Chapter 3 Political Pawn

*Fiona*

"They're right outside the gate, Sire," my father's advisor says to him. "They want to discuss terms of ending the war."

I stand outside of the war room door, listening intently. I doubt my father knows I'm here. I was about to walk in to give him an update on some information I'd gathered from the commanders to the west, the ones keeping an eye on the border with Malantra, but now, I pause to listen to their discussion.

"Fuck," my father mutters. I don't think I've ever heard him use that word before. "We can't just let them in. I don't trust Varek. He's an animal. Letting him in here to discuss terms of our surrender would likely result in him storming the castle. He'd kill us all."

My eyes widen in horror at the word. I can't believe anyone would be so cruel, so evil as to violate the terms of a truce to discuss the ends of the war. But then, I think about some of the awful stories I've heard about Alpha King Varek–that he's slaughtered women and children in villages in his own lands that weren't compliant, that he's tortured and starved prisoners of war, and he even allegedly murdered his own brother and his mate.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised to hear my father say he doesn't trust him.

"We could try to negotiate by letter," the advisor suggests. "We could ask him to lay out his terms."

"We can try," Father says. "But he made it quite clear he didn't want to negotiate that way. He wants inside the castle, and I think I know why." Father sighs so loudly it sounds like the wind whistling through the trees in a storm.

"The princess?" the advisor asks, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up.

"Precisely. He's made it clear that he wants her, and I cannot allow that to happen. We shall fight to the last man to keep my daughter safe." Father sounds less exhausted and more invigorated when he speaks those words.

I have no idea which daughter he's talking about, but if it's Elara, I agree. I will fight to the death to defend my sister. But if it's me... the idea of everyone in the kingdom dying to keep me out of Varek's hands is impossible for me to comprehend. As horrible as that man is, and as much as I'd like to avoid becoming his prisoner, I can't allow everyone to die for me.

So, I knock on the door.

The room goes quiet. I walk in. "Father," I say, nodding to his advisors, "I have word from the northwest border. The Caldaron Army has begun to move into our territory there. They will be at the castle in a day or two at most at this rate."

His head falls, and he shakes it slowly. "Thank you, Fiona."

"Also... I wasn't attempting to eavesdrop, but I did hear part of your conversation. Is it me or Elara?"

Father lifts his face and looks into my eyes. "You shouldn't have been listening in, daughter."

"I apologize." I bow my head to him. "It wasn't intentional, but if it's me–"

"It doesn't matter." My father speaks with authority. "I will not willingly hand over either of my daughters, not as political pawns, not as collateral. Your mother would roll over in her grave at the thought of it."

His convictions are evident. "I understand father, but I don't want everyone to die because of me either."

"We will hold our ground!" he insists.

Every soul in the room knows that's impossible. The Caldaron Army is far stronger than ours. "Yes, Father." It's all I can say.

I bow again and then leave the room, but my mind stays there, going over the threats that are closing in on our kingdom, on our people.

I climb straight up to the highest tower in the castle and move to a window that faces the front gates of the castle. I was up here earlier today, so I know that the enemy is literally right there. Now, I take another look. How many of them are there? Thousands. Maybe ten thousand. With another ten thousand coming from behind me. We have possibly five thousand warriors left, with half of them still trying to regroup from the recent battles. They're scattered all over the countryside. While they are all trying to regather, none of them are deserting, it'll still be days before we can manage to get them all together.

If Father doesn't give Varek what he wants, innocent people are going to die. If the rumors are right, it won't just be our soldiers either. No, it'll be innocent women and children. Even the elderly and infirmwon't be spared.

I don't want to be used as a political pawn, as Father stated, but I also can't sit back and watch all of these innocent people die. If he wants me, he should get me. I know that in my heart.

But if he wants my sister, well, that's not happening. Elara is too good, too kind, too sweet to be traded away to a devil like Varek.

My eyes are sharp, but we're too far away for me to make out individual soldiers. Still, I see the flags out there, streaming in green and white, the official colors of Caldara. I imagine their king is right there beneath that waving flag. I wish I could sneak out of the castle tonight, run over there, and kill him in his sleep. Cut off the head of the snake, and it's no longer a threat, after all.

If they attack, that's what I'll do. I'll lie in wait and then attack their king when he's not expecting it. He won't know that I am a warrior. He'll think I'm just a fragile princess, a damsel who can't defend herself. When he's dead, their forces will scatter.

It's my only hope for keeping my people safe.

And if it doesn't work, I'll become his prisoner and beg for mercy for my people.

A single tear slides from my eye. I brush it away quickly. Now is not a time for tears. But I weep for my people. Our peaceful people who did nothing to bring this upon themselves. May the Goddess have mercy on us, I think.

If She does not, I will have no mercy on Varek, that is for certain.