Abandoned (Born From Shadows #2)

Sophia sat silently in her quarters writing out note after note until her wrists ached, and her fingers were numb. She looked over to the book beside her detailing every family in Haveenté that held vast amounts of land and wealth, the lords and lady’s with men that she could rally to her cause. There weren’t many, but still enough to gather a sizeable force. The people would defend their homes, they would fight for their people. She believed that if given the proper motivation anyone would be willing to kill.

Her fingers skimmed over some of the family names such as Tolchec, Lopez and Barenta that she knew had crumbled into dust. Such a shame to hear of such great families ends, it motivated her to continue her letters.

House Fraign,

Threats have been rising in the South, Elves trespassing into our lands causing havoc without a single drop of justice returned. My brother murdered at the hands of the Elven. Their actions shall no longer go unpunished. You have been ordered to gather your host in preparation to repair the balance in Crénia. Refuse and you will be declared an enemy to the crown and pay the price of a traitor. I hope you choose wisely.

Sighed Princess Sophia Trelliard.

She rolled up the scroll in her hand, placing her House’s wax seal to lock it in place. She rose from her chair and placed the sealed scroll in the claws of the Avalian Hawk. She sent the medium sized white bird on its journey to Ravenport. Sophia watched it glide out of the window and through the wind before letting out a sigh. She still hand more letters to write and send. Had it been any other circumstance she would’ve gotten the servants to do it for her, but she could not risk them telling her mother and father about her plans.

The King and Queen wielded more power over her, if they did not wish it so to declare war then war shall not occur. It was an issue that Sophia was yet to think of way around. At least one that was morally just.

An idea came to her mind, it was cruel, but this was war. War had a way of infiltrating hate into every aspect of a person’s life, corrupting them. She planned on using that hate to her benefit. She sighed at the thought of having to write more letters, but she knew that her end goal was essential to the survival of the Kingdom.

There was a knocking at the Quarters door and Sophia immediately hid all of her notes into the draw of her desk. She stood up and received the door, shocked that her mother stood before her.

“You did not come down for dinner,” the Queen told her, walking into the room.

“Time must’ve gotten away from me,” she replied with a small smile.

“There is food to spare if you wish to eat now.” Sophia thought for a moment, whether is was worth putting a holt to her operation and taking a break to eat. She could always get the servants to bring the food to her. She then looked over at her mother whose eyes searched the room. Sophia knew that bringing the food upstairs would tell the Queen that something was wrong, she never was one to sit in her room all day unless she was feeling ill.

“I will come downstairs then,” she said and started to walk out of the room. “Are you coming mother? I would like some company while I eat, it can be lonely otherwise,” she asked on her way out to make sure the Queen did not stay and snoop through her things.

“Of course,” the Queen said, and they both descended out of the room. Sophia making sure to close the door behind her.