Doing better

Alejandro became more and more distant and Xzander noticed something was happening, but he couldn't find out what, Zaelia was secretive and distant. Alejandro was pale, he became strangely sick, and he lost appetite. Only Xzander seemed to see his state, he became slightly worried. 

After eleven days, Zaelia called for King Faerdrid. She was looking happy, she claimed she took her decision and the King came with a little delegation, including the ambassador. The ambassador tried to dissuade him from going to the palace, he wanted to organize the meeting in a neutral and safe zone but the King, proud and confident, was sure that Zaelia would become his Queen soon, and he ignored this advice. Who could say no to this? 

This day, the sun was already high in the sky when a servant came to Zaelia's chamber to tell her that the King was waiting for her. She stood up and joined the throne room. 

Zaelia had changed her usual dress to a skirt made of a thin black veil, she dressed in many golden jewels. She had many bracelets and necklaces, and golden pendants were all over her body. Her hair was attached with a golden band crossing in the middle of her forehead. She went into the corridor bare chest and everyone discovered her. Zaelia was beautiful and proud like she never has been before. She was the true Queen of the Sun.

King Faerdrid was waiting for his answer. She eventually entered the throne room. Showing her gorgeous body to everyone in the delegation of the king, knowing perfectly that she would shock them. Xzander didn't mind her nudity, their tribe didn't care about appearances, but he wondered why she did this now. He knew something had changed in Zaelia. Her smile was different. He understood something happened, but he couldn't figure out what. 

She joined him and turned her back to him as she sat on her throne. This is how he understood. He saw the marks on her back, there was no doubt, the large marks were made by nails planted into her skin and the healed wounds were shiny in the sun. Zaelia was too proud for it to be trivial, showing the world her beautiful body marked by Archanium so that everyone would understand that he had made her his queen. Xzander was horrified and amazed to learn that Zaelia had met Archanium intimately. He watched Faerdrid and knew at that very moment that the king would die very soon.

Zaelia laughed as she saw the expression of the delegation, they were outraged, and the King was not pleased as well, even if he couldn't deny her beauty. She smiled broadly as she addressed him.

"King Faerdrid, I considered your proposition. I was about to say yes to be honest, but I received other orders and I have to decline. I will not be your wife."

The King raised an eyebrow, he couldn't imagine who could have given her direct orders. She was known to obey nobody, to be a wild woman, and to be the absolute leader. Xzander's face became paler and paler with every second passing. 

Then, in a few seconds, Zaelia made a sign to the servants, and they threw snakes at the delegation. Their bite paralyzed the men in the room, it didn't kill them. Xzander was horrified to see that she had a full scheme, and he was not sure if he wanted to know what would happen after. 

Large cauldrons and metal grids were brought. Zaelia crossed her legs on the golden throne, raised her head high, and had a joyful expression. 

The structures consisted of a grid at the bottom and a large metal post with ropes at the top. The servants took the men one by one and hung them upside down with the ropes by their ankles, taking care to leave them perfectly straight. Then, they took the clay that was in the cauldrons and started to cover their bodies. Slowly, trembling. 

Unable to move or scream, they felt their bodies being covered little by little. The servants themselves didn't seem to want to do it. Zaelia stood up with grace, taking her time and enjoying the moment. She walked in front of Faerdrid. 

"My dear King, I will make sure that you end up in my bedroom. Don't worry."

She caressed his face with clay in her hand, delicately covering his frightened expression and plunging him into darkness.

Everyone in the room held their breath. Zaelia was the only one to enjoy what was happening, and the eyes of the servants begging Xzander to stop her encouraged him to interrupt her. Xzander understood what was happening, but he didn't want to believe it. His voice was breaking. He tried to talk with her while she was covering the face of the king with wet clay. 

"Zaelia, this is going too far."

Zaelia's eyes were sparkling as she turned her face to him. She whispered with a smile that would haunt Xzander for the rest of his life.

"He said I am his Queen."

Xzander's mouth dropped open. Tears were running from the terrified eyes of the hanged men, the bite of the snakes blocking them to emit any sound and beg for their life. The silence in the room during this horrific scene was insupportable. 

She turned in the direction of Faerdrid once he was covered, and she admired her creation. Xzander almost stepped in front of him to protect him, but honestly, he was scared himself. She could do this to anyone. 

She considered herself to have the ultimate truth, she has been blessed by her god, her beloved Archanium, and nobody, no human could have the strength to reason with her. The moment Xzander feared so much all these years finally came. 

He has lost Zaelia for good. After what happened between her and Archanium, nobody would ever have an impact on her. She was devoted to him and the tribe, and he just confirmed to her that he was content with her actions. He approved of her. Xzander tried to breathe, but he couldn't anymore. To him, this was only madness. This was wrong. 

Archanium was in his city. He didn't miss anything from it, and he was deeply shocked. This was what she meant by "doing better" and he would never have imagined it. 

Just like that. With a smile, after a few hours, the men were covered with clay and placed in front of the throne room, visible by all the city. They were still alive. They were let there to dry. Everyone could see how they suffocated slowly, hopefully. That would be the best scenario for them at this moment. 

She was proud, and Archanium was stomached by her. Once the shock passed, he eventually laughed. His voice floated in the sky from the Golden city above the clouds.

"I love you, my queen."

And after this, things would never be the same.