Conquering Fate

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  Damaris and Norill squeezed my shoulders, and I knew I was out of time. I unleashed my power, making a killing blow, and struck each of my friends. They disintegrated to ashes, leaving only five small blue spheres which flew into my bo staff. I felt the power within me grow.

  I turned to Morlet. His face twisted in pain. Whether it was for me and what I’d just done, for what I was about to do, or simply the magic rioting within him, I didn’t know.

  Once again, I called on my power and guided it through my hands and to my bo staff. This time it felt different. Somehow complete, right, and fulfilling at the same time. I shot my power out of my weapon and into Morlet, striking his heart.

  Light exploded in the room. I shielded my eyes. When the light went out, a dim glow from the two remaining torches remained. Morlet’s body tumbled to the floor, lifeless. I dropped to my knees next to him, rolling him onto his back. His body disintegrated to ash.

  He was dead. And my heart broke with pain.

  I couldn’t even speak. I’d killed them all.

  I don’t know how long I knelt there, staring at Morlet’s ashes. If felt like a lifetime. It felt faster than the blink of an eye.

  “Your Highness,” a soldat said, entering the room. “There is much to be done. I need you to look at me and focus.”

  I blinked and looked at him. “Where’s Vidar?”

  “Dead.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “When the battle first began, the king used his magic which struck the wall out in the hallway. A chunk of the wall flew off, killing Vidar. We found his body under a pile of rocks.” He rubbed his face.

  “What do we do now?” I asked. Vidar was supposed to lead us. My body was numb with shock.

  “That is up to you,” he replied. “You are Nelebek’s queen.”

  Reality came crashing into me. I was the queen. The borders had reopened. Armies could be marching into Nelebek right now. And I’d made a promise to Morlet. One that I intended to keep.

  I reached into my pocket, pulled out the small key, and scrambled to my feet. “Can you please do something for me?”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  I quickly gave him my instructions. When I finished, I said, “I’ll meet you downstairs in the great hall. We need to move quickly. There is much to be done before we’re invaded.” I ran from the Tower Room.

  “Where are you going?” he called after me.

  “To keep a promise.”

  I stopped before Anders’s cell. He was pacing back and forth. When he finally noticed me, he froze.

  “You’re alive?” he asked.

  I nodded. “All of the Krigers are dead. Along with Vidar. I’m so sorry.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose.

  I inserted the key, unlocking the door to the cell. Anders rushed forward, wrapping me in a hug. I clung to him, not knowing what else to say. Like me, he’d just lost all his friends. Vidar had been his best friend for the past hundred years.

  “Are you injured?” he murmured against my hair. “I noticed the front of your clothes is burned.”

  “I’m fine. I feel slightly empty.” I wasn’t sure if it was from the death of my friends or the loss of my power. Maybe both. “I made a promise to Morlet when…” I squeezed my eyes shut. “When he let me kill him.”

  Anders held me tighter, not asking any questions.

  “I promised him that I would marry you immediately. He said it had to be done within one hour of his death.”

  Anders stilled.

  “I won’t make you go through with it if you don’t want to,” I said. “But I’d very much like to keep my promise.”

  He took a step away from me. “Is that the only reason?” he asked.

  “No. I want to marry you.” Even though my heart felt shredded from Morlet’s death, I’d always loved Anders.

  He took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”

  “It would be my honor.”

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” I repeated.

  “I always assumed I’d ask you to marry me one day, not the other way around. Somehow this way seems fitting. You did save my life.” He smiled one of his rare smiles.

  I grabbed his hand, pulling him down the hallway. “Let’s go.” We didn’t have much time. Morlet had been very specific—the marriage binding had to take place within one hour of his death.

  We sprinted through the castle, running into the marriage binder in the great hall. As usual, he wore a long white robe with black swirls on the sleeves. His hair and beard matched his robe, and his skin was covered with wrinkles.

  Thunder boomed and lightning flashed across the sky, shaking the castle walls. We didn’t have much time. The ceremony would have to happen right here.

  “I want you to marry us,” I said.

  “The two of you are getting married?” one of the soldats asked.

  “Yes. Right now,” I replied. “You will be our witness.”

  Anders took hold of me and we stood before the binder, our hands clasped together.

  “Repeat after me,” the binder said. “We promise to love and protect one another.”

  Anders and I said, “We promise to love and protect one another.”

  Tears welled in my eyes. The last time I’d said these words, I hadn’t wanted to. I’d only married Morlet to save those innocent men. Now, with Anders, I said the words because I wanted to. And I meant every single word I said.

  “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss and seal your love.”

  Anders leaned down and our lips touched. Warmth spread through my body.

  When I leaned back, I said, “Hello, husband.”

  Anders chuckled. “Hello, wife.”

  “Now for the second part,” I said.

  His eyebrows drew together in confusion. “What other part is there?”

  “The part where you are crowned king,” I said.

  “I didn’t agree to that.” He released me.

  “Are you saying you wouldn’t have married me if you’d realized you’d be crowned king?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “No. I just didn’t think about that part. I was so excited when you asked me to marry you, I didn’t think it through. With Vidar dead, you plan to remain queen, don’t you?”

  Thunder boomed again. We didn’t have much time. “I’ve chosen to rule Nelebek now that Vidar and Morlet are dead. And I plan to raise my child to be Nelebek’s next king or queen.” I took a step closer to him. “What is your choice, Anders? Will you rule with me? Raise my child with me? Or will you run away?” I stood tall. I’d made my choice. Now it was time for him to make his. Would he choose me?

  “Why was this Morlet’s dying wish?” Anders asked. “You’re already protected under the treaty. Why insist you marry me? Make me…king?”

  I smiled. He didn’t know or understand. “Because the part of Morlet that was still Espen knew I loved you. He wanted me to be happy. By insisting we’re married, thereby making you king, he knew the master assassin couldn’t harm you, either.”

  No one spoke. Lightning flashed across the sky, casting odd shadows in the castle.

  “Okay,” Anders said.

  I looked at the binder. He nodded and proceeded with the ceremony.

  “Kneel,” he said.

  Anders knelt.

  “Repeat after me,” the binder said. “I, Anders of Nelebek, do hereby swear to protect the people of my kingdom.”

  Anders repeated the words, loud and clear. “I will work with the Heks to ensure peace and prosperity among the land. I will uphold the treaty, remain honorable, and guide my people.”

  The binder placed his hands on Anders’s head, mumbling words I didn’t recognize. “I need a crown for the next part,” he said.

  A soldat stepped forward, handing the binder Morlet’s crown. “He instructed I have this ready for the right time,” he mumbled.

  Another soldat stepped forward, handing
me my crown. I put it atop my head and thanked him. Several soldats stood along the edge of the room, watching the ceremony. I wasn’t sure at what point they’d arrived or if they’d been there all along.

  The binder placed the crown on Anders’s head. “Stand.”

  Anders stood.

  “I hereby give you King Anders of Nelebek.”

  The soldats all took a knee, bowing their heads in respect.

  30

  The front doors of the castle flew open, banging against the walls. A soldat ran inside, panting.

  “Invaded,” he said, gasping for air. “Northern border. Word just came.”

  “How?” I demanded. The borders had only just reopened.

  “There are watchtowers all over the kingdom,” the soldat said, straightening up. His face was rosy red from running. “King Morlet sent men to them over the past couple of weeks. One man per tower. We were given instructions. If someone invaded, the soldat who spotted the army would light the torch on top of the tower, signaling another tower a few miles away. So on and so on until word reached the castle. It only takes an hour for us to know we’ve been invaded at our border.”

  Impressive. “Didn’t Morlet send men to guard the border?” I asked.

  “He did, Your Highness. However, they are up against armies that have Heks leading them.”

  “Give word to our soldats,” I said. “Tell them to be prepared to leave for battle within the hour.”

  “You’re sending reinforcements?” Anders asked.

  “Yes,” I replied. “And we’ll be joining them. I want us to face this threat head on.”

  “Good,” he said. “I’d like our first act as royals to be a strong one.”

  “Before we march into battle, there’s something we need to do.” I turned and headed to the exit of the castle, Anders close behind me. Outside, a light mist coated the landscape.

  People had poured in from the capital. Hundreds of them stood before the entrance of the castle.

  “Are the borders really open?” someone shouted.

  “Is Morlet dead?” someone else asked.

  “People of Nelebek,” I hollered so everyone could hear me. “King Morlet is dead. The curse has been lifted and the borders have reopened. I have also married a man I love. I’d like to introduce you to King Anders.”

  Everyone knelt, waiting for me to speak again. “I promise to bring peace to Nelebek. I promise to make sure you have enough food to eat and clothes to wear. Travel is no longer restricted. The dark times that have plagued us are over. We are now free.”

  The crowd roared their approval. The thick clouds parted, letting the sun through. It was the first time I’d seen the sun shine on the castle.

  “What are they waiting for?” I asked. We stood atop a steep hill, observing enemy soldats below. I couldn’t believe how many of them were lined up, ready to attack. We were about a mile inside our border. For the past week, we’d traveled as fast as possible, sleeping very little and eating on the move. I’d gone over this scenario a thousand times in my head. However, now that I faced our enemy, fear overtook me.

  “Your Highness!” a soldat shouted as he approached. “They want to send a representative over to talk to you. Do you accept?”

  I glanced at Anders. “What do you think?”

  “It’s common for one side to send a general over to the other side before the fighting begins,” he said, rubbing his tired face. “No matter who it is, we can’t harm him.”

  I clutched my sweaty hands into fists. “We’ll meet with their representative. Escort him to the command tent.” Trying to appear authoritative, I turned and went into my tent before my entire body started shaking, revealing how nervous I was.

  Inside, Anders wrapped his arms around me. “They’ll want to discuss the terms for a surrender,” he murmured in my ear.

  “I won’t surrender.” I took comfort in his warmth. We hadn’t had a moment alone since the binder married us. When this was over, I planned to spend a month locked in a room with Anders.

  “I know. Just remember, they’re in our land. Ask why they’re here and demand they leave. We must exert our strength so others don’t invade us.” He leaned back, looking at me. “That means we kill if we must.”

  “I understand.” I didn’t like the idea of slaughtering others, but I would do it to protect my kingdom.

  “Your Highnesses,” a soldat standing at the entrance to the tent said. “The representative is here.” He held the fabric open.

  I grabbed Anders’s hand.

  A man strolled inside the tent, grinning at Anders. He was dazzling with brown hair cut close to his head, sparkling green eyes, and tanned skin. He wore light brown pants and a tunic with a ball of fire embroidered on the front. “It has been a long time,” he said, stopping a few feet away. His voice was deep and seductive making me instantly like him.

  I was about to introduce myself when Anders squeezed my hand and said, “Almost a hundred years, Berek.”

  I sucked in a breath. Berek? The master assassin who was also a Skog Heks? In order to survive this, I had to appear strong and confident. “I am Queen Kaia of Nelebek, and this is King Anders, my husband.” I knew Anders didn’t want Berek to know he cared for me. However, I needed to insure the assassin knew he couldn’t harm either one of us.

  Berek’s eyes darkened and he growled, his face instantly transforming into a ruthless animal. “Anders is bound to me,” he snarled. “That supersedes the treaty.”

  “An oath made to you hundreds of years after the treaty formed does not supersede the treaty,” I said, my voice wavering. “You are in my kingdom and will abide by my laws.”

  His lips curled into a smile and he leaned forward. “I’ve brought an army with me,” he whispered. “I am here on King Ferdin’s orders to overthrow you. So you see, as the head Skog Heks, I am following the treaty by working with my king.”

  A chill slid down my spine. I recalled what he was really after: the sapphire. Thankfully we’d destroyed it. As to why King Ferdin of Sonvel wanted to overthrow me, I had no idea. This entire invasion could have been concocted by Berek. A way to enter my kingdom with his sovereign’s blessing in order to work around the treaty.

  “Are you here then to discuss the terms of your surrender?” I asked.

  He snickered. “I’m here to discuss the terms of your surrender.” He tilted his head to the side, observing me.

  Anders’s hand tightened in warning.

  I didn’t flinch. If Berek hit me, he’d lose his magic. And he knew it. “I don’t see how that’s possible considering you just led your men into the trap we set.” I smiled. Everything Vidar and Morlet had done was falling into place and making sense to me.

  His face showed no reaction. I quickly thought through what I knew about the treaty. Berek was working with his king so he wasn’t violating the treaty there. He had immense magic and could use it at any time. But he couldn’t harm me. I felt sweat trickle down the back of my neck.

  “Give me the sapphire and I’ll take my men and leave,” Berek said. The green of his eyes shifted, and I knew his magic was ready to be unleashed.

  “The sapphire has been destroyed,” I said.

  His eyes flashed and his fingers twitched. I wished I had my magic to throw a shield up around everyone here to protect them. I hurried and continued, “I’ve had men watching the borders. Didn’t you see them in your haste to enter Nelebek?” When he didn’t immediately respond, I said, “No? So you see, you walked right past them. You are now surrounded. My men haven’t fought anyone in a hundred years. They are quite eager to test what they’ve learned.” I smiled, as if I knew a secret he didn’t. While Morlet had sent men to the borders, and they had instructions to protect the kingdom, I didn’t know how qualified they were in a fight.

  The biggest unknown for me were the Heks Berek could have brought with him. But that was where I had one more advantage over him. “Did you know Damaris became the Grei Heks of Nelebek?” I kn
ew he’d sent her here. That the two of them were somehow involved with one another.

  “Where is she?” he asked. His eyes narrowed, implying he’d destroy every single person here if he was so provoked. “What have you done?” He took a step back. The veins under his skin darkened. He no longer looked like a man—he looked every bit the Heks that he was.

  I was about to reveal that Damaris was dead and I was with a child endowed with both Grei Heks and Skog Heks magic when I felt something. At first, I thought maybe Berek was using his magic when I realized it wasn’t him that I sensed, but the magic in the world. I reached for it but couldn’t grasp it. Yet, I could feel it. I instinctively knew that it was the baby within me that had the magic. And I could harness that magic right now.

  The emptiness that I’d previously felt when my own power vanished was now filled by something other. A fullness that begged to be used. A power different from what I’d experienced before. Somehow it was greater in strength—like what I’d felt when I’d connected with my fellow Krigers. My legs seemed rooted to the ground, magic flowing freely into me. Everything around me looked clearer, sharper than before.

  I quickly called upon the magic and threw a shield up around every single Nelebek citizen and soldat within a mile of me. It was effortless. I expanded my awareness, letting it float around to see where everyone was positioned. My soldats had indeed doubled back and surrounded the Sonvel men. So much magic—it was thrilling and terrifying at the same time. I could feel the good and the bad mixed together. The magic was both and it didn’t overpower me but rather, complimented me.

  “How is this possible?” Berek asked. “How do you, a human, have magic inside of you? I feel a part of Damaris in you. What have you done?” He took a step toward me, a knife sliding out of his sleeve and into the palm of his hand.

  “Damaris gave her life to create a new breed of Heks,” I explained.

  “She’s dead?” he asked.

  “She is,” Anders said. “Damaris and Norill died, their power going to Kaia’s baby. If you want to save your race, then Kaia will help you.”