Roses on Fire ~ The Tale of Roses and Thorns 2.
Chapter 12 ~ Elibora

The next morning (or that morning? Ivelle couldn’t say what time it was when she finally went back to her room to get some sleep) they woke up before dawn. Adrastos led them to the stables, where two men were waiting for them. One was tall and well-built, around the age of sixty, his posture told everyone that he was a soldier who saw battle. There was a scar on his face, telling of the same thing. He had brown hair and eyes. The younger resembled him very much: tall, brown-haired, with the same features. He himself seemed to be a soldier too, around the age of 25, not more than 30.

Adrastos slowly walked up to him. The older man examined him cautiously, resting his hand on the grip of his sword.

“Adrastos.” he said simply in a voice that was warning them not to do anything stupid.

" Eckhardt. Nice to see you again.” He looked at the other man who was standing a few steps behind “Your son?” Eckhardt nodded not taking his eyes off Adrastos.

“He was much younger when I last saw him-”

“Enough of the chit-chat.” Barked Eckhardt “You wanted horses. I’ll give you that. But from now on, I owe you nothing.”

“Of course.” Nodded Adrastos.

“Khrysaor, bring them.” He turned to his son who with a nod went further back into the stable and returned with four horses.”

“These are your best?”

“These are the ones I give you.” said Eckhardt and walked away with his son.

They reached Elibora in three days. The city was a lot like Nethilor: a medieval town, with stone buildings, and a thick town wall, and a castle in the middle.

Women wore bliaut, with collars and ceintures. Older or married women also wore guimples. Men wore simple shirts, pants, boots, brocades, and tailcoats.

It wasn’t easier to fit in here either. Although here people of all kinds could be seen, their very light skin, still made people turn after them, which caught the eyes of the guards too.

When they were walking through the mass of people in the market, two armoured soldiers stood their way, handcuffed them, and took them to prison.

Ivelle had to listen to the word-fencing of Cirillo and Adrastos for two days and three nights, when finally the guards took them to the queen.

The queen was different from anyone she’d seen in the town. She was tall with brown hair, which wasn’t a surprise. On the other hand, her clothing was, very different: her long, A-laned, black, velvet dress, was decorated with white lace on the sleeves and on the waist. She had a golden crown on her head. Next to her was a tall, well-built, dark-haired man, wearing red velvet clothes. Both were around their late forties, early fifties. On her other side was a boy, around 15, with blond hair.

The queen was superior to the man, Ivelle could tell from the way they sat. The queen sat in the middle of the room, in a huge, richly decorated throne. On her right was the man - Ivelle supposed the king- and on her left the boy, both in smaller thrones.

In the far back of the room stood a woman around her thirties, and a man, the same age as the queen and king.

“Her Majesty Queen Willa and Lord Gawen. His Royal Highness Prince Callum.” announced the guard.

They stood in front of the royalties, waiting for them to speak. The queen eyed them distrustfully then stood up. She took a few steps forward slowly and gracefully. She looked at them again one-by-one, then spoke.

“Who are you, and what are you doing in my kingdom?” her voice was strict and monotone. Ivelle looked at Adrastos. He eyed the queen for a few moments then grinned.

“You know it very well who we are.” the queen snapped her head towards him and stared at him.

“How dare you talk to me like this?” she snapped “I’m the queen of-”

“Lillaelux, yeah, we know. And I’m the Dark Prince of Nendawin. Now what?” he shrugged “For your other question: we mean no harm. We came here only to resume our way to Tilia.”

“You can’t go to Tilia-” started the king, but Queen Willa cut him off by raising her right hand.

“What’s your business there?”

“We just want to talk to the sorceresses.” said Adrastos honestly. The queen looked around, commanded the guard to leave and eyed Adrastos again.

“Many think that they are only part of a fairy tale.”

“But they are wrong, aren’t they?” smirked Adrastos arrogantly.

“Yes, they are.” she looked at the woman behind her and gestured her to come closer.

“This is Rhetta. My counsellor and an Ice Sorceress. I give her free hands. If she wants to, she’ll take you to Tilia. If not, well that’s not my problem.” she said turning away “You may leave now.” she walked to her throne and sat down.