Chapitre 1 : The Ambroses’ Honour

Lowlands, the Ambroses’ villa in Aggatta’s valley. 

Thalen sat silently as her maid, Shea arranged her long, dark and free curls so they wouldn’t fall on her face as they usually did. She was impatient to see her father, but he was busy with an important guest. It allowed her to get rid of the roads’ dust, have a bath, change and take a quick collation. She was glad to be home, finally. Her father and her needed to talk. She couldn’t stand anymore being left in the dark. Something had happened and she wanted to know what, so they could face it together. Ignorance was slowly torturing her.  

Her eyes settled on her mother’s small portrait on one of the walls. She was beautiful and Thalen wished she looked more like her. When she was alive, her mother used to tell her how perfect she looked. Thalen never thought so. She was a true beauty, she wasn’t. She wanted straight hair and not the mass of curls she had, green eyes like her mother and not the brown ones she possessed. Her mother had beautiful fair skin, despite spending so much time in the sun, and hers olive, the colour of honey. According to her mother, Thalen took after her late paternal grandmother in looks. Raelynn was a free spirit, a bohemian, his father called her affectionately. She enjoyed walking barefoot, climbing trees and sleeping under the stars. Thalen resemble her in those aspects. 
Thalen missed her so much, she wished she was still with them. Her father wouldn’t feel the need to be so protective of her. He would have someone to share his burden. Something seemed to weigh heavily on his mind. He hadn’t said anything, but she had felt it in his letters. She needed to know. 
When she was done, Shea put a hand on her shoulder, Thalen took hold of it. They exchanged looks through the mirror, one full of comfort and the other of gratitude. They knew each other so well and for so long they didn’t need to talk. Shea knew Thalen needed to be alone for a while. 

“I will be back later.” 
Shea left, and Thalen remained alone in her room. She stood up, kissed her fingers, then pressed them against the portrait. “Look after us, Mother,” she whispered, “look after us.” 

***

It was late morning when Thalen entered her father’s study with a tightness in her chest that wouldn’t loosen. The room was all leather, wood and marble, a space she had spent countless hours in it, while her father worked on his affairs. She would often fall asleep in front of the large chimney with a couple of books or drawings in front of her. Her father would carry her to bed while she grumbled, about not being tired and still full of energy. How many times had she hidden behind his desk to escape a tutor or when she and Shea were in trouble?
 
The older man was sitting behind his massive coal black desk, his face in his hands. Thalen had never seen him like this before, looking so … defeated. 

Sensing he was being observed, Caden Ambrose raised his head. When she viewed his expression, Thalen instinctively knew it was worse than what she thought. Dark circles adorned his eyes. Had he even slept those past weeks? He had a pained expression which disappeared instantly when he saw his visitor, his face immediately lighting up.

“Father.” Thalen called. 

“Daughter," he murmured, standing up to greet his only child in a tight embrace, which Thalen returned. The young woman was so glad to see him, after being away for so long.  
 
Three months ago, he had sent her under good escort, to stay with acquaintances of his, a merchant named Apollo and his wife Berine, in the kingdom of Presus. His father believed she should learn more about business with the man who apparently had taught him everything he knew about conducting affairs. Thalen was surprised to hear her father knew anyone in Presus. Why had he never told her anything about the man before? To her understanding, her father had never been there. 

Thalen had obeyed her father’s will without any discussion as always, even if she had had thousands of questions. It was painfully clear to her it was a pretext to send her away. However, she understood he probably held a good reason to send her away, one, the older man wasn’t willing to share yet with his only child.

“I am sorry Thalen I was too busy to welcome you back home, but it couldn’t be helped. Aren’t you tired after such a long trip?”

“I am not tired. I’m glad you finally sent for me, I missed you,” Thalen said, her head against her father’s shoulder.
 
Since the death of her mother from a respiratory infection when she was eight years old, it had always been the two of them. Her father was her friend, confidant and her hero. She admired him greatly. He was a man of integrity who treated everyone with respect. She knew how the man cared for her by the time he spent with her.
 
Caden always brought her everywhere with him, even places deemed inappropriate for girls, like horse races. And whatever the businessman was doing, he always stopped everything when his daughter required his attention. At first Thalen thought it was the way, all parents behaved with their children until she saw how badly some of her friends’ progenitors treated them. It wasn’t the fact that she was part of the nobility or their wealth, which made her think she was lucky and privileged, but the care and love of her father.
 
“I’ve missed you as well,” Caden replied. He then stepped back to have a better look at Thalen. “You have grown again,” Caden commented smiling.
 
He always said that even if they had been apart for a day. “No, I didn’t.”
 
“How was your journey? Any problems?” Caden asked, frowning.
 
“I had a safe trip, Father. Apollo and Berine send their regards,” Thalen replied. Her father had always been strict with her safety, but she knew this time, there was more. “Father, I left when you asked me to, when I knew deep down it wasn’t only about learning about business from someone else. I sense something is bothering you, please tell me, I need to know."
 
Her father moved to take a cup of wine, he asked his daughter if she wanted some, but Thalen declined. Her father didn’t drink much, a cup during his meal, but never during the day. Caden emptied two cups and turned his attention to his child.

“Let’s have a seat Thalen, we have so much to discuss," Caden said.
 
Thalen had a bad feeling … one she chose to ignore waiting for her father to speak.

He went to close the doors as she sat. Caden then stood in front of the windows, watching the gardeners tend to the luxuriant grounds of their villa. His late wife loved these gardens. Raelynn used to spend more time outside than in their home. How many times had he seen her walking barefoot near the fountains or sitting in the grass cradling their child? It was in these same gardens, Thalen had taken her first steps, happy days. The older man sighed and sat in front of his daughter. 

“Thalen, as you know, King John died months ago, an unfortunate hunting accident,” he started. “I received more details. He fell from his horse and hurt his head badly. The Court physicians were powerless to heal his injury. He passed away after days of agony.”

 Thalen, like most people from the Lowlands wasn’t really saddened by the king’s death. The Lowlands were important for the whole kingdom, supplying much of its wheat, the bread basket. The king, however, didn’t care for its people strangling them with oppressive taxation, which was a cause of dissatisfaction and led to many revolts.
 
King John had left the administration of the lands to his younger brother, Prince Niall, who considered the Lowlands his personal property. He added his taxation to the sovereign’s. King John didn’t mind and ignored the many complaints and reports he received on the matter, some of them were from Thalen’s own father. Caden often expressed his anger at a king, stupid enough to despise people who were guarding the south borders of his kingdom.
 
The hate for their ruler and his family appeared twenty years ago, when he and Prince Niall massacred the population of Alagar after another revolt because of taxes increase. The king was ruthless, ordering the death of men, women and children. The village had been erased and the few survivors jailed. The barbaric act had broken the trust and respect Lowlanders had for their king. A gap was now present between the Lowlands and the centre of the power, the Highlands. The king might be dead, but people were still suspicious of the new ruler, after all, ‘like Father, like Son.’
 
“The successor, as you know, his oldest son and his brother weren’t in the kingdom when their father died. They were fighting the Piuses, I believe. Prince Niall saw an opportunity to take the throne with his nephews away. When he received the news of his brother dying, he summoned the lords of the Lowlands, to pledge their loyalty to him only."
 
“It is treason,” Thalen declared shocked.

“That’s not all. He wanted all of us to provide him gold to raise an army of mercenaries. He knew he couldn’t gather an important army fast enough," Caden informed her.
 
Thalen shook his head, “By the gods.”  
 
“He said he had the support of some people from the court, like councillors, noblemen, and wealthy merchants. He was sure he would be king. He only needed to act promptly and reach the capital before his nephews. Once there, he would make the High priests declare him king and get the army’s allegiance. 
 
Caden stood up and went to refill his cup of wine, which he drank rapidly. “He was such a fool. I think the man is unbalanced. He couldn’t get the army’s allegiance; their loyalty went to the future king and his brother. And you know what? Queen Lilian would have fought him until her last breath to protect her son’s crown and legacy. If he had reached Attalorn, he would have faced a siege of many years. Nobody managed to take that city. Its walls are impenetrable unless you have the help of the soldiers inside which he couldn’t get.”
 
“What did you do?” 
 
“I knew I couldn’t help him, his actions could result into another civil war. We paid dearly for the last one. There is no winner and the innocents always pay the highest price. I couldn’t refuse and risk my life or yours. I pretended to agree and promised him gold. To assure him of my reliability, that day I gave him my seal and a gold bracelet, the one your mother gifted me as a proof of my loyalty.”
 
Her father passed his hand on his bare wrist. Thalen hadn’t even noticed he wasn’t wearing his bracelet. She realised the older man mourned the loss of the last gift his wife had bestowed on him. Her mother had engraved symbols of protection on it. As long as she could remember, the bracelet had never left her father’s wrist.
 
“When I came back home my first goal was your safety. I knew once Niall realised, I wouldn’t give him the gold, he would threaten you. That’s why I sent you to a place where you would be safe. After that, I sent a message by pigeon to a friend who is in the army, advising him of Niall’s plan. Then, I closed the house and left, travelling from place to place trying to get rid of Niall’s men following me. I came back two weeks ago, when I was sure you would be safe.”
 
“What happened to Prince Niall?” Thalen asked.
 
“He was betrayed, the queen had a spy among his trusted men. They sent a message to the prince, who came back just in time to catch Niall and his men, in the Middlelands. But Niall and some of his followers managed to escape. The good news is he is alone without any support. I’m sure he probably went to the kingdom of Goria to seek an alliance,” Caden explained.

Thalen was glad to know Prince Niall’s plan had failed. But if the prince wasn’t a problem any more, why did her father still have this worried expression? Perhaps the man had sent assassins after her father. He had said he came back when he knew Thalen would be safe. He had talked about Thalen’s safety, and not his own. Suddenly Thalen felt cold.

“Father, I don’t understand, is your life in danger?” 
 
Caden sat back and looked at his daughter with a pained expression. He took her hands in his. Thalen noticed how cold they were. 

“Na Dilina,” he said in the Lowlands’ old language. 

‘My wild flower,’ he always called her that, since she was a child. Like her mother, she enjoyed climbing trees and spending time in the forest. How many times had he helped her remove straws, herbs, flowers, moss and even insects from her long curly hair? 

Thalen looked down at their clasped hands, and she suddenly felt overwhelmed. Her heartbeat increased and she started shaking. 

She lowered her eyes and shook her head, “no, no … no. It can’t be.” She knew nothing good would come from his next sentences.” 

“Look at me, child.” 

She couldn’t. 

“Please, Na Dilina.” 

She raised her head and gazed at his sad and damp eyes. 

“Thalen, you need to be strong,” Caden said slowly. 

Thalen’s griped his hands tightly, her mouth fell open, breath bursting in and out rapidly. She shook her head again. Thalen’s heavy heart understood before her mind could process what her father was about to tell her. 

“Niall made us all put our seal in a document, stating we recognised him as the true ruler of Megarit. The king has this document now, and he came to the Lowlands two days ago. I’m deeply sorry, darling, I thought we would have more time."
 
Her throat was so tight when she tried to speak. “H-He is here to make the traitors pay, isn’t he?” Thalen whispered, tears welling up. She stood up moving from her father. 

 “He can’t, Father, you did nothing wrong. What choice did you have? Prince Niall could have killed you. You tried to stop him, your friend can testify for you, show them the message you sent him,” Thalen said. 
 
“He cannot, I didn’t sign the message, I was afraid it could be intercepted by Niall’s supporters. He is my friend, his testimony will not be taken seriously. The king will think he is trying to protect me.”

“It doesn’t matter. We will prove your innocence either way.”

“Thalen he wouldn’t listen.” 

The king wouldn’t listen, why would he? He would finally have his vengeance against her family, one of the seven noble families who stood against his own, who refused to bow to the intruder. 

“No, you are not guilty,” she yelled. “Father, he can’t do that, he can’t –” Thalen said before her voice broke. 

“He can Thalen and he will, there is nothing we can do. All evidence is against me, I’m guilty,” Caden added. 

 Well, there was only one possible solution, she thought. “We will leave the kingdom tonight. We can go somewhere else, Father, start anew,” the young woman concluded. 

“Thalen, I don’t want this kind of life for you, having to hide and living in fear of being found by the king’s men," Caden explained. He stood up as well and faced his daughter, putting his hands on her shoulders.
 
“The king will not leave us alone. Some Lords ran away, he found most of those who signed the document. I met this king once, he will redress the injury at all cost. He won’t appear weak. He wants to make an example out of us, show the whole kingdom that treason will not be tolerated during his reign. We will never be safe.”
 
Thalen was trying to control her tears, but she failed miserably and they fell down her cheeks. “Please, Father," she murmured weakly.
 
He took her face between his hands. “I will not run, Thalen, I can’t, you know, I can’t. We Ambroses are men and women of honour. I wrote to the king, telling him I will hand myself to him within a week. I asked to die in dignity. As per our traditions, he has to honour my wishes.” 

Her father caressed her hair. 

“No harm will be done to you, I swear. You will be protected as a member of the nobility, you will keep your status and inheritance. You don’t need to worry. You will be safe and you won’t lack of anything. I wrote to the family, they will look after you, you will not be alone, I promise.”

To die in dignity, her father had asked the king not to be hung like a vulgar thief, but to be beheaded, the death suited to a nobleman. Thalen wanted to be strong for her father, but she couldn’t stop the tears, thinking she would lose her only parent in a week. She would be an orphan, in a few days. How could the gods be so cruel? It was a nightmare, and she needed to wake up from it.  

She couldn’t breathe, the soreness in her throat and her lungs prevented her from doing so, she pressed a fist against her chest. She started sobbing uncontrollably, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” she murmured, feeling her legs give out. 

Her father held her in his arms as they slipped on the floor, her limbs becoming numb. He held her tightly, her head against his strong chest, her tears wetting his clothes. All of it, his heat, his scent, would be soon be gone. 

“Please, Thalen, please, be strong for me,” her father said against her hair. “Be strong, I’m begging you.” She could feel the wetness in her hair, his tears. But who could have courage when their heart was breaking?

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry….” He kept repeating.  

She didn’t know how long they remained like this on the floor, but her eyes dried as her heart. She could hear the servants outside closing the house for the night. 

Her father lifted her chin with his hand and swiped the wetness on her face with the other, “Na Dilina, for me, please, promise me.”   

Her father was determined to face his fate. She knew that look. Her father wouldn’t be deterred. Thalen needed to be strong, to be brave for him.

“I will be strong father, I promise, “Thalen declared, as she offered him a smile which flicker and went to. She couldn’t. 
 
“I’m proud of you, daughter, always,” Caden said, his eyes brimming with tears he struggled to keep from falling. 
 
“I’m proud of you, father," Thalen declared softly, but now after the shock, inside she was screaming. She just couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t say goodbye to her father. There had to be a solution. Her father had taken care of her, protected her all her life. It was time for her to do the same. Her father would not die, she promised herself.