by Ai Meléndez
At the far end was a raised dais with a beautifully crafted throne, before which was Ruben, who was kneeling before a court official dressed in elaborate robes and carrying a scepter. Ruben vowed to rule with integrity, honor, and justice.
After that, the golden crown was placed on his head.
Ruben stood, facing the crowd and raising an arm, followed by shouts and cheers of approval.
Mahnii looked at Ualtar and his doubts shifted as he saw the prince smiling broadly and clapping. Maybe he really was happy for his brother and simply had disdain for nonhumans because of what had already been going on?
Maybe Mahnii had been too eager to focus on a problem because of everything they’d learned. Surely, it couldn’t be that easy anyway.
He shifted his attention toward Ruben once more. Well, that was that. Peace would reign, at least for this kingdom, and he prayed it would be enough for Sik to honor the treaty and avoid the lycans attacking.
As soon as the coronation ceremony was over, Kuu went to meet privately with Ruben while the others moved toward the banquet hall with the rest of the enormous crowd.
Even before they arrived, shouts and the hum of conversation hung in the air as well as delicious scents of breads and cooked meats.
Mahnii was shocked by the number of people already seated, even with the noise he had heard on approach.
At least that answered the question of why there was so much room in the hall.
He sat down, eager to dig in when a shadow loomed over the table behind them.
“Celeste, dear, could I borrow you?”
It was Ualtar’s voice. He had an arm behind his back and was bent slightly toward her.
Celeste looked up. “Hmm?” She paused, then stood. “Oh, Prince Ualtar! What is it?”
So casual, observed Mahnii. And since when had Ualtar decided to be so pleasant?
“I need your help,” Ualtar said, offering her a hand.
“Okay,” said Celeste, taking his hand and swinging her hammer over her shoulder. She grinned at Mahnii, then followed Ualtar.
Mahnii watched, an odd feeling stirring in his stomach. Should he follow them?
He shrugged. Celeste could handle herself, he knew that much. She may be naïve and overly trusting… but if there were any danger, he knew she could hold her own at least.
So, instead, he focused on his meal and conversing with Shim. Kah was as silent as always, though Mahnii knew he was still paying attention to the conversation.
·-`*´-· Celeste ·-`*´-·
The last two days had been unlike any other she had ever experienced in her life. She hadn’t ever even known this feeling before. Of course, she had witnessed affection between Nah and Noh, her giant parents.
Every time she looked at Ruben, her stomach flipped all over and her body did things she wasn’t even sure how to react to. She couldn’t help constantly remembering his every perfect, stunning feature and when she was looking at him, simply staring intently. In fact, she didn’t want to look away from him.
What was this?
She didn’t know, but she was enjoying it, and she could tell he was too.
Knowing that, she was curious what his brother, Ualtar, wanted as they walked along one of the castle corridors and into the castle gardens. Ruben had shown her this part of the castle during their evening walk. Something about it had made her feel incredibly calm.
“I’ve noticed the way my brother seems to be drawn to you,” Ualtar started. He was walking with his hands at his sides, staring straight forward.
Celeste grinned, though before she could speak, he continued.
“It’s good. My brother hasn’t ever seemed interested in the ladies of court. Now I understand why.”
Celeste wasn’t sure what that meant; she was just happy Ualtar was confirming Ruben felt the same way toward her as she had been about him.
“If you and Ruben are to continue growing closer, I’m afraid there’s something you need to know,” Ualtar said. “As you know, he is king now and so it’s my job to protect him as the crown, being his brother.”
Celeste was confused. Protect him? What was Ualtar talking about? They were signing a peace treaty with the lycans and, Celeste was confident she could protect him if anyone tried to hurt him. She glanced toward the enormous dragon’s tooth that made up the head of her hammer.
“There is someone that threatens everything we are trying to create here. He’s been appearing recently, trying to convince my brother that the lycans should die and to go to war to annihilate them. Clearly, as you know, the lycans want peace. However, this man wants to take control of my brother and the kingdom. I cannot let that happen,” Ualtar explained.
Celeste turned abruptly. “Christopher?”
Ualtar smiled. “Yes; he’s here.” He then continued walking forward. “You see, I cannot tell everyone about this threat because it would cause distrust for my brother among the people. However, I know I can rely on you because my brother trusts you, and your strength is quite evident.” He gestured toward her hammer.
Celeste grinned proudly at this and nodded.
“So, I need your help to rid us of this threat once and for all. I have managed to convince this man to trust me. I am going to bring him here. I need you to wait here for me to bring him, and when you hear us approaching, swing your hammer and end him. Then we will save not only our kingdom, but all the lands from all of the destruction that has our world in chaos.” Ualtar paused, facing Celeste. “Will you do it?”
Celeste clutched her hammer, tapping it against her shoulder. “O’ course! Ya kin count on me.” ‘This is it! I’m gonna save tha entire world! I’ll finally be called tha conqueress,’ she thought.
“Okay,” Ualtar said. “Just, wait here, behind this pillar for me to return.”
Celeste nodded and leaned back against the pillar Ualtar had indicated. The gardens truly were magnificent. There were flowers of every variety and color stretching in all directions, even up the stone walls that surrounded them.
The pillar she stood against was one of several, all aligned in pairs that formed a path from the castle itself and through the gardens to the other end, where it joined a set of gates leading back into the castle and toward Ruben’s quarters. He had only told her during their stroll, though she found herself curious now.
She smiled at the thought of Ruben – he was king now! Once more her cheeks grew warm, and then she remembered what Ualtar had told her.
That bastard trying to get into Ruben’s head. She clenched her fist. At first, the thought of attacking without facing him squarely had not settled well in her stomach. But look at all this evil man had already done! She was trusting that Ualtar was right – for Ruben’s sake. She would do it.
Soon, she heard voices approaching. She focused, listening hard as they got closer so she would know exactly when to strike. Ualtar was speaking, discussing plans for the kingdom. She thought little of the conversation. After all, Ualtar had tricked this evil man to get his trust. Only to end the reign of terror, she thought. And she would be the one to do it!
Closer. Closer.
Their steps were evident on the stones of the path between the pillars.
Now!
She swung, coming down with all her might. Her arms shook with the impact of her weapon and a body. ‘Got him!’
She raised her weapon, slinging it over her shoulder and curious to see the face of this evil man that had even the ruling dragon-gods outdone.
Instead of seeing a black cloak and a stranger, though…
Celeste staggered backwards. “No,” she whispered, then got louder. “No… no!”
She screamed, “Ruben!”
His handsome features were marred and his body crushed from the full force of her attack. He lay motionless, blood pooling about his body, staining the stones.
Her heart suddenly felt like a gaping hole in her chest and she gasped for breath. ‘What do I do? I’ve killed him. What do I do?’
<
br /> She looked at Ualtar, standing over the body of his brother with a look she felt in her gut she had seen before. ‘The man… the man on the hill outside the village the dragons burned before I passed out.’
Ualtar smirked. “At last!” Then his features twisted and he advanced. “Guards! Guards!” he shouted, and footsteps almost immediately echoed against the stone, coming closer.
“Celeste, what have you done? I knew it! No nonhumans can be trusted. Not one of them! All nonhumans should be wiped out – permanently. Starting with”—he paused—“the lycans. You have murdered our beloved king in cold blood. He trusted you and you’ve crushed him. You and your filthy, vile companions coming here under the ruse of a peace treaty and on the verge of his coronation. Now your true intentions are revealed.”
Celeste now understood. Everything. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t kill Ualtar now with Ruben at his feet only for the guards to arrive. They wouldn’t believe her. She couldn’t even rescue his body to honor it in death.
She turned and ran. She had to get away as fast as she could and figure out what to do.
Chapter 20
Celeste was grateful Ruben had showed her around, because she had learned there were actually four different entrances to the gardens. She ran to the one nearest the guest halls and didn’t slow down until she reached the rooms they had been given.
She was breathless from gasping back sobs while running and she shoved her hammer against the door to at least buy time in case the guards came before they could escape.
“We have ta leave, now!” she said, looking around frantically to make sure everyone was there. ‘Thank the gods,’ she thought. Even Kuu had returned to the room after signing the treaty with Ruben. Her gut clenched at the thought of him.
“Why, what’s going on?” asked Kuu, brows furrowing as he moved toward her.
“I kin explain on tha way. But we have ta leave!” she said. “Ya have ta trust me.”
Mahnii gripped her hand. She hadn’t expected that. “Okay, we’re with you, Celeste,” he said.
She nodded and swung her hammer over her shoulder once again. She was prepared to barrel aside any guards in their way if she had to. But she wasn’t going to let that disgusting prince Ualtar destroy her companions.
She flung the door open and stepped out into the hallway. At the moment, no one was waiting for them.
They made their way down the guest hall and toward the main gates. They were open!
But the entire courtyard was packed with people who were still lingering after the coronation.
She began pushing through the crowd, dead set on getting through that gate while they could.
“Celeste, get in.” It was Cookie’s voice.
She glanced over to see Chew’s large face next to hers and then looked back. As soon as they’d exited the castle into the courtyard, Kuu had gotten Chew and the cart and the others had got in.
She nodded, pausing her step and then leaping into the cart with the others.
Just then, Ualtar’s voice boomed over the courtyard from somewhere above. There was a gap between two towers, and he could be seen peering between the turrets.
“Citizens of Yehphis! Hear me! Our beloved king Ruben has just been murdered at the hands of a vile nonhuman. We welcomed them into our midst. Our king trusted them, sided with them, and now he lies dead. Clearly, they cannot be trusted! See how they twisted and manipulated my brother’s benevolence.”
Gasps, cries, screams, and shouts rose and echoed around the courtyard, resounding in the air.
Just as he had spoken, the companions had managed to get outside the gate.
Ualtar continued, “I humbly take my brother’s place, and I only ask that you join with me in vengeance. Let us gather and march first on the lycans, and then on any nonhumans who would defend them! We will avenge our king!”
The crowd roared as Chew took off as fast as he could to return to the lycan territories.
Celeste’s eyes were still burning and her face was hot. “That bastard.”
“Celeste… what happened?” Cookie asked.
“Christopher… he got ta Ualtar afore anyone. He tol’ me I would ‘elp end ‘im. But it was Ruben.” The tears streamed now and she buried her face in her hands.
“It’s okay,” Mahnii said. “Now we know for sure about Christopher, and we can tell Cel-Lok.”
“It won’t be enough time,” said Kuu. “We’ll return home and I’ll meet with Rosa. We must prepare the lycans.”
Celeste barely registered what they were talking about.
She was withdrawn in her thoughts the entire trip back to Cookie’s home. Mahnii kept trying to talk to her, but she couldn’t express anything. She was vaguely aware of the others setting up camp and preparing food, but she didn’t eat.
Her stomach was still in knots and lurched every time she thought about Ruben.
It was the first time in her life she had ever felt that way… and she had destroyed it with her own hands.
Maybe Mahnii had been right and she needed to learn and understand more. Or maybe she wasn’t fit to ever be called a conqueress or the strongest anything. No one would call her that now.
In fact, Celeste started to wonder if that even mattered. Maybe her whole life had been completely wrong. Everything Cel-Lok had shared with her kept flashing back into her mind. Maybe there were more important things than strength.
She felt like the tears wouldn’t stop coming. It was a mixture of despair, loss, and rage at Ualtar and Christopher and the chaos and the humans that had let their minds be corrupted.
At last, they reached Cookie’s home again and once more, Rosa was running out to meet them.
Kuu leaped from the cart and ran toward her. Chew caught up moments after.
“We failed,” he said, “Christopher had already gotten to them. War cannot be avoided now.”
Rosa nodded, her face grim.
“Rosa, I can’t stay and help. We need to return to Lady Cel-Lok,” Kuu said.
Rosa stared at him a moment, then nodded again. “Okay,” she said. “Go. My place is here. Let me send you all with goods.”
Kuu agreed and gripped her in a hug.
They stocked up on food and supplies before they settled for the night, staying in the hut Kuu used to live in before he’d left to seek out Ru-Kai. They set out for Cel-Lok’s land early the next morning.
It would be another three and a half days’ journey before they reached Cel-Lok, so in that time, Mahnii seemed to deem it appropriate to prepare Celeste for her bonding with the dragon-god.
“I don’ need yer help, Mahnii,” Celeste insisted. “I kin handle it.”
She had to admit she had grown used to Mahnii’s always looking over her and she actually appreciated his company. He was like… a brother, she thought.
Strangely, Cookie seemed to understand more than the others and often just wrapped a furry arm around her in a light squeeze before letting her be once more.
·-`*´-· Mahnii ·-`*´-·
As they were approaching Cel-Lok’s palace, Shim moved close to Mahnii. “She’ll be alright, you know,” she said softly.
Mahnii blinked at Shim. “What?”
Shim just nudged him.
“Stay here,” Kuu told Chew; they had stopped and everyone had gotten out of the cart. Chew yipped and wagged his tail.
Kuu patted his head and the companions all entered the tower, climbing toward Cel-Lok’s room.
“Where are all the guards?” Mahnii wondered out loud.
They stopped before Cel-Lok’s room, and Celeste peeked inside. The dragon-goddess was sitting up, though looked even more pale and gaunt than when they’d last seen her. Still, Cel-Lok smiled at her and raised a hand to gesture for them to come in.
Kuu bowed and everyone else followed suit, except Celeste. After all, she was equal to Cel-Lok and saw no reason to bow before her.
“Lady Cel-Lok, we discovered the name of the threa
t is Christopher,” said Kuu. He looked up and sighed deeply. “We failed to prevent war. The lycans prepare as we speak, and the humans may already be marching on my home.”
Cel-Lok closed her eyes, nodding slowly. Her face twisted as her brows furrowed and her lips thinned. “It’s worse than I feared. I was able to reach Ru-Kai in your absence. This was our last chance. The other human kingdoms have already fallen under this chaos bringer’s influence and cannot be reasoned with.”
She paused, tears forming in her eyes. “My brothers and I came here to escape everything. This world was meant to be a sanctuary. But now, it is better for all nonhumans to return to Aeros – or face even more bloodshed.”
“Wha’ abou’ tha plan ta merge an’ fight?” Celeste blurted. “I though’ we wa’ gonna face tha bastard!”
Cel-Lok smiled at Celeste but shook her head. “In all my visions, this was the plan. But that was before I knew his identity. See, this man – Christopher – was very powerful back on our Motherland, Aeros. It took everything we had combined with many others there to defeat him once, and I believed he was dead. I had no idea he had followed us here. He must have been in an incredibly weakened state, rebuilding his power and biding his time.”
She broke into a coughing fit, blood spewing onto her hand from her lips. “I don’t have much time,” she murmured. “Even with our bond, we cannot defeat him right now. Our best option is to return to Aeros while we can and try to discover how to truly defeat him forever. Celeste, you must go with Kuu to Aeros, both to warn those there and ensure the arriving nonhumans can peacefully make new homes. With our bond, I can ensure you will know what to say and who to speak to.”
“But how are we supposed to tell all nonhumans about this?” asked Mahnii. “Even with Ru-Kai’s clones, it won’t be enough.”
“And what’s to say that he doesn’t simply follow the nonhumans back to Aeros?” said Shim, folding her arms.
“He might, but there is a better chance of defeating him on our Motherland than here. The magic there is stronger and there are more who can help,” said Cel-Lok.