The Archives of Biatre

By Keri Dyck

All Katira wanted was a change from her normal life in an orphanage. She signed up for a fully immersive acting class and unknowingly served poison to the visiting king and queen of Biatre. Her punishment: to serve her sentence in exile for a crime she didn’t intentionally commit.

Derek, now King Derek, doesn’t know much about the servant girl at first. She’s hiding something, but it’s not the biggest of his worries. Someone is attacking his kingdom.

Mason Blackwell moved from Canada to Biatre several years ago. He adopted three street children and trained them for a time such as this.

Little do they all know what Vivian has planned for them…

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Dec 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781489732545

Keri Dyck

Keri was always known as a storyteller to the children in her church. One day, she decided to start writing them down and see where it took her. She currently lives with her parents, four younger siblings, a little red dog, and lots of plants.

Book preview

THE

ARCHIVES

OF Biatre

Keri Dyck

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Copyright © 2021 Keri Dyck.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.liferichpublishing.com

844-686-9607

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3250-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3241-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-3254-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020924428

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 12/28/2020

Contents

About The Author

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Chapter 89

Chapter 90

Chapter 91

Chapter 92

Chapter 93

Chapter 94

Chapter 95

Chapter 96

Chapter 97

Chapter 98

Chapter 99

Chapter 100

Chapter 101

Chapter 102

Chapter 103

Chapter 104

Chapter 105

Chapter 106

Chapter 107

Chapter 108

Chapter 109

Chapter 110

Chapter 111

Chapter 112

Chapter 113

Chapter 114

Chapter 115

Chapter 116

Chapter 117

Chapter 118

Chapter 119

Chapter 120

Chapter 121

Chapter 122

Chapter 123

Chapter 124

Chapter 125

Chapter 126

Chapter 127

Chapter 128

Chapter 129

Chapter 130

Chapter 131

Chapter 132

Chapter 133

Chapter 134

Chapter 135

Chapter 136

Chapter 137

Chapter 138

Chapter 139

Chapter 140

Chapter 141

Chapter 142

Chapter 143

Chapter 144

Chapter 145

Chapter 146

Chapter 147

Chapter 148

Acknowledgements

Quotations

This book is dedicated to my mom, who taught me how to write.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Keri was always known as a storyteller to the children in her church. One day, she decided to start writing them down and see where it took her. She currently lives with her parents, four younger siblings, a little red dog, and lots of plants. You can find her on Instagram @writer_girl_19.

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And tell them I hope they sleep well, continued Prince Adhemar.

Aye, Yer Highness. Katira curtsied as well as she could without dumping the full chalices in her hands. As ye wish.

His Royal Highness scrutinized her, nodded once, then abruptly turned. His pewter cape swirled behind him as he strode away, leaving the servant girl to her task. She turned also, heading toward the farthest room in the wing.

The wide hallway was beautiful. The candles in the wall sconces sent flickering shimmers through the crystals hanging about them. The unsteady lights illumined the empty sockets of the carved busts mounted on pillars, making them look alive. Portraits lined the walls, too, of the royal family, bedecked in crowns, furs, and jewels aplenty.

It was strange, that the world used to work this way. Some people were born into royalty and died there too, no matter what they were like. If they were honourable rulers, the people loved them; if they were tyrannical beasts, the people were too scared to do anything about it. It was strange how others, simply because of their ancestry, were born into poverty and servitude.

Nowadays it was different, of course. Rank did not have much to do with anything. Now it was all about money. But there again, some people made it, and some did not. It was strange and yet perfectly normal—it was the luck of fate. Or was there perhaps a God who decided such things?

A sharp light glinted in the corner of her eye, reminding her of the cameras. She shook the thoughts away as she reached the door. She was not employed to philosophize.

Katira tapped the door gently with the toe of her shoe. An unfamiliar servant opened it from within, his wide shoulders barring the entrance.

State your intentions, he demanded.

She held the chalices out to him. Some refreshments and the wish of a good night’s rest to our visiting royalty, from His Highness Prince Adhemar.

One of his eyebrows cocked, suspicious, but he reached for the chalices nonetheless. Tell His Highness that King Willhem and Queen Marielle send their gratitude, he said and shut the door. Some footsteps and quiet words were exchanged. There was a gentle thump, most likely a traveling bag being moved. Katira stood there for a few more seconds before turning back to the kitchen. Doubtless there would be more work to be done in preparation for tomorrow.

The cook had the fine idea of cooking the potatoes slowly overnight so they would be ready to be hashed for breakfast first thing, without him having to get up so early. Katira knew that he would get up early anyways; it was his duty to achieve a perfect meal, on time, thrice a day, not to mention always being ready for teatime and private refreshments.

She didn’t mind humouring him. Getting supplies was never a burden. To cross the garden to the storehouse, to descend into the cellar that smelled of earth and harvest, was all a pleasure enhanced by the moon and stars. The walls of stone could not hold them out the way they did everything else. She closed the kitchen door behind her, took a deep breath and smiled, then let it out in a song.

"Pick her some calamint, fresh e’er to be,

Elecampane, to sweeten the air

Mistletoe, for the future so bright

And myrtle, for the young and the fair."

A cool breeze let her syllables play on them before floating away like so many fairies into the nighttime mist.

"But pick for me bluebell, to bloom o’er my grave

With laurel, my story to keep

And thyme, to be true, and ne’er forsake

Alas, time ’tis for me to sleep."

The song came to an end as she opened the door to the little building on the far side of the garden. The brick enclosure echoed her last word, and she left the door open behind her. An oil lamp mounted on the wall lit her way down the stairs. She found the potato bins, filled her basket, and walked up the stairs, leaving the light behind her. Tunes started flitting through her brain as she kicked the door shut, but her load was heavy. The mood was not right, either, for some reason. Her footsteps made the only sound.

A beam of light poured into the darkness from the crack in the kitchen door. The closer she got, though, the more something blocked it—something, something tall, that had not been there before. Katira’s steps slowed as she drew nearer, and when it turned, she stopped completely. The glittering eyes that shone out from under that hood could only belong to one man.

Yer Highness. She curtsied, keeping her head down. What can I do for ye?

He ignored her question. You took them the wine?

Aye. Their Majesties send their thanks.

Are you sure they drank it? The tone in the prince’s voice was strange. He was always so silent and morose; but now that he was speaking, it seemed as if his entire dark essence was trying to bleed out in those words.

Katira couldn’t help the shudder that ran down her spine. I do not know, Yer Highness. Their vigil took the chalices from me. She felt like she should have added something else, but she didn’t. This was making too much sense. It was all she could do to not let him know that she understood.

He analyzed the naive expression on her face for an agonizing minute, then turned toward the rosier section of the garden, boots clicking on the stone path. Katira stood among the rows of vegetables and watched him go.

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Queen Vivian strolled the length of the room, smiling as she took in the rows of manned computer screens covering live footage from the castles. Any good scenes today?

Not from Biatre, ma’am, Miss Director answered, walking at her side. As you know, a good deal of the castle staff is on leave while the king and queen are absent. The royal advisor had the day off, and Prince Derek did nothing but fence and read. Here in Taklin, though, we had Soldier Twenty-Seven stumble, as you requested, and he got whipped for it.

How did he take it?

We had him under control the whole time, so very dramatically.

Excellent. Crowds love a good whipping.

Ma’am, aren’t you worried that they’ll tell someone outside on their off months? Obviously, they don’t remember details, but they know enough to get suspicious.

No, I am not worried in the slightest. You see, I am very invested in my actors. I know all about them—just like I know all about you. I know what can break you. Therefore, I am not worried at all. Queen Vivian walked to the section of screens that monitored her own castle. Then what about our current project?

Fairly well. Your son, Adhemar, was more than willing to play his part, but he was too zealous. I think the servant girl’s onto us.

As we supposed.

It’s too bad, really; she would’ve made a good editor. She has a good head for drama.

She’s got an even better face. You know what to do.

Miss Director nodded, mentally listing the paperwork she would need to forge and then file with the Canadian government. The girl would have been good behind a camera, but she was even better in front of one—so there she would stay.

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First reality. Those words were the only thing taking shape in Katira’s brain. She managed to hold on to the basket she was carrying and stumbled inside. The faces all blurred together as she searched them, looking for the housekeeper. There she is.

Miss Director! Katira hefted her load onto the nearest table and spoke in a hushed tone. Miss Director, may I speak with you for a moment?

The woman in question was always busy, but her arched brows rose slightly. She placed a hand on her hip and waited.

Katira grabbed her arm and whispered, First reality.

Miss Director stared blankly at her. What are ye talking about, child?

First reality, she repeated, enunciating her words more clearly. I want out.

The woman shook her head. Ye’re speakin’ nonsense, child. Back to yer chores.

Katira stumbled back, glancing around at the other servants. A few eyes sparked with recognition and then fear, and Katira realized what was going on. Her hand withdrew from Miss Director’s arm. She searched the ground, then shut her jaw. I am sorry, ma’am. I was frightened by the shadows in the garden. I have been rambling nonsense. Pardon me. Katira curtsied and walked back to where she could busy herself in her work. As she moved, thoughts whirled in her head. Miss Director lied to me. There isn’t a way out. I am to be filmed for international television, as a servant in a grand castle, for the rest of my life. I have to get away.

The last bit of the evening passed without any incident. Had Katira been trying to fool the other servants that her blunder was because of a fright, she would have acted embarrassed. But she was more concerned with fooling Miss Director, so she maintained a sad, confused look: helpless, hopeless, and entirely despondent. It wasn’t hard. That was how she actually felt—except the burning desire to get away. That she kept well hidden.

Since the servants slept on the floor, there was no creaking of the mattress as Katira rolled off her blanket. Since there was only a curtain in the doorway, there was no squealing of hinges as she slipped past. Since everyone had worked hard that day, no one was watching the kitchen. And since no one used the garden at night, no one watched as she climbed the stack of barrels and crates, tiptoed to the edge of the storage shed, and jumped over the stone wall.

The landing was hard. As soon as she recovered her breath, she rolled to the base and waited for someone to call out, or come running, but no one did. Miss Director must have taken her cover story of a fright in the garden as a sort of apology and hadn’t had her watched. It seemed too good to be true.

Her white nightdress was not exactly camouflage in the darkness, but it wasn’t like she had much choice in the matter, so she pressed on, keeping in the shadow of the trees lining the road. As soon as she was out of the castle’s sight, she began to run. The tree line broke. The worn dirt path became hard asphalt, and houses began lining up. The darkness was interrupted by fluorescent street lights that gave everything an eerie glow. Instead of birdsong and rustling branches, the music and ruckus of a nearby bar grew louder, then faded as she passed it too.

She realized that she hadn’t missed the modern life as much as she had thought she would. Working in the castle hadn’t been that bad. It was being stuck there that terrified her. Especially after being the one to bring those drinks to the king and queen, with everything in the castle being filmed…

They could very easily edit that footage and use it against her. She had to get away.

A tall building rose on her right. The street lights played off the bright-coloured, peeling paint. The doors were locked, but she knew the one counsellor who would give her a chance: Miss Eillah. She had a room on the bottom floor: east side, third from the road. Katira glanced over her shoulder. That unnerving feeling of being followed was not going away.

She rapped on the window, gently. Twice. For a second nothing happened, then the curtains shifted. Eillah! Her eyes widened and her mouth opened, but she reached out and unlatched the window, then pulled it open.

What are you doing here, Katy?

Katira was already halfway through the window. I’ve got to go, she panted. I need to leave. She landed on the floor, then looked both ways out the window before shutting it and pulling the curtains across. She stared at the counsellor before her face crumpled. Where can I go? What do I do?

Eillah caught her in an embrace, stroking her messy hair with one hand. What happened?

They’re going to blame me for the assassinations of King Willhem and Queen Victoria. I need to hide.

She pushed Katira to arm’s length. They’ll look for you here.

I know. The girl shook her head in desperation. I’ll have to go somewhere else, like out of the city, probably out of the province. Maybe Nunavut or something. I don’t know how, but—

A rumble grew outside: the sound of horses galloping on pavement. A voice demanded entrance, and the receptionist on night shift must have allowed it. A fist pounded the door. Eillah shoved Katira toward the bed, and she dove underneath.

The knock sounded again, then the door was forced open. Before the lead soldier could state his intentions, Eillah spoke.

I’m sorry, sir, I was just coming to open the door. I’m still half asleep.

I’m sure. His voice was sarcastic. Where is she?

Who, sir?

Katherine Shultz.

Oh, you mean Katy? She went into foster care a few months ago. You’d have to check the records to see where; I’m not authorized to give out that kind of information.

Katira could almost hear the soldier glowering, then there was a shuffling noise. Another soldier spoke.

She’s under the bed, sir. Boots thumped over. The number Four was printed on both sides of the heels, bold and black.

Katira clenched her jaw but did not close her eyes. She curled up in the corner and tried to shrink, so desperately, but the soldier stooped down and took hold of her leg. She grabbed the bedpost, but her sweaty hands slipped on the iron. He yanked her out. Taking her shoulders, he stood her upright, roughly, and pulled her hands behind her back. Another soldier supplied rope. Their firm hands dug into her arms.

Eillah was protesting something, something about orphan protection by law, but Katira couldn’t make out her words. The soldiers weren’t listening either. They dragged her out of the room. The last glimpse she caught was the bright poster on the wall, and Miss Eillah’s face wet with tears. The door slammed shut between them.

She didn’t scream. It was useless. So was fighting. Her wrists were already chaffed by the rough rope, and her arms and shoulders would bruise soon.

Left. The soldier numbered Four shoved her in that direction. The whole contingent turned in perfect unison, keeping her in the centre of the square formation. They marched on, back to the castle. She panted, her much shorter legs having a hard time keeping up. It was taking so long. She wanted to faint. This all seemed surreal. It could have passed for a dream—or rather, a nightmare.

A drone buzzed around her from behind, and she glanced up. Its camera was extended, zooming in on her face. She shot it a nasty glare. She hated it. That drone had followed her. They had known that she was going to run, and were turning it into a whole drama. She had played right into their hands.

A siren cut the night air, then stopped as a police car blocked the parade. Two men in blue uniforms stepped out. Katira opened her mouth only for a soldier to stuff a gag in it.

What is going on here?

A soldier with the number Seventeen on his chest stepped forwards, motioning to one of the drones. "Filming a scene for Castles in Time. We were informed that there would be no interruptions."

That’s funny. It must not have made it onto the schedule. He cast his eyes over the group, landing on Katira. Tears welled in her eyes as the gag tickled the back of her throat. She tried to scream now, but it came out as a muffled groaning sound. He looked back at Seventeen. Is she here willingly?

Of course. I have the paperwork on me, if you’d like to see it. He took a few folded sheets from inside his uniform coat and handed them over.

The officer flipped through the pages, checking all the necessary signatures, then looked at Katira again. She pleaded as hard as she could with her eyes. She’s very convincing.

Seventeen broke into an easy smile: an expression Katira had never known he was capable of making. She’s one of our best. Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like to get this scene done before her hours are up. Junior actors’ regulations, you know.

Of course. Good night.

The officers left Katira to her fate. The soldiers started up their march again. If it had been hard to keep up before, it was even more difficult now. The gag kept her from catching her breath. She stumbled. Black spots began to dance in front of her eyes, and with a few more steps, they took over entirely.

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Not a soul was to be seen down the hallway, neither prisoner nor guard. The bars on the window wouldn’t budge. Neither would the door. Katira shook them, throwing her whole weight against them, but nothing. Knocking on the stones was no good either. Halfway down one wall, the blood started dripping from her knuckles. She grimaced and straightened while shaking her hand out, then did a double take. If she stood just so, a glint of hazy morning light from the window shone off a piece of something in the mortar between two stones, about waist high. She stooped to take a closer look at it, and it… moved?

She should have known. It was a camera. They were filming her. Of course. A flashback hit her so hard she stumbled backwards. An episode of Castles in Time. The show she had auditioned for.

Prince Adhemar, the dark, brooding heartthrob of the show, had been struck by a maid. Her name had been Elisa. Rumour said she was only defending herself. She had been in this very cell. Those stains on the floor, in the corner, there, were where she had lain and bled out after a beating. The guards had dragged her back because she didn’t have the strength to stand up.

Katira began to shake. Fans had been so impressed by how well the scene had been played: the effects were so lifelike, the girl was such a good actor, the bloody wounds looked so real!

She felt the horror seep through her bones. They would say the same about her fate. Maybe she could say something, explain what was happening—but no. Everything was edited. No one would hear. If she were to fight, it would only make her look more guilty.

But what if she were to play along?

A tear escaped one eye as she leaned her head back on the wall she had fallen against. The camera hummed a bit, no doubt zooming in on whatever its operator thought could be of use: the tear trickling down her cheek, the pale arms wrapped around her knees, the lips whispering to herself, I was only doing what I thought was right. Her voice cracked beautifully. How did it come to this? She buried her head in her knees.

She needed more tears, but they would not come. Fear was dry. She needed sorrow, reflection, sadness… She pictured Miss Eillah’s face as the door closed, the tears that had been streaming down her face. But then the poster caught her attention: the poster that had been behind her, the bright words. What had they said? According to purpose, or something. She had asked Miss Eillah about it once. Oh, yes: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. The head counsellor hadn’t liked it, but Miss Eillah had fought that the other counsellors were allowed to display their respective religions, so she could too.

It was strange how those words were imprinted on her mind, like a tattoo. The thought that, if there was a God, he could turn around any circumstance for good. For those who loved him, anyways. For those he called, but she had said that all were called. And he always had a purpose. It was a neat thought, and to be honest, it would have been comforting. But she didn’t love him, so there was no hope, was there?

That was another thing Miss Eillah had said. There was always hope. The most hopeless situations were God’s favourite, because that was where he could show himself. Just like any movie, she had explained. It always gets as bad as possible so that the good has to prove itself.

She shook herself. Yes, those thoughts were nice, but she had a pressing concern at the moment. What could she do to make the audience pity her? To make Miss Director pity her? She started to rock back and forth, but was too tired to keep that up and leaned back against the cold stone.

Haunting melodies were her favourite. Perhaps they would do the trick. The words were not coming to her, though. She needed to portray the sadness, the hopelessness of being rendered guilty of someone else’s crime. She still couldn’t believe what was happening, and yet at the same time, it was so brutally real.

That was it!

"My dreams come to life

Phantoms floating near

Reality not what it seems to be

I wish to awake, but find—"

A key clicked in the lock at the end of the hall. Her song caught in her throat. The door swung open on rusty hinges, and boots clicked on the floor. Her palms began to sweat. Her breaths were coming short and rapid. The soldier with the Four came around the corner. A ring of skeleton keys jangled while he used one to open the padlock hanging on the door.

Let’s get this over with, he growled.

Katira opened her parched mouth and whispered, What?

He only stared at her, no pity in his firm lips and cold grey eyes. There was no way a normal man could be so void of any soul, was there?

She stood, shaking. Her cold muscles were stiff. Four had untied the ropes around her wrists when he had thrown her in before, no doubt so that she could smell hope, but now he bound them behind her back again. Her knees threatened to give out underneath her. He grabbed her shoulder, pinching her hair down. She gave a little cry as the strands tugged on her scalp, but he pulled her forwards with him, down the hallway. They were going in the opposite direction than he had come in. Her heart was thudding again—not racing, but deep, slow throbs that seemed to take so much effort. She wondered how long her chest would be able to keep it inside.

They got to the only door at the end: a huge, iron enforced door with the bars on the inside. Katira didn’t understand why until Four pushed her through into the blinding morning sunshine.

She was in the arena.

Four slammed the door and the bars fell into place behind them, metal jarring on metal. Her eyes adjusted to the light, but the only thing she could see was the wooden platform in the middle of the sandy floor. In front of her were the steps. Her balance was precarious with her hands behind her back, but there was no choice other than to ascend. One. Two. She tripped. Her head cracked against a corner, and for a second, stars danced in front of her eyes. Four jerked her up. She swayed. Sticky red blood dripped over her brow and trickled right next to her eye. Up she went anyways, propelled by an unrelenting hand, to see her fate.

Here on top of the platform were three different edifices. One end hosted a pillory, the other a whipping post. But in the middle, facing the crowd, was a noose. It swirled around in the gentle breeze. Katira froze, then bolted. Four grabbed her wrists and yanked them up, backwards, past her shoulders. Pain shot through her entire body. She screamed. He held her there. She was shaking violently before he dropped her.

Two more soldiers marched up the steps then. They picked her up off her knees and stationed her on a barrel while Four pushed a set of steps beside her and climbed up. He placed the noose around her neck and tightened it. Katira began to pant for breath, tears streaming down her face. She pulled and struggled, whimpering, but they held firm. Four