Chapter 11: Back in a Cell

Darian tried to piece together the events that had led him back to the same cold, damp cell in the castle dungeon. The betrayal stung like a fresh wound and now the queen knew the truth - he had murdered the king.

“I should have gotten rid of the dagger and cloak,” he thought bitterly. “But I was so foolishly relieved at my victory that I never even considered the possibility of being found out.”

Despair washed over him. “Who am I tryinig to fool? I am not fit to be a king,” he whispered. “I am just a scared and spoiled child. How could I have ever hoped to marry the queen?”

The lump in his throat threatened to choke Darian, “If Inglud was still alive, he would know how to stop this madness and save the kingdoom.”

The dungeon doors creaked open, revealing the old man with a flickering torch in his hand.

“Narim,” Darian said slowly. There was no hatred or anger in his voice. It was as if Darian was once again greeting an old friend.

“Darian,” the counselor muttered back, putting the torch into the wall.

They watched each other in silence for a while, but the silence was far more eloquent than any words. Narim spoke first. “The queen took the throne before Nome is back.”

“I trusted you. I trusted you with my life. We had a friendship that I cherished. And this is the price for my faith? Betrayal? You wanted me to kill the king, didn’t you?”

The man before him, once a trusted ally, now seemed like a stranger. “I never pushed you to do anything. I gave you a book because you asked; I gave you a key so you could run away and start a new life. I destroyed the letter because you needed a favor. And all I’ve done was necessary for the greater good.”

“Stop with all this bullshit. Why are you really doing this? Gold? Power? A desire for the queen?”

“Justice.”

“Justice?” Darian scoffed. “What justice could possibly justify your betrayal?”

“The Serpent-Slayers must be eradicated,” Narim replied firmly.

“Eradicated. My bloodline has made this kingdom prosperous and strong.”

The old man’s eyes narrowed. “Open your eyes. Your line is sinful and cruel. Your traditions are gruesome and twisted. And you, Darian, are guilty of loving the one person you cannot have - your own mother. Serpent-Slayers are not worthy to be kings.”

Darian gripped the bars of his cell, glaring at the figure on the other side “You still dare to lecture me? We have always treated you as a friend, and now you try to play the role of a saint? A martyr? You just a pathetic traitor. And my love to my mother is as pure as it can be. Something you won’t understand.”

Narim smiled before continuing. “I don’t think there’s any love from queen’s side. It breaks her heart to think that her own son could commit such a heinous act as ravaging her in her own bed. What son would do this to own mother?”

“I didn’t ravage her, you monster,” Darian shot back.

“It’s all over. You won’t escape this time. She does know you murdered the king. Who do you think she would believe more? A cocky young man, even though he is her son, or an advisor who has spent a lifetime serving the kingdom.”

The torch flickered, casting eerie shadows across Darian’s palm face. “Now I understand why you warned me against mating with the queen. You just wanted to avoid continuing my lineage”

“My dear friend. Did you really intend to sire offspring with your own mother?” Narim chuckled, a cruel sound that echoed through the dungeon. “The queen’s bloodline will continue, just not with you.”

Darian’s heart sank. “What will happen with me and Tartuff?”

“Your little brother will live, but he will never know who he truly is. He will never be a Serpent-Slayer. Your trial will happen tomorrow, but you won’t be attended. Knowing your temper, my friend, I don’t want you to say anything provocative. In memory of our friendship, I will make sure you will be sent into slavery, where you will live out the rest of your days in servitude.”

“If you think I will thank you for that, you are mistaken”

“I won’t,” Narim said as he turned to leave. The advisor spoke up one last time, “I’m sorry, Darian. I truly am. But sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The Serpent-Slayers’ days are numbered”

As the sun set and the darkness crept in, a shadowy figure emerged from the gloom. Little man shrouded in a dark hood approached the young prince and Darian immediately caught a garlic scent.

“Lokir!”

“Back in your cell, I see, Prince. I’m starting to think you like being here,” Lokir said with a yellow teeth smile “But I did not come on my own. I came with a guest.”

With a flourish, he unlocked the dungeon door, revealing a woman standing in the doorway. Darian’s heart skipped a beat – it was his mother. Despite the less-than-ideal setting, she was every bit as regal as he remembered. Her hair flowed in gentle waves down her back; she wore a flowing gown of deep purple that hugged her curves in all the right places.

The queen had always been beautiful, but in that moment, she was positively radiant. Despite the situation, Darian couldn’t help but be captivated by her. He knew that he shouldn’t be feeling this way, but he couldn’t help it. The queen was just too stunning to ignore even though she didn’t even try to.