The Broken Kingdom

by Sarah Chapman

  ‘Your magnificence, I fear you have overestimated me again. To fight the ehlkrid I must sneak up on them at night. If I use this, they will see me. Though the sword will not fail, I will.’

  ‘My, you are challenged, aren’t you?’

  Andalla put the sword back into the pot. He pulled out another one. Though it was golden and jewelled, it did not glow or sing. He smiled and held it out to her. As it moved through the air sparks and coloured lights flashed in its path.

  Riley stared. ‘Your magnificence, this sword is far too beautiful for me. Please, I am not good enough for it.’

  He frowned again. He put the sword back in the pot and pulled out another. This one was purple instead of gold, and the jewels were smaller, but more numerous. As he held this one out a loud whooshing sound could be heard.

  His expression darkened as he saw her face. He put his hand back in the pot. He was glowering now.

  ‘Your magnificence,’ Riley said hurriedly. ‘Please, everything you think of is too wondrous for a worm like me. If only I could show what was in my mind…’

  Andalla made a noise of annoyance. ‘Yes, you’re not good enough at all. Think hard now.’ He said and grabbed her hand. He plunged it into the pot.

  Momentarily surprised Riley closed her eyes. She scrunched up her face as if she was concentrating hard. She was in fact. She brought into her mind the image of a plain sword. But she thought mostly of it killing Andalla. That was what she focussed on.

  And then just as quickly her hand was pulled from the pot. She opened her eyes. She stared. In her hand was a plain, unremarkable sword.

  ‘Really?’ Andalla said sceptically. ‘That’s a sword?’

  Riley nodded, she tried to contain her glee. ‘Oh thank you, your magnificence!’

  ‘You didn’t do it right.’ he said and grabbed it from her hands.

  Her heart plummeting, Riley could do nothing but stare.

  But Andalla merely inspected it. In surprise he handed it back, ‘it will work on ehlkrid. Though it is very ugly. I’m not sure I want people knowing I made that.’

  ‘Your magnificence, anything else would be too good for me. Why, even this is.’

  ‘Very well.’ he waved his hand at her dismissively. ‘You have your sword, and my beloved’s family has their first of many wondrous gifts.’ He frowned at it again. ‘Take her away.’

  Riley did not object.

  When she got back to the camp she headed straight for Aerlid.

  She held out the plain sword to him. ‘Aerlid. I need you to protect this sword, with your life if need be.’

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Really? It doesn’t look like much. And why me, may I ask?’

  ‘As I said, it is far more valuable than you. And I’m asking you because it’s too valuable to fight with, and I cannot protect it myself every second of the day. Neither can Karesh if someone tries to take it.’

  ‘And how do you intend to fight the ehlkrid? You know they tried to get in through the river while you were gone. Karesh handled it well, no one was killed, though some were badly injured. Don’t worry, I fixed them up.’

  Riley instantly looked over towards the river. ‘I’ll fight them with my bare hands.’ she said as she looked back.

  ‘Very well. I’ll take care of it.’

  Riley held his gaze for a moment. ‘If you fail, for whatever reason, Rose will have you.’

  Aerlid nodded, looking annoyed. ‘You’ve gotten very threatening lately.’

  Riley gave him an ominous look before leaving.

  Chapter 42

  ‘The Master seems better now.’

  Vann nearly jumped in surprise. He turned around quickly, ‘Karesh, I didn’t hear you!’

  Karesh returned Vann’s surprised look, ‘yes, I am good at moving quietly.’

  Vann sighed. ‘Yeah, well, Riley’s feeling a lot better now.’

  Karesh’s wings fluttered, ‘so the Master is not dying?’

  Vann rounded on Karesh angrily, ‘you knew!’

  ‘Yes,’ Karesh nodded, ‘the Master told me.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me?!’

  ‘If the Master wanted you to know, she would have told you.’

  Vann glared at Karesh and said nothing. He couldn’t really argue with that.

  ‘The Master is well, she is not dying?’ Karesh asked again.

  Vann looked at the shorter man more closely. His wings were fluttering, an unsure look on his face.

  ‘Were you worried?’ Vann asked. The other man didn’t look worried, but Vann had already decided that Karesh was very good at keeping his feelings hidden.

  Karesh didn’t answer for a while. Finally he said, ‘I… helped the Master see that she needs to continue what she was doing on the Plains… I can’t… I can’t help her if she’s sick. If she dies… there is nothing I can do.’

  ‘Mmm, and her vision dies with her?’

  Karesh nodded curtly.

  Vann sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘No, she’s still not well.’ Karesh looked at him in alarm, his wings wide. ‘She’s not sick like she thought she was, but she’s still going to…’ Vann swallowed, ‘still going to die young.’

  ‘How long?’ Karesh pressed.

  Vann felt a sudden flash of anger. Was that all Riley was to Karesh? A means to creating a world without fear, where the weak need not fear the strong, a world that Karesh desperately wanted?

  ‘So, you just need her to survive long enough to finish what she started?’ Vann said angrily, his jaw clenched.

  Karesh went very still. His eyes fixed on Vann as if he suddenly saw Vann as a threat. It was enough of a surprise for Vann that some of his anger leached away. He was taller than Karesh, like everyone in the tribe except the children. Still, he was human, and Karesh could fly.

  ‘I want her to finish what she’s started.’ Karesh replied, his voice muted. ‘It would be better if she lived a long life, I don’t know how what the Master is trying to do will survive after she’s gone.’

  Frustrated, Vann didn’t know how to respond to that. Am I supposed to get angry at him for not seeing her the way I do? Riley has encouraged the gemengs to view her as their Master, and nothing else. Still, it bothered him that someone as close to her as Karesh saw her as purely useful, and nothing else. Now, with Aerlid… I’m the only one Riley has… he was struck by how isolated she was.

  ‘Can anything be done to help the Master?’ Karesh asked again, his body tense.

  Vann looked back to Karesh, his lips pressed together tightly. ‘The valkar might be able to help. I’ve asked them, if there’s a way… I’ll do everything I can to help her.’

  Karesh nodded firmly, as if to say, ‘so will I.’

  Chapter 43

  ‘You will.’ Riley replied brusquely.

  ‘You expect us to organize a celebration to prove our ability to organize the wedding?’ Adila demanded hotly.

  ‘I do. And more importantly, Andalla does. Organize it Adila. You no longer have any choice in what happens.’

  Adila glared.

  ‘Adila,’ Riley said impatiently. ‘You want me to tell Andalla of this?’

  ‘You’ll have your party.’ Adila said angrily. ‘You expect Andalla to favour you after this? You are a fool.’

  Riley sighed as Adila stalked off angrily.

  ‘Would you say they feel helpless right now?’ she asked Vann, who had remained quiet.

  ‘Probably, and angry and frustrated.’

  Riley nodded. ‘Good.’

  ‘Riley, I trust you, I just don’t understand why you’d want this.’

  ‘I can’t tell you.’

  ‘That’s fine. I’m just worried, that’s all.’

  ‘One way or another, it’ll be over soon.’

  The preparations for the party came along quickly. It was set up in the forest, but away from Riley’s camp. Far away.

  She’d already given Karesh his orders. If she didn’t come back, he was to take everyone and disa
ppear. No one from the camp would be at the party, not even Vann. Especially not Vann.

  Riley watched as the ballroom took shape, light was twined into shapes and effervescent walls, trees and water and wind forming the contours of the room. She didn’t know if this appealed to the valkar, or whether they did it this way because of Andalla.

  But it was coming together. And Andalla was eagerly awaiting.

  Aerlid handed Riley the sword. She took it sombrely, gazed down its iron gray length.

  Then she looked up. ‘You’re coming with me.’

  ‘Hm?’

  ‘Adila will let you out. I may need you to back me up. And I’m not leaving you with my people if things go bad.’

  ‘How bad could things go, exactly?’

  ‘It depends if Andalla realizes what I’m trying to do. If he doesn’t, well, nothing will happen. I’ll just wait for Adila and Rose to get me. If he does…’ she shrugged.

  ‘Very well.’

  They waited in silence for Adila. When she arrived anger flamed in her eyes, as usual these days. She freed Aerlid. Riley sheathed the sword in her no longer necessary scabbard and picked up a stump of wood from the ground.

  ‘What’s that for?’ Aerlid asked.

  Riley shook her head. They headed towards the celebration in silence.

  The magical light, like a waterfall, soon became visible through the trees. Colourful birds sung and flew through the woods. Bright flowers wove around the columns of light.

  Once they entered the light the air was filled with a sparkling, bright, colourful but translucent mist.

  Many valkar were gathered, including Rose and Ladana. Rilodana was not there. Riley wondered if she’d even been told.

  The valkar waited in angry silence for the guests of honour to arrive. Once they did, with an entourage of Andallites, the change was remarkable. Anger was immediately tucked away for false delight. But an undercurrent of sour fear was present, which only made Andalla happier.

  He and Ralana glided from group to group of valkar who made efforts to chat. Small morsels of food were offered only to Andalla and Ralana. Seeing how no one else was offered any, Andalla smiled even wider.

  Riley waited in silence for what seemed a very long time. She waited until the beginning of the party had drifted out of sight and the end was a long time coming. She waited until Andalla was relaxed and confident.

  Then she strode into the middle of the room and in a loud carrying voice started talking about Andalla and Ralana. Conversation slowly stopped and attention was on her. Andalla preened as she talked about how honoured everyone was, how happy they were for Ralana. And then she said, ‘and now in accordance with valkar traditions, the judgement may commence.’

  The valkar went quiet in surprise and well hidden anger. Ralana looked merely curious while Andalla asked, ‘what judgement?’

  ‘It is merely a formality, your magnificence.’ She said as she bowed, ‘well not usually. But for you of course. It is valkar tradition to judge whoever is to marry royalty. To ensure they are worthy.’ She managed to look embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry, your magnificence. Of course if you don’t want to, we can waive it for you.’

  ‘No, no.’ he said, stepping forward. ‘Of course I will go through with it.’

  Ralana beamed.

  Andalla looked around. His eyes stopped on Adila and Rose. ‘So, who will have the honour?’

  ‘I will, your magnificence.’ Riley said as she placed the stump on the ground. In a contrite voice she said, ‘certain events lately… well, it was not felt the Judgement Master was… up to the task.’

  ‘Are you a judge?’ he asked, confused.

  ‘I am the daughter of the Queen. A mere Judgement Master is not worthy enough, your magnificence.’

  ‘Ah.’ he smiled at that. ‘Very well.’

  ‘Thank you, your magnificence. Please put your head here.’ she said and pointed at the stump.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Ah, I’m sorry, your magnificence.’ Riley said, reddening in embarrassment. She drew her sword and held it out to him. ‘This is how I judge. For a normal person failing my judgement would mean…grave injury. Of course, I doubt you would even feel it. That is not to say I think you would ever fail. That is, I mean, do you want to examine my sword?’ Riley fumbled for a bit, looking embarrassed. Inside she was calm and cold.

  ‘Do not fret.’ he said magnanimously, rescuing her from her embarrassment. ‘I know that sword. I gave it to you.’ and he smiled widely. ‘You may proceed.’

  Andalla got down on his knees and placed his head on the block. Riley stared, shocked for a moment. But she held her sword in two hands above his head. She shifted her grip, spread her feet apart.

  Seconds ticked by, and then she raised it above her head and slammed it down as hard as she could.

  There was a horrible, wet sound. Then a thunk. And then blood was gushing everywhere.

  Riley stared, stunned. Andalla’s head rolled off the stump and onto the floor. Blood was flooding out. The sword was buried in the stump.

  The forest was silent.

  And then she heard a loud thump from behind. She did not look but she said dazedly, ‘is he really dead?’

  She noticed then that blood was getting on her shoes. She stepped back, stepped back again.

  People were stepping forward, getting closer.

  Riley just stared. She pulled her sword from the stump. And then she poked his body with it.

  ‘He is dead.’ Rose said in hushed awe. ‘You have killed him.’

  ‘Will he stay dead?’ Riley asked.

  Suddenly the body burst into flames. They were so hot Riley had to jump back. She looked up to see Adila. The body burned and burned. It was only for a few minutes, but it seemed a lifetime.

  And then the flames flickered out. Nothing was left but ash. And then suddenly that ash was picked up and blown in every direction. Riley did not need to look, she knew another valkar must have done that.

  ‘He will stay dead.’ Aerlid said quietly, his eyes wide.

  Riley finally looked up at everyone. The anger was gone now. All that was left was shock. She realised then the light was unravelling, going back to normal. Trees were moving back into their original positions. Birds were fluttering away, others returning.

  She noticed Ralana was being held up by a number of valkar.

  ‘Is she ok?’ Riley asked of no one in particular.

  ‘She will be fine.’ Adila said and then lapsed into silence.

  Riley did not really move. The world changed around her, valkar disappeared until there were few remaining. And then everyone was gone but four.

  Rose walked over to Riley. ‘You have been told our secret.’ she stated. For once, Rose was not frowning.

  Riley looked at Rose and then nodded carefully. ‘None of you could have changed this.’

  And suddenly Rose smiled. ‘I will remember this.’ and she walked over to Ladana, who was looking at Riley critically. The two left.

  And then Adila approached. It was a relief, Riley realized, to see the anger finally gone from her. ‘I owe you an apology.’

  ‘For what?’ Riley asked in surprise. ‘If anything, I owe you one.’

  ‘You were very convincing.’ Adila said with a smile. And then it faded. ‘How much of what you said was true?’

  Riley looked at her blankly. After a moment Riley said, ‘How about we both forgive each other?’

  Adila looked at Riley searchingly for a moment. And then she smiled and nodded. ‘Very well.’

  And then Adila was gone.

  Riley looked down at the sword in her hand. It was hard to believe she had really succeeded. The sword was covered in blood. She would have to clean it. She looked around suddenly. ‘Where are the Andallites?’

  The only person left answered, ‘they left.’ Aerlid said. ‘You’ll have to deal with the King now. I imagine they’ll hide from him until you do.’

  ‘I thought only of Andalla when I made th
is sword. Do you think it will work on anyone else?’

  Aerlid hesitated. ‘You’ll have to try and see. Andalla’s pot is very specific. I don’t think it would work on the King if you didn’t think of him… but it may still be useful for the ehlkrid, as they are much weaker than Andalla.’

  Riley nodded, expecting as much. It didn’t matter anyway; the King wasn’t going to put his head on the chopping block for her.

  ‘What do you think he’ll do now?’

  ‘Stay far away from you, at least for a time. You have done an amazing thing, Riley. I don’t think anyone not of them has ever managed to kill one of their kind before.’

  ‘You have to go back in your circle.’ Riley said suddenly as she turned towards the campsite, suddenly feeling uneasy at his obvious lapse. The forest was back to normal now. The only sign something had happened here was the blood stained block.

  When she arrived at the door to the camp she saw Vann waiting for her. When he saw her he grinned. He walked over to her. She dropped the sword and ran to him. She hugged him fiercely, and he hugged her back. Behind her Aerlid picked up the sword.

  She leant back and gazed up at Vann, a smile on her face. She was distracted from her sheer joy when out of the corner of an eye she saw Karesh coming towards her, smiling.

  She looked back to Vann. ‘We have a lot of planning to do.’ she said.

  ‘What do you have in mind?’ he asked.

  ‘We have to go all the way, Vann. We can’t just change the gemengs. We need to change Astar and Coastside too. And we need to deal with the Ehlkrid King before he deals with us.’

  His eyes widened, and something close to awe was there for just a moment. And then he smiled at her. ‘We better get started then.’

  Chapter 44

  When Adila brought Riley to the Land of the Ehlkrid she spotted the Dragon right away. He was sitting up on an island, far away. It was the island the underground tunnel led to, but for once he was outside.

  ‘I won’t be long.’ Riley told Adila. She made her way into the cave and walked quickly along it. Since Andalla’s death having the valkar around was much more pleasant. Adila stayed, as she was guarding Aerlid, and Rose and Ladana occasionally visited too, though they didn’t necessarily talk to anyone other than Adila during their visits.