Iron Will

by James Maxwell

  Kyphos froze.

  He couldn’t believe it. Palemon was indomitable. Nothing could bring him down. His army was unstoppable. He had dragons and sorcerers. Kyphos began to shake his head, but then stopped.

  The king was dead.

  Palemon had crossed the ice to check on the Solaris time and time again, from when he was a young man to the age when gray streaked his hair. He had dreamed of returning his people to these lands, and it was only because of him that they were here. When a fleet was needed, he had procured one, despite the odds stacked against him.

  Palemon was the king. He had always been the king. Somehow, he had also been Kyphos’s friend.

  And Zara . . . She had always been arrogant, but she had supported the king in every endeavor. Kyphos had often bickered with her, but he respected her. Part of him even loved her.

  It struck him with force. Their bodies were in Malakai. There was no denying the truth.

  All the administrators and soldiers had their gazes fixed on him. They were waiting for him to speak.

  ‘Where is he?’ Kyphos’s voice was hoarse. ‘Show me.’

  Agon nodded and indicated for Kyphos to follow. The rest of the group started to fall in behind them, but Kyphos scowled at them. ‘Stay here. Help our people.’

  Kyphos felt eyes on his back as Agon led him farther up the shore. He tried to imagine what might have happened in his absence. He supposed he would find out soon enough.

  Agon only took him a short distance.

  They came to a halt in front of the statue of the tall warrior on dragon back. The marble had been cleaned until it shone. The name on the pedestal was bright and clear.

  Kyphos realized immediately that the granite base was taller. It had been lifted to stand above a crypt, a boxlike structure with a small metal door.

  He gazed up at the statue of his king’s namesake, Palemon the First. The man it represented had noble features and long flowing hair. He held a sword above his head. With a start, Kyphos recognized the sword. It was the weapon he had seen in Palemon’s hand a thousand times.

  ‘This isn’t what he looked like,’ Kyphos said.

  Agon hesitated. ‘We can erect another statue—’

  ‘No!’ Kyphos cut in. He smiled. ‘He would have liked this.’

  ‘Do you want to go inside?’ Agon asked.

  ‘Now that I’m here, no, I do not,’ Kyphos said, still looking up at the statue. ‘I want to remember him the way he was.’

  Agon spoke hesitantly. ‘Lord . . . There is another matter. Palemon had no heir. We need a leader. All of us . . . We have spoken about this at length. It was said that if you brought our women and children back to us, you would be king.’

  ‘King?’ Kyphos started. ‘Me?’

  ‘The clan leaders respect you. We need a king. Kargan of Ilea has rescinded his claim on Malakai. We have a crown ready, made from what was once the Arch of Nisos.’

  Kyphos was pensive for a time as he remembered Palemon, the man he would always think of as the true king.

  ‘Tell them I accept, on one condition,’ he finally said. ‘Palemon the Thirteenth . . . The last to carry his name . . .’ He cleared his throat. ‘Palemon had a dream, and I intend to fulfill it.’ He spoke firmly. ‘This city will no longer be called Malakai. From this day forward, I want it to be known as New Aleuthea.’

  63

  Morning dawned over Phalesia. The sun rose slowly, cresting the horizon, washing the sky with gold and orange. The first rays touched on the rippling waters of the Maltherean Sea and cast a long, tapering shimmer. Shadows gave way to light at the Temple of Aldus on its high plateau, where two sarcophagi rested side by side. White structures of stone reflected the break of day – the temples, library, lyceum, and hilltop villas of the wealthy.

  Chloe woke and stretched when crisp sunlight poured through her bedroom window to shine on her face. She felt rested and well, better than she had been for a long time. Rather than nightmares, her dreams were filled with pleasant images from the recent past: Dion and her sister, both laughing as he taught Sophia to sail in Phalesia’s bay; eldren addressing the consuls and citizens at the lyceum; women voting along with the men; farmers entering the city with grain from the harvest.

  She stretched again, languidly, because she could. But when she glanced to the side, she frowned.

  There was a book, sitting on the stand beside her bed. She was certain it hadn’t been there when she’d gone to sleep. She reached for it and inspected the cover to see the title.

  ‘Meditations on Governance, by Xenophon the Philosopher,’ she said aloud.

  Dion climbed the steps to the villa.

  Tiered gardens spread out beside him, covering the hill that the villa was built on. He passed flowering shrubs, fragrant lavender bushes, and then a statue of a horse. He smiled sadly when he saw it; Amos had put that statue there for Sophia.

  He cast his mind back further, remembering when he’d first come this way, long ago. The Narrows had been blocked after a terrible earthquake, and he had needed Aristocles’ help. He hadn’t expected to be dining that night with Aristocles and his daughters. He wondered how the person he was then would have felt to know that he would fall in love with Chloe, that they would go through things together no one should experience, but come out stronger than forged steel. He wished now that he’d spent more time with Chloe’s father. He wished she had known his mother, a woman filled with love and inner strength, who had given up everything for her people.

  Unbidden, one of the last things Aristocles said to Dion came back to him. He could almost see him, his bald crown and white hair at the sides, high forehead and perpetually worried expression. They were standing on Dion’s pirate ship, the Black Dragon, and Aristocles was saying goodbye.

  ‘I will tell her she should follow her heart. And I will pray that the gods lead her to you.’

  Tears came to Dion’s eyes, and he stopped on the steps. He took a deep breath. If he had known, after the first contact with Ilea, that he would lose family and friends, could he have kept going? Sometimes it was better not to know the future.

  He gathered himself and resumed climbing. The morning sun shone in his face, and with it suddenly all his cares melted away. He couldn’t try to see the future, or dwell too much on the past. It was time to finally allow himself to take pleasure from the present.

  He reached the terrace and smiled. Sophia was jumping from one paving stone to another, playing some game. She saw him and grinned, running at him to crash into his torso.

  He squeezed her, and then crouched slightly to meet her eyes. ‘Did you do it?’

  ‘I did,’ she said. ‘She’s been reading all morning.’ She looked at him with open curiosity. ‘What’s it about?’

  ‘I’ll tell you soon,’ Dion smiled, ‘but first I have to see your sister.’

  Sophia rolled her eyes. ‘Come on.’

  She took him by the hand and led him through the door and into the reception. Dion saw Chloe sitting on a recliner with Xenophon’s book in her lap. She looked absorbed, and didn’t even register his entrance.

  ‘I’m going to the market,’ Sophia said. She gave a wave and left.

  ‘Chloe,’ Dion said. She glanced up and looked surprised to see him approaching. He flicked a quick glance at the book. ‘What do you think?’

  She frowned and set the book down. ‘I thought it must have been you.’

  ‘Well,’ he said with a smile. ‘Me and Sophia.’

  She didn’t return his smile. Instead she lifted her chin. ‘So let me get this right. Xenophon proposes three tiers of governance, like a three-legged stool. One group makes the laws, and these men—’

  ‘—and women,’ Dion interrupted.

  ‘. . . these lawmakers,’ she continued, ‘are voted for by the people.’

  ‘Like the Assembly of Consuls,’ Dion said.

  Chloe nodded. ‘I realized that. Then another group makes judgments according to the laws.’

  �
��Our temple arbiters already do this,’ Dion said.

  ‘And finally we have the last leg. The third group runs the nation, but is also beholden to the same laws.’ Chloe’s expression was impenetrable. ‘This is the king and his council.’

  Dion sat down beside her. ‘Xanthos and Phalesia are two sides of the same coin. Phalesia needs strong leadership, but the king of Xanthos needs to be accountable to the people.’ He put out his palms and pressed them together. ‘We combine our strengths. We become one nation: Galea.’

  ‘With you as king?’ she asked.

  ‘No,’ Dion said.

  ‘Then who?’

  ‘Phalesia would never accept me as king. They would, however, accept a queen.’

  She raised an eyebrow. ‘Xanthos would never accept a Phalesian queen.’

  ‘No. But they would accept a king . . . and a queen. One from each nation.’

  Chloe looked up, startled.

  ‘Now is the time to build something greater,’ Dion said. ‘A new system, fair for all. The Assembly of Consuls grows to include Xanthos. Even the king and queen have to live by the laws the consuls make. Our priests and priestesses act as independent judges.’

  Dion swallowed. He held out his hand. Chloe took it, and he stood, bringing her up with him. He led her out of the villa and to the terrace.

  Once they were out in the open, he faced Chloe and stared into her eyes. ‘Will you be my queen, Chloe of Phalesia? My equal in all things?’

  He suddenly dropped to one knee. He gazed up at her. ‘I hope you realize I’m asking you to marry me.’

  ‘Yes.’ She smiled. ‘I can see that. Now get up.’

  He rose to his feet. ‘Yes, you will be my queen?’

  ‘Of course I will, you fool.’

  ‘Good, because I’ve already told Tanus you will accept.’

  ‘Tanus?’

  ‘They want to be a part of this too.’

  He pulled her close and kissed her. It was a long time before they broke off.

  He happened to look past her shoulder and saw a curved set of wings, soaring toward the horizon. Another set of wings flew nearby. They gave off a silver shine in the light. They looked big.

  But Sindara was far away, and this time he knew they could only be birds.

  64

  ‘I’m just going to rest for a moment,’ Chloe panted.

  Dion saw her take two steps and sit down heavily on a log. She leaned forward and put her hands on her knees while she regained her breath.

  ‘Is everything all right?’ he asked anxiously as he hurried over to her.

  ‘I’m fine.’ She looked up at him and smiled. ‘I’ve already told you, I just need to rest every now and then.’

  Dion stared down at her belly. There was only a small bump, a place where her chiton bulged out in a way that looked out of place on her lean frame. But his instincts screamed at him to treat her gently, to care for her and protect her.

  He shook his head. ‘Chloe, you’re four months pregnant. I don’t know why I let you come . . .’

  ‘Let me come?’ Chloe’s eyes narrowed. ‘I’m pregnant, not incapacitated. And I wouldn’t miss this even if I was due any day.’

  ‘Perhaps we should have traveled with the main column . . .’ Dion scratched his chin.

  ‘Dion,’ Chloe said firmly, ‘we’re in Sindara. There is no one that can hurt us here. And we spend too little time alone as it is.’ Her tone softened. ‘The journey will be over soon. We’re almost there. Haven’t you enjoyed sleeping under the stars, with no consuls to bother us and nothing to worry about but building a fire at night?’

  Dion smiled. She was right. Everything was good in the world. ‘I have.’

  Chloe’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘And another thing about being in Sindara. Even if a bear or a wolf found us, the black dragon might show itself.’

  ‘No dragons.’ Dion grinned. ‘Not today.’

  ‘Here.’ Chloe held out a hand. ‘I’m good to go. Help me up.’

  Dion pulled her to her feet, and she immediately set a brisk pace as they resumed their walk through the sparse trees. It was midday, but the rustling branches overhead scattered the fierce summer sun. Grass and dried leaves spread out in a thick carpet that made the ground pleasant to walk on. Birds sang sweet songs as they flitted from branch to branch, while a stream somewhere created its own tinkling music.

  In truth Dion was glad for the journey. Long hours walking together gave him and Chloe a chance to talk about anything and everything, from the new palace they were building in Phalesia, to the coming election – where for the first time the citizens of Xanthos and Tanus would be electing their own consuls. They discussed Sophia’s apprenticeship with Balion the apothecary, and then inevitably the conversation moved on to girl names and boy names. They both liked Aristocles for a boy.

  Most of all they talked about their friends. Everyone had been busy, and it had been too long since they had all been together. As Dion and Chloe exited the trees and found themselves in a long, wide valley, Dion’s excitement grew.

  He recognized the valley immediately, but it had also changed. It was still beautiful, and he and Chloe exchanged glances and smiled as it opened up in front of them. Gold and crimson flowers stood in proud bunches on the rolling hills. Tall oak and cedar trees spread wide boughs to cast shade on the bright-green grass. Bees buzzed over the fields. Flocks of yellow birds drew patterns in the sky.

  The sunlight was warm on their skin as they left the forest behind, but a steady breeze blew from the valley’s far end. The fragrant air was floral and sweet, a mixture of honey and rose petals. Dion had traveled far and wide, and nowhere smelled like Sindara.

  Nonetheless, there were differences from when Dion had last been here. He and Chloe now found themselves on a narrow road, winding like a ribbon as it navigated around the hills. The road followed a river, which was as it had been before, but it was now spanned by at least three graceful wooden bridges.

  ‘It’s hot enough for swimming,’ Chloe said. ‘And I know a place.’

  She looked at Dion and grinned, and he remembered following the river until it was swallowed by trees once more, and a place where large rocks caused it to widen and slow. He would never forget how soft the grass had been by the water’s edge . . .

  ‘You’ve turned red!’ Chloe laughed.

  Dion laughed with her. ‘Let’s just see how the day goes.’

  Chloe suddenly stopped and shielded her eyes. Without a word, she left the road and climbed the nearest hill. Dion hurried after her, climbing the slope until she stopped on the crest.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘This is it,’ she said excitedly. ‘This is the place.’

  Dion followed Chloe’s gaze. The road they had been following split off to the side, and from the hill he saw a few houses on the lower ground, of a style seen anywhere in Xanthos or Phalesia. Some people were mending red-tiled roofs, while others chatted in groups. A dark-haired man was unloading barrels from a horse-driven cart, assisted by a silver-haired eldran youth in deerskin. One of the river’s tributaries flowed past the houses, and Dion saw another wooden bridge. A silver-haired young woman and a stocky bearded man laughed together as they crossed the stream.

  ‘What is it?’ Dion asked. ‘You knew there were Galeans living here.’

  ‘I saw this,’ Chloe said. ‘I was sitting right here, in this very place. I saw it, just as you’re seeing it now.’

  ‘A vision?’ Dion frowned. ‘Is something bad going to happen?’

  ‘No,’ Chloe said. She smiled. ‘No, nothing bad at all.’

  ‘King Dion and Queen Chloe of Galea. Rulers of Xanthos, Phalesia, and Tanus. Protectors of Coros, Orius, and Parnos. Custodians of Athos,’ the steward intoned.

  Dion linked arms with Chloe and entered the immense pavilion. The structure was like one of the eldran houses, made of a circle of tall willows with their tops bent together over time to form a roof. Green foliage formed the walls, deco
rated with colorful flowers. But this living pavilion was far grander than the simple house Dion had once occupied in the Wilds, expansive enough to accommodate a large crowd. Soft sunlight filled the space, pouring through the gaps in the branches high overhead.

  There were dozens of people already inside, but Dion first saw Eiric and Liana, waiting to greet them and both smiling. Eiric was as tall as ever and had a crown of laurel leaves on his head. He and Liana both wore supple deerskin, the garments the finest Dion had ever seen on an eldran. Liana’s green eyes sparkled, and her long silver hair had been combed until it shone.

  Dion supposed he and Chloe weren’t badly dressed either. He’d put on an expensive but comfortable crimson tunic with a subtle golden weave, while Chloe wore a snug blue chiton as bright as a sapphire.

  ‘King Dion. Queen Chloe,’ Eiric said with a bow.

  ‘King Eiric. Queen Liana.’ Dion bowed to them both.

  They all exchanged glances and laughed.

  ‘Is everyone here?’ Dion asked Eiric.

  ‘They will come,’ Eiric said. He glanced over his shoulder, and Dion saw the Galean captains, consuls, and lords watching from deeper inside the pavilion. ‘Your column arrived yesterday. They will be pleased to see you safely here. Although’ – he smiled – ‘they should know you can both take care of yourselves.’ He glanced at Chloe, who was speaking with Liana. ‘How is she?’ he asked Dion.

  ‘I can hear you.’ Chloe turned and scowled at Eiric. ‘I wish people would stop asking me. I’m fine.’

  ‘You heard her.’ Dion grinned.

  ‘I am glad to hear it,’ Eiric said.

  Dion saw Chloe whispering with Liana.

  ‘Can I tell him?’ Chloe murmured to her friend.

  Liana blushed and nodded, and Chloe turned to Dion and made a rounded shape with her hand around her belly. Dion’s eyes widened, and he looked at Eiric, who nodded.

  ‘Congratulations!’ Dion beamed. Ignoring the formality of the situation, he pulled Eiric into an embrace and clapped him on the back. He saw some of the eldren in the pavilion watching in surprise, but smiling to see their stern king grinning like a fool.