Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

The young soldier, Dristan, escorted Alina down a long hallway to a large dining hall where a group of soldiers sat, conversing among themselves. One of the men jumped up as Alina entered.

            ‘Princess Alina!’ he cried, rushing over to her.

            ‘Princess?’ asked Dristan in amazement.

            ‘Captain Corinian,’ said Alina. ‘It has been a long time.’

            ‘What brings you to this place?’ asked Corinian.

            ‘I came to retrieve a friend who was falsely accused, but it would seem the timing is poor. I understand you are under siege.’

            ‘For a week now,’ said Corinian, forlornly. ‘They are demanding we surrender the mines and are not letting anyone in or out.’

            ‘I must find Liam,’ said Alina. ‘He is the knight who last arrived.’

            Corinian looked at Dristan. ‘Can you find him?’ he asked.

            ‘Yes, Captain,’ Dristan replied, then hurried off.

            Corinian turned back to Alina. ‘We were informed of the war the king has waged against the elves. We can only assume this is their retaliation.

            ‘Cassius started this war,’ Alina said bitterly. ‘A war I will end as soon as I am able.’

 

Back at the castle, Cassius walked down the hall toward the Court Room as he placed the pendant around his neck. A guard was standing post outside the door.

            ‘Have Captain Sirion meet me in the court in half an hour,’ he said to the guard.

            ‘Yes, My Lord,’ the guard replied, opening the door for him.

            The guard left on his assignment and Cassius looked around the large hall to see if anyone else was there. Satisfied that he was alone, he walked up to the throne and circled it, running his fingers along the engravings. Arriving at the front, he slowly lowered himself into the seat, feeling the arms as he did so. A smile of contentment crept over his face and he began playing with the pendant around his neck.

 

Meanwhile, Dristan found Liam and brought him back to the dining hall with Trevin in tow. Upon seeing Liam, Alina ran over and nearly embraced him, but stopped herself.

            ‘Alina,’ said Liam, concerned. ‘What are you doing here?’

            ‘I came to bring you back,’ she replied, barely hiding her relief at seeing him again.

            ‘How did you get here?’ he asked, confused. ‘Surely your father did not send you.’

            Alina removed the king’s ring from a pocket and held it, her face filling with sadness. ‘My father is dead,’ she said, looking into his eyes as her lip began to quiver.

            Several men close by gasped, and a murmur spread throughout the room. Liam turned to Captain Corinian.

            ‘Where can we speak privately?’ he asked, glancing at Alina and Trevin.

            Corinian gestured to a doorway and led Liam, Alina, and Trevin to a small room with a single table surrounded by chairs. As soon as the door was closed, Liam embraced Alina and held her as she wept.

            ‘I am sorry,’ he said quietly.

            Corinian and Trevin glanced at each other, not sure how to respond. After a moment, Alina pulled away, composing herself.

            ‘We must get back to the castle and end this ridiculous war,’ she said, wiping her eyes.

            Liam looked to Corinian. ‘How many armed men do we have?’

            ‘No more than thirty, and they are all famished,’ Corinian replied.

            ‘And the other prisoners?’ asked Liam.

            Corinian shook his head. ‘Most of them are untrained and in worse condition than the soldiers.’

            ‘And how many elves?’ Alina asked.

            ‘About five hundred,’ Corinian replied.

            Liam turned to Alina. ‘Please forgive my ignorance, but you have the signet ring and you are the heir to the throne. Why can you not end the war right now from here?’

            ‘I am not queen until I am crowned,’ replied Alina. ‘Until then, Cassius is in command and the elves know this. If I were to attempt such an order without the proper authority, I would lose all credibility with their king.’

            ‘Honor and tradition are of the utmost importance to them,’ Trevin said to Liam.

            ‘Which raises the question,’ said Alina. ‘If we go and meet with the king, would he understand if we pleaded our case?’

            ‘As visitors, yes,’ said Trevin. ‘Not as prisoners of war.’

            ‘What do you mean?’ Liam asked.

            ‘If we turn ourselves over to the elves and then attempt to negotiate, I fear the king would perceive us as desperate,’ Trevin replied. ‘I feel our only hope is to escape the mines and then request an audience with the king.’

            ‘Forgive me,’ said Liam, looking at Alina. ‘I understand the value of this plan with the goal of ending the war, but why do we not return to Gilderan first so that you may take your place as queen?’

            ‘I fled Gilderan because I believe Cassius intends to usurp the throne,’ Alina replied. ‘He has experience and a quick wit. It would not be difficult for him to use his authority to turn the army against me.’

            ‘If that is true, how would befriending the King of Farendell be of any benefit?’ asked Liam.

            ‘Correct me if I am wrong,’ said Alina, looking around at each of the men. ‘But no one other than Cassius believes in this war. Every man and elf in combat wishes for this conflict to end. If I am able to restore peace to the land, it will not only demonstrate my ability to lead, but it may also give us the support of the elves when we return to the castle.’

            Trevin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. ‘Negotiating peace is a tall order, Princess,’ he said respectfully. ‘Then asking the king for the support of his army may be too much to hope for.’

            Alina looked at him kindly, yet firmly. ‘I fear it may be the only hope we have,’ she said.

           

The four of them stood in silence, each aware of the gravity of their situation. Liam was the first to speak.

‘Then we must escape,’ he said, trying to sound hopeful. ‘Are there any other exits besides the main gate?’

‘There is a small door to the north,’ said Corinian. ‘But it is also being heavily guarded.’

‘And are there any boats on the shore?’ asked Liam.

‘Small fishing boats,’ Corinian replied. ‘If the elves have not taken them. What is your plan?’

Liam looked at each of them, and took a deep breath. ‘We must surrender the mines,’ he said.