Chapter 14

Queen Genevieve

Genevieve had just come from her father's room; she visited him and saw what the doctor had to say about how he was doing. Later, Genevieve poured over the letters and documents on the desk before her. Derek was at a meeting, but the council had said it was no place for a woman.

Derek had tried to fight for Genevieve to be there, but she insisted it was alright; either way, she expected him to tell her everything. She also told him she'd take the opportunity to sort through all the paperwork since her father's passing.

As she looked through them, she thought about what her sisters would do when they received the news of their father. On top of that, she hadn't heard a word about Kathleen's whereabouts, and she lost a lot of sleep over it. Speaking of sleep, she and Derek hadn't had a restful night since Courtney's wedding.

At least Courtney was safe, though. Levi was a good match for her; at least she hoped he truly was; just then, Genevieve heard a knock at the door and rose to answer it.

A maid handed her a letter, and Genevieve took it from her; she looked down and saw it was addressed to Derek, but when she saw that it was from Thraas, she tore it open.

To His Majesty King Derek of Glidonia, you are requested to appear before the Realms' juries to decide your sentence for the murder of King Laurent of Thraas and the possible murder of King Randolph of Glidonia. You are requested to step down from your claim to the throne. If you run, the courts will hunt you down and kill you. Your trial date will be written below the page King Levi of Thraas.

Genevieve's hands shook, and she saw the small date written below; the letter had been written in the lettering of a scribe, but below King Levi's signature was a note she believed was written by the King himself. Tell your wife that her sister is doing fine; however, refuse to meet my demands, and she will bleed along with the other one.

At that, Genevieve dropped the letter entirely; she doubled over and clutched her chest. She couldn't believe what she had just read he sisters were in danger as much as they were; just then, the door swung open, and Derek entered. He rushed to Genevieve's side and helped her into a chair.

"What is going on?" He asked. "Genevieve! Talk to me!" She hastily pointed at the letter as Derek picked it up and read it.

"Genevieve, I swear I would never try to kill your father or King Laurent! never!" Derek said desperately. "You have to believe me!" he said.

"I know!" Genevieve gasped.

"I know you would never do anything! But you are accused of murdering a king, Derek! Courtney and Kathleen could be in danger! I thought King Levi was kind, that he'd treat her with respect, but now...oh no, I was right. I should have never let this happen. We cannot tell my father about this yet; he's in critical conditions right now; his heart would not take this news well." She said.

"We don't know if he wrote that last part," Derek said. "I will attend the trial. I will give my testimony, and they won't be able to name me guilty. Oh goodness…How did this happen? Who knows about this?" he asked.

"I don't know," Genevieve said miserably. "But this is bad. This is very bad. If you leave for a trial, that will leave Glidonia open. My father's killer could be at the castle now and try to kill him again or harm one of my other sisters. If we are to leave here…" said Genevieve miserably but was cut off by Derek.

"We won't go anywhere until we receive an official notice from the courts," Derek said boldly. "I don't know who put these ideas into King Levi's head, but we must get them out. This can't be the work of the Levi I met when he was preparing to wed your sister; he was a good man." Said Derek.

"What are you suggesting?" Genevieve asked.

"I don't know; maybe somebody else wrote that letter in his name," Derek said.

"It had the Thraas seal on it," Genevieve said. "Oh, poor Courtney and Kathleen. What if they're in danger? They'll bleed if we try anything! What does it mean?" asked Genevieve.

"I will write to the courts at once," Derek said and sat down in another chair. He pulled a quill out, grabbed a piece of parchment, and began writing vigorously while Genevieve watched him. It was another fitful night for Glidonia's young rulers; he quickly sent it when Derek finished the letter.

"We will be okay, Genevieve; we will find out what is happening and save Courtney and Kathleen." He said as she nodded.

"Derek, the letter said the other one. Could the letter be talking about Kathleen? Was he the one that took her?" asked Genevieve starting to worry.

"Come here." Said Derek as he led her to have a seat in their bed. "We don't know if King Levi was the one that wrote the letter, but whoever wrote it does know about Kathleen's disappearance." He said as she tried to calm herself down.

"I promise you we will figure this out, and if he is at fault for all this mess, we won't rest until he is locked up. But for now, we can't do much; it's passed dinner time; let's get some rest and deal with the rest tomorrow." He said as she nodded.

She knew he was correct; there was nothing left to do but go to bed; the rest would have to wait until tomorrow. She and her husband quickly changed and went to bed; although it was hard for her to fall asleep eventually, they drifted off to sleep.

It was made extra fitful when they were awoken early in the morning by a loud ringing in their ears. Derek rolled over, but Genevieve sat up straight. She recognized the ringing, but she'd only ever heard it once in her life; she remembered when her father showed the bells to her and her sisters.

"Listen to me very closely," her father had said. "I pray you will never hear these bells again in your lifetimes, but know that when these bells ring, it means that Glidonia is in danger, someone is attacking. Your mother had them installed in case anyone wanted to invade." He said.

As Genevieve remembered, she shook Derek violently, and he immediately sat up. "What is that?" He asked.

"It's the bells," she said. "Someone is attacking." They jumped out of bed and threw robes on before running from their chambers.

Outside, men were preparing for battle. Men were placing helmets on their heads and were pouring out of the armory with swords, bows, and shields. Edaline came running toward them, also in a robe, as she caught Genevieve's hands.

"Who is out there?" Genevieve demanded.

"They have Bulovian banners," Edaline said.

"It's King Willard's men." Said the guard.

"But why would they be attacking?" King Derek asked. "We have never harmed their nation. We have always been friendly with one another." Just then, one of their guards rushed up to them.

"They have already burned down some farms and are looking to storm the castle," he reported. Derek and Genevieve looked at one another.

Genevieve swallowed, and then Derek said clearly, "tell the men to prepare for battle. If King Willard thinks he can just attack Glidonia, he's got another thing coming." The guard bowed before the King and Queen and started shouting orders.

Then some other guards approached them and spoke urgently.

"Your grace," one said, nodding at Genevieve.

"You are to be taken below for your own protection, your grace. King Derek, the men, will need your support on the battlements." Genevieve gaped at her husband, but he nodded.

"I will be out there as soon as possible," he said. "

Derek!" Genevieve half sobbed.

"I will return," he swore. "Take care of the other women. You must be a good example for them and calm them down. I will do so if I can aid even just one of their husbands' returns to the castle. Please, Genevieve, listen to me!" he said.

She wished to argue and pin him to the ground, but Edaline grabbed her arm and pulled her away. She watched as Derek went for the armory and wondered if she'd spend another night again in her husband's arms.