The Prince of Rf'Guztak was at the shore, his back turned to his big ship and his warriors behind him; he was quite shorter than all of them. He was clad in black attire that covered every inch of him but his wrists. His hood covered his hair and left only the upper part of his face to be seen. He was of fair skin from what she could see. He didn't take his hood off even though the Priest had requested it, nor did he take her hand while they exchanged vows as custom demanded; the only thing he gave was his name while exchanging the vows.
Crown Prince Oi-ju of Rf'Guztak.
They boarded the ship immediately, and he departed from her before she could even say a word to him. They did not come eye to eye throughout their 2 day journey across the Juvi river. Only once did he interact with her by giving her a fur cloak while they rode across the frozen mountains of Rf'Guztak, where white fluffy rain fell from the sky to the ground, and their only protection were the carriages built atop gigantic bears with white fur. She never saw him again until they arrived at the castle at noon on the eighth day of their journey, and he led her to the throne room.
This time around, Ki'tory didn't attempt to make small talk. He had made his hatred for her known with his silence. Instead, she feared something else - meeting the Queen.
The doors to the throne room were thrown open, and at the center of the large room was the Queen, seated next to an empty throne, heavily guarded by warriors and served by servants who sprang into action at their entrance. Her dress was of blood rose, her eyes gray and cold, almost like the ice-shaped crown with edges like prongs that sat gloriously on her head, contrasting sharply against her black, styled hair.
"Finally, Princess." A sharp smile crossed her face as she stepped down from the throne. "I have waited so long to see you."
Ki'tory's stomach tied up in knots, her blood turning into ice in her veins, as they came to a halt and bowed. The Prince took a step forward and kissed his mother's hand. In a low voice, before stepping away. Ki'tory kept her gaze fixed on the polished mahogany floor.
The warm, slender fingers of the Queen grabbed her chin, forcing Ki'tory to look at her. "You have your mother's eyes, her tattoo. There it is, where all your father's hair went. You are a perfect blend, both their images in one. No one is happier than I for that."
Ki'tory gulped, unsure of how to respond, but the silence felt so uncomfortable under the Queen's gaze that she forced herself to speak.
"May I, Your Majesty, use this opportunity to thank you for agreeing to help us fight against the Xoiqs."
"There is nothing to be grateful for." The Queen still held her chin, her nails now digging into Ki'tory's skin, the distance behind them even closer. "Your parents needed my warriors to compensate for their weakness, and in exchange, they have given you to me as I have demanded. You are no better than a sack of grain, a herd of castles, a mere thing of acquirable value. You are payment, and you will be used to pay fully."
Realization washed over Ki'tory like a bucket of cold water. Her mother was right, Queen Yuk-ta wanted her revenge. It wasn't a possibility she hadn't considered, but this moment made it real. She was in the enemy's territory and alone too. She had to be extremely careful.
Then the Queen let are go and announced to the room. "I merely jest."
The room burst into laughter. All except the Prince, he kept his head down, his hood concealing his face as usual.
"It was a joke, Princess. You must laugh to receive a joke." The Queen's gaze settled heavily on her, and Ki'tory surrendered to a burst of nervous laughter; the Queen joined in, and when she stopped, Ki'tory stopped.
What type of place was this?
"ANNOUNCING CROWN PRINCE OI-JU!" The announcer at the door declared, and Ki'tory turned sharply to the doors of the throne room as they were flung open and a hooded man clad in black stepped in, followed by warriors behind him and a severed head in his hand, the blood dripping from it trailing the floor.
What?!
Impossible.
That couldn't be Prince Oi-ju. Prince Oi-ju was already in the throne room!
Ki'tory turned back to where Prince Oi-ju she knew was, and as if he understood her confusion, he pulled off his hood along with the part that covered in face, then he shook his head. By Muktury, that was a mere child, he probably hadn't even seen 20 cycles.
He wasn't the crown prince. Was he even a Prince? Why had he come in the place of the Crown Prince to marry her?
By Muktury, a marriage by proxy! It was unheard of.
WHAT WAS GOING ON?!
"Mother!" His voice boomed across the hall with joy.
Ki'tory's heart raced, knowing now that she had more to worry about. Another fear, one that she thought she had already dealt with - meeting her husband.
"Ma'rim puk!" (My Boy). The Queen declared, meeting him halfway and pulling him into an embrace.
"I have Sazil's head as you requested, freshly severed." Prince Oi-ju raised the severed head to his mother, and she smiled.
Ki'tory felt sick to her stomach. Who was that? What had he done to deserve this?
Those images of Eki's corpse strained against the barriers of her mind; she was losing strength in her legs, and her hands were shaky. She dug her nail into her palm, and the pain shot through her brain, shutting off her memories for now.
She hated this place.
At the Queen's signal, one of the warriors took the head away.
"I have much to tell you, but first, where is Bih—" Oi-ju began to ask when suddenly his gaze fell on Ki'tory, and his grey eyes went cold. She froze like a prey before its predator, her mind running through different thoughts of how this could end. None, good.
"What is she doing here?" He turned to his mother. "I told you no. I told you I didn't want her."
Ki'tory could hear her heart drumming wildly in her ears. She moved her nail from her palm, the pain now too much for her to think.
Think! That was what she needed the most right now.
"Your mistake. You do not tell your mother no."
"I see it now, that thing is why you sent me away." His gaze found the one she once knew as Crown Prince Oi-ju. The boy bowed quickly, avoiding his gaze, and in that moment, Ki'tory wondered who the child was to him.
"I will not have her, Mother." His voice was laced with rage. "Return her to whatever pit you pulled her from. I WILL NOT HAVE HER AS A WIFE"
The room was consumed with tension, it was almost hard to breathe.
"Remember your place, or I will be forced to remind you, boy."
The Prince's bloodied hand went to the hilt of his sword, and the tension in the room tripled. In that moment, Ki'tory realized hw exposed her neck was, how easily his blade could cut through it if he tried, how little the distance between them was. She gulped, thinking of any way she could defend herself. The bottle of poison was cold, tucked away in her inner garment, and pressed against her inner thigh. The presence felt like a mockery, for right now, her only weapon was useless to her.
Then he dropped his hand to his side and stormed towards the door.
"Ma'rim puk, (My Boy), you forgot to give the Princess a kiss."
Ki'tory's eyes widened.
What?!
"Come back and do that."
NO! By Muktury, what was going on?!