“You did! You brought us here under the guise of peace, but you are merciless! You have killed my wife, the Verdanian Queen, as retribution for events now hundreds of years old! You hold a grudge that knows no bounds!”

King Vaskis shakes his head and then looks around the now quiet hall. All ears listen to their quarrel.

My father continues raging. “Is this the Baellilean way? Stealing our resources that come from Aeradian and killing our troops at the river does not satisfy you? You sin too greatly, Vaskis! My wife? My precious Revna!”

The crowd mummers and multiple sobs break out. King Vaskis looks to King Lester, who stares at the Baellilean King as if he is a monster.

“Oh. I see now,” King Vaskis whispers. “It is all so clear. This was the hidden agenda of the Verdanians all along.” My father stiffens. “Yes,” Vaskis resumes. “I always knew Verdanians to be sick people, but this… this is far worse than anything I could conjure up myself.”

“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.