The Caged Kingdom

by M A Price

  “Captain, can I trust you and your team to guard this room for however long we need?” Jax nodded at the creature, face still set. “Excellent. I did hope so. Do not leave, do not go to bed and let nobody in except the people your girl brings. That includes General Xave if he returns. Can you manage that?”

  “Yes, Your Highness, with pleasure.” The part about keeping Xave out may have been the first sincere thing he’d ever said to her. Maybe Xave wasn’t quite as important around here as he feared.

  She dismissed them, the King saying nothing, and he had no choice but to begin watch with Samiah. He would send her for Tyr and Joseon, still in the grounds, as soon as Jala returned. It meant he could sneak a moment to see if she was well, find out what she had seen in Nrenna’s rooms, and discuss the Reyn situation with her.

  Even though it would be quickly and quietly due to their location, it would be better than having to wait until their discussion inside was complete. There were already too many questions buzzing through his brain. If there was just a way to reach that stupid damn Prince.

  “I’m sorry your attempts to avoid me have failed.” Samiah’s words caught him off guard. She still stood like a perfect soldier with no emotion whatsoever. Her spear was at her side and her whole body transfixed forward but she sounded more like her old self. Almost like the woman that had whispered to him at night, admitting she didn’t know if she would ever be as good as she wanted to be.

  “I haven’t avoided you.” Jaxon had never been a good liar.

  “We’ve seen every part of one another. Shouldn't that mean we can be honest? Are you with Jala?”

  “Jala is my friend and you know she has no interest in men. We’ve just grown apart.”

  “Grown apart?” Her voice rose slightly before she steadied herself. “We were fine until that cursed woman was in the dungeons Jaxon. Then you started treating me like some form of leper purely for following my orders and doing my job.”

  He hadn’t thought of it like that. How it might have looked to Samiah. Reyn had tried to warn him.

  “The Prince was interested in me, he wanted to help me, and then he drops me to spend time with you? The one he had so many questions about. Was he using me? Just another stepping stone to your success, aren’t I Jaxon? Tossed aside by you and your friends. Jala used to adore me and now she won’t even look at me, it’s as if I repulse her.”

  Jax opened his mouth to respond but nothing he could say felt like enough.

  “It’s fine. I’ve made my decision. Have you heard about the serum? I’m going to take it. I’m going to be one of them and have their power. I’m going to be better than this stupid job and listening to people like you!” Her voice finally broke on the last word. A tiny sob escaped her.

  “Samiah you can’t! You won’t be you. Do you have any idea what that thing does?”

  “I know exactly what it does and exactly who I’ll be, and I welcome it Jaxon. I can be something if I do this. A lot more than you’ll ever be. You or your stupid friends.”

  He wanted to beg, to scream, and throw himself at her feet. He had not been able to love her in the way she wanted, and she had a cruel streak he couldn’t bring himself to like, but he couldn’t wish this fate for her. To be gone, replaced, and forgotten. For her to be the foe he was destined to resist no matter the cost.

  Jala arriving with a string of Unforgiven in her wake stopped him from doing any such thing.

  Samiah snapped back to attention, declaring them to Nrenna, and holding the door open as they passed. “I’ll go and get the others so we can form shifts,” she declared after they were safely inside, more to Jala than him.

  “Did I miss something?” Jala seemed confused as Samiah stomped away.

  “Samiah wants to take the serum.”

  “Shit.”

  “I think she blames me.”

  “I said shit, right? That’s pretty bad Jax. Are you alright?”

  “I don’t…is it my fault?”

  “I’m not qualified to answer that question, I know nothing about you two being together. I think sometimes we tend to find it easier to blame people for things we don’t want to blame ourselves for, but I don’t know. You need to ask yourself that more than me.”

  He had a feeling that was all he would do for the coming moons.

  Jala told him about her trip to Nrenna’s rooms and the eerie silence as The Unforgiven returned with her. She was convinced one of them looked like a guard they used to work with and seemed horribly disappointed when he admitted he hadn’t looked at their faces. Neither of them mentioned Reyn or Katanya.

  There was enough worry for one day and a stony silence fell as soon as Samiah returned with Tyr and Joseon.

  A quiet so severe he could do nothing but think.

  Seventy-Three - Mara

  She kept the black tunic she had loved to see him in for herself; for the lonely nights to come. For Camrin she took Idyn’s drinking horn and favourite dagger. He might not appreciate the gesture, she doubted he would, but she would make it all the same.

  She burnt the rest.

  It wasn’t logic that told her it was a good idea, but something deep inside her. The same voice as her power. The one she had been trained to listen for.

  The other weapons he had were already being re -purposed, too many soldiers to arm to waste such materials. His armour was still on his body, a ritual Ivloch would not see changed. A soldier deserved their armour. Had fought for it and with it.

  The fire had come instinctively to her palm; before even the thought finished forming. Easier than it ever had. She supposed it was the emotion of it. Even in The Facility they had told her that emotion made the power easier to draw from. Easier to wield. To focus.

  His things, and some of hers she discarded, they belonged to the old Mara and burnt with their tent. She watched the blaze, careful to control it and not let it spread. Faces she recognised, and some she didn’t, passed her by, words of comfort, respect. Words about Idyn.

  She murmured thank you, the usual pleasantries. The dull eyed answers that one says in such a situation. All the times Katanya hadn’t wanted to discuss Kyllian suddenly made sense. The look on Ivloch’s face as he had buried his wife. A pain that had made her curious, now left her world turned upside down.

  The world without Idyn would be a scary place; one she wasn’t sure she could survive alone.

  She was glad, as the last few belongings finally succumbed to the flames. The things Idyn had loved shouldn't be left here alone. He would have hated that; been angry at whoever left them there.

  “What you have is part of who you are; the good and the bad, you got to treat them like they're part of you,” he’d joked. She would remember that; always. She’d find that book about Mexico one day. Wherever she had to look.

  It was then she decided that he should be burnt and not buried. That there was another way to honour everything he had loved. To honour him. If they had been able to stay here, then yes, he could rest with them, but if they could have stayed here then he wouldn’t be dead. Would he? Xave wouldn’t have attacked. Everything would be so very different.

  He had served in life; in death his spirit could wander. See, somewhere on some world, all the things he had dreamed could one day happen in Brodanna.

  The things Mara Lars would continue for.

  Maybe he could even go see Old Earth.

  The Unforgiven were a force she still couldn't comprehend, she had seen only a few, in the Facility and here, and they were enough to terrify her. Soon she would have to face them in a battle; a battle she hadn't spent her life training for. A battle she may very well lose.

  Yet Idyn had believed in her. He had held her in the night and laughed at how well she was doing. He had taught her things about Brodanna she had never known. Filled her with stories of The Seven Transmitted worlds. Stories of Old Earth; full of pizza, fluffy things called dogs, and spaceships and magic so unlike her own. Idyn had given her a tissue the first day she met
him and confidence on every day of her training. He gave her the smallest belief that if Kara’s Mark had stayed with her then Elex had chosen well.

  She found Katanya and Ivloch in the pavilion like she expected. The man from the meeting too; although less awkward. They were laughing.

  She anticipated resistance to her idea; but it never came. Katanya seemed sombre, but accepted it quickly.

  “I think…it makes sense.” She wandered towards Mara taking her hand into hers.

  Mara didn't understand what she was doing at first, thought it a simple gesture of love. It took her a few moments for the energy and heat to flood into her. Katanya was giving her a gift; the only one she could at that moment. Some of her power. The power to be able to burn him herself if she wished. Strength to make it through the moon.

  She squeezed her friend’s hand, a thank you, and a warning to not give more. She was grateful, more than she could put into words, but Katanya had a struggle ahead of her too. One with little rest forthcoming. She needed her own magic.

  If Ivloch or the Prince, whose name Mara didn't know, noticed what was happening they said nothing. The Prince looked embarrassed to be there. She had felt the same with Becca a small voice in her head remembered. An impostor at a family occasion.

  It wasn’t easy feeling like you didn’t belong.

  “I agree, but we must ask Camrin,” Ivloch finally judged. Mara had expected someone would say such a thing, even reaching the decision herself.

  That didn’t make the idea any easier.

  Or mentioning the other part of the plan she hadn’t even told Katanya, Ivloch or the stranger before her.

  One that Camrin may be the only person to actually understand.

  ***

  Camrin was already by the river, where they were planning to bury him. Waiting to say goodbye to the brother he had loved.

  The four of them headed there together. The camp was deserted as they passed through. No noise except the sound of tents moving in the wind and the horses in the distance. She walked with her arm in Katanya’s, Ivloch and the Prince following behind. Katanya had introduced him as Reyn Landress and she had believed him when he told her he was sorry about Idyn.

  Everyone else was with Camrin, standing by the river bank when they arrived. He stood alone in front of the crowd, but all the faces were there, a mass of familiarity and the unknown. Yenna was with her family, her daughter Syla close at her heels. Fendir took care of a conscious but confused Dexter. He had been adamant upon waking, he wanted to pay his respects, refusing all advice that he needed rest. The men and women Ivloch had brought from The Black Lands crowded at the back, distant but respectful. Their furs were still wrapped tightly around themselves, faces hidden.

  The novelty hadn't worn off with anyone yet, especially the children, who kept turning to point and ask questions to unwilling parents. Questions that they couldn't always answer. This was still the first time any soldiers had come from The Black Lands in twenty years.

  Over a hundred surviving souls of Kara’s Guild gathered for their fallen friend. Three hundred new allies supporting them.

  Everyone fell silent as they approached. Camrin stepped further forward, a small bag clutched in his arm. He had removed his armour and seemed to be wearing a simple brown tunic and matching travelling cloak.

  “I’m going to give you some space,” Reyn declared, an arm moving towards Katanya but thinking better of it. He moved in a quick stride towards Fendir and Dexter, the only other people he would recognise bar Yenna. Mara saw suspicious eyes from the front of the crowd follow his movements. He either pretended not to notice or simply didn't care.

  “Cam, Mara has an idea and you should hear her out before you object to prove a point,” Katanya announced. “For Idyn.”

  Camrin said nothing but moved his attention towards her.

  Her mouth felt dry and her fists clenched at her side. This happening meant more to her than anything ever had; if Camrin decided to say no, in front of everyone...

  “I…don’t think he would like to be here alone. I think he’d rather we burnt him, and I know this sounds insane…” she didn’t stop to look at Katanya or Ivloch or think about the way the words were falling from her mouth. She just spoke to Camrin and willed him to listen. For Idyn.

  “You know how much he always talked about Earth? All the old traditions they had, the strange things they used to do?” Camrin grunted, he did know yes, she knew he knew. If Idyn had told her then he definitely would have told him. “There is one, some of the ancient Earthers used to do it, before they invented the wide web world or buried the dead like we do…He called it a…”

  “A Viking funeral? You want him to have a Viking funeral.” Camrin laughed, the bag he held so tight dropped to the floor. “I should have thought of it myself. He would…he would have loved that Mara.”

  Katanya and Ivloch both seemed shocked. Ivloch seemed to mix his reaction with some wilful pride aimed at Camrin. They, along with the assembled crowd, needed it explained what exactly a Viking funeral would entail. Katanya found the idea fascinating, admitting that it did seem very Idyn. Ivloch just shrugged, but an easy, friendly, pleased shrug that suited him.

  She didn’t think he had ever looked more like a father.

  They didn’t have a boat or time to make one, but Camrin ordered everyone to collect as much wood as they could from the forest. A raft would do, just fine.

  It was quick, purposeful, and more respectful than Mara could have envisioned.

  They didn’t have all the time in the world; every moment here put them in danger, but they would do right by Idyn.

  He had taken the vow and been their friend.

  It took longer to tie the wood together, to check that it floated in the river and would hold the weight of what Idyn had been.

  They took time to add leaves and things which would burn. To make sure that the plan would work.

  It was Camrin and Ivloch, joined by a limping, doubtfully helpful Dexter, that carried his body to the makeshift raft. They lowered him with more care than three soldiers were ever anticipated to show.

  Ivloch was the one to push the raft away, Camrin stepping back and indicating he should have the honour.

  He did so, his face glinting with tears for mere moments. The crowd behind them watched it begin to move slowly away from the riverbank. A hushed admiration sweeping over them.

  “You should use your power now Mara,” Camrin said softly. She wanted to, wanted to more than anything, but they had all done this together, made what would have probably been his last wish come true.

  She could think of only one other thing Idyn would have wanted if he was the one standing next to her.

  “I have a better idea.” She grinned and scampered away. Faces in the crowd turned towards her as she whizzed past them, looking for one thing in particular.

  It was Jengen she found with the answer.

  “Excuse me.”

  “What is it Mara?”

  Mara nodded but pointed to the quiver full of arrows on his back.

  “Can I have one please? And your bow? I’ll bring them back.” Jengen seemed confused but held them out to her.

  “Thank you, thank you so much,” she cried, starting to run back to Camrin and the foot of the river bed.

  He turned to look at her dumbfounded as she passed them to him.

  “I light it, you shoot it.” It was such a simple statement. It was such an Idyn statement.

  Camrin waited as she brought her flame to her hand.

  Pride and love for the man they were to cremate brought it there this time. The arrow head took it as she had hoped, as her magic had told her it would, and Camrin readied the bow. She had thought about getting something else to make sure it stayed lit but that voice, the one that she had hated so many moons ago, but was now starting to love, told her this was enough.

  “For Idyn,” he bellowed and cries from their closest friends and those across the riverbank echoed him.
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  The arrow hit the target as she again knew it would.

  Camrin was an excellent shot and Katanya helped guide it with her power, as Mara predicted. Despite passing on some of her power to Mara earlier, she helped her make the fire brighter. To burn quicker.

  “May Kara rest his soul,” Ivloch said from behind her. Similar echoes resounded through the crowd.

  To Kara, to The Transmitter, to Idyn himself.

  He was gone; but he would not be forgotten.

  Seventy-Four - Jaxon

  He had tried to act like nothing was amiss, but he wasn't fooling himself, let alone anyone else.

  He had guarded the Throne Room with Jala the day the King had raged about Reyn’s absence.

  Jefferson had expected him back by now. He had no idea where his son actually was.

  “How dare he?! After everything he runs off with another floozy!” Jax hated to imagine Katanya's reaction to being called a floozy. Jala found the concept hilarious. The only thing that had made that day bearable was the slight smile of the Queen as she exited the room. Perhaps one child out of the clutches of The Unforgiven gave her something to hope for.

  The day he had met Katanya and they had listened to the Queen sob to her son still played on his mind as he tried to rest in his bunk. So many different thoughts keeping him awake.

  Guard shifts melted into each other; every noise or request making him a little more nervous. Sleep never came, which continuously left him exhausted.

  There were whispered chats with Jala. She seemed to be handling the waiting for news and the return of the Prince worse than he was. He hadn’t thought such a thing possible.

  The tonic was running out. Jala could find no more ingredients.

  “This should keep you going whilst we are gone but take it sparingly,” Katanya had warned before her departure. He knew those extra doses had been a mistake. The pain was stronger. Withdrawal unspeakable.