Tora attacked a week later. An army, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, lay seige to the palace of Lady Cassia. A single servant was able to escape to take the news of the attack to Cassia's cousin the King. But any hope of rescue was futile. The army of Tora was large, larger than Auriel had ever known it, probably supplimented by mercinaries from other kingdoms. After only a single night, the palace's defenses had fallen.
Lady Cassia offered herself up to the invaders, asking that the rest of her household be spared in exchange of her life. The captain of the army had simply sneered at her. In one swift movement he beheaded her then and there - then released his army onto the household. Soliders poured through the halls, hacking down anyone they found.
After witnessing Cassia's murder, Gia had grabbed Auriel's hand and led her down to the cellars. They huddled behind large casks of wine while they could hear the screams of their friends upstairs.
Auriel shivered and cried while Gia held her. It was happening again. Everyone she knew and loved was dying, and she could do nothing about it. And it was her fault.
"This was because of me. This is because of Count Burgess..."
"Shhh. This is not your fault. Look at me." Gia held her face so their eyes were locked.
"This has nothing to do with your actions. This is all the doing of corrupt men. Don't feel guilty. Not for a second. No matter what happens, you must never take blame for any of this. Do you understand?"
Auriel sniffed and nodded.
"Good. To accept guilt is to take blame away from those truly responsible..."
A clattering noise cut Gia short. The door to the cellar's had bene thrown open. Soliders poured in, some began grabbing items from the shelves, probably to be taken away as spoils of victory. Others were searching.
Gia and Auriel held still, but eventually the barrel they were behind was moved and they were discovered. Soliders grabbed Gia by the hair and dragged her out of their hiding spot. Others grabbed Auriel by her arms and dragged her after. A burly, hairy man drew his sword and ran it through Gia without word, without hesitation. Auriel screamed, anguished at the sight of her closest friend killed in cold blood.
The man turned to her and raised his sword, but another solider stopped him.
"Wait! Look at this one. Look at her hair... and her eyes. She isn't Priyan. With eyes like that... she has to be Toran!"
The burly man grabbed her chin and jerked her head up so she was staring him in the eye. He huffed and released her.
"Bah. Take her to the captain, see if he wants to do anything with her. I can't say she's Toran, she looks too dark for that. But orders were to kill any Priyans, and she certainly isn't that."
The soliders that held her arms nodded and took her from the cellar. As they walked through the halls, Auriel could see bodies piled everywhere. Blood covered the floors. She felt she might vomit, but she took deep breaths to calm her stomach.
The captian was by the front of the palace, barking orders to men that ran passed. When the soliders approached with Auriel he barely glanced at her.
"I gave orders to kill everyone in the palace. Why is that woman still alive?"
"Sir," one solider spoke, "she isn't Priyan. She looks Toran."
The captain looked back at her, his eyes scruitinzing.
"Hmm. She doesn't look Priyan. Perhaps she's from the Northern Tribes. Either way..." He waved his hand dismissively. The soliders began to drag her away.
"Actually, wait," the captain held up his hand.
"The King has been talking of finding a courtesean. Apparently that mousy wife of his is unable to satisfy him." The captain laughed and the men around him did as well. Auriel's stomach dropped. She knew what was coming next.
"Let's keep her. We can offer her to King August. As a trophy of our victory."
Auriel De La Rosa was Crown Prince August's closest friend and confidant growing up. She loved him and was ecstatic when they became betrothed as teenagers. But people feared the family De La Rosa's power and falsely accused them of treason. Auriel is sold into slavery, never to see her family again, and betrayed by her betrothed. Years later her master's house is captured by August's army and she is given to the new King as a coronation present. August no longer recognizes his old friend, but his brother Alexander does. Alexander convinces August to give Auriel to him. When Alexander reveals his knowledge to her, the two begin a plot to get revenge on the cruel king August.
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