CHAPTER TWO

After three days on the road, I finally arrive at the royal palace, just in time for the council meeting. The grand chamber is already filled with the King, his sons Lucian and Rodrick, the Dukes, and various members of the aristocratic faction. My mind, however, remains at my castle, preoccupied with the unsettling arrival of that mysterious young woman. Nevertheless, duty calls.

King Leopold calls for order; his voice resonates through the chamber.

“Dukes, aristocrats, thank you for gathering. The agenda of this meeting is the infestation of witches in our kingdom. Before we proceed, I need a report on the witch hunt thus far. Duke Cassius, what news do you bring?”

Duke Cassius clears his throat and begins his report. “Your Majesty, it has been challenging to reach the various witch clans. Word has spread among them, and as a result, many have gone into hiding. They have cast powerful enchantments on the forests, making it difficult for our forces to locate and capture them.”

“This is unacceptable!” King Leopold’s anger is palpable. “The task is not progressing as quickly as I had hoped. We must eradicate this threat with all due haste. I expect you all to find solutions to overcome these obstacles and bring me results, not excuses!”

The room falls silent, the weight of the King’s words hanging heavily in the air.

“Father, with all due respect, why must we seek to eradicate an entire people? Surely there are other measures we can implement to address the issue without resorting to such extreme actions?” Prince Rodrick speaks up, his voice steady but challenging.

“Prince Rodrick, are you suggesting we should be lenient with those who use black magic against our kingdom? Or should we be wary of your true intentions, promoting arguments against our father’s directives?” Lucian’s irritation is evident.

“My true intentions? Lucian, I am merely advocating for a more humane approach. Not every witch is our enemy, and wiping them all out is barbaric!” Rodrick’s sharp response makes his offense clear.

The tension in the room escalates with their argument. I remain composed, but I can see the other members growing increasingly nervous.

“Silence! Enough of this bickering,” the King commands, his patience wearing thin. Turning to me, he asks, “Duke Cedric, what are your views on the matter?”

All eyes shift to me. I stand, my voice steady and firm. “My loyalty lies with the people of this kingdom. The use of black magic to cause harm in our land is unacceptable. As long as the King’s goal is to create peace for his people, I will support that cause.”

“Hahaha! Well said, Cedric. Your unwavering support reinforces our stance. We must act decisively to ensure the safety and peace of our kingdom,” the King says, and the mood in the room lightens slightly.

“Alright, let us proceed with our meeting,” the King urges.

“Your Majesty, there are also rumors that common folk are hiding and aiding the witches, helping them cross the borders into neighboring kingdoms,” reports Marquis Theodore.

“If that is the case, we need to tighten security at the borders immediately. We cannot allow the witches to escape and find refuge in other kingdoms,” Prince Lucian adds.

Murmurs of agreement sweep across the room. I can’t help but wonder why it’s such an issue if the witches migrate to other kingdoms. This way, the issue solves itself.

“Cedric, your dukedom is closest to the eastern borders…,” the King’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Rowan, you are responsible for the south, Victor for the west, and Alaric for the north. I need all of you to increase security in your regions to prevent any witches from escaping,” the King commands.

“And Cedric, I want you to come to the capital. I prefer to have you close by during these times. Assign someone to manage your fort while you move here.”

“I understand, Your Majesty. I will make the necessary arrangements. However, I suggest that I reside in one of my castles on the outskirts of the capital. I will be close enough to respond quickly, but I prefer the peace and quiet away from the bustling town,” I respond.

The King nods. “That is acceptable. Ensure your security measures are in place before you relocate. We must remain vigilant and united in our efforts.”

With that, the council meeting concludes.

***

Prince Rodrick, 29 years old and 6 feet tall, had blue eyes and blonde hair. His mother, a concubine, died during his birth. He and his only brother, Prince Lucian, did not get along, partly because the Crown Prince suspected Rodrick of coveting the crown. Rodrick, also my best friend, approached me as I was stepping out of the palace.

“Why do you always support the King and not me, your best friend of so many years?” Rodrick pouted.

“I am on your side, Rodrick, but on this matter, the King is right,” I replied matter-of-factly.

“How can bringing down an entire group of people be the right thing to do?” Rodrick asked.

“Rodrick, the moment they started using black magic, they became a threat to this kingdom,” I said. “I don’t know how many times I have to explain this.” I was clearly tired of this conversation.

“This entire manhunt is supposedly because of the Empress’ informant who claimed the witches were plotting against us. No investigation was done,” Rodrick continued.

“I agree we should have investigated those claims thoroughly, but as the King said, ‘it is better to be safe than sorry,’” I said.

“You are only biased about this situation because of what happened with your father,” Rodrick mumbled under his breath. Immediately realizing his mistake, he looked at me. My face darkened with fury, and Rodrick quickly added, “I am sorry.” I walked away without another word.