The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning

by Melissa Collins

  Kaori’s heart nearly stopped in her chest to see the human soldiers lower their swords, heads bowed to begrudgingly take a knee before their new Queen while those who resisted were forced to the ground by the Vor’shai men and women. The soldiers separated to allow Kaori and Therek to continue their slow progress through the palace, each room they encountered greeted by the same news, word of the Vor’shai victory quickly spreading throughout the palace and into the streets.

  In the main foyer of the palace, Therek paused just inside the grand entry door, helping Kaori steady herself in preparation for the final announcement of Sulel’s demise. This was what it all came down to. Outside these doors, her people awaited their Queen. She could already hear the cheers of the Vor’shai army, chanting her name, reciting the words spoken by Therek to every soldier they passed in the palace halls. Long live the Queen.

  “Therek, I… I cannot do this,” she gasped, turning her head away from the door. Had she been capable of walking on her own, she might have run from him to hide somewhere deep in the palace until the roar of the crowd ceased. It was all so overwhelming! Beyond anything in her wildest fantasies. Maybe it is all a dream, she thought desperately, the pressure of Therek’s hand tightening around her arm to keep her from getting away. Maybe I hit my head when I fell off the horse in Siundel and this has all been a figment of my imagination…

  “You must, Kaori,” Therek whispered loudly into her ear, the sound resonating in her head as proof that she was awake. Dazed, she watched Therek adjust the sword in Kaori’s hand, the length of it more suited to someone of Therek’s height, though perfect to act as a support for Kaori as she made her grand appearance before the people. It was sturdy enough for a crutch, allowing Therek to step aside so Kaori could stand on her own. Firm in his motions, he took the crown from her hand to place it atop her head with a definitive nod, pleased with what he saw before him. Not giving her a chance to argue again, he stepped forward with a confident stride, hands poised outward to push open the massive doors, light streaming in from the street to shine upon Kaori’s battered yet proud figure as Therek moved to one side, granting everyone outside a perfect view of their Queen. “Emperor Sulel is dead. Long live Queen Kaori Levadis of the Vor’shai!”

  Mouth agape, she stared out over the crowd, bewildered by the number of faces that greeted her in the streets. Their numbers were greater than she expected. Although many perished in battle, so many remained alive, their smiles radiant and celebratory as they chanted for her, joined by the human soldiers who knelt in surrender on the ground before the Vor’shai and Namiren armies. Oh, what a sight she must be! Hair disheveled. Face bruised. Relying on a sword to hold her upright, the defeated emperor’s blood-covered crown situated atop her head. It was her name these people cheered. Her name they revered as their Queen and leader. The woman who brought justice back to the lands of Carpaen. Somewhere in the heavens, she knew her family could see her now. “See Sivar,” she smiled, turning her gaze to the sky as she fought back another wash of tears at the memory of her brother. “I think even you would be proud of me today.” Casting a final glance out over the people cheering and celebrating she couldn’t help feeling as if Sivar was there with her now. Close enough to hear the quiet whisper under her breath intended for him and him alone. “I did not disgrace the Levadis name after all.”

  Poring over a map of the Carpaen Empire, Kaori rested her elbow atop the long, sturdy table, the palm of her hand positioned under her chin to help support her head. She was exhausted. Stretched beyond her limits. The weeks following the battle in Eykanua had been filled day in and day out with political meetings and social gatherings while Kaori struggled to see the country rebuilt and those around her fought for recognition in hopes of being raised to a position of status. It had fallen on her to determine every last detail, leaving her mentally and physically drained. Today was no different from the rest. Eyes scanning the roughly drawn lines of the map, she tried to focus on the task laid out before her. Borders. It sounded so simple when negotiating alliances for the war. To divide the country in a way which granted land to the most prominent races within the Empire.

  It made sense for the humans to retain a large portion of that which had been theirs for so long. Kaori was content to let them keep the desert along the southern border and the burnt sand to the east. So long as they retained enough rich soil to the west to use for crops and livestock, there was no reason to offer them anything more. The most fertile land lay to the north, encompassing Rothdara and Tialore, all the way to the mountains east of Avishul. Perhaps it was selfish to want the beautiful forests and fields for her own people, but it seemed only fair. Trade agreements could be drawn up between the humans and Vor’shai so no one would be left without the benefits of the more plentiful resources in the northern countryside.

  Her trouble lie with the Esai. Davian requested land for his people, but what could she offer them? They had been the largest ally to the Vor’shai next to the Namirens. That alone made them more deserving of a larger territory that they could call their own. The best land which remained was covered in mountains to the northeast, but the valleys were capable of producing some of the best crops, second only to the fields she already hoped to claim for her own people. The question was whether they would accept it. She considered it a fair gift. As Queen, she wasn’t required to give anything to anyone. But she was a woman of her word. The Esai were promised land and she intended to make sure the request was granted.

  “Have you made a decision, Your Majesty?”

  She made no move to look up from the map, recognizing Ramis’s calm, somewhat prodding tone in his attempts to hasten the negotiations they’d been locked in for hours. The division of land was the final order of business for the day though it was also the most important. If the Esai accepted her offer, a new government would need to be formed as a ruling body over it. That was sure to spark a lengthy debate which would keep them in this miserable meeting room for most of the night.

  Idly, she lowered the index finger of her right hand to point at a line on the map, drawn to represent the Sovehu River, spanning almost the entire width of Carpaen from the west, broken only by the mountains situated to the northeast. “My people shall retain our northern lands. The river shall separate us from the humans to the south.”

  The room remained silent as she lifted her head to observe the faces of those seated around the table. It was Davian who spoke first, his voice filled with concern at Kaori’s decision. “What of my people, Your Majesty? You promised land for the Esai as well…”

  “And they shall have it,” Kaori interrupted, the tip of her finger sliding along the map toward the dotted lines which marked the largest mountains to the east. “Let the humans keep their beloved deserts. For your assistance in the acquisition of our freedom, I am prepared to grant the Esai the northeastern region of Carpaen. You shall border the Vor’shai lands along the Verald Mountains, and I grant permission for you to choose where your land will border the humans to the south. For your loyalty to the cause, it is only fair you have some say in the matter.”

  Astounded by the offer, Davian stared at Kaori, open-mouthed, his response more hesitant than his earlier demands. “That is… more land than I expected, Your Majesty.”

  “Do you disapprove?” Kaori’s brow rose, inquisitive. She was too tired to argue. The Esai would be fools to disagree with her decision. Never did she think they would declare her offer too grand. Anything less might have been construed as an insult.

  Realizing his error, Davian shook his head, holding his hand up in a defensive gesture. “No, I… it is a generous gift. One we gladly accept. My only concern is how my people will –” he fumbled over his words in confusion. “A territory that large will require a means of keeping the peace. Do you intend to maintain leadership over us?”

  There it was. The question she’d been dreading. It had been simple to determine who would take over the throne for the humans. Mhina was perfectly competen
t and able to rule until her son was old enough to assume the role of emperor. For the Esai, it would be different. Like drawing a name from a hat to choose a king or queen. Plenty of intelligent and fair-minded Esai served during the war. But of them all, they had chosen Davian to speak on their behalf. He was here now because his people trusted him to make decisions in the best interest of the Esai.

  “Documents will be drawn up to name Lord Davian Torust as King of the Esai territory.”

  “Your Majesty…”

  “Congratulations,” Kaori interjected, praying Davian wouldn’t choose to argue. She couldn’t show hesitance. It had to be clear that her decision was not up for debate. “Lord Davian, treat your people well. Their lives are in your hands now. I will not discuss it any further.”

  Speechless, Davian sat back in his chair, blinking dazedly while he tried to wrap his head around the new title Kaori bestowed upon him. In many ways she felt sorry for him. She knew how overwhelming it was to suddenly find herself in a position of such magnitude. The same thoughts likely raced through Davian’s mind that had run rampant through her own when Ramis first informed her of Therek’s decision to name her as Queen. The only difference was that she had chosen to tell Davian personally of his new rank. She didn’t agree with the idea of leaving him to hear it from someone else.

  They remained in silence for several long moments before Davian managed to find his voice, clearly struggling to present himself with greater strength and poise than he had prior to the announcement of his rise in status. It was a good start. She had faith that he would be able to keep up the image for the sake of his people. “Words cannot express my gratitude for the honor you present in naming me king. My only concern is that…well, it will take some time to establish a government in our new territory. I will not be able to do it alone. Not at first, anyway.”

  Heaving a long breath Kaori leaned her head back to stare up at the ceiling. She didn’t know what to. Such a common theme of the past few weeks. Since Therek presented her to the people after their victory, her life had been nothing but a series of events in which she stumbled along, clueless, hoping no one would notice the uncertainty she felt in everything she did. How was she supposed to help Davian? She was only one person and her presence was required in the lands chosen for her own people. Assistance wasn’t something she could offer personally. The only one capable of advising on the process of establishing command was Therek but he was already preoccupied with Mhina and her son to ensure the humans didn’t attempt to fight in protest of their defeat. He couldn’t possibly be in two places at once.

  Although the answer seemed clear, she hated to speak the words out loud. There was no other choice than to send Therek with Davian once he returned from the south. Maybe it was better that way. Her heart disliked the idea of keeping so much distance between them, yet it was undeniably easier to exist in denial of the heartbreak she suffered when Therek was so many miles away. In the time it took for Therek to return, she could help Davian name his advisors to aid in the transition so progress could be made while they waited.

  “When Therek returns from the humans, I will have him accompany you to your new land. Between the two of you, I think it will be simple enough to establish a court and begin work on a military faction.”

  “Military?” Davian gazed at Kaori, clearly disconcerted by the thought. “Is a military really necessary? My people will not fight amongst themselves.”

  Kaori looked out over the table once again, observing the diversity of races seated before her. The mixed company she kept was a perfect example of why she’d been so hesitant to divide the Empire, aware that many of these people would misinterpret the intent. “Just because the land is being gifted to the Esai does not mean your people are the only ones who will inhabit it. Our negotiations are intended to grant a place of refuge we can call our own so as to not risk history repeating itself, but we would be no better than Sulel if we closed our borders to the humans as punishment for crimes they held no part in other than sharing the same heritage as their false emperor.”

  “What about those humans who fought against us?” an unknown man at the table asked, the question met with several nods of agreement from the others.

  “What about them?” Kaori challenged in response. “Many of them were only doing as they were ordered. Every soldier takes an oath when they join the military which requires them to do as their superior officer directs. Sometimes this requires them to do things they do not necessarily agree with. And Rilas Deliao was not exactly known as an understanding general. We must rise above prejudice and pride so we do not instill the same hatred and cruelty in our children.”

  A sharp pain in her stomach caused Kaori to lurch forward suddenly, grasping at her abdomen to try and dull the sensation. The unexpectedness of the discomfort left her gasping for breath, the sound of voices around her rising with concern, chairs scraping along the floor as her friends gathered at her side.

  “Someone find Lady Tiasi,” Ramis commanded loudly, the meaning of his words lost to Kaori in the wave of nausea that came over her. Since the battle in Eykanua she’d become accustomed to strange aches and pains, but never anything of this severity. She had passed it off as nothing more than residual effects from the injuries she sustained. Broken ribs. Bruised bones. But this was different. Stronger than anything she’d felt before. And direct. Like a knife being stabbed into her stomach and twisted. It must be the stress. Her body was finally giving out. She’d forgotten what it was like to live without constant worry. Victory or not, it did nothing to change the pressure placed upon her every waking moment. If she didn’t get herself out of this room and somewhere to lie down, she feared what might happen.

  Not thinking, she tried to stand, reminded instantly of the injury to her leg as a shooting pain shot through her lower body, hands flailing wildly to try and grab onto the crutch leaning against the table. She was making a spectacle of herself. These people weren’t supposed to see her like this. It was bad for morale. “Do not worry yourselves,” she failed miserably at forcing a smile, overcome by another strong wave of pain and dizziness. Her false assurances consoled no one. Not even herself.

  Fingers gripped tightly around her crutch Kaori managed to gather enough strength to straighten her posture, an agonized grimace contorting her features despite the effort she made to look healthy and pain free. If she could give the illusion that she was alright, her friends would let her go and she would be able to excuse herself from the meeting to find her room and rest. Sleep. She’d forgotten what that word even meant anymore. It had been weeks since she was able to lie down for more than an hour at a time. The gods saw fit to tease her by making it impossible to sleep when an opportunity arose yet when her eyes finally closed, she was forced to fight it for the sake of business meetings, much like she did now. It was time she put a stop to the torture.

  Hand pressed tightly over her mouth to keep from vomiting she settled the crutch on the ground to allow her a chance to stand. This meeting was over. If anyone had further business to conduct, they would have to do so without her company. She couldn’t bear the illness any longer. “Please,” she urged, pushing her way through the crowd of people. They moved easily at her command, opening a path between her and the door through which she could make her escape. She needed air. Life had been suffocating since she let them place that ridiculous crown upon her head. At times she found herself wishing things were different. It would have been so much simpler if Therek had kept his rights to the throne and merely asked her to marry him like a normal man. Had it not been for his fantastical vision of a matriarchal society, she would be his wife and the pressures of ruling their people would be on him.

  Listen to yourself. She had barely crossed the threshold into the hallway when she realized how selfish her thoughts were. Therek had so much already on his shoulders. The responsibilities of a general, joined with the task of helping build not only one new country, but three. When he finished with the humans, she w
as prepared to send him off with the Esai, only to have him return and aid in the establishment of the country he left for her to rule. And look at her! Cowering under the pressure. She couldn’t let herself give up so soon. A little sleep might help her think more clearly. To put things into perspective and re-assume her duties with a clear mind. Nothing was going to get done if she didn’t let herself recuperate from the war. The world wouldn’t end if she took a single night to rest. If the pain hadn’t subsided by morning, she would send for a physician, but until then, she was content to shut out the troubles of life for a few hours and enjoy the peaceful release of sleep.

  When her eyes opened, Kaori blinked to find Pehrona’s face staring down at her from above, a damp cloth gently laid across Kaori’s forehead while another wiped carefully around her face. Her head ached. The pain in her stomach remained, though less excruciating than before. Tolerable. There was no reason for anyone to be in her room treating her like an invalid. It was just a little stress. Everyone was so paranoid about the precariousness of the Vor’shai government that they exaggerated the severity of her illness.

  “Kaori, oh thank heavens, you are awake,” Pehrona exhaled. She looked frightened. Exhausted. Far too worked up over a simple stomachache.

  “Of course I am awake,” Kaori turned her head on the pillow to glance at the figure standing by Pehrona’s side, recognizing the face of another Vor’shai woman whom Kaori had taken on as one of her own personal physicians. Her long auburn hair was pulled back into a tight bun, giving an appearance of age far beyond her years. Enslye. The woman’s presence brought a sense of dread over Kaori, no longer confident that everything was as minor as she assumed. Enslye was a renowned physician, trained in the art of energy manipulation the same as Pehrona’s father. She’d practiced the medical arts for decades, her skill recognized by the most prominent of doctors, which had been the reason Kaori chose to invite her into Therek’s home to aid in training Pehrona more extensively. “Is something wrong?” Kaori felt a pit building in her stomach. “Has something happened?”