Chapter Five- That of Poison and Roses

Five

Let me out.

Let me out.

Let me out.

Just when I think dinner couldn't get worse, along comes the treaty signing. 

As our fathers sit on either ends of the large banquet table, all of their children are lined up against the back wall, in age order.

Eldorians must have a thing for age order.

Our mothers stand flanking either side of the line of children on the back wall. Under any normal circumstances, the Kings would have their wives seated next to them for treaty negotiations.

But this is different. 

This treaty is entirely secret. 

The sacred process of sealing a treaty was one I'd only heard about, never seen. After all, we’d never known peace, not in my lifetime, anyway. 

It is the same as I'd heard. 

Two kings 

on either ends of a table

in the middle of which is a chalice,

a chalice of pure gold,

a chalice filled with water from the Serenity Springs, 

the springs that are in both kingdoms

and neither kingdoms

all at once.

The kings both pick up the gold plated pens,

the ones that they'll use to sign the parchment next to the chalice.

The kings stand up,

and

they 

each 

take 

a 

small 

sip

from 

the 

chalice. 

They stand side by side,

pens in hand,

and the kings lean over the parchment...

and collapse onto the maroon carpet.