“What are you talking about?” King Lester asks sharply.

King Vaskis turns on his heel and strides to the Aeradian monarch’s side. He points to my father.

“Do you not see? This is a trick! A vile, pathetic, morbid trick! The plan of a twisted individual! Ivar has killed his wife to make me appear the villain!”

The audience sucks in what sounds like one breath. I dare not take my sights off the dais, off my mother, but I sense all eyes on my father now.

“Do you hear yourself?” My father rages. “Do you even understand the treacherous words that your lips summon?”

“Why would he kill his own, Vaskis?” King Lester asks slowly, looking down at my mother.

“It is obvious!” King Vaskis roars. “To make Baellileans appear as monsters! To ally with you and Aeradian and destroy our Kingdom! It is an unholy strategy, but one that would surely secure a war against us!”

“You are a snake! A lying, conniving, evil snake!” My father bellows.

“And you are a murderer! You have killed your wife, the mother of your child, the Queen of your Kingdom!”

“It is you who has murdered my wife, you demonic spawn of the four hells! And you will pay greatly for what you have done on this day!”

King Lester shifts, and his eyes race between them. He doesn’t seem to know who to believe; no one in the room does.

My father raises a fist high into the air. “I pray to the gods, to the Lady herself, that she vanquishes your entire kind. That she rid the world of your wicked Kingdom and that your people’s hearts be pierced by the lies and deceit of their King. I swear it to the Lady that she will destroy Baelliles!” The room fills with gasps, and the murmurs grow louder. We’re not supposed to swear to the gods. Ever.

King Vaskis stands taller and points a stiff finger at my father. “I pray to the Guard that he would cause Verdana to collapse into the sea! I swear he provides no refuge, no ships, no escape for any of your people! May they drown in your iniquity! And may he block entry into the afterlife to anyone from the North! The Great Lands will not see one Verdanian, by the Guard!”

My father’s face is completely red. He draws his sword and braces himself. “To the death!” he shouts.

King Vaskis brandishes his weapon and stands firm.

“To your death!” They flourish their blades and advance to strike.

I look at Braizen’s horrified face. As if he hears me call him, he glances down and sees me under the table. His mother doesn’t notice as he slips away and joins me. Like everyone in the room, she’s fixated on the two kings.

His hands cup my cheeks, and his bright eyes dart between my own.

“Are you hurt?” He whispers.

“No, but my mother…” I can’t finish the sentence. I can’t bring myself to utter the words.