"The three of you have one solution to every problem. Murder. No key fits every lock." Cardan gives us all a stern look, holding up a long-fingered hand with my stolen ruby ring still on one finger. "Someone tries to betray the High King, murder. Someone gives you a harsh look, murder. Someone disrespects you, murder. Someone ruins your laundry, murder."
― Holly Black, The Wicked King
-what happened then-
Rumors of Sealed lips (spread by Agustin and the king) murdering Grace spread like a wild fire among both the nobles and commoners who enjoyed their writing.
No one condoned murder it was even hushed in secret and so the fame of sealed lips plummeted and she was hunted by both the king's men and Agustin. By Agustin because of the fact they backfired him.
But Agustin had nowhere to find them and even with dealing with the people sealed lips dealt with no one would give sealed lips up. Until by chance Sealed lips was finally caught by Agustin (mostly Ikar). "Do you see them"! Agustin shouted through the rain. This night was a very rainy particularly night adding to the hunt of sealed lips.
Sealed lips hid deep in the rainy shadows watching Agustin and his men searched for them. But they neither could see their face nor knew whether they were woman or man. "No"! Ikar yelled back.
Sealed lips took a deep breath and pressed their body against the wet brick wall. "If that's how it's gonna be". They said in a rage and disappeared from that alley.
-What is now-
The walk to the port was quiet between Shayan and Canary. The others were talking immersed in their own conversations. More and more Shayan wanted to speak up and relieve any confusion or misunderstanderings between the two of them. But he couldn't find the words and soon they arrived at the port. "I shall count and make sure all of our luggages are here". Numa said, running ahead. Shayan nodded, still remaining silent. Canary was there by his side but she felt far away. He felt if he would get on that ship without saying anything that this feeling would truly become true.
That truly Canary would be far away from him even when she would come to Lyikar she would be far away from him. "Canary". He said his voice, almost breaking. "Yes". Canary answered. "When shall you be coming back to Lyikar"? Shayan asked. Canary shrugged. "Whenever my uncle goes". Canary said. "With so many things happening in Grania, who knows when we will come back". Canary said.
Shayan's sort of broke in that moment and he tried hard to compose himself. "Will you keep me updated in letters". Shayan asked desperately. "As friends"? Canary asked somewhere in that question seeking to find his true feelings. But Shayan not seeing her true intentions in her questions pulled at the strings he thought he saw. Not realizing they were longer. "Yes-". Shayan said out of breath. "Yes as friends". Shayan said. "You truly mean that". Canary pressed her hands together. "I think we ought to create some distance from each other". Canary said. "Why"?! Shayan asked.
"I overheard your conversation. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but you will soon be marrying a Dyani isn't it"? Canary said. "I do not wish to come between you two and I will not be anyone's mistress or councubine". "Coucubine? Mistress? By what means are you talking about I would never make you any one else my mistress or concubine nevertheless I am not marrying Dyani". Shayan said. "You aren't"? Canary asked. Shayan shook his head no. "Then the conversation earlier"? "We were talking about matters of the council, my royal father and many of the council members want me to be married". Shayan explained.
"Oh". Canary said relieved. Shayan nodded in relief also and they both let out sighs. "Then who shall you be marrying". Canary began to worry. "What-". Shayan said, frazzled. "Shayan"! Numa yelled. "Quickly the ship is going to leave all of our things there". Numa said, grabbing him. "Wait, I wasn't finished speaking"! Shayan said, yelling. "Quickly goodbye to you all, it was nice meeting you"! Nuam yelled. Ede and Eamon waved goodbye and yet Canary stood there both happy and dumbfounded at what happened. "He didn't get to tell me his answer". She mumbled.
"Let us walk the square for a well". Eamon said". They all agreed and began to walk the streets of the square. They had wandered away from Trydon Market into the main square of the capitol where it was boring and full of nobles or wealthy commoners.
Mostly Eamon and Ede were talking with Canary making a few comments here and there. "What's this"? A man said, walking beside him. A paper had fell on his head and soon many papers had fallen down. "Its sealed lips again"! Someone had shouted in terror. The three of them began to look around in terror at all that was happening. The same events that had happened in the palace was happening again. Canary touched the bow on her back and looked around frantically.
Amongst all the chaos of people running around some began to stop and pick up the papers on the ground leading Eamon to also stop and pick up a paper. Eamon looked around at everyone who picked up the paper before he read his soon there looks of distress and disgusted by what they were reading. "What going on"? Eamon asked. "That's her". Someone whispered but only Ede and Eamon heard this and soon others began to stare at the three of them.
Ede looked around at all the peering eyes and turned to Canary for them to leave. But what he turned to was a pale face Canary whose eyes were so wide he felt as though they would fall out of her head. "Canary what is it"? Ede asked, scared and worried. He shook Canary who couldn't dry her eyes from the paper she was reading and Ede turned to get help from Eamon for help but he too began to read the paper and his face too began to turn pale just as Canary's.
"What is it"! Ede said, taking the paper from Eamon's hand. He had soon realized what was happening and balled the paper up in his hand. "We have to go". He said trying to mask the fact that he was both scared and troubled by this. "Let us go". Ede said, grabbing and pulling both Eamon and Canary who were frozen on the stop into the carriage.
"It's a lie". Canary said finally her eyes still not settling. "It's not true". "Sealed lips murdered that servant girl they are lying about this too"! She said staring at Ede and Eamon but what she was met with was faces of knowing the truth all the long. "Ede! Eamon"! Canary yelled for some answer.
"I am my mother and fathers child"! She screamed. But she was met with silence and guilt overcame both of Ede's and Eamoms face and they looked away from her. She sunk into that seat as if someone had stabbed…betrayed her. She began to deceive herself thinking it couldn't be true.
"I shall go to mother and ask her to tell me the truth". As soon as the carriage arrived at Longwood manor Canary practically flew out the carriage running into the manor. She tripped and fell at the door twisting her ankle badly that she could barely stand back up. "Canary"! Ede and Eamon both yelled seeing her fall. But before they could get to her she pushed through the pain and ran into the mansion.
"Mother"! Canary yelled running through the halls. She could not see the chaotic nature of the servants around her as she ran through the hallways looking in every room she passed. "Where is my mother and father"? She asked a servant. "In Marquis Longwoods office". The servant said. She began running towards Lumis's office and everything seemed as it was going in slow motion. At Lumis's office door there stood two servants with their mouths covered in shock. "Father mother"! Canary said pushing passed them.
But what she was met with was Thomas and Thaddeus at each other's throats shouting for Thaddeus had Thomas pinned against the wall. Thomas was pointing at something and Canary followed his finger to Letitia and Alexia on the ground fighting. Poor Amara who was there was crying in the corner of the room.
"Don't you put your hands on my wife"! Thaddeus yelled. "You get your wife off of my wife then"! Thomas yelled back, struggling to free himself from Thaddeus's grasp for Thaddeus was much stronger and much taller than him.
"What-". Canary started. "What is going on"? She stood there in shock, staring. Soon Ede and Eamon arrived at the door and they too were in shock frozen watching everything unfold. As if it was meant to happen Canary's eyes fell on the paper from Sealed lips. It was then she had come to terms with the truth. That she indeed was not Thomas and Alexias child….Alexia had indeed murdered Grace (unbeknownst to Canary everyone else that Alexia did not murder Grace). Limus came into the room with a large vase and slammed it on the ground stopping the fighting from happening. They all stopped and looked at Limus who looked at each and single of one of them with disappointment in his eyes. "Stop this this instant"! Limus screamed.
"What is going on"?! Limus shouted. "Why are you fighting". But no one moved they were all frozen. Some from shock, some from anger, and one from shock. Ede was the first to move handing Limus the paper. He silently read it and when he was done his wasn't pale like the other but had a expression of amusement. "Oh come on this is obviously a joke"? Limus chuckled. But they remained silent and when Limus noticed no one was laughing his smile soon vanished away. "Tell me this is a joke". He said.
"Answer me! all of you"! Limus yelled. But they remained silent and Thaddeus stared at Alexia waiting for her to answer. But she wouldn't so he spoke up instead.
"Those twenty three years ago father deemed me mad from grief of losing my daughter because I swore that Canary was my daughter". "Lies"! Thomas yelled. "Ay but it is true my brother". Thaddeus said, letting him off the wall. He looked at Canary. "Indeed she was as Alexia came to in the late of the night after my father removed me from being his heir and named you heir instead little brother she blackmailed me saying that Canary was indeed my child and if I had told anyone that she would bring harm to her". Thaddeus said.
"The evidence in the paper is true however I do not know how they got ahold of the diaries from Grace for they were in my possession and I was looking for more evidence before reporting Alexia but the sudden death of Grace stopped me from doing so". He explained.
"Your lying". Thomas said. "As someone who taught you to never be naive look at the face of your beloved". Thaddeus said. Thomas looked at Alexia who's head hung low to the ground and she dared not look up. He staggered over to her falling down next to her. "Tell me it isn't true Alexia". He pleaded. But she did not answer. "TELL ME"! He screamed. But again she did not answer and Thomas had his answer.
"Why"? Thomas asked. "Why would you do this"? Thomas pleaded and shook Alexia. Alexia finally met eyes with him and began to chuckle. "If only your late father would have given us attention perhaps none of this would have turned out this way". Alexia answered. "Alexia no"! Limus shook his head in tears.
"We had a son! They did not and yet father in law still favored them"! Alexia yelled. Tears began to fall down her face and all of them, even her dear daughter Amara stared at her in bewilderment and disgust. "So you take advantage of a little child and her dead mother and sister"! Limus said, his voice cracking with tears of his own. "Oh! If mother and father were here"! Limus sobbed. "Why am I left with this"!
"He left me no choice"! Alexia debated. "You had every choice"! Letitia screamed. "Robbing me of my firstborn child"! "Framing my husband of being mad"! Letitia screamed. "How dare you feign victim"! "Someone". Thomas said standing up. "Someone call the guards". Thomas muttered. For his voice left him and he fainted.