Deception (Wednesday Words 11.23.16)

Welcome to a piece of Wednesday Word’s flash fiction on Darkling Dreams!

A good friend of mine, P.T. Wyant, is doing a blog post every Wednesday called Wednesday Words with a new prompt for a bit of flash fiction writing, just to get in the habit of writing something, anything. (Even if said flash fiction is complete garbage at the time. Garbage is better than nothing though, right?) If you’re looking for some inspiration yourself or just something to aimlessly write, then go check out her blog for this week’s prompt!

With that being said, I am going to share what I came up with for this week’s flash fiction Shard based off a three word combination prompt. So here is my very rough around the edges minute of inspiration based off her prompt. I’d love to hear what you guys think of it!

(Please excuse any errors you may see, I said it was rough around the edges.)

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Deception

“This is preposterous!” a voice boomed. The Captain of the Royal Guard banged his fist on the table, glaring at his King and Queen. “There is no physical way this outsider could have found his way into our realm.”

“I found my way, did I not?” Dark forest green eyes latched onto the Captain with a challenge. She itched to throttle him but remained poised and calm. “Perhaps your borders and gates are not as secure as you say they are when I found my way in.”

He snapped his gaze to her, sneering. “You, witch… I don’t trust you. I think you are simply lying to us and playing us.”

Actually, I am, but you don’t need to know that.

“That is enough!” The King stood, almost knocking his chair backwards as he turned a stern gaze on his Captain. “Stand down, Bellington, before I have you removed from this feast.”

His jaw clenched in response, shooting one last glare to her. She simply smiled sweetly, eyes glinting for a mere moment. It was too easy to ruffle his feathers, too much fun to pass up the opportunity, but she still had to tread carefully. She had convinced the King and Queen already of her deception play, even if she couldn’t convince the Captain. It didn’t matter when she had the royals on her side already, he had to follow their orders, or it would be insubordination and his head. Finally, he begrudgingly sat back down, stabbing at the piece of boar meat on his plate.

“I do apologize for his…blunt behavior, Miss Hallows,” the King said cordially. “He is out of line.” Another stern gaze shot his way and she watched the Captain squirm in mounting fury and forced allegiance.

Zira took her gaze off the Captain and smiled politely, looking to the King. She waved it off. “It is no issue. I trust you will do everything in your power to capture this dangerous individual and hand him over to me?” Her brow raised a centimeter as she took a bite of her food.

“But of course. You were sent by your realm’s authority to bring this traitor and thief back to your realm for the proper consequences. I have no business about delaying your search, not to another skilled captain.” He shot a look at his own Captain, emphasizing those last words. The Captain visibly tensed in response, clearly trying to rein his tongue and anger in before it exploded.

She had to hold back a dark chuckle. Fools. The lot of them were. The Captain was the only real one with sense to see she was the threat, and not Matthew. The boy she had laid out as a traitor and thief before them hiding amongst their realm, the one she was hunting. But alas, they were too blinded to see the truth, or perhaps she was just that good at this game.

It didn’t matter either way.

Her revenge was just within her reach, she only had to play her hand right. She could underhand every move they made in her favor, and even if they did realize her trickery in the end, it would already be too late. They had absolutely no idea just how dangerous she was, and they were feeding her all the information she could ever need to dangle leverage over their heads like mistletoe. All because of one teensy, tiny mistake in placing trust in her lies and deception.

“Thank you,” she replied with a slight head bow, stamping down her pride. Her gaze slid to the grandfather clock. She stood. “I thank you for the gracious invitation to this feast, but I must be getting back to deliver the news to my Council. I shall be in touch shortly should your scoots locate our fugitive.”

“Of course.” The Queen smiled at her. “We are most grateful for your warning of this criminal amongst our town and we shall do everything in our power to help track him down for you.”

Zira smiled back sweetly and dipped in a curtsy, despite the fact she was dressed sorely for the purpose of fighting. “And we shall be most grateful for your assistance.”

A footmen came with her cloak and she took it before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small bag of coins, placing them on the table.

“A token of my Council’s appreciation,” she told them. “Upon capture and retrieval I was promised there would be another compensation for your time and effort. Call it a…” Her gaze slid to the Captain and her lip quirked smugly, “sign of good faith.”

His eyes bore into her murderously but she brushed it off like he was a fly. She was not afraid of him, she wasn’t afraid of anybody. Her gaze slid back to the royals, conveying another curtsy before pulling on her cloak.

“There is no need for the formality, dear, not at the moment. We are simply grateful of the warning and chance to nip this in the bud before it can begin.”

She nodded. “Understandable. I shall be in touch shortly.” She bowed her head. “Your Grace, Your Majesty.” Her gaze turned steely as she looked to Bellington, tone sickeningly sweet and clipped as she said, “Captain.”

He sneered at her and satisfaction swam through her to see his hand twitch toward his sword. If only he had the balls to make the move, she would quite enjoy the chance to flatten him with a mere thought and flick of her hand.

“Safe travels back,” the King bid farewell.

“Thank you.” She turned and sauntered out, only allowing the smug smile and malice to fill her expression when she was out of sight. A low, dark laugh spilled from her lips.

Soon. Very, very soon.

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