Surveying her companions' faces, Rebenna realized that despite her sorrow, she would have to take control. The Kotai bent over in a state of utter exhaustion. Kellas was Savann, and the panicked Malzepherians would never trust him. Tymon still perched on his shoulder, but the people would not recognize the gyrfalcon as Delmer's. Smith was simply too foreign, and Annabeth was Low-born, which left Rebenna as the only remaining member of their group that had some clout with the people of Malzepher. She could only hope that her Noennaan heritage would not lead the citizens to distrust her.
Still looking around vainly in hopes of finding someone she recognized, Rebenna stepped hesitantly forward. "People of Malzepher, though I realize you have no reason to trust me, I beg of you to listen to the story I have to tell you."
"There ain't no Malzepher anymore," a man's voice called bitterly.
"Yet you still survive," Rebenna managed a stern smile. "Your land has been taken, but that means nothing if you still exist. Noenna has sacked one city, and I know a place of refuge if you wish to forget the past and abandon this land.”
This time it was an ancient woman near Rebenna who spoke. "Before you tell us of this refuge of yours, tell us why we have been driven from the land we have worked for centuries, and why we should abandon it."
"While you're explaining, you might as well tell us why we should trust you," another voice from shouted.
Rebenna bowed her head and resigned herself to a new life of distrust. Without any further hesitation, she began the story. She began with Magdor of Darkness and continued through the last moments of Delmer's life. As she spoke, she did not spare the Malzepherians any harsh details. Though she revealed centuries-old secrets, the Kotai, Kellas, and Smith made no attempt to halt her flow of words.
When she finished, she stared at her audience in expectation. She was met with complete silence, reminding her of the Noennaan's reaction to Delmer's words. Suppressing the emotions that rose with the thought, Rebenna looked at the door to the tunnel, sitting open. At some point during her story, the surge of people had stopped. During her explanation of her journey to Mount Slate, she had noticed the only refugees who seemed to be coming out of the passage were the injured, who were assisted by loved ones. The flow of people must have stopped entirely sometime after that.
"I believe you," General Portam said, stepping through the crowd. His tone had a hint of irony.
"Thank you, General. I am tired of intrigue and...power.”
Lord Richmon, the new rightful king of Malzepher, joined General Portam at the front of the group. "As am I, Ambassador Rebenna, though I realize this is hardly an appropriate title for you anymore."
The crowd gave way before their future ruler and turned to him for further guidance. He straightened his shoulders. "I would suggest taking Rebenna's advice. I believe we need to start afresh. We need to start our country again, though without violence this time. However, this is only my opinion; it is not the only one that matters." Richmon gestured widely, encompassing the crowd.
He is wiser than I remember, though he is still only sixteen, Rebenna noted.
Duke Kennith's nasal voice could be heard before he came into Rebenna's line of sight. "Why should we leave our home, son? Why should we give in to these demagogues? Why should we listen to a girl who is one of them?"
"Rebenna has shared this story with us in order to finally help us understand,” Richmon explained helplessly.
"We would abandon all our countrymen and the lands we have tended for centuries?" Duke Kennith asked, and many people nodded in response.
Rebenna spoke again, trying to lessen the burden on Richmon. "I still believe this is necessary. The Savanns will give us shelter and even land if we request it. They are not using all they have. I can also guarantee our safe passage into Savann, because of the Kotai. If you choose to remain and fight, I promise you they will not help your cause."
She looked at the Kotai, who nodded in agreement, and then at Smith, who took one step forward to say, "As Queen Lena of Savann's personal advisor, I can affirm that there will be land for any Malzepherians who wish it in Savann. I also promise that we would help any other Malzepherians from other cities who wish to start over."
"Savann is even worse than Noenna. At least we know what the Noennaans are. Savanns are so cloaked in mystery they would probably betray us without us even realizing it," Duke Kennith protested again.
"Father, Rebenna just revealed many of the Savann's secrets to us. We no longer have any reason to distrust them," Richmon replied in annoyance.
"Perhaps you are right, my son, but we still have no reason to trust this Noennaan girl." He spat on the ground and despite all she had been through, Rebenna recoiled.
"She could have run, but she didn't. She could have killed our king at any time, but she didn't. She could have done so many things to betray Malzepher, but she has only given us reasons to trust her." Richmon's voice rang out angrily through the overcrowded grove and he immediately softened it. "I am going with Rebenna to begin anew in Savann. This is what I think Delmer would have wanted. If anyone disagrees with me, then stay here, but since Father has wasted so much time arguing, we no longer have the luxury of time."
Spinning on his heel, Richmon walked away from the crowd. Rebenna began to follow, but they stopped when they heard General Portam say, "Before I left him, King Delmer gave me the same advice as what Rebenna is now proposing. He told me to head east, and so I shall."
The reiteration of Delmer's last words to his general seemed to sway the crowd more than any other words could have. Rebenna did not have to look to know that an enormous amount of people was headed after her and Richmon. Even in death, Delmer had power over his people.
This is truly what Delmer would have wished his people to do, Rebenna thought, finally allowing her mind-numbing grief the slightest bit of purchase on her mind. One day she would weep openly, but not until she had helped guide Delmer's people to a land where they would be safe.
Chapter 23 - Epilogue
Touching Annabeth's shoulder to inform the seneschal she was leaving, Rebenna stepped down from the dais and joined her subjects on the lower level. It had taken eight years to complete the palace in New Malzepher. This time was preceded by a year of desperate escape to Savann and a year of refuge with the Savanns. In all, ten years had passed from the fall of the first Malzepher.
People, both Malzepherians and Savanns, had come from great distance to christen the new building, with a ball celebrating their new lives. Smiling sadly, as she always did when thinking about the present, Rebenna surveyed her new home.
The first man she saw was Kellas, who stood stoically near the bottom of the steps. As always, he had a very elderly Tymon on his bare shoulder. He bowed deeply to her, balancing the mystic animal carefully on his shoulder. He had become the ambassador from Savann to New Malzepher, and often was present at her court.
When she had first set out as an ambassador to Malzepher, she had unknowingly ended her life as she had known it before. She had begun to think she would be homeless for her entire life, forced to wander. However, the Malzepherian people had adopted her and given her a new mission.
Happily, Rebenna noticed that all five of the sages were present at her court again. When the Malzepherians had decided to stop drawing on the Savann's hospitality and begin their own country, the female Kotai, Alyssa and Camille, had accompanied the Malzepherians. In addition, the eldest boy named Thomas had joined them. The other two boys had remained with the Savanns.
At the time when Rebenna had first learned the Kotai's names, she had been startled. They were not strange, unpronounceable names as she had expected, but shockingly normal. It was at that point that she had had to remember all five of the sages had been fully human.
During the first year of their escape, it was the small realizations like the one about the Kotai that had sustained her. With such a large group, it would have been impossible to conceal their movements without the Kotai's he
lp. Though some High-born had stayed with Duke Kennith and attempted to begin an unsuccessful rebellion, Malzepherians from other towns had joined their refugee party daily. Even with the sage's help, there had been several times when their group had met up with Noennaan patrols. Those patrols had been defeated without hesitation.
Despite minor troubles, the group of fleeing Malzepherians had never encountered any serious problems. Perhaps that was mostly due to the Kotai's magic. Rebenna tended to disagree with that sentiment and instead believed that the Noennaans had finally had enough of war. Even after everything she had been through, she wanted to believe that people could change their natures. As far as she knew, Noenna still quietly possessed the former lands of Malzepher under King Marus' reign.
Upon arriving in Savann, Queen Lena had offered the drained Malzepherians refuge and their own land if they wished it, just like Rebenna had promised. For slightly less than a year, the Malzepherians had relied solely on the Savann's generosity. Once their pride finally returned, they took up the queen's offer of land.
New Malzepher spread out around the Naeco Sea. After living on the coast for centuries, the Malzepherians had been uncomfortable in Savann's thick forests. When they accepted the unwanted lands from the Savanns, they had rejoiced upon seeing the water. They had christened their capital city New Hope, which was in keeping with their country's name.
Originally, the shift in the Malzepherian culture had alarmed Rebenna. They eagerly began to learn Old Tongue and showed a capacity for the language that had surprised her. Somewhat less quickly, they had also begun learning magic. It was ultimately Smith who urged the beginning of the practice and eased the people through the transition.
I must admit that I am grateful that I have no talent as a mage. I'm lucky to be able to light a candle most days.
Catching her eye, her husband beamed at her and nodded in invitation towards the dance floor. She shook her head and smiled back, turning away. They would have enough time to talk after the ball. This night she wanted no part in dancing.
Richmon had not been questioned as Delmer's successor, though he was constantly living in the shadow of the country's greatest martyr. For the first few years, Rebenna had helped lead the fledgling country as his advisor, but she had known he was not content with the situation.
When he had proposed to her, she had not been surprised. The Malzepherians had stopped regarding her with cold disinterest when she had helped guide them to Savann. Eventually, she had witnessed their respect for her grow into genuine love.
Since the people did not object, Rebenna had agreed to marry Richmon. She felt a different love for him than she had felt for Delmer, but it was still love. The Malzepherians had needed her experience in a way she could not have provided as an advisor, so she had set her personal feelings aside.
It seems that Smith's prediction has been fulfilled, and Mother even got her wish. I become royalty, she mused.
With that thought, she looked around for the sphinx. Spotting her easily, Rebenna walked over to Smith. Though more mythical beings had come out of hiding after New Malzepher was founded, there were still very few present in the court, so Smith stood out. "Are you enjoying the celebration?" Rebenna asked over the noise of the crowded room.
"I am thoroughly enjoying myself, dear, though I do wish that you were having more fun," Smith replied kindly.
"I'll try, Smith,” Rebenna replied, flashing the sphinx a weary smile.
"Look, go talk to your brother," Smith pointed and pushed Rebenna towards Geb with her hand like paw.
After New Malzepher had been fully established, her two youngest brothers had moved to the fledgling country. Rebenna had been ecstatic to see them, and much to her surprise, they had brought Rachel and Leland with them. Her older niece and nephew were both fostered at Rebenna's court. The idea was such a success, that all her nieces and nephews had been given the choice.
When Rachel turned thirteen, she had opted to remain in New Malzepher, though it was likely that upon his next birthday, Leland would be forced to return to Noenna as heir to the household. Dirk and Gervais' other children were also currently at the court, though all but Leland and Rachel were too young to attend the ball. Happily, Larine visited her children as often as Gervais would allow.
Honestly, I am grateful that Mother, Dirk, and Gervais turned down the invitation to this ball, even if it means I'm not able to see my sisters-in-law.
"Geb, how good to see you,” she called to her favorite brother.
He glanced her way and grinned. He had not changed at all in the ten years that had passed, except for a few grey hairs. Much to their mother's chagrin, he was still unmarried. "Working with your militia keeps me far too busy and ruling a country seems to have the same effect on you," he laughed. "How is Flint? I never see him anymore either."
After Healer Keller's death, Flint had taken over the position of chief healer. "He's fine and incredibly happy with Anna and their two children." She gave her first unstrained smile in a long time.
"Aunt Rebenna?" A voice chimed from behind her as a slender hand touched her shoulder.
Rebenna smiled up at the slender fifteen-year-old. "Rachel, you look truly mature tonight."
"Thank you, Aunt Rebenna." Rachel curtsied with a blush.
"Is there anything you wanted?"
"Not really, I just wanted to tell you that you look beautiful in that dress." Rachel smiled prettily, like she had in Rebenna's room ten years before.
"Thank you," Rebenna managed to choke out as she glanced down at the dress.
When they arrived in Savann, Trouble had been returned to her. With the mare also came her unopened saddlebag. At the bottom, Rebenna had found the crumpled honey-colored dress she had bought from Lauren so many years before. It had stayed unworn until now.
Excusing herself, Rebenna quietly walked out to the balcony that overlooked the sea. She could not help but be reminded of the night of Delmer’s Coronation Ball. The sea sparkled the same as it had that night, on the other side of the continent. She had bought the dress hoping to impress Delmer at another Malzepherian ball.
She had never gotten the chance.
For ten long years she pushed herself passed the haunting memories of Delmer. She had always kept busy with her new duties. This night she no longer had an excuse. The palace had been completed, and her new life validated.
Years of pent-up grief surfaced, and the first tears she had allowed to fall in ten years began to flow. The lights in the city below blurred, and she desperately rubbed at her eyes. It was no use. Her tears were like a wildfire which could not be restrained until it had consumed everything in its path.
Feeling the strong arms of her husband wrap around her, she only sobbed harder. He held her quietly, until her tears finally slowed and then stopped. They stood in silence on the balcony and swayed to the rhythm of the waters. Though Rebenna had not gotten the perfect ending to her story, she had at least received a measure of happiness.
She had founded her homeland, and found her home.
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