by M. D. Laird
“Do not let your first act as queen be one that releases a destructive power onto the world. The wisest thing you could do in this position would be to realise the benefits of this weapon, but to see that the consequences are too great to use it.”
Rya paused. Maol held his breath. He glanced around him at the men who waited for her answer. He looked at the demons and at the angels with their equally lethal blades. Only the angels had ever been given the ultimate weapon of destruction. Only they had been trusted with it.
“Please, Rya,” he pleaded. “Let us not bring our child into a world with such a weapon. You have made a mistake in making the weapons, but you remedied that mistake by sealing them away. Don’t undo that.”
She lowered her head into her hands. “A lot of lives may be lost.”
“We have agreed to this fight, your lordship,” said Commander Tamir. “We agreed before we knew about the adamantine. The plan, for us, is unchanged.”
She nodded. “I never wanted to make them. If I could send them back to Hell, I would.”
Prince Thomas grinned. “We can have a little chat with Prince Jael once we have taken back your Crown.”
“Do not worry, your lordship,” said Hallward. “The demons and angels fight with you as will Axandria’s rebels.”
“Rebels?” she asked alarmed.
“There are rebel factions within Axandria,” said Princess Eleanor. “Not all are supportive of the Crown being restored, but they all want to see the king removed. For now, you can consider them your allies.”
Rya smiled. “Then what are we waiting for?” she said. “Let the battle for Axandria begin.”
The men cheered as they returned to the ships giving orders for the fleet to start moving once more. Rya’s anxiety still showed. She was worried about the men she was sending to war. She was worried that many may die and she was concerned about their baby. The men were jubilant, but their spirits did little to raise hers.
“They are brave, Rya,” said Maol. “They believe in what you’re doing, and they want to see you on the throne. Lives may be lost, but many more lives will be saved and made better for thousands of years to come when we win. I will be there fighting for you and for our baby. I will risk my life to save others from the king’s brutal rule. I will save them from the brutality I have inflicted upon others because I know it was wrong. If I die, then I will be at peace knowing that I have tried to make up for the terrible things I have done and that I was trying to make a better world for our child to grow up in.” Her eyes began to tear, and she nodded. “I will protect you, Rya. I will protect both of you with my life.”
Rya smiled and allowed Maol to help her back onto the ship. They still had a long journey ahead of them before they reached the battle, but Maol felt a little less apprehensive to be accompanied by their new allies and less anxious knowing that the enemy did not have adamantine.
Eleanor stood in front of Thomas with her back to him. She glanced at him when he did not reply to her question about their meal arrangements on board the ship. Thomas’ gaze was focussed on Lord Amarya’s betrothed. She elbowed him in the ribs. He grinned and turned his attention to her.
“Jealous, Princess?” He smirked, dropping his head down to nibble at her ear.
“I’m just being territorial over my man,” she said, stifling a groan at his lips burning against her skin.
He chuckled and ran his lips to her neck. Eleanor clenched her jaw to regain her composure. They were in the middle of the quarterdeck surrounded by Rya’s men.
“Do you miss the company of men?” she asked him.
“Sometimes,” he said, slipping his hands around her waist and pulling her close to him. “More so when I see someone like him or Lord Tharazan.”
“And why is that?”
“It’s rare to find someone taller and more muscular than I am, they look strong—it’s arousing.”
She blushed a little. “I’m sure you’re stronger.”
“I am.”
“Why not just bed other demons?”
He chuckled at her ear again. “I like it when they dig their nails in me—claws hurt too much.”
She laughed and then turned to kiss his cheek. “If you need to spend time with a man then I won’t stop you,” she said softly.
“I thought you were being territorial,” he asked quizzically.
“I am.” She grinned. “But I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
He chuckled and nibbled at her neck again almost causing her to gasp as he ran his tongue over her earlobe. She blushed heavily, though no one was paying attention.
“I can’t break my vows,” he said. “And besides, I have my very own princess to keep me happy.”
“And do I?” She smiled.
“I think so,” he whispered. “Though I may have to take you somewhere private to be sure.”
Maol watched the demon prince leave the deck with the princess. He could guess they were retiring to their cabin from their behaviour. The princess had smiled as she allowed the demon to put his hands on her. There were many soldiers in his army—male and female—who sought the company of demons and he thought they were vile.
I have been with hominem women, but at least they are close to being the same species!
He had noticed the demon looking at him before he started groping the princess—he looked like he wanted to bed Maol. Maol snorted at the idea and continued to polish his boots.
What does the princess see in him?
He supposed the Sonneillons weren’t the worst looking of the demons—the cobalt blue eyes made them appear more attractive than the more unusual colours. He could understand her being attracted to a Sonneillon more than he could understand people being drawn to the ruby eyed Samaels.
He found it all odd, though. And now demons were marrying thorian! A princess of Axandria was married to a demon, and the queen of Arkazatinia had been engaged to one.
The world is going mad.
“No husband?” Maol asked Princess Eleanor as he took a seat at her table for breakfast. Only the princess occupied the mess hall, and he had considered sitting alone, but it seemed rude.
“He is on decree,” she said. “He needs to fulfil his quota in case the battle is prolonged.”
“So how does a princess end up married to a demon?”
She blushed. “It’s a long story.”
He waved his fork before spearing a piece of mushroom. “People usually say that when they can’t be bothered to tell you.”
“Or when they don’t want to bore people,” she offered.
“I asked, didn’t I?” He grunted. The princess’ smile faltered as she was unsure how to take his gruffness. He continued to eat and said nothing. The princess wrapped her hands around her mug and sighed.
“My father gave me to Prince Thomas in exchange for Thomas persuading Queen Genevieve to marry my brother,” she said.
Maol raised an eyebrow. “You seem happy with the arrangement. Did you know him already?”
“No,” she answered. “I wasn’t happy. I was forced into marriage.”
“And now you’ve fallen in love?” Maol asked slyly.
The princess frowned. “Are you asking so you can mock me?”
He grinned arrogantly. “Go on then, what happened?”
She narrowed her eyes at him but continued. “Thomas seemed obnoxious at first, but I was actually treated better than I have ever been treated in my life.” The princess stopped talking, and he waved his fork again to urge her to continue.“Why do you want to know?”
“Just curious,” he said
She frowned and continued. “Well, Thomas and I actually got along quite well most of the time, and though we didn’t have full marriage at first, it was quite peaceful but for the interference from my father. My father had learned that I’d had an affair with my educator’s son and decided to use me as a tool to get the adamantine from the prince, but—being the
sadistic person he is—he also wanted revenge for my affair. He invited Thomas and me for supper and tried to provoke Thomas into attacking me and breaking his decree by informing him of my affair. He then led us to his dungeon where he held James captive. He had been badly beaten and then he was executed in front of me. My father tried to have me whipped, but Thomas got me out of there and…” She smiled sadly. “Then he took care of me. He looked after me in a way I would have thought impossible for a demon.
“Well, I grew rather fond of him and wanted to be with him as his wife. It may be because I have only known cruelty throughout my life, but I find Thomas to be a lovely husband.”
Maol softened his expression. He was starting to feel guilty for his harshness towards the princess. He had assumed that she had some fascination for demons like most people who found their way into a demon’s bed. “He’s a demon, though. Does that not bother you?”
She smiled. “It did when I first married him, but once you get to know him, you realise that he is still a person just like everyone else.”
Maol nodded.
Just like the hominem. I’m a judgemental bastard.
“And you love him?” he asked.
She looked thoughtful as she sipped her tea. “I don’t know. I suppose I do in some way. I’m not sure I could love anyone as I did James, but I don’t really think of it as he cannot return my feelings. I don’t mind, though. It is nice to feel safe.” Maol nodded. She placed her tea in front of her and her expression brightened. “I have answered your questions so you should answer mine. How did you come to be in the Amaryan Brotherhood?”
“For all our differences, Your Highness, our tales are quite similar,” he said, sipping his coffee.
“You were forced to marry a demon too?” She smiled.
He chuckled. “No,” he said. “I was a soldier and Captain of the Vernasian King’s Guard. Let’s just say I have a little issue with my temper, and I took it out on the wrong person. I killed the son of one of the king’s largest trading partners. To keep the trade flowing, the king agreed to sell me into slavery.”
The princess’ eyes widened. “You have slaves in Vernasia?”
He nodded. “You have them in Axandria too, you were one of them. Anyway, it is usually a fate reserved for hominem criminals—I am the first thorian slave—but, the king needed to appease his weapon trader, so he sent me. Rya recruits her hominem army from the slave pits and—”
“She buys slaves?” she asked, horrified.
“Yes, but she’s not an ordinary slaver. She takes them to her camp and encourages them to work for her—either on her camp or in her army—if she can’t persuade them then, she frees them. Well, she got a bit carried away when she saw me and paid ten thousand marcs for me—most slaves go for a hundred—and because she paid so much she couldn’t afford to free me. I was pissed at first, but eventually, I realised I had no choice but to work with her or I’d be sold. Anyway, she grew on me.”
The princess smiled. “And now you’re having a baby?”
“Yes,” he said, grinning. “After spending a few days together.”
“Do you love her?”
He shrugged. “I think I could grow to love her as she is having my baby. I definitely like her, though I think I like her more than she likes me.”
She gave him a sympathetic smile. “Are you still a slave now?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I hope not. I found out just before we left for Axandria that we were having a baby and then I proposed on the ship later that night. Then you arrived, and she is busy with planning. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her yet—she has more pressing concerns. I hope she considers me free and that she won’t sell the father of her child.” He smiled. “She’d be ten thousand marcs out of pocket, though.”
“Thomas is out of pocket one hundred thousand mirs for me,” said the princess.
“He had to buy his wife?” Maol laughed.
“He had to buy me back. My father’s guards caught me breaking into his guild. My father had his attendant whip me and he gave me one hundred and fifty lashes. I thought I would die, but Thomas came to the guild to ask for me and my father agreed as long as he paid for me.”
“A demon handed over one hundred thousand mirs?”
She nodded. “When they brought me from the dungeon, they dropped me bleeding and only half conscious at his feet. I heard the price and thought my life was over—I did not believe he would pay and I was shocked when he did. I was so relieved that I cried.”
“And from pain too, I imagine, from a hundred and fifty lashes.”
“No. Thomas gave me a celestite in case I was caught, so I felt no pain.”
“He knew you were going?”
“I insisted. We thought my father was hiding the Crown and we needed to find out where.”
“You really want to overthrow your own father?”
“He is a tyrant—he doesn’t deserve the throne.”
“And he forced you to marry a demon.”
“Yes, though I’m glad he did now.”
Maol smiled. “I’m sorry I killed someone. I will always regret a lot of things I have done, but I am glad my life changed,” he said, raising his mug. “A toast to our esteemed owners.”
She raised her mug, tapped it against his and smiled before taking a sip.
I’m going to have to stop judging people.
Eve remained in hiding with her guards waiting for news from Calab. After sneaking on board the general’s ship, they had overheard the king’s true plans. He was not attacking Arkazatinia at all—it had all been yet another ploy. This one had been fabricated to draw out the Crown. The king knew of the Crown’s whereabouts. Calab had found that information when he had searched the king’s office. The documentation had been switched for the information about the adamantine weapons when Eve had looked in there, but Calab still had photographs.
The king had learned that the Crown was developing an army and was using alchemy to hide most of them in Vernasia. He had used his contacts in slave camps and in the Vernasian king’s army to gauge approximate numbers. He had even located one of the Crown’s islands. All he needed was for the Crown to believe that the king’s shores were vulnerable and he could draw them out.
He killed two birds with one stone when he used Eve to give him a reason to go to war and return his adamantine. Eve smiled as she imagined the king’s face when he realised he no longer had the adamantine. That it had been taken from under his nose by the new Crown.
And this Crown. She was just like Eve. An adamantist as Thomas had taken to calling her. Eve found her fascinating and wanted to meet her. She also felt intimidated by her. By this person who was so accomplished at alchemy that she could raise an army from nothing and had managed to hide them for a few hundred years using her power. It made Eve anxious.
Will I be capable of such power one day?
It frightened her. On the one hand, it seemed unlikely. She couldn’t imagine her power being great enough to accomplish such feats. But, on the other, why wouldn’t she? They both had high prince powers. Surely their powers would be equal?
It pained her to think of it. Eve had spent her formative years reading fantasy novels. Usually, books about supernatural worlds with a few hot men for her to fall in love with. She had often imagined herself as a character in the stories. Imagined herself with some awesome power or fighting with weapons. The reality was very different.
She often hated being part of Anaxagoras. She frequently wished she could wake and find it had all been just a dream. Having Will back in her life hit the message home harder. She really missed her old life. She would do anything to have it back. She would do anything to give up her powers, give up her throne and just go back to being Eve Franklin, the biochemist, who never did anything remarkable.
Perhaps it wouldn’t suit her anyway. She had changed so much; she probably could not tolerate a normal life with a normal job. A job
without the constant threat of danger or death.
I would miss Calab.
Eve had barely spoken to Calab since he had left for Axandria. She’d met with him briefly at the Sonneillon guild and had exchanged a few vox calls with him. The threats of war, while making Eve stressed and anxious, seemed to do Calab the world of good. He seemed at his best during times of crisis. It made her heart ache for him.
Not so long ago she had wanted to get far away from him, and now it hurt to be apart.
What will happen to us? Will we ever be happy together?
She hoped so.
Eve spent some time training to release some of her frustration. She had pierced a seventh arrow into the knot of a distant tree when she was pulled from her reverie by Captain Leliel informing her that she had a call from Lord Tharazan.
“Hello, Your Majesty,” he said. “Any further news?”
“Not much more than I’ve told you, Lord Tharazan,” she said. “We remained on board the ships as they sailed towards Arkazatinia, then the general received word that the Crown’s armies were on the move and they turned around. They are now headed towards Rexalis to meet them.
“We left the ship as I could not hold the Cloak, but I have some of my guards scouting for further news. I’m waiting for a further update from Calab. He hasn’t called me since he informed me that they intercepted the Crown and found the adamantine.”
“Very good, Your Majesty. Queene Orrla is impressed with your skill. She has said that it took the fae many years to master Cloaking, and even now, it takes a considerable amount of time to raise a Cloak.”
Eve smiled. “There is some advantage to this power then.”
“Indeed. Do you intend to remain in Axandria or are you returning for the CRM tomorrow?”