- 13 hours ago
The Revenge of the Siren Twin Queens
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Short filmTranscript
00:01That pearl is inside her! Split her open and take it!
00:08Here, deliver this to the queen and be done with it.
00:11Look! There's still one that got away!
00:14I watched my own sister be killed right before my eyes.
00:19Since you can't bear to leave, then stay forever!
00:23Arrows, shoot her down! Wipe out every last trace!
00:27A sky-blotting volley of arrows tore through the air.
00:31I plunged into the water, swimming for my life.
00:33I hid beneath a dark reef.
00:36Blood stung my eyes as my tears hardened into Siren's grief pearls,
00:41each one deep red with blood.
00:43Nerissa's last words echoed in my head.
00:46Live, Serena. Whatever it takes, live.
00:51Legend has it that deep in the abyss of light live the Sirens,
00:55and within their queen resides a flawless Tide Pearl.
01:00Whoever possessed it would gain eternal beauty and youth.
01:04Isolde grew obsessed.
01:06To please him, King Aldrich sent his men and wizards to cut open Nerissa's body and take her Tidal Pearl.
01:14That day, the sea ran red.
01:17My people floated everywhere, their bellies split open.
01:22They knew the Siren Queen carried a legendary Tide Pearl.
01:25They had no idea there were two of us.
01:28Twin-born queens.
01:30The other queen was born with the Siren's allure.
01:33Her blood could sustain a thousand shadow familiars.
01:36That queen was me.
01:38I dragged myself onto the shore.
01:41The pain ate at my bones.
01:44I gritted my teeth and sang the old Siren curse.
01:47My tail turned into two human legs with a sickening crunch.
01:51I sliced my wrists open.
01:53Let the writhing shadows drink.
02:01I mastered blood sorcery in three months.
02:04A magic most humans never master in a lifetime.
02:08I clawed my way to the capital, Aurelia.
02:11I slipped into the ivory palace disguised as a court dancer.
02:15I handed a greedy servant a bag of my Siren's grief pearls.
02:21Soon, I had eyes on King Aldrich's every move.
02:30At night, the moonlight spread across the shore as I danced over the waters of Mirror Lake.
02:37You dance like no one I've ever seen.
02:41Who are you?
02:43It's a dance from my homeland.
02:46If you ever get to see it.
02:56The queen loves to dance too.
02:58The midsummer court is coming up.
03:00Perhaps you shall dance for her at the feast.
03:02Your majesty.
03:04I didn't realize who you were.
03:06Please forgive me.
03:08No need to apologize, my lady.
03:10Just don't disappoint me.
03:12Or the queen.
03:13I accepted.
03:14As Aldrich turned his back, I stirred my fingers.
03:19A tiny shadow familiar burrowed silently into his skin.
03:24By noon the next day, all of Ivory Palace was talking about the king meeting a beautiful dancer by the
03:30lake.
03:31By sunset, even the stable boys had their own version of the story.
03:36A sharp knock came at my door.
03:39It was Queen Isolde's mistress of the household.
03:42They marched me right to Queen Isolde.
03:44That was her.
03:46The woman who slaughtered my people and killed Nerissa.
03:49All for a single tide pearl.
03:52This is what my husband sends me?
03:54A scarred little creature from the gutter?
03:57Before stepping inside, I used a glamour weaver to hide my face under a grotesque mask of fake whip scars
04:04and pockmarks.
04:06Isolde was deadly jealous.
04:08If she saw my real face, I'd never survive the night.
04:16Rest assured your grace.
04:19I shall wear a veil.
04:20You won't have to endure my face for long.
04:22Very well.
04:24Looking like that, you couldn't cause a ripple in a bathtub.
04:27I'll accept Aldrich's gift.
04:29Isolde waved her hand.
04:31The mistress of the household dragged me out.
04:33Right outside the doors, I ran straight into Aldrich.
04:37He took one look at me.
04:38This scarred, ruined face looked nothing like the girl from the lake.
04:44But my scent gave me away.
04:46He instantly knew I was fighting for my life.
04:48If Isolde had seen the real me, there'd be a corpse on the floor right now.
04:53What did it matter if she held all the king's favor now?
04:57The higher they rise, the harder they fall.
05:01Back in my room, I shed the glamour weaver.
05:04The face in the mirror was flawless, luminous as moonlight.
05:10Isolde, didn't you want the siren's allure?
05:14Didn't you crave eternal youth?
05:16Hmm.
05:18I was going to make sure everything you ever wanted slipped through your fingers.
05:30Soon, Narita. Soon.
05:33She will be the first I send screaming into the dark.
05:36To answer for what she's done to you.
05:39The Midsummer Court.
05:40Three days of feasts, fights, and dancing.
05:43And no sleep.
05:45White water lilies covered Mirror Lake overnight.
05:48The Lords whispered.
05:49Some called it a blessing from the stars.
05:52Others, a dark omen.
05:54Where is the gift you promised, your majesty?
05:59Ooh.
06:05Ooh.
06:09Ooh.
06:11Ooh.
06:11Ooh.
06:11Ooh.
06:13Ooh.
06:17A dance for her grace's honor.
06:20May the king and his queen know joy unending.
06:22May the kingdom of Valton prosper in glory.
06:25Rise.
06:26You were...
06:28Extraordinary.
06:29How...
06:31Delightful.
06:32You like it?
06:33Good.
06:34The whispering hex was working.
06:36The shadow familiar was already inside his mind, tugging at his thoughts.
06:41I didn't want to push it too far.
06:43I flicked a finger, ready to call the shadow back.
06:46Give her to me, King Eldrith.
06:48In return, my father's armies will never cross your borders.
06:51Who speaks?
06:55Sire is Norberg's crown prince.
07:00King Eldrith.
07:02I'm Norheim's crown prince, Kasbar.
07:06A hundred years of peace for one woman.
07:08I'd say you're getting the better deal.
07:11A century of peace.
07:13Trading a mere dancer to stop a war?
07:16Not a single lord here would say no to that deal.
07:19A crown prince offers a crown for a dancer.
07:23Any woman in this kingdom would weep with gratitude.
07:26The council of lords traded looks.
07:29Politically, it was the perfect bargain.
07:32Aldric went dead silent.
07:34He knew exactly what he should say.
07:36So why did his chest suddenly tighten?
07:41I looked up.
07:42I stared right at him.
07:48You come too late, Prince Kasbar.
07:50She belongs to the crown.
07:53Your majesty?
07:56Kasbar stared Aldric down.
07:58A slow smirk spread across his face.
08:00Then he turned and vanished into the crown.
08:04Cold sweat drenched my back.
08:06Thankfully, I hadn't called the whispering hex back yet.
08:10Without that shadow in his mind,
08:12Aldric would never have claimed me aloud.
08:14A century of peace without drawing a single sword?
08:19No king turns that down.
08:22Aldric claimed me in broad daylight.
08:26By nightfall, a royal decree awaited me.
08:30A sealed writ.
08:31I was officially named the crown's grace.
08:35Moved to Dawnlight Hall.
08:37And placed under the king's personal protection.
08:40As I left the dancers' quarters,
08:42I stopped at the end of the hall and stared out into the dark.
08:46Narissa, are you watching?
08:50I was going to make them pay a thousandfold for what they did to you.
08:55When I got to Moonveil Tower,
08:58Isolde was already waiting.
08:59She stared at my bare face in the moonlight.
09:03The veil was gone.
09:05You lied to me.
09:09Had I shown you this face that day,
09:11I wouldn't have lived long enough to bore you with it.
09:14You read me well.
09:16But guess what?
09:16Parade around as the king's new favorite all you want.
09:19Crown's grace or not,
09:21I will kill you just the same.
09:22So you've already decided how I die.
09:24Is that so?
09:25A tragic palace fire.
09:26The lovely crown's grace, Soraya, reduced to ash.
09:31Aldric and I were wed before he wore the crown.
09:34My father and brother bleed for his kingdom.
09:37Do you truly think you'll mourn a dancer?
09:41Her guards grabbed me.
09:43They bound my hands and feet and threw me to the stone floor.
09:49They doused the room in whale oil.
09:52A spark dropped.
09:54Flames erupted.
09:56Aldric is insensible with drink tonight.
09:59No one is coming to save me.
10:02I watched her disappear through the tower door.
10:05I didn't even flinch.
10:07As the fire roared,
10:09the guards at the door suddenly grabbed their throats.
10:12Blood poured out of their eyes and mouths.
10:15They dropped dead.
10:17One by one.
10:19I walked through the flames with Nyx.
10:23A shadow spinner spider scuttled across the floor,
10:26leading the way.
10:27I sprinted after it.
10:29Suddenly, I slammed into a solid chest.
10:32I jerked my head up, wide-eyed.
10:35Tears pooled in my eyes,
10:37but I bit my lip hard to hold them back.
10:40Who dared set fire inside my palace?
10:43Find them.
10:44Now!
10:45I pressed my face into his chest.
10:47I didn't say a word.
10:49He knew exactly who did it.
10:50That was pure theater for the court.
10:52He and Isolde had a history
10:54that went back to their childhood.
10:56Those roots ran deep.
10:57Moreover, she had House Ashford
10:59and half the Council of Lords backing her.
11:01He wasn't going to lay a finger on his queen
11:03for a dancer he barely knew.
11:05Aldric, I'm frightened.
11:09He was definitely drunk.
11:11His face was flushed,
11:12and his breath reeked of heavy wine.
11:14The sweet scent of my allure coiled around him.
11:17Deep inside him,
11:18my shadow-familiar tongue
11:20and his darkest desires.
11:21His eyes quickly clouded over.
11:23They burned dangerously hot.
11:25He scooped me up in his arms
11:27and carried me straight to the king's chamber.
11:30Word would reach Isolde fast.
11:32She wasn't going to take this lying down.
12:03Sure enough, I hadn't been in the chamber long
12:04of my neck.
12:05Then he went limp.
12:06A fleshy pink dream spinner
12:09burrowed slowly into his forehead.
12:11I shoved him back onto the four-poster bed
12:14and pulled the covers up.
12:17I wove you a beautiful dream.
12:21I bit my lip until blood welled up,
12:24then leaned over as if to kiss him.
12:27Instead, I let exactly three drops of cursed blood
12:31fall past his parted lips.
12:33He swallowed it in his sleep.
12:35Three drops tonight,
12:37three tomorrow,
12:39three the night after.
12:41Soon, the poison would seep into his bones
12:44so deeply that no healer could purge it.
12:48No one except me.
12:50I wiped the blood off my mouth
12:52with the back of my hand.
12:54I stared at the dark red smear on my skin.
12:57This is what your mercy left you with,
13:00King Aldrich.
13:01A monster in your bed.
13:04A tiny scratching sound
13:06came from the windowsill.
13:07A shadow spinner spider,
13:09no bigger than a fingernail.
13:11One of my many eyes inside the palace.
13:14Isolde was coming.
13:17Isolde was standing right outside the chamber doors.
13:21She was backed by her ladies-in-waiting,
13:23two sworn guards,
13:24and her personal healer.
13:27This wasn't just a jealous wife complaining.
13:29It was a siege.
13:31I stood at the top of the stairs.
13:33I purposely swept my hair to the side.
13:36I let the moonlight hit the fresh, red mark on my neck.
13:40The king is asleep, your grace.
13:43Perhaps come back tomorrow.
13:45You gutter-born nobody!
13:47I will kill you!
13:48Careful, your grace.
13:59That one sentence froze her in her tracks.
14:03Five years of marriage.
14:05Still no heir.
14:06The council of lords was whispering.
14:09Her father's letters were getting shorter.
14:12Even the servants looked at her differently now.
14:14She had begged every street healer in the kingdom.
14:18Still no heir.
14:20Rumor had it, she was cursed.
14:24Guards!
14:25Seize her!
14:26I want her flogged until there's nothing left to flog!
14:29I had just struck at the rawest wound she had,
14:33right in front of her entire retinue.
14:36I calmly shook off the guards' reaching hands.
14:39Then I spoke the words that shocked the hallway into dead silence.
14:44If I'm harmed, your grace, say goodbye to the child growing in your belly.
14:52Well, am I with child or not?
14:54Your grace, there is a life force.
14:57You are undoubtedly carrying a child.
15:02Truly?
15:04Even someone that arrogant could break down like this.
15:08Then she looked at me.
15:10Remembering my threat, she snapped at the healers.
15:12The child, is it stable?
15:15Your grace, the life force is strong and steady.
15:17Everything is perfect.
15:18Isolde smiled.
15:19When she turned back to me,
15:21the pure, murderous hate returned to her eyes.
15:27I finally have an heir.
15:29We should be celebrating.
15:31But you are a stain on this room.
15:35The very sight of you makes me sick.
15:38Isolde gave a flick of her eyes.
15:40Her guards lunged forward,
15:42digging their fingers into my arms to drag me out.
15:45I just twitched my finger.
15:47A split second later,
15:49Isolde grabbed her belly and let out a blood-curdling scream.
15:54The healers rushed in with a diagnostic scan.
15:58Forgive us, your grace.
16:00The child's strength is failing.
16:03The pregnancy cannot be saved.
16:06Panic swallowed Isolde a hole.
16:09She had waited five years for a child,
16:12only to lose it seconds after finding out.
16:15Pale as a corpse, she locked eyes with me.
16:18She hissed through her teeth.
16:21You.
16:23Fix it.
16:26If I lose this child,
16:28I will burn everything you love to Ash.
16:31Every person.
16:33Every place.
16:34Every single memory.
16:36I looked down at her vicious,
16:37desperate face.
16:39Burn everything I loved to Ash?
16:41She had no idea.
16:42My people were already wiped out.
16:44I was the only one left.
16:47I crawled out of the deep sea hell
16:49for one reason only.
16:51To collect what she owed.
16:53I stepped forward
16:54and pulled out a silver ritual blade.
16:56I sliced shallow cuts into Isolde's wrists
16:59and her belly.
17:00Then, I let my own blood
17:02drip right into the open wounds.
17:04As the cuts healed, one by one,
17:07color slowly returned to Isolde's face.
17:09The healers rushed back for a scan.
17:11The gold light was steady again.
17:13The truth was,
17:14I knew nothing of healing magic.
17:16And there was no child in Isolde's womb.
17:19The night she tried to burn me alive
17:21in Moonvale Tower,
17:22I quietly planted a phantom womb hex inside her.
17:26The shadow perfectly mimicked
17:28every sign of being with child.
17:31The morning nausea,
17:32the swelling womb,
17:33and later,
17:34even the illusion of a child stirring within.
17:37But day and night,
17:39it would be eating the mother
17:40from the inside out,
17:42draining her life force to feed itself.
17:44The shadow obeyed my will.
17:47If I wished it,
17:48she'd be dead in an instant.
17:50But taking Isolde's life
17:52wasn't going to satisfy me.
17:54The men who butchered my entire people
17:57were Isolde's father and brother.
17:59I still remember her brother,
18:01Sir Victor Ashford,
18:03his thick, greasy hands
18:05tearing the scales from Nerissa's tail fin.
18:08Nerissa had been drenched in cold sweat
18:10from the agony.
18:11But she clenched her jaw
18:13and never made a sound.
18:15She died in unimaginable pain.
18:18I looked at Isolde's relieved,
18:20joyful face.
18:21A dark smile crept onto my lips.
18:24Are you watching, Nerissa?
18:26For every ounce of pain
18:28they put you through,
18:29I'll make them pay a thousandfold.
18:32When I slipped back
18:33into the king's chamber,
18:34Aldrich was still fast asleep.
18:36I dropped my robe
18:37and slid into bed beside him.
18:39I couldn't wait to see
18:40the look on his face
18:41when he woke up
18:42and heard the news.
18:43His wife was pregnant.
18:46After all,
18:46he was the one
18:47paying the crown alchemist
18:48to slip a barrenness draft
18:50into her daily tea.
18:51She was never going to have a child.
18:53House Ashford already held
18:55half the seats
18:56in the Council of Lords.
18:57They commanded
18:58the entire Southern March army.
19:00If Isolde actually bore an heir,
19:02her family would use the child
19:04to turn Aldrich
19:05into a puppet king.
19:06Sure,
19:07Aldrich might have loved her once,
19:08but love is a cheap joke
19:11next to a crown.
19:12Aldrich woke up
19:13and stared at me.
19:15The days of the dream spinner
19:16still lingered in his eyes.
19:18It looked like he enjoyed
19:19the fantasy I spun for him.
19:23Your Majesty,
19:24word has just arrived
19:26from the Queen's attendance.
19:27Her grace is with child.
19:29Did the news get out?
19:31Sire has already sent a rider
19:33to Lord General Ashfield.
19:35The air in the room
19:36snapped tight.
19:38I knew when to take my leave.
19:40You had a shock last night.
19:42Stay here and rest.
19:44I'll find you
19:45a better place to stay.
19:47Queen Isolde
19:48was pregnant.
19:49House Ashford
19:50was smelling blood
19:51in the water.
19:52Aldrich was fighting
19:53a war on two fronts.
19:55He had to crush
19:56the plotting
19:56in the Council of Lords,
19:57and he had to find a way
19:59to kill the thing
20:00growing inside his wife.
20:02Right now,
20:03no one was looking twice
20:05at a nameless crown's grace.
20:07It was the perfect blind spot
20:09for my revenge.
20:11Kasvar,
20:12Crown Prince of Norheim
20:13from the Midsummer Court,
20:15would be my blade.
20:16I didn't just want
20:17a few dead royals.
20:18They butchered my people.
20:20I was going to burn
20:21their kingdom
20:22to the ground.
20:24I rolled up a coded note
20:26and shoved it
20:27into Nyx's mouth.
20:28The little snake
20:29tracked Kasvar down,
20:31following the invisible scent
20:33of our soul tether.
20:34I settled into
20:35Dawnlight Hall
20:36and waited.
20:38A few days later,
20:40someone pounded
20:41on my door.
20:43My lady!
20:44The queen is in agony.
20:46Please,
20:46you have to come.
20:48Aldrich had made his move.
20:50He must have ordered
20:51the crown alchemist
20:52to strengthen the dose.
20:54Too bad there was
20:55no child to lose.
20:56The deadly potion
20:57was just eating
20:58Isolde alive
20:59for nothing.
21:00No one had leaked
21:01a word about me
21:02saving her pregnancy
21:03the other night.
21:04Aldrich was completely
21:05in the dark.
21:06I stood over Isolde's bed,
21:07watching her face twist
21:09in pure,
21:10miserable agony.
21:11Slowly,
21:12I drew my silver
21:13ritual blade.
21:14The shadow
21:15from the phantom womb
21:16hex remained untouched,
21:18thriving,
21:18and multiplying
21:19inside Isolde.
21:20My child!
21:21Can you save it?
21:23I can,
21:24but it's going to hurt.
21:26Soraya,
21:27if you dare deceive me,
21:29my father and brother
21:30will not let you
21:31walk away alive!
21:32I took out
21:33my silver ritual blade
21:34and cut fresh slashes
21:36into her wrists
21:36and belly.
21:37Then,
21:38I let my own blood
21:39drip in.
21:40One cut,
21:41then another,
21:42until there were ten.
21:43She just lay there,
21:45shooting pure venom
21:46at me
21:46through bloodshot eyes.
21:48I actually wondered
21:49how exactly
21:50her father and brother
21:51were planning
21:52to deal with me.
21:53I had handed Kasvar
21:54a few of my shadow familiars.
21:56I told him to slip them
21:57right into the Ashford's food.
21:59The father and son
21:59commanded the entire
22:01Southern March army.
22:02Without them,
22:03the moment a general falls,
22:05the army breaks.
22:06House Ashford's
22:07massive military threat
22:08would vanish
22:09overnight.
22:10Once the tenth cut sealed,
22:12I drew back.
22:13Isolde was
22:14completely drained.
22:15I waved a hand
22:16toward the heavy
22:16chamber doors.
22:18Send for the healers.
22:19Let them check.
22:20But the healers
22:20didn't arrive alone.
22:22Aldric entered
22:23right behind them.
22:26I didn't know
22:27you had this
22:27particular talent.
22:29Just an old remedy
22:31from the deep waters,
22:32older than your kingdom.
22:34I had just ruined
22:36his perfect assassination plot.
22:38He wasn't going
22:39to let this go.
22:41The queen's child
22:42is safe, sire.
22:48Miss Alade,
22:50you've suffered.
22:52For you and our child,
22:53it was no suffering at all.
22:55I stood in the corner,
22:56biting the inside
22:57of my cheek
22:58to keep from laughing
22:59out loud.
23:00Did the king look
23:01remotely happy to her?
23:02He looked like
23:03he couldn't even
23:04stomach the sight of her.
23:07We owe Lady Soraya
23:08our thanks.
23:09Thanks.
23:14Do you know
23:15what you've done?
23:17I understand my error.
23:19I acted recklessly.
23:20I am no trained healer.
23:22If anything had happened
23:23to the queen,
23:24the consequences
23:25would have been unthinkable.
23:27Reckless is an understatement.
23:29You are confined
23:30to your quarters
23:30for three months.
23:31You do not set
23:32one foot outside
23:33Dawn White Hall.
23:34Aldric, please!
23:35I begged her to do it.
23:37Don't punish her.
23:38She wasn't trying
23:39to help me.
23:40She was just terrified.
23:41Your grace,
23:43I overstepped.
23:44I accept my punishment.
23:46This is our first child,
23:48Isolid.
23:48We cannot be too careful.
23:50Do not plead for her.
23:52Isolde opened her mouth,
23:53then swallowed her words.
23:54Deep down,
23:55she was thrilled
23:56I was getting locked away.
23:57I was escorted back
23:58to Dawn Light Hall.
24:00That very night,
24:01Aldric showed up
24:02at my door.
24:02He sat by candlelight,
24:04his thumb tracing soft circles
24:06over my hand.
24:07The flame danced
24:08in his pupils.
24:09There was something
24:10buried in his eyes
24:11I couldn't quite read.
24:12I hadn't fed him
24:13a shadow familiar tonight.
24:14Soraya,
24:15give me a child.
24:17I almost laughed
24:18in his face.
24:20We had shared a bed before.
24:22A shadow could mimic
24:24touch for a while,
24:25but not forever.
24:27Keep it up long enough
24:28and he would notice.
24:30Besides,
24:31sirens are creatures
24:32built for addiction.
24:34Aldric couldn't get enough.
24:36He spent night
24:37after night
24:38in my chambers.
24:39Isolde really thought
24:40Aldric put me
24:41under house arrest
24:42because he was sick of me.
24:44She figured she could
24:45deal with me
24:45the second she popped
24:46out her air.
24:47Instead of watching me
24:48rot in exile,
24:50she was met
24:50with very different news.
24:53I was pregnant too!
24:54When Aldric heard
24:55Isolde was pregnant,
24:57he panicked.
24:58But when he heard
24:59the news about me,
25:00the joy on his face
25:02was real.
25:03He had sat on the throne
25:04for years
25:05without a single heir.
25:07Since Isolde
25:08couldn't bear one,
25:09she quietly paid off
25:10the alchemists
25:11to spike the tea
25:13of every other mistress
25:14in the castle.
25:16I stared into his eyes.
25:18They were soft
25:18with tenderness.
25:19Did he actually love me?
25:21A siren's body
25:22is built for survival.
25:24Bearing young
25:25is practically effortless
25:26compared to humans.
25:27If I wanted a child,
25:29it was easy.
25:30The tragedy was,
25:31this child
25:32was never meant
25:33to be born.
25:34Every drop of blood
25:35in my body
25:36fed my shadow familiars.
25:38Siren magic
25:39is born of the living sea.
25:41Blood sorcery
25:42feeds on death.
25:44Those two forces
25:45ripped at each other
25:46inside my veins,
25:47leaving too little life
25:48in me
25:49to carry a child.
25:50I swear I felt it move.
25:52You're imagining things.
25:53It's barely two months.
25:54How could it move?
25:55I felt it.
25:56I'm sure of it.
25:58I'm probably just hungry.
26:00We both burst into laughter,
26:03tangled up together in bed.
26:04That was the exact scene
26:06Isolde walked in on.
26:08Isolde was finally showing,
26:10but the rest of her body
26:12was wasting away.
26:13Hollow cheeks,
26:14dark, bruised circles
26:16under her eyes.
26:17Her skin looked as thin
26:19as stretched parchment.
26:21Not even three layers
26:22of heavy powder
26:23could hide the decay.
26:25The shadow from the
26:26phantom womb hex
26:27was relentlessly
26:29feeding on her vitality.
26:32The second I saw Isolde,
26:33I went to pull away,
26:35but Aldric just
26:36wrapped his arms
26:37around me tighter.
26:39Why are you here?
26:43I heard the wonderful news
26:44about Sirea.
26:46I came to offer
26:47my congratulations
26:48I just didn't expect
26:50to find you here.
26:52Aldric hadn't stepped foot
26:54inside Golden Rose Hall
26:55in weeks.
26:56He made every excuse
26:58in the book.
26:58He just refused
27:00to see her.
27:01Desperate,
27:02she had written
27:03to her father and brother.
27:04Still no reply.
27:06Today, upon hearing
27:07that Dawnlight Hall
27:08was expecting a child,
27:09she could endure it
27:10no longer.
27:15How have you been feeling,
27:17Your Grace?
27:18Isolde didn't even
27:19look at me.
27:20Her eyes were fixed
27:21on Aldric.
27:22Have you grown tired
27:23of me, Aldric?
27:25They shared a bond
27:26forged since childhood.
27:28For a fleeting moment,
27:30Aldric's grip on me
27:31loosened.
27:32Honestly,
27:33if Isolde's pregnancy
27:35wasn't stressing him
27:36out of his mind,
27:37I probably wouldn't
27:39have kept him
27:39in my bed this easily.
27:41Don't overthink it.
27:42I'll come see you
27:42later tonight.
27:45Your Majesty,
27:46urgent dispatch
27:47from the Southern March.
27:48The Council of Lords
27:49is already waiting
27:49in the Council Chamber.
27:57Was there anything else,
27:59my Queen?
27:59I wish to rest.
28:01I underestimated you.
28:02But in this palace,
28:04carrying the King's heir
28:05means absolute nothing
28:06if you don't survive
28:07the birth.
28:07I could say the same,
28:09though I suspect
28:10you already know.
28:11You conizing little wretch!
28:12Don't push your luck!
28:13I still have my bloodline!
28:15I have my father
28:16and my brother!
28:17You're just a dancer!
28:18You are nothing beside me!
28:20Is that so?
28:21If I had to guess,
28:22that urgent dispatch
28:23was all about
28:24the Ashford men.
28:26I had learned of it
28:27days ago.
28:27My splinter familiar
28:29was shadowing Kasvar.
28:30The tiny shadow
28:32carried the news
28:33straight into my mind
28:34through our soul tether.
28:35It reached me
28:36a full month
28:37before the King's
28:38fastest riders could.
28:40House Ashford
28:41had always hungered
28:42for war.
28:43They had long been eager
28:44to march on Norheim.
28:45But the royal vault
28:47was bleeding dry,
28:48and Aldrich had zero interest
28:50in starting a war.
28:51So the eldest son,
28:53Sir Victor,
28:54crossed the border
28:55and provoked them
28:56again and again.
28:58I had thought
28:59he could fight,
29:00but it only took
29:01a few clashes
29:02for Kasvar
29:03to knock him
29:03off his horse
29:04and shatter his leg.
29:07Kasvar didn't want
29:08a full-blown war,
29:10so he let the fool live.
29:12But the very next day,
29:14Lord General Ashford
29:16marched his army south.
29:18He swore
29:19to wash away
29:20the insult
29:21and avenge
29:22the humiliation
29:22of his son.
29:24The southern march
29:25was miles away.
29:26Even the fastest horse
29:28took a month
29:28to reach the capital.
29:31Halterich had no idea
29:33the old general
29:34had already been
29:35crushed and captured.
29:39My lady,
29:40his majesty
29:40is in the middle
29:41of a council.
29:41Let her in.
29:43I've had these headaches
29:44for days now,
29:46but when you're near me
29:47they ease.
29:48I don't know why.
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