- 15 hours ago
The Siren's Revenge - Hot
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Short filmTranscript
00:00The soldier threw my sister into the wooden barrow.
00:02Their hands groped her body roughly,
00:04with slightly shimmering scales scattered all over the ground.
00:07Then they cut her open and pulled out her heart.
00:10The queen had heard rumors of sirens in the southern island,
00:13that their princess carried a siren's heart inside her body.
00:17Swallow it, and you'd have eternal beauty,
00:19an allure no man could resist.
00:22The queen wanted it,
00:23so the king sent soldiers to slaughter us
00:25and gut my sister for her life.
00:27That day, the sea ran red.
00:30Everywhere I looked, my people lay split open.
00:33I hid beneath a wreath, blood clouding my vision,
00:36tears rolling down and hardening into pearls.
00:39Everyone stained red.
00:40My sister's last words echoed in my ears.
00:43Allura, stay alive.
00:45The world knew our colony had one princess, one heart.
00:50No one knew this generation, there were two.
00:52And one wasn't just beautiful, she was a witch.
00:55That one was me.
00:57I dragged myself ashore,
00:58and cast the old spell to trade my tail at the legs.
01:01Then I summoned a familiar.
01:03It took shape of a snake.
01:05I fed it my blood and bound it to me.
01:07It coiled around my wrist, teeth glinting,
01:10and I named it Malice.
01:12Three months.
01:13That was all it took.
01:14I made my way to the capital,
01:16slipped into the palace as a dancer,
01:19and traded a pouch of siren tears for the king's wearable.
01:25Moonlight spilled across the lake.
01:27I danced on the water, toes skimming the surface.
01:31Alaric stood on the bank, frozen.
01:32Wait.
01:33You're a palace dancer?
01:35I've never seen this dance before.
01:37It's from my homeland, your majesty.
01:39Few have seen it.
01:40The spring night was cool.
01:41He took off his pale robe and draped it over my shoulders.
01:44The queen loves dancing.
01:46Her birthday approaches.
01:48You will perform this for her.
01:49Forgive me, your majesty.
01:50I didn't know who you were.
01:51Rise.
01:52No offense taken.
01:54Don't disappoint me or the queen.
01:55I thanked him and accepted the task.
01:58As he walked away, I flicked my fingers.
02:00A tiny leech burrowed into his skin.
02:03It would feed on his thoughts,
02:04bend his feelings toward me.
02:10By the next morning,
02:12the whole palace was talking about the dancer
02:13who'd caught the king's eye.
02:15Someone knocked on my door.
02:16A woman I'd never seen before.
02:22She brought me to the queen.
02:25Lucinda Roth sat on a raised dais in her chambers,
02:29dripping in jewels and silk.
02:31This was the woman who'd wanted the siren's heart
02:33badly enough to massacre my people.
02:35To murder my sister.
02:37She looked me over,
02:38disgust twisting her features.
02:40This ugly thing is supposed to dance for me?
02:43I dotted my face with false blemishes before coming.
02:46The queen was jealous by nature.
02:48If she saw my real face,
02:49I'd be dead before sundown.
02:51I knelt on the cold floor,
02:53nails digging into my palms,
02:55forcing down the hatred rising in my throat.
02:58Your majesty,
02:59I'll wear a veil when I perform.
03:01You won't have to see my face.
03:03You're too plain to cause any trouble.
03:05Since it's my husband's idea,
03:07I'll accept.
03:08She waved her hand.
03:09The woman led me out.
03:11Just outside the door,
03:12I nearly walked into Alaric.
03:14One glance,
03:15my face looked nothing like the girl he'd met last night.
03:18But my scent didn't lie.
03:20He knew this was how I stayed alive.
03:22If the queen had seen my real face,
03:24he'd be looking at a corpse right now.
03:26His brow furrowed.
03:27For the first time,
03:28a flicker of anger toward his wife crossed his eyes.
03:31I smiled to myself.
03:33A seed of doubt was all I needed.
03:35It would take root and grow
03:36until it became a tree that blocked out the sun.
03:39Let her stand as high as she wants.
03:40The higher she climbs,
03:42the harder she falls.
03:44I returned to my room
03:45and washed the blemishes from my face.
03:48Lucinda,
03:48you wanted eternal beauty so badly.
03:50I'll make sure everything you want turns to dust.
03:53Malice slithered up my wrist,
03:55tongue flicking.
03:56I stroked its head.
03:58Soon.
03:59I'll send to hell first.
04:01She can apologize to my sister in person.
04:04The queen's birthday was a spectacle.
04:06Overnight,
04:07the lake bloomed with lotus flowers.
04:09The court called it an omen of good fortune.
04:12Alaric stood by the water
04:14with Lucinda on his arm.
04:15Where's my gift, darling?
04:17He nodded.
04:18The music began.
04:19I stepped onto the water,
04:21walking across the lotus leaves.
04:22The sweet fragrance rose again.
04:24Fireflies swarmed in from the darkness,
04:26dancing with me.
04:28Everyone watched, spellbound.
04:30Everyone except Lucinda,
04:31whose nails dug into her palms.
04:33My veil slipped loose.
04:35My face caught the moonlight.
04:37I looked straight at Lucinda
04:38and smiled.
04:39The hatred in her eyes
04:41was so thick
04:42it could have choked someone.
04:43When I finished,
04:44no one moved.
04:45I knelt before Alaric.
04:48I wish her majesty eternal beauty,
04:50and your majesty's a love
04:52that lasts forever.
04:54Long may the kingdom prosper.
04:55Alaric had let go of Lucinda's hand.
04:58He reached toward me.
04:59Rise.
05:00You didn't disappoint.
05:02Lucinda's jaw clenched so hard
05:04I thought she'd crack her teeth.
05:05What a lovely gift, husband.
05:08I adore it.
05:10Alaric barely glanced at her.
05:13Good.
05:13The leech I'd planted in him
05:15was working,
05:16shifting his moves.
05:18I started to pull the leech back.
05:20Couldn't let anyone notice.
05:22But then,
05:22a voice rang out from the crowd.
05:24Your majesty,
05:26why not give this beauty to me?
05:28A gift
05:29to seal our alliance.
05:31Who speaks?
05:33Crown Prince Cailinvor,
05:34your majesty.
05:35A tall man stepped forward
05:36in foreign clothes.
05:38Give her to me,
05:39and I guarantee
05:40a hundred years of peace
05:41between our kingdoms.
05:43The crowd gasped.
05:44A hundred years of peace
05:45for one dancer.
05:47Surely this is a wonderful
05:49opportunity for her.
05:50What more could a dancer hope for?
05:52Alaric didn't understand it himself.
05:54Trading one insignificant girl
05:55for peace should have been easy.
05:57So why did the thought
05:58make his chest tight?
05:59I looked up at him,
06:01letting my eyes fill with tears.
06:03I'd painted delicate flowers
06:04at the corners of my eyes
06:05for tonight.
06:06The tears made them shimmer.
06:08Something twisted
06:09in Alaric's chest.
06:10You're too late.
06:11She's mine.
06:13Lucinda stared at him.
06:14What?
06:15Cailin shrugged
06:16and walked away.
06:17My back was drenched
06:18in cold sweat.
06:19Thank God
06:20I hadn't pulled
06:21the leech out yet.
06:22Without it working
06:23on his emotions,
06:24Alaric would have handed me over
06:25without a second thought.
06:27No king refuses
06:28a free sentry of peace.
06:29That night,
06:30a royal decree
06:31arrived at my door.
06:32I was officially
06:33a consort now.
06:34I left the dancers' quarters
06:36and looked back
06:37one last time.
06:38I swore I'd make them
06:39pay a hundred times over
06:41for what they did
06:42to my sister,
06:43Yuki.
06:43When I arrived
06:44at my new chambers,
06:46Lucinda was already waiting.
06:47She stared at my face
06:49and smiled.
06:49You lied to me.
06:51If I hadn't,
06:52would I have lived
06:53long enough
06:53to dance tonight?
06:55She laughed,
06:56stroking the cat
06:56in her lap.
06:57Clever girl.
06:59But even with
07:00your pretty face
07:01and your new title,
07:02I'll still kill you.
07:03I held her gaze.
07:04And how do you plan
07:05to do it?
07:07A fire.
07:08The king's little mistress
07:09dies tragically
07:10in the flames.
07:11Alaric and I
07:12have been together
07:12since we were children.
07:14My father and brother
07:14fight his wars.
07:16You think one little
07:17dancer will matter
07:18to him?
07:20As the first spark fell,
07:22Lucinda laughed.
07:23No one in this whole
07:24palace can save me.
07:25I watched her leave.
07:26My face didn't change.
07:28The flames rose.
07:29The guards outside
07:30clutched their throats
07:31and dropped,
07:32blood pouring from
07:33their eyes
07:33and thorns and mouths.
07:35I walked out of the fire
07:36with malice coiled
07:37around my arm.
07:38I followed the trail
07:39of my spiders
07:40to a dark corridor
07:41and ran straight
07:42into someone's chest.
07:43I looked up,
07:44eyes wide,
07:45still playing
07:46the frightened girl.
07:47Tears brimmed
07:48but didn't fall.
07:49Alaric pulled me
07:50into his arms
07:50and stared at the flames
07:51in the distance.
07:52Who did this?
07:53Find them.
07:54I pressed into his chest,
07:56said nothing.
07:57He knew who did it.
07:58He just didn't want
07:59to say it out loud.
08:00Childhood sweethearts,
08:01years of marriage,
08:03her family's soldiers
08:03fighting his wars.
08:05He'd never punish Lucinda
08:06for a dancer he'd just met.
08:09I'm scared.
08:11Alaric smelled of wine.
08:12His face was flushed,
08:14his breath warm.
08:15I was born to seduce,
08:16at the leech working
08:17inside him
08:18and the want in his eyes
08:19was inevitable.
08:20He lifted me
08:21and carried me back
08:21to his chambers.
08:22The news would reach
08:23Lucinda soon.
08:24She wouldn't take it well.
08:26Sure enough,
08:27one of her servants
08:27came running before long.
08:30Your majesty,
08:31the queen is unwell.
08:32She's asking for you.
08:36Will you go to her?
08:37I stood in his chambers,
08:39wearing nothing but silk.
08:41His eyes were glazed.
08:42He stared at me
08:43like I was the only thing
08:44in the world.
08:45Why would I think
08:46of anyone else
08:47when you're here?
08:49He watched me,
08:50breath heavy against my neck.
08:51The pale worm
08:53was still burrowing
08:54into his forehead.
08:55I pushed him onto the bed
08:56and tucked the blankets
08:57around him.
09:00Sweet dreams.
09:02Then I pricked my finger
09:03with a hairpin
09:04and squeezed a few drops
09:05of blood
09:06onto a handkerchief.
09:07The rest I fed to Alaric.
09:09Couldn't let it go to waste.
09:10A few drops wouldn't kill him,
09:12but over time it would.
09:13And I was the only one
09:15who could cure it.
09:16The moon hung high.
09:17Light streamed through the window.
09:19I checked the time.
09:20Lucinda would be coming soon.
09:22A spider the size of a fingernail
09:24crawled onto the windowsill.
09:25One of my eyes in this palace.
09:28I stood,
09:29smoothed my robe,
09:30and walked outside.
09:33Lucinda stood at the entrance,
09:34less like a jealous wife,
09:36more like a coup.
09:37I stood above her on the steps,
09:39let my hair fall to one side,
09:41showing off the red marks on my neck.
09:43The moonlight made me glow.
09:45I smiled down at her.
09:47The king is asleep.
09:49Perhaps come back tomorrow.
09:51Her face twisted.
09:54I'll kill you, you whore!
09:56I pointed at her belly.
09:57Careful, your majesty.
09:59Wouldn't want to hurt the baby.
10:01She froze.
10:03Alaric had promised her,
10:04give him a son,
10:05and she'd be crowned.
10:07But five years of marriage,
10:08and nothing to show for it.
10:10She tried everything,
10:11every doctor in the kingdom,
10:13and I just said it in front of everyone.
10:19Drag this whore out and beat her to death!
10:22I shook off the hands grabbing her.
10:28Your majesty,
10:29why not call for a doctor first?
10:31One more thing,
10:33I'm the only one who can keep this baby alive.
10:36Lucinda lay on a couch in the side chamber.
10:38Three doctors knelt before her.
10:40She propped her head up,
10:42too tired to hide her impatience.
10:44Well,
10:44am I pregnant or not?
10:47Yes, your majesty.
10:49You are with child.
10:50Lucinda shot up,
10:52eyes glistening.
10:53Her voice shook.
10:55Truly?
10:56I watched her.
10:57Even someone this vicious
10:58could look fragile
10:59when she wanted something badly enough.
11:01Then she looked at me,
11:02remembering what I'd said.
11:03And the baby,
11:05is it healthy?
11:06Everything looks perfect,
11:08your majesty.
11:09She smiled.
11:10When she looked at me again,
11:12her eyes were cold.
11:13Now that I'm pregnant,
11:14I shouldn't see blood.
11:15But you're too annoying to let live.
11:19She snapped her fingers.
11:21Her servants grabbed my arms,
11:22ready to drag me away.
11:24I flicked my finger.
11:26Lucinda doubled over,
11:27screaming,
11:28clutching her stomach.
11:29The doctors rushed to examine her.
11:31Their faces went pale.
11:33They dropped to their knees.
11:36Your majesty,
11:37please.
11:38You're losing the baby.
11:40All the color drained
11:42from Lucinda's face.
11:43She'd finally gotten pregnant
11:44after years of trying.
11:46And now she was losing it.
11:48You.
11:49Fix this.
11:51If you can't save this baby,
11:53I'll slaughter your whole family.
11:58I stared at her snarling face
12:00and dug my nails into my palms.
12:02My family.
12:03She didn't know they were already dead.
12:06I was the only one left.
12:08Crawled out of hell just to find her.
12:10I stuck a few needles in her
12:12and her face slowly relaxed.
12:13The doctors checked again.
12:16Pulse steady.
12:17Baby saved.
12:18She had no idea
12:19she wasn't really pregnant.
12:21When she came to burn me alive,
12:22I planted something inside her.
12:24It mimicked pregnancy.
12:26It could even fake the movement later on.
12:28But it fed on her.
12:29Drained her.
12:30Day after day.
12:31It moved when I wanted it to move.
12:33If I wanted her dead,
12:34she'd die.
12:35But killing just Lucinda
12:36wouldn't be enough.
12:38Her father and brother
12:39were the ones
12:39who led the soldiers that day.
12:41Her brother's fat hands
12:42running all over my sister's table.
12:45Scales falling like rain
12:46mixed with blood.
12:48Maris sweated through the pain.
12:49Jaw clenched.
12:50Never making a sound.
12:52She bit through her own teeth
12:53before she died.
12:54I looked at Lucinda's happy face
12:56and smiled.
12:58Maris.
12:58Everything they did to you.
13:00I'll make them pay
13:01a hundred times over.
13:02Alaric was still asleep
13:03when I got back to his chambers.
13:05I slipped off my robe
13:06and lay beside him.
13:08I wondered what his face
13:09would look like
13:10when he heard Lucinda was pregnant.
13:12He'd been slipping poison
13:13into her food for years.
13:15She was never supposed to conceive.
13:17Her family was too powerful.
13:19Too many soldiers loyal to them.
13:22If she gave him a son,
13:23they might try to take the throne.
13:26Alaric cared for Lucinda
13:27in his way.
13:29But not more than he cared
13:30for his crown.
13:31He woke and stared at me
13:33for a long moment.
13:34Something dreamy in his eyes.
13:36Still thinking about last night.
13:38Good dream then.
13:40I stirred and smiled shyly at him.
13:42I was about to get up
13:43and help him dress
13:44when a servant knelt
13:45outside the door.
13:46Your Majesty.
13:47The Queen sends word.
13:50The Doctor's confirmed this morning.
13:52She's with child.
13:54The smile froze on Alaric's face.
13:56He frowned.
13:58Does anyone else know?
14:00She's already sent a rider
14:02to her father, Your Majesty.
14:04I stood quietly,
14:06ready to leave.
14:07He caught my hand.
14:08You're tired.
14:09Rest here.
14:10I'll find you better rooms.
14:14I thanked him
14:15and lay back down on his bed,
14:17watching him walk away.
14:19The Queen was pregnant.
14:21Her family would have questions.
14:23Alaric had to deal with them
14:24and deal with the baby.
14:26No one would spare a thought
14:27for a mistress
14:28with no family behind her.
14:30Which was exactly what I needed.
14:32The foreign prince
14:33from the birthday banquet,
14:35Caelan Vore,
14:36he was going to be my blade.
14:38I didn't just want the people
14:39who killed my sister.
14:40I wanted to burn
14:41this whole kingdom down.
14:43I wrote a note
14:44and let malice carry it
14:46in its mouth.
14:47It slithered away to find him.
14:48When the days passed,
14:51I moved into new chambers.
14:53One of Lucinda's servants
14:54knocked on my door.
15:00The Queen's in pain.
15:01She's asking for you.
15:02I stroked malice quarreled
15:04on my desk
15:04and tucked it into my sleeve.
15:06Then I went.
15:08The Queen's chambers
15:09reeked of incense,
15:11but it couldn't cover
15:12the smell of blood.
15:14Alaric had made his move.
15:15Too bad she wasn't
15:16really pregnant.
15:17No amount of poison
15:18would kill a baby
15:19that didn't exist.
15:20It would only make her suffer.
15:23Lucinda still didn't know
15:24I was the one
15:25who'd kept her alive.
15:27Alaric still didn't know.
15:28I stood by her bed,
15:30pretending to examine her,
15:32hiding a smile.
15:35The thing inside her
15:36was fine.
15:37Growing.
15:39Multiplying.
15:40Can you save it?
15:42Yes.
15:43But it's going to hurt.
15:47If you're lying to me,
15:48my father and brother
15:50will make you pay.
15:51I pressed my fingers
15:52into her skin
15:53and whispered something old.
15:58Elora,
15:58gonna feel Lucina.
16:01She screamed without sound,
16:03eyes bulging,
16:04couldn't even cry out,
16:05just stared at me
16:06with pure hatred.
16:07I wondered how her father
16:08and brother would make me pay.
16:09They were barely keeping
16:10themselves alive right now.
16:12I'd given Kaelin
16:14a few of my leeches,
16:15told him to slip them
16:16into the Roth family's food.
16:17Her father and brother
16:18commanded the army
16:19at the border.
16:20Once the leeches took hold,
16:21the generals would start
16:22making mistakes,
16:23losing battles.
16:25And without them,
16:26the Roth family was nothing.
16:27When I finished,
16:28Lucinda had passed out.
16:30I called for the servants,
16:31but Alaric walked in with them.
16:34The doctors examined her
16:36through the bed curtains.
16:37Alaric and I stood to the side.
16:39He stared at me,
16:40voice cold.
16:41I didn't know you could do this.
16:42I smiled softly.
16:44An old remedy from my homeland.
16:46Nothing special.
16:47He didn't answer,
16:48just kept watching the curtains.
16:50I'd ruined his plan.
16:51He wouldn't let that go.
16:52I was thinking of how to prove
16:53my loyalty when the doctor spoke.
16:55The baby has saved,
16:56your majesty.
16:57Alaric's face went dark,
16:58but he walked to the bed
16:59and took Lucinda's hand anyway.
17:02Darling,
17:03you've suffered.
17:04She smiled weakly.
17:06For you and our child,
17:07I'd suffer anything.
17:11I stood there,
17:13biting back a laugh.
17:14Did she really think
17:15he was happy about this?
17:17I should thank Alara.
17:19Lucinda said,
17:20looking at me with false sweetness.
17:22She was weak.
17:23The whole palace
17:24couldn't save this baby.
17:25Only I could.
17:26Alaric turned to me,
17:27ice in his voice.
17:29Do you know what you've done?
17:34I dropped to my knees,
17:35words ready.
17:42I know,
17:43your majesty.
17:44I shouldn't have interfered.
17:46If something had gone wrong,
17:48I'd never forgive myself.
17:49He sneered.
17:51Good.
17:52You'll stay in your rooms
17:54for three months.
17:55Don't leave.
17:58I started to bow,
18:00but Lucinda spoke up.
18:02Don't punish her.
18:04I asked her to help.
18:06She didn't care about me.
18:07She just needed me alive
18:09in case Alaric tried again.
18:11If I was locked away,
18:12who would save her next time?
18:19It's my fault,
18:20your majesty.
18:20I'll accept the punishment.
18:22Right now,
18:23staying alive in front of Alaric
18:24was all that mattered.
18:26Enough, Lucinda.
18:27This is our first child.
18:29She almost ruined everything.
18:31Don't defend her.
18:32Lucinda opened her mouth,
18:34then closed it.
18:35She wanted me dead anyway.
18:37Watching me get punished
18:38probably made her day.
18:40I went back to my chambers.
18:43That night,
18:44Alaric came.
18:45He sat beside me
18:47in the candlelight,
18:48rubbing my hand.
18:49The flame danced in his eyes.
18:51Something in his expression
18:53I couldn't read.
18:54I hadn't even used
18:55my magic on him.
18:57Give me a child, Alora.
19:00I almost laughed out loud.
19:02Kings, all the same.
19:04I swallowed my disgust
19:06and lowered my eyes,
19:07playing shy.
19:11Yes.
19:14He picked me up
19:15and carried me to bed.
19:17We'd already slept together.
19:19I couldn't keep using magic
19:21to fake it forever.
19:22Someone would notice.
19:24Sirens were made for pleasure,
19:26soft in ways humans couldn't be.
19:30Alaric kept coming back,
19:31night after night.
19:33Lucinda heard.
19:34She nearly tore her chambers up.
19:36She thought my punishment
19:37meant I'd lost his favor.
19:39That once she gave him a son,
19:40she could have me killed
19:41whenever she wanted.
19:43She didn't expect this.
19:45Instead of news of my downfall,
19:49she got news of my pregnancy.
19:55Unlike Lucinda's pregnancy,
19:57Alaric was actually happy about mine.
19:59He'd been king for years,
20:01only a handful of women in his court.
20:04Lucinda couldn't have children herself,
20:06so she'd been poisoning everyone else.
20:09No one had given Alaric an heir.
20:12He looked at me with such tenderness.
20:14Did he actually have feelings for me?
20:18Sirens conceived easily.
20:20If I wanted to,
20:21I could give him a child without trouble.
20:24But this baby would never be born.
20:27I'd fed all my blood and bone to my magic.
20:30There was nothing left to grow a child.
20:32Alaric, this is what you deserve.
20:35You sent soldiers to slaughter my people.
20:37I'll make sure you never have an heir.
20:41That's the least you owe me.
20:45I felt it move.
20:47It's only been two months.
20:49It can't move yet.
20:50I swear I felt it.
20:52Maybe I'm just hungry.
20:54We both laughed.
20:56That's when Lucinda walked in.
20:59She was showing now,
21:01heavy on her feet.
21:02The baby was stable these days,
21:05but she was wasting away,
21:06thin as paper.
21:08Layers of powder couldn't hide
21:10how exhausted she looked.
21:12The thing inside her was feeding on her,
21:15draining her.
21:16And there I was,
21:18curled up against Alaric,
21:20skin glowing,
21:21lips red,
21:22laughing.
21:24I started to stand and curtsy,
21:26but Alaric held me in place.
21:32He frowned at her.
21:33What are you doing here?
21:36She forced an ugly smile.
21:40I heard the good news,
21:42came to congratulate her.
21:43She looked at Alaric.
21:45I didn't know you'd be here too.
21:47He hadn't visited her in weeks.
21:50She'd tried everything,
21:51excuses,
21:52summons.
21:53He refused every time.
21:55She'd even written to her father and brother,
21:57no reply.
21:59When she heard I was pregnant,
22:01she couldn't stay away.
22:02I stood up.
22:06Thank you for coming.
22:09How are you feeling?
22:17She didn't look at me,
22:19just stared at Alaric,
22:20tears welling.
22:23Do you hate me now?
22:27They'd grown up together.
22:29Alaric's grip on my hand loosened a little.
22:32If Lucinda weren't pregnant,
22:34if it didn't drive him crazy,
22:36I might never have gotten this close to him.
22:39Alaric squeezed my hand.
22:41Don't overthink it.
22:42I'll come see you soon.
22:44Then a servant rushed in,
22:46pale and breathless.
22:50Your Majesty,
22:51urgent news from the front.
22:52Ministers are waiting.
22:54Anything else?
22:55I'd like to rest.
22:57She laughed coldly.
22:59With her hollow cheeks,
23:00it was almost frightening.
23:03Don't get ahead of yourself.
23:06Not all pregnant women give birth.
23:09Same goes for you.
23:11I examined my freshly painted nails.
23:13Didn't bother looking up.
23:15She shook with rage.
23:17At least I have my family.
23:19You're just a dancer.
23:22What makes you think you can compete?
23:25I finally looked up.
23:27Slow, steady.
23:35Do you?
23:38If I was right,
23:40that urgent news was about her family.
23:42I'd gotten word days ago.
23:44Her family wanted war.
23:46Her brother Roderick kept crossing the border,
23:48picking fights.
23:49He thought he was untouchable.
23:51Then Kaylin knocked him off his horse
23:53and broke his leg.
23:54Kaylin didn't want to war.
23:56He let Roderick live.
23:57But the next day,
23:59her father, General Aldrich,
24:00marched his army across the border.
24:02Vengeance for his son's honor.
24:04The capital was far from the front.
24:06Even the fastest horse took a month.
24:08Alarick probably hadn't heard yet
24:09that Aldrich was captured.
24:10That the army was falling apart.
24:12My spiders brought me news faster.
24:14I had one bonded to Kaylin.
24:15It told me everything.
24:18Night fell.
24:18I brought soup to Alarick's study.
24:23She's here, your majesty.
24:24Let her in.
24:25His voice came to Lusanne.
24:27He sat, surrounded by mountains of paper,
24:29face dark as a storm.
24:31I set down the train and stood behind him,
24:33rubbing his temper.
24:35My head's been killing the lady,
24:36but when you hear it gets faster.
24:39He pulled me close,
24:40but his voice was freezing.
24:41I won't let Canada do whatever he has 59 miles away anymore.
24:42He told me he lived towards it.
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