It didn't take me long to help her undress so I could kiss her beautiful breasts. I then trailed my lips down her body until I reached her flower. I savored its wetness with my tongue until it moistened my mouth with the fluid of her pleasure. Her moans were a sweet melody as we rubbed against each other, culminating in our encounter. I felt I could stay with her all night, caress every inch of her body until nightfall and continue until dawn, but I needed to make sure she lived to see her children's faces.
That day I accompanied her, as usual, to see the flowers that withstood the cold — It's sad to see them fade — she commented — It's as if they speak of life: their buds are born, they bloom, and then they wither — she said as her expression fell.
— I will make sure that Death has the life it must claim — I said — You will not die.
— What will you do?
— A sacrifice. It was a difficult decision, but I have done everything so that I will not regret anything.
— I don't want you to stain your hands with blood for me — she said, taking my face in her hands.
— Nor will I have your blood on my hands — I said, and I kissed her — I love you, never forget that.
— I won't — she said with a faint smile.
That night, after leaving her asleep in her room, I gathered several pieces of fabric from the dresses and tied one end to the railing of my balcony. I heard Nayah's voice calling my name several times, but I decided not to answer. It was a full moon, just like the night of the ceremony. — Father of Death, on this night… — I began to say my request, but I was interrupted by Daís knocking at the door.
— Dotea, Princess, are you well in state?!
— Father Sun and God of Death, you have granted my wishes before, and now the queen will have children — I continued, tying the other end of the fabric around my neck — But in your wisdom, you have decided that one life must be claimed in exchange for a new one — I said, trying not to burst into tears.
— Dotea, I can hear you! — Daís shouted — Open the door!
— Tonight, I ask that you take mine in return — I said, carefully climbing onto the marble railing so as not to slip — Thy will be done, and my mother's life shall not be touched when you receive my soul.
Then I jumped into the void and felt a sharp tightening of my throat. My face was staring at the full moon as I struggled to ignore my survival instincts and keep the rope around my neck. My vision began to blur, and I started to lose the strength to keep my eyes open until I felt another tight squeeze of my throat, followed by cold hands around my torso. I thought Death was taking my soul, but when I opened my eyes, I saw Daís in front of me. — Breathe, breathe, Princess! — he shouted with my face in his hands. When I stopped coughing, I quickly grabbed the dagger from his side and stabbed myself in the chest. I was about to do it again, but Daís managed to take the opportunity away. — What have you done?!
— Dotea, you can't sacrifice your life to the gods like this! — I heard Nayah's voice, then I noticed she was also standing in front of me, next to Merana — Come on, we must take her to her mother; she'll know how to heal her!
When I regained consciousness, my mother was beside me, praying — Myrne, forgive me. I couldn't do it — I said, crying.
— You must leave — she declared — It's not up for discussion. You leave, or I will kill you myself so you can be happy in the hells.
— Myrne!
— What did you hope to achieve by committing suicide? — she scolded me — I didn't have a daughter to die captive. You know you're sinking, but you choose not to swim, and I… — Her voice broke at that moment — I'm not going to watch you drown in a sea of madness, Dotea! If you wish to die, commit suicide on the mountain of the Sun God where I can't see you.
I had been asleep for three weeks, on the brink of death. King Fortis took half the royal guard and every man in the kingdom to pursue King Emer in the fields of the Alps near Bournes.
I received no answer to my persistent inquiries about Queen Manady's fate. I searched her chamber, the fields, and every part of the castle we had visited together, but I couldn't find her anywhere for days. Dana burst into tears when I asked about her, and the other maids in the castle who served her simply lowered their gaze and avoided answering me.
It was confirmed for me: Manady Carresme was dead. That same night, I used the armor I had worn before to leave the castle with Daís and decided I had to go; at least I would try to make a new life far away from everything. I had no regrets.
It wasn't difficult to reach the ships with Daís' help. I pretended to be a cook serving the crew. I didn't have to speak much and could keep my face hidden with a piece of cloth. I couldn't cut my long hair, so I kept it braided and covered with a cloth, and I wore loose clothes that Daís lent me to cover my breasts.
Upon reaching Bournes, we camped in Tamir's lands near the coast and advanced by night through the forests, pillaging villages along the way and killing their inhabitants to prevent King Emer from being warned of our presence in his country, until we reached Geter where we were to await King Fortis, who would be in command of the war. Food began to run low as we took refuge in caves near the mountains to avoid being seen by the campfires. There were nights when several died from the bitter winter cold until finally day broke. Thirty troops of men surrounded the king on horseback, and another fifty thousand of us were positioned behind them on foot.
<><><> Year 1317 <><><>
The horn sounded, and we all rushed to face the enemy soldiers. As I ran, I saw enemy arrows soaring into the sky, just like our own. Several were pierced by them and fell instantly to the ground. I drew my spear and ran down the first opposing soldier I saw. My swordsmanship wasn't the best, but I managed to defend myself and take down my attackers. Several times I felt a powerful surge of energy that kept me going, even though the armor felt heavier on my body. We were getting closer to King Emer when the horn sounded once more. The troops surrounding King Fortis and Emer joined the fray, wiping out a large number of soldiers on both sides, but Bournes seemed to have the upper hand. The king was pulled from his horse, and I rushed to his defense, killing several who tried to threaten him.
– You will gain great recognition for this, if you survive — the king announced.
— I desire no recognition whatsoever, Your Majesty — I said, to which he reacted with surprise, removing the helmet from my head. His expression shifted from confusion to astonishment. In that moment of distraction, a soldier tried to cut off my head; I managed to dodge it and only received a cut on my cheek. The war continued until King Emer was dragged before his brother.
King Fortis asked me to approach and remove the helmet from King Emer's head. — All these deaths because of poisonous assumptions — Emer said.
— You shouldn't have asked for more than you could handle, brother. You never wanted me to have anything, and you wished to take everything I had — King Fortis said —Today this dispute ends before the eyes of our gods — I will return your soul to our mother's lap, but I will not be the one to take your life because you are blood of my blood — He said and extended a sword to me — You were born of a woman and by a woman you will die.
After hearing these words, I raised my sword and slashed the kneeling man's throat. His head rolled several meters down the small hill until it came to rest in the mud. The king raised his bloodied sword and shouted with jubilation, a shout that echoed with the breath of the soldiers still alive.
Over the next months, we invaded the capital's castle, imprisoning any citizens who refused to cooperate in the conquest of the kingdom. The king wrote a letter announcing the victory at Bournes and made a list of the men who would be rewarded for fighting honorably in the war. Daís received her right to retire from the royal guard, and I had the option of joining the royal guard in Bournes, despite being a woman, or returning to Rubrum Vallem with my family. I chose my freedom, so I would return to Rubrum Vallem, but first, a ceremony would be held to distribute the riches and pay the soldiers who had defended the kingdom.
The day before he was to depart for the kingdom, his sister-in-law requested a meeting and stabbed King Fortis in the throat. Queen Meralda was executed the same day despite being pregnant, which sparked a war between the citizens who accepted the new rule and those who refused to surrender. The city was in chaos; bodies were thrown from balconies, and the streets were littered with children killed in the fighting. After a few days, many of the city's inhabitants stormed the castle.
I ran everywhere looking for Daís so I could escape, but my lack of knowledge about the castle made it difficult. I ended up in dimly lit corridors, chased by a group of men until they caught me and tore my clothes with their bare hands. They discussed taking turns for committing the most abominable acts, but I didn't stop fighting until Daís and other soldiers of the royal guard came to my aid. We had to flee the country on the ships that were ready to sail. It was difficult to recover the ship with King Fortis' body, but we finally made our way back.
Once we arrived in Rubrum Vallem, we were welcomed at the castle with food, baths, and clothing to present ourselves before the king's hand. After meeting with the man and explaining everything that had happened, I was summoned to appear before the judge. I felt nervous as I was led toward the queen's chamber; all those memories with her resurfaced in my mind, on my lips, and on my skin.
I saw the judge through the curtains of the windows overlooking the balcony and the castle's inner garden, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I slowly walked toward her and bowed to show her respect. — My name is Dotea Arteneses. You have requested my presence — I said.
— I love you too — I heard her say. Her voice stirred something in my heart. When I looked up, it was her.