**Omen of War—Federico Corradini**
In the few minutes they arrived at the Palace of Thorns, Ember realised two major things about the woman she now called mother.
The first was the obvious dislike and dissatisfaction the people had for her. Even though it was clear they hardly knew the woman, they had judged her nonetheless.
The second was how the crown princess ruthlessly wielded her power and authority. It hadn't been really obvious at first, but in the face of the cold blooded way she had commanded Knight Asborne to take down the Captain of the First Order of the Kingsguard, Ember was forced to realize that throughout their journey, the crown princess had in fact held herself back.
But now, her grief untethered and wild transformed into hate. And she wielded it with ruthless precision.
Ember supposed she should be happy at the very least. For it meant that the woman she was taking refuge with was not one that would be easily bullied.
Yet, unease crawled in her heart as she watched the Captain's lifeless body crumple to the ground. The Crown Princess stood still, dignified, not deigning to glance at the now-dead man.
Commander Zane, a man whom Ember didn't know, yet could tell by his attire and the aura he radiated that he was no ordinary person, stared at the Crown Princess with wide eyes.
"Your highness… what have you done?" He dared to ask even though he was the one that had initiated that bloody display.
Ember's unease disappeared temporarily, the commander's shamelessness rendering her stunned in a manner that made her narrow her eyes at him.
"Commander Zane," the crown princess drawled, walking towards the door that stood between them and the ongoing coronation. "for daring to raise your sword against me, you deserve death by a thousand cuts. So do you know why I spare you? Because of your noble family's lineage? Because your ancestors have served seven Thorne kings?"
She chuckled as if finding something utterly ridiculous. 'Of course, the reason is none of the above. Have you heard about the green sea serpent in the West and how we the Andals hunt it down? We reel it in for years, skillfully setting traps and baits. Feeding it while studying it at the same time. Then years later, maybe a decade, we finally catch it in one swoop. You, commander Zane, are my green serpent. And when I've caught you, you will remember this day for it will be well worth the wait."
Commander Zane stared at the crown princess with an expression that was a strange mix of fear and defiance. His fingers hovered over the hilt of his sword but he didn't dare to draw it. Ember on her part observed the exchange, wondering what bad blood existed between the two of them.
Syria never mentioned anything about the commander in all she was taught.
The guards by the door trembled, looking between their commander and their crown princess. It was clear they didn't wish to defy the commander of the Kingsguard, at the same time, they weren't prepared to go against the crown princess either.
Next thing, commander Zane rested his endless pit for eyes on Ember, staring at her strangely.
"Have the chamberlain announce her Royal highnesses." He muttered, his tone defeated, yet something like a challenge ringing in his words.
The chamberlain seemed dumbfounded at first but cleared his throat and began.
"Announcing her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess Serpentine Andal Thorne, princess of the Iron Seas and the throne of the Andals, bearer of the ruby crest of the Huntsmen and the Hunt companion of the forests of Thalor."
The moment the chamberlain's voice cut through the air, the guards drew the door to the coronation room open revealing what must have been a bustling gathering of about a hundred people who were the very picture of deep-rooted shock.
A goblet fell off a gilded hand, idle conversations died on perfumed tongues, and the room stilled like a monster holding its breath as more than a hundred pairs of eyes turned to the direction of the crown princess, staring at her with expressions of jostling shock.
But the crown princess didn't move an inch. Shoulders squared, chin slightly lifted, spine straight as a blade, hands clasped lightly at the waist, her pose screamed regal control, exuding both command and containment.
Sapphire blues staring unflinchingly ahead, she muttered. "Chamberlain, you aren't done with your announcement."
Ember swallowed as the chamberlain cut her a glance that screamed he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He cleared his throat. "Accompanying Her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess—Her Highness, Princess Elara Thorne of House Thorne and daughter of the ruby crest."
Now that got the crowd even more excited as Ember took her place by the crown princesses side, trying to imitate half the grandeur of her pose as Syria taught her.
It was hard considering the many eyes that were glued to her, but the crown princesses' calming yet stern voice allayed her tension.
"Look them in the eyes, Elara. They once tried to steal your voice. They believed the next they would see of you is your ghost, so you must look them in the eyes and prove to them that they underestimated you."
Somehow, Ember knew those words weren't exactly meant for her but the real Elara, but she did as was asked of her nonetheless.
She looked them in the eyes. Every single one of them.
And her stare didn't waver as she and the crown princess stepped into the room that oozed of expensive scents and power.
Man after man, woman after woman, heirs after heiresses, they all stared at her and the crown princess. Her as if they had seen a ghost, and the crown princess as if they were witnessing the impossible end of the world.
But at the end of the room, at what might be considered the aisle, two people held Ember's attention.
One man—red haired, dark eyes narrowed. Besides him was a woman—golden haired, green eyed, beautiful in a doe eyed way but clearly older. At least, visibly way older than the crown princess was still in her twenties and possessed a colder yet ruthlessly alluring beauty in contrast.
Before the duo was a crown bearer who bore a crown that Syria had taught her to recognise from anywhere. With a white gold structure, and studded with the rare but insanely exquisite blue diamonds, it was clearly the crown of the Queen.
And a few seconds earlier, it was about to be placed on the dainty golden hair of the woman whom Ember was confident was her 'step mother' and crown companion, Thalara Thorne.
"It seems I'm just right in time," The Crown Princess drawled in an airy voice, breezing past the nobility in the room. "Had I wasted any more time, I fear that which belongs to me would have been stolen by another."
They all seemed to be dumbstruck, still staring between Ember and the crown princess.
"Your… your royal highness," Thalara Thorne finally broke the frigid silence, rushing to them with her face set in awe that shocked Ember profoundly. "Is this really you?" She added, tears forming in her eyes.
"And this girl… don't tell me, don't tell me this is our Elara?!" She added, then fell to the floor before Ember, weeping so dramatically with the kind of act that could only be acquired from an opera school.
The crown princess didn't react to the performance though. As if she had seen so much of that kind of act in the past that it hardly fazed her.
"The young princess is finally well!" Someone from the crowd screamed, seemingly recovering from their shock, "congratulations your royal highness for holding out all these years!"
"Thank the spirits! They have brought back the young princess to us!" Another cheered.
"What a miracle! We have lost his majesty only to gain back the young princess!"
So and so the expletives followed, so much so that Ember was so ashamed to look at the crown princess and see for herself what her reaction would be.
But the crown princess, true to the resoluteness she possessed, bore a smile as she stepped forward, ignoring the woman still wailing dramatically on the floor.
Holding the stare of the crown prince who hadn't moved an inch, she spoke to the hearing of all in the room.
"It's true," she said in an icy voice that stilled the commotion in the room, "I am back to Thalor to resume my duties…." She continued with a dramatic pause as a silent tug of war seemed to drag between her and her husband whom Ember noticed hadn't spared her much of a glance.
No, instead, all his attention had been on the crown princess. If Ember didn't know better she would have thought it a look of adoration, but Syria's teachings worth two weeks taught her more than that…
…the crown prince soon to be pronounced King was calculating the bountiful loses and sparse gains that would be made possible by the sudden, totally unexpected appearance of his legitimate wife.
The crown princess knew that as well, which was why a languid wicked smile spread on her lips.
"My daughter is back as well."