Kemp

by Francheska Fifield

  "What now?"

  She bites her lip and sighs, looking up at the ceiling.

  "I found a spell. It will allow my father access to the power that was once his, as long as we both wear the cuffs."

  "So he could govern."

  She nods, walking away without saying anything. That doesn’t bode well.

  "Are you going to let him?"

  She stops and looks at me.

  "No."

  She continues on her way and is a few feet ahead by the time my brain catches up with my feet. This is unexpected. He is not anyone's first choice for a leader, but I didn't expected this.

  "I need to elect a new council. I want Aiden to be a part of it, so I know that the finances of the country will be kept in mind with all decisions. I also thought it would be good to have a mage on the council to represent their interests. Do you think Aldamon would agree?"

  He is a good choice. He doesn’t hate the elves, he made a daughter with one. He is loyal to Elainne because of his grandson.

  "He might be persuaded."

  "He is old enough to have wisdom and experience, but not so old that I will have to replace him in a few years, and without all the ingrained prejudices the elderly often come with."

  Those are very good points as well.

  "I hadn't thought of that but I believe if anyone will be able to work with an Elvin council it will be him. Shall I send a message to him?"

  "Magically please, Talon. I want no prying eyes."

  I nod and leave my place by her side to go outside. It will be much better if the magic is already outside and can fly straight to him. Magical messages can still be decoded, it is not easy and takes great amounts of magic, but it can be done. It is harder still if you habe to try to catch it floating in the air.

  Elainne

  Talon leaves to do as I ask and I go to the healer's quarters. I haven't checked on the warriors I broke.

  "Your majesty. Please let us heal them. Some of them are in so much pain, they might not survive. It could kill them."

  The apprentice healer is bowing while speaking and tearing up. A true healer. She lives to heal the injured and not being able to do so is hurting her. I put my hand on her shoulder and try a calming spell. She stops crying but still looks very upset.

  "They assumed, since my first act as steward was to heal, that I was weak and that they could disrespect me. Instead of accepting that I tried to right the wrong made against them, that I healed people that have always looked at me as worthless, and thinking I was a bigger person for it they attacked and disobeyed. I gave them what they needed to prove I was a leader willing to do what needed to be done. Now they need to see that I am serious by healing at the pace of a human. I have cursed them all, so none of them would be able to use their Elvin healing. Anyone attempting to lift that curse will also be cursed. Please just focus on feeding them and making them rest."

  She curtsies and goes into the kitchen to make mushy foods, easy for the injured to eat. They habe all heard me. You can tell by the looks on their faces. I have ensured that they won’t die, but will spend longer in pain, healing at a snail's pace. It is a complicated spell but it is worth it. I hate it as much as the healer but I know my logic is indisputable. I need them to accept me without always pushing against everything I say or do.

  I walk over to Viktor's bed. He cannot be cursed like the others. Not to the extent of healing like a human. His dragon blood fights the curse every step of the way. It takes a lot of energy to keep it on him and working as well as possible, but I need him to learn this lesson. I don’t want to have to choose between his free will and mine.

  "Viktor. How are you feeling?"

  "Terrible, but I assume you already knew that."

  I smile and sit on the edge of his bed.

  "I suppose I did."

  I play with the ring on my finger.

  "I do not like how this situation turned out. I guess it is too late for me to agree to run off to an unknown corner of the world, just the two of us."

  He smiles and flinches.

  "You never were going to agree to that, Elainne."

  I look at him, my eyes holding all the sorrow I feel, knowing he is right. "No. You still had no right."

  "I know. It was the safest path for you to take."

  I look at the others that I have put here because of a path he and Avren put me on.

  "Is it really any safer? So far, it doesn’t seem it to me. It seems like I will have to become my father. Something I never wanted to do. He said he was proud of me for the takeover. He wouldn’t be proud if he didn’t see me turning into him. Is that what you want? Me to be like him?"

  He looks as sad as I feel.

  "You won’t be."

  "I have to rule the Elves. They only respect domination."

  "You can change that."

  I slam my hands on the bed next to him.

  "What makes you think that?! What makes you think that is what I want?! You are supposed to love me! That’s what you said! But if you truly did, you would care more about how I FEEL than what you want of me!"

  Everyone else turns away. I turn away from him as well.

  "Viktor. You stupid, stupid man. I love you too. We could have… we could have been together. I would have given up my uncle's throne for it. I would have left without another glance if only I had known."

  "I know."

  I look back. He had. Yet he still did this.

  "I hope your ambitions were worth the loss of what we could have had."

  I get up and walk away. Viktor is my Kemp. He always will be. That wan’t and can’t change now, even if I want it to. That doesn’t mean I will pine. I can’t afford the luxury of pining. There is too much to do.

  Epilogue

  I sit on the throne picking at my burgundy gown, heavy jewelry holding me in place. One-step down sits Talon to my left and Viktor to my right. Avren has shrunk to a size that can wrap around the throne, his head propped up on pillows by my hand so that I can stroke his head while nervous, and his tail wrapping down by Viktor.

  We have heard it is an imposing sight. It is meant to inspire confidence in me. Look what is willing to follow me, so imagine how strong I am despite my appearance. That’s what Avren says. So far it seems to work. The horns blast. Well, it is time to drop the bomb.

  My aunt walks through the doors and I smile. It is my court smile, because as much as I have accepted my fate, I am resigned to it rather than happy with it.

  My coronation had been a silent affair, without the wasted money on the pomp that would usually go along with it. Missives had been sent out to the many nations to announce a change in leadership. Royals and ambassadors keep showing up to meet the new leader of the Elvin people.

  "Hello aunt. Tell uncle I refuse to prove my worth to him anymore."