Location: Traveling from Dragon’s Reach to the Castle of the Queen Time: Early Evening, Present Day
The flight home was relatively quiet. Cynbel spent most of it stewing over the situation and trying to plan out how he would break this news to Kiara. When Sulley decided to break the silence, it was to discuss war tactics. Cynbel was thankful for this, talking about war and strategy came easy, thinking about what was waiting for him at the Unseelie court, however, was not. The distraction was welcome, even if Sulleykaar was the source of all of this internal strife.
Location: Kiara’s Suite in the Castle of the Queen Time: Late Evening, Present Day
After a day spent in training, Kiara took off her armor and set it aside for tomorrow. She had a luxurious soak in a tub scented with rose water and then changed into a thin night dress. Presently, she sat brushing her hair in front of the looking glass that was once part of her late mother’s ornately carved vanity set. The shimmering surface could function as a magical communication system as well as a mirror… currently it was just a mirror.
Kiki hummed as she ran the brush through the lengths of her cherry-hued locks. A knocking at the door disturbed her song.
”Enter.” she said with a hint of curiosity and excitement in her voice. What kind of visitor would she have tonight? Needless to say, she was quite surprised to see Cynbel walk through the door.
”Father!” she said and put the brush down quickly. Her left hand smoothed her hair down self consciously. Kiara was about to ask how his trip to Dragon’s Reach went, but Cynbel spoke before she could.
”Will you take a walk with me?” He asked, knowing that it would be best to not be in a closed space with Kiara when he said what he had to say.
”A walk? Oh - of course!” She said in a chirpy tone, completely oblivious to somberness behind his request. Seriously, a walk? She couldn’t remember the last time her father had offered such an indulgent allocation of time for her. Maybe he had something really important to tell her… maybe she was being promoted in rank!
Father and daughter left the castle together and walked from the Castle Courtyard towards the woods, he in his armor, and she in her night dress. It was chilly out, but she hardly felt the cold in her excited state. Cynbel hadn’t said anything yet, so Kiara broke the ice.
”How did it go at Dragon’s Reach? I see that you are very much alive, so I assume we have a few new allies on the fields of battle, yes?”If it were another time and place, Cynbel would have smiled in pride of his daughter, choosing to discuss war rather than frivolous matters. Instead, a frown settled upon his thin lips.
”That is why I brought you out here, actually.” Kiara looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. Cynbel sighed deeply in preparation and then recounted the deal with Sulleykaar ver batim. He paused before getting to the final request and stopped walking to turn and look at his daughter. Cynbel took the time to admire her features and the kind adoration she had for him. This was the last time she would look at him in that way, he was sure of it, and it absolutely broke his heart.
“Sulleykaar pledged to fight alongside us as well, for one final price; Without this part of the deal, everything else was off the table, and they would aid the Seelie instead.”Kiara hissed quietly at the mention of the Light Ones. What more could the dragons have wanted? So, she asked
”What was their final request? A chest of precious stones? A dragon’s weight in gold?” she hazarded a few guesses. Cynbel’s face darkened like the other side of the moon.
”He wanted you.” Cynbel said quickly, like ripping off a bandage before a wound had a chance to heal.
Kiara just stared at him for a moment, processing. Her father was here. He was alive. He had said earlier that they had come to an agreement That means… he agreed to the final request.
”You didn’t…” Kiara said in a volume barely above that of a whisper.
Cynbel said nothing more, he just stood there looking ashamed. Rage boiled from deep within her, turning her eyes the color of molten lava before she completely erupted.
“You DIDN’T!” she repeated with so much force that the earth beneath their feet began to quake. Her fists hardened into calcified stone before she shoved her full weight into Cynbel. He accepted the blow and stumbled backward a few steps.
“You sold me like cattle! As if I’m your property! You agreed to give me away to a complete stranger.” her voice broke a little in her hysteria. Her words only served to fuel her fire and she swung at him again and again. Cynbel dodged some of the blows and accepted some of them as well, he knew that he deserved each and every one.
“CRAVEN!” her shout echoed like a fierce growl.
“Fight back or I will kill you where you stand for this.” He didn’t strike her back, which pissed her off enough to land a hit square in his nose. Dark blood trickled down his lip and off of his chin. Kiara poised her foot to stomp it hard into the earth and summon it’s aid. Before her foot met the ground, Cynbel said something.
It was lower than a whisper and spoken in the Old Tongue. This particular combination of sounds had not passed his lips since her birth, and though she didn’t know this previously, this was her name. Her true name. The next words he spoke were a command:
”You will go with Sulleykaar. You will go willingly, for the good of your Court. You shall meet tomorrow morning in the Queen’s Privvy Council”Kiara stared as dumbfounded as if he had just struck her clear across the face. To know a faeries true name, and to evoke it, was to have complete control over them. She would obey this command because she had absolutely no choice in the matter. This was a personal violation of the deepest kind; A breach of trust… a breaking of the heart. And then the worst case scenario flashed before her eyes.
”No, father, please tell me you didn’t--” she pleaded in a broken voice as huge crocodile tears welled up in her eyes.
Cynbel didn’t have to hear the end to know what she was asking.
”No, Kiara, of course not! I would have willingly died before I would offer up your name to anyone. He didn’t even ask for it. You are still your own person, you always will be.””Except for when I’m around you, apparently.” she said in a tone as sharp and cold as ice. She wiped the stupid tears away in frustration before storming off in the direction of the Castle.
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