Chapter 26

Chapter 26

 

Swords and literature

 

 

                Sarwar walked out of his office and was heading to check on Nicole. He hadn’t seen her in about a week and had assumed that she was off harassing his son, but when his son said he’d not seen her in a few days, worry started to set in. She’d been quiet for a while after the events with Cole and Bri. Brona had said she was fine. But something was still bothering him. Was she alone? Was anyone watching her? Has Alessandra even spoken to her once since that day?  So many questions came to mind that he started to get a headache.

 

                As Sarwar passed the main hallway, right in front of Ricardo’s old room, he hesitated as he turned to look at the slightly opened door. There was a light flickering from inside of it. Slowly Sarwar pushed the door open even more. Across the room, at Ricardo’s desk, was a single candle burning while a single figure sat behind it.

 

“Who’s there…”

 

                Nicole lifted her head and looked over to Sarwar. She could tell that he couldn’t recognize her. Slowly she stood up and closed the book upon the table. Softly she blew the flame on the candle. As she blew more and more candles around the room started to light, all of them shining. The room soon came in to full view and Sarwar noticed it was her.

 

“Nicole… What are you doing here? And how in the hell did you learn to control your gift like that?”

 

“Hello Sarwar, nice to see you. It’s been a while hasn’t it? Isn’t there a meeting soon?  We’d best hurry or we’ll miss it.”

 

“Young Lady. Answer my questions.”

 

“I was reading, and I was practicing. Just like you said I should.”

 

“I see… May I ask why here? You do know what room this is correct.”

 

“My late Father’s room yes, I feel safe in here. Like there’s someone watching me.”

 

                Sarwar walked over to her and put an arm around her shoulders and smile. She looked up at him and gave him a hug. Sarwar understood her very well. The room has its essence. It may have been the many times he’d walked in here in the past, but just being in this room, made him feel safe too.

 

“Come, your right we do have a meeting. Are you going to change in you your dress?”

 

“God no I hate that damn thing.”

 

“You know you have to… its customary.”

 

“I’ll change… But only because I like you.”

 

                Nicole walked off to her room as she stuck her tongue out at Sarwar. He laughed slightly and headed off to the meeting. God did she hate that dress, but then again there wasn’t much she could do. Save that dress, she had nothing formal, and after seeing the painting of her father in his bedroom of how he presented himself, she felt that she needed to do the same in his honor. Nicole walked in to her room and opened the dresser and stared at the dress.

 

“Stupid navy blue dress with your stupid black trimming and your stupid ‘I’m a princess’ notion you make. God I hate you.”

 

“Talking to yourself? Seems you’ve lost your mind. But then again you have to have a mind to lose it.”

 

                Nicole turned to see the King’s beloved son, Rudro. He stood in his formal Militia clothing. His quick remark had given him a grin that kept growing as he watched her. His eyes settled on her. They looked just like his Father’s eyes only, less caring and more aggressive.

 

“Can I help you RUDEro.”

 

“You’ve know me for all your life and you still say my name wrong, It’s Rudro. Learn it idiot.”

 

“Yea… I’m the idiot. Do you want something or are you here to make fun of me.”

 

“I was bored and heading to the meeting. I heard someone mumbling so I came to investigate. Are you coming to the meeting?”

 

“Yea, I was about to get dressed.”

 

“Oh I was about to say not dressed like that. Why it is all girls don’t understand the importance of presentation is beyond me.”

 

“Get out…”

 

“Anger issues!”

 

                Rudro walked out of the room laughing to himself. Nicole hated him… but he was like a brother to her, so it was a love hate idea. Everything was fine until he found out that he may someday take his father’s throne. He doesn’t even have any power and it’s already gotten to his head. Nicole finished putting on her dress and doing her hair. She was about to walk out when she turned around at looked at the sword and book on her bed. She walked over and grabbed them.

 

“Maybe it’s time I step up and do something.”

 

                Sarwar stood at his desk watching as people filed in to the office. Rudro sat down and smiled to his father. Sarwar smiled back then gestured to the papers on his desk. Rudro got the idea and started to read them.  Sarwar was happy that his son came in early, but his concern was if Nicole was going to come. She never liked these things. As the flow started to slow he scanned the seats of his generals and those of the spectators. He couldn’t find her. With a sigh she stood up and started to head to the pedestal to start. He knocked softly three times and waited for the whispers to die out where he then started.

 

“Thank you all for coming. We all know why we are here. It’s been over 18 years since this war started and we’ve no change. We started to fight back against the Ocean in hopes to reclaim Talson and the other cities in the fallen lord’s lands. Yet we’ve barely managed to keep them away from what we still hold. What are we doing to do?”

 

One of the generals stands up and looks over to Sarwar.

 

“With all due respect Mi Lord, what can we do? They are like the Ocean itself. The more we kill the more that replace them. It’s an endless flood. We cannot fight that which never ends.”

 

“I understand that General, but we cannot let our lands be over run. We need to fight back. We need to defend and reclaim who we are. Have we gotten any information on them?”

 

Several of the Generals look away and avoid Sarwar’s glance. His eye’s settle on his son and he waits for him to do say something. Rudro stands up and looks at his father.

 

“We’ve gained no information Sir.  Every attempt sent was killed. None have made it back. There encampments is too big for us to go around and follow their supply trains to see where they are from. We have not learned anything about them. It’s as if they are using the lack of information against us.”

 

“You’re telling me that we can’t get anything on them? Yet years ago both I and Lord Knight managed to enter their camp and kill the lot of them there? But none of our men can get in. What the hell about Nem? They are made for this. Jorn, are you telling me you’ve gotten nothing?”

 

Jorn looks up from his seat and frowns shaking his head slightly. Sarwar’s face starts to turn red and he slams his fists in to the pedestal. He looks around again. They all avoid his eyes. The more he thinks about it the angrier he gets. Then the thought of Ricardo’s death comes to mind and he loses it. Sarwar throws the pedestal across the room where it hits the far wall.

 

“Got damn it, how the hell are we to fight this bloody war when we don’t know anything. It’s complete bullshit.”

 

                The doors in the back of the room open and Nicole walks in, closing them behind her. Everyone looks at her as she walks down the aisle to her seat among the generals. On her hip was her father’s sword; in her left hand was his book. She stops standing at her seat and smiles as she placed the book on her desk.

 

“Why Sarwar, calm down your scaring them.”

 

                Rudro stands up and starts to yell at Nicole.

 

“HOW DARE YOU ADRESS HIM LIKE THAT. He is our king, show him respect you ungrateful whore.”

 

                Everyone in the room went silent as only Nicole, Rudro and Sarwar stood. Sarwar turned to his son and went to scold him when Nicole raised her hand to stop him.

 

“Allow me mi Lord. Rudro, please, proceed; tell me everything you want to say. Let it all out.”

 

                Nicole remained calm and smiled as she spoke to him. The headed tension in the room only grew as Rudro realized her clam reaction. He stepped around his desk and over to her. He stood only feet from her before he went off on her.

 

“You’re an ungrateful whore. My father, out of the kindness of his heart took both you and your mother in. He protected you and watched over you. He even gave you seat as a general in his army. While me, his son, I’m just a prince. I’ve no say on what goes on, but I’ve orders to be follow. Only my father is above me and no one is below me. Tell me bitch, why is it that you get all these special treatment. Why are you given more than a true heir to the throne?”

 

“Are you finished?”

 

“Yes, answer my damn questions before I confine you in your room.”

 

“I’ll make this very simple. I don’t get this. This is what I’m burdened with. The reason, because that man up there is my father.”

 

                Nicole turned around and point at the painting to the right of Sarwar’s painting. The Painting of Lord Knight, Her father Ricardo. Rudro looked at her as he laughed from the depths of his being. He started to laugh so hard he gasped for air. He looked at her and just continued laughing. He barely managed to get the words, ‘Like I’ll believe that’ out of his mouth. But before Nicole could respond Sarwar placed a hand on his son’s shoulder and looked in his eyes.

 

“She is his daughter. Now shut up.”

 

                Rudro face went pale. In front of all of the military heads in his land, he called the heir to the southern throne a whore, and a bitch. Not only that, he may have ruined any chance he had of his father allowing him to be a general. He looked at Nicole who was just smiling at him. Laughing slightly as the realization appeared in his eyes.

 

“So I’m a bitch and whore am I? Well if that’s the case, I should out in the streets and do my profession. Shouldn’t I?”

 

“N…No ma’am.”

 

“I see, well then kind sir. Why don’t you tell me what I should do? You seem to know who I am. Could you shine a light on what I should do?”

 

“No I could not ma’am. You are to do as you please. Princess…”

 

                Nicole turns so Sarwar and smiles softly.

 

“I would like to take my role as Lady of the southern lands. I feel I’m ready.”