CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
It was almost noon. Trin approached me in my study, looking like she had some bad news.
“What is it?” I asked her before she could try to butter me up before the blow.
“Well, Axel is having a hard time getting the rest of the Knights to listen to him during training today. They blame him for what happened last night. They don’t think he should be in charge. Axel told me not to tell you. He said he’d figure things out, but I thought you might know what to do,” she said, finishing her rant.
“This is the first thing that has happened in days where I know exactly what to do. Thank you Trin, I’ve got some overgrown boys to whip into shape.”
Trin shared with me a knowing smile before I exited the room. I heard the shuffling of papers as she organized what I had been working on. I solved one issue, and she was going to help me with mine, the budgets.
I walked out to the training yards the knights used to practice their fighting skills. When I got close enough to hear what was happening, I stopped for a moment to take in the scene. Axel had his back to me, addressing a large group of knights. There had to be at least four hundred of them in a formation, watching him, and listening; if you could even call it that. Some looked bored to tears, and others looked like they were more amused by their own thoughts. This angered me.
“I’m sorry, is any of this boring you?” I called out to the group as I approached them. Suddenly everyone looked in my direction, including Axel, who looked shocked.
“You see,” I said in my most authoritative and sarcastic voice. “I had heard rumors that some were questioning the authority of Sir Axel here, the highest-ranked knight in the Morthlands. I thought to myself, that can’t be. No one would be stupid enough to question his authority or experience. I am amazed now, looking at this group how wrong I was. I don’t like being wrong.”
I liked this mean girl persona I had just fit into like a glove. I would be the Queen of peace one day, but right now, I would be mean if it meant bettering the Kingdom.
To do that, I needed the knights ready. After all, under Eduard’s rule, we were able to best a bunch of them. Axel was doing his best, but he has a history with these guys. I don’t, and I will use that to my advantage.
All of the knights stood a little taller and snapped to attention. They had been going through training in a daydream, and now they were getting a wakeup call courtesy of their Queen.
“Is possible war with Tate and Corone not serious enough, that you can afford to goof off like little kids? If we lose this war, there will be none of you left to blame; you’ll be dead on the battlefield. Your families will be left to bury us all. As a leader, I will join you on the battlefield with a sword at hand, and I will not stop until I defeat any opponent that challenges me. So you can, at the very least, pay attention during training and respect your superiors so we can win this war and make it home to our families, eh?”
Looking around, I was disappointed that none of the knights could make eye contact with me.
“If anyone here thinks they are better suited to be my protector and head knight, please step forward.”
At first, it was quiet, not one person so much as let out a breath. Then someone stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, I was trained the same way Sir Axel was trained. I do not think I should have to go through these courses, and I don’t think Sir Axel is the best knight standing in front of you,” the rouge knight said.
He was a little plump and short. He would not be a quick opponent, and he only had half a brain to step forward the way he did.
“Sir Axel here taught me all I know about fighting. So if you know more than him, you must certainly know more than me,” I said.
There was nothing but silence. I could read the emotions all over everyone else’s face. They all thought this guy just dug his own grave. Well, I would never subject him to death, I would settle for banishment. However, I didn’t want to be extreme. So I will settle for humiliation.
“Does this mean you wish to challenge me to a dual?” I asked, “Because I accept.”
Terror washed over his face as he took a step back and raised his hands in surrender.
“Your Majesty, I could never raise a sword to you. It isn’t proper,” he said.
“Oh, but you see, neither is questioning something you are in no position to question. Unless you were there to witness Sir Axel in battle beside me, you have no place to question his experience. Now I command you as your Queen to raise your sword.”
The terrified looking knight raised his sword slowly and reluctantly. I bet he was kicking himself for stepping forward.
I pulled my sword out of its sheath that was attached to my side and covered by my large bulky shawl. I jumped to a dueling stance. I waited for the knight’s position to mirror my own. When it finally did, I wasted no time.
I swung my long blade in a low circle at the knight’s chest level. His sword clashed with mine. As I distracted him with quick, intense strikes with my sword, I slowly pulled the heat out of the air. When I had enough, I released a fireball at the knight’s chest armor.
He fell back on his butt, shocked that I would ever do such a thing in a sword fight. It was against the rules of sword fighting.
“You see, if you were to be my protector, you need to equal me in skills. I have control over some magic. My enemies may have control over magic. Most proper people wouldn’t think to bring it into a sword fight. However, my enemies are not proper; they are ruthless.
What if the Tateans have many powerful magic workers? How will you defeat them? You won’t. You must learn how to counter a dirty attack. Do you want to guess the one knight I know who is skilled enough to do such a thing?” I asked, in a long demanding rant.
“Sir Axel,” said another knight from the formation of aw stricken men.
“That’s right,” I praised. “Sir Axel can.”
I bent over and picked up the sword of the foolish knight. It was still lying on the ground next to him.
“Sir Axel is going to prove to you exactly why he is in charge,” I said as I tossed the other sword to him.
He picked it out of the air with ease. His face was a rueful smile; this was just what he needed. We were equals in our dueling, and it was something that would create a great show.
I moved into a fighting stance at the same time Axel did. In unison, we both leaped out of our spots, swords moving and clashing. We twirled around each other, swords swinging at incredible speeds. I threw fireballs, which he blocked with his sword. When I made grasses start to grow up his legs, he slashed the plants in one clean, precise swipe, and then continued to move.
It was hard to keep track of how long we dueled, but I was growing exhausted, and he was too. I pulled back my sword and planted it in the ground in front of me. I bowed to Axel and turned to address the ever-growing crowd that had surrounded us.
“And that is what you could be up against, and you just royally pissed off the one man that is willing to teach you. It’s your life that you are throwing away if you don’t wish to pay attention.”
I turned to Axel, “great work as always, Sir Axel. Turn these knights into warriors, or else this Kingdom doesn’t stand a chance.”
That last statement must have hit home. Axel bowed in return to me, and I dismissed myself. I may have confirmed I do have magic to my people, but I still have many cards up my sleeve.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
It has been weeks since I put the unruly knights in their place. I took another trip back home to Arlington as Grandmother started to have a fit. It was unlike anything I had seen before. Mom and I ended up having to take her to the hospital. Grandmother refused to go, and I had to hold her down in the backseat while Mom drove like a madwoman.
I tried my best to comfort Mom, but there is only so much one can do. Her mother was screaming in the backseat that she was going to call the cops on us for kidnapping her.
“My daughter will see to yo
u being caught!” she screamed. She remembered she had a daughter, but couldn’t recognize her.
The hospital gave her some calming drugs and was going to keep her overnight to observe the progression of her disease. There was no denying; it was only getting worse.
Mom stayed at the hospital that night. She insisted I go home and sleep.
My heart felt so heavy knowing this disease was only going to get worse until it took Grandmother away from us altogether. Up until recently, she was literally half of the family I had. I’m not sure if I will ever be able to cope when her time comes.
I want to bring Grandmother to Morthsoul, at least once. But her good days are becoming few, so I need to plan accordingly.
☼
I woke up in the poster bed designated for the Queen. It felt good to wake up in this bed. It smelt lovely, was larger than what I needed, and the colors in the hand-sewn quilt made me feel a little better.
I stood up and quickly got myself ready for the day. Trin came in to help me as I was doing my hair. It went up into a braided bun, and I wore a very simple dress. Today is all business for me.
Clarissa’s husband was returning today. He heard about the attack in the castle and immediately sent more knights for security until he could get here.
We would be talking about securing our castles and how to further raise security until this whole ordeal was over. I also had to explain to them that I had magic now. It was an unthought-of consequence of me using my powers in the demonstration with Axel. Some of Clarissa’s knights saw, and the rumors got back to her.
Traditionally their kingdom has very few magic workers, and it isn’t something they usually deal with. To them, I imagine this is a big deal, so I must tread carefully.
“The King has already arrived. Queen Clarissa is already meeting with him in the library. I think it’s best if you join them first thing,” she said, walking over to the basket she brought into the room with her.
I knew I smelt food. Trin lifted the cover on the basket and handed me a muffin.
“So visit them, I shall,” I told her.
“Do you feel alright? You look so tired. I can go meet with them if you need me to. Even Axel thinks you are running yourself thin,” Trin added.
She threw in Axel’s opinion to lessen the blow.
“I appreciate the concern Trin. I am tired. I go back and forth between worlds on a nightly basis. I have two entirely different sets of concerns in each world. It is just hard to balance it all. I know how Victoria felt now. Maybe she didn’t feel she was crazy because she was traveling to a new place, but because she kept trying to balance both.”
Just like that, I laid it out there, and the weight of what I said hung in the air. Part of me wanted to take it back. Trin already has a lot of things to worry about here. She doesn’t need to worry about me on top of it. I didn’t know what to say to fix this.
“I have an idea,” she said a second later, breaking my awkward silence.
“Do you?” I questioned.
“I’m going to retrieve Victoria’s diaries, all of them. You have only skimmed the surface. She wrote many diaries and journals, even some academic in nature. I’m going to clear a large chunk of your time to review them. Go meet with the King and Queen. Come back here when you are done. I will leave the stack on your bed. You take the evening to reconnect with Victoria. She might have some more insight to share with you. I’ll come to get you in time for the grand dinner,” she said.
“Oh, Trin! You are amazing,” I told her.
That is precisely what I need. Victoria is the only other one who I think can genuinely relate to what I’m going through. I should have thought to pick up her diaries again sooner.
“Oh, I know, but I don’t mind being told every once in a while,” she teased.
I stuck my tongue out at her. She passed me the talking points she wrote up for today’s meeting. I reviewed them on my walk down the hall to the library.
I entered the library quietly and set my notes down on a table near Wisdom’s desk. He’d find them and take care of them for me. Just get through this meeting, Violet, and then you will have this whole afternoon to relax.
“Hello, Your Highness,” I said to the King, giving him a small bow.
“Hello, Violet, we were just discussing security. Please come join us,” he offered.
“Of course,” I said, gracefully slipping into a chair. Score.
“We were trying to figure out how to stop the rebels from entering both castles,” he shared.
“Both castles, are they still breaking into yours as well?” I asked.
“Unfortunately so,” he answered.
“We need to close off the castles to the outside villages. As much as it pains me to say this, it isn’t safe anymore. The rebels are blending into the villages and walking among our people. Those allowed to enter and exit need to be specially recognized with some kind of object they need for reentry,” I shared.
“And how do we do that? An object can be easily copied by any con artist,” Clarissa added.
This would nudge me into the next topic…
“Not if it is magical,” I said.
“Magical, how?” Clarissa asked, narrowing her eyes. She was trying to see if she could find if the rumors were true.
“Well, as you have probably heard, I can use magic, and Wisdom can too. He can create a few magical objects which will grant certain people the privilege of entering the castle. Everyone is free to leave the castle on their own free will, but if you wish to reenter, you need to have that object.”
“So it is true?” she asked.
“It is indeed, does this hurt our alliance?” I asked.
There was a long moment of silence. Did I just make a colossal mistake by sharing this? An answer followed another moment of silence.
“No, this does not hurt the alliance,” the King said. I let out the breath I had purposefully been holding.
Suddenly the tea in the glass sitting in front of Clarissa began to rise out of its cup. I wasn’t doing that. I looked around the room to see if anyone else was seeing this? No one else was around. I turned back to the two sitting in front of me. The King was staring directly at the liquid while the Queen smiled.
“You see, we have a secret of our own,” she shared.
“I can see,” I said breathlessly.
“Only he can do that,” she shared, while her husband was still doing tricks with the tea.
It formed into little animals that leapt and ran around the tabletop, not leaving a single droplet of tea anywhere.
“You see, our family has had the ability to manipulate water for as long as anyone can remember. However, no one but our family knows, except for you. It keeps the target on our backs smaller. Not everyone embraces magic like you do. This is how we keep safe,” she told me, willing me to understand.
“Of course, I completely get it. Eduard hated magic, and I wasn’t sure your position either, that’s why I didn’t share until now,” I told them.
The King’s attention was now back on me. The tea he had been playing with was back in Clarissa’s cup.
“So anyway, the security..” I said.
We needed to solve the security issue and quickly. I doubt that was the last of the rebel attacks.
“Your idea sounds like our only option. How soon can you have the measures set into place?” the King asked.
“I need to consult with Wisdom, but hopefully, they should be done tomorrow evening,” I threw out there. In honesty, I had no idea how long it would take to think up something like that, and then create it.
For now, the fire was put out, but I was waiting for more to pop up like always.
Back in my room, I found the stack of diaries as promised. There was a selection of my favorite treats from the chef, and a new robe and slippers. Trin spoils me rotten.
Trin is amazing. Out of this whole experience, I got a great friend. When I had that vision, I had no idea that things would turn
out like this.
It has been a while since I have had a vision, and it worries me. Wisdom told me not to worry about it. They will happen when they need to, and that’s that.
But still, are they not happening because I’m messing up?
When you have so much responsibility, it is hard not to question if you are doing the right thing daily. It’s harder to fall asleep at night when I relive the anxiety of the day right before bed.
I slipped out the dress, which was starting to feel itchy, and into the silky robe. It was simple, just as I would want it. My initials were stitched right above my heart. I slipped on the matching slippers and stuffed a chocolate pastry into my mouth.
With my mouth still full, I picked up one of the older looking diaries and walked with it over to my bed. I opened to the first page where I found an entry that I hoped I could bring me some insight.
The role of the Queen is easy; the role of the wife is difficult. Making others happy is easy; making myself happy is not. The stress is too much to bear. I don’t feel right in my head. Not everyone can win in this life. I fear I will make myself the loser.
My eyes skim over the words, and my brain registers them, but it’s my heart that understands them. While I’m not a wife, that represents her struggles back in Arlington. It’s her job as Queen to put the subjects before herself, but she is trying so hard that she’s mistreating herself.
I relate to her words so bad it hurts. Before I know it, one of my tears hits the page. The saltwater turned the page into a slightly darker color. Then another tear fell and hit the same page. A line slowly appeared. Was this page hiding something, that only water or tears could unlock?
I let another tear fall, and something that looked like a letter appeared on the page.
What was this page hiding?
I ran with the book to my bathroom and raised the bucket that pulls from the underground spring.
To keep from ruining the pages, I stuck my fingers into the bucket of water and sprinkled drops on the book. More of the hidden writing appeared. Before I knew it, secrets made themselves known.
Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2) Page 10