Page 9 of A Kingdom of Broken Bonds

“Is she unwell? Has someone called for a medic?” Celest asks lightly, like she’s asking after a distant relative. You would never have thought that we’ve all been through this journey together from our aloof reactions to each other. That is exactly what the king wants though, to keep us divided.

“You misunderstand me,” the dragon escort retorts, his patience wearing thin. “The centaur is not coming for her yearly visit.”

Silence meets his declaration, and it’s clear I’m not the only one who is surprised. Glancing at Geoff, I see that even he’s taken aback by the news. The dragons are not known for their humour, but I wait for him to crack a smile and tell us all he’s joking.

We’re not given a choice about whether we attend. In fact, it’s continually made very clear what would happen if we don’t follow the rules and spend six months of the year here. We all know the consequences and have been raised for this very purpose, so how is it that she’s not here?

I glance over to where Ember sits, trying to see if she knew any of this beforehand, but her expression tells me this is news to her too. Before any of us can begin speaking, he sighs and addresses us again, realising he’s going to have to provide more information than that.

“I received a message from her guardian just before we left our chambers to come here. There has not been any time for me to divulge this information until now.”

I know for sure that the king will already know this information. Why did the centaur guardian send a message to him though? The centaurs and dragons are neighbours, their lands bordering each other, so they could have a closer bond because of this.

“How is this possible?” Mallory asks, her face set in a frown. “We have never been given an option on whether or not we attend before.”

The dragon ambassador looks uncomfortable but doesn’t shy away from the question. “From what I gather, the centaurs have decided to break away from the king. Not sending their representative was the first step in this.”

“They are breaking away?” Bliss asks. “This will result in war. The king will not stand for this.”

I can see why he’s uncomfortable with this knowledge. It could be seen that the dragons agree with their neighbours about breaking away because they knew about it first. Bliss is right though. Is this why the wedding has been called for now, after so many years? The king knew there was discord in the realms and talks of the lands taking back their power, so he’s starting the prophecy as a reminder to everyone.

We’re all here to make sure a war doesn’t occur, and now the centaurs have decided they don’t want to send their representative. Everything we’ve worked for, every birthday and holiday that I’ve missed because I’ve been here as required, was all wasted because of this one decision.

I shouldn’t jump ahead. Things may not be as bad as they first appear. The king has diplomats for this very reason, and I’m sure they can come to a resolution that doesn’t end up in innocent blood being shed. Even if the king did declare war over this, my people should be safe. We have nothing to do with what’s happening.

“This is all I have been told. I’m sure the king will address the issue in due time,” Ember’s advisor comments, effectively ending the conversation with a sharp look in the direction of the guards standing by the doors.

Geoff appears uncomfortable with this information, and although he makes it look as casual as possible, he slowly walks over to me until he’s standing behind my chair. To my eternal surprise, he lays a hand on my shoulder as a silent statement. This simple action tells me a lot. He’s silently warning everyone in the room he would protect me, as well as warning me in the same breath that we might be in danger. I don’t think he suspects that anyone in this room would try to hurt me, but it’s a reminder of our roles here. Rebellion from one realm is dangerous, as it makes others believe that it could be an option for them too.

A flurry of activity happens around the door, and we all turn towards the sound, our movements jerky and on edge from what we just learned. My heart speeds up, adrenaline pumping through my body, and I clench the edge of the table tightly, ready to fight my way out should I need to. The other brides seem to have the same reaction. Bliss is halfway out of her seat, and I notice the princess’s eyes are glowing as she holds back her spirit animal.

We seem to have overreacted, though, as several guards stop in the doorway and part for Hect, the advisor for the beast’s chosen female. I’ve seen him many times over the years with his different charges, so I’m able to recognise him instantly—not that it would be difficult to guess where he’s from. With a body like a bear covered in long fur from head to toe, he looks every inch the beast he is. Large horns extend from his forehead, yet his eyes are filled with a human-like intelligence.

“Lady Terra from the land of Barheer,” he announces in a crisp voice, always surprising me with how civilised he sounds. I shouldn’t judge by appearances or the stereotypes of their race.

Intrigued by our newest bride, I shift my attention to the female walking in behind him. She’s younger than the rest of us but not a child like the previous beast representatives were. I would guess she’s around twenty or so. They’ve obviously chosen a female who was already of age to represent them this time around rather than the children who usually arrive. Perhaps she might actually survive long enough to see out her part of the prophecy, her maturity helping her control her inner beast.

Her smooth, ebony skin seems to glimmer slightly, as though she has a golden sheen covering her. The land of the beasts contains creatures of all types, and I have no idea what Terra is. Long dark hair hangs down her back, with several braids decorated with tiny golden beads and hoops in it. Peeking through the hair atop her head is a pair of horns like that of a bull, which also have a golden sheen that I don’t believe is from makeup. They look as sharp as daggers, and she holds her head high as she walks, secure in the knowledge that she’s a walking weapon. The rest of her body gives nothing else away, but I swear I see her shadow moving independently to her.

Shadow stealer.

I’ve never met one before, but I’ve heard of them. They have the ability to trap someone’s soul in their shadow and then steal it, feeding on it to sustain them. She’s a dangerous creature to be around, and from the tension in the room, everyone else can feel the terrible power she leaves in her wake.

“Sorry I am late.” Her voice is low and carries a note of authority, like she always knew she would end up here. “We arrived a short time ago, and I was famished, so I was just finishing my meal.”

Now that I know what she feeds on, it makes her statement a little terrifying, but I give away no hint of my discomfort. Taking the seat opposite me, she sits down with a small smile, looking around the table expectantly.

“Which one of you is the lucky female to marry first?”

Chapter Five

As I stride through the castle corridors with Geoff at my side, I’m glad for the guards surrounding us. Usually I hate the constant escort I have here, yet after the news we were just given and Terra’s arrival, I feel uneasy—not to mention the strange atmosphere that seems to fill the air like an invisible fog, making rational thought harder to reach.

The staff that passes us in the hallway watches me with a strange confidence that they don’t usually possess. Instead of lowering their eyes, they meet my gaze and nod their heads, almost as though in respect. I’m not sure what has changed other than the fact I’m about to marry the prince. Has that shifted their attitudes towards me?

There is something more going on here, and everyone seems to know it except for me. I will find out what it is and rid myself of this awful uncertainty, but for now, I’m just glad we left the strange tea party on the patio and put some space between myself and the others. While I was already feeling out of sorts with the knowledge of my impending marriage with a male I’ve never met, knowing there’s unrest in the other lands is unsettling. Too much is changing all at once. Does it have to do with the prophecy, or is everything we know beginning to fall apart?

Geoff and I have been maintaining our usual silence since we were summoned from the patio to meet with the king, yet I’m unable to hold my questions back any longer.

---