by Zora Marie
“In the morning? So, you can spin your lies? Your tales of gods and fallen warriors?”
“Watch it,” Gaeru grumbled.
“Your loyalty to Gregory is understandable,” Zelia chose her words carefully. “But I only did what I had to, to protect everyone here on Mineria. To protect you and your families.”
Even as she spoke, the men closed in on them. Zelia waited until they’d nearly formed a ring around them to tap her staff on the stone. A ring of fire rose around Gaeru and her. Most of the men were young and paused at the sight of her flames, but the older men seemed determined to die for the man they called king.
“I do not want to hurt you. Not after my friends and kin gave their lives to protect you and your families at The Hold. If you still have a quarrel with me after tomorrow morning, then we can talk. I’ll hear your needs and concerns, no different than I do my kin. No different than my grandfather King Dane O’Fell did.”
The younger men exchanged glances, one whispering, “You’re an heir to the throne?”
“Technically, yes. I do not desire it though.” She looked at each of them. These were men of the throne, guards of the people. They had a right to be concerned about her, especially given their king’s death. They knew what she could do, yet they chose to face her. “You know, I would like you all to come ask me questions in the morning. So that everyone may hear the answers.”
The men seemed skeptical, like they expected some sort of trickery.
“I’d take her offer if I were you. I’ve never seen a ruler give their people such an offer, especially when being threatened,” Gaeru said.
The oldest man among them straightened and looked down at the ring of flames at his feet. “We’ll see you in the morning.” He met her gaze for just a moment before he turned away and all the men followed him down the street.
“You know, you’re going to regret inviting them.”
“Oh, I know. Their questions will be the same ones everyone will want answered but won’t have the guts to ask me. They’d already decided to throw their lives away, so they shouldn’t hold back in the morning.”
A note of approval hummed down Zelia’s bond to Raven as they made the last turn and stared up at where Raven sat on the wall walk. “I think Dotchavitch may have rubbed off on you.”
“You heard?” Zelia thought to Raven and nearly groaned as she came to the bottom of the stairs.
“Every word.” There was a growl in Raven’s tone. “I was going to burn them to a crisp if they dared to touch that ring of fire.”
“Hm, so protective.”
“I can feel how exhausted you are. I would have come to you, but there are more catapults in this city and I’m too stiff to dodge them.”
“Speaking of being stiff, how are your ribs?”
“I’m fine. Though perching on this wall is getting a bit tedious.”
“I’m sure it is.” Zelia sighed and began making her way up the stairs. It was going to be a long night.
38
Zelia woke on the bed she’d failed to sleep in the week before. Absolute exhaustion proved to be the key to sleeping on her own, as she’d merely collapsed on top of the covers. She hadn’t bothered to remove her armor, boots, or cloak. Even her staff lay on the bed next to her. Thankfully, things had been fairly uneventful after the alleyway incident. Gaeru ordered guards to run orders to the others that they were not to shoot at Raven. Once those guards came back, Raven carried Zelia and Gaeru back to the palace.
Gaeru decided to stay and guard over her and Raven. She had been so tired that she hadn’t even protested it when he’d insisted on staying on the room’s balcony, where he could watch over both of them. She forced herself to roll over and climb from the bed. The sky beyond the doors to the balcony was beginning to lighten, the stars winking out one by one.
“You know,” Gaeru said as she opened the door to the biting cold, “you still have metal in your hair.”
Zelia pulled the tie from her hair and ran her fingers through it, unbraiding it. She indeed had chunks of metal matting it together in places. She cringed as she picked pieces out. Some of the chunks came away with hair still stuck in them.
“I could just cut your hair for you.”
Gaeru grinned at her and she glared back. She continued the tedious work, her fingers fumbling with the smaller pieces.
“Here.” Gaeru got up from where he’d sat with his legs draped over the ledge. He turned her so she faced away from him and began picking pieces off the back of her head. “My daughter got stuff stuck in her hair all the time when she was little. Still did when she grew into a young woman, actually.”
“Really? I didn’t know you had a daughter.”
“That was a very long time ago. Her granddaughter is about your age. She saw you beat the Jophlin boys on market street. Afterwards, she convinced Haziel, the one Terik likes, to teach her how to fight because of that little skirmish you had.”
“How do you,” she swallowed, “deal with having to watch your loved ones grow old and die?”
“At first, I tried shutting everyone out, but Yargo, and his father before him, always pushed us to make a new family with our fellow Fallen Warriors. You can’t let yourself shut everyone out just because of the potential of losing them. You have to accept that you cannot protect everyone around you, no matter how hard you try. Besides, they will grow to resent you if you always coddle them.” He patted her shoulder and declared, “That’s all of it, I think. I’d offer to braid it for you, but there is a reason I keep my hair short.”
Zelia couldn’t help but smile a little. “It’s alright. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
There was a knock on the door to the hallway. “Zelia?” Donequen asked.
“Come in.”
Donequen didn’t even try to hide that he noted where her staff lay across the bed that was still made. There was even a hint of worry in his features as he searched her face. He held a black bowl in one hand and a pitcher of water in the other. “That guard, Jurian, said you asked for this.” Donequen lifted the bowl. “I thought you’d like to use it before we ring the bells.”
Zelia took the bowl from Donequen and stepped past him into the room. Tregar slipped in from the hall as she pulled a small table out from the wall, so they could circle around it. Donequen poured the water into the bowl until it was filled to the brim.
“How are you?” Zelia asked Tregar. Yalif had returned to Hyperia last night, but had warned Tregar to take it easy for a few days.
“I’m fine thanks to you.” Tregar studied her for a moment before asking, “Whom do you want to talk to first?”
“I…” Her heart screamed that she wanted to talk to Linithion, but her mind reasoned she should talk to Eleanor first. “Eleanor,” she said at last.
Tregar muttered a spell and waved his hand over the bowl, causing the water to ripple slightly. The water stayed black for a moment after it settled and then an elven guard peered down at them. The guard gave them a slight nod before disappearing, presumably to retrieve Eleanor. A moment passed before Eadon looked down at them. Worry clouded his brow as he noted her companions and whose emblems they wore on their armor.
“Eleanor will be here in a moment. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine.” She knew it was an unconvincing effort, but he’d see through her lie either way. He always did. “How are the two of you?”
Eadon gave her that fatherly look he always gave when he knew she wasn’t telling the truth, but he didn’t push as Eleanor appeared beside him.
“What’s happened?” Eleanor asked.
“Gregory and his oldest son are dead.”
“What? How?”
“They attacked Tregar and then us… I… I had to kill them. We haven’t told the people yet, but the guards who found out last night…” Zelia gave a slight shake of her head and the motion nearly made her miss the look Eleanor and Eadon exchanged.
“How did things go with Ead
wine?” Eleanor asked.
“He died fighting the Fenari. Eadwulf made an oath, as I assume you told Donequen to request.”
“Good. Would either of your Hyperian friends know how far Skylar and the others are from the coast?”
“Hm. Last I heard, Lumid had spotted them a couple days out. That was yesterday? Or perhaps the day before.” Gaeru shrugged.
“Good, Skylar will take the throne as soon as we get him there.”
“You think he would—”
“Yes. He only didn’t because Gregory was doing fine as king. Announce that his coronation will occur as soon as he returns from speaking with Yargo. That should appease the people, but you might need to remind them why children of Yargo were the rulers to begin with.”
Zelia sighed but nodded. “How long do you think I’ll have to stay here?”
Eleanor’s lips pursed as she stared at her through the scrying bowl. “Would Raven be willing to fly back on her own and retrieve Skylar?”
“Raven’s… she took a hit from the Fenari in Coridale. I don’t want her flying alone right now.”
“The Fenari broke through the wards on the castle. You should be on your guard, they were trying to clear the city,” Donequen added.
Both Eleanor and Eadon looked to Zelia and she gave a slight nod of confirmation. “We are fine, Luxly on the other hand. He’ll be fine in time, thanks to Koin and Kilian.” At the mention of Koin’s name, Zelia recalled the conversation she’d had with Koin the morning before. That conversation already seemed so long ago, yet the aching pain still clung to her heart. She couldn’t help but study Eadon and Eleanor’s faces a little closer.
“I...” Eleanor glanced around at the room behind Zelia, “will want more details when you’re on a secure connection. I’ll let Linithion know you’ll be late,” Eleanor said. “Take care of yourselves. I’ll have Linithion contact you through this connection when she has a chance.”
Zelia nodded. “Thank you. I’ll have someone watch the bowl then.”
39
The bells in the city rang, announcing the king’s death. Zelia stared blankly across the room. She was stuck there, away from Linithion, for who knew how long. It was six more rings of that large bell before Zelia finally blinked. The vibrations echoed in her chest like the crack of lightning in the cave. She forced herself to stretch a little of the tension from her body before grabbing her staff from the bed.
Donequen’s fist was poised to knock on the door when she opened it. “You ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I can be.”
“Good, because apparently word spread through the night as there is already a large crowd. Plus, Gaeru was threatening a group of men who appear to be guards?”
“Those are probably the ones who cornered us last night.”
“What? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because it didn’t come up.” Zelia shrugged.
Donequen glanced into the room behind her. “Are you sure you’re alright? I know you haven’t been sleeping well.”
“I’m fine. I just…” she shrugged again, “miss Linithion, and Alrindel.”
“What am I? Chopped liver?” Rogath mused.
“How can I miss you, when you’re only one sarcastic comment away from me at any moment?” Zelia tapped her head as she rolled her eyes in hopes that Donequen would get the hint as she stepped out into the hallway. “Shouldn’t you be practicing?”
“Mother got called away to a defense council, so I’m just stuck practicing magic all by my lonesome.”
“Good morning Rogath,” Donequen said.
“Good morning to you, too,” Rog said and Zelia conveyed the message, down to the hint of ire in his tone.
“Hm. Sounds like you’re both in fantastic moods this morning,” Donequen said and slid away before she could give him a playful shove. “There’s that smile, though I could do without the eyeroll.”
“Um hm.” Zelia rolled her shoulders back as they came to the double doors leading out to the large balcony. “Are you ready to be declared regent?”
This time it was Donequen’s turn to sigh. “I guess. That’s not exactly something I was taught how to do.”
“And you think I was?”
“No, but you were raised by Eleanor.”
“Truthfully, Eleanor was always distant around me. I think she knew she was going to lose me. Well, let’s get this over with.” Zelia tried to wipe the exhaustion from her features as she pushed the doors open.
Gaeru and Tregar were already there, along with the men who’d tried cornering them last night. They seemed more nervous this morning, more fidgety, as they avoided looking at the warriors. Zelia had a feeling it had something to do with the way Gaeru glared at them. Prince Edward though, he looked calm, as though today was just another day.
Zelia paused in front of the boy. “Would you like to say a few things about your father today?”
“No. He stopped being my father when he...” Edward cut himself short and swallowed, “let his need for power drive him. Robert was always his favorite anyways.”
“Alright.”
The chatter of the people below was nearly deafening as she walked to the edge of the balcony. Gregory had merely raised his hand and the people would quiet, but she didn’t hold their respect the same way he had. Zelia tapped her staff on the stone balcony twice, and the crowd fell silent as the sound echoed off the white stone buildings and walls that rose around them.
“I have called you here today to announce the deaths of King Gregory and his eldest son, Prince Robert.”
“She did it! She killed them!” A man in the crowd pointed at her and she set her gaze on him.
“Yes. I did. They attacked Yargo’s emissary and then me. Even so, I gave them a choice and they both chose death. I did not and do not want the throne, even if it is my birth right.”
The crowd murmured again and Donequen stepped up to her side. “I believe it is past time Zelia was properly introduced to you all.” The crowd quieted once more as the spell he’d put on himself cast his voice across the city. “Please allow me to formally introduce you to Princess Zelia of Hyperia and Elyluma. She is a member of the Wizard Guild, blood heir of King Dane O’Fell of the Kingdom of the Mountains, daughter of Princess Starfer, Dragon Rider, the Phoenix of Hope, and soon to be Queen of the Drakeon Empire.”
Zelia refrained from glaring at Donequen as he stepped back. She hadn’t even thought of the fact that her betrothal meant that she would sit as a queen beside Linithion once they married, nor had she realized she was considered a princess of Elyluma. Had she heard the list before now, she would have insisted on culling more than half of the titles. At least that explained why Donequen had been so adamant about not saying it until he had to.
“I may be all of those things, but I will not be the one who rules you. Skylar O’Fell, grandson of Prince Skyrol O’Fell, will sit upon the throne when he returns from visiting Yargo. Until then, Yargo’s chosen member of the Wizard Guild shall sit as regent and protector of your lands.”
“What of Prince Edward?” one of the men from the night before asked.
“I will not damn a son for the actions of his father and brother. Prince Edward will remain here if he wants to and should he choose to leave, I would help him.”
Zelia went on to answer questions about herself and what they were doing there in the first place. She told them of the impending Fenari threat and asked the people to prepare packs in case they needed to flee. When a few people began to panic, she reminded them that panic helped no one and that ignorance was the true threat. “This fight against the Fenari is not a fight for one person or kingdom, it is a fight for life itself. It is for that reason I would ask anyone physically able to wield a weapon, no matter their gender or age, be taught to fight. I do this not because I would call you to fight, but so you may protect yourselves and your loved ones should the time come. At The Hold, I convinced King Gregory to arm you all so you would have a fight
ing chance and I would have us do the same in the coming days. I do not have the time nor resources to train you all myself, so it is the responsibility of all to help and teach one another.”
As she finished, the group of men who stood behind her on the balcony came forward, before dropping to one knee. “We will see to it that any who wish to learn how to fight will be taught.”
Zelia studied each of their faces. There was no longer any malice in their features as there had been the night before and she nodded. “Thank you.” She smiled faintly as she turned back to the crowd. She wasn’t sure what else to say or how to end this sort of gathering, especially one that had begun with the announcement of the king’s death.
“We will not keep you all from your duties any longer,” Donequen said, “but in the coming days we will begin having public training sessions here in the courtyard that will be divided up by skill sets and physical abilities.” Donequen bowed his head in farewell and discretely gestured for Zelia to follow him back inside.
Gaeru and Tregar pulled the double doors shut behind them. Prince Edward stayed close to the two warriors. When she and Donequen turned around, Tregar had a brow raised. “I think you’re the first ruler I’ve ever seen willingly answer people’s questions truthfully.”
Zelia shrugged and headed down the hall. All she wanted was for all of this to be over and to head home to Linithion. Donequen jogged up beside her and gave her a light nudge with his shoulder. “You alright?”
“Not really. The last few days have been a reminder that no matter what we do, there will always be people suffering somewhere out there.”
“And in so many different ways. No one, and no realm is perfect, but what you’ve done will make this city, these lands, a little safer.”
“Since when did you become a philosopher?”
Donequen shrugged. “Want to help me sort through the stack of requests and messages? I’m admittedly not the fastest at reading their language.”
“You’ve already started?”