Bound by Roses (The Bound Series Book 1) (2 page)

“Yes, my Lady,” the Soldier opened the door before he disappeared in the burning night.

The Ministers that ran the day-to-day operations of Zhan’ding, the moment she entered the throne room bombarded Saledii. Each dressed in their finest, daily robes. Robes of crimson with copper trim. Opulent jewels strung around their necks and off their fingers. They were each determined to save their most valuable possessions should the worst happen. Copper sashes that wrapped around their waists and hung off their shoulders denoted their seniority over one another. Some hung off three times, others only once. Each screamed one thing or another to Saledii. She merely walked past. Head held high, she ignored them. Sword held tight in her delicate hand. Knuckles turned snow white.

“You treacherous Bitch!” A Minister rushed Saledii with a dagger he pulled from his inner sleeve. Saledii spun and thrust her sword through the man’s stomach. He stopped his approach. Dagger held dropped to the cold floor quicker than he did. He spat blood. The Minister convulsed for a moment. The sword slid out slowly, and the Minister collapsed to the ground in a blood soaked heap. Saledii looked upon the others with a rage in her eyes that scared some.

“Any others wish to die a treasonous death?” Saledii kicked the dead Minister onto his back. Blood that wasn’t absorbed immediately by his robes pooled outwards in all directions, though a slight river ran eastward. As that was the direction the city began to sink slowly. Saledii walked past them. None looked at her, only glanced at one another.

“Do you not think we should contact Ashok Orai?” Another Minister, who anxiously twitched fingers at his side, finally broke the silence.

“And what?” Just before the throne room door, Saledii turned and stared down the remaining Ministers. Fire in her eyes. Either from the glow outside, or the rage that still burned in her chest from the defiant Minster that lay dead. Her bare feet stained with his blood, “Ask the
mighty
House of White—
Beg
their dear, Marguerite for assistance?”

“They will help us,” a third Minister pleaded. The howls grew worse outside. They grew closer. The throne room was lit only by the glow of the orange sky outside. Saledii glowed as a Fire Spirit in the hearth does.

“Listen well—All of you!” Saledii thrust the sword with such anger that it pierced the marble at her feet. So clean was the incision that it did not chip away. The sword merely sank a finger length down. It vibrated a melodious hum barely audible over the howling wolves, and the torches that dimly lit the throne room,

“It has been we—the noble House of Red—Zhan’ding—that has protected this Realm from the Wolves! Ashok Orai has merely reaped the benefits and rewards of our losses—
Our
soldiers,
our
citizens, and
our
friends. Never has the House of White made such sacrifices.”

“Never has the House of White been asked to make such sacrifices, Lady Red,” a third Minister bellowed.

Saledii stared down each of the cowering Ministers. Sharp finger pointed at each of them in turn. Her voice roared louder than the howls. Louder than the fires, “If this city falls tonight. Then it is our destiny to fall. I merely ask the question—how many Wolves will we take with us to the fiery depths of Lamashan’s domain?”

Saledii removed the sword with the same ease as she placed it. The marble wept blood from the wound.

“What a noble speech,” another Minister stepped forward clapping slowly. He stopped and pointed to the dead Minister at his feet, “unfortunately, Minister Haan was correct. Should this city fall, it is nothing more than your doing. Your back door affairs with the Wolves have doomed this city! It is you, not us, who shall die a traitor!”

“I did what I must for the protection of this city, Minister Ephice. Nothing more.” Saledii commented. Back to the Ministers, she held her head high. Slender fingers touched the bronze handles of the main door.

Bang

Saledii and all present jumped back as the door shook upon its rusted hinges.

Bang, Bang

Saledii held the sword forwards. Pointed at the vibrating door.

Bang

Dust rained down from the hinges.

Bang

Minister Emmae screeched while the door continued to vibrate. Between bangs of bodies against the sturdy door Saledii took a step back, “By Sarenith’s wings! They arrived faster than I hoped.”

“You’ve doomed us all!” Minister Emmae screeched again.

Bang

“Grab a sword, anything to defend yourself with!” Saledii bellowed orders to the Ministers, but none moved from where they huddled and pooled together.

Minister Ephice broke from their hold, “We will do no such thing! That is why we have soldiers!”

The other Minister’s agreed silently with him. Another motioned for a soldier. While without a second thought, Saledii tore down tapestry’s that hung on either side of the great wooden door. The blood red banners, trimmed with copper, each bore the bronze rose with a silver star in its center, the crest and symbol of Zhan’ding and the House of Red. Ministers gasped at the sight.

“What are you doing?” Minister Ephice rushed and grabbed tight to Saledii’s wrist. Rage in his eyes at seeing defamed banners.

Saledii ignored him and with a forceful twist, removed her wrist from his grip. He staggered back a few paces. His feet caught the bottom of his robes. Ephice fell hard upon his rear end, much to the giggle of the other Ministers. Only Minister Mato helped him regain composure. The others merely continued to gossip. Saledii ignored them all as she threw the tattered garments to the marble floor, a pile of rags before the banging, and vibrating door.

“Soldiers, bar the doors!” Saledii pointed to two thick wooden posts that rested hidden near the door. The doors continued to rattle and shake. Quick bangs. The soldiers rushed forward. They awkwardly moved the heavy wooden beams. Bodies continued to slam against the great wooden door, “Faster you fools!”

“Lady Red!” Minister Ephice approached once more, this time, robes in his hand and lifted slightly off the floor. He spun Saledii around violently. Her pink rose slip billowed like a cloud at sunset around her, “I have asked you a question. What are you doing?”

“I would rather die, than allow them to have what they are after!” Saledii forcefully removed her shoulder from Ephice’s tight grip.

“And what, do you believe they are after?” Minster Emmae stepped forward, hands within her sleeves. Arms crossed against her large bosom. Her mousy brown hair in shambles from being awakened by the bells in the late hour. Saledii could not answer. The soldiers barely barred the doors when multiple bangs pounded. Saledii kept the sword held before her.

Let us in! Help us!

Fists pound the wooden door relentlessly.

Help us!
They are coming!

More fists pounded upon the door.

They are coming! Let us in!

“You are a fool Lady Red. You have kept out our own people seeking refuge,” Minister Mato waddled to the door, but was stopped by a flash of steel. The sharp, blood covered blade appeared just shy of his throat. So close did Saledii come, that the Minister could feel the cold steel upon the skin. Minister Mato quivered taking a step back with hands before his chest. Saledii pointed out the high window with the blade.

“The Hunter Moon is again visible,” Saledii could see the amber moon begin to turn silver high in they sky, “Wolves can elect to take Human form. You have fallen for their rouse, Minister!”

“But it may be
—
”

“You have always been the stupidest of all the Ministers” Saledii barked to Minister Mato, “I am surprised they have elected to keep you on Council
this
long.”

None of the other Ministers spoke. One or two cleared their throats. Another jumped as more fists pounded the door.

“Lunalesca will protect us!” Another Minister fell to his knees. His clasped hands rose towards the silvery moon that peeked through the windows high above. Eyes closed tight. He mumbled words. Saledii slapped the Minister across the face. Heavy hand and thick crested ring left a welt, and cut. He let out a yelp as he stumbled to his side. Eyes stared up at Saledii.

“Get up you fool!” Saledii sword bared, forced the Minister to his feet, “Do not pray to that, which those vermin do as well! She will not protect you!”

Saledii forced the Minister back. He and the others huddled close together. All silently prayed, either to Lunalesca the ancient Moon Goddess, Gozran the Protector, and even Lamashan the Creator. Saledii removed a torch from the wall, and threw it upon the pile of tattered tapestries. They became ablaze with a blinding heat before the door. Ministers stopped their prayers. The Soldiers rushed to the back of the hall, but stopped short with swords withdrawn and held high. The steel glistened faintly in the darkness.

“Lady Red!” One cried out.

Minister Emmae screeched. Saledii turned sharply. The other Minister’s shuffled around to see. Some strained their necks.

In the shadows, just barely visible by firelight prowled two Wolves. Their eyes glowed like fireflies in the dark. Gems, with a pain of hunger to them. One was dark grey with white fur speckled about on his paws, tail, and jaw. His fur looked as the mountains do after the snowy season. The second beast blacker than pitch, Saledii wasn’t even sure it existed, were it not for the eyes. Out of shadow both had eyes the color of sunlit copper. They growled low. And almost smile as they go in and out of the light.

The bodies began to pound the door.

Bang

The doors began to splinter. The prowling Wolves chuckled, “They are coming.”

Saledii did not know which Wolf spoke. Another body slammed the wooden doors. All gravitated towards the throne, as if it would protect them, save them.

Bang

Another body slammed the door. The two Wolves stalked along.

“They are coming,” the Wolves chuckled.

Bang

Saledii with sword held before her watched the Wolves stalk in and out of light. The Wolves with their bright coppery eyes, Saledii could see them think with their ever-watchful gaze. They watched their prey huddle together. Their coppery, gem like eyes took in their prey. Thinking of who would be the easiest first to kill.

Bang

Another body hit the door. The fire that burned before it had made it easier to splinter. In the light, the Wolves cast Human shadows upon the wall walking on two legs.

Bang, bang

“No where to run, Lady Red,” The jet black Wolf barked out. He never stopped pacing of the room. In and out of shadow he evaporated. Like a ghost, a demon, a creature sent from the depths that not even Saledii knew.

“No where to run at all.” The second Wolf joined in with a chuckle, almost in song. The doors began to splint. Through smoke and ash, Saledii could see the naked forms that rammed the door.

“You don’t know that,” Saledii’s brow cocked itself up, sword never lowered.

“Humans,” the Wolf growled deep, “always so pretentious!”

The doors split. The beams shattered. The wood added to fire. The throne room ablaze with a great heat, and light that made the Ministers cower. The Soldiers rushed back. Another slam against what remained and the beams shattered. Hinges destroyed, chunks of stone flew outward. A chunk slammed into Minister Toran’s ribs. The two creatures that broke through leapt over flame. Flesh broke out into fur. Bodies contorted with the sounds of bones breaking. One Wolf lunged at those who protected Saledii.

Unprepared, he was knocked to the floor. The Wolves jaw fixed upon the Soldier’s exposed jugular. Garbled screams ended swiftly. Blood sprayed across the floor. It splashed the Ministers. They gasped and screamed. The Wolf did not release until the Soldier no longer twitched, and spasmed. Though even then he did not release. The Wolf relished the taste of the warm blood, and the soft flesh breaking under his fangs.

The second Wolf jumped forward towards the guard. The guard lunged his sword forward and impaled the second Wolf through its open mouth. The Wolf dropped like a stone. Sword slid out gracefully. He then swiftly plunged the blood soaked blade into the Wolf that still gorged itself on the flesh of the dead Soldier. With a whimper, the creature fell to its side. The soldier kicked its dead body away. The Wolves in shadow took to retaliation. They both shot towards the armor clad man. The black Wolf was knocked back with an elbow to the ribs. The grey Wolf took the opportunity and drove his teeth into exposed flesh. The Wolf latched onto his leg brought the Soldier to his knees. The black Wolf regained himself with a huff and a shake. The ferocious beast rushed and grabbed firm to the Soldier’s arm. Sharp fangs broke through armor and into flesh. Blood poured like waterfalls. The beast hit bone with its teeth. The Soldier released his grip upon the sword. It crashed downwards. The old blade shattered upon the marble. The hilt bounced twice.

Saledii with wind in her step, sliced the through the neck of the grey Wolf. Body fell to the side. His jaw held tight to the Soldier’s leg even in death. Blood pooled around him, staining the floor and armor. Saledii turned upon the black Wolf. Arm back, tip pointed towards the beast. The black Wolf released his grip and cowered back, tail between his legs. Saledii approached and raised the sword high into the air, ready to drive the steel through the beast.