“There was a deal made, a vow made of blood. Your father was to marry my auntie to keep the peace, to which my parents
agreed. My auntie would reside in your lands once they were wed, and we would stay out of theirs.”
“I’ve never heard of this.”
“You wouldn’t have, all records of this exchange were destroyed. Your father broke his vow to my family when he came of
age and married your mother instead. In doing this, my aunt died.”
She turned quickly in shock, her eyes wide and raw. I truly believed she always thought the best of her father and I
understood why. My sisters were the same with our parents, but they all had their faults.
“A blood vow as you already know is very important. Your life force is tied to the other person but if one of you breaks that
bond without the proper ceremony, one of you dies,” I explained as she began to look confused.
“Is that the same as our bond? You said our lives are tied together now.”
“Ah, I may have exaggerated that. Our lives will only be tired together when we are wed. As of right now, the vow we took
is sort of a promise, the kiss simply sealed that promise.”
She took a sip of her drink as she looked back out the window and simply nodded for me to carry on.
“I believe your father knew the risks and took them anyway.”
“When did she die?”
“Many years before I was born. My father went into a deep and dark state of mourning after her death. My parents
eventually had me, and they learnt to continue on living, hoping one day to enact their revenge. But that day never came as both
my parents were killed—murdered in their beds.”
Her glass fell from her hands and shattered across the floor. She snapped her head towards me, her eyes racing with
questions as she tried to put the pieces together. I wanted to give back her memories then. The ones of our time together. It
would give her so many more pieces, but I didn’t want to overwhelm her either.
“Is that why you came for me?”
“Yes. After my parents were murdered, I made it my mission to find the person responsible and when I did—I made them
pay. Afterwards, I found you hiding in the woods just as I did when you were a child. I watched you for a few weeks before I
made myself known,” I told her.
“Was the murderer from my land?”
“Yes, they were. They snuck into our court under the pretence of a truce. They had handwritten note from your parents that
asked for peace by renewing the vow by marrying your brother to my sister, April.”
“No, that can’t be right. I don’t believe you. My parents wouldn’t send someone to kill another king and queen. They are
peaceful and wouldn’t dream of harming another soul, unless it was to protect their children,” she insisted with a bitter tone.
