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Ready as I’ll ever be. He’d said.
How stupid those words seemed now. If he was ready he wouldn’t have failed so miserably.
That was all Varian could think as he was shoved into the prison wagon.
“I’ll make you proud Dad…” He vowed once he was inside.
As the wagon pulled away he saw the destruction of his village. He watched the figures of the royal family from the wagon’s from door bars. They must be feeling satisfied right about now.
The figures got smaller and smaller as they pulled further away.
Once they were out of his sight his tears began to fall. “I promise…” He whispered, choking on the words. He shackled suddenly and felt extremely cold and heavy around his wrist.
He was meant to be smarter than this. He’s gotten too angry.
And now he was going to rot in prison his dad would never be freed from the amber. His tears quickly turned into sobs.
✩₊˚.⋆☾☽⋆⁺₊✧
The wagon eventually pulled into the gates of Corona. Through the bars Varian saw the destruction—the result of his attack on Corona. Buildings and structures of the capital village surrounding the castle were decimated from Ruddiger’s attack. Ruddiger. He didn’t know why the raccoon remained loyal to him after he’d used him. But he was happy that his only friend stayed by his side Citizens have certainly been told to evacuate. He saw multiple familiar shops abandoned. He remembered when he was younger staring at criminals in these same bars.
He felt bile rise in his throat. He felt his stomach tighten. He hadn’t had a proper meal in days. The motion of the rocky wagon ride didn’t help. Varian ended up bending over and vomited on the wagon floor. Varian wiped his tears and chin with his sleeve.
Pete the guard opened the door, face twisted with disgust. Varian didn’t blame him. He’d be disgusted with himself too. He was taken by the arm out of the wagon.
Varian spaced out as Stan exchanged some words with the other guard. He didn’t want to hear what they thought of him or what treatment he was in for. The main guards had joined the assault.
He was handed over to the main prison warden named Conli who he’d never met before.
Ruddiger went to follow him but was kicked and shooed away. The racoon made some chittering sounds of protest. Varian felt his heart squeeze.
He desperately wanted his only friend to stay with him but he knew this was for the best. Prison was no place for a pet. “Go Ruddiger I’ll be fine,” Varian whispered. The racoon let out a soft whine before fleeing.
Once he was out of sight the guard pulled him forward toward a door that was a direct passage to the prison.
They seemed unsure how to handle someone his age. For the most part they let him walk on his own but the guard stayed attached to him by the hip and held on to his arms.
What was going to happen to him now?
Varian shivered at the sight of all the dark cells.
He could see the eyes of the other prisoners following him. He’d recognized some of their faces from wanted posters. He quickly jerked his head away. His entire body quivered with fear. These were cold stone criminals. I’m no better than them.
The guard unlocked his cell. It was a single. He thanked whatever god may be watching for this. His shackles were unlocked and the guard allowed him to walk in by himself. After taking in step the panic rose and he tried to turn back but the cell door was already shutting. He looked at the guard with pleading eyes as they locked the door.
The guard seemed to have a twinge of sympathy.
“Your trial will be held in a few days.”
If that was meant to reassure him it did the exact opposite. Their trial would seal his fate. Would he serve for life? Or would they decide he didn’t deserve to live?
The guard left moments later. Varian looked around his cell. The cell was dimly lit by a single torch high near the ceiling. Inside his cell was a cot attached to the wall that looked incredibly uncomfortable. A chamber pot he grimaced at when he realized it was for waste. And a small wooden stool for sitting. Maybe the intended purpose was for him to sit and think about his actions.
He tried sitting in the bed. It was no better than sitting in a rock. How long would he be in here for. His trial would happen in a few days. He’d wished he’d ask for an exact date but he probably wording if gotten one. But it may be postponed due to the rebuilding. How many hours would he sit in this cold cell. His foot thumped against the cobblestone floor. A few days he could keep it together. He was young he’d made mistakes they’d pardon him. They had too. But who would defend him? Everyone who he’d once called a friend in the royal palace he’d hurt. His heartbeat thrummed in his ears.
“Hey, Varian, is it?”
Varian stiffened. He looked to his right. He instantly recognized the man from drawings from. the town criers. Andrew. He read how the man infiltrated Corona under a fake identity to seduce Cassandra. His true goal is to steal King Herz Der Sonne's ancient journal. After he was confronted. He tried to kill her!
And so did I. Varian pushed away the thought. No he had been provoked. Andrew was a cold blooded killer.
“Get away from me!” Varian spat nearly tripping as he backed away.
“Calm down Varian I’m not going to hurt you in a friend.” Varian gave him a skeptical look. He had never met Andrew in person.
“How do you know my name?”
“You're all the guards ever talk about.”
Another figure came beside Andrew. His cellar was a massive, heavily-muscled, man with an orange beard and hair. He looked Varian up and down as if he couldn’t fathom this being the boy tied to the recent crimes committed int Corona.
“I assumed you were nothing more than a nuisance,” The man’s voice was gruff. So what did a pipsqueak like you do to get solitary confinement?”
Varian knew there was no point in hiding the truth behind his predicament.
“Well first there was the food poisoning—I spiked some cookies with a truth serum and fed them to the citizens of Corona. Then there was the treason, I manipulated the princess to steal the Sundrop flower with me. I kidnapped the Queen, attacked some guards with Automatons, and when my initial planned failed using the Automatons I grabbed the Queen and Lady in waiting and tried to crush them…”
As he went down the list he came to a striking realization. Even if his father was ever freed Quirin would be ashamed of him. Nobody would ever forget his crimes. He’d never be forgiven. Lord Demanitus knows, they’ll probably make history books about him. He finished. He didn’t know what reaction he had been expecting from the other prisoners but laughter wasn’t one of them. Then they began clapping. They were clapping for him. He could hear inmates from other cells join in as well. His face flushed. Had everyone been listening? He felt a sudden twinge of pride that he quickly forced down.
His shoulders hunched. “But it was pointless, my plan failed.”
Andrew leaned against his cell’s bars. “Maybe, but I feel you would have succeeded if you weren’t so severely outnumbered.
“You always have the brains to need allies,”
Allies? Varian never considered allies. He was so used to working alone.
”Join us Varian and I promise to make sure the injustice of Old Corona doesn’t go unhindered.”
Varian thought back to the last time someone had made a promise to him.
But Andrew was no aristocrat. Andrew was like him. He understood him.
What was the alternative to rot in this cell? Leave his father in the amber? Abandon Ruddiger?
Doesn’t he owe it to his village after all the trouble he’s caused them time and time again? Doesn’t he owe it to his father?
The Kingdom’s carelessness had already taken everything from him. What did he have to lose? His fist clenched.
“I’ll join you.”
Andrew grinned. “I knew you’d make the smart decision.” Varian allowed the slightest upturn of his lips. It was about time someone in this kingdom acknowledge how smart he was.
“Stick with us, Varian and you’ll be out of here in no time.”
The laughter returned. Part of Varian wanted to join them.
But he wouldn’t laugh—not yet. He wanted to have the last laugh after he redressed old grievances.
After he destroys Corona. After he'd made the royal family suffer the way he had. He’d destroy them.
Last time he’d taken too long to strike. Left them with time to prepare.
This time he’d destroy Corona.
Whether they were ready or not.