Chapter 8- Serrina

Serrina had a hand on her necklace when she saw general Dormer in the gardens. Dormer was a man of brute force, unlike her father. She could clearly see that in in his heavy steps and the way his weapons hanged around his belt, dancing and clinging into each other to create a ringing that terrified Serrina more than she liked to admit. When she saw him walking to her as if his intention was indeed meeting her specifically, her grip tightened on her pendant.

Two years ago, the boy involved with Asterin had been a slave of his. Serrina and lord Black had decided to keep that part of the truth from her sister, but they both knew if general Dormer chose to open his mouth, then Asterin’s reputation would be forever ruined. As much as Serrina wanted to speak up about her hatred towards him, she had to keep silent for the sake of her sister.

“My lady.” He said the moment he came close; she dropped into a curtsey and did not give him the opportunity to take her hand as she stood up. “My lord.” She replied. He lightly lowered his head, his eyes the wondered on her face and moved to her body. It took everything in Serrina not to slap him for his disgusting behavior.

Her sister, she had to think of her sister.

“You are indeed a woman of age now, my lady.” He said, crossing his arms ad once again he took in her body with his perverted gaze. “Maybe I should meet your father?” she shot up her eyes, glaring with all the boiling anger in her stomach. “My lord I do not believe I am required to wed, despite my age.” She stated as it was all she could do.

He only laughed in response. “Indeed, my lady…indeed but let me know if your mind changes. After all, would it not be great for such a young woman of your age to wed a man of my rank?” He nodded his head. He walked away from her after that, but then when she thought she is free from him he stood. “Do mention to your sister that I send my greetings in your next letter.” Serrina’s heart became heavy. She tried to choose her next words carefully. “Of course my lord, farewell.”

Serrina knew well that the smirk that formed on his face when he finally left her alone would haunt her thoughts for a long time.

When she went back to her bed chamber, she noticed that she still had a tight grip on the necklace around her neck, she clenched her fist and breathed in. Keeping calm was the only thing she could do for her sister now, even if it meant that she had to endure Dormer’s torment.

In the corner of her room, she saw Alina working on a piece of fabric. Serrina closed the distance between herself and her maid to see what she was working on. Alina, who was sitting on the ground with the fabric and a needle in her hands, stood up as fast as she could to bow. It caused Serrina to laugh. “No need for that! I just want to know what is in your hands.” She said. Alina smiled and showed the fabric, there were blue lines she had sewed to its ends. An incomplete shape of a flower could be seen in the center.

“It’s beautiful.” Serrina said beaming, Alina simply smiled again and sat down to continue her work. Serrina wondered who it was for, but no one came to her mind. Someone knocked on the main door of her rooms, she left Alina to answer it.

“My lady, you’ve been summoned to court.” She shouted and for a moment Serrina had to let the words sink in. It was strange for a summoning this late, it was nearly midnight and it had been some time since the council meeting had ended. “My lady, the guards say that they have to escort you to the throne hall.” Said Alina coming in, a worried tone inserted in her voice. Guards that had come to escort her…what could be the meaning of this?

Although she was confused, a summoning was still a summoning. And ignoring the king’s orders were not tolerated. Without changing her clothes, she left the dressing room and faced the guards standing outside. There were four of them, one seemed to be from the southern empire and the rest were Elwairian men she had seen a few times with Logan. Her eyes narrowed; something was not right.

“My lady we are to escort you and your maid to the throne room by the order of the king.” Said the one who was not from Elwaira. Serrina did not react to his claim by words, it was late at night, and it was better not to make a scene. She nodded her head and gestured to Alina to follow them.

While her escorts were walking, she noticed something rather out of place. Their walking paste seemed to be faster than needed, from time to time Serrina and her maid were left behind and the guards had to wait for them to catch up. They were unnecessarily quick, and it had triggered Serrina’s curiosity to know why.

As they reached the throne room, servants opened the doors and one announced her arrival. She went in, falling into a curtsey before anything else. When she stood up, she took in her surroundings, there were a few people there and she knew all, her father, Logan and his father, general Dormer, the king who was sitting on the throne, Azriel and…her mother? Why was her mother here?

Lady Black locked eyes with her, and Serrina did not hide the layer of disgust that was in her gaze. “Your majesty, may I know the reason of my summoning?” she asked, but the king ignored her. A thousand thoughts formed in her head.

“My lady Serrina…” general Dormer started speaking from across the room as he pointed to a beaten boy behind her. She had seen him there when she came in…had he been there the whole time? “As you can see, I caught a boy in my chambers tonight, in fact not just a boy but an assassin. And he has made very interesting claims.” He stated. Serrina wanted to speak up and give him an answer, but she took it in once more for the sake of her younger sister so she let him continue.

“He claims that you father sent him.” Her breath hitched in fear as her gaze landed on the beaten boy.