Sequel to Legend of the White Witch
Highest rating: #278 in fantasy!
Time has passed, and now, everything is different. With Anabella presumed to be dead or dying, the realm has forgotten her and turned to the newest distraction - the long awaited w...
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I moved my arm underneath my head, then brought both arms to rest on my stomach. I shifted to lying on my right side, then to my left, and I pushed the blankets off and then pulled them back. I felt trapped by the thick blankets, but too exposed without them.
Unable to bear tossing and turning any longer, I rose from the luxurious bed fit for a king and went to the window. Far below, the kingdom of Iora slept. Even the busiest parts that never ceased to annoy me with their noise were silent, and the fat merchants who always dressed in fine cloths of purple weren't trying to sell their wares to anyone with ears. Not a single candle burned in any window. They'd add been extinguished or burnt themselves out long ago. It was well past midnight, but the sun had yet to begin brightening the dark sky.
The shops and homes of Iora were colorful and came in every shape in size, perhaps to resemble the diverse sea life to be found not a stone's throw from the castle. Cobblestone made up the streets, if they could even be called that. The town had been built with little thought to order or practicality, so the streets were more like winding paths that either led you to your destination or got you hopelessly lost.
My skin was flushed and sweaty from my attempts to sleep, and the warm summer breeze did nothing to help. I drew heavy rose-colored curtains closed and moved away from the window. I had no desire to look upon Iora tonight, no matter how beautiful it may be. Today marked Alec's twentieth year. Tomorrow, he would be wedding to Princess Silver, the eldest daughter to the king and queen who ruled Iora, and so would be trapped here forever as the king of citizens he had no allegiance to alongside a woman he did not love.
Many of my nights over the past two months had been spent tossing and turning, trying to force a solution to reveal itself. A chance is all I wanted. A chance for Alec to be able to make his own choice--to be king of Iora or not, to choose Silver, me, no one...
But nothing came. There was no way out without causing a feud between Alec's Trävore and Silver's Iora or putting his life in immense danger from furious royals.
There was no solution to this problem, but my mind refused to accept this. It tormented me day and night until I was void of energy. I'd spent the last two weeks mostly in solitude when I could.
Tonight it was different. Worse, if it was even possible. I knew I wouldn't be able to get even a moment of sleep. I envied the townsfolk, who I'm sure slept soundly.
I took a step toward the door, then another. My nightgown brushed against the stone floor, cold against my bare feet. Was Alec asleep? I wondered. Does he have difficulty sleeping as well, or does he sleep without a care?
