Fallen Warrior (Fallen Trilogy book 3)

by Williams, Tess

  "You're right. I'm sorry, princess," he said stiffly.

  "Right, well you should be," I accepted, then I went on. Because I wasn't sure that I would do very well with it on my own. I was already losing my motivation. "She was the youngest of all the Yanartians around her to become a Warrior. To a degree this was expected, since she belonged to the line of Denathar. But she surpassed even that. Now, before I go on, do you know about Akadia?"

  "Akadia?" he repeated, his voice ragged.

  "Yes, about its past. What of it, have you heard?"

  He stayed very quiet.

  "Is it... that you don't want to hear?" I asked. "I meant to tell you a bit about Molec. I liked hearing it myself, since it helped to make sense of all that had happened. But maybe you're not the same. I won't make you—"

  "No," he argued. "No. I'd like to hear. I don't know much about it."

  "You're sure?" I checked.

  He nodded.

  I waited, watching him, trying to see, but he was just a black shadow. I cleared my throat. "Well, you know that he was the king, before... before we attacked Akadia."

  He nodded.

  "And that he was Lucian's...?"

  "Lucian's father, yes."

  "If you'd ever met him," I went on quickly, before the subject might turn to Tobias, who I didn't mean to speak of, "You might wonder how such a cowardly King could have accomplished so much, as far as it concerns the wars and taking over so many lands. Well, the truth is, that he wasn't always as he was before he died, even in those years I met him. Yes, I met him," I added, "And I thought nothing of him then, though one thing was clear....That's getting ahead though, so I'll go back. Molec was an only child, just as Amalia was. Obviously that made him heir, but growing up as a prince, he didn't take that position very seriously. Akadia is rather into soldiering, you know, right? But young prince Molec wasn't much of a soldier. And he wasn't much for politics either. He did like, as so many Akadians do, dancing, and umm, parties, and all that this entails..." I thought of the drinking, and the handmaidens of Akadia, those things that Molec appreciated even when I knew him, "But then that changed very quickly. His father died. His father, Arlem, he didn't accomplish much in his reign, mostly living off the actions of Molec's grandfather, who had made many treaties. The treaty of the plains, between Karatel and Akadia was made by Molec's grandfather. Anyways, Molec's father had followed along not making war. Everyone despaired when Molec was left with the throne. They worried that he would drive Akadia to ruin. That he wouldn't know how to rule it. Many at the time, wanted the kingdom to go to war. Since Akadia's armies had built up so grandly, and it would have been a way to improve income for the Kingdom which Molec's father had left in a poor state."

  I thought back over this, to be sure I'd gotten it all right, then I smiled over at Cole for the next part. "But young prince Molec surprised them all. He gave up his ways of debauchery, and so on. He studied quickly, and took on his father's oldest and wisest advisors to assist him. They came up with grand plans for Akadia. Not for war, but for commerce. Molec wanted to build roads that went out from Akadia on to the other kingdoms. Akadia had so much in the way of iron, and stone, and metals; he thought that they should be trading them for the materials rich to other lands. Such as the rich supply of grains from the plains of Karatel. He had a vision that people of the western kingdoms, like Carba and Zuta, should have access to the explosive minerals of Democedes. Or that Shaundakulians might wear the furs of Ghaundians. He put these devices into action very quickly. Very successfully. Have you heard of the way Akadia is now? Of its crowded trades districts? Exotic animals? People of all sorts?"

  I waited for Cole to reply. He only nodded.

  "That hasn't been so only since they attacked other lands. Most of that was accomplished by Molec. Even Shaundakul, I can tell you: which had dealings with very few other kingdoms. When I was young, I heard of them as our allies, and my scholar, himself even went there. This was because, Molec, he also loved granted animals. And when he could, he would throw grand parties in the golden palace of Akadia, and invite rulers from all over. They have a special mountain there, in Akadia, for the granted animals. In those days, Scorpios, and Basilisks from Taelp, even dragons, even chimera went. My father, he never did go, but as I said, my scholar. Scholar Padril, he went with his dragon."

  "I don't understand," interrupted Cole, "I thought all of the granted regions in Akadia were closed off in Molec's time. How could he have loved the granted animals?"

  I frowned. This was the very same question I'd asked Amalia when she'd told me the story. Her answer had been curt, that it was because of her that Molec hated the granted animals. Because they had brought her to him.

  "You should know first about Molec's queen. She was his betrothed, chosen long before by his father, and Molec had avoided wedding her before his father's death. But when he became king, as he changed so many of his practices and advanced to attempting to make Akadia great, he did accept her. They were united at almost the same time of his coronation, so you could see that these two choices went hand and hand. Well... some time after this was when the Warriors of Cirali came to Akadia. It was during one of Molec's great palace events; this time particularly aimed for the high kingdoms of the granted animals. Scholar Padril, who I spoke of before, went to this very event. Also, as you might guess, Amalia Denathar. She was very young at the time. She was certainly the youngest of the other Warriors; it was a great honor that she was allowed to attend. But an honor she'd earned, since she'd already bonded to a chimera....

  "I know I haven't said much about it," I broke off, looking up at the sky, "But if you knew how I'd dreamt of Yanartas when I was young, then you would understand how Amalia felt for Akadia. At that time, long before I was even born, it was this bright shining city that brought the granted animals together, and invited foreign rulers, and even with the behemoths on the fields of radiance. She was so excited to be going. And when she arrived, and with the other Warriors would stay in the palace, it was even more wonderful for her."

  I took a breath, reluctant to go over the next bit, all for a particular reason. When Amalia had said it, I'd nearly stopped breathing, but Cole wouldn't understand what all of it meant to me, so long as I sounded calm. "It was the first night of this event that she was introduced to the King. Molec. Young, not much older than her, and yes, of course, by then married to his queen. There was nothing about it to begin with, as I'm sure you've heard ahead of this, but take it in order. Even the first night, it was only simple introductions. And the next, and the next, and so on, but on another... there was dancing you know, and often foreign songs would play in Akadia. Amalia was fit to dance with her fellows for most of them, but once the King invited her to it, having put work into learning the steps of all the visiting kingdoms. And so they danced...

  "Do they have dancing in Kanth, Cole?"

  There was a pause, and I felt like I could breathe again only once he'd nodded, and I could speak on. "Have you danced often?"

  Another pause. Then he shook his head.

  "Well," I went on, hating the silence. "Sometimes a lot can happen in one dance. I've danced thousands of dances I think, but I know this perfectly well. Very much happened between Amalia and Molec in that way. What shouldn't have..." I frowned, looking at my hands, and thinking how I'd told Amalia that it was wrong in any case, how I'd argued in my mind that it wasn't the same as Cyric and I, and I still didn't believe that it was. They shouldn't have let it go on. Amalia should have left, or Molec should have kept further away. "They tried not to see each other after that," I said. "But they were staying in the same palace of course, and..." I let out a short breath. "How can I tell the rest quickly enough. It's so very terrible that it makes it difficult to tell. The Cirali warriors, they left, but Amalia did not. Her chimera, likewise left. But she stayed, as you might guess, for Molec's sake. They went on like that, for not very long, before Amalia became pregnant. And from there, she wanted Molec to acknowled
ge the child as his own, but he wouldn't. His queen hadn't born an heir, and it would have, well, he knew rightly that it would have created great dissension in his kingdom. He would not acknowledge her, and when he wouldn't, Amalia ended everything with him. Once her child was born, of course it was two children, but she sent one back to Yanartas. The other she kept, in the hopes that he would find a place in Akadia, and maybe one day be acknowledged by Molec. She still, loved him, Molec, even after... but he became worse once his sons were born. Progress ceased on his plans for trade before long, only those things which had already been established remained. It followed like this for years, with Molec still hosting parties, and keeping away from warring, but with Amalia having left him, he fell back into his ways of living as he had, as a young man. He wasn't faithful, I mean. And as he wasn't faithful towards his queen, his demeanor only grew worse, and his plans for Akadia, and his plans to be a great King.

  "By the time, Tobias—that was his son which Amalia had kept—was old enough to join the army, the granted temples were put off limits. Molec still had no heir, and he resented all of his attempts, especially those with the granted animals, which had brought Amalia to him. He was easily convinced, around this time, by a Commander named Malatos Lox, the same one who now rules Akadia, to allow attacks in the west. At first done with excuses by Lox, but it wasn't as if Molec were so much of a fool. Or shouldn't be expected to have known the state of things. He liked the spoils. He was afraid. He let Lox convince him, as well, to move the behemoths underground. He quit the parties, the visiting rulers. He let Lox move from one place to the next, needing less of a reason for it each time. And I think, around the time of the attack on Shaundakul, was when even his own son began to defy him. And once that ended with... well, Amalia abandoned Molec to return to Yanartas after that. And she has helped us against Akadia ever since. When we attacked the palace, it was with her knowledge that we were able. Do you see, Cole, what I mean? She was so very young. Now she blames herself for so much of what happened. It's all very complicated."

  "I see that it is," he said. "I didn't know so much about Akadia's past."

  "I don't think that very many do. I mean, there are those in Akadia, such as Lox, that must. But he would never tell it."

  "Molec was responsible," Cole said simply. "I don't care what he felt when they danced. He should have let her be."

  "Do you think it's true? I don't know if I could trust Amalia, but she thinks it's her fault that Molec turned wicked. She says it's because they loved each other."

  "Of course that's not it," Cole retorted. "Love is only good. Not evil. I'm not sure for Amalia, but I don't think what Molec did was any sort of real love. Love's loyal, first and foremost isn't it?"

  "Yes, that's what I think too," I said, a thrill building in my chest. Cole always said such perfect things. I don't know how he said them so certainly.

  "And didn't he know about his second son even after one had died?" Cole went on. "But he still warred against Yanartas?"

  "I don't think he loved his sons," I admitted, "He only loved Amalia."

  "You can't love just a part of a woman," Cole rebuked, turning on me. "If you love her, you'll love what's come from her. Let alone if they're your own children."

  I reared back away from him. My breath was catching.

  He moved back almost just as quickly, shifting his gaze again into the darkness.

  "You must be very old, after all, Cole," I said. "I don't know so much about love."

  "You know about love," he argued. "Everything I know I've learned from—" He cut off suddenly. And when I'd so been wanting to hear the end of it.

  "What?" I asked. "Where?"

  He didn't answer. He only repeated. "You know about love. Don't go comparing yourself to Amalia and Molec. You're not doing that, are you? I don't know about your Lieutenant, maybe he was bad as Molec. Probably he was. But you're not the same as Amalia."

  "Don't talk that way about him," I warned.

  "If he's made you think—"

  "He made me think everything worth thinking, now leave it be," I warned more ardently.

  Cole shifted, his shoulders jerking taut, and his hands pressing together.

  "I meant to speak of Amalia and Molec, not of myself. I thought you should be warned of the complexity."

  "That's great, princess. I understand. But I really don't—

  "Wait," he said, after a pause, his tone having changed altogether—To an almost surreal degree, from intense and maybe even angry, now to careful and maybe even humored. I waited with my chest tight.

  "You asked if I thought Amalia... is it because you think I like her?"

  I felt my cheeks get hot. And I swallowed. I was glad for the darkness, and even the cold. "I told you, I don't know how old you are. And I wouldn't care if you did. I don't even care if you're young."

  But I was rambling now to no purpose, because Cole had fallen to laughing. Or perhaps, been carried off to laughing would have been a better way to put it, because he didn't seem to have much control of himself, bending over, and shaking, his hand on his torso.

  "What's funny?" I asked.

  It was another few seconds before he could speak. "Everything," he answered. "or nothing. I'm not sure which. But it doesn't really matter."

  "Cole, you've stopped making sense," I informed him, sadly. "Did I go on too long again?"

  "I don't care for Amalia," he said, done with his laughing, "Not like that at least. It's as you say, she's had a hard life. I feel sympathy for her. Ellia, I'm hardly any older than you. Please don't imagine I'll fall in love with someone twice my age. It's the last of what I can stand."

  There he went calling me Ellia so very suddenly again. Even though he wouldn't all the time, when I asked. So I could hardly chide him for it now. "You always stare at her," I argued.

  "Maybe I like her dresses."

  "You got a drink for her once. I saw you. She didn't notice, but I did. Hers had been empty and you switched it."

  He didn't answer right away this time. But I could still feel the warmth on my skin, from where he'd huffed during his outburst. "You must pay a lot of attention to what I do."

  I shrugged. "Didn't you, or not?"

  "Did you notice I got one for you as well?"

  "Maybe."

  "So, do you think I'm in love with you?"

  I held my breath. I felt my throat closing. I hugged my hands tight beneath my legs where they rested. "No." I said it like a question, even though I was sure myself that he didn't. Still I thought he might go on and respond in a way to signify something, but he didn't. He only remained silent, then looked from me out ahead, then sighed a little.

  "I feel sorry for Amalia," he repeated. "I know she lost her chimera. And... the rest. I can see why you thought it was strange though. For the record, you can go on and assume that I'm not falling in love with any of the women I might happen to get a drink for, or stare at, or pretty much anything else."

  "Because of the one you lost?" I replied, before I could think to stop myself.

  His head switched back in my direction. I bit my lip.

  "I thought... to Akadia,"

  "Yes," he answered, almost interrupting me. "Because of her."

  I swallowed. His words about love came back to me. I could hardly think past them.

  Then very suddenly, he looked away. His hand came up, over the back of his head, and he let it rest there, just sitting as one might is they were tousling their hair.

  "I've upset you," I guessed, throat-thick.

  "No," he argued, "No. It's always me. Not you."

  "I'm sorry for getting it wrong about Amalia."

  He waved this off. "I was glad to hear about Molec. I really meant it when I said, I hadn't heard that. And... since, we're fighting Akadia. It's better to know."

  "Better not tell anyone else," I said. "Just since... so much of it was personal."

  "Am I ever allowed to repeat the things you tell to me?" he replied, musingly.
And then he added, in an even lighter tone. "Princess?"

  "Yes, Cole." My voice was breathy, only a little because he'd abandoned Ellia once again.

  "I was thinking, with Molec being who he was, in the story... have you ever thought whether he might, you know, have some other children.... apart from Lucian?"

  I frowned—instantly. Brow furrowing and everything. More children than Lucian? These words were like a shock to me, and partly because they seemed to hold so much sense.

  "Well, the queen didn't have an heir," I explained.

  "Right. That was just one, though," he said. "Your story made it sound like... and even others say..."

  "You mean, as if there could be handmaidens, or other ladies, or that sort of thing?"

  Cole didn't reply. He'd gone very still again. Solemn over a subject of war.

  I kept my narrow, then started chewing on my lip. "They'd probably be younger than Lucian.... do you think there could be many of them?"

  I looked to Cole, hopeful for one of his decided, wise opinions, on the subject. I seemed to get this in full force. "Quite a few. Yes," he said simply. As if it were a fact that he knew, rather than a guess. "But with that Commander running things. If there are any, I'd say they would be hiding from him."

  "Do you think they could? Lox knew about Tobias."

  "I think Lox has probably been kept a lot busier in Molec's later years than he was when Amalia's children were born."

  "But what about Amalia?" I shook my head. "She was in Akadia ever since just before the eastern wars began. She would have known."

  "From your story, if there were anyone that Molec meant to hide more children from, wouldn't it have been her?" Cole countered.

  I frowned. "I should speak with Lucian about this." It was only a second longer, then I felt too fidgety to remain still. "I should go now. I think you may have really guessed something right."

  I got to my feet, using the rail to help, but as quickly as I'd accomplished this, Cole had, and he was standing just beside me, looking down. "Ellia?"

  "Yes?"

  "I think that you shouldn't tell them that I thought of it. In case that makes them suspect. If you trust me, then tell them it was your idea."