4 Lord of All Shadows (2/2)

Lehan looked at her for a moment and then waved his hand at the guard, ”Take her out and dispose of her.”

Isilla scrambled across the floor for her board and pulling a piece of chalk from her pouch she scrawled a message across it. Pulling on her savior's sleeve, he turned his attention to her. His eyes scanned the board as he batted dust off his sleeve.

He leaned his head slightly to the side and frowned. Please, she wrote, help me.

His eyes were gentle, locked on hers for a moment before he closed them. When they opened, all the softness was gone, replaced with a darkness.Turning to his brother he bowed slightly and with an emotionless voice said, ”There is still time to salvage your foolishness. I will marry her.”

”And what good would that do, Arren? There is no treaty,” Lehan asked, shaking his head.

Arren shook his head, ”Prince Argia was right. The war between our kingdoms has gone on long enough. If we treat her well enough there might be.”

Lehan's lips twisted into a cruel smile, ”If you wish to keep this thing then fine. It is decided then, Princess Isilla will be married to Prince Arren. By order of the King, I do pronounce this marriage to be binding.”

Isilla gripped at her board, shaken by how quickly things had changed before looking back at the man who had saved her. Thank you, she wrote.

He grabbed her arm and leaned close to her ear. His breath tickled her cheek as he spoke, low and close. ”Never forget that I offered you a chance to leave this place. That will not happen again.”

Arren released her and then plucked it from her fingers, ”Do not thank me. You are my wife now. And you are never to use any board such as this again,” he shoved the board into the Chancellor's hands, ”Dispose of this and any of that damnable chalk she has. Take her to her rooms and have her cleaned up. Make sure she eats and rests. I will be with her this evening.”

Without further comment he turned, stalking out of the room, the deep shadows following him as he left. She looked around, her eyes blinking in the sudden brightness, and back at her the Prince who should have been her husband.

He spun his finger in the air, ”You're wondering about the light. Yes, well you've heard of my brother no doubt. The Lord of All Shadows I believe your people call him.”

Her face dropped. She had heard of him. Everyone had. A fairytale in her kingdowm. A vicious creature who used the power of nightmare to do unspeakable acts. He was a terrible legend. Isilla stood motionless her thoughts moving too quickly for her to catch. She felt naked without her board and her fingers grabbed at themselves looking for anything to hold on to.

”Remove my brother's wife from my study before I change my mind about things,” Lehan sneered.

The Chancellor bowed, ”Yes your highness. Come along my Lady. The Prince has ordered that you be made ready and evening comes quickly in these lands.”

She nodded numbly following the man out of the room feeling the crush of uncertainty all around her.