The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series

by Andrea Lamoureux

  “You’ll be deemed a traitor for abandoning us though.” I crossed my arms. I didn’t like this idea.

  “Don’t say that. One day, when all this has faded from everyone’s memories—and Thaimis is king,” he frowned at that. “I can return.”

  “Mother isn’t going to be happy.”

  “She’ll understand.”

  He was right. When he told Mother of his plan that night, she did understand. She was sad, but agreed it would be for the best. She always agreed with Percifal. I hated that he was leaving us, but with Mother’s blessing, there was nothing I could do to convince him to stay.

  With spring nipping at winter’s heels, it was time for Percifal to leave. First Father, now Percifal, I didn’t know how much more loss I could take.

  I swallowed the lump in my throat as we embraced in the dark of night. “Don’t get yourself killed, hey? I will see you again someday.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Take care of Mother.” He kissed my head, stepped back and held his arms out to our mother.

  “My son,” she sobbed into his shoulder. “Take good care of yourself.”

  He held her tightly. “You know I will.”

  She let him go and wiped away her tears. Bending down, she picked up his sword and handed it to him. “Take good care of your father’s sword. You packed the silver and gold I gave you?”

  “I did. Thank you, Mother.”

  She nodded, and then there was nothing left to say. Percifal mounted his horse and rode away. My mother and I held each other. Neither of us could stop our tears from flowing. I prayed to Celestia I’d see my brother again—even though I’d begun to doubt she was listening at all. If all went as planned, Thaimis would soon be king and Percifal could return safely.

  Before Percifal had left, he’d told us that King Zaeden hadn’t yet decided when he’d head to war. I suspected it would be sometime after Noctis, which was to be held in Ventosa that spring.

  It took two sunrises before King Zaeden noticed Percifal’s absence. I was sitting with Mother when a knock sounded on our door. Shortly after, one of our servants announced Thaimis.

  “I’m here on the king’s behalf. He wants me to find Percifal.” He sounded so serious, I stared at him a moment, but then he winked.

  Mother put her needlework down and folded her hands in her lap. “And what will you tell His Majesty?”

  “I suppose I shall tell him Percifal’s nowhere to be found.”

  “Yes, and please tell him that we are most distraught with his disappearance. Tell him we awoke yesterday morning to find his room empty and his sword gone.”

  “Of course.” He bowed to my mother.

  I looked at him from over the cup of tea I sipped at and then asked, “When are you going to take the throne from him?”

  “Very soon, I hope. I have some of the noble’s support. Don’t worry you’re pretty little head. You’ll know when the time is here. I promise you that.”

  I inclined my forehead at him.

  Mother simply answered, “Good. We will await any news. Should you need anything, please call on us.”

  “Yes, Madam Lacrima. Now, I must be off to inform the king his constable has disappeared from Aquila. What a joy that will be.”

  I almost felt sympathetic for him—almost.

  As expected, King Zaeden was outraged Percifal had left Aquila without permission. Thaimis told me later how he had paced his throne room, throwing and kicking anything that came into his sight. Most of all, he was upset his plans to take over Sarantoa would have to be put on hold until he found a new constable to replace Percifal. He had asked Thaimis to take the position, but Thaimis regretfully declined, saying he wouldn’t make a good leader. The king, unexpectedly, agreed. I laughed at the irony. Soon Thaimis would be the leader of the whole kingdom. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about that. I couldn’t picture him as a king. I was worried he didn’t have it in him. Perhaps Percifal’s abandonment would be enough to stop the impending war. One could hope.

  As time went on, I felt more and more certain that my worries about Thaimis were true. Summer came and still Thaimis hadn’t challenged King Zaeden. When I questioned him about it, he always insisted it wasn’t the right time and would make me drop the subject. He began acting short-tempered and irrational. I supposed it was the pressure that was on him causing him to behave this way. Still, it hurt. He treated me like I was no one, after all we’d been through together.

  By winter, King Zaeden had appointed a new constable, and I’d had enough. I marched right into Thaimis’ chamber the night after the feast King Zaeden had to congratulate the new constable on his position.

  “If you aren’t going to challenge King Zaeden, what was the point in Percifal leaving?” I seethed, crossing my arms and planting my feet in front of him. I wasn’t moving until I had an answer. I missed my brother, and it was his fault he’d left.

  He looked up at me with his big sea-blue eyes and ran his hands through his dark hair. “Chel—”

  “No! No more excuses! Tell me why haven’t you done as you promised?”

  “I will.”

  “When? When it’s too late? King Zaeden has his new constable now… the perfect person to lead his army, another ally. You should have killed him already.” I buried my face in my hands.

  “Please don’t worry so. I do have a plan.” He rose to offer me comfort.

  I shook him off. “What is your plan? Tell me.”

  He sighed and took a step back. A muscle in his jaw twitched as he clenched it too tightly. “Fine, if you must know. I plan to take him down this winter. He won’t go to war until spring. I’ve been earning his trust, staying close to him. I need to learn how to be a king before I do this. I can’t just jump into this position like I’d originally thought.”

  “Ha! You’re learning from him how to be a king? You’d be better off learning from a horse’s ass!”

  He winced at my vulgar words. “I know he’s not a good king anymore, but there are still some things I need to learn before I obtain the throne.”

  “Alright, Thaimis. You have until the end of winter to do something… anything! Otherwise, I’m going to find Percifal and bring him back.”

  “I don’t think he’d be welcome back,” he uttered under his breath.

  I shot him a look that made him hold up both hands before I left, slamming the door behind me so hard something inside his chamber crashed onto the floor.

  Before winter was over, matters got worse.

  Mother and I stood wrapped in our furs along with the other peers, as four guards ‘escorted’ Sreda to the tower. King Zaeden had declared she’d been found guilty of working against Aquila and would be kept in the tower indefinitely. I believed it was actually because he was paranoid she would somehow use her magic against him, to help the other kingdoms. He really had lost his mind. Word around the palace was he’d barely left his chambers these days. He was neglecting his kingly duties, obsessed with finding a way to win his war. I was surprised to see him in public that day. He must have needed to make sure himself the sorceress was locked away.

  A bitter taste filled my mouth as I regarded Mother’s stooped posture and downturned mouth. Thaimis, who stood with the new constable, was unreadable. His face was blank of all emotion… a mask I hoped.

  Sreda held her head high as she was led to the tower. She didn’t even spare me a glance as she passed by. I admired her courage. Most who went to the tower had to be dragged there, and most never left once inside the looming, windowless prison.

  When they reached the door to the tower, the guards followed her inside, and the door was shut with a loud THUNK! The sound reverberated through the air.

  Slowly, we all turned and made our way back to the palace. I lost sight of King Zaeden and Thaimis.

  “Enough is enough,” Mother said to me when we were in the privacy of our apartment.

  “I agree.”

  “No, you don’t understand. I’m arranging for you to
marry a duke that has his own palace—away from Aquila.”

  My jaw dropped and my eyes widened. “Mother, you can’t be serious.”

  She raised her chin. “I’m more serious than ever. It isn’t safe for you here. Not anymore. If King Zaeden finds out about your power… who knows what he would do.”

  “He won’t find out! I haven’t been using it!” My voice came out shrill. This couldn’t be happening. I couldn’t marry a man I’d never even met, never mind loved.

  “We don’t know that. He has Sreda. She knows of your power.” She sounded so calm. She must have been planning this for a while.

  “Sreda would never betray me.”

  “I can’t take that chance.”

  “I can’t believe this!” My face grew hot. Thaimis was supposed to be seizing the throne. If I married someone else before that happened…

  I needed to see Thaimis. I pushed past one of the servants and hurried to the door.

  “Where are you going? Don’t you leave, we have much to discuss,” Mother demanded.

  “I’ll be back,” was all I said before I disappeared outside.

  I spotted a guard when I got inside the palace. “Have you seen Thaimis?” I asked the man in blue livery.

  “He’s in the meeting chamber.” He pointed toward one of the corridors.

  When I reached the meeting chamber, two other guards crossed their swords in front of me, denying me entrance.

  My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “I need to speak with Thaimis.”

  “He’s with the king,” one of the guards said with a straight face, eyes staring straight forward.

  “Fine.” I placed my hands on my hips. “Tell him Lady Chelela needs to speak with him when he’s done. He can find me at our old meeting spot.”

  “Yes, my lady.” Still, he wouldn’t look at me. His eyes were glued to the wall across from him.

  I spun and flicked my hair over my shoulder as I walked away.

  I waited, and waited, and waited… and waited. The sun had already set, and I was shivering as I sat on a ledge on the rooftop, rubbing my gloved hands together. Thaimis had left me out there to freeze. Surely he knew where ‘our old meeting spot’ meant. That was, if the block-headed guard remembered to tell him. Mother was probably starting to worry I’d ran away to find Percifal by now. Perhaps that was what I should’ve done instead of going to Thaimis.

  I was about to give up and go home when I heard footsteps crunching.

  “Thaimis,” I uttered his name in relief as he appeared, hoisting himself up. Always late.

  He looked sickly. His pallor had taken on a greyish tone and his eyes had dark shadows beneath them. Perhaps his meeting with the king hadn’t gone well.

  “Thaimis,” I offered again, louder this time. I went to cup his cheek with my gloved hand, but he flinched away.

  “Don’t.” His eyes seemed to flash a bright shade of cerulean.

  It must be my imagination, I thought. I’m exhausted from being out in the cold all day. I dropped my hand back to my side and continued. “We’re out of time. My mother wants to marry me off to some duke…” I paused to watch his reaction.

  His expression remained blank.

  I realized he wasn’t going to react at all, so I added, “She thinks it’s the only way to keep me safe now. She wants me out of Aquila.”

  He nodded. “Perhaps she’s right. It isn’t safe here anymore.”

  My mouth went dry. I was suddenly speechless.

  “You should marry this duke.”

  I slapped him straight across the face for the second time since we’d been intimate, my glove taking some of the impact. His eyes did that weird flashing thing again. It was as if they glowed from within. I was losing my mind! I had to get away from him. I couldn’t believe he’d just let me go.

  I glanced over my shoulder on my way to my apartment once, the fabric of my skirts rustling with each stride. He hadn’t followed me.

  As soon as I entered my apartment, my mother grasped my shoulders. “Thank Celestia! Where were you?”

  I couldn’t stop shivering, but I managed to get the words out between chattering teeth. “I w—will m—marry th—the duke.”

  Chapter 11

  I contemplated searching for Percifal, but without knowing where he was, the very notion seemed impossible. I wouldn’t even know where to look for him. So I agreed to marry the duke of Cansbroke. A man I’d never met and wouldn’t until my wedding day. It wasn’t unheard of for a man and woman to have never met before marrying. Some parents arranged marriages for their sons or daughters in order to raise their status.

  I didn’t understand why Thaimis hadn’t followed through with his plan. Nor could I comprehend how he could give me up so easily. He could have told me if he’d changed his mind about overthrowing King Zaeden. I was actually falling in love with him... I thought he’d felt the same way. Instead, he’d ripped my heart out. I tried my best to get over him, but I was miserable nonetheless.

  King Zaeden had decided to put off the war until after my wedding, which was to be held in the summer. At least I felt like I was helping Sarantoa in a sense—whether or not I wanted to marry this unknown man.

  My mother assured me my betrothed was kind and gentle. She’d met him at one of our balls and had been writing to him about me recently. She only had my best interest at heart, she repeatedly assured me of this. I tried not to be angry with her, but it was difficult. She was sending me away from my home.

  I reluctantly agreed to let King Zaeden be the one to give me away at my wedding. I was appalled by the notion. My mother advised against declining him to my dismay. She was worried it would raise his suspicions about our part in Percifal’s disappearance. He still thought of me as family. That thought made me feel sick, but I didn’t want to cause my mother trouble, especially since I was going to be leaving her.

  When spring had ended and summer began opening her warm arms to the land, Secily aided me in planning my wedding. She, herself, had been married the autumn before. She wore the same dress I’d seen her wear all those springs ago in the Looking Pool.

  “Are you even excited to meet him?” she asked, blowing a strand of black hair off her face.

  I swallowed one of the pieces of cake we were sampling before answering. “No. He’s taking me away from my home… away from you. I dread the day we meet.”

  She made a sad face at me before replying, “Oh, Chel, I’ll miss you too! You won’t be all that far. We will see each other still. Besides, I hear he’s quite handsome—and kind.”

  “At least there’s that.”

  “It’s better than being married off to some cruel scoundrel.” She pouted dramatically.

  “Of course, you’re right. What do you think of this cake?” I poked at the one we’d just tasted.

  “I think it’s a winner.”

  “Vanilla cream it is.”

  She squealed and took another bite, closing her eyes at the sweet, delightful taste.

  When it came to the dress, I let the seamstress decide on the material and design. I really didn’t care about this wedding and its details. I felt more like I was going to my own funeral than getting married.

  I received a letter from the duke a few sunrises before the wedding.

  Dearest Chelela,

  I want you to know how happy you have made me by agreeing to this marriage. I know you do not know me yet, but perhaps you can learn to like or even love me someday. Your mother has told me all about you, and you sound like a wonderful woman. I hope I will make you happy.

  With devotion,

  Valron Michester,

  Duke of Cansbroke.

  P.S. I’m probably as nervous for our wedding as you are.

  I folded the letter back up and stuffed it away. Well, Valron Michester, if only you knew, I thought. His words seemed kind, but I didn’t believe I was as lovely as Mother had made me out to be—quite the opposite actually. Also, I wasn’t nervous. Angry… depressed? Perhap
s. He would soon find out what kind of woman he’d agreed to bind himself to.

  He arrived the night before our wedding. I wasn’t to meet him, of course. It was bad luck to see one’s bride the night before a wedding, but I snuck a peek at him from my window when his carriage arrived. The carriage itself was white and trimmed with silver. His house’s emblem was painted on the doors in blue and grey.

  I had a hard time making out his face. It was too dark in the torchlight, but I caught a flash of his broad shoulders as he exited the carriage. He wore a dark blue tunic with a silver belt and white breeches. From his clothing alone, I could tell he was of noble birth.

  I let the curtain fall back as Mother entered my room.

  “I’ve brought you some tea to help you rest.” She offered the porcelain cup to me.

  “Thank you, Mother,” I grumbled. I’d prefer wine. I didn’t voice that thought.

  “My dear,” she brushed my cheek and sat beside me. “I hope you know I’m doing what’s best for you. And I wouldn’t have you married to someone I didn’t think would be good to you.”

  “I know.” I looked into my teacup, taking a long sip. It immediately warmed my belly.

  “You will write to me from Cansbroke, won’t you?”

  “Of course, but can’t I visit you?”

  “I’d rather you not, at least not until this war is over.”

  I closed my eyes, trying to shut out reality. “Is it really going to happen?”

  “I’m afraid so. We can’t be sure when, but I’ve heard the king has been meeting with some of his soldiers. He’s preparing them for war.” She looked at me with sympathy. “When this is all over, you can visit as much as you’d like.”

  I’d finished my tea but still held onto the empty cup.

  She took the cup from me and rose. “Get some rest. You need to look beautiful for your special day tomorrow.”

  “Anything for you, Mother,” I muttered.

  She patted my hand and then left me to rest.

  The tea did its job. I slept soundly. I daresay, without it, I would have tossed and turned all night long.