trust me to keep this secret.”

“That means a lot to me, brother.”

“Does Lucy know?” Avery asked.

“Not yet. Please don’t tell her,” Zayden practically begged.

“I won’t, but you’ll have to.” Avery said matter of factly, “Especially considering how she feels about you.”

“So you’re fine with…” Zayden glared at him, “With what you saw between us?”

“I didn’t say that. She’s my only sister,” Avery said flatly as they started back towards their bedchambers. “The least you can do is be honest with her about who you are.”

“I will,” Zayden promised. “I’m just not sure how to do that when I barely understand what’s happening myself.”

“I don’t care how you do it… as long as you do it soon.”

Later in Zayden’s bedchamber, Lucy was watching him fondling the amulet.

“What’s that you have there, Zayden?” Lucy asked.

“It’s some kind of amulet… a parting gift from the monk,” Zayden replied still staring at the amulet.

“So what happens now?” She asked.

“We don’t stop. We don’t give up. No one is safe as long as Prince Andrew runs this castle,” Zayden looked up at Lucy and Avery.

“Then it’s time to end his reign,” Avery stated,

“Together,” Lucy smiled.

“Together,” Zayden agreed.

 

The next morning at sunrise, all the mercenaries and ex-soldiers were gathering around for the upcoming duel.

“Remember your training,” Sir Luke reminded Skyelar.

“Thank you, Sir Luke. I hope I don’t disappoint you,” Skyelar said smiling weakly.

“When I look at the woman you’ve grown into, my queen… you can’t possibly disappoint me.”

“You babies done blubbering?” Liath asked confidently. “Because I’m itching to find out what it feels like to kill a queen. I bet you still bleed red.”

“Too bad it had to come to this, Skyelar. I was actually starting to like you…” Greine said bitterly, “But no one beats Liath.”

“Greine, I was starting to like you too,” Skyelar smiled.

“Ha. You’re starting to make me regret betting against you,” Greine said.

“You bet against me?” Skyelar asked surprised.

“No offense. It’s easy money. Even if the odds are stacked against you. And I mean really against you.”

“That’s enough of that talk,” Sir Luke snapped.

“Skyelar, are you ready?” Justin asked.

“Justin, as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“The rules are simple,” Justin explained the upcoming event. “The first to surrender or become incapacitated is the loser, and his or her life is forfeit. If Skyelar wins, she and Sir Luke are free to go. If Liath wins, he gets to hand her over to Prince Andrew and collect the price on her head on behalf of the company. And now, let the duel…begin.”

“Don’t worry, little girl. I’ll make this quick,” Liath taunts, a pair of battle axes in his hands.

“Your sword will be no match for those axes,” Sir Luke stated.

“I can do it. I have to,” she ignores Liath’s goading. Instead she and Sir Luke quietly study his weapons, armor and movements.

“Those axes are enormous. Must be slow to swing, even for a man like him,” she observed.

“Yes. You can avoid them if your attacks are quick and precise. I see a gap in his armor at the ribs, right under his arm,” Sir Luke said.

“Between his slow strikes and poor footwork, I should be able to get behind him with ease. Wish me luck,” Skyelar said.

“Luck has no say in this. Your focus and skill will see you to victory.”

The mercenaries cheer and shout as she and Liath starts circling each other.

“Well? Have you nothing to say, little girl?” Liath taunted again.

She laughed softly but the laugh was forced, she was scared stiff, “I prefer