Pawn of the Crown

by Cheryl Oblon

  “I feel like the balance of power is off,” I said.

  “You’re good,” Remmy replied.

  “Meaning?” Nemal asked.

  “Mother sent Minnette on a tour to visit our allies and it ends in Fairyland. She’ll be stuck there for a while, but at least she’s safe. The rebel rumblings made Mother nervous, and I think she saw that I won’t give up Faldar.” Remmy looked down.

  My jaw fell. “The queen sent the crowned princess to Fairyland?”

  Johey scrubbed his palms over his face. “It’s okay. It’s good, really. Minnette is very regal. She can shore up allies. And she’ll be safe in Fairyland.”

  Nemal balled his fists. “So, send LeFawn. She’s the younger princess. Minnette needs to learn and be in the castle. Isn’t this training for her?”

  “Are you second guessing our queen?” Remmy asked.

  “Your own mother?” Johey asked.

  “I am!” I said. “LeFawn is young and second in line, she should’ve gone to a safe place. She could stand to gain diplomatic experience with our allies.” I would’ve made another choice.

  “She’s also your friend, while you and Minnette don’t get along as well. It’s admirable you want your friend safe, but it’s the queen’s decision,” Johey said.

  “It’s done either way. She’s gone. There is plenty for her to study in Fairyland. Minnette agreed with you, Kimess, if that helps. She tried everything to change the queen’s mind,” Remmy said.

  Part of me wanted to go home even more, but if things were building that seriously, I needed to have my father in tow. He was a ringleader and an instigator.

  “Are things that bad at home?” Nemal asked his brother.

  “Not really. Not for most people. The rebels are stirring up issues on the fringe. Simma has reported a few problems to the queen, and the guards have increased patrols. The border is dangerous. A lot of misinformation is spreading,” Remmy said.

  “We shouldn’t be here,” I said.

  “We need to get your father,” Nemal said.

  Johey nodded. “And we can’t bolt for home. We need to stay on good terms. Especially if Remmy wants to bring Faldar back.”

  Part of me understood. Nemal and I would have a hard time dealing with approval for us. However, our being together wouldn’t start a war. Faldar’s secret was dangerous for him alone. If we kept lying and covering for him with the Bachal royals, it could destroy any peace or friendship built.

  “I hate to be negative, but how can it go on indefinitely? The king will want his heir back. He’ll want him to produce sons soon,” I said.

  “Why not?” Remmy asked.

  Nemal’s eyes widened, and he glared at his older brother. “No, you aren’t actually marrying him off to LeFawn and then move here with her. No. Our baby sister is not going to be in a sham marriage for you.”

  “LeFawn wouldn’t agree to that,” I said.

  “What’s the alternative?” Remmy asked. “He has to marry someone and have heirs.”

  I knew my father would point out this was a flaw in the monarchy system. To me, it was a flaw with the Bachal. They’d backslid so far with their civil liberties and social inclusion—so much more than I’d ever imagined before coming here.

  No one said anything.

  “What?” Remmy asked.

  “He can have sons without having a wife. Your mother had me laying the groundwork for a breakup of the engagement, but you’re still believing the engagement will save you,” I said.

  Remmy rubbed his neck. “We’ve tried to figure out something. He believes his father won’t budge or have any sympathy.”

  “He won’t,” I said.

  Nemal sighed.

  “I’m sorry. This king believes in power and control. He’s not going to change his views. But Faldar is popular with his people. There isn’t an easy answer.” I swore I heard my father whispering that I was the answer. I was being selfish. I could be queen and make them happy. Deep down, I knew that wasn’t my purpose. My home was Lazrel, and my life was dedicated to my people.

  “See.” Remmy gestured to me. “I was hoping for some movement. Some insight from our seer, but Faldar isn’t afraid of his father. He understands him.”

  “He can remove himself from the line of succession,” Nemal suggested.

  “And tell the truth why? Flee to Fairyland? What else can we do?” Remmy asked.

  Johey held up his hand. “There is no mechanism for him to give up his inheritance. He’ll be crowned when his father dies. If he abdicates at that point, the crown goes to Tantil.”

  “So, he’s stuck. Great.” Nemal looked at me.

  “It’s Faldar’s life. He must decide where to live. How to live. The queen won’t let LeFawn go through with a sham wedding. I won’t let her come here. She’d never make it.” I couldn’t stand to see my friend live here.

  Remmy shook his head. “I was really hoping you’d help me. You did before.”

  “I want to help. Maybe helping before was an impulsive mistake. I worried Faldar would admit the truth, and he’d be in real danger. I didn’t want to see you sad. I can’t let you and LeFawn move here. To this court. They’ll find out the truth in no time. You’d be in danger. LeFawn would be extremely vulnerable. The engagement will be broken off,” I said.

  “You’re the boss?” Remmy asked.

  “Remmy, you’re my friend. I don’t want to hurt you. I like Faldar. I like his brother. I even like his mother, to some extent. But my responsibility is to Lazrel. To my queen. To the family I rule. I will do what is best. If you don’t like it, you can go home and take it up with your mother. I haven’t completed my objectives here yet, but you don’t have to stay.”

  Nemal looked at me with a hint of surprise. Without directly expressing it, I’d just told Remmy that I was, in fact, the boss.

  “Maybe you just miss the country where women have the final say,” Remmy said.

  I stood. “I miss a country where everyone is free, fed, and safe. I miss my home. I’m not giving orders. I’m following them. Nothing will be decided, announced, or broken here. We can all review it with the queen when we get back. But under no circumstances are you to talk about wedding dates or make it sounds as though the marriage is a go. LeFawn is young. There is no rush. Understand?”

  Remmy sighed. “I hate being royal sometimes.”

  “You’d hate living here more,” Nemal said.

  I left, and Nemal followed.

  “He’s upset,” Nemal said.

  “I know, but he can’t just show up and be careless. Not here. We’ve lived here for weeks. He hasn’t. All of Faldar’s advising isn’t the same thing as seeing this world in action. You need to talk to your brother in private and convince him to see things honestly. It might change his attitude.” I paced the hall.

  “Johey will, too. You were a little bossy,” Nemal said.

  “He needs it. Remmy and Faldar have been in a love fog for a couple of months. And that’s wonderful, but they have real obstacles in their relationship. Maybe the king will let Faldar stay in Lazrel. Look the other way. Let him enjoy his youth or whatever. That’s for Faldar to discuss with his father. He knows how to approach his father better than Remmy or us. We tried. I feel bad for getting involved.” I rested my head on Nemal’s shoulder.

  He hugged me tight. “Don’t say that. You wanted to help. We both know how happy they’ve been. It’s not some infatuation. Their love is real, right?”

  “Minnette is so jealous.”

  Nemal chuckled. “Jealous of us, too?”

  “No, she thinks she’ll put a stop to us. Maybe her being in Fairyland will be good for one thing.” I smiled.

  “We just need to get your father and get the hell out of here,” he said.

  I agreed totally. “We can’t leave Remmy here.”

  “I don’t think he’ll want to stay.”

  “I don’t either, but he’s so attached
to Faldar.” I rolled my shoulders. The tension wouldn’t back off.

  “What’s wrong?”

  I turned my head. “I feel like chaos is building.”

  “War?” he asked.

  “Chaos is the word I feel. I can’t even get a vision on Faldar and Remmy. It’s one big jumble.” I wanted to rest. “You talk to your brother. I’m going to try and see if I can get things clearer.”

  He kissed me quickly. I went my way, and he returned to his family. I felt so sorry for Remmy and Faldar, but they were adults. Life wasn’t fair, but only they could make their choices. What mattered most? What risks would they take? I could advise, but I couldn’t force people to follow. Unless Remmy chose to stay here…We couldn’t let that happen no matter what. That was not an option.

  Chapter 18

  The cheering crowds outside the castle made no sense to me. I leaned on the ledge of the window and watched. Below, on the balcony, the Bachal royal family waved to the crowd. Faldar had taken a tour around the castle on horseback as part of a military troop. Now, he smiled and waved at his subjects.

  “It’s so weird,” Marel said.

  “I know. The crowd adores the royals. After what I’ve seen, they should be on the verge of a historic French Revolution.” I watched as the dragons and pegasi flew around the skies.

  “Fear does weird things. A coordinated regime of fear and control can brainwash people.” She glanced out the window and sighed.

  “It’s not that. I just don’t see a lot of the people shifting. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s that they have to undress or they’d tear their clothing. I guess I thought I’d see more griffons and dragons up close. Sort of a letdown,” she said.

  That was true. I’d seen dragons and knew some of the shifters—at least what they shifted into. But not all the people felt like shifters. Anela’s mom, and the people in her building, didn’t seem to have that power. I didn’t feel it from them.

  “You’d think if they could shift, they’d hunt or forage in animal form. They’d be stronger,” I said.

  “You haven’t seen a lot of shifting, either? I know the royals are the real deal. But maybe they don’t all have the powers? Not everyone born in a magical family has magical powers.”

  “Right.” I had to ask more questions, discreetly, of the right people. “Don’t mention this to anyone. Don’t be nosy about it, okay?”

  “Sure. It’s no big deal. I just want to go home.” She leaned out the window. “What happened to Tantil?”

  I looked. “Maybe he went in. The fuss is over Faldar.”

  “They have so many parties. It’s a distraction move for us and the people. It’s like they have to show off,” Marel said quietly.

  “I know. Keep an eye on things. I’m going to see if I can find my father while people are distracted.”

  “Will do,” she said.

  I didn’t feel my father, but it couldn’t hurt. Walking around felt better than sitting and watching some outpouring of adoration. I headed for my room. A few minutes alone would do me well.

  Anela was cleaning as I entered. I sat on the sofa and stared at her. Nothing.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “What sort of shifter is your mother?” I asked.

  Anela froze for a split second. I felt her fear. “She’s so weak and old. She doesn’t do that.”

  I wasn’t giving up. “Of course. What sort was she?”

  “A dolphin,” Anela said.

  “Are you a dolphin shifter, too?”

  She nodded, but there was no pride. I skimmed her brain. There was no truth. “Do you know how foolish it is to lie to me?”

  She went a ghostly white. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to lie, but the king told everyone that if people ask, just make up one. Outsiders think everyone here is a shifter.”

  “I’m trying to help you. I want the truth.” I walked to her and took the broom from her hand. “Sit down and tell me.”

  She sat at the table, and I poured the wine.

  “There’s not a lot to tell. They just let others think every citizen is a powerful shifter. A lot of them are. All the royals. Most of the elite guards. Some humans didn’t want to leave the area or were afraid of Lazrel. The rules. The dome. The woman on the throne.” She sipped the wine.

  “And the Bachal let them stay?”

  “They aren’t treated well. Even ones who work hard and live a decent life know it can be taken away. The Bachal like having slaves, but they never say who is who. That way others think every Bachal is a dangerous shifter.” She frowned.

  “How do you know who is a shifter and not? There don’t seem to be any clues,” I said.

  “Shifters can sense each other. Everyone else is a human. Most days, it doesn’t really matter. We don’t have many outsiders visiting.”

  I tried to maintain a neutral expression. “Shocking.”

  “Please don’t tell anyone I told you. I’d be killed.”

  “I won’t. It explains a lot.” Another reason they didn’t want us to come to their country for negotiations. “I wonder why they wanted us here now.”

  “I don’t. You’re a small group. Mostly young. Probably want to try to impress you and seem like a friend,” she said.

  “Thanks. I need to go check Remmy.”

  I left the room, but didn’t go to Remmy’s. As I tried to feel for my father—the sooner we grabbed him, the better—I saw Tantil headed down the hall.

  “What’s wrong? I asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  His eyes seemed dead. There was a coldness about him. “Are you sure? I thought you’d be happy to see your brother.”

  “I am. He’s so very happy. It’s a shame everyone can’t be that happy.” Tantil started down the hall again.

  I followed him. “Aren’t your supposed to be on the balcony?”

  Turning fast, he snapped, “They don’t need me. I’m never happy enough. I don’t fit in.”

  “Well, you know why you feel that way. I wish I could help you.”

  He looked around. “It’s Remmy, isn’t it?”

  I lifted a shoulder.

  He smiled. “Who else could pull enough strings to get the crown to go along with this visit? I should’ve known.”

  “What does it matter who?”

  “My father is angry that LeFawn didn’t come. He wanted to see her,” he replied.

  Tantil’s abrupt subject change threw me for a second. “Her mother would never let her come here without the queen joining her. She’s in the line of succession. She’s young.”

  “I told him as much. He’s protective of my sister in a similar way. But if she’s good enough to be queen one day, she should be strong enough to travel a bit.” He scowled.

  “Someday, I’m sure.” I couldn’t tell him Minnette was sent to Fairyland, and that meant LeFawn had to stay in the country and be safe.

  He paced.

  “You’re not going to betray your brother or tell the king what Remmy is, are you?” I asked.

  Tantil stopped. “Of course not. I’d never drag down others. I know what it’s like. Our nature is our nature. My brother hides. I was altered.”

  “Maybe you and Faldar need to have a sit down with your father. Discuss reality?”

  “Stand up to him?” He chuckled. “If we do that, I’ll warn you, so you can get home first.”

  “Thank you. I hope it’s not that explosive if it happens.” I skimmed his mind, and the words civil war lingered.

  “Excuse me. I need a break before the dinner party, tonight,” he said.

  “Of course.”

  As the dinner and dancing wore on, I couldn’t take the unhappiness anymore. Nemal was worried about his brother. Tantil was his usual frustrated self. Part of me wanted to think of him as the woman he really was, but if I did, and a she slipped out of my mouth, I could cause a lot more problems for the young prince.

>   Johey paced the edge of the room. Marel and Zoma pretended to have fun, but they really wanted to go home. We all did. Even Remmy, now surrounded by warriors and their wives, understood why we wanted to leave.

  He might find some of the men attractive, but this wasn’t home where he could be himself and date any of the well-born men who also happened to be homosexual. Carefully watching him, I slipped into his mind. He wanted to cling to Faldar, but he couldn’t. Instead, he stuck close to his brother and danced with the princess, Marel, and Zoma.

  Once I was sure the rest of my group was appropriately occupied, I slipped away. The king had excused himself for a report from a scouting party, so I wouldn’t really be missed. The queen fawned over her eldest son.

  As I tuned into my father’s mind to try and locate him, I pushed away the nagging guilt about Tantil. I couldn’t find an answer. My help for Remmy had only made a bigger mess. Plus, Tantil had a different problem, so how could I help? He had to choose the next step. It was his life and body.

  My feet followed my instinct. I had no idea where I was going, but three guards were unconscious by the time I arrived in a desolate hallway after a hideously long walk. I heard the king’s voice, but felt my father’s mind. I hugged the wall and peeked in. Unlike the dungeon rooms, this hall wasn’t filthy or infested with vermin.

  “You have what you need for your piece. But…the other problem,” the king said.

  “That may be harder than first anticipated. You can take certain matters in your own hands. Encourage and persuade,” my father said.

  “That is not a discussion I’m willing to entertain. I command. I don’t ask,” the king replied gruffly.

  “I understand. But I can’t command things, and not everyone is under your rule. There are options, but I can’t take the steps for you. You don’t want a war.” My father’s mind was intensely engaged.

  With his focus firmly on the king, I pushed into his mind. It worked! He didn’t actually want war, he wanted power by marriage or offspring—same as before. I tried to dig in and find the clues to his specific plans, but he pushed me away.

  “Damn it, of course I want war. I want a war I can win easily and enough advantages on my side to make Lazrel surrender and accept me without much fuss.” The king was lying. He didn’t care if they accepted him. He wanted justifications to throw in people’s faces.