“After the deaths of his queen and friend, he didn’t seem quite right in his head. I think the refusal from the other sovereigns was the final blow. He decided there was no point in being a king if he couldn’t have his queen—or anything else he wanted. So instead, he came up with a new plan, a plan to become the ruler of all of Sarantoa.”
“But that’s impossible.” It was my turn to pace. All this time, there was so much going on that I didn’t know about. I wondered if Adelaide even knew, or if our grandmother had kept the letters’ details from her too.
“Not if you conquer all of the kingdoms.”
I halted and faced him, but he wouldn’t look at me. My heart began to race with the panic coursing through my entire body. “Do you mean to tell me war is coming to the other three kingdoms? To my kingdom, where my dear cousin, Queen Adelaide, rules?”
“No—well—maybe. I don’t know!” His hands shot up to grip the sides of his temples. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, and then he continued, “When King Zaeden told me of his plans to attack the other kingdoms and overthrow them one by one, and that I would lead his army, I refused. I knew it would be wrong to break the treaty.”
“So you—you what? Told him no?” I let out a bitter laugh.
“I told him it was unwise. I told him that the outcome would likely be a bad one for him, being that the odds were three against one. He refused to listen to me though. He told me if I wasn’t with him, I was against him. I feared we were all doomed, but then one of my soldiers came to me with a plan. He told me he thought he could gain enough support to take the throne from King Zaeden. I told him it was a good plan, but I couldn’t stand against the king my father had helped put on the throne, the king who was once like an uncle to me, but I also told him I wouldn’t stop him. I decided to leave Aquila.
“I told my mother and sister I had to leave for the good of everyone. I knew I would be deemed a traitor for abandoning my king. It’s a fact I’m ashamed of to this day, but my heart was torn, my loyalty stubborn.”
“So you left… abandoned your kingdom in its time of need?” I asked incredulously. Though I’d done the same, my kingdom hadn’t depended on me as his did.
“Yes, I thought it the only way to save our land. I ran far away, to a small village where no one would find me… Lottenheim, where I met Ginny and Irving. Their inn wasn’t doing so well back then, so I offered to help them if they promised not to ask me any questions. When there wasn’t anything left to fix, and The Golden Lilly Inn began to thrive, I asked them if I could keep my belongings there until a time came when I needed them. They agreed. I didn’t wish to use up all of my funds, and I certainly didn’t wish to be discovered should a traveler from Aquila ever arrive at the inn, so I went off and fended for myself, finding what scraps I could from the kitchens of rich manors. That’s how I came to find you.”
“So, you rescued me and were going to take me back to Solis, and then you were planning to go back to being a vagrant—until you found out about my power,” I stated, knowing this part of the story.
“Exactly.” He stood up and grabbed both of my shoulders, looking into my eyes with desperation. “Once I learned of your power, I knew I had to get you to my sister. You see, we know this sorceress. She told my sister that one day she would find others like her, that she saw it in her vision pool. I didn’t really believe it was true, and then I found you. I knew then it was Celestia’s plan for us to meet.”
I looked up at the dilapidated wooden-beamed ceiling, feeling a weight suddenly rest upon my shoulders. “All right, now tell me why we’ve left Oceania’s Den in the middle of the night. And what have you learned that caused you to change your mind about coming with me to the palace?”
He shook his head and stepped away from me. “The worst, I fear. While you were asleep, I decided to sneak back downstairs to listen to the conversation of those three nobles. As they spoke, I realized that I’ve made a tragic mistake. I should’ve stayed and fought to put my fellow soldier on the throne, my duty to King Zaeden be damned! This is entirely my fault. I’ve been such a coward.”
I didn’t blink, his words sinking in. No wonder he hadn’t told me his story before. He was ashamed of himself. Regardless of what he thought, his regret at running away now could only mean one thing. “So King Zaeden still sits on the throne,” I stated.
He sighed, and then he said the words that made my blood run cold. “Yes, and they said that he’s going to use a dark power to conquer all of Sarantoa.”
Chapter 24
His statement rendered me speechless. I blinked a few times to clear my head. “So, what now? You want to use me to fix your mistake.”
Did he actually look hurt? His brow furrowed, and a muscle in his jaw twitched. “Believe me. I would rather you were not a part of this. Do you think I want to place you in harm’s way?” He didn’t wait for my answer. Instead, he grabbed my hand and pleaded, “War is coming, Zephyra, whether you want it to or not. Would you stand by idly when you know you may have the power to help stop it?”
“Ha!” My laugh came out strangled. The irony. “I may have this power within me, but I don’t know how to use it. I can’t even light a small fire to keep us warm. What good am I for fighting some dark power?” I pulled my hand from his and threw my arms up in the air with exasperation.
“That—” He shook his head and pressed his lips together before continuing in a calmer tone, “That is why I’m taking you to my sister. Whom I also wish didn’t have to be a part of this, by the way. She can help you, as I’ve said before.” He looked away from me and spoke in a voice so low I almost didn’t hear him. “There’s something else I haven’t told you.”
“Oh dear Celestia, what else could there possibly be?” I didn’t think I could take much more.
“I lied when I said I only knew your name due to your royal lineage.”
I raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
“You have to understand, when I first saw you in that dungeon, I didn’t recognize you. You were in rough shape, and it had been eight springs since I’d last laid eyes on you.”
“Eight springs?” I echoed.
“Yes, eight spring since I had the pleasure of sitting with you at Noctis De Celestia, when I was only a boy of a decade and a half.”
“You?” I stopped short, taking his declaration in with disbelief. He had been the boy sitting at my table. This whole time, he’d known and not bothered to tell me. Suddenly, a horrific thought occurred to me. “I—I cursed you that night! You and those other two girls from Terra.” I sat frozen, my mouth opening and closing. “That means this is actually all my fault. What has befallen you is because of me.”
He tilted my chin so that I had to look into his eyes. “Listen to me. This is not your fault. I have never believed that. You said so yourself. You can’t even light a small fire, never mind curse three people—”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” I cut him off.
“No. What I’m trying to say is that, I didn’t tell you how I knew of you because of some fake curse you tossed at me when we were children. I’m telling you because I don’t believe it’s purely coincidence that we’ve crossed paths before. Celestia has put us in each other’s lives again for a reason.”
I lifted my head, the memory of Celestia’s voice in my mind. You are a special girl, Zephyra.
I inhaled sharply at the memory, which snapped me out of my sullen state. Perhaps he was right. It seemed Celestia did have plans for me. If I truly did have the power within me to stop this war, I must at least try. Otherwise, this demented King of Aquila would try to take over all of Sarantoa, including Adelaide’s kingdom.
I straightened my back and held my head up high with resolve. “All right, I’ll help you try to stop this war. It seems that is, indeed, what our goddess wants. Who am I to deny her?” I’d do right by the goddess who’d given me life.
The look of relief in Percifal’s face was enough to make me glad, for the momen
t, that I had agreed to help him.
The next thing I knew he knelt down before me, peering into my eyes with nothing but sincerity. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all of this before. I’d thought King Zaeden to be dead, but it seems that he’s the one who will conjure this dark power of which Sreda—the sorceress—spoke.”
“I forgive you, Percifal.” How could I not, after everything we’d been through together?
The look that came over him as I spoke those words… adoration? No one had ever looked at me that way before.
We gazed at one another in silence, and I found myself noticing him as if for the first time; his long, dark lashes and sharp, angular features. He was the most gorgeous man I’d ever known.
His gaze fell to my lips, and in an instant, we were kissing. I almost cried out at the sudden release of pressure built up between us. It was like a cold layer of ice had broken. The whole world seemed to pause around us in that moment. My heart soared as a groan escaped from his throat. I never wanted it to end. Passion filled me to my core. I gripped the back of his neck with one hand as he wrapped his strong arms around my waist.
I wanted him, all of him.
And then I saw a flicker of light through my closed lids and heard the roar of a fire. I did not care, but Percifal pulled away, and my eyes shot open.
The walls around us were covered in bright, hot fire, the flames reaching out like hungry fingers grasping to touch us. I shrieked, scrambling to get off the pallet.
“Zephyra! Control your emotions!” Percifal yelled over the roar of the fire.
“I can’t!” I screamed back at him, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.
“Call the fire to you, or we’ll lose everything! You can do it! I’ve seen Chel do it with water! Concentrate, and calm yourself!”
I sucked in a gulp of smoky air, about to argue back, and coughed. It was no use. He was right, I had to at least try, or else we’d be travelling bareback the rest of the way. Not to mention we’d lose our saddlebags and everything in them
I turned and faced the fire, willing myself to calm down. I closed my eyes and thought of Celestia and my love for her. I pictured myself calling to the flames… them bending to my will. I held out my hands to draw the fire back into myself.
At first, nothing happened, but as I was about to give up and run out of the shack, a rush of burning power so bright I saw white light behind my closed eyelids hit me.
For a moment, I thought that I’d died, that I’d gone to the heavens to rest eternally with my goddess. And then my breath came back to me with a WHOOSH. I opened my eyes to find the wooden walls of the shack no longer aflame. They were a little charred, but they were no longer on fire.
Weak with exhaustion, I sank to my knees.
Percifal came to me and helped me back up onto the pallet. “Here, here. That was brilliant! I knew you had it in you.” He bent and pressed his palm against my cheek. “Sleep now, little flame. We have only a couple more days until we reach Aquila.”
I was so confused by the fire. Had my passion really ignited those flames? I would surely have to be more careful in the future if that was true. And Percifal… what were these feelings that were developing between us? I was too exhausted for so many questions, and sleep soon whisked me away into a dream world.
When I awoke, it was to the sunlight beaming in through spaces in the ceiling. A wool blanket rested on top of me, and I felt warmth at my back. I turned my neck to see that the warmth came from Percifal’s body resting against mine.
I sat up quickly.
Percifal stretched. “Good morning, Zephyra.”
I blinked as the events from the previous night came rushing back to me; Percifal’s revealing story about his past, my role in the events to come, our passionate kiss, and the fire that I’d caused because of it.
A rush of nausea came over me, and I had to put my head down between my knees.
Percifal took note of my state and sat up beside me. “Zephyra? Are you all right?”
I took a deep breath and straightened back up. Keeping my back as stiff as a board, I answered without looking at him, “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that… the fire…”
“Yes, there was the fire, but you put a stop to it. Don’t you see how good that is?”
I shot off the bed to face him. “It’s lucky I was able to stop those flames from burning this whole shack down, along with all of our things, but the fact that I started it because of…” my voice trailed off as I searched for the right words. “Because of what? My emotions?” My cheeks warmed.
“Yes, your powers are tethered to your emotions right now, it would seem.”
“I thought they were only tied to my anger, but I guess all of my stronger emotions affect my power. Until I can figure out how to control it, I must keep my emotions in check—or I risk burning us both to ashes.”
“I understand.” His face fell at my declaration, knowing exactly what I meant. “I suppose you’re right. We have a demented king and a war to worry about. We should focus on that.”
That said, he pulled his loose, white tunic on and began strapping on his leather armor. I realized I must have hurt his pride, so I placed a hand upon his shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. When he looked up at me, his aqua gaze seemed empty.
I faltered, pulling my hand away. Not able to meet his eyes any longer, I looked over his shoulder and told him, “I don’t regret last night, but I don’t want to put us in anymore danger.”
“Of course, my lady. You need not worry about my feelings.” He dismissed the subject. “We should make haste; who knows how long we have before King Zaeden will act on his plans?”
I nodded and stepped back to smooth the wrinkles from my dress. I knew he was right, but I couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by his sudden formality.
As I braided my hair, he said, “I’ll have to tell the guards you’re my prisoner when we reach Aquila.”
I frowned at that. “You aren’t going to sneak in to the palace? Do you think they’ll simply let you walk back in after leaving like that? You said yourself you betrayed your king. In most places, that would earn you a death sentence.”
“Sneaking in is more risky. Someone could see us, and then I would definitely look guilty. And too many of the people know me there too well to be fooled by some disguise. Besides, we don’t have the luxury of remaining hidden if we are to visit my mother and sister in their apartment. As insane as King Zaeden may be now, I don’t believe he would ever sentence me to death. As far as I know, the rest of my family is still in his good graces.” He bent down to pack our blankets into his saddlebag. “I will tell everyone that I left to ask Solis to join us in hopes of balancing the fight, and when they refused, I took one of their own as my prisoner.”
“Would you ever have done that?”
“Done what?”
“Taken me as your prisoner?” I asked.
“Perhaps once… when all I wanted was to please my king.”
I shuddered but let the subject go. We readied our horses and took off through the meadow and into the hills covered in fallen, autumn leaves.
Chapter 25
We rode through the hills for two more days, stopping only to sleep beneath the open sky. We slept with our bodies back to back as before for warmth, no intimacy in such a position, but each time our skin touched, I closed my eyes and sank into his heat. I needed to be careful not to give in to temptation. I wondered if the challenge was as tough for him as it was for me.
Our landscape gave way to rockier terrain, and it wasn’t long before I heard the crashing of waves, a sound new to my ears, which I found soothing. At one point, we passed a clearing, and the sea actually came into view. The sight stole my breath away. I admired its blue depths and the steep, golden cliffs towering over its edge and reaching toward the clouds rolling through the grey-blue sky.
A mask of determination covered Percifal’s face as we pressed on. He broke the silence, saying, “Almost there.”
I discovered he was right when I saw the palace looming in the distance among the cliffs. The white limestone palace had peaking towers of different heights. There was something beautiful about the way it was nestled in amongst those cliffs, the sea stretching out forever at its base. Twenty four sunrises… It’d taken us over two and a half fortnights to reach our destination.
Percifal drew in his reins to stop Sunny, and I followed suit.
“Hand me your reins,” he beckoned.
I paused and looked at him, dumbfounded.
“If I’m to make them believe you’re my prisoner, it must appear as though you are coming here against your will,” he explained. “Now, hand me your reins.”
I leaned forward in my saddle and did as he bade.
He took my reins and tied them to his own saddle before straightening his back and squaring his wide shoulders. “Welcome to Aquila,” he mumbled, edging Sunny onward with me in tow.
Watching him, I thought about how majestic he looked against the backdrop, like he belonged here with those eyes that reminded me of the sea on a warm, sunny day, and a body that appeared as unyielding as those tall cliffs. Head held high, with that mighty sword strapped to his hip, he certainly looked the part of constable, even in his mere leather armor. I wouldn’t wish to have him as an enemy, but was grateful to have him as a protector.
I checked my expression as we rode up the side of a steep cliff and neared the large iron gates of Aquila. I needed to seem miserable so anyone who saw me would believe I’d been brought there against my will. I turned my thoughts to the person I despised the most, Algor, and scowled.
One of Aquila’s guards stood at the gates, a tall man with long, dark hair that blew like ribbons in the wind. He shielded his eyes from the setting sun to see us better. He wore silver chainmail under a blue surcoat that had Aquila’s emblem stitched in silver upon the chest; a seahorse in front of two crossed swords.
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 19