Finally, the truth

   The dining room was glowing in white and gold. The light came from the windows that led to a wide balcony, big enough to not leave one part of the room dark, but it didn't help relieve the tense weather that involved the guests.

   Once a month, Queen Rhiannon scheduled a dinner with all the members of her court, this being constituted by two middle-aged warriors, Cathan and Orion, who taught me and Ryon, beginners in the task of protecting her majesty, besides the Queen's niece, Darya. Those meetings were almost a law, and no one would miss them, but every month it was a suffocating feeling.

   With the false words always in the tip of their tongue, or the poisonous phrases hidden in questionable compliments, everyone was there just for the love of the governess. Who, at the moment, sat at the head of the table, giving everyone silent permission to take their seats.

—Cathan, how are the armies of the South?— she asked, putting her arms at the table, but letting the elbow outside, etiquette.

—We're having supply problems, after the supply house fire, the winter is intolerable, especially for the younger ones — the warrior answered, the voice being softened only by directing the woman, and soon his frown returned to the face. I started eating, trying not to show reactions to the bad news.

— The weather is warmer for us, we have supplies to grant — Orion spoke on behalf of the troop located in the north, always appeaser with his thick but gentle voice. Cathan looked at him on the side, the scar on his jaw being lit by the light of the windows with the movement.

— Five minutes— Ryon whispered, disguising the words with a cough, I drank from my transparent glass, so I wouldn't laugh. It was our bet, to see how long the two gentlemen of opposite humors would take to fight.

—Freyja, how was it to lead your first mission?— Orion asked, I had led a small group of soldiers to a village that was two days away from the palace to deal with taxes without payment, something small, but it was a start.

— I barely slept at night, the older soldiers are full of stories to tell by the fire — I answered, it was hours and hours filled with laughter until my belly started to hurt, the first time I felt at home in that territory.

— In my opinion, warriors should take the missions more seriously — Darya commented, the falsely gentle voice, but, being of the monarch family, the Lady never went beyond the royal gardens outside a large, comfortable carriage, never got through the experience of sleeping on earth and using a pillow stone.

— I agree, My Lady— Cathan spoke, he had spent so much time living the tough life, that he let the bad parts of the job destroy his spirit, and I didn't know if there was going back to that level of bitterness.

— Work is hard, no need to make it more — Ryon said, getting a sharp look from his tutor, I always thought it should be Orion to train him, both kind. But that should be in Rhiannon's plans, to introduce us to opposites of our personalities.

   Neither of them responded, just returned to the meal, I thanked for the lack of subject and ate one of the tiny potatoes, still with the shell. Meanwhile, I passed my eyes across the room, guards posted on the doors and on the porch door behind the queen, so still they could be one of the plant vases.

— Ryon, you also had a mission this week, how did it go?— Rhiannon asked, I frowned, normally the queen wouldn’t ask this type of questions outside an official meeting.

—Very well, Your Majesty— Ryon responded, looking as surprised as I, she agreed to her head.

— It was at the border of Edrik's territory, I assume there was no problem?— she insisted, Ryon looked at me, nervous, I putted my hand in his forearm, trying to bring him comfort.

— No, ma'am— he said, taking his glass of water. She dropped the silverware, and that attracted everyone's attention in the room, even the guards moved minimally.

— Anything wrong, my Lady?— Cathan asked, slowly, as a snake ready to take attack.

— A few hours ago, I was informed that there was an attack on my brother, Lord Aldrich, he, fortunately, escaped, but with great luck— she informed, calmly, without looking at anyone. My heart raced in my throat, I thought he'd jump out and tell all my secrets — nobody but myself knew the route he and his court would take, but there is another person who has access to the room where our meeting was held.

— Treason?— Orion asked, also leaving his food plate behind and getting ready to defend.

— Ryon, you're the one who insisted on a mission near the border of our enemy, you want to explain why?— the queen accused, relieve and terror switched places in my veins with the speed of a heart beat.

— Ma. Your Majesty, I have family there, I swear…— he tried to explain himself, his face completely lost the color, and his mouth opened with the panic eating him inside.

— Your family has been dead for three years— Orion spoke, and he looked at him with such a betrayed expression that I wanted to hold his hand.

— Arrest him— Rhiannon used all her title and the power that it carried in the phase, all without lifting a finger.

   The guards acted immediately, but Cathan got there first than they, pulling him out of the chair with a strong pull on his collar and holding his hands firmly back, Ryon didn't try to fight back, was too much in shock. As I looked at the scene, I didn't notice that the others had risen, while I still held my silverware, so hard my joints hurt.

— Take him to the dungeons, I'll give my judgment in the morning — the queen ordered, but there was only one punishment for treason, and my legs moved with the strength of my feelings, ignoring my instincts of self-preservation.

— It was me, I heard the conversation, and I revealed the route to King Edrik. Ryon had nothing to do with it— I revealed, feeling a huge weight letting my shoulders and another one take place, but that was fear.

   The guests and the hostess stopped, but she... the queen smiled, as if she had heard news about a wedding. Cathan looked at her, confused about what to do, and with just one wave, he released Ryon and held my wrists firmly.

— May I ask, Freyja, how long have you hated me?— she knew, knew that it wasn’t him, but, accusing him first, she had my confession heard by the court, and three guards. By the time she accused Ryon, I hadn't thought enough straight to remember that she'd be looked at in a bad way if I killed him without proof or a confession, and I gave it to her on a tray.

   I didn't have much time, but I wanted to say the words, explain why I did what I did, and, by the words, ice consumed my bones, the same way as the day I joined the enemy king.

— Two years ago, you ordered an attack on a fortress in Amare — the phrase hurt as it was said, but I took courage, and kept going. The queen half closed her eyes, waiting— you killed my family, you'll pay with yours.

— Take her — she sent, no explanation, which was far worse than a raggedy one. The hatred of remembering my parents' face, my sisters and brother, filled every one of my senses, and I tried to escape Cathan, to get to her and to remove that smug look off her face.

— One more try, and I'll kill you right here — the warrior whispered, holding tight and dragging me out of the dining room.

   I looked only once more back. Ryon had a frightened expression, but he fixed it when I faced him, determination lighting his eyes when he raised an eyebrow, and, I knew, I wouldn't be on the death line for long, or would take my love with me, and I almost fell to my knees for it, for the fear of losing someone else.