Nia comes into the room after the Emperor leaves, she finds Kiara rubbing her sore wrists. The fact that the Emperor shackled his new wife to the bed on their first night together was hot news in the servant quarters. The men who installed the chains started the rumors, their story was further corroborated by the unfortunate maid who had heard the mistress pulling on the chains and crying out in the middle of the night. All sorts of conclusions were going about, and it was talk that Nia wanted no part of. If word of any of it was to reach The Emperor’s ear, it was sure death for all of them.
She pulls open the drapes. “You have a big day today, its your first day in the throne room. Your formal introduction to all the members of the royal court as well as the first time everyone will see what you look like, you’ll be receiving a lot of gifts as well from many people.”
“Why do I have to go?” Asks Kiara in a grouse tone. She did not want anything to do with that brute.
Thank you for reading the 12th part of the Conqueror's Wife. :-) Please leave your thoughts as comments on the chapter and I will see you in the next chapter.
Nia takes her through a corridor different from the others because of the absence of windows. Lamps line the walls and burn brightly even though it is only noon, the other wall is lined with paintings depicting violent war and bloodshed. Kiara sees soldiers getting impaled on sword and spears, she sees an executioner in the act of beheading a man, an overflowing basket of heads beside him, she doesn’t realize Nia has stopped to talk to another servant. She turns around the corner and sees a man sitting on a throne made out of skulls, his golden eyes and wild golden hair reminds her of an older version of the Emperor, now that she thinks about it, she realizes the resemblance is uncanny. Before she can contemplate further, she sees a soldier coming out of a room by the corner, she looks into an open room and sees the armour she had knocked over during the squabble with her aunt. “Isn’t that…” She breaks away from the company and follows the men into the large room. If she tho
By the time dawn breaks, Kiara is positively sure that she doesn’t have any arms. She is in intense pain. Like the previous night, the Emperor rolls over to her side of her bed to seek warmth when the temperature drops at the middle of the night. When he opens his eyes and finds his face almost buried in her bosom, his face turns dark. He pushes himself off the bed and goes to the foot of the bed to unlock the shackles on her feet. When he comes back to her hands, Kiara is sure he hoists the chain to make her feel the most pain but she doesn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing. She bites down on her bottom lip to stop her from crying out. He leaves the room without saying anything, which Kiara is grateful for. Nia comes into the room not long after, her cheeks are puffed out, if her complexion was a few shades lighter, her whole face would have been bright red. “I don’t know what you did last night, but he is in an absolutely foul mood this morning.” She starts.
Smoke rises to the sky from different locations in the outer and inner city of Casia. The screams of women and children, can be heard above the sounds of conflagration. The street is littered with the bodies of massacred soldiers, all bearing the emblem of the King of Casia, little gullies of blood run through the ravaged streets, from the bodies of men, women, children and animals alike. In the midst of all the chaos, a horse in golden armour struts through the street, undeterred by the carnage. On it’s back, sits a rider in golden armour who urges the gentle beast forward while he surveys the damage done to the kingdom. The wailing women instantly become quiet, lowering their heads as the man in the golden armour rides past them, the crying children hide behind their mothers’ skirts. They don’t meet his gaze, the ones that are brave enough to do so cower instantly, shivering uncontrollably, as through the slit in his helmet, they see his cold gold eyes, the e
The inhabitants of Dion make their way to the edge of the city where they can see Casia burning to the ground. In the distance, they see the Emperor’s army marching towards their city.The war gongs sound, throwing the city into chaos, people begin reinforcing their houses, their stalls, soldiers parade the city, moving from one location to another, the turrets are prepared, with all kinds of arrows, which are stacked by the walls, archers restore their longbows and short bows, spears are recrafted, the blacksmith and his apprentices are hard at work, his furnace burns hot and the clang of his hammer on steel resounds in the square despite the commotion.Soldiers take their defense positions around the city walls and the gates, which remain closed indefinitely, Casia is only a day’s ride away from Dion, they had to be prepared before the Emperor struck.Kiara watches the proceedings in the market place, all the city is abuzz with the news. She naviga
She heads to the kitchen, where she is saved from having her head smacked in by the bowl of hot soup in her aunt’s hand.“Where have you been, you stupid girl?!”“I am sorry aunt, I went for a walk, to get a breath of fresh air and lost track of time.” Kiara gathers the serving bowls and utensils in her arms.Her aunt mimics her in a high-pitched voice. “That’s how you’ll lose track of time and forget you have a husband at home to feed. I wonder what that poor boy sees in you. I’ve told him several times, it is not too late to change your mind, Corgan. There are several dainty, meek girls in the city, from good homes, not this strong-headed mule I call a niece, but he doesn’t listen to me. I won’t take you in if he brings you back after a few days of your nonsense. You better find another home to stay.” Her aunt says this, as she walks into the dining room to serve her family.Two of
Kiara opens her eyes at the break of dawn and smiles, today was the day. She gets up from the bed and checks the box to see if her attire is still there. It is foolish behavior, but a part of her still thinks her aunt is very capable of removing her dress from the box as the last resort to keep her in this house forever.She takes her bath in the small iron tub at the corner of her room, adding orange peels to the bath water since she can’t afford essential oils, she scrubs her skin to remove every layer of dirt, every bad memory from this house, cleansing herself for her new home.She dries herself and applies a little perfume from a small alabaster bottle on her skin, careful that not a single drop goes to waste. She saves the rest for later, tonight. The thought makes her blush and she chides herself for behaving like a love struck virgin. This wouldn’t be the first time she and Corgan had been intimate. She reminds herself that this time, it would be di
Kiara wakes up in a cell after a bucket of water is dumped on her. Two soldiers are in the cell with her.“We are here to prepare you for the Emperor.”Kiara does not anticipate the blow until the foot makes contact with her side. Both soldiers kick and stomp on her until it hurts to breathe, Kiara curls into a ball, using her arms to cover her face. She is struck repeatedly until she passes out for the second time today.When she wakes up, she is in intense pain, she pulls herself off the ground in a kneeling position holding the side that hurts the most. She whimpers, taking in short painful breaths before realizing something crucial. She is not alone.She turns around and finds the Emperor sitting on a chair, he is still in his gold armour but Kiara notices that this one is different, shinier. Up close she can see his features, they are strong, yet somehow delicate at the same time. High cheek bones and a strong jawline, yet he has thin bro
If I agree to this, promise me you will spare the lives of my people.”“I give you my word.”The priest of the temple of Dion is dragged by soldiers into the prison where Kiara is held and tossed to the ground. He quakes with fear in the presence of the Emperor.Nothing is said by either Kiara or the Emperor, she isn’t even given the courtesy of being let out of her cell, or given new clothes to change into, none of the rites of marriage are observed, no vows are exchange, there is only a proclamation by the stuttering priest who can barely get the words out. And just like that, they become man and wife.In a daze she is let out of the cell, into a hallway and out of a building she soon discovers is Dion’s jail house. The sky is fiery red and orange outside the jailhouse, Dion is still on fire, soldiers supervise the remaining inhabitants who are in chains, whipping anyone who as much as breathes the wrong way. None of the ev