The Queen of Oaths

Prologue The King of Heivoryn is dead—and the crown prince is searching for a Queen. I did not know how to process any of the words that were jumping off the scroll. Crowds of people bustled into the streets exclaiming their surprise at the news. Horsemen wearing colors of the high sect raced past each home, wasting no second distributing the letters. The hoof beats matched the quickening of my heart. Upon closer look, I noticed the way the royal seal looked to have been stamped in a rush—the red wax was splattered across the parchment as though signifying that life has indeed been lost. Remembering the reason I came, my hands went up to tug my shawl over my head. I clenched my basket with cold hands and pushed my way through the people. How will Sadie react to the news? Have they reached her home already? It was hard to tell where the horsemen were even coming from and whether they started from the high or lower sect. Nothing was clear but I knew that I had to get to my closest friend. Shifting into a sprint, I felt the way the air moved through my hair. For a second, I was reminded of childhood and the freedom that came with knowing nothing about the world I dwelt in. It was the feeling of looking forward and never having to worry about losing the things you left behind. Back then, I knew in my heart that after a long day of play, I would be back in bed and gently lulled to sleep with stories of wonderful adventures. My cloud of thoughts shattered when I finally arrived at Sadie’s home. My insides twisted so hard, that I could not force out my breath for what seemed an eternity. Royal soldiers were fighting to keep her still, as her family desperately tried not to let go. “Please leave us! She is my only daughter!” Her father begged with a voice of agonizing desperation. Sadie was crying out in painful pleas as the men yanked and pulled at all parts of her body. Even for her smaller size, she struggled with all the power she had. I was frozen and I could not speak. I only watched as a sudden swipe of a sword jarred all defenders into a halt. Have I gone deaf? I did not know, for everything around me had seemed to go quiet. But then, a sharp wail pierced the thick atmosphere. Sadie’s mother wept with eyes wide open behind her two older sons, whom I never saw look so agitatedly grieved. Dust was settling, and at their feet, lay their slain father. My throat gave out a muffled sound even I couldn’t recognize. Strange tremors shook my body as the rush of blood sent me running towards the danger ahead of me. The only thought running through my head was to save Sadie no matter the cost. “Sadie—!” I was silenced by a hand that roughly covered my open mouth and yanked me into an alleyway between homes. I fought against the person, desperation and fear for my friend almost made me burst free. In the next moment, I realized whose hands were trying to keep me from running out into the open. It was only Merle, my brother, his eyes spoke an urgent warning to me. Wide and unblinking, they darted from my face to the street. I turned my head and watched as young women were pushed and kicked into a group. Their hands were tied behind their backs. The unmoving bodies which were sprawled out in the dusty street, showed that the fathers and brothers could only do so much. Those who were still standing, only watched on in silence. I saw their look of defeat. They had always known what happened to those who tested the soldiers’ patience. I breathed in and shuddered a whisper that only Merle could hear, “Oh God, what is going on here?”