Beauty Revealed

Chapter 1 Aiden navigated the unusually dark hallways of the Fall palace, making his way to Lord Ragnar’s study. He had snuck into the Fall realm two weeks before and had remained unnoticed during that time, but when his efforts had turned up fruitless like his previous missions to the realm, he had decided the time had come to confront Ragnar. In order to enter the palace under the cover of darkness, he had set out from his camp shortly after sunset, and entered a hidden door in the wall that he had discovered on one of his many trips to the Fall realm in recent months. The door led to a passageway that wound along the backside of the servants quarters, and Aiden wondered if it had been a passage used by the servants at one point so they wouldn’t be seen taking things like laundry in and out of the living quarters of the royal family. When he had initially discovered the hidden door, he had been looking for a place to hide out of sight of Ragnar’s guards, and had stumbled across it accidentally. It had taken some effort to open it the first time, making Aiden think it hadn’t been used in quite a while, but his repeated use of the helpful passage that gave him an unseen way into the palace had made the door much easier to open and close, and tonight, he slipped almost silently into the palace, giving him the feeling that tonight was a good night to bring the long unsettled matter between him and Ragnar out into the open at last. That feeling quickly diminished upon entering the main part of the palace when he had seen very few candles lit in the main hall and second floor. That, and the close to non-existent guards, made Aiden worry he might be walking into a trap, but there was no going back now. He finally reached the study and waited in the shadows outside the room, listening to make sure Lord Ragnar was alone. Hearing nothing that would cause alarm, Aiden slowly turned the leaf-embossed handle to what had once been his father’s study, and pushed the thick, mahogany door open. Ragnar sat wrapped in a fur cape on the throne-like chair he had brought into the study years ago to make himself seem more important than he was, looking over some papers on the desk. Aiden closed the door behind him. “I see you made it past the guards this time,” Ragnar said without looking up. “I have a feeling you planned it that way to give me a false sense of security when I entered the palace,” Aiden said with a dark edge to his voice. Lord Ragnar glanced up. “You think I don’t know when you are in this realm? I have known every time one of your traitorous boots has touched the soil of this realm. You’ve been a nuisance every time you have returned to search for that disloyal captain of the guard. Fortunately for you, I never saw you as much of a threat. Otherwise, you would have never left this realm alive as many times as you have.” “That captain of the guard is your real son. Or had you forgotten?” Aiden asked. Even though he shouldn’t be surprised, he still didn’t understand how someone could be so callous about his own flesh and blood. Ragnar lifted his eyes to look more fully at Aiden. “My son, as you called him, betrayed me. No son of mine would ever do that and think they could get away with it.” “Curses, Ragnar. Where is Erick?” Aiden exploded. He had probably just alerted the guards to his presence, if there were any nearby, but he was tired of this cat and mouse game he had been playing with this self-declared ruler of the Fall realm for the better part of a year. A sly grin filled Ragnar’s face as he looked at Aiden. “What makes you think he’s still alive?” he asked, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. The thought that Erick may not even be alive had crossed Aiden’s mind more times than he wanted to admit in the many months he had been looking for him since the Sun Prince and Snow Queen’s wedding, but he had never been able to bring himself to fully believe it. He couldn’t believe it. Erick had to be alive. If he wasn’t, that was one more good man the evil ruler of the Fall realm had cut down too soon. Ragnar’s evil grin spread further across his face. “You don’t doubt my words. I’m guessing the thought has not been a foreign one. Tell me. Why do you return to this realm time after time to look for someone that you don’t even know is still a part of this world? Why risk your life for someone like him?” “And why, if my missions are so futile, do you not stop me? If you truly know every time I’m here,” Aiden returned the question. Ragnar rubbed the pointed beard that lined the underside of his chin. “Yes. I suppose that is an appropriate question. Perhaps I just keep hoping you’ll give up and return to your blind princess. Leave this realm alone for good. But apparently that was hoping for too much.” He stared at Aiden for a few moments before continuing, an antagonizing glimmer in his dark eyes. “Your father knew when to give up.” Aiden’s sword was at the man’s throat before Aiden could even think through his actions. “My father fought valiantly until the end. He would have never given up,” Aiden replied vehemently. Lord Ragnar’s calm at having a sword at his throat irked Aiden even more. He smiled at Aiden. “How would you know? Were you there when his life left his body? I seem to recall not. You weren’t even born until a few months after I took that powerless woman who was pregnant with you as my wife. You shouldn’t speak of things you know nothing of,” Ragnar replied coolly. “I could kill you right here for such remarks, and believe me, your life’s breath will have fully left your body before any of your guards had a chance to react or save you,” Aiden said menacingly as he held the sword closer to Ragnar’s throat. An amused smile played across Ragnar’s lips at Aiden’s threat. “Really? Has the musical prince finally learned how to be a man?” he asked mockingly. The tip of Aiden’s sword drew blood as he pressed it into Ragnar’s throat. Ragnar winced, but didn’t move or try to stop Aiden. He simply stared at Aiden, almost begging him to finish it all. Aiden’s eyes caught sight of a handkerchief he hadn’t noticed in Ragnar’s hands until now. Spots of red dotted the no longer clean linen. Aiden’s eyes widened. “Your sins have finally caught up with you, Ragnar. You are paying for the evil you have let rule your life and the blood you have spilt to get where you are. I will take back my throne, and I can see there is nothing you can do to stop me. Not anymore.” Aiden sheathed his sword and pulled the hood of his cloak up over his head, turning to leave. A sputtering cough followed by another laugh sounded behind him. “You can take back this throne. You can take back this kingdom. You may even regain control of this realm. But you will never be able to bring it back to the way it once was. Not without her,” Ragnar finished with a haughty smile before being consumed by another coughing fit. Aiden stopped with his hand on the door handle. “What do you mean?” he asked, slowly turning back to face the man who might be saying anything to keep Aiden there long enough for the guards to pounce.