Crown of Embers

by Meg Anne

  Even through the mirror, he could feel Rowena’s icy rage. “Then it’s time. You know what to do; the Circle must be broken.”

  “Yes, my Queen,” he replied, risking a look upwards, but she was already gone.

  Chapter Six

  The air was thick with tension. Everywhere Helena looked someone was staring back at her, although their reasoning for doing so clearly varied. Some were wary, others curious, and some openly hostile. At least the expressions reflected in their eyes gave Helena some insight into how she should proceed. Thankfully some of the staring eyes were friendly.

  She remembered a few faces from her naming ceremony, but most of the representatives were strangers. Also in the room were the rest of her Circle and Ronan. Helena hadn’t been comfortable with the thought of leaving him out of the conversation when he’d become such an integral part of their team.

  Each of the realms in attendance - Etillion, Endoshan, Sylverland and Caederan - had two delegates present. That meant that Helena and her Circle were outnumbered, but only just. There was very little she knew about their realms, other than a few salient facts Timmins had drilled into her mind over the last couple of days.

  Etillion and Endoshan were northern lands that shared a border with Tigaera. There was no love lost between them, despite their shared ancestry. The realm had once been united, but sibling rivalry had caused it to split in half a few hundred years ago. Their delegates, pointedly ignoring each other, were distinguished by the burnished golden color of their eyes and lilting way they spoke.

  The two with curious gazes wore robes of forest green. The silver tree embroidered on their chests made it obvious they were the Etillion representatives. The female was thin with an open face that seemed prone to smiles. She had short brown hair that swung just past her pointed chin. Beside her was her male counterpart. His brown hair was thick and curly, hanging in waves down his back. He was tall, but slender, appearing more scholar than warrior. Perhaps that would be a point in Helena’s favor.

  Helena was not surprised that the delegates from Endoshan were in sharp contrast to their neighbors. Instead of robes, they were swathed with silks of the deepest black. The thick bands that were wrapped around them served as sheathes and usually bristled with weaponry. There was no doubt these were warriors. Both of the men were bearded but had shaved heads. They were two that had no trouble hiding their annoyance at her summons.

  Standing just behind them were the two men from Sylverland. Their home was located just to the south of Tigaera and was best known for its series of lakes. The water was so pristine, it was commonly believed to be infused with liquid silver, creating its notable hue and thus its name. Its inhabitants, the Sylvanese, were distinguished by their pale blonde hair and silver eyes. The two before her were adorned in various shades of blue, their attire comprised of thick, expensive fabrics. These were men of means who were more familiar with a life of luxury than war. Something about the way the two men stood beside each other alluded to a familiarity that surpassed mere friendship. Helena couldn’t put her finger on what exactly it was, but she couldn’t help but be reminded of the way Nial and Serena positioned themselves when the other was near.

  Last were the pair from Caederan, a realm that was situated between Daejara, which was to its south, and Talyria, which was to the north. Not knowing much about them, Helena found herself sharing the same wary expression they wore. The female looked familiar, with black curls framing a round face with interesting reddish-brown eyes. She was short, shorter than any other person in the room, and plump. The combination served to make her appear all the more curvaceously feminine. Standing next to her was a man of similar build. Rather than appearing feminine he exuded brute strength. The width of his chest and arms, and the scars that covered him, were warnings to tread carefully in his presence. His beard was long and braided, small bells woven into the thick strands. They both wore colors of the sunset, deep oranges and reds that complimented their dark hair and complexions.

  Helena forced herself to meet each of their gazes. Despite the nerves that had her stomach twisting inside of her, she exuded confidence and control. She was their Kiri, chosen by the Mother as her Vessel; she would not back down.

  “Greetings brothers and sisters,” she said formally.

  Kragen and Ronan’s faces darkened like twin storm clouds when no one returned her greeting. She caught their eyes and allowed herself a small smile. Their stances relaxed, but Kragen crossed his arms, ensuring that everyone got an eyeful of his impressive strength. As far as warnings went, it was subtle, but effective.

  “Mother’s blessings, Kiri,” the woman from Caederan said in a sweet, high-pitched voice.

  “To you as well,” Helena replied, letting some warmth infuse her voice. “Thank you all for traveling here under such short notice. I—”

  “Why have you called us here?” one of the men from Endoshan demanded. His lips were pulled down in a severe frown and his golden eyes flashed with something that felt like disdain.

  Helena could feel Von bristle behind her, not appreciating the way the delegate dared to address her. “Relax.” She sent the thought along the bond while lifting an amused brow at the man who’d spoken. “If you’d let me finish, I was just getting to that part.”

  The delegates from Etillion snickered, enjoying the fact that they’d just witnessed a rival being summarily dismissed. The man scowled and gestured with his hand that she should continue.

  “Oh thank you, if you insist,” Helena said with mock graciousness, unable to keep the comment contained. She was fairly certain her Circle could feel her mental eye roll. Who does this guy think he is? Apparently, the thought had been transmitted, because Von answered.

  “I believe he is the Endoshan heir.”

  “More like a royal jackass.”

  Von’s laugh rumbled through the room, startling the delegates and causing them to look around uneasily. The Endoshan heir’s frown deepened. He did not appreciate being the butt of some unknown joke.

  “The Corruptor has risen,” she said finally, using the title from the prophecy to ensure they knew of whom, and what, she spoke. The comment was the equivalent of lighting a match before tossing it into a barrel of oil. There was a shocked hiss, the sounds of gasps echoing throughout the room, before eight different voices rose into a roaring cacophony.

  “That is impossible!” the heir countered.

  “You would believe that,” the female Etillion snapped, her eyes wide and frightened as her skin was leeched of all its color. Her companion placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, and the two shared a long silent look before turning back toward Helena.

  “How do you know this?” the taller of the Sylvanese men asked, his voice deep and melodious.

  “She captured my Mate.”

  Eight pairs of eyes turned to Von, using his presence to silently contradict her statement.

  “I got him back,” Helena stated dryly. “In the process, I was introduced to her army…” she paused, ensuring she had their complete attention before adding, “of Shadows.”

  The room erupted once more. The Caederan woman shrieked and the man she was with reached for a weapon that was not there. The Endoshans and Sylvanese had similarly violent reactions. Only the Etillions remained calm, their golden eyes serious as they processed her words.

  “So the prophecy is true. The Corruptor seeks to eradicate the Chosen.”

  The words were spoken so softly it took Helena a moment to realize who had uttered them. She finally nodded to the man from Etillion. “Yes.”

  “That would make you the Vessel?”

  Helena nodded again.

  “That. Is. Impossible!” the Endoshan heir seethed.

  She studied him, her head tilting as she did. “Why are you so determined to believe that? Will it keep you or your people safe if you deny it?”

  His partner stopped him with a hand on his arm before he could respond further. While his mouth remained closed, it did n
othing to stop the rapid rise and fall of his chest or the fiery anger that burned in his eyes.

  Knowing that the only way to maintain control of the room was by remaining calm, Helena met and held the gazes of each delegate before speaking further. Once all murmurings had ceased she said matter-of-factly, “Rowena is real, whether you want to believe it or not. The threat she poses cannot be ignored. It is not merely my court she stands against; it is the entirety of the Chosen. Nothing is sacred to her. She did not hesitate to damn her own child by turning her into an abomination. The other she murdered in cold blood.”

  Their shock was palpable.

  “Ro-Rowena? B-but she is dead…” the Caederan female stuttered, her hand clenching the arm of the man standing next to her.

  “She faked her own death,” Timmins said gently, not wanting to upset the woman further.

  Her eyes moved from him back to Helena. “You are sure?”

  “Unequivocally.”

  The woman’s eyes shuttered. “Then we are doomed.”

  Von snarled behind Helena. “Will you give up before you fight? Do you think so little of the one blessed by the Mother or are your people simply not worth fighting for?”

  “Shut your traitorous mouth, Daejaran,” the Endoshan heir hissed. Fury and power rose within Helena. How dare he speak to her Mate that way. There was a surge of wind that caused the shutters to fly open. Nearest to the window, the Caederan woman squeaked and jumped away.

  This time it was Von that reached through the bond. “Let it go, Mira. You cannot combat centuries of prejudice in a single night.” There was a tenderness in his voice that conveyed how much it meant to him that she wanted to try.

  “The man is rude and ignorant. I am growing increasingly alarmed by the thought of him overseeing or leading any realm.”

  “As am I,” Von murmured.

  “Please, Tinka meant no offense,” the Caederan man said, mistakenly believing the surge of power was in response to his companion. He held out a hand as if that would prevent further insult, “but we know nothing of the Vessel’s power. What you are asking—”

  “I did not realize a Kiri had to prove herself. Did I not pass the Mother’s trial already?”

  The question was met with uncomfortable silence, many of the delegates dropping their eyes or glancing around at the others uneasily.

  “I’m not here to perform parlor tricks for you,” Helena snapped, her eyes flashing iridescent. Ronan let his eyes slowly travel from Helena to where the window now gaped open; she bit back a smile as he winked.

  “We are not asking for them,” the Sylvanese man interjected, “but do you not think we deserve to know more about the woman who is asking us to put our lives, and the lives of those we love, on the line?”

  “That is the case whether you choose to believe me or not. Your realms have been allied with Tigaera for centuries. We’ve been blessed that they have been years filled with peace and prosperity. But now we are on the cusp of war and you want to abandon us to face our greatest threat alone?” Helena’s words were harsh, but she refused to hold back. She had already lost people she loved, would likely lose others, she didn’t have time to dance around egos or fear.

  The words struck home. Helena could tell by the way their shoulders slumped and they looked to their partners. She was almost afraid to hope, was actually holding her breath, when the first of them spoke again.

  “Etillion will stand with Tigaera,” the pair said in unison. “We do not require proof. Your words and request alone are more than enough. We are allies as you say. It is our duty to stand for the Chosen and to protect our people.”

  Helena forced herself to release her breath slowly. “Thank you.”

  The others were not so quick to make promises of support. The silence swelled until finally, the Caederans, still looking peaky, stepped forward. “If things are as you say, then there is no choice. Caederan will stand with Tigaera.”

  “This is not a decision we can make for Sylverland. We will take your words back to our people and discuss the best course of action.”

  Helena wanted to shout at their short sightedness, but she forced herself to keep from reacting. The Circle was feeling less diplomatic. All around the room, anger and disapproving stares were leveled on the two men in blue.

  “I’m glad I’ve never given the lot of you cause to look at me like that,” Helena said to Von.

  “To be fair, there have been moments of extreme exasperation, but you have more sense than to do or say anything stupid enough to make us.”

  His response made her smile slightly, even as she turned to the men from Endoshan and saw their answer reflected in their eyes.

  “They still do not believe me,” she said a bit dejectedly.

  “They are too arrogant by half.”

  The heir opened his mouth, likely to formalize his refusal, but no words escaped. Instead, a large, thundering boom shook the room. Dust and debris fell to the floor as the room continued to shake.

  “Mother’s tits!” Kragen swore as a piece of wall fell and smacked his head.

  Just as quickly as it started the room stilled. Looking around, Helena asked, “Is everyone alright?” There were soft murmurs of assent.

  The overwhelming scent of smoke began to permeate the room through the open window. Taking a step toward it to see what was happening, Helena went cold as the first of the terrified screams reached her ears.

  They were under attack.

  Chapter Seven

  Helena flew through the halls, the sound of her thundering footsteps echoing loudly. Kragen and Ronan were barking orders at the Rasmiri guards. Darrin and Von were close by, neither man wanting her to barge into a situation they knew precious little about. Timmins and Joquil had helped arm the delegates so that no one was unprepared for whatever they were about to face. Helena had the feeling it wasn’t going to be that simple. Knowing Rowena, nothing would prepare them for whatever trap she had set.

  “How did they get in?” Helena snapped, the voice of her power amplifying the fury she was feeling.

  “It’s too soon to say, Kiri,” Timmins responded.

  “I want you to find out who is responsible for this, and I want you to bring them to me. Alive,” she ordered. Timmins nodded.

  “The rest of you, with me,” she shouted as they rounded the last corner before stepping into a world of chaos.

  It was impossible to forget the horror of the Shadows, but seeing them here, in her home, was devastating. They swarmed like ants, their gray skeletal bodies relentlessly pursuing the guests that had only moments before been laughing and dancing. There were already hundreds of corpses littering the floor as a small contingent of Shadows cut a path through the partygoers.

  There was little time to process what was happening. Helena could only just make out Miranda helping frantic guests escape the slaughter. Serena and Effie were already covered in blood, both fighting as best they could in their formal clothes to provide cover and distraction for Miranda. Nial and the few Rasmiri already present were holding their own but could not seem to bring down the Shadows. No one had been prepared. Not for a fight in the heart of the Palace, and certainly not for facing off against the Shadows.

  Gasps of shock sounded behind her as the delegates came face to face with the nightmare few believed to be real. She heard a few uttered prayers to the Mother before one of the Sylvanese asked, “What do we do?”

  “Help get the others out of here,” Helena ordered, seeing from the horrified faces of the Etillions and Caederans that they would not be much help on the battlefield. With quick nods they moved away, helping pull people off the ground and supporting them as they limped, or dragging them when they couldn’t manage that, into the hallway they had just left.

  “But how do we stop them?” the Sylvanese man asked. His pointed demand for clarification was laced with steel; he had no intention of sitting out this fight.

  “Magically, they are immune to everything but Fire. Barri
ng that, nothing short of removing the heads will keep them down,” Von informed him.

  There were a few answering war cries as blurred figures rushed into the mass of bodies. Helena was startled; it was a blur of black and blue. The Endoshans had decided to fight after all.

  Around her, the Circle was braced for battle. Grim faces and weapons emanating with power were only waiting for her final command before adding themselves to the fray. Helena was at a loss; no one saw this coming. They should have; she should have, but she had mistakenly believed they would be safe.

  Sensing her struggle, Von spoke for her, easily stepping into the role of Commander, “Draw them away from the guests. Work together, no one should be facing one of these dickless corpses on their own.”

  “Should be easy enough to do. I only count ten,” Darrin called, surprise coloring his voice.

  “Pity, that doesn’t leave any for you to kill,” Kragen grinned as he lunged into the fray, his weapon flying as he began to swing for their necks. Darrin was right behind him, not about to be left behind.

  Only ten had done this? Helena felt sick. Rowena was toying with her, showing her how easily she could sneak in and wreak havoc; how little effort it took to destroy her people. Helena called on her power, feeling it rise to the surface, eager to eliminate those that dared to invade her home. Just as she was about to lash out, she hesitated, not wanting any of her Fire to harm one of the innocents still making their way out of the room. There were simply too many moving bodies between her and the Shadows.

  “There, to the left,” Von shouted, pointing to a figure standing slightly apart from the others.

  Helena’s stomach knotted with revulsion as she saw the figure Von had indicated. It was a Shadow, marked with the same snaking black lines writhing in its eyes and rotting gray flesh as the others. But while they could do little more than mindlessly attack, this one still retained the ability to call on its power. Helena flashed back to Vyruul, riding on Starshine and seeing Rowena standing on a balcony flanked by six figures. This creature was one of her generals.