CAS SANDRA
| knew my statement was blint and honestly, quite bold to blurt out, but | couldn’t stop myself. | still had no idea if Rona could be
trusted, but | supposed | had no other choice. | needed someone on my side who could curb Kaleb’s power, and Ronald
appeared to be my only option. As a sorcerer, the king’s cousin was immensely talented. He could be the key | needed to make it
out of this intact.
| opted not to tell Ronald what Kaleb had mentioned about the milisman. | didn’t quite believe what the king of Yurene had said
because it sounded far crazier than anything | could ept, but on the other hand, something in my gut told me not to bring it up.
If Kaleb was correct and the talisman had something to do with me, being utterly frank with Ronald could be dangerous
Ronald stared at me for a moment with an expression that was both full of awe and concern. He raised a dark eyebrow at me
and remained silent for what felt like an eternity, but finally, he cleared his throat and raised his chin slightly.
“| suppose | should keep my promise and tell you the story you desire to hear,” he remarked, his tone airy and borderline lofty.
“But it will take quite a while for me to exin, so | will tell you over the course of a week.”
While | wasn’t thrilled by this, | agreed to the n. We would meet every so often over the next week, but only in short
increments. | couldn''t stay too long in the tower, or else | would mass suspicion.
We began the next day, and by the end of our first meeting. | realized | hadn’t been as prepared as | thought to hear these
stories.
| had always known that Yurene was built on war and the bloodshed of smaller Packs, but | didn’t know how it was ruled. Our
history lessons in Wega were limited when it came to the Northern regions, and | feltpletely out of my element as |
listened to Ronald’s recounting. These were all things that the citizens of my country deserved to know. If | was lucky enough to
make it back to Anemond, | would tell Asher that we needed to adjust curriculums to include this information about our Northern
neighbors. It was crucial for us to be more knowledgeable.
With each story Ronald told me, | kept being shocked by the savageness. He told me of cruel tortures that | thought only existed
in ancient tomes: burning at the stake, tearing and severing limbs, waterboarding.
| was even more horrified to learn that these methods of torture were still being actively utilized. Ronald told me that if 1 wanted
to see it with my own eyes to confirm that he wasn’t exaggerating the facts, he could take me to the grounds where the
executions took ce. He mentioned that the amount of torture had been reduced these days, but in the past, they urred
daily.
| left every encounter with Ronald sick to my stomach, and on numerous asions, my insides were so upset that by the time |
returned to my chambers, | sprinted to the bathroom and retched until | ached.
Erika would wait outside the door with a ss of water, and after epted it gratefully, she would sit me down on the bed and
rub my back. She would remain silent until Finnick was asleep, and once we were certain he couldn''t overhear us, | would share
what Ronald had told me.
My dear maid was even more shocked than I was, but she managed to hold her disgust inside and simply shook her head in
disbelief once | finished.
“This country is so savage,” she would whisper. “More than we could have known. You must be careful, Ca ss andra. Promise
me you''ll be careful.”
1 assured her daily that | would tread lightly to avoid these savage tortures myself, but with every passing interaction with
Ronald, my fear grew more intense
| hadn''t believed Kaleb to be so dangerous when | was in Anemond, but now that | was here in his homnd, | knew he
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wasn’t what he seemed-Under the cool exterior was a brutal, potentially violent man, whose savagery knew no b
On what Ronald told me would be the final day of storytelling, he presented me with the most brutal tale yet. It w more sickening
than the ones prior, and | hadn’t been remotely prepared to handle it all.
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You mentioned to me a bit ago that you only survived because you were a sorcerer,” | said once we sat down. “What did you
mean by that? Were there any disasters here in Vlokwell? What did you survive?”
“Disasters?” Ronald repeated back, and he seemed amused by the idea. “Well, | guess you could say that what happened here
was indeed a disaster. A tragedy, one that happens every few decades.”
“Go on."1 prompted him as my curiosity swelled.
There was a brief pause, and then he continued.
“| suppose that in Wega, when the old king is about to die, his heir would be his eldest son or daughter?” Ronald remarked,
and when | nodded, his expression grew somber. “It doesn’t quite work like that in Yurene. ording to the tradition here, the
king’s firstborn child doesn’t necessarily be the rightful heir to the throne. If multiple offspring exist, they mustpete for
the crown.”
My lips parted in surprise. “Compete?”
Had | heard him correctly?Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org.
Ronald continued. “Yes. They must take part in a tournament. All eligible heirs are locked in the dungeon of the castle, and once
the doors are closed, they must fight and ughter their opponents. The one who survives to the end of the tournament rings a
bell. The ringing of the bell is the only way to get out of the dungeon. During the tournament, no food or drink is provided. It
usually takes a couple of days for the bell to be rung
His solemn look grew even more serious.
“If more than two are found on the other side of the door, the dungeon gets locked again and fighting continues until only one
remains. Whoever lives takes the throne.”
Achill ran down my spine and | shook my head slowly.
Death or the crown.
There was no third choice.
Such savagery was iprehensible.
“My father diedpeting with Kaleb’s father, Ronald revealed quietly. “ording to our country’s tradition, my mother and |
were supposed to be executed. | was just a babe then, but my life was meant to be forfeit to avoid future vengeance. But Kaleb’s
father didn’t carry our sentence out because my mother was a sorceress. She was too precious to waste.
His soft blue eyes grew distant and welled up slightly.
“Kaleb’s father locked her in the prison tower and made use of her when needed.” hemented. “After | was born. | too became a
pawn”
I''m so sorry, Ronald,” | whispered.
He simply nodded and then cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders back
“You asked about Kaleb, he stated, and then his eyes locked on mine with great intensity. “You should know, Cas sandra, that
the tournament of tradition didn’t happen among Kaleb, his two brothers, and sister. He killed them all before the tournament
could even be scheduled”
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| gasped sharply and my eyes widened.
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“They were all killed in their sleep by Anubis, a well-trained killer, and a nasty opportunist,” Ronald said with a slight snarl. “I
suspect that Anubis was meant to take my life as well, but he didn’t go through with it because I''d alreadye into my magical
powers and had gained alliances in Yurene. Kaleb probably realized he couldn''t kill everyone just on a whim, so he allowed me
to stay alive.”
Even though | wanted to, | didn’t say a word. | could never imagine how it felt to kill a sibling. | didn’t even want to imagine. Ector
meant the world to me. | could never kill my own brother to gain power.
“| suppose this is the final part of the story,” Ronald mused, and then he folded his hands in hisp. “I’ve considered your
proposal Ca ssandra, and | see the potential of our alliance. We share some of the same good values and wills. You want to stop
Kaleb and return to your country, while | want to change Yurene and stop its traditions of savagery. But... | have one condition
before | can agree to this.”
“What is it?” | asked cautiously with a raised eyebrow.
Ronald leaned closer to me. “You need to agree to marry Kaleb. It’s the only way you can get close to him and find out what he’s
nning.”
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