"How dare you?" The King’s voice echoed through the high hall as everyone was mute. His glare was fixed on Lord Vanýr. "What are you saying just now? That the Queen, my Queen, is an accomplice to someone who wishes harm upon the royal family?" His hands clenched into fists. "It is impossible, and you know that. Everyone in this room knows that."
But Vanýr’s tone did not waver. "Unfortunately, my King... it is so. We do not yet know the reason or purpose behind her actions. But the fact remains, she attempted to smuggle the boy out of the palace. That alone demands investigation. And as the law requires, she must be apprehended and questioned."
The King got angrier. He rose from his throne and took a step forward. "Where are you going with this, Voryn Vanýr?" His voice was low and sounded dangerous. "What is it that you actually want? To attach the Queen, your own Queen, to this madness?" He took another step closer. "And you think I would imprison the mother of this kingdom? My wife?"
Vanýr’s eyes did not lower. "It is not what I want, Your Majesty. It is what must be done. What honor demands"
From the left side of the chamber, Lady Breya spoke up. "Your Majesty, it is sad to say, but Lord Vanýr is right." She stepped forward. "If the Queen truly acted to sneak this boy outside the palace, then we need to know why. She must have to answer for it. If nothing is done, Your Majesty... What message will that send to the people? That the law bends for those in the highest seat? You must uphold the laws of this nation, painful or otherwise."
The words seemed to give courage to others and they began speaking up individually.
Lord Lucius said. "We do not wish for this, Your Majesty. But wishing will not erase the truth. If she acted against the throne, she must be questioned, no matter her crown."
Lord Daryn’s deep voice joined in. "You cannot shield the Queen simply because she is your wife. The law is above every person in this land, highborn or lowborn. If she is innocent, questioning will prove it. If she is not, then justice must be done. That is what keeps our kingdom from falling into chaos."
The King looked from one face to another, lords and ladies, some avoided his gaze, while others stared back.
Finally, he turned away and walked back to his throne. His steps were slower now and he threw heavily into his seat.
He couldn’t believe what was happening. That the council members, the very people sworn to protect his house and the kingdom, were pressing him to imprison his own wife, the Queen.
*****
Nyella hurried down the palace’s corridors and burst into the Queen’s chambers without knocking. "Mother!" she cried. "What is this I’m hearing? What’s going on? Why have they taken Aeron to the prison?"
The Queen, Serenya, sat by the tall window and looked far away into the distance. At the sight of her daughter’s sad face and trembling voice, she stood.
"Keep calm, my dear," Serenya said softly as she stepped toward her. "Let’s just hope it is not as bad as it seems. Because with what’s going on now... the boy is in grave danger."
Nyella’s eyes widened. "What do you mean by that? What did he do? Is it because he’s a Dragon Rider? Because he saved the kingdom? Can those old men who call themselves members of the council even think clearly for one moment? How could they call him a threat and want to harm him? He’s the one who possesses such power, power that has kept us safe!"
The Queen shook her head slowly. "Not that, Nyella. Not that at all. This is something far deeper, way beyond the council’s usual fear and jealousy. It is an old matter... a story that carries a history of its own. A long one indeed."
"Then I need to hear it," Nyella said firmly, stepping closer until her voice was almost a plea. "I need to hear this story and this history in full. Because I cannot let anything happen to him. I promised his mother. I promised him. And I cannot break that promise. We are the ones who should keep him safe, not throw him into the dungeons."
The Queen’s lips curved in a faint, sad smile. "I know of your promise, my dear. I know what he means to you. And I agree, he should not be imprisoned. That is why I personally tried to sneak him out of the palace. I thought if I could get him away quietly, the council’s claws would never reach him. But..." her voice faltered, "...we were caught along the way. There was nothing I could do."
Nyella’s brows knitted together. "You knew they wanted to capture him... and you tried to get him out?" She said, "You should have told me, Mother. If I had been involved, perhaps we would have succeeded."
"I didn’t want to risk it," Serenya replied. "I wanted the plan to be silent, hidden from everyone. The fewer who knew, the safer it would be. Or so I thought."
Nyella let out a frustrated sigh. "And still, it didn’t go well, did it? And since the guards saw you trying to sneak him out, that means you too might not be safe. They will see you as part of his so-called crimes."
Before the Queen could answer, the door to her chamber swung open and several palace guards stepped inside.
Both the queen and princess turned to face the guards. "How dare you barge into the queen’s chambers like that? What do you want?" Nyella asked.
One of them, a captain, spoke clearly: "By the orders of His Majesty the King and the council, we are to apprehend Her Royal Majesty and place her in confinement."
Nyella’s eyes flashed. "You say what?"