She walked slowly over to the horse corral and leaned up against the wooden posts, watching the rain splash onto the mud.
“Em?” Chevalier said from behind her.
She didn’t turn around, “You’re just going to let him go.”
“It’s not my decision,” he said, leaning against the fence beside her.
“Have you tried to talk him out of it?” she asked.
“No,” he said to her. “This is a decision a heku makes in his life. Leonid thought a lot about this, and we support him.”
She shook her head, “I’ll stop him.”
“You can’t stop him,” Chevalier said, and held his hand out. “Come out of the rain.”
She turned around and leaned her arms against the posts, “Then what? Maleth next month?”
“Maleth hasn’t even considered it, last I heard.”
“Have you?” she asked, not looking at him.
“No,” he lied. She didn’t need to know he planned on a retirement after her death.
“Come inside,” he said, again.
“No, I need to think,” she said, watching the water deepen in the corral.
“Child?” she heard Leonid say from behind her. She turned and saw him smiling at her as the rain drenched his green robe.
Emily ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, “Please don’t go.”
“Look at me,” he said, and she pulled away from him and looked into his ancient eyes. He smiled, “This is what I want. I am ready for it.”
She shook her head, “You can’t be ready for this.”
“I can, it’s something I have thought about for thousands of years. Thousands of tiring years. I’ve been through wars and plagues and disasters. It wears on a heku to watch loved ones die and enemies fall. It’s my time for peace,” he said, brushing her wet hair away from her face.
“Peace?” she asked, frowning.
“Yes, peace. I think I’ve earned it,” he said to her.
Emily hugged him again and pressed her face into the robes on his chest, “Nothing I can do will make you stay?”
“No, Dear.” He touched the back of her head, gently. Leonid nodded at Chevalier and turned Emily around. She went into Chevalier’s arms and cried against his chest. He picked her up and carried her into the palace as she cried in his arms.
Emily spent the rest of the day curled up in bed. Chevalier felt helpless as he watched her struggle with the pain of the impending loss. She saw Leonid’s stasis as a death and nothing anyone could say would change that. Chevalier had only seen her in such a low place once before, and it scared him to see her fierce passion gone. The fire in her eyes was drenched with tears, and she looked at the world coldly.
Chevalier curled up with her again once she’d gone to sleep. He kept her close to him until he heard the ceremony starting. Emily was still asleep and he slipped out of her room. Kyle was waiting by the door with his long blue robe. He put it on, looked back at Emily’s door, and then made his way down the stairs.
Leonid chose to spend his rest in the Council City underground. He was talking happily to the gathered heku when Chevalier arrived at his side. Maleth soon joined them. The coffin was set out for everyone to see, its golden inlaid runes shone brightly in the morning sun. The inside was dark green velvet and looked warm and comfortable. It was sitting on a platform above a hole in the ground.
Chevalier stepped forward and called the others into their places. Over eight hundred heku in dark blue robes lined up in rows to say good-bye to their Elder. Leonid was smiling brightly as he caught up with old friends and said good-bye to them. Once the Equites settled down, they all turned to face the coffin.
Leonid stepped toward the coffin as Maleth and Chevalier stood beside it. He crawled into the gold inlaid coffin and laid back, crossing his arms over his chest. He shut his eyes as Maleth and Chevalier placed their hands above his head and recited ancient incantations, sending his mind into rest and his body into stasis.
The two remaining Equites Elders then picked up the coffin’s lid and covered Leonid. They performed the incantation to seal the tomb for 500 years, the time Leonid chose.
Kyle turned from his place when a commotion sounded behind him. He quickly headed toward the source of the sound. Emily was pushing frantically through the robed figures, her face filled with horror. She was fighting to get to Leonid as Kyle took her arm and she spun to face him.
“Stop him, Kyle,” she yelled.
Kyle picked her up, gently, and she wrestled to get out of his grasp. He carried her back into the palace as she struggled. He knew that Leonid was already at rest, nothing she could do would bring him out. The ancient invocation sealed his fate for 500 years.
Kyle carried her to her room and by the time he arrived, she was crying angrily against his shoulder.
“Let me stop him,” she begged.
“It’s too late, Em, he’s gone,” Kyle said, holding her as her body shook.
“No,” Emily yelled, and pounded her fists into his chest, but he didn’t let go.
Kyle held her tightly as her anger turned to pain and anguish. Emily felt that she couldn’t take the pain of losing someone else. Her heart ached and shriveled in her chest, and she could hear the light chatting from down by the burial site.
Emily felt panic that it was going to be too late, they would bury him and he would be gone. She wasn’t used to being so out of control, unable to help those who needed it. Her mind began to whirl with a mixture of emotions and she found it hard to breathe. She pushed against Kyle, but he wouldn’t let go of her. The air in the room was thin and her lungs couldn’t pull in enough to sustain her. She felt darkness creeping in on her.
Kyle picked Emily up when she collapsed. He laid her down on the bed and pulled the covers over her. He watched her until the festivities were over and the crowd began to disperse.
“What happened?” Chevalier asked, stepping into the room.
“She tried to save him,” Kyle said, upset by the pain it had put her though.
“How bad was it?” Chevalier asked, as he slipped off his blue robe and sat down on the bed beside her.
“She fought me until she passed out,” Kyle said. Chevalier could hear the tense way he spoke and could only glimpse what happened.
“From her dreams, she’s afraid I’m going to do it, too,” Chevalier told him.
Kyle nodded, “I can see that.”
Chapter 16 - Coronation
“Let me see the list again,” Chevalier said, taking the papers from Maleth. He went over the names slowly.
Maleth glanced over at Emily, asleep in her bed.
“Tell me again, is she sick?” Maleth asked Chevalier.
He glanced at Emily and back to Maleth, “No. She hasn’t gotten out of bed since Leonid was put to rest.”
“Is that healthy?” Maleth frowned.
Chevalier shrugged, “I honestly don’t know. Sam said she did the same thing when her Father died.”
“But Leonid isn’t dead.”
“We know that, but to her, he is.”
“Poor child, should I talk to her?” Maleth asked, looking back across the table.
“No, Sam suggested we just let her be. I appreciate you coming in here for this though, I hesitate to leave,” Chevalier said, turning back to his files.
“What do you think?” Maleth asked as Chevalier frowned.
“I really don’t think Damon is ready. I wish I knew Torman more, I’ve only met him a few times and moving one from a coven into Eldership without a spot on the Council makes me nervous,” he said, his eyes still on the list.
“What about Quinn then? He’s been our Chief Interrogator for close to four hundred years.”
“Right now, he’s the one that’s standing out in my mind,” Chevalier said.
Maleth nodded, “I agree, shall we make the announcement? We should swear him in as soon as possible, tomorrow night even.”
Chevalier nodded, “Yes, let’s annou
nce it today. It’s been three days, and that’s too long.”
Maleth nodded and glanced at Emily once more before leaving.
Chevalier sat on the bed by Emily and brushed her hair away from her face. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him.
“Hi,” he said, smiling.
She shut her eyes and pulled the covers up over her shoulder.
“Em, we’ve picked a new Elder,” he said.
She opened her eyes and looked out the window.
“That was fast,” she whispered.
“We can’t go without full leadership for too long,” he explained.
“So easily replaced.” She turned away from him and shut her eyes again.
“Today is the last day,” he said, watching her.
“I know,” she whispered, not opening her eyes.
“Have you decided against it then?” Chevalier hated to even consider it.
“I’m just tired.”
“I know you are, but I also need to know you’re awake enough to make a decision.”
She opened her eyes and sat up in the bed. She held her hand out to him, “Put it on.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, digging in his pocket for the essence ring.
She nodded and watched as he slipped it back on her finger. Emily felt the familiar pull as the ring sealed itself to her finger. She laid back down and pulled the covers up, it seemed cold in her room.
“We need a fire,” she said, shutting her eyes.
She felt Chevalier’s hand against the back of her neck, “It’s hot in here and over ninety degrees outside.”
“It’s so cold.” She burrowed deeper into the covers.
“Ok, I’ll get a fire,” he said, and watched a servant blur into the room and start the fire.
“Who is it?” she whispered. Chevalier looked down at her and she was watching him.
“Who is what?”
“The new Elder.”
“Quinn”
Emily frowned, “The quiet guy on the end?”
Chevalier couldn’t help but grin, “Quiet? He’s one of the meanest Chief Interrogator I’ve ever seen. I swear he could get information out of a turnip.”
“He’s never said anything to me.”
“He’s good at his job. I think he refrains from speaking for fear he may come across as harsh and abrasive,” Chevalier said. He suddenly realized what a good choice they made in choosing Quinn.
Emily looked back out the window, “I don’t like him.”
Chevalier smiled slightly, “You’re supposed to be at the swearing in.”
“Why?”
“You’re… in a roundabout way, part of the Council.”
Emily shut her eyes again, “I put on the ring, now stop hovering and go to work.”
Chevalier nodded, “Think about it, ok?”
She nodded and rolled over.
Chevalier went down to his desk. He knew he would have a lot of work as he hadn’t been in since Leonid’s burial. He could hear preparations being made for the swearing in of the new Elder. Chevalier left orders for Mark to wait outside of Emily’s room and alert him if she got out of bed. He lost track of time, engrossed in his work, when he heard a knock on his door.
“Enter”
Kyle stepped in and frowned, “You aren’t ready?”
Chevalier glanced up, “Is she going?”
Kyle shook his head, “She’s not out of bed.”
“Ok, I’ll be right there,” Chevalier said, and pulled on his green robe, then followed Kyle out of the room and into the great hall.
He stepped into the great hall from the back entrance and took his seat by Maleth. It didn’t slip his notice that the gathered heku all looked around when he entered, trying to find Emily. He knew that even those heku that didn’t think a mortal should live in the palace, were still fascinated by her heritage. Rumors also spread of the carnage she left in the Encala palace and it instantly made her a legend.
“Where is she?” Maleth asked, smiling and nodding to someone in the audience.
“She’s not coming.” Chevalier sat back in the large throne-like chair.
Maleth nodded, “Just in case, I’ve had fans installed to blow air toward the Council.”
Chevalier frowned, “Damn, I should have thought of that.”
The Council all gathered and the audience fell quiet. Maleth stood and addressed the Equites. As customary, he gave a brief detail of the roles and responsibilities of an Elder. Chevalier heard gasps from the crowd and he turned when he heard footsteps. Emily had come in the back door. She was wearing the dark blue, backless gown from her first meeting with the Equites Elders and her hair was tied up. He was always amazed at her beauty, and the few times she actually dressed up, it made his heart skip a beat to even look at her.
Chevalier could see Emily begin to blush, so he turned back to the crowd. He could feel her move to his side and place a gentle hand on his shoulder. He fought to cage his jealousy as he noticed the number of heku that were watching her and suddenly, the exposed skin on her waist and back seemed too revealing.
The entire room fell silent when the double doors opened and Quinn stepped in. Maleth and Chevalier stood and moved to the center of the stage as the new Elder walked down the center aisle toward them. Chevalier turned and put his hand out for Emily. He forgot she wasn’t aware of the proper proceedings of the swearing in, but she was also required to greet the new Elder.
She looked at him with a brief glance of panic, and then stepped forward to his side, taking his hand. Emily kept her eyes on Quinn, to keep from running out of the room screaming. He was a younger looking heku with brown curly hair and a strong muscular frame with broad shoulders. He was only a few inches shorter than Chevalier, but towered over Maleth.
Emily watched as Maleth and Chevalier spoke to Quinn in what she could only assume was Latin. The words flowed like a cadence broken only occasionally when Quinn would say something back to them. At long last, Chevalier and Maleth moved back to their chairs and Emily stood by Chevalier’s side again. Maleth ended the proceedings and turned back to the Council gathered.
“Shall we go to the reception?” he asked, smiling.
The Council all stood and Damon nodded toward Emily, “She going?”
Emily glared at him.
Maleth frowned, “She is part of this Council, like it or not.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t know if I can defend her against eight hundred hungry heku,” Damon said, bluntly.
Emily stepped forward, her heels only helped her height a little, “I don’t need protection from you.”
“Oh you think? One whiff of you and you’ll be dinner.”
“Just because you have the control of a wolf, doesn’t mean everyone else does,” Emily glared at him.
“Maybe if you didn’t smell like a cupcake, Sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart?” she asked, pushing him on the chest, though he didn’t move, he glared down at her. “Why don’t you crawl back under the rock you came from?”
“Mortals,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“Fudge packer.”
“What the hell is that?” Damon asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Nothing!” Chevalier said, ushering Emily out of the room.
“Suck me!” she yelled back from the hallway.
Chevalier shook his head when he heard a response from the great hall that he hoped Emily hadn’t heard.
“Let me go. I can find my own way to the bedroom,” she growled at him.
“You can try to come to the reception,” he said, watching her walk up the stairs.
She slipped off her heels and continued up the stairs, “And give Damon the pleasure of watching the heku drool? No thanks.”
Chevalier walked back into the great hall, “Why do you have to antagonize her?”
“I… she started that,” Damon said, sounding offended.
“You’re at least 4500 years older than she is, act it,” Maleth snapped at h
im.
“Suck me?” Quinn asked, amused, as they walked toward the reception hall.
Chevalier shrugged and they stepped into the reception hall.
Kyle walked up to Chevalier, “I hate Elder induction nights. The guards make me nervous.”
Chevalier slapped him on the shoulder, “The one night they can all party together, let them have their fun. At least they take it out of the city.”
Emily stripped off the gown and tossed her shoes into the corner as soon as she got into her room, and then pulled the pins from her hair. She threw on jeans and a t-shirt, then dug through her closet and found her cowboy boots and pulled them on. Grabbing her Stetson and riding gloves, she walked down to the stables and put a bridle and saddle on Patra. She could hear the music from the reception hall as she hoisted herself up on the mare and took off into the night, still fuming over Damon.
Emily soon made it to the rolling hills outside of Council City and pulled Patra to a stop. She looked out over the quiet city, and then turned to the trees off to the east. She’d never quite ventured that far out, so she decided to go tonight. She kicked Patra into a canter and turned her for the tree line.
Emily felt exhilarated as Patra stepped into the dark trees. Something about the freedom of being out of the palace, away from the city, and out where no one knew where she was made her smile. She loved the sound the wind made through the trees and the rhythmic hoofbeats on the forest floor.
The full moon emerged from behind a dark cloud and she could see things better. The trees were thinner ahead, and Emily could see a faint light. She slowed Patra down to a slow walk and moved toward it. As she got closer, she started to hear voices. Emily pulled her rifle out of the saddlebag and stepped the mare out into the clearing. She gasped, and Patra reared back as hundreds of heku eyes fell on them.
Emily pulled the reins in for control and turned Patra around, but found herself surrounded by heku guards. The rifle in her hands gave her little comfort as her path back to the trees was blocked.
“What have we here?” she heard a strange voice say.
Emily turned and looked at the heku walking toward her. There was a strong smell of alcohol in the air.
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