The Tiger Within 661 Truth Of The Matter Part 2

"The Dark Ones as you call them, began terrorizing the villages. We had refugees  from all over the land, almost every village telling tales of complete destruction. Our castle was the only strong hold. I opened the gardens and the Maids and guards pitched in to build an encampment for them. It wasn't much but it was all we could do.

Then the infiltration happened. 6 Dark Ones entered under the guise of being villagers and began slaughtering from inside. We captured them and killed them, Bastil took over the guard while I tried to get supplies and help from neighbors. We couldn't even get messages out. The dragonling that Kyera sent in wasn't able to get out and was eventually wounded.

Bastil went on a spree locating and revealing intruders, shifters hiding in our tanks. He wanted to kill them. However, I refused. Instead we sent them out of the palace believing they could escape to safety. Then he found out about a leopardess. Mally and tossed her out into the streets where the Dark Ones were. Lazren ran after her and he tossed Cora along too.

I tried to stop him but it was too late. The Dark Ones… a Tiger with eyes of fire like a demon had already approached them. Lazren screamed at him. He tried to fight but he lost… they all did. He killed Mally last. I will never forget her screams. I told Bastil no more. Obviously any shifter within the walls had to stay there, because the Dark Ones would skin their own kind.

He called me weak. A useless leader and began an uprising. I tried everything I could to take care of our people. To keep them safe but he was till throwing guards and people who he believed to be traitors to the Dark Ones. No one survived. People were fleeing the castle. Guards abandoning their posts because of the bloodshed. Men were going crazy from watching others be torn to shreds by that pack. Humans and shifters alike.

Finally I told him he would obey royal decree or he would be removed from his post. I could easily call his brothers back to help us. He declared they were no brothers of his." Vivian's voice shook as she took a long sip of her tea to steady herself. Her complexion was even paler and Clovis knelt at her side.

"Do you need to stop?" He asked softly, knowing this was taking a toll on the older woman. Even Crystalsa and Bryson watched with sadness and pity in their eyes. Kyera held Gale close forcing herself not to cry.

"No. I must finish what I started. I was cast into the dungeons the same day he announced Alexi, Damar, and Clovis to be cowards, defectors to the crown and disinherited. Then he swore the wives who left were traitors and guilty of treason. Anyone of our family who returned to our lands would be killed by the guard who protected us. He became engaged to and married another woman from the court, believing it to be the answer to taking the throne. There I remained untouched until my rescue. They were to marry the day Kyera rescued me."  She finished with a heavy sigh and Damar frowned.

"How long were you down there?" Damar asked his heart felt a tinge of pain. How could anyone cast their Grandmother into a dungeon like this?

"I don't know. A few weeks?" Vivian replied her eyes a bit unfocused. Kyera knew all too well how time twisted and ceased to have meaning in a cage. 
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"What's the last thing you remember?" Kyera asked and Vivian smiled fondly after a moment's thought.

"I had just gotten your letter about Gale, a couple days before. He must be almost a month old now… right?" Vivian asked and Kyera's face paled. She had sent that letter and received the dragonling back nearly 3 months ago.

There were gasps and curses from the men in the room, "That was 2 months ago, Vivian." Bryson told her gently "I sent the Dragon myself."

Her face paled as everyone took that in. No wonder she looked as though she was skin and bones. 3 months without care would do that to a woman.

"It was 2 months and 6 days." Akira spoke up, sadness in her own voice.