TLoLaW Task 1: Raziel's Past

Raziel had never been called to the king's chambers before. He didn't feel honored at all, he was simply confused. He had been the king's silent blade for several decades. The Pink Kingdom had an image of being one of the softest kingdoms, preaching peace left and right, but unbeknownst to most, the king was actually one of the most corrupt.

Years ago, Raziel encountered the king of the Pink Kingdom and the man cursed him with a peculiar rune. It bore the emblem of the kingdom, it was burned into his left shoulder, and it could be used to control him. He, along with a few other demons and half demons alike, was forced to serve the king, secretly creating coups and performing assassinations in the surrounding kingdoms. He and king rarely spoke directly.

To Raziel's confusion, one of the king's advisors met him instead. "Where's Kayne?" Raziel demanded. The robed man didn't answer, remaining silent for several moments before finally speaking.

"The princess has been… orphaned," he announced. Raziel showed no change in emotion. "With no male heirs, Princess Iris will take the throne."

"The girl is fifteen," Raziel scoffed, knowing the condition of the island. "This kingdom is doomed now," he said dismissively, turning toward the bedroom door. "I'll take my leave."

The robed man turned with him. "The princess shares the king's powers," he informed. "You belong to her now as you once belonged to the king." Raziel gritted his teeth and faced the man again. "You are to act as her bodyguard and right hand." With that, the advisor swept across the room. He stopped with the door ajar when Raziel called to him.

"Why did word of the King's death not get to me first? And what of the princess' betrothed, Leon? Shouldn't he be taking the throne?" Raziel wondered aloud.

Through the shroud of the man's hood, Raziel could not see his face, but something told him that the man was smiling when he relayed his answer. "His majesty, her highness, and the young prince will be dead within the hour," he assured, disappearing into the dark hall.

Raziel stood there, very still, for the longest time. He was now informed, but somehow even more confused and angered.



Word of the royal family's assassination came within the hour, as promised. Iris was devastated. She locked herself in her room and cried… yes, there was lots and lots of crying. For the longest time she wouldn't eat or sleep or talk to anyone. She just cried.
Raziel knocked on the girl's door. He got a response that might have been, "Go away," but he heard, "Come right in, and kick the door open if you like."
Iris got to her feet, outraged, her eyes were red and down her cheeks tears were still streaming down.

He was yelled at and forced to listen to a prolonged speech about why young ladies locked their doors and what would have happened to him if he had walked in on her changing or something of the sort.

"It seems you have a talent for giving orders and speeches princess," Raziel said dryly, crossing his arm and blinking tiredly.

"Leave me," she ordered again.

"Are you honestly going to stay in here for the rest of your life and cry?" She didn't answer him, she simply turned away from him, so he continued. "You haven't just lost a family, your people have too. They've lost their king, queen, and future leader as you have lost a father, mother, and friend. Your kingdom is on the verge of collapse while you sit here and feel sorry for yourself."

She was angry, and he could only assume it was because she knew he was right. The princess turned to him again and ordered him out of her sight. Her anger must have been the trigger to controlling him through the rune because his left arm started to burn intensely and he was taken to his knees. She, however, seemed unaware that she was the cause because she immediately felt concern and moved to ask if he was alright.

Insisting he was fine, Raziel quickly got to his feet and made his exit. "Just think of all I've told you," he muttered before taking his leave and slamming the door behind him.



The following morning, Iris called the town to the castle grounds so she might address them as a whole. She spoke of her foolishness, the great loss they were all experiencing, and her anger toward the other kingdom rulers. She hated that they were all so greedy and that they wanted to control the entire island.

"Peace and happiness is all I want for my people, as my father wanted. I will lead you and together we will deal with our great losses." Raziel could hear the sorrow in her voice, though it was masked with new found confidence.

It bothered Raziel that she spoke so highly of her father though. That man could have very well been the most corrupt ruler in the sixteen kingdoms, and the assassination by his own council was more than enough to prove it. If Princess Iris or the rest of the kingdom ever found out, it would cause utter despair and chaos.

"All my father wanted was peace, and if I have to, I will fight to keep it."

Somehow the girl's words lifted the spirit of the kingdom as a whole. The large crowd burst into applause, all filled with the same confidence and reassurance Raziel sensed in the girl. Watching from the shadows, the dhampir smiled, in spite of himself. Perhaps this girl would be a decent ruler after all.