by J. C. Ahmed
“We shouldn't be here.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him into the nearby thicket. He was too confused to protest. “We could be seen,” she said, responding to his quizzical expression.
“So, this is unauthorized portal travel, then.” Malthus smirked. “I thought so.”
Two logs lay parallel to each other. Liralexa sat on one. Malthus seated himself across from her.
“Yes, I accidentally discovered a portal. If my parents find out, I don't know what will happen. Well, maybe I do. They won't let me leave the house by myself ever again. That is one thing of which I can be certain.”
“How do you accidentally discover a portal?”
“The soldiers always travel with a member of the Sigils Guild. They recite a magic spell to freeze everyone in the vicinity of a portal. The day I discovered it, a bunch of soldiers with horses came out. One soldier, with a special band on his helmet which marks him as a member of the Sigils Guild looked around nervously. I think he made a mistake and hoped no one was there to see them.”
Malthus’s eyes widened. “Wait, so I might have been here when your parents’ evil army came through, and I would never have known?”
“Yes, you would never know time stood still for you.” Malthus was both amazed and angry.
“I wonder how many times I was here when they came through.” It made him feel even more vulnerable.
“Probably many,” Liralexa responded.
“I’m sure. I’m Malthus, by the way.”
“I remember your name.” She gave him a shy smile. He didn't know what to make of her changed demeanor and wasn't sure if he could trust her.
“So, why are you here again, Princess?” he asked more harshly than he intended. She noticed but didn't blame him for being angry with her. She had made a terrible impression the first time they met.
“I'm not even sure. I felt the need to come back.” She pulled moss off the log as an excuse to avoid his scrutinizing stare. “Do you come here often?”
“Every day to get water. But I like to hang out here, too. We can get water from wells in the town but I prefer to come up here. It's peaceful.”
“Yes, it is. How long does it take to come up here?”
“Half an hour.”
“Half an hour!”
“Do you think I'm crazy?” he said, with noticeable irritation. She wanted to kick herself for upsetting him.
“No. I understand. I like to wander in the woods near my house.”
“Do you?”
“Yes. That's how I discovered the portal. I like to tarry at the old well on the palace grounds.”
“Tarry?”
“You don't know the meaning of tarry? I thought your father was in charge here?” She regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, realizing how standoffish she sounded.
“He is,” Malthus said testily.
“Sorry, I assumed you would have a tutor,” she said, as meekly as she could, but it did little to temper his irritation.
“Governors aren’t rich in the so-called lesser regions. They aren’t favored by your parents like the leaders of the Golden and Mason regions. I have a teacher, but there are forty kids in my class. She never taught us the word tarry. But I know many words.” Liralexa changed the subject.
“Do you like to read, Malthus?”
“I do, but it’s hard to get time between chores and school.”
“How often do you go to school?”
“Three days a week.”
“Just three?”
“It used to be five. But that's just for kids from prominent families who attend school until they're nineteen. Most kids end their schooling at age ten nowadays.”
“Oh? Why?”
“The labor of kids is needed because of the extreme demands made by your parents,” he hissed bitterly.
Liralexa turned her eyes from him.
“Are you ashamed, Princess?”
“I went to my first Strages.” She choked back tears. “You and your friends spoke the truth. Yes, I am very ashamed I did not believe you and I apologize for my rudeness.”
“Apology accepted,” he mumbled, unsure of what else to say.
“And I am ashamed they are my parents,” she continued. “Now I feel so lost. I don't feel love for them anymore. They aren't who I thought they were.”
It surprised Malthus that he felt sympathy for her. “Someday, you'll be queen and you can change how things are done,” he said, trying to console her.
“That is probably twenty years away,” she sniveled. “The people who are suffering now can't wait twenty long years.” She pulled an embroidered handkerchief out of her bag and dabbed her eyes.
“That is true. But if you bring honor and dignity back to the crown that will benefit future generations. It’s better than nothing.”
She dried her face and stared at a tree, with a vacant and distant look in her eyes.
“I so want to change things now but how can I?”
“I think you will be a great queen someday. That heartens me.” She smiled at him. “You have a beautiful smile.”
She blushed. “Do I?”
“Yes. You're very pretty.”
Malthus hated the people he called scar-necks with a burning passion and it surprised even him he was praising one. But he thought she was beautiful and couldn't help himself. Liralexa thought he was very attractive too. He was tall but not too tall. Thin but solidly built. His face was boyish but weary. She could tell he had seen many troubles in his short life. He wore a tan colored, hip length short sleeve wool shirt, black trousers and black boots. A dagger in a sheath was strapped around his right thigh. He also noticed her clothing. She wore a white blouse with a light green knee-length skirt and black leggings. The strap of a brown leather bag lay across her shoulder.
“You don't dress like a princess.”
“What does a princess dress like?” she asked, somewhat amused by his observation.
“Gowns,” he laughed. “Silk gowns that stick out and make lots of noise. You dress like my friends Aimee and Meryl.”
“I like to be comfortable. My mother complains that I dress like a peasant but I like simplicity.”
“That's a good trait for someone who will be queen someday. The royal family lives off the people’s money and should be careful not to squander it.”
“Yes, I agree,” she said, in a gentle tone.
“I told you I heard voices,” Aimee said.
“You're back, my lady,” Jack said mockingly.
The four kids Liralexa saw on her previous visit sauntered over to the log and seated themselves next to Malthus.
“She's coming through the portal without permission, like we thought.”
“A rebel,” Jack said. “I like that.”
Liralexa bit her lower lip.
“Is there a chance any of you could end up at the Strages?”
“They pick at random, so yes,” Malthus explained. “Anyone between sixteen and eighteen could be chosen.”
“I wish I could stop it but I can't. I tried to talk to my parents…” Her voice trailed off, as she considered the precarious situation these kids lived with. “Can you not hide when they come?”
“No, they have trackers. They use magic to bring everyone our age into the green in Vallerton. It’s hundreds of kids. The evil general rides among the crowd picking out victims.”
“Of course,” Liralexa said glumly. “My cruel parents thought of everything. I should go soon.”
“Will you come again?” Malthus asked. He smiled at her.
“I think so.” She smiled back.
“Is it safe for you to come here? If you don't know how to do magic, you can't freeze people around the portal.”
“Do what to the people around the portal?” Anton asked. His eyes bulged in amazement.
“I'll explain later,” Malthus said.
“I always know when the army or anyone from the palace is coming through on my side. What about here? Do yo
u know when the portal is used?”
“The army is random but the traveling and cargo wagons always come in the morning. We come up here to hang out all the time. But it's rare for anyone else to be here.”
“So, if I come late in the afternoon, it should be safe then. Will you all be here tomorrow?”
“If you plan to come, I will be here,” Malthus said.
“If the army isn't going to any of the regions, I will definitely come.”
“I'll wait for you.”
Liralexa felt like she should leave but couldn't push herself to do it. She liked these kids and rarely got a chance to be with people her own age.
“What do you do for fun?” she asked, to delay her departure.
“It's hard to have fun, with the way things are?” Anton said. “People you know and care about are taken, and you know you could be next. It consumes every feeling and emotion.”
Liralexa understood. She could no longer have fun either. She felt like she was carrying an excruciating weight on her back. And there was no way to get it off. The weight made her supremely uncomfortable, but she had no choice but to live with it.
“You said your parents are all leaders here. What do they do?”
“My dad is the deputy governor,” Anton said.
“Our dad is the mayor of Vallerton.” Jack pointed to Aimee to indicate they were siblings.
“My mom is the town clerk,” Meryl said.
“You must be very proud of them.” Liralexa’s lips curled into a wistful smile. She stood up slowly. “I really should go.” She let out a sigh.
“We all have chores and studying to do.” Malthus and his friends stood up. As Liralexa threw her bag over her shoulder, she and Malthus locked eyes.
“Are you two in love or something?” Jack laughed. The others snickered.
“I'll make sure the coast is clear,” Malthus said, to cover up his embarrassment. He made sure no one was around, then beckoned to Liralexa. She followed him to the well.
“So, tomorrow, hopefully,” he said.
“Yes, hopefully,” she said softly.
He listened as she muttered the incantation to ensure he had it right. She waved to him, then jumped through the portal. Liralexa’s attraction to Malthus was pure and innocent. He thought she was physically attractive but was mainly interested in her usefulness to furthering his aims. If she liked him, her affection could be exploited to get him close enough to kill her parents. The cogs in his brain were whirring as he strode down the hill.
Chapter Seven
“Hope, I’ve figured you out
You’re a liar and a fraud
A confidence man and swindler of the worst kind
I don’t believe in you anymore
But I still need you
Because what else do I have?”
— Journal entry by Malthus West
Liralexa thought it wasn't possible to feel more unhappy but a darker cloud than usual hung over her as she trudged home. She didn't want to be there. The house where she was born, where she had spent every night of her life, no longer felt like a safe, welcoming place. Upon entering the vestibule, she felt like a trespasser walking into a place she’d never been and meeting strangers who eyed her curiously and whispered among themselves about the alien who walked in their midst. She hoped to sprint to her room and hide under her bed covers but it was too late. Her mother appeared. She always did. Stella always saw Liralexa coming home through her office window. No matter how busy she was, she went to meet her daughter to make sure she had something to eat. This used to delight Liralexa, now it angered her. She wanted to be left alone. And she was disgusted with what she now considered her mother’s fake demeanor. But she had to put a smile on her face. As usual, she was taken to the kitchen and her mother demanded food. Liralexa didn't want any. Just like with everything else, she had lost interest in eating. Every bite she took tasted bland and flavorless.
She swirled her soup round and round as she daydreamed about Malthus. She had never really thought about a boy before. But he was off limits because he wasn't from the Golden Region. Her parents would never approve of a relationship with a boy who didn't have the special golden emblem on his skin. There hadn't been a mixed-region marriage in the family for two hundred years. She forced down her soup. Her mother seemed to know everything, and she’d be asking questions if her daughter’s appetite became too poor. Liralexa slunk to her room and dropped onto her bed. She tried to push Malthus out of her mind but no matter what she thought about, he somehow made his way back into her consciousness. She wondered if he was thinking of her.
Malthus was indeed thinking of her but his thoughts were of a practical rather than romantic nature. He was supposed to be learning the principles of leadership but didn't see much point when his days in this world were probably numbered. His father sat in front of the fireplace staring into the flames.
“What were King Artis and Queen Lira like?” Malthus asked.
“Those were good days,” his father sighed, his eyes never leaving the flames. “I didn't have to worry about packing up wagons with food we didn't have. They bought what we had to sell and were satisfied.” He laughed bitterly. “They bought the food. They didn’t steal it and call it a tax. When a crop disease struck, they sent experts and the Sigils Guild to help us. The current king and queen think we’re unworthy of assistance. It would benefit them to help us, but they think we’re undeserving.”
He violently jabbed the firewood with his poker. Raging sparks flew out of the fireplace. “The king and queen were satisfied with the simple life. They didn't need a big palace on a hill and a big dance hall, and whatever other nonsense King Cameron and Queen Stella are planning.”
“If something happened to them, their daughter would take over, right?” Malthus asked.
“She's seventeen now, so yes.”
“If something happened to them — ”
“She might not be any better,” Adin muttered bitterly.
“I think she’ll be better.”
“It doesn't help us much now. The wagons are coming again in two weeks. We won't have enough. The weal disease…” His voice trailed off. Malthus closed his book.
“I'm going to see Jack. I'll be back soon.”
“Don't be long, my boy.”
He stared sadly at his son as he put on his coat. Would he have a son much longer? He’d lost his wife just the year before. Now he'd lose his only child.
Malthus put his hands in his coat pockets and made his way out into the town. He navigated between the horses and wagons as he crossed the road. Street crossings had become hazardous now that half the streetlamps were no longer lit. His hand paused as it made its way toward the tarnished brass lion head knocker on the door of Jack’s house. Was he out of his mind? He stood for a moment and considered what he would say. Passersby eyed him curiously as he stood still as a statue in front of the chipped red door of the narrow four story townhouse. His hand rose again, except this time it made contact with the knocker. He gave it a hard bang, then stood with his head down waiting for an answer.
Jack opened the door. “Oh, it's you. Why are you here so late?”
“Can we talk in your room?”
A woman’s voice rang through the house. “Who is it?”
“It's Malthus, Ma. We'll be in my room.”
They clomped up the dusky and narrow wooden staircase. Every creak of the steps seemed to echo through the narrow space. Jack closed the door to his tiny room and sat on the bed. Malthus went to the window to take in the sights and sounds of the bustling town. Life had brought him nothing but misery, but he didn't want it to end.
Hope is a fiend, he thought. It’s always there but when you reach out your hand to grab hold, it pulls slightly out of reach. The scoundrel stays close enough to give you confidence in a better tomorrow but far enough to ensure you'll never have it. Malthus had no illusions anymore. Hope was a false friend, and he would never experience peace or joy. But he had
decided he would rather live in despair than fade into everlasting nothingness or unknowable somethingness. His plan was a long shot but the fiend’s confident whispers of encouragement were balm to his troubled soul.
“You know I will probably be taken next time the army comes. Father says we don't have enough food.” He sat on the bed next to Jack.
“There are hundreds of kids…” Jack began.
“General Hackett threatened to take me,” Malthus interrupted.
“Maybe he won't do it. He might forget he said it and your dad’s the governor. That should count for something.”
“Even if they don't take me, they'll take someone and no one here deserves such a horrible fate.”
“There's nothing we can do. We have to hope for the best. Maybe the weal disease will let up.”
Malthus’s mouth curled up into a bitter smile. There’s that word again: hope.
“There's no sign of that. And there is something we could do. If Liralexa becomes queen, she would stop this. I can tell she's a caring person.”
“That's something which will happen maybe twenty years from now.”
“What if something happened to her parents?”
“How likely is that?”
“Very likely, if we make it happen.”
“Aaaaaaaah?”
“I know it sounds crazy.”
Jack shot up and walked in small, frenzied circles.
“Crazy? It's insane. Are you talking about assassinating the king and queen?”
“We know how to get to the Golden Region. I could hear the words the princess mumbled to open the portal.”
“And do what when we get there?”
“We would need Matt and Liralexa’s help.”
Jack's mouth fell wide open. “You want to ask Liralexa to help murder her parents?”
“Let’s be nice to her when she comes.”