Chapter 6

Sometimes in life, we have moments.  Times in our life, that are etched in our mind with so much force, we will never forget them, be it ten years, twenty years or up until the day we die.  The night Anton brought Maruska before the King and his advisor, Lady Joyce, was one of those moments.  The passage of time has made parts of the memory fuzzy, almost like a dream.  But it really did happen, even if it felt to Anton like it was in another lifetime.

He remembered sitting outside the throneroom, on a wooden bench; Maruska, unconscious, was lying across it with her head on his lap.  He remembered waiting.

The King made him wait.

It felt like a long time.  He remembered gently touching Maruska’s cheek with the back of his fingers.  She was warm.  He was happy in a way, because it meant that she was still alive; but at the same time he was worried because that meant the effects of the black root had worn off.  How much longer did she have?  Anton rarely prayed, but he did nothing but pray, as he waited on that bench.

He remembered he was so relieved when the big double doors to the throneroom finally opened up and a guard summoned him inside.  He remembered carrying Maruska in his arms, and walking in.  He remembered the first thing he looked for when he stepped inside and the first thing he saw.

Lady Joyce.

When Anton set eyes upon her, standing to the left of the throne, looking respendent in her white and gold dress, he felt relief.  She was renowned as an incredible healer.

“Heaven’s to Betsy!” cried Lady Joyce, when she saw the condition Maruska was in.  She immediately began running down the steps towards Anton and Maruska.

“Halt!”

It was King Bastion.

Lady Joyce turned to the King and said, “Your Highness, I must tend to Maruska at once!  She will die if I do not!”

“You will do nothing!” said the King, “Return to your place, or the only thing you will be tending to is your garden!  Remember who is your King.”

Lady Joyce reluctantly returned to her place.

“Now,” said the King, turning his attention back to Anton, “I have been thinking.  And I have come up with a plan where both of us gets what we want.  Well, I get a fair bit more than you, but then again, I am the King.  Now, I know you always keep your word, so that makes this very easy for me.”

Anton did not like where this was going.

The King rose from his throne and came down the many steps until he finally stood before Anton.  He held out a plump, sweaty hand and said something that would change both Anton and Maruska’s life forever.

“I need you to promise me something.”

Reviews

[ScarlettTheDreamer]

Wow, you CANNOT stop at that! Just kidding, that was a great end. The start was great too, with no long details of travel involved. Upload soon :)