The Queen's Curse (4 page)

‘Then why don’t you change it, if you dislike it so much?’ she said defiantly with angry eyes. The
queen raised one eyebrow at her remark.

‘It is an absurd and old-fashioned law-system that we have here in Ceartas and I do not care if I am punished for saying that; for it’s the truth. It never bothered me before; because maybe some things seem fair when it concerns criminals; they get what they deserve, right? Ceartas is a safe haven because of that, but you must admit there were cases when people were sentenced, even to death without a trial like they have in neighbouring countries
– without having their side of the story heard. How can you be sure they are guilty? And even if they have committed a minor crime; the penalties are ludicrous!’ She narrowed her eyes and continued in a icy tone:

‘I am told that you watch them die; without trying to do anything,
is that not the case?’ her fiery eyes shot like arrows when she saw the queen’s startled look. ‘How can you? Innocent people! If the law allows you to sentence little children, then I say it’s about time you changed it!’

‘You are right
, of course,’ the queen replied after a short silence, composing herself. She stared out of the window, expressionless.

Tirsa looked incredulously at her; she agreed with her? ‘Then why not do something about it? You are after all the queen!’

Artride
gave a half smile, but it did not reach her eyes. ‘It doesn’t mean as much as you think. Indeed, I have prestige, riches, wealth, servants and power over the army and my people. Even some influence on keeping the peace and staying out of war. However; much as
that
may seem, I simply cannot change the country’s laws, no matter how much I want to. My title does not mean an awful lot when I cannot change, nor control the law.’

Tirsa suddenly threw away the blanket roughly, jumping off the bed. ‘I cannot listen to this rubbish anymore!’

‘I know it must be hard to comprehend, but please hear me out,’ the queen raised her voice.

Tirsa turned around defiantly. ‘Know? How can you possibly know what I am going through; I and all those poor relatives and friends of the condemned? Just listen to yourself one moment!’

Artride also stood up; with her cheeks red and her voice wrathful, ‘Believe me, I try to do as much as I can for them, every time. Everything that lies within my power! You are not the first who comes to me begging to release their … child, friend, sister, brother, lover; you name it! I try to sooth them, but that is all I can do and that …’ and she swallowed away her words with a sob.

Tirsa narrowed her eyes in disbelief at the words and the emotions of the
queen.

‘Is this your damn Law Book story you send them away with? This book
, which drives so much terror into people’s hearts, even into yours? Am I supposed to pity you now; is that it?’

‘You have been listening to the stories very well
,’ she stated calmly in a subdued voice. Her face showed hurt and her blue eyes were not as bright and sparkling anymore, but glassy and distant.

‘Perhaps it works for them. Gods, you almost had me fooled too!’ Her lips twisted in scorn.

‘But not me! I will not let this happen; we have done that for too long. I am no fool! It is time we made some changes around here!’

Tirsa had raised her trembling voice and when Artride saw her coiled fists and the anger in her eyes she thought
: was Jaromir right, are they plotting against me? To throw me off my throne or worse? Well, if they are, maybe I deserve it. It is I who should be punished for letting this happen, not her, not her brother, nor all those people who died before him. Nevertheless … I do not have to show her that! Then she heard a loud knock on the door and the voice of her bodyguard, Jaromir call, ‘Everything alright in there, should I come in, Highness?’

‘No, all is well, Jaromir
; please resume guard at my door.’

Tirsa was standing by the open window now; staring out as the
queen had done before and trying to hold back her hot tears; knowing it would be pointless to reason with the queen and that her case was lost, her shoulders shook a little.

Artride remembered what she had heard about Commander Lathabris of the Seventh Company. She had to admit to herself that she had not known much about her existence before this morning. Stories of the people seldom reach
ed her ears; no matter how hard she tried to spy on them. Any gossiping was kept from her; probably for the best. People were too terrified to speak their minds for fear of being caught and punished. However, Tirsa seemed different from that, like she was fearless. Why?

While Tirsa was unconscious, the
queen had learned from Barkor, who was proud to get the chance to talk to his queen finally, that her father King Macdin knighted the young woman about four years ago, before his sudden death. Barkor said she was ‘a good brave knight; both in battle and in peace; always defending the weak and the truth’. Two years ago, she had slain the brutal company leader of the Umbraris; a neighbouring country, in their last war. All Artride had known was that a young female commander had killed the man herself. Her father had rewarded Tirsa and back then, Artride was still a princess and occupied with her training. After that war was won, a peace treaty was raised, which had worked well ever since for both countries.

In a way, Tirsa was responsible for that, and a medal alone could not repay her. They made her
commander; against her will it seemed, but she was not allowed to refuse the honour. According to Barkor and members of her own company, she was never proud of her title and she had a major breakdown. Fortunately for the sad young woman there wasn’t much to battle; for peace ruled the land. There were also rumours that she had lost a lover in that last war and completely collapsed because of that, before she could continue her work. Barkor said she had not been the same after; she became very quiet and absent-minded. Nothing really mattered to her anymore and she periled herself a lot, just as she had done now. Like she embraced death more than life.

So young and already a leader of people; in a way against her will, what a life and responsibility! Then Artride suddenly realized that she herself was exactly that; only a few years older she guessed. We have more in common th
an we both realize.

She walked over to the young woman and knew she could not take away the pain
, let alone ease her. Once again, she had to admit she failed as a queen and even as a person.

I have to tell her the complete truth; about the secret
… only then will she be able to understand.

‘Tirsa,’ and Artride
raised her hands to touch her shaking shoulders, but there was so much anger and grief radiating from her, that she couldn’t. Her voice became formal and stern,

‘Commander Tirsa Lathabris, do sit down and listen.’

She heard her inhaling quickly. ‘How come you know my name?’

‘I would be an even worse
queen, if I did not know who you are.’
However, I did not at first, so that says more than enough.

Tirsa sank down in a chair
, next to the desk by the window. She had a spectacular view of the wooded hills and she stared into the distance. It seemed ages since she had dwelled in the woods and mountains carelessly. She found herself longing for those days, in which everything seemed so much simpler. Now she was stuck in this and she would act. Perhaps in order to get those carefree days back, somehow, but she knew that was just a wishful dream; impossible, for with all her bad memories she would never ever be carefree and happy again.

‘I will only listen if you release my brother; and I won’t listen at all if this is going to be a soothing talk about the ‘holy’ Law Book; for I am not having any of it!’

Artride admired her strong attitude and character
, and found it difficult to be strict with her.

‘You will listen, even if I have to tie you up and put a muzzle on you!’ she replied loudly and it had the effect she hoped for. Tirsa looked up and closed her half-opened mouth.
Artride’s face became like a rock. She was a professional and would not lose herself again. Somehow, she regretted this, but she had no choice. She perched down on another chair opposite Tirsa and arranged her long purple gown with her delicate fingers.

‘Now, it is a rather long story,’ Artride began, facing her. ‘And I will try to tell it as brief
ly as possible.’ Tirsa had the impression she weighed her words like a pair of scales.

‘You were right when you said it had to do with the Law Book of Ceartas. This time I will tell you the absolute truth; for I believe you of all people deserve it. Not everyone is ready for
its facts, you see; and it would not be possible to tell just anyone safely anyway, even if I wanted to and believe me I want to.’ She sighed deeply while a terrible hurt contorted her face. It was not easy telling this and she felt confused, being on unknown territory. ‘I will clarify myself: you are a soldier of higher rank, a commander of my order so it is safe when I tell you this.’ She looked around gracefully and with weight when saying this, as if another pair of ears was listening.

Safe? Why then does she look so afraid?

Tirsa was getting curious and she had the feeling that whatever the queen was about to tell her, it was a heavy thing, a burden and perhaps she was even glad to get it off her chest.

‘The
book,’ Artride began. ‘Is … cursed.’

Cursed?
Tirsa thought.

Artride continued nervously,
‘Many generations ago, the ruling king, King Oleval the Great, my great-great-something grandfather wrote down the laws and punishments in a Law Book as was common to gain order and a sense of control in a time when it was very much needed. It was not even a bad idea really. However, his counsellor and sorcerer, a very powerful one, laid a spell on it to give it the absolute power needed. He did this to have full control and with that, keep Ceartas free from chaos, violence and destruction for always ... There were an immense number of crimes in those days and chaos ruled. Kings had little influence on that; even wealthy ones and only then with violence. However, a powerful sceptre was magic; for magic was still practiced in these parts by old descendents and pupils of the Silent Folk. From the moment the secret spell was born, the law simply had to be followed –
had
to – as well as the punishments. No trials, no pleas, no nothing other than the penalty. There was no escape from that, ever, other than death itself; sometimes worse than the penalty if not obeyed. To some it seemed fair; after all, when you committed a crime the common moral was, like today, consequences, and you had to pay for a crime somehow in order to understand the wrongdoing, and as an example to others. The minor punishments were not so terrible – paying fees and delivering ranks. Guards saw to it that those penalties were being carried out to avoid any … pain.

‘After all people knew about the strict laws and even discovered that there had to be powerful old magic involved; for there was no escape as I mentioned before, not ever from the invisible but all-watching eyes and ears of the Law book. It became a Holy Book for the people
: worshipped and praised, as was its founder, the king. The sorcerer never got the credit, though. The king kind of forgot about him when his own status seemed to rise again.’ She locked onto Tirsa’s green eyes and saw her mouth hanging slightly open. She was stunned; that much was obvious.

‘Over time
… people moved to other countries; others stayed, because of its safe life. You see, the Law Book is the foundation, the very essence that keeps Ceartas such a safe haven. Unto this day no one can be attacked (other than in war), have their things stolen, be murdered or cheated on, and
not
be justified. Justice …’she said at length and took a deep breath, shaking her head before she continued.

‘Justice as the people saw fit in
those
days. But as you put it yourself; the system was not safe and many people with innocent intentions, such as accidentally killing someone in self-defence or breaking a minor law by accident or ignorance, like your brother, suffered penalties, even lost limbs and worse – their lives.’

Tirsa thought about the cruel punishments she heard about for serious crimes; amputation of a hand after stealing, beheading for murder, hanging for violating Royal beings, banishment for betrayal, but mainly paying fees for numerous things. The wealthy could pay off most of these crimes by paying large sums of money
, for that was allowed. The king of those days must have been very rich, as would Artride be, Tirsa reckoned.

‘And it still exists!’ Tirsa opened
her mouth in sudden shock, her eyes raged. ‘How can it be possible? Why didn’t the Royal Family change the law?’

‘King Oleval wanted to change a law once after many years
, and tried to write in the book, erasing one law and writing a new one. Times change, people and their ethics, norms and values change, countries change and laws and penalties should change with it. We have become civilized people; we are not the brutes of old times anymore that walked around raping women, plundering villages and murdering innocent people.

‘But as I was saying, the old
king discovered he could not write in the book; his pen broke time after time upon touching the parchment. Altering laws was impossible. What once started as a powerful spell became in fact an everlasting curse. For you see, the sorcerer in the ruling years of the king felt betrayed when he forgot all about him; bathing in his new wealth and glory. All he wanted was at least some credit, some honour, some name made for himself. Then one day, having had access to the special chamber where the book lay, he added a new spell to the existing one. From that day on, no soul would ever be able to add, remove or change any laws and penalties written within it, nor… destroy it. It was cursed from that moment on, leaving the king and his future offspring powerless. So with all its might, still no one even in these days, many centuries on, can write new rules in the book. Not even Royalty … not even me.’