#
“You heard what I said,” Lox replied in a dark tone, “is there something wrong?”
I forced all expression from my face, hiding my initial reaction to Lox’s words. We were in the war-room, and luckily there was no one else there. Maintaining clear-headed would take all my focus.
“I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. There’s more use I can be in other places.”
“You doubt the power that the constellation animals hold?”
“I doubt what good it will do to go to them as you say. You can’t think their owners will simply hand their creatures over?”
“Of course not. But we’ll begin by forming an alliance. We know too little of the countries now; their numbers, and the abilities of the animals. This will allow us to study them, and perhaps bring them over to our side of the war before they’re forced to choose a side one way or the other.”
By this he meant, that eventually all kingdoms would have to choose whether they were for or against Akadia. Because Lox didn’t intend to stop conquering lands. Since his return he was as obsessed as ever with this idea. He seemed distracted by a great many things.
“They’re sure to have heard of our attacks on the eastern countries,” I said. “What makes you think that they would join with us?”
“They’d be fools not to,” Lox scoffed, “most realize that Akadia cannot be defeated. But this is why you’ll take the princess with you. These countries, Echren in particular, are known to be reverential to the granted ways. They may already know what we’ve discovered about the constellation animals and if not, you can present the information to them. On these grounds, they’ll have to take the heir of the Shaundakulian throne seriously. Besides, you know the attitude of kingdoms to Shaundakul. The monarchs of Shaundakul are royals among royals—did you see Prince Nain’s reaction to her?” The question was rhetorical; I didn’t respond to it.
“And you don’t think it will matter that she’ll be telling them to attack us, not join us? She would never assist us in winning them over.”
For the first time since our conversation had started, Lox frowned—but with disappointment, not doubt, and I felt the weight of it—because it was directed at me. “I thought that by now her loyalty might have shifted more…”
“You’ve said it yourself, Shaundakulians are stubborn. And I’ve told you before,” I spoke the next words with less gumption, because I regretted the way I’d already responded to Lox; with so little respect. “She’ll never join Akadia.”
“Are you certain you’ve done everything in your power to turn her?” Lox’s question was full of meaning, and he met my eyes to make sure I guessed what sort. I thought of last night, then I thought it away.
“I didn’t give her to you with no end in mind, Cyric,” he said, “You have the capability to control her. This is part of the reason that I’ve also chosen you to go. If you decide that you must bind and gag her before you bring her before the Echrian rulers, then so be it; her presence will still carry weight. That we have her in our possession and that we have granted her leniency despite her betrayal also means much.”
I looked away from his eyes for I could not think otherwise. I ran the scheme through in my mind. It was Echren that he wanted me to go to first; not an easy road, and through unfriendly territory, but it was the home of the Vermillion Birds, and Lox was most eager to possess these of the remaining constellation animals. Knowing how accurate he’d been about everything else, they probably would prove to be the strongest of the three.
But I knew little of Echren, it was a small city, towards the north and east and said to be warm and made of fire—whatever this meant.
“I understand that you were hoping to return to battles, Cyric,” Lox said, his tone sympathetic and drawing more guilt from me. “I ask you to go because this is my most important operation. It could solidify our victories in the eastern kingdoms and decide our fate in the wars to come.”
My fingers wouldn’t stay still; they tapped my leg distractedly. “How do you know the Echrians’s won’t kill us or capture us when we arrive?” I asked.
“I’ve already sent a messenger to announce your presence and purpose there. It would not be the first relations we’ve had with the Echrian people. There’s no reason to believe that they would risk starting a war over a peaceful negotiation. I made sure to imply this would happen should they attack you.”
I studied Lox. So he’d already sent a messenger? Which meant he’d decided all this without me, and not just that, he’d decided I would agree to it. Usually I liked it when he guessed what I would do, it meant he knew me, and of course I would obey his order in this and any others he gave me. I ignored the way it bothered me this time.
“When do you want me to leave?” I asked.
He smiled, perceiving rightly that this was the end of my arguments. “The division you told me was ready for battle, I need them in Ghaund. You’ll ride with them as far as the border then break off with your own guard and head through the pass of Norgand.”
There were only a handful of passes that led north through the Ghaundian crags and while this was not the largest, it was the most direct. This difficult path was the reason Echren was so secluded from the central and western kingdoms. It was much easier to reach from the far east, where the mountains didn’t block them off.
Well, Tosch would get an exercise he might not be happy about; he’d have to live with it, I didn’t relish any part of the excursion either.
“I still have to deal with Molec, but I’d like you to leave as soon as possible,” Lox added, in response to my original question. “It will be easiest while he’s distracted by my presence and the new captives.”
These words left little room for my own considerations. He meant one thing by them: We would leave tomorrow.
#
Before I left he told me there would be a party this evening, this time in one of the barracks dining halls; he wanted me to come, and bring Ellia. I sent Slark for her instead.
#
Lox’s party was worthy of the barracks of Akadia and a happy break from the rituals of court. Only soldiers, handmaidens, and captive princesses allowed; also the rare Lady, so long as she was promising enough. Lox announced at the start that Ellia, myself, and the new division would be leaving for Ghaund in the morning. The soldiers had taken this as an excuse to increase their revelry, and more of them than usual began to vie for my attention. I gave it happily, I drank, I talked of war.
The princess watched me from her couch. I was glad that Lox had left early, because it meant that I didn’t have to pay her any attention, but obviously she didn’t share this intention.
She was looking at me as no princess should, or at least as no hostage should look at their captor. I could have burned up from her stare, but I could not stay still. Nor could I leave, thanks to Lox’s announcement, the soldiers would not allow it until much later into the night.
I had lived for months now, surrounded by willing handmaidens, and never once thought of anything but fighting and training. Now a princess was driving me mad all by her lonesome, and with nothing more than her eyes and the purest intentions.
Worst of all, I couldn’t think of any way to stop her.
ELLIA:
I did not know why but when I braved asking Cyric if I could be taken to see Prince Nain he said yes.
As soon as Lox had announced that I would be leaving Akadia, and with little explanation as to why, I’d thought of Nain, and the need to speak with him before I was taken. Of course, I experienced a wide range of emotions as well. Fear, because if this trip was something arranged by Lox, that meant it could not be good. Delight, to be taken from Akadia, no matter where it meant I would go. Guilt, that I was once again leaving my people and without ever having helped them. And hope. Hope that… well, hope that had started before Lox had mentioned anything. And hope that was only encouraged when Cyric had so willingly given me leave to visit my friend.
He did not take me. He sent me with Slark and another soldier that had been guarding me at the party.
I’d thought to be led to the palace or at least a building close by, but we went first outside the palace district, then underground, to the prisons which I myself had frequented. Everything was torches and blackness, the shades of orange and red that I so remembered from my days of gem-sorting. Nain was not even in a secluded cell, just one along a line, but though they pointed it out to me as his I could not see him.
“Prince,” I called, clinging to his bars and peering in. Suddenly a shadow shifted. He’d been sitting against the rock wall, his knees bent to his chest and one arm slung over them. His head turned at my voice.
“It’s Ellia,” I said.
“I see you.” He stood swiftly. He came to the bars, where he was better lit by torches. He wore his princely tunic, though it was dirtied and his face was battered with fresh, albeit treated, wounds. If not for the energy still presiding in his features, he would have been a dismal sight, but as it was, he almost strengthened me. I’d already asked why he was here instead of the palace, they’d said that it was due to his resistance; clearly a greater resistance than I had yet exhibited.
“You do your country honor,” I said.
“Selkie would call it foolishness. I find that Akadia has brought out the beast in me. The man I attacked did little more than offer me a drink.”
“It is not beastly to resist their deceitfulness. I wish that I…” My throat locked.
“Don’t think of it, Ellia,” he said. “I am a man, you are a woman, there is a difference.” He scoffed. “If I were smarter I would be in the palace right now, charming the king and councilmen against Malatos Lox.”
“It wouldn’t work,” I said. “They’re too afraid.”
There were things we’d promised to speak of when we could with privacy, and though my guards and even other prisoners were close, our hushed voices afforded it.
“Will you tell me of Yanartas now, Nain?” I asked eagerly. “Are the Warriors well? Have any more chimera been killed?”
“I’ve been travelling much and gotten little word. Last I spoke with Gael. The weapons that first killed the chimera of Baraduce Nar have—”
There was a clang and ring of metal that stopped Nain’s words. I looked over to see Slark had struck his sword-hilt against one of the prison bars. “That’s enough, Princess Ellia. Speak of Akadia if you like, but not the war.”
“I only ask after my friends, Slark.”
He seemed to consider for a moment, but then his features turned cross and left little room for argument. He’d been much less amiable towards me since Cyric’s return; this had something to do perhaps with the poor way in which Cyric was treating him, because… Cyric had been upset that he’d told me?
Yes, I thought that this was the reason.
Nain drew my attention. “Don’t fret, Ellia. Those which matter most to you are sound.”
I held his gaze, full of meaning as it was. He did not know me well, but enough to know of my closeness to Lucian, and Estrid, my chimera, and Minstrel. I felt overwhelming relief.
After this I told him that I would be gone from Akadia, and I warned him to be careful of Lox especially, and not to trust Molec’s niceties—not that that seemed a great concern for him. We said our goodbyes and my guard returned me to the palace district.
Against Cyric’s orders (which said that I was to be taken straight to his room after visiting Nain) I convinced Slark to lead me back past the barrack’s dining hall. I made no attempt to hide my presence as I watched Cyric from the door. I felt the familiar rise of jealousy towards the soldiers—who all won his smiles so easily. But I also felt hope again, as I could not seem to help feeling whenever I looked at him. No matter how foolish I knew this to be in reality.
His brows dropped while he was listening to a group of soldiers speak. Seconds passed, he looked at me. I saw everything once more.
I know you, Cyric Dracla, I thought. These men do not, but I do.
He looked away first, as he had so many times that night. But it made me only a little less sure of what I’d thought.
PART THREE
Look at my face you pierce with a blank stare
No dream could prepare a heart for a lifeless friend
He’s gone. Nothing will take back time
I need him back, but nothing will take back time
—I Won’t See You Tonight Part 2, Avenged Sevenfold
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ELLIA:
I had never seen a division of soldiers prepare to travel and it proved to be a more complicated business than I could have guessed. There were somewhere between one or two hundred of them, I was poor with numbers. Two sections flanking the outer sides rode horses, and more, a group of scouts, rode out ahead periodically. The middle was foot-men forced to march quite fast to keep pace with the trotting horses. These were divided up cleanly as well, four groups; a row of crossbowmen in each and swordsmen the rest. There were no women, no captives. The procession was nearly as wide as it was long.
At the back of the whole thing there were wagons, driven by two horses each to make good time. I could only assume they were loaded up with things like weapons, food, clothes… If Cyric had had his way, I would have been in one of them as well, but I’d refused to go any where except riding Fauna. I’d also shirked servants, handmaidens, and I’d demanded to ride up near Cyric at the front of the right column of horses—where he’d only ceased barking orders now that we were out of sight of the city.
I thought that if he weren’t afraid that I would run away, he never would have let me ride near him.
“Have we left Akadia, yet?” I asked. The land all around us was already green and golden grass. What rocks cropped up were spaced and didn’t upset the landscape. There was also a rare splashing of trees, turning brown with the autumn weather. I thought that Cyric would ignore me, blaming the rumble of hooves, wheels, and boots for his deafness, but instead he looked at me immediately.
“We left an hour ago. Are you stupid?”
It was harsh and sudden and his face showed disgust, but I found that it didn’t make me angry. He looked away and I felt trepidation, but then I forced the next words out. “You know that I’ve never been good with geography…”
This made him look at me again, but now with surprise that he couldn’t hide quickly enough. It was so incredulous though that there was nothing vulnerable about it. He could have stared forever like that and only made me feel worse and himself more invincible.
His eyes turned darker, then grazed Fauna, then fell back on me. “You’re aware I know whose horse that is. I think about its master sometimes, and the day he died. Do you remember that day, Ellia? You were upset at me.”
Despite myself, and my mission only moments ago, I felt my chest flame with anger, then despair, then hatred.
Cyric watched me a second, then snorted and turned ahead.
I become conscious of Fauna beneath me, her brown eyes soulful. I was one to believe, unquestioningly, that horses could understand human words. For this reason I put a hand against her shoulder. Her pulse beat steadily beneath her coat. I whispered an apology to her for I was not going to let Cyric’s words stop me and I did not know what he might say next.
“I know what your horse is,” I told him. There was no response—except from the horse, which flicked its ear. I quickened Fauna’s pace a little. “It’s called an ivoronsu, isn’t it? I saw one in the market district and Slark told me about it, but that one was much scarier than yours. It had a bright white mark on its face. I can barely see yours.”
Still nothing. Not even in the grip of his reigns. I hoped he wouldn’t decide to send me off and braved coming up all the way beside him. “It’s a granted animal, you know.”
He gave me an immediate glare. “What? No it’s not.”
I nodded.
“It is not. Slark’s an idiot if he told you that.”
&nb
sp; “Slark didn’t tell me—I know for myself. What’s his name?”
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop talking or I’m going to put you back in the wagons.”
“Why haven’t you already?” I asked.
His eyes flared; I really was a little afraid, and even his horse responded with a whinny. His brows went up in challenge. “You really want to know?” he said.
“I asked.” My voice was weak croak.
He pointed behind him. “Because there are two-hundred soldiers back there, and with your stupid dress, and the ridiculous amount of time you spent making yourself up to go travelling, I imagine one or more of them might try to have a good time. Then I’d have to kill them because they disobeyed my orders. And I don’t feel like wasting soldiers on you.”
His horse gave a grand shake. And I was glad, for it distracted me from Cyric’s glare, which might have trapped me. I gave the closest soldiers a glance. None of them seemed to be paying me a lot of attention. One or two of them had noticed Cyric’s outburst. I did feel, for the first time that I could remember, the desire to be wearing something other than a dress. Then I realized something.
“But there are female soldiers too,” I said.
His eyes went a little wide, though he didn’t look at me.
“This is Akadia,” I went on. “There are female soldiers. And they like to kiss the men and I’ll bet the soldiers don’t care for me at all when they have willing candidates.”
There was a second of background noise and the jerky trotting of our horses. Cyric looked over, his mouth actually a little bit slack, then suddenly, remarkably, gloriously, he laughed. He laughed and he was twelve again and I had tripped over my own feet. The only difference this time was in the response of his horse, or ivoronsu rather, which went absolutely wild at the laughter. It swung its head around so quickly that it startled even Fauna. Then it was craning its ear and nose back and forth in what seemed an impossible motion towards Cyric’s face. Cyric batted him away, looking dreadfully unlike an evil war-lieutenant, then the ivoronsu started shaking—in its chest and its head—with a clicking, short and successive sound that could only be described as a laugh. It made Cyric start again, which made the horse start again, and so on until I spoke.
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