The Dawn of the End

by Kristen Ashley

  I almost said it.

  I did not.

  As I had not in the weeks since that day long ago when I’d determined to do it.

  Frey, Finnie, Apollo, Maddie, dragons, breaking camp, sailing, meeting Aramus’s ships, weddings and assassinations had all gotten in the way.

  My husband now knew nearly everything about me. And along the way, he’d put great effort into memorizing every inch of me.

  That was the only thing of grave importance he did not know.

  And the longer it took for me to tell him, the harder it was to do so.

  For before, I worried what he would feel, being married to one of my kind.

  But now, I worried how he would feel that I kept it from him for so long, through so much, including us falling in love, consummating our marriage (repeatedly), and moving from one traumatic drama to the next that befell our friends.

  My husband broke into my thoughts by asking, “Is what I said understood?”

  “I still wish to spend time with my sisters,” I mumbled.

  “I would not deny you this, my queen, of course not,” he muttered. “But protect your secret. For if you don’t, it will make it nearly impossible for me to do so.”

  I did not agree with this, but I did not wish to discuss it any further. The day had been trying enough. I refused to end it arguing (any longer) with my husband.

  However, I could not stop myself from heaving a deep, beleaguered sigh.

  This made Aramus’s lips twitch again.

  I decided I was going to ignore that too.

  “There is one thing I have not yet shared,” he told me.

  I braced.

  Aramus spoke.

  “After Cassius received his dire news, he asked me to take his daughters to Mar-el for safekeeping. He needs to discuss this with Elena. If she agrees, they will be under our protection. Do you have issue with that?”

  “Of course not,” I answered. “However, wouldn’t the most expedient choice be The Enchantments?”

  He shook his head. “Cassius was vague about it, but apparently, Ophelia gave him the impression The Enchantments weren’t safe. As it seems no realm on the mainland is, Mar-el is their only choice.”

  I stole my arms around him. “We will take good care of them. And should Elena agree, I will assure them both of the same.”

  My husband watched me as I said this, and he continued to do so with an unusual, but far from unattractive, expression on his face.

  “What?” I whispered, somewhat mesmerized by his expression.

  “We will have children,” he said quietly.

  A shiver drifted over my skin.

  “Yes,” I whispered.

  “I look forward to that day. I look forward to watching my proud, fierce wife be a proud, fierce mother.”

  I actually trembled at that.

  “Darling.”

  Aramus dipped closer. “We must keep safe for that to happen, my Ha-Lah.”

  Yes.

  My husband was too clever by half.

  “I will keep safe, if you promise the same,” I said.

  “I will keep safe, my queen,” he vowed.

  I smiled at him, pushing aside thoughts of what he would think of having a child, a future king of Mar-el, be half-mer.

  My king dipped even further and kissed the smile off my lips.

  Apparently, we were not done with this day for we were not done making love.

  But it was Aramus who left the bed to get a cloth to clean up after we were through.

  I was half asleep by the time he returned after that deed was accomplished and pulled me into his strong arms.

  Then I was fully asleep.

  And finally, the day was done.

  89

  The News

  Queen Silence

  Bark Parlor, Formal Receiving Rooms, Birchlire Castle, Notting Thicket

  WODELL

  It was early.

  True, and Farah, along with my husband, Cassius, Aramus, Frey Drakkar and Apollo Ulfr— who, in order to act as witnesses, had all been at the event that I hoped had just happened in the king’s formal study—entered the room.

  Each wore a severe face.

  I did not think this boded well.

  I took a moment to modulate my voice so I spoke (somewhat) calmly, instead of doing what I instinctively wanted to do, cry out.

  “Did he change his mind?”

  “He did not,” Cassius answered, making his way toward Elena. “True is king.”

  The air in the room, which up until then included Ha-Lah, Elena, Serena, Elpis, Finnie, Maddie and me sitting in tense silence, drinking tea (though, Serena and Ha-Lah drank coffee), fell flat.

  And then it rose up, almost as if there had been some drug infused with it, much like the smoke I enjoyed so much.

  Thus, I came up from my seat on the sofa, my eyes fixed on my cousin, who did not look the slightest pleased with this turn of events.

  As I made my movements, his gaze cut to me.

  “Long live King True,” I said loudly, and clearly, lifting my skirts at the sides, and falling into a low curtsy.

  “You do not bow to another king,” Mars said tightly, having made it to my side. “Indeed, you do not bow to anyone, even your own king.”

  I tipped my head back to look to my husband. “This one I do.”

  His mouth was as tight as his words.

  True’s voice sounded. “You do not bow to me, Silence.”

  I looked to him and said softly, “Yes, True, I do.”

  His jaw ticked as his eyes changed the most extraordinary green.

  As for me, I felt tears sting my own.

  “Arise, my cousin,” he returned, also softly.

  I rose.

  “Do not do that again,” Mars muttered.

  I looked to him again only to see, with some surprise, he was not annoyed at me.

  He was studying me warmly.

  He then murmured, “Go.”

  That sting in my eyes grew stronger because my Mars had come to know me so well, and I loved that, but I did not note that as I also did not hesitate to move swiftly across the floor.

  True opened his arms before I got there.

  And I flung myself in them.

  I held tight.

  His arms wrapping around me, he did as well.

  My cheek pressed to his chest, I whispered, “I love you, cousin.”

  His lips pressed to my hair, he whispered in return, “And I as well, cousin.”

  There was so much more I wished to say.

  But none of it mattered more than that.

  We held on for a long moment before he gave me a gentle shake and his arms loosened.

  I took this cue, let him go and moved back to my husband, who claimed me about my shoulders, tucking me to his body, my front to his side.

  “It is odd in the circumstances, but heartfelt, when I say congratulations, True,” Elena said.

  True inclined his head her way.

  “Now what?” Serena asked.

  Elena shot her a look.

  But I had to say, I’d heard much about Serena of the Nadirii, though I’d had no dealings with her a’tall, until the last two days.

  And I had noted that she wasn’t warm and chatty, but she did not seem half as bad as everyone said she was.

  She just acted like…a man.

  Forthright, she didn’t beat about the bush. She also did not appear to mentally nitpick every word she said before she said it in concern she might hurt someone’s feelings when we were all adults and times were dire so we really didn’t have any to dither about.

  She wasn’t rude.

  She was a little abrupt, though I’d seen men be just as abrupt regularly and no one thought they were rude.

  She was just…her.

  I admired it.

  Though I did not say, for Elena kept casting glances her way that said she didn’t trust her and further said she did not wish to be in her presence.

&nb
sp; And Elena was my friend, and as I had not had many friends, I did not know what to do in this type of instance.

  But I thought the right thing to do was, if I didn’t agree with my friend about something, keep quiet.

  Thus, this was what I did.

  “Father is reading through the announcement I’ve prepared for him, mine is at the ready, we take the balcony in fifteen minutes and then…it’ll be done,” True said to Serena.

  “And then what?” Serena pressed.

  “Serena,” Elena hissed.

  “Ha-Lah and I have discussed it, and we feel we need to return home. We’ve been gone too long,” Aramus announced. He looked to Cassius and Elena. “We will take Theodora and Aelia with us.” He looked to True and Farah. “We will send ships to your ports, three each to Seil Haven, Tradepoint, Mermaid Wharf and Welling Harbor. We’ll also leave ships to patrol the River Dorian, Great Wohd and River Fae.” Again to Cassius, he said, “And we’ll send a fleet to Sky Bay with you, Elena and your men and with them we will send supplies.”

  Cassius nodded.

  “If you need me, my friend, I will be there,” he continued, his attention still on Cassius.

  “I know,” Cassius replied.

  Aramus turned to True. “And if you need me, I will be there.”

  “I know as well,” True said.

  Aramus drew in a large breath and let it go as if what he said was a great burden he was relieved to let go.

  And I saw that it was. He did not want to disappoint anyone he had made promises.

  But I understood why he’d want to go home.

  I understood this because, before leaving our chambers to be witness to an abdication, Mars had dropped this same cannonball.

  We were going back to Fire City.

  I had already decided not to argue this.

  Treachery was afoot.

  The King of Firenze needed to be home.

  Further, we’d received word that Zosime had had her child, a girl, and I wanted to meet her.

  I did not want to leave True (or Farah, but especially True). Not now.

  But I was queen, and unlike many people thought, I could not have all I wanted.

  Mercy had taught me that.

  May the gods embrace her.

  “Apollo and I have discussed how best to utilize our resources,” Frey Drakkar entered the conversation. “And we’ve decided that I shall go with Cassius to Airen, but I will send my dragons to an unpopulated dune in Firenze, if that’s acceptable?” he asked Mars.

  My husband nodded.

  Frey nodded back and turned to Cassius. “If they have not already seen them, once you know more about the situation, the element of surprise can be used to great success. However, we need to discuss this. Their power is mighty, and if not utilized strategically, there could be damage that’s unacceptable.”

  “My gratitude,” Cassius murmured with a chin dip to Frey.

  “And I will remain here,” Apollo put in, his gaze on True. “I’ve had occasion to communicate with a few alphas in this realm. From that I’ve learned, I have the same command of the wolves here as I do in my own land. And Frey and I believe we can put this to use in Wodell. At the very least, they can guard important places you feel may be targets or keep angry citizens from doing aught to these Go’Doan temples you fear may be the targets of misplaced ire. This would free some of your soldiers, who would be spread thin if they were to be deployed too widely. And a wolf, I have found, is a successful deterrent, even to those who have a great deal of belief behind their intended misdeeds.”

  “I would not be surprised,” True replied. “And this will be most appreciated.”

  Maddie piped up, her eyes on me. “You do not speak to animals in this land?”

  I shook my head.

  She turned to Finnie. “How odd.”

  “You do?” Elena asked them.

  Finnie nodded. “Women speak to some, men speak to others. Though only Frey commands the dragons and only Apollo commands the wolves.”

  “Men speak to animals?” Serena queried.

  “Yes,” Finnie replied.

  “Sorcerers,” Serena deduced.

  “No, all men and all women speak to different species,” Maddie told her.

  How marvelous!

  “How strange,” Serena muttered.

  “Back to the matter at hand,” Frey interrupted. “We’ve received communications that Lahn and Tor are a day’s sail away. Lahn will come with us. He and his warriors are unbeatable. In fact, I would not be surprised if in ancient times, they came from your land,” he told Mars, then nodded as well to Cassius. “You will see many similarities in your peoples.” He finished on a mutter, “Though Korwahkians are larger.”

  “Interesting,” Mars murmured.

  I agreed, for I could not imagine men larger than the Firenz or Airenzian.

  “Tor will remain here,” Frey went on. “With his experience, he could be useful in covert situations.”

  True inclined his head to Frey.

  “Where will Chu go?” Serena asked my husband.

  “He will come home,” Mars answered.

  Serena accepted this answer readily.

  Elena and Cassius studied her closely as she did.

  As if raised by her mention of him, the man himself, Chu, prowled in.

  “Oh balls,” I whispered at one glance at his face.

  “What now?” Mars asked his Trusted.

  Chu, to my surprise, looked not to his king, but to Serena.

  “Two nights past, The Enchantments were attacked.”

  “This happens often, Chu,” Serena dismissed on a shrug.

  Chu, already looking grim, now appeared dour.

  I would understand why when he shared, “They used a unicorn horn and had kidnapped a Nadirii in order to bring down the veil.”

  There were gasps, including one from myself, but before I’d recovered from my shock, I sensed an emotion much more intense had saturated the room.

  Wrath.

  And it was emanating from Cassius.

  “What is this you say?” he hissed at Chu.

  “I am sorry for the news,” Chu said to Cassius but looked to Elena and his expression changed to one that made the skin at the back of my neck itch. “I am sorry for the news,” he repeated softly. “The Nadirii who was abducted was your mentor.”

  The blood drained from Elena’s face.

  “She is alive, though gravely wounded,” Chu went on. “The Nadirii received a warning prior to the attack, thus they prepared and easily defeated the aggressors. No other Nadirii warriors were mortally or critically wounded.”

  “We must go immediately to Mother,” Serena declared.

  “I must go immediately to Melisse,” Elena whispered.

  “Lamb,” Cassius murmured, and Elena’s head tipped back to look at her betrothed.

  “Cassius,” she said, but her voice broke pitifully in the middle of his name in such a way I felt a small break in my heart.

  We all then watched as Cassius took hold of Elena, muttering, “Excuse us,” and then he guided her out of the room.

  I would not suspect that of Cassius, that thoughtfulness, that attention to Elena’s needs and seeing to them without her being in a state to share them.

  But I liked it very much.

  After they left, Aramus asked, “Is this attack of The Rising?”

  “Yes,” Chu answered.

  The feel of the room degenerated further.

  “Were the communications from Ophelia?” Mars queried.

  “Yes,” Chu repeated.

  “Were orders forwarded for Elena and myself?” Serena inquired.

  Chu shook his head. “Not with the birds thus received.”

  Serena looked frustrated by this.

  “I’m loathe to move forward, but my citizens have been amassing since the events of yesterday. I have an important announcement to make, and after what befell us, I cannot delay it,” True mentioned.

&
nbsp; “Not to worry, the Nadirii can take care of ourselves,” Serena proclaimed. “Obviously,” she finished proudly.

  She was right.

  Except, now…

  “A unicorn horn was taken,” I reminded her of a deed that was despicable in so many ways, it was impossible to describe them all.

  It was also terribly unlawful in all realms.

  “I cannot believe they have unicorns here,” Maddie whispered to Finnie.

  “I know, right?” Finnie whispered to Maddie.

  “The Nadirii can take care of ourselves,” Serena repeated.

  “Perhaps all the birds have not arrived from Ophelia yet,” True suggested. “We have some time before all scatter to discuss if this further news changes any plans. But now, we have no time. We must make our way to the balcony.”

  There were a number of nodding heads and all shifted to do just that.

  However, I hung back.

  My husband gave me a mild scowl.

  “Go on, Mars. I’ll be right there,” I told him.

  This did not improve his scowl.

  I turned to Serena and requested, “Serena, if I could have a moment before we go?”

  She seemed startled by this, but she stopped moving, indicating her assent.

  I looked back to Mars.

  “Just a moment, my king,” I murmured.

  He did not appear to like it, but he nodded and moved to and through the door.

  I moved to Serena.

  “I must ask a favor, and of course, you can refuse,” I began. “Indeed, we may not have the time before we go our separate ways should you wish to grant it.”

  “What is it?” she queried.

  “I wish for you to teach me some skills with, perhaps, a dagger.”

  She blinked at me.

  “And, I do not know,” I continued. “I am small, this may be useless, but some physical strategies. Should I, erm…find myself in the situation to, say, use them.”

  “Smallness means nothing if you keep your head about you and do not mind punching a man in the throat or kicking him in the balls,” Serena declared.

  Faith! I thought.

  “Oh,” I whispered.

  She studied me, still appearing to be astonished, but also something else.

  Cautious?

  Pleased?

  “We will make time,” she decreed.