"There's nothing to be gained from trusting you now. I haven't had good luck with Sralossans."
Summere nodded. "I truly understand."
"Has she fed you?"
"She's sent some of her guards in to feed me, yes."
Jaklyn nodded. "I'm going to get going, then..." She turned to exit.
"Wait. Please." Summere's voice vibrated through the small space. Jaklyn turned to face her and found her intense eyes glowing with conviction. "Listen... I know I am your enemy, and I know you don't trust me. Please, though. If you will listen to one thing I say, remember that Minndi is in this for herself. I know she's your empress, but believe me when I tell you she's hiding vital information from you."
"She's the empress, it's her right..."
"But, Jaklyn. She believes you're the One. If that is true, it is imperative that you have the most information you possibly can have to do your part in the war."
"What are you trying to accomplish, Summere?" Jaklyn sighed. "Minndi is temperamental, I can't trust my memory beyond two weeks ago thanks to your thugs, and you are tied to a chair."
"My thugs did what?"
"They took me hostage at Minndi's speech and tried to read my mind for information-"
"They did?"
"Yes."
"I ordered them not to take anyone other than Minndi herself hostage even in the most dire situations..."
"Clearly they didn't listen."
"Some of them never do. It frightens me." She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them, they blazed with passion, and after she caught Jaklyn's attention, every word she spoke was captivating. "Listen. I don't know if you believe you are the Object. Even with my connections to the Heavens, I cannot know whether you are. But, please, if you find you are, do your best to end things as quickly as you can. I am tired of watching us fight... I am tired of seeing blood. Even if you ensure Tyiku's victory, if it is swift I will not hold it against you. I can rebuild my nation, as long as there's something left of it."
Something about Summere seemed to glow. Jaklyn felt compelled to help this gorgeous woman in any way she could. "I promise you, Summere, leader of Sralossa, that I will bring an end to this war."
"Thank you. May those in Heaven smile upon you."
"Is that truly your only goal for this war?" Jaklyn asked. She could feel it in her; she wanted to help Summere against her better judgement.
"No," Summere gasped. "I want to prevent what Minndi plans to do. I... do not trust her to do the best thing for these lands. I am afraid she has plans that will ruin everything, plans that will harm more people than it's worth. I don't want her to follow through on these plans... that's why, even if Tyiku wins, it will be better for us all if it is done quickly."
"Summere, I will do what I can. I promise."
"I know you will."
"I just don't think there's much I can do. I'm just a slums girl with a little extra magic."
"There's an archway, in the forest by Ezra's hut. It is engulfed with flames... If you pass through it, you will be able to reach the Elemental Room..."
Jaklyn remembered a picture she'd seen in Ezra's mind, an old stone structure amid trees...
"Summere," Jaklyn said slowly, scared of what she was about to do. "Is the end of this war your only goal?" She extended her magic just enough to read the sincerity of Summere's response.
"It is."
"Why did Minndi put you in here, anyway? She thinks you're behind the attack on her life?"
"She does. She also dislikes me from our relationship in the Other World."
"The 'Other World?'"
"There's another place. Somewhere we can't get to from here, that is. Have you ever seen strange things in Minndi's mind? Huge buildings, loud noises, strange structures, moving metal?"
"Yes, I have. I think. I can't really be sure because of the memory wipe."
"That place exists. I can't explain to you how to get there, because I've been magicked, but I have been there. It is there that I first met Minndi. If you can trust yourself to use your magic, I can show you..."
And Summere's mind shouted so loudly that the mere existence of Jaklyn's gift forced her to watch the scenes unfolding from her memory.
Once again, Roan has ruined my plans for forming a treaty, Summere thought.
Minndi led her down a corridor and into her private chambers. She turned and gave her an icy stare.
"You brought your people here to murder me."
"No, Your Highness," Summere curtseyed low to the ground, "When Roan attacked you, he was committing treason against me as well as a crime against you. I explicitly stated that there were to be no unprovoked attacks on any Tyikians. When we return home, I will make sure he is punished, unless it is your will to take him into your dungeons instead."
Minndi nodded. "When we get ahold of him, he is ours, and he will be put to death."
“As you wish."
"But, you, Summere. I have not liked you for many years, and though I know you are speaking the truth," she held up a magicked pendant for emphasis, "no one would question me if I claimed you had ordered him to attack me. Why should I not send you to the noose while I'm at it?"
"Because that'd make you no better than him," Summere whispered. "If you killed me only to ensure power, you'd be no better than my uncle, who killed your parents only to gain your throne."
"Don't you dare say that," Minndi said, voice lowered and filled with venom, but something in her voice wavered. “You know you wouldn't be the first one of you I killed, right?"
"I know."
Minndi smiled. It was almost a smirk. "Good. Then why are you here, Summere? On what grounds are you trying to propose a treaty?"
"I will remove all Sralossan invaders from your lands and pay for damages to your country if you publicly apologize for my uncle's death-"
"No."
Summere stared. "And if you request the fairies return to Sralossa or resume trade with our country."
"That I will consider."
"You'll change your government's trade embargo but you won't take responsibility for Diveldo's murder?"
"Pretty much, yes."
"Why not? Are you ashamed?"
"Most certainly not. I don't have to discuss my reasons." She paused. "What do you know about Sralossa's initial invasion of Tyiku?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"My uncle didn't tell me anything, Your Highness. Your truth pendant knows I'm telling the truth."
"It knows you think you're telling the truth. I'm curious, though. Perhaps they put up mental blocks. If that's the case, the question at hand is how to remove them..."
"Minndi, I don't know anything. I would tell you if I did."
The empress cackled. "Right. Of course you would. You've always been a bit of a gossip-monger, haven't you? If the way you acted in the Other World is any indication-"
"You know as well as I do that both of us were putting on an act in the other world-"
"You were only there to follow me."
"They sent me there for protection, as you were. My mother knew I'd need to be kept safe. It was a coincidence that you were there, but yes, I capitalized on it. Like you were, I was silly enough to believe Diveldo's plans for a democracy." Summere looked away from Minndi, something almost like shame welling in her throat.
"You didn't agree with him either, huh?"
"No, but I wouldn't have had him murdered."
"I will run my country as I see fit. Look, what else were you hoping to learn? I've got things to do."
"I've heard stories, Your Highness."
Minndi rolled her eyes. "People will always talk. What did you hear? That I'm some evil, unjust woman who stole the throne from your beloved Diveldo? That I'm guarding some fantastic mage who will fight against you?"
"Well, yes…" Summere admitted, "but I've heard others as well. It's been said that you're different from your parents, that you give everyone in court a chance. That
you even ruled in favor of a lower-class girl over a nobleman."
"I suppose there are such stories out there, yes."
"Are they true?"
"I can't deny that example,” Minndi said.
"Why? Why go so drastically against the norms of your people upon first taking the throne?"
"Because the girl was right. Because she had a noble's support. Because she had a lot of power. And most of all, because I had a personal qualm with her attacker."
Summere blinked. “Oh?"
"He felt me up over a dead body.” Minndi looked away, paused in thought for a moment before continuing, “What else do you want, Summere?"
"Your forgiveness, Your Highness. I am sorry for my actions against you in the Other World, and I am sorry my people have acted so offensively toward your people," she bowed low to the ground. "It is my sincerest wish that we can end this with as little strife as possible."
"It's too late for that, Summere. You know we're destined for a war. Ezra's told me you have a Seer that has looked for you."
"Yes. I know this. I simply am compelled to try to resolve it before we get to that point."
“We cannot resolve it. Guards," Minndi directed at her soldiers, "please escort this lady to the assigned room." They walked up to Summere and grabbed her arms. She did not try to escape; she knew it would be futile.
"Minndi," Summere said, a final stern word before they pulled her away. Minndi held up her hands to signal the guards to stop. "This will not end well for you. You may win the war on earth, but to do so you will go to measures that will mess with the plans of the Heavens. You will turn the wisest of your counsel against you, and you will infuriate my mother goddess. Ending this now will not only spare the blood of our people but also your own."
"I have no time for your empty threats, Summere." Minndi scoffed at her back as the guards escorted her out.
Chapter 12
"Jaklyn, are you okay? I understand you didn't want to be amid an argument..." Alikos's voice ran through the chambers.
She didn't have to tell Summere to hide. Within seconds, the blonde slipped behind the bed and out of sight from the door.
Jaklyn couldn't place her finger on the reason she rescued Summere from Minndi's chains. She wasn't sure whether it had to do with their common desire to end this war as fast as possible, her growing distrust of Minndi because of her mood swings and tendency to hide things, or whether it came down to Summere's captivating gaze that she'd been warned against prior to the ball. Now, it didn't matter why she'd sprung her out of that grey room; what mattered was that she had, and now she had to convince Alikos not to get her in trouble for treason.
Of course, Jaklyn had known she wouldn't be able to hide the Sralossan from Alikos.
"Yes, Alikos, I'm fine," she said, moving into his path. "Listen, though, I did something you might not like."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Yes, uhm... I've released a captive of Minndi's, and I'm hiding her in our chambers."
"You... what? You're joking, right?"
She shook her head. "No. I'm not."
"You realize that this is-"
"Treason, yes."
He clenched his jaw and nodded.
"If she thinks I'm the One, though, do you not think she'll spare me?"
"I don't know what she'll do."
"Will you please promise me that you won't turn us in?"
"I won't. I'm suspicious of Minndi these days, too. But, really... you released a hostage? What if he's dangerous?"
"She."
"What?"
"I released a woman. I released Summere."
“Crap, Lyn. You released the leader of the opposition? Where is she?"
"Here," a musical voice answered. Summere was sitting up to face the rest of the room. Her light blonde hair acted as a halo before she stood, "Please, sir, I mean to cause no trouble. I'd be indebted to you if you'd discuss the matters at hand with me."
Alikos turned to her. "I won't turn against Lyn, Your Highness," he told her.
She froze when he met her eyes and covered her mouth in a graceful display of shock. Once she realized what she'd done, she returned her hand to her side and curtseyed. "I am grateful to you, nonetheless."
Then, she looked at Jaklyn, and in that moment, Summere's face wore sadness.
"Summere?" Jaklyn asked, wondering if it was improper, "is something wrong?"
"No, no, of course not. Everything is absolutely fine." The blonde gave a smile that seemed natural and would have been altogether convincing had Jaklyn not been a mind reader.
Is that him? It's got to be him. He's so much like I remember...
"Have you met him before?" Jaklyn raised an eyebrow.
"I haven't met her before the ball, no," Alikos answered, flinging his coat onto a chair in the corner.
Summere was having an internal debate with herself. Jaklyn swallowed, then eased into her mind.
I'm not mad, but I can feel you in here, Jaklyn, it whispered, Let me show you why he can't know we've met. Please don't tell him.
The knife tapped against the counter, slicing the yellow-orange carrot into small circles. Summere's voice wove strings of melody into the air.
Alikos cut up a green pepper and its scent mingled with the notes. His throat rang out a harmony, an out-of-tune tenor to blend with her soprano.
"I can put these in now, right?" she paused the song to ask.
He chucked the meat into the pot. "It should be ready, yeah."
She threw the carrots in and stole the peppers from him, eating a slice and popping the rest in with the miniature suns.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her towards him, resting his chin on her shoulder. She giggled. He kissed her on the neck.
"I love you," he whispered.
She turned to look into his eyes. He pulled his lips into a side smile, and she beamed back at him, the very sun shining from two amber orbs.
He held her face with his hand, forcing her to stand still to steal her lips for a long moment.
She broke it to resume chopping vegetables, and a second knife joined in the clatter seconds later. Her voice resumed its song; his, its harmony.
Minutes passed in bliss.
The harmony faded into silence. The tapping dwindled down to that of one knife.
Summere paused. The room went silent.
"Sweetheart?" she asked, chimes of concern striking her voice.
He said nothing. His back was turned to her, but she sensed his body shaking.
"Sweetheart…?" she repeated, taking three steps towards him and laying her hand on his shoulder.
He spun around too quickly. His arm shot at her face, making her stumble and then fall to the floor. Her hand loosened and her knife spun across the ground, out of reach. She crawled backwards, watching him with wide eyes.
He took a few menacing steps towards her, his own knife scraping against everything to his side as he moved. He loomed over her.
She ran out of room to back up and stared, almost whimpering.
His eyes darkened, and he pulled his mouth into a side smile, moving even closer.
The knife glinted in the lighting. She turned her head away and closed her eyes. He got on his hands and knees, holding the blade to her throat. It hit her neck with a sting, then dropped to the ground.
Alikos's face went blank.
He crumbled to the floor beside her.
Summere was caressing her neck with the memory when Jaklyn returned to present day. Alikos was looking from one girl to the other in confusion.
Jaklyn did not know what to make of it. They'd been in love, if this memory was any sort of indication. Certainly it wasn't concocted to fool her? Was that even possible without an extensive amount of magic?
With the way Summere could charm people just by talking to them, Jaklyn wouldn't put it past her to possess such powers.
If it wasn't fabricated, though... was she going to have to compete with this beautiful wo
man for him? Was there anything to compete for? What did it mean when he kissed her?
Her romance questions aside, why did Alikos attack her? What caused that? He'd shown no signs of random attacks, and he had seemed incredibly angered by Cadmus's attack... Had something about him changed, or was there a darker side Jaklyn hadn't yet glimpsed?
Lastly, why didn't Alikos remember it? Why would someone have wiped this kind of memory from his mind?
Jaklyn's head was spinning. She fell over and felt Alikos's arms catch her.
I'm going to want to talk to you about this later, she communicated to Summere.
I thought you'd want to.
You loved him?
I did, and I still do.
But he...
I know. I'll explain later.
"Why is she here, Lyn? Please tell me why I'm assisting you in treason."
"Because she knows things about the conflict, wants to stop the war as soon as possible, and will actually tell us things. Also, she looked hungry."
He considered this for a moment. "I understand. I guess you've tested that she's telling the truth?"
"I have. I've made sure she isn't lying... At least, if she is telling us false information, she either doesn't know it's false or she's an absolutely fantastic mind mage and can plant a fake layer of thoughts and memories."
"Fair enough. Do we know she's not the latter?"
"No, but the only way to know is to consult a magician, right?"
"As far as I know, yes. I heard that magicians were working on creating an instrument that could detect magic and the type, but that hasn't reached any results yet. Do you think that the friend you consulted about your magic might be able to help us...?"
"He might, but I would not trust him."
"Oh?"
"He's a good guy, but everyone is desperate to get out of that part of town. My own father would have put me into slavery if it meant he could get favor from the crown."
"Your father isn't exactly a standup member of society."
"Well, no. His particular faults aside, though, no one we knew would have thought less of him for doing so. Including me."
Alikos grimaced. He motioned to Summere. "Are we to trust her, then?"
The Traitor of Tyiku Page 11