Chapter Ten

Tristan became a ruthless king, punishing people for the smallest infraction, those that once hailed him as a savior, now feared him. Just as Cecily had been forced into marriage, Tristan forced Emma and Juliana to marry as well, marrying them off to others of his kind, all three of my girls had been taken to different lands. Lands that Tristan had conquered and given to the most loyal among his kind.

I tried to do what I could to help my people, using what influence I still had to free those who had committed minor infractions from the jail, all in a effort to undermine Tristan.

My efforts were in vain, as Tristan found out. I was forced to watch as he publicly killed the man I had freed. Announcing to all who were made to gather there that he was king, and I had no more authority, upon his decree, everyone bowed acknowledging his authority. My power was gone, I had to find a way to stop Tristan.

For many years now, Tristan has sat on the throne. The kingdom is in ruins, the people need their TRUE king. I fear you are the only one who can save us. Your time has come...

Chapter Nine

Tristan had stripped all of the nobles loyal to Merek of their titles and lands, banishing them from the kingdom. He then bestowed the lands to those that here loyal to him. Since the demons did not eat, the lands they were given were not farmed, and a famine settled across the land. Since the people did not have enough to eat, pestilence soon followed. I begged Tristan to have mercy on the innocent people, and after many months of death, he agreed to save the people, since they did not know he was the cause of the famine, they hailed him as a savior when he provided food again. He did so by taking over the neighboring land of Arda, thereby expanding the borders of Lanos, and having a readily available source of food for the people.

On the day Cecily turned seventeen, Tristan called her and myself for an audience, informing us that a marriage had been arranged between Marius, one of his kind and Cecily. I was in shock, Cecily just looked from Tristan to me and back, as the tears welled up in her eyes. I took a step  towards Tristan, he forced me to stop, freezing me to that spot. He then brought in Marius, the man Cecily was to wed. Controlling Cecily, he joined their hand and performed the marriage rites himself, as tears streamed down her face.

When Tristan was finished, Marius led Cecily from the room. I was furious, demanding to know what gave him the right to force his sister into marriage.  Being king gave him that right, of which he was quick to remind me, his anger sending me slamming into the wall. I was her mother, yet I could do nothing to protect my daughter from the tyrant that was her brother.