Solemn Vows

Queen Claricia approached her husband’s bedchambers, knocking on the door.

“Oh husband of mine, are you getting ready? Only an hour remains before the wedding.” No response. This was not unusual, given his proclivities, but Claricia was lacking in patience today. Instead of another gentle knock, she banged on the door. “Husband!! Are you in there or not?!” Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Claricia sighed. She gave one last ultimatum and said, “Husband, if you don’t answer me, I’m coming in. Husband...? Fine.”

Claricia opened the door and was met with a terrible stench. It wasn’t just the scent of alcohol in the air – that was common enough. No, it was the scent of bile and blood that got Claricia’s attention. She marched her way up to the bed, parted its curtains, and realized what had happened. King Kojak Ramtha II was dead. Not from poison, stabbing, or any other assassination attempt. Surrounded by empty bottles of booze and passed out maid servants, he appeared to have drank himself to death. It was as disgusting as it was horrific, yet somehow, all Claricia could do was laugh.

“My stars! This is why you couldn’t answer? You absolute wretch of a man. Pathetic to the very end!!”

The maids began to stir, woefully unprepared for the sight they were about to be greeted by. Once they awoke, they screamed, slipping and falling off the bed.

“M-my queen, it’s not what it looks like!!” cried one girl.

“What has happened?! Is he dead?!” cried another.

One was even bold enough to run for the bedroom door, but with a wave of her hand, Claricia shut and locked it.

“Where do you think you’re going? You’ve all committed regicide. Do you know what the punishment is for that?” said Claricia. She raised her fist up like a hammer, towering over the frightened maid.

“Please my lady, I didn’t mean it!! I-”

Claricia slammed the girl with her fist, crushing her skull and splattering blood across the bedroom. The other maids curled up, shivering from fright. They were killed just as quickly. As Claricia began to wipe the blood from her hands, royal guards came rushing down the hall, banging on the door until it burst open.

“My liege!” The guard at the front stopped, gasping. “Good heavens! What happened here?!”

“These maids were secretly assassins,” Claricia casually wiped her fingernails with a handkerchief. “I found them just after they had done the deed and enacted due justice.”

“The king? He’s...?” The guards turned to each other.

“W-what should we do?”

“Should the wedding be called off?!”

“No,” said Claricia. “Today is meant to be a happy day for my daughter. We’ll keep this under wraps until a proper investigation can be performed by the inspector. For now,” Claricia bent down towards the guards, overshadowing them. “You will speak of this to no one. Is that understood?”

The royal guards nodded along. “O-of course, my lady...”

“Now someone fetch me a cleaner. What will the people think if I walk out there now covered in this mess?”

“Right! I’ll fetch someone at once! ... We should lock the door behind us, though. I’ll have men stationed just outside.”

“We’ll say it’s to protect against assassins,” said another.

“Good thinking,” smiled Claricia. She then walked past the guards, settling in her own quarters, where a magical servant tended to the queen. Not long after the cleaner left, Claricia heard a knock upon her door.

“Domo! Everything is just about ready. Will you be attending the ceremony?”

“Oh Hito, just the man I wished to speak with. Do come in.”

The door opened, and Hito walked forward, kneeling before the queen. “My lady,” he began. “Duke Sigard has managed to coax the princess out of her room, and Hierophant Veshaul has just arrived as well.” Hito then smirked. “I take it the king will not be attending?”

“No. He is... Preoccupied. It is just as well, I’ve had my chance to say goodbye to him.”

“I see. No more unfinished business, then? Is there anything you’d like to take with you on our trip?”

“There are a few things I’ve prepared, but I’ll be packing light. No sense in burdening myself while traveling to a new realm.” The queen softly sighed, looking to a nearby window. “Earth... I wonder what it will be like?”

“From what I’ve learned, it should prove to be quite entertaining.” Hito’s smile then faded. “By the way, a little birdy told me there’s been a riot at the local prison. Should I investigate?”

“No, I’ll just send more guards to ensure it’s quelled. I can’t be thinking about that kind of thing now.” Claricia then stood up. “It’s time.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

Hito stood up as well, and the two left together, making their way outside. The wedding would take place in the courtyard at the height of the palace stairway – as would the execution of those prisoners. It would be a glorious sendoff for the queen before she left Elonia behind. Whether it was a mere visit, or the preamble before an invasion, she had yet to decide. It all depended on how interesting Earth was.

---

Princess Evaline did not wish to be wed. She never agreed to it, but her father insisted. After putting it off as long as she could, she found herself on the marble steps leading up to the palace courtyard above the city. The sun had begun its journey back to the horizon. Birds flew overhead. Slaves walked beside the royal retinue, scattering flower petals along the steps as they followed. With her left arm locked around Duke Sigard’s right, she did her best to hold back her tears. Today was meant to be a happy day, a celebration.

So... Why was it that she felt so sad?

Like her mother, Evaline had pink hair – though it was a more vibrant tone than Claricia’s. She had soft indigo eyes, and the fairest skin in the land - no doubt from spending so much time locked up indoors. Despite her youth, her height was already on par with Duke Sigard. As such, beneath her wedding gown, she wore flat shoes so as not to tower over her husband to be. Looking over at Sigard, she could not help but admire his emerald eyes, as well as his brown hair, which waved softly in the wind.

“You shaved,” she whispered.

“Of course,” replied Sigard. “I would not deign to make you kiss a face harsh with short hairs.”

“You are very kind... Thank you.”

Those were the most words she had ever exchanged with Duke Sigard before. In the past, she had been introduced to him, but she was only greeted before Sigard returned to conversation with father and other noblemen. Staring at the cloudy sky and setting sun, she wondered if she would look back on this day fondly or in despair.

While throngs of people waved and cheered from balconies, platforms, and the streets below, Evaline turned her gaze upward. At the top of the stairs, she saw Hierophant Veshaul in his black and white robes emblazoned with the Twin Suns. She saw Inspector Hito, a favored agent from the church. She saw her mother, Queen Claricia, looking down on her... As she always had. But she did not see her father, King Kojak. He was often missing from gatherings as of late, but for him to not attend his daughter’s wedding was... Troubling.

Perhaps he’s just late? I do hope father is okay.

There were of course royal guards as well, wearing shimmering plate armor, black and white banners around their waists, and holding great shields with the mark of the Twin Suns. Four of them acted as a barrier around Duke Sigard and Evaline, and yet more stood around the courtyard like statues. Ever the stalwart protectors of the crown... Though the amount of guards seemed denser than she expected. Did her mother suspect trouble? No matter. It would all work out in the end, right?

Hierophant Veshaul oversaw the wedding ceremony. He guided Sigard and Evaline through their vows, and they followed along as if rehearsing lines from a play. It was all well and good until Claricia raised her hand up.

“Before your final vows, I have a gift for you, my daughter.” The queen snapped her fingers, and several prisoners were marched out by royal guards, all in yokes and chains. Among the elves, dwarves, and human with auburn hair, there was a woman as statuesque as her own mother. She wore very little, her sunkissed skin and battle scars on full display. All the prisoners were made to kneel away from the courtyard at the top of the stairs leading down.

“Mother, what is this? What’s going on?” asked Evaline.

“Hush, my child. You are still too soft for this harsh world, so I will show you first-hand what it means to rule. Before everyone on this most sacred of days, our enemies will be vanquished, washing away the sorrows of yesterday with their blood. Once you seal your vows and kiss your husband, their heads will roll.”

Evaline looked around, frightened and on the verge of tears. She looked back at the tall woman from before. The woman’s blue eyes were filled with such sorrow and regret... She turned away, unable, or perhaps unwilling to look back at Evaline any further.

“No...” whimpered Evaline.

“Be strong, my dear,” said Duke Sigard. “Be strong, for there is no other way to be in this world if you wish to prosper.”

“Shall we continue?” asked Hierophant Veshaul.

“Yes, please,” smiled Claricia.

“Then before we proceed, does anyone here present know of any reason why these two should not be married? Speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

Evaline did her best to hold in her tears. For mother. For father. For the kingdom. But deep down, she prayed for divine intervention.

Someone... Anyone... Please!!

Then a voice cried out, parting the very clouds. Leaping from a rooftop, his black cloak fluttered in the wind. He shouted, “I OBJECT!!!” With flaming sword in hand, he swung through the air, and blades of fire sliced apart the prisoners’ chains. Landing on the ground, the tall dark figure rose up, staring at the royal family in contempt.

“Jabez!” the tall woman ripped her yoke off.

“Jabez?!” the auburn haired woman exclaimed. “What are you doing here?!”

“Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone,” said Jabez. Other figures appeared, including a catkin wizard, an elven druid, a four-eyed kortu, and a sharp toothed old man. The catkin cast a spell, arming the freed prisoners with weapons of light, and it seemed like a battle was inevitable. The man named Jabez then pointed at Inspector Hito, who was the only one among the nobles still smiling.

“So glad you dropped in, Jabez. Though I wonder... In the heart of the kingdom, surrounded by enemies, whatever is your plan?”

“It’s not much, but I’ll start by revealing who you really are.” Jabez then made devil horns with the same hand he pointed at Hito with. Hito’s smile faded.

“Jabez. I’m only going to tell you this once: you do not want to do that.”

“Scared of how your friends will react? That only motivates me further. Be you man or demon, I’m taking that mask off right now!”

A surge of force shot through the courtyard, kicking up dust and debris. Hito held up his staff as if to defend against it, but whatever it was, the spell struck. There was a cracking sound, as if porcelain had broken. Hito dropped his staff, covering his face with his hands. But even as he did this, Evaline could see his form shuddering.

“You... You bastard!” The man’s voice faltered, growing more distorted.

“Don’t just stand around, you fools!” Claricia finally shouted. “Kill them! Kill them all!”

The fight finally came underway. Jabez rushed past everyone, including Evaline, as he made his way towards Hito.

“No matter what happens, I’m taking you down here and now!!” Jabez shouted.

Hito then reached into a pocket, drawing a glowing blue crystal.

“Is that... So? Well since you showed me your hand... I’ll show you mine!”

“Jabez, look out!” cried the auburn haired prisoner, but it was too late. As Jabez raised his sword to strike Hito, the man tossed the gem right at Jabez, and he... Collapsed. Evaline watched in horror as Jabez slumped to the ground like a puppet whose strings were just cut. And then... His face changed.

“W-what’s going on?!” cried the princess.

“Get behind me, Evaline! I’ll protect you!” Duke Sigard drew the claymore from his back. But even as he said that, Evaline couldn’t help but stare at the fallen Jabez, as well as Hito desperately trying to hold his face together. Pieces fell away like glass, and the pupils of his yellow eyes shifted into horizontal black bars. Then, from the darkness beneath his mask, tentacles sprouted...