Pawn of the Crown

by Cheryl Oblon

  “Kimess is still my name. Thank you for your sympathies, but we are not ignorant of the part you played. What you did.” I didn’t say more than necessary.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’m shocked to see the princesses were killed as well,” he said.

  To tell the truth or lie?

  “You were assisting the assassins. The poison you provided was very lethal. But I’m afraid not all of your plans worked so well.”

  “I did nothing,” he said.

  “What you did to me,” I said.

  The king waved me off. “We took a chance. If you hadn’t fled, maybe you wouldn’t have miscarried. But you wanted to get your prince home more than take care of yourself or your child. That’s not a mother.”

  I kept my anger in check. “I didn’t even know. But that’s how you wanted it. So, you have Faldar, and I’m sure you’ll marry him off, and he’ll do his duty.”

  “I’ll handle my own sons. You need to send my son back to me,” he ordered.

  “You need to not order around a queen. Your son is not here. He isn’t our prisoner or our guest. If he’s fled your country, that’s your problem. Just like my father fleeing Lazrel was mine.” I kept a slightly cold smile fixed on my face.

  The king grinned. “He did his job.”

  “And he was executed on my order.”

  “You wouldn’t.” The king chuckled.

  “I did. Don’t question my loyalty or my position. I know what sort of king you are. I’ve seen how your people live. I know my people are much happier and safer. You need to leave Lazrel alone and make no threats,”

  “You owe us what’s in the treaty,” he said.

  “You’ll get what’s in the treaty, but I’m done with your games.”

  “You should come back here. You can be a queen for real. Forever here. It’s better to be the queen of a country you think needs improving than some stand-in. Here, you can be charitable when I’m dead. Faldar won’t stop you from being nice.” The king was still angling.

  He and my father were cut from the same cloth. They both thought their way was the best. Any other plan, any other timing, was wrong. You had to prove it to them because they were men. They were the smartest people in the room, in their estimation. My father had suppressed it, been a quieter person when I was young, but he'd been plotting and planning. Biding his time. This king had never been told no.

  “I’m engaged to Nemal. We will be married, so you’re going to have to find another bride for your son.”

  “Send Remmy over,” the king said.

  “After I went to all the trouble of breaking him out of your dungeon? No. My subjects will not cross to your border. Any of them,” I replied.

  “He did this. He should pay. My son may not have been eager for marriage before, but he was a committed soldier. He was a warrior. Now, he’s meek.” The king shook his head in disgust.

  “Remmy didn’t change your son. I’m not going to allow you to punish Remmy for who he is. Your sons are your problem. Your food shortages or other issues aren’t my problem, either. One act of war, one threat, and we won’t stop until we rule Bachal. Your people would probably be happier. All those human slaves might fight for us.”

  “Never,” he said.

  “What side would Faldar choose?”

  “Bachal is his birthright. I’m not worried about that,” he said.

  “I would be if I were you. He fears you, but he doesn’t respect you. He doesn’t like you. He liked it here. Maybe it was more the clean air and safe life in Lazrel he loved? Maybe it wasn’t Remmy, at all? Maybe that’s just an excuse?” I tried to sound casual. Pushing too far could hurt Faldar, but the king needed to stop fixating on Remmy.

  “Then why did Faldar bring him here?” the king asked.

  “I think Remmy wanted to see Faldar’s home badly. Remmy fell deeply in love, and I have to deal with the aftermath of that. Faldar had to bring him or risk destroying his link to Lazrel. Remmy is safe here, and you may think I did that only for my queen or to keep my friend safe. But I did you a favor. You can now see what Faldar really wants. He’s seen another country. He’s tried a romance with a man. That was his first, I’m sure.”

  “Certainly, it was,” the king shot back.

  “Well, I felt he loved Remmy, but maybe my powers were muddled with romantic ideals. Remmy’s feelings were true, but now you have a chance to help your son become the man he wants to be. The man he’s born to be. He’s seen more of the world and had some wild fun. No matter what you think, you can downplay it. It was just youthful indiscretions. Your people believe anything you tell them. If you bring Remmy back, they might think Faldar and Remmy together is something you approve of.” I smiled.

  “Never. That is not acceptable.” The king’s face was red.

  “You don’t have to approve. They don’t need my approval to be who they are, either. But bringing Remmy to Bachal doesn’t help you at all. If you think you can change people by fear, you can. Temporarily. To protect their lives and their children, they’ll do whatever you want. But you can’t change people deep down. Not against their will. Until you learn that, you’ll never be a true leader. You’re a dictator.” I hit a button on my desk and ended the communication.

  Marel stared at me from across the room, her eyes were wide.

  “What?”

  She pressed her lips together.

  “Marel, I’m only the acting queen, and I always want your real opinion,” I said.

  “You just told off the king.”

  “Someone had to. Minnette can smooth it over when she takes the throne. Say that Kimess was still mourning the miscarriage, preparing for a wedding, and she had to order her father executed. She wasn’t in her right mind. He’ll buy it, if that’s the way she wants to play it.”

  “My mother would say you shouldn’t make waves as you’re only the acting queen,” Marel said.

  “What do you say?” I asked.

  “She didn’t see the Bachal people. Even when I had Anela tell my mother, I don’t think she fully understood. We know how bad life was after the war, but we live comfortably now. We have enough, and maybe we take it a little for granted. I’ll never do that again after that trip. You know that. You know what they don’t have. I don’t want to risk our way of life, but…”

  I smiled. “I don’t want to risk it, either, but our troops are healthier, stronger, better trained, more loyal, and free. They could’ve chosen another career.”

  “But the point of only having women on our throne is to avoid war,” she said.

  “Avoid it, if possible. It’s not always going to be possible. We’ll honor our treaties. But they won’t get one bit more. They may have to make the first move, but we’ll be ready to hit them back harder and faster than they ever imagined. That’s what I’m working on in my short time here,” I replied.

  “People are worried.”

  “I’m temporary. Minnette is older. She’s been by the queen’s side for years longer than I have. It might be a few weeks, but she’ll be back. I promise I won’t start a war or change laws.” I added a simple bracelet and checked myself in the mirror. That was just enough jewelry.

  “Not you. Minnette. They aren’t sure she’s up to it,” Marel said.

  “Nonsense. It’s just a shock. The queen should’ve been on the throne for another twenty years, at least. Just like me becoming a seer. There is a reason for the succession line, but for most people, there is plenty of time to learn their inherited roles from a very experienced person. Minnette will do fine.” I didn’t believe it, but I hoped she’d rise to the occasion, and the power wouldn’t go to her head.

  Marel shook her head. “And LeFawn”

  “She might be with the fairies longer, but they have better magic that should be able to heal her. It’s her best chance. Minnette will have the counsel to support her. She might not like me, but the other three rulers are experie
nced and have a better friendship with her. Don’t worry. This monarchy was planned to survive no matter what.” I hugged her.

  Tears rolled down her face. “The queen. And you could’ve been killed.”

  I ran a finger over the spot where I’d been nicked by the dagger coated in poison. “My father was a real creative person. He wanted power and to rise in rank. Any country, any throne, would have done. That’s why he married my mother. She wasn’t ambitious enough for him. I’m not sure how many angles he was working, but he’d been laying his plans since before I was born. Be glad your parents are kind and honest people, Marel.”

  “I wouldn’t trade places with you for anything.”

  “You’re smart.” I held still as she adjusted the crown on my head.

  “Your cousins are all in attendance, except Ember as requested. Zoma is well enough to attend,” Marel said.

  “Good. Thank you. Ember is the future of the family if anything happens to me.” I still didn’t really feel pregnant. The doctors had the proof, but it was so early I couldn’t feel them yet or even focus on it as if it were real.

  “Tantil offered to stay with Ember for protection.”

  I laughed. “My cousin will have tons of droids and guards for her protection. Furlon volunteered to stay with her.”

  “Still, Tantil feels she owes you. The surgery was successful, and she was released already,” Marel said.

  “There was nothing damaged or wrong with her, per se. So, the surgery was made on a healthy body. It’s much easier for them to heal something when they are making the changes rather than dealing with random injuries. If she wants to be with Ember, that’s fine, but it’s not necessary. I can think of another way for her to help.”

  “We can summon her back to the castle after the funeral,” Marel said.

  “Yes, we can’t delay on what I have in mind.”

  Chapter 28

  The gathering before the full funeral procession was small. A few attendants stood around the queen’s body, laid out and ready for entombing. Remmy and Nemal stared in silence.

  I’d been struggling with the odd mix of being the temporary leader and how I felt about it all. All I wanted to do was comfort Nemal and cry for the loss of my queen. If I’d been stronger or faster, she might be alive.

  Moving closer, I put my hand on Nemal’s arm. He fought the tears in his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry.” I hugged him.

  He pulled me in and held me tight. I felt his tears in my hair.

  “What can I do?” I knew his grief all too well, and even though the murderer was dead, it didn’t make the loss easier. It’d never bring her back.

  “We should’ve gone to war,” Nemal said.

  “Mother didn’t want it,” Remmy said.

  Nemal loosened his hold on me. “Then, we should do it now. The Bachal are taking stabs at us any way they can because they think we won’t attack. We’re better equipped for it. They know that.”

  I looked at Remmy. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  He shook his head. “Just don’t rush into a war.”

  “I could go assassinate that king now. No one would blame me,” Nemal said.

  I held his hand. “No, but a lot more people die in a war. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you, too.”

  Remmy sighed. “You can’t leave Kimess anyway. You have to protect her and my little niece. Even if Minnette wants to go to war, you won’t, Nemal.”

  I was so relieved by that fact, but it wasn’t the time for me to comment because Nemal took pride in his work and wouldn’t like being taken out of the field.

  “You could go kill that bastard. Make your boyfriend king, and everything gets better,” Nemal said to his brother.

  I nudged Nemal. “Never mind that that’s a terrible idea right now, all of the king’s guards are probably on the lookout for Remmy. He’s not an assassin, anyway. We don’t need more deaths in the family.”

  Nemal smiled at me weakly. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I don’t want war, but I can’t sit by and watch Lazrel do nothing. When Minn gets here, she must order something to be done.”

  “Agreed,” Remmy said.

  “I’m sure she will. I can’t usurp her authority and declare war or order an assassination.” I wouldn’t let LeFawn down. If we’re attacked, we’ll respond in kind. However, it wasn’t my throne. Not really. Not forever.

  Remmy hugged me. “You shouldn’t. No one is pressuring you to do anything. But Minn needs to take action once she’s on the throne.”

  “We’ll get through this together.” I walked up to the fallen queen and pulled a printed picture from my pocket. The doctor had printed an image of the future princess. The queen’s first grandchild. I slid the image under her folded hands.

  I leaned in and whispered, “I’ll take care of them.”

  After the funeral, we had to send LeFawn on her way to Fairyland. Sending her before the funeral seemed cruel, somehow, even though she couldn’t really mentally be present for it.

  “We have a ship crewed with droids, so they will be programmed to go, deliver LeFawn, and return,” Nemal said.

  “Not good enough. She needs someone there who can express the need and circumstances to the fairies,” Simma said. “I’ve helped get some people to Fairyland before.”

  “I’ll go,” Zoma volunteered.

  “Me, too,” Marel said.

  “No,” Simma cut them off. “You don’t understand. Fairyland is like heaven. It’s a dream. You don’t want to leave. No one ever wants to leave. To go there and come back, you must have something seriously pulling you to walk away from paradise.”

  “I’ll go,” Remmy said. “I’m never going to be happy without Faldar. I won’t stay.”

  “I’m not sure we want a prince of Lazrel traveling. It’s a lot of exposure,” I said.

  “I volunteer,” Tantil said.

  I looked at Simma, who gave me an uncertain shake of her head.

  “Tantil, that’s very kind, but you have your own life to lead. Whatever you want to do. You owe us nothing.”

  “I do. You helped me get away. I’m not sure where I want to go, yet, but I want to help LeFawn. She helped Faldar stay here and be happy for a little while.” Tantil wore pants and a blouse, but it showed off her curves, and Tantil had gotten the doctors to stimulate her hair growth. The long curls rested on her shoulders. Her makeup was a bit off, but that could be fixed.

  “You might want to stay,” Simma warned.

  “I’ll be sure to put Minnette and her guards on the ship back if I do. Maybe that is where I belong?” she wondered aloud.

  “We need one more live person. I don’t want someone jamming the droids or kidnapping LeFawn. We need a member of our court,” I said.

  Johey stepped forward. “They’re my nieces. I’ll go. I owe it to my sister to see one daughter on the throne, and the other returned to health. I won’t stay. Minnette would never allow it.”

  I smiled. “We’ve asked too much of you, Johey.”

  “I’m sorry I’ll miss the wedding, but the sooner I leave, the sooner you’re free to step down.” He bowed.

  “Thank you.” I hugged him. It wasn’t queenly behavior, but I was still learning.

  Nemal and Remmy put their heads together with their uncle. I watched Marel and Zoma fuss over helping Tantil pack and give her cosmetic tips. I dipped into Tantil’s mind. The angry young man was gone. She was content, but I couldn’t believe she’d simply go to Fairyland and live out her life.

  I dug deeper into her mind and found a rescue brewing. Maybe she intended to steal my ship, this time? She wanted to free her brother and sister. I understood the sentiment, but I couldn’t let anything derail the return of the proper monarch.

  “Johey, please make sure the droids go there and back with no detours. Unless you’re avoiding other ships who might be in pursuit.”

  “Minn will be back before you
know it,” Johey said.

  “The ship is stocked and prepared. You’ll take a doctor as well as medical droids, but they aren’t allowed off the ship,” Nemal said.

  “The fairies won’t need their help.” Simma put a hand on LeFawn’s forehead and spoke her spells one last time.

  We said our goodbyes, and she was loaded onto the ship.

  Nemal held my hand, and I squeezed back tightly. LeFawn had been my best friend for my entire childhood, and my father had done that to her. Guilt, regret, and fear swirled in me. I hoped the world would be calm, and I could mourn the queen and worry about my friend.

  * * * *

  Three weeks later…

  The wedding was simple. My iridescent white gown wasn’t overdone, and neither was my jewelry. Julianne and Ember stood up for me and Remmy for Nemal. The ceremony in the throne room was uneventful. Nemal had been worried there would be another assassination attempt if we let the public in.

  As we had our first dance, people cheered.

  “I told you we’d be fine,” I said.

  “You are the Royal Seer.” He grinned. “I wish Johey would’ve been back by now.”

  The wedding felt incomplete. No queen, no LeFawn, and no Minnette. No Johey. I missed my mother, but had to remain positive. The people were nervous because of the changes, and I felt the stares on me.

  “Any word from Johey, at all?” I asked.

  “Nothing yet. Minn might not want to leave LeFawn right away,” he said.

  “She might not want this job,” I whispered.

  He frowned. “She likes the power, but the responsibility is hard.”

  I had to believe it. “Johey will get her here.”

  I saw Marel and other attendants rushing a bit. Guards quietly headed over.

  As others joined the dancing, I slipped through the crowd and dragged Nemal along behind me by the hand.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked Marel.

  “You have a wedding gift,” she said.

  “I said no gifts to all the families.” I sighed.

  Zoma shook her head. “From the Bachal.”

  Nemal glared at the head of the Queen’s Guard.