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