“Mmm, perhaps you have a point,” Amber agreed. “I have her husband, Ritis, in this castle. Did you know that? Well, what remains of him.”
“You didn’t…” breathed Reuben, his fork pausing as horror spread across his face.
“Did you kill him, too?” asked Petra, still keeping her voice annoyingly calm.
“Stars above, that would be cruel!” Amber declared, “and a waste of good resources at that. I merely froze him. You’re the daughter of Queen Jane and King Ralph. Should you win the battle, I fully expect you to find a way to free him, provided you can first find a way to restore winter – but Queen Violet would be your aunt, wouldn’t she? She was Ralph’s sister. And King Michael was Michelle’s brother. But before you can restore winter, you’ll have to win the battle.”
“You’re only making it easier for me to kill you, you know that?” Petra relaxed a bit, leaning forward as she laced her hands together upon the table again. “You’re heartless, cruel, and oppressive. The people of Rizkaland will rejoice when you are gone.”
“I’m pleased to hear that you think so highly of me.” Amber leaned forward, lacing her own fingers together, mirroring the girl. “You’re a conceited, high-minded thing, and I look forward to putting Rizkaland out of your misery.”
“So, would a week and a day from today work well for everyone’s schedules?” asked Granite. “Because I’m clear that day.”
“I don’t think I have anything planned,” added Reuben. “Unless Petra planned it for me.”
“No, I didn’t, that sounds perfect to me,” said Petra, leaning back. “Now, is everything settled? There aren’t any hidden clauses that Reuben and I ought to know about?”
“There is one more thing,” said Laura, glancing pointedly in Amber’s direction. “There is a price if you win.”
“Price or prize?” asked Reuben, leaning forward. “Because, if you’re talking about the whole ‘reign unchallenged thereafter’ part, we already know about that. It was kinda in the prophecy.”
“Well, that is likely a part of it,” admitted Amber. “And I suppose it could be a prize or a price depending on how you look at it. The simple truth is that our immortality cannot be destroyed, merely shifted to those who take up the knife to kill us.”
Petra’s and Reuben’s eyes widened, and they shared a long glance.
“So, you’re saying that if we win, we can’t be killed after that?” asked Petra, at length, turning back to Amber.
“Not until the next time you step into the Room of the Knife, and when others have taken up the knives to kill you,” said Amber, smirking. “You’ll be frozen at the ages you are now, unchanging, your lives bound together irrevocably for the rest of your lives, just as ours are. The shortest-lived queen among my ancestors lived just a hundred years. I’ve lived six thousand. Are you still sure you want to go through with this? I don’t know that it will be possible for you to go back home if you win.”
Petra stood, glancing at Reuben, who seemed reluctant to join her and leave the food behind. “We’ll see you in a week and a day.”
Chapter 7
“Tonight, we return to Rizkaland,” said Petra, as she and Summer entered the training hall for a private practice session. “We’re so not ready.”
“Maybe you should talk to Amber and postpone it?” Summer suggested, pulling the arrow off of her necklace and morphing it into a small knife. This was something that she and Tyler had discovered that they could do a few days before.
“Luckily, Rizkan weeks have an extra day. Otherwise I’d be totally up salt creek,” Petra continued. “No, and I think Amber would be more than a little upset if we asked for more time. I don’t want to risk her wrath upon Rizkaland.”
“Probably wouldn’t be a good idea, then,” Summer admitted, fidgeting with her knife. “If you and Reuben fail, then they’re going to have to live with her wrath for the rest of…” she narrowed her eyes, “probably forever, since they’re immortal.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Petra selected a knife from the wall, slid it into her belt, and then extended her staff to its full size. “Fortunately, we can do the bulk of the battle with these, so we can paddle.” She nodded towards her staff. “Maybe we can give them some good knocks to the head and stab them when they’re unconscious.”
“That’s … a plan,” Summer admitted. “Though I don’t know that it will be easy.”
“Oh, I know it won’t be.” Petra took a deep breath. “Still, it’s not the battle I’m dreading, but the outcome of it. If we lose, we die. If we win…” She shuddered. “Immortality may be alluring, but from what I can tell, it never ended well for any of the previous queens and kings of Luna. Nor do Reuben and I want to outlive all of our friends and family, just the two of us. We can’t return home if we don’t age, and it sounds like we’ll be bound to that castle and won’t be able to leave it.”
“Yeah … it’d be kinda hard to explain,” admitted Summer. “Maybe you could visit for a while, but you couldn’t stay long, and you’d only be able to do it once, maybe.”
“We’d be the modern Wandering Jews.”
Summer narrowed her eyes. “The what?”
“Old Catholic myth,” explained Petra. “Not exactly their most logical one; although it is rather intriguing at the same time.”
“Uh huh,” said Summer. She held up her knife. “So, are we going to start practicing or just stand around talking about the weird facts that you collect?”
“Yeah, let’s practice.”
They exchanged a few blows without speaking. From a practical standpoint, Summer wasn’t Petra’s best choice of sparring partner, but Petra had been putting off their discussion about Tyler and the Tying Law, and this was her last chance to have Reuben’s sister alone.
She took a deep breath as Summer prepared what promised to be a particularly vicious attack. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about Tyler.”
Summer fell back. “Your brother? Why?”
“Because the two of you were given charge over Beasts together,” said Petra. “There are some implications you need to know about.”
“Um, beyond the fact that we can now tell animals what to do, and they’ll do it?” asked Summer, narrowing her eyes. “Which is actually kind of cool, by the way. Way cooler than boring telepathy.”
“Telepathy has its uses,” Petra countered, raising her staff. “But this implication is more of a political thing, rather than a facet of your powers. You know how Reuben and I are now Tied?”
“Yeah, still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that you finally caved, but at the same time, I’m not actually surprised.” Summer blocked a blow from Petra. “Wouldn’t you know that it wouldn’t be until you had to. Couldn’t fight Amber unless you had a bond and all that.”
“It was because of more than just the Final War,” Petra explained. “Rizkan Law requires their kings and queens to be Tied. The battle only meant that we had to have our ceremony sooner rather than later. Ashna and Noraeto are waiting until after the battle. They have to – their parents are ice and can’t be restored until winter and they refreeze.”
Summer drew back, frowning. “Let me get this straight: Tyler and I are supposed to be Tied, as the Rizkans call it, which is some sort of weird in-between engagement and marriage, because of a law. Shouldn’t we have been told this before we opened those boxes?”
Petra gave a frustrated sigh. “Yes, you should have been told. And, had it been Reuben and me, you would have. But it was Robert and,” she shook her head, “he didn’t. So I’m telling you now. Honestly, I meant to talk to you about this sooner, but we haven’t had any time one-on-one yet this week, and we suspected that you’d like to be alone when you found out.”
“Oh,” said Summer, and then she repeated, “Oh. I see. Don’t you think you should tell Tyler, too?”
“Reuben has already told Tyler,” Petra explained. “He wasn’t the issue. Marrying you was already in his plans.”
Summer drew
back, folded her arms over her chest, and raised an eyebrow. “It is?”
“And it has been for years,” Petra continued. “But he’s not like Reuben. Tyler’s shy, you know that, and especially when it comes to his emotions. But please believe me when I say he loves you because he does.”
Summer frowned. “He’s never said anything, never asked me out on a date … even if I try to flirt with him, he just freezes up and ignores me.”
“He’s shy, and you scare him. He claims that he’s been too busy with finishing school and holding down a job,” Petra explained. “He doesn’t want to say anything until he feels that he could support you. He’s not interested in mere dating. He’s in for the long term.”
“Um, okay. I’m only sixteen.”
“So am I,” Petra pointed out. “And Reuben has been asking me for years. That’s another reason why Tyler hasn’t said anything yet. He doesn’t want to intimidate you or make you feel obligated. Look, Reuben has talked with Tyler and told him to come talk to you. I’m not sure when he will, but please be nice about it when he does. I’m not asking you to agree to anything beyond being polite – and that’s why I’m telling you this in private so no one else will pressure you. All I’m asking is that you think it over, seriously think it over, and that, whatever you decide, please be nice when he asks.”
Summer eyed Petra warily. “But these Rizkans expect me to accept him?”
“They do, yes,” Petra admitted. “And if you’ll read the Legends, you’ll find that many other couples have been similarly forced together among the royal lines, so the two of you would be nothing new to them.”
“Figured as much.” Summer turned away and shook her head. “Your brother’s cute, I’ll admit. I’ve never truly thought about him like that – no more than I think of Reuben and Robert.”
“I know the feeling.”
“So, why have you never told me about … him before? Did you not know, or…”
“I’m his sister. He’s mentioned it more than a few times growing up. I’ve listened and even advised him as he’s laid out his plans. Honestly, I’d been telling him that he needs to tell you soon…” Petra smiled slightly, shaking her head. “Reuben and Robert both knew … my parents certainly knew … I’m not so certain about your parents, though I rather suspect that they did. But we all agreed that it was Tyler’s place to initiate anything between the two of you. The only reason that Reuben and I are interfering now is because of the Rizkan law.”
“I would have gone out with him if he’d ever asked me,” Summer finally admitted, shrugging. “Half the girls in the youth group fawn over him – not that he ever notices.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“But does it have to be so … serious? A Tying Ceremony is commitment. I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I know I’m not ready for that. How … how long do I have to make up my mind? I mean, if he were just asking for a date, it’d be one thing, but this is not a date. Petra, you said something about after the battle … so a couple days?”
“Ashna and Noraeto have to wait until their parents are no longer ice statues,” Petra explained. “That requires us figuring out how to restore the proper seasons to Rizkaland and then waiting for winter which … would still be a bit off. So if you wanted Reuben and me to Tie the two of you, you could wait until then, and we can make it a joint ceremony. That would give you at least a month to get used to the idea – and Rizkan months are a few days longer than our own, so extra time there.”
“You and Reuben Tie us?”
“We’re your siblings, we’re already Tied, and we’re here in Rizkaland. According to Rizkan law, we’re qualified.” Petra shrugged. “But if you want to stall for more time, demanding to be taken back to our own world so that our parents can Tie you is an option.”
“I’m going to have to think about it.” Summer shook her head, and then raised her knife. “In the meantime, you need to practice. I don’t want you to die, annoying though you may be. I spent way too much time trying to protect your secrets from Amber to back out from the investment now.”
“Even though my death could be a way out of this Tying for you?” asked Petra.
“Don’t tempt me.”
The rest of the day was a blur, as they made all of the final preparations for Reuben and Petra’s return to Rizkaland for the Final War. She and Reuben saw little of each other, though they kept in constant mental communication.
At last, however, the six of them gathered in the garden for a quick supper before they went, and Laura tagged along again. King Brent and Queen Jillina had tried to convince them to attend a grand banquet with all of the most important people in Klarand, but Petra wanted a last chance to go over her plans with the people she knew and mostly trusted. She was nervous enough without an audience of strangers. If she had a fully functional plan that guaranteed their success, it would have been one thing…
“In less than an hour, we’ll be entering the Hall of Blood,” announced Reuben. “I wonder if it’s just a creative title or if…”
“Not while we’re eating, please,” Petra cut in, glaring at him. “I’m trying to not think about anything related to blood, stabbing people, and … stuff like that, and you aren’t helping, Reuben.” Sometimes their mental link was more annoying than anything else.
“Sorry?”
Petra sighed as she pulled Laura’s list out of her pocket and stared at that instead, hoping that would make Reuben focus. It was truly staggering, everything that Amber had collected over her years, and Laura had told them that it was far from everything. Two whole pages, front and back, were dedicated to the stars of Lintooalintae alone, though Petra wondered how they worked. There were five and a half pages total.
“All we have are sticks, telepathy, and knives.” Petra slapped the list with the back of her hand. “She has all this. How can I even hope to tilt the odds in our favor? There’s a prophecy that says that one shall speak the other’s death, but on the other hand, only those knives can kill them. I can’t even begin to guess how they can both be true.”
“Laura did say something about how ‘just because something has never happened, it doesn’t mean it never will,” Reuben pointed out. “Maybe there’s some word that could also kill them, but Amber and Granite just don’t know about it.”
“Names,” Laura whispered, almost too quiet to be heard.
Petra gave a start and turned to face the girl. “Names? Are you saying that I could kill her by just saying her name?”
“I … I didn’t mean to say that aloud!” Laura’s face was pale as she glanced around the table.
“So, yes?”
“No, not exactly.” Laura’s gaze dropped to her plate, and her shoulders drooped. She looked so small. “Names hold power. I could kill her if I called her by her real name.”
“I heard your older self call Amber by her name to her face during the negotiations,” Petra pointed out.
“I said real name,” clarified Laura. “That’s why I’m supposed to call her Silver when I don’t call her Amber. You … I’ve said too much.”
“Amber isn’t her real name?” asked Reuben.
“No! And I’ve said too much!” And with that, Laura sprang out of her chair and fled.
“Silver…” Petra repeated, turning the nickname over thoughtfully.
“And her name for Granite is Gold,” Ashna added, trying to be helpful.
Reuben voiced Petra’s train of thought. “So if we can discover her real name, then we can use it in the battle – maybe it won’t kill her outright, but it might stun her, give us a chance to … you know.”
“The question is,” said Summer, “what is her True Name?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Petra, sharing a glance with Reuben as he came to the same thought. She glanced around the table, swallowing around the knot lodging in her throat. “Silver. Sylvia.”
There was silence as everyone took that revelation in. Then Summer leaned forward, her expression twistin
g with skepticism. “You honestly think that she could be your imaginary triplet? You would.”
“It’s a logical conclusion and one that Reuben and I actually considered momentarily when we first heard about her,” said Petra, shaking her head. “I dismissed the idea immediately, but…”
“It’s a perfect explanation for why the two of you look alike,” muttered Reuben, staring into space. “That would make Granite … Richard, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s likely,” said Petra, reaching over and taking his hand, anchoring his thoughts.
“Granite and Reuben don’t really look alike after you stare at them a moment,” Summer pointed out.
“Because Granite actually works out and Reuben doesn’t?” asked Petra. She put up her hands in response to the pout he sent her. “Hey, I’m just calling it as it is.”
“Well, yes, that’s a part of it,” admitted Summer. “But Granite’s smile is off. He doesn’t have our smile.”
“Maybe because he hasn’t been happy in three thousand years?” Reuben suggested. “I would grimace like that too if Petra were to go as sour as Amber.”
“Look, we don’t like the idea,” said Petra, shaking her head. “It was … hard enough to think of killing them before, but now…”
“How can we possibly do this?” Reuben finished.
Petra glanced down miserably at the list Laura had made for her, and she saw, at the top of the first page, the Dragon Scale. It granted Amber the ability to turn into a dragon, gave her visions into the future, and was what had corrupted her three thousand years before. If only…
Reuben suddenly leaned over and snatched the list out of her hand, stared at it a moment, then turned to her with a grin. “Maybe we don’t have to. Maybe we only have to kill the Dragon within her.”
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