The morning sun fell upon a sleeping King. His features were at peace, as if all things were right with the world. As the light from the sun warmed the King, his features slowly begin to change. As he wakes to face the new day, the look of serenity changes to one of great concern and inner turmoil.

King Zachary let out a defeated sigh as he sat up in bed. He didn't look forward to this day. Today was the day he would announce to his people his pledge to marry Lady Estora. He tossed his covers off in disgust. He did not want to marry Lady Estora. If the choice were his, he would announce that he was going to mary Karigan G'ladheon from a Merchant Clan. A brilliant and beautiful woman Karigan was. She had amazing courage and within days of meeting him, had the audacity to tell him how he should be running his kingdom. Zachary smiled when he recalled that day.

His smile faded as he remembered the scene on the roof last night where he had told Karigan he loved her. He didn't know really what he expected her to do about his admission of love. She hadn't declared her love for him, but had instead told him that she could never be with him if he was going to marry Estora. "Oh Gods!" he yelled, which caused two Weapons to become alert. "There is no threat," he told the darkly clothed guards, and they went back to their previous stance of aloof watchfulness. Cold and unfeeling people the Weapons were. They were there to protect the king and die for him if necessary. Lady Estora would be announcing today which Weapon she wanted assigned as her personal guard.

Zachary got dressed, putting on the face he showed to the kingdom. He never let his emotions show in his role as King. His people knew through his actions that he was a fair ruler with the concerns of his people in the forefront of his mind at all times. It was the duty he felt for his kingdom that caused him to agree to marry Lady Estora. Right now he wanted to say damn the kingdom to the five hells and rush to Karigan and pledge himself to her.

Zachary walked from his apartment to the Great Hall where he would make his announcements prior to holding his public audiences with those who had matters for his consideration. He hoped, by the Gods, that Karigan had been sent on a message run and wouldn't be here for the announcements. If there was any mercy at all in this world, he prayed it would be so. He walked through the doors to the Great Hall and his hopes were shattered.


Karigan stood with her back to the main doors of the Great Hall. She was speaking to the King's personal secretary about the matters that would be brought before the King today. She tried to pretend she heard what he was telling her, but she was dreading having to stand in front of a large assembly of Sacordians and listen to the man she loved tell them he was going to marry Lady Estora. She couldn't believe that of all days, Captain Mapstone had decided to appoint her to stand as the King's advisor.

She started when she heard the doors open. She turned around, trying to keep her composure, only to lose it when she saw Zachary's face. For a split second, she fought the urge to run to him and tell him that she loved him too. She drew upon her G'ladheon stubborn streak and decided she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much this was tearing her up inside.


Did he see a flash of hope in her eyes? Zachary wasn't sure. Just as soon as he thought he saw it there, it had vanished and was replaced by a wall of seeming contempt. He looked away from her, and made his way to his throne. Shortly after he was seated, a side door opened, and Lady Estora arrived and took her place beside him. She was a beautiful woman, and Zachary knew she would make a wise and fair Queen. This was the woman with whom he would have to lay to produce an heir. For a moment a slight blush sat on his cheeks because the face he saw when he thought of that act was Karigan, not Estora. He did his best to smile at Estora, and then turned to face the doors as Sacordians began to file in.


Estora could feel the heat between Karigan and Zachary. It might not be noticeable to anybody else, but it was as obvious to Estora as the sun in the sky. She could tell that today would be a difficult day for all of them, and she vowed to try and make it as easy on Zachary and Karigan as she possibly could. If anybody could understand the predicament they were in, she could. She could only imagine the inner turmoil her and F'ryan would feel if he were alive today. Estora took her place next to the King and awaited the announcements that would forever change the lives of three people.