Hail to the Queen (Sage Trilogy, Book 3)

by Julius St. Clair

  “Oh shut it, Malin,” another woman cried out. “You’re just mad because Reon speaks the truth. I bought one of your cups and after two sips, I ended up with warts!”

  “Don’t get me started, Arietta! Don’t get me started about where those warts of yours really came from! I saw you kissing the -”

  “Yeah!” Another shouted. “Uriah’s clothing shop, that’s where! I swear he uses porcupine needles for his stitching and flea nests for the cloth! Makes you break out in hives whenever you even get close!”

  “Oh, like you never used flea nests,” Uriah pouted, looking bored. The man who accused him jumped up and down while he kept pointing at him.

  “See! See! He admitted it!”

  “What in all that is sacred is a flea’s nest?” Arietta asked. A number of merchants shrugged their shoulders as another started screaming.

  “Hino urinates standing up!”

  “Seriously?” Hino replied, throwing up his hands. “Why do I even show up anymore?”

  “Frian has a glass eye!” another shouted.

  “Groar is blind!” Someone screamed. “And he’s supposed to sell glasses!”

  “I’m not blind when my glasses are on!” Groar shouted back.

  “That doesn’t even make sense!” yet another merchant shouted. “You’re either blind or you’re not!”

  “I’m a quarter blind,” Groar declared confidently with arms crossed. The merchants began bickering back and forth, louder and louder, pointing and practically foaming at the mouth while James noticed a considerably large crowd had gathered near them. The King chuckled and tapped his knee.

  “The words they’re using are so useless and juvenile!” he laughed. “I can’t help but smile.”

  “Why are they insulting each other?” Catherine asked.

  “Because it’s the most ignorant and vile use of language we can think of. I can’t explain it - but seeing intelligent human beings debase themselves to the level of animals is just disgustingly hilarious. No one takes this seriously though. If you’re too concerned, just consider this a social study in Langoran behavior.”

  Catherine glanced back at James in shock who met her gaze with the same wide eyes.

  Guess everyone has their prejudices. James thought to himself.

  “Your Majesty,” Catherine interrupted his laughter. “The enemy may not be within range, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t coming. Perhaps we should give our proposal to the people about the stone now. That way they will have plenty of time to discuss it.”

  “You’re right, Princess,” the old man chuckled, wiping his eyes. “I just wanted to see this one last time, just in case. Guards, please line up in the center so that the merchants know I’m about to speak.”

  The guards obeyed in a hurry as the King was helped to his feet by two others. The merchants quieted down and backed away from the podiums, giving all attention and respect to their King. King Nathaniel waited until there was complete silence, and then he raised his head high, and addressed his people.

  “Princess Catherine and her two Sages wish to take our stone,” he declared loudly. “What do you have to say about that?”

  An uproar exploded throughout the courtyard, making Catherine and the Sages cup their ears in agony. The merchants, the people next to them, and even the King’s guards began berating them with angry words and shouts. Only the King remained silent and still, a smile plastered across his amused and satisfied face…

  Chapter 8 – Irreconcilable Differences

  “Why are we still alive?” she asked, but Kyran just kept walking. Scarlet reached out and yanked at his arm. “HEY! I’m talking to you!”

  Kyran slipped out of her grip and continued forward. They were almost there.

  “Why are we still here? Kyran! Answer me! Don’t tell me you made a deal?”

  “Well, aren’t you on his side now too? He told me about your proposal – if he wins, you’ll join him.”

  “There’s more to the story than that. You weren’t there to see how Lem was acting! It wasn’t him! That wasn’t Chloe!”

  “It was,” Kyran said in confidence. “He probably just said something you didn’t want to hear, like I’m about to say now. We work for Thorn. The only reason you’re breathing is because I asked that you be spared, so your life belongs to me.”

  “Why would you do that?” Scarlet scoffed, standing still. Kyran noticed she wasn’t budging, sighed heavily and turned back. Thankfully, the Conun lodge was in view. Only a few more minutes until he could get the stones back into his care.

  “Because I need you in case I meet opposition.”

  “You mean Catherine and the others?”

  “Exactly. I’m not very good at fighting straightforward.”

  “Kyran, do you honestly believe you can get Chloe back?”

  “He has no reason to lie.”

  “And what happens to me once your mission is complete? What do I get out of this? You’ll probably kill me.”

  “Probably,” Kyran said flatly. “But whether you’re siding with Thorn or not, it’s best that we stick together, especially in your condition.”

  Scarlet sneered as she looked down at her body. Bandages, a sling for her left arm, enormous bruises and swelling all over. She could barely see out of her left eye, and the sting of Thorn’s blade still shot throughout her body like electricity whenever she moved too fast. She had been woken up from a deep sleep and was told the healing process had only been about 30% complete when she was asked to leave.

  “As long as you know I’m still on the fence,” she replied. “I’m not too thrilled about betraying my cousin…even if Thorn makes some large claims.”

  “If history would have gone another way,” Kyran said. “You would have been Queen. Have you ever thought about that?”

  Scarlet didn’t say a word after that, and Kyran fought back a smile. She was easy to manipulate. All one had to do was audibly say the thoughts she’s dwelled on since she was a child. As a person fueled by anger, it was hard to let go of anything, especially the possibility that she could have been the ruler of her own Kingdom.

  Satisfied, Kyran continued his walk toward the Conun Lodge as Scarlet reluctantly followed. He signaled for her to wait outside as he approached silently. He could smell Mrs. Conun’s coffee from inside, and he was sure they were getting ready to begin their afternoon cleaning. With his eidolon invisible and extended at all times, he could sense that there were no guests staying there. A perfect scenario for what he had to do.

  Entering the lobby casually, the creak of the door broke through the stillness like an alarm, and he could hear the scurrying of the Conuns making their way towards him, eager to please. Mr. Conun was the first to come into view, having come from the hall where all the bedrooms were. His eyes lit up as soon as he recognized Kyran, and he stepped forward with a friendly hand outstretched, ready to exchange pleasantries with the Sage.

  Kyran didn’t hesitate.

  He unsheathed his eidolon from within his coat, and stabbed the old man directly in the heart. The old man cried out, and mouthed “why,” but Kyran gave him no answer. He waited until the old man dropped off his blade and onto the wooden floor. The sound was so foreign that he could already hear Mrs. Conun’s shoes tapping against the wood, coming closer to investigate. She was probably afraid her husband had taken a spill.

  As soon as she revealed her face, Kyran sprinted forward, and performed the same deed as he did on her husband. She didn’t even see Kyran move. The Assassin watched her body go lifeless and slump to the floor…

  And then he continued his mission.

  He went straight to Arimus’ room and noticed that it had been cleaned recently, but that was irrelevant. The stones would not be found so easily. Arimus would have made sure of that before he left, and it was doubtful they were still on the Sage in his condition. Kyran sighed as he realized that the whole lodge would have to be torn down if he was going to find them quickly. He stormed out the room an
d the cabin, striding toward a very confused Scarlet.

  “Kyran…did you?” Scarlet’s voice trailed off as he noticed she was holding her halberd eidolon in her right hand.

  “Burn this lodge to the ground,” Kyran ordered as Scarlet stared at him with watery eyes. “What?” he shouted. “We’re of Zen-echelon now. This is what we do. Don’t waste your tears on the elderly. It had to be done.”

  “No, it didn’t,” she whispered, fighting back her grief. “They did nothing. They were not part of any side. They just liked being hospitable.”

  “Well, they are of Zen-echelon now,” Kyran snapped. “NOW BURN IT!”

  “Sure…sure,” Scarlet sniffed as she extended her halberd out. “INCINERATE!”

  The lodge nearly exploded as it suddenly burst into flames, the wooden beams began splitting into pieces, and the entire structure caved in on to itself. Kyran watched Scarlet’s face the whole time - the clench of her jaw, the flare of her nostrils and the anger swelling from behind her eyes. Whether it was now or later, she would avenge their deaths, he was sure of it. No matter how strong she claimed to be, her emotions gave her away. She was still a child, being tossed in every direction according to the situation. Kyran chuckled within himself before he leaned into her ear.

  “Now you see but a fraction of the work I’ve had to do from the beginning. Now you can begin to know my pain, and see my world. Welcome to it. It won’t be forgiving.”

  With those words, Kyran walked toward the cabin, still ablaze, and began searching for the stones. He didn’t care how much pain the flames caused or how the heat tried consuming him with each passing second.

  He could take it…

  * * * * *

  “Wait! Wait!” the King of Prattle shouted. “We are Prattlians, after all! Surely there is a way we can settle this on our own terms!”

  “DEBATE!” a child shouted, and the crowd immediately agreed. “DEBATE! DEBATE! DEBATE!” they roared, deafening their visitors. James grit his teeth as he pressed against his ears, screaming for them all to shut up. Arimus kept a squinted eye on the Princess as Catherine stood up and glared at the King with hands clasped on the sides of her head.

  The King finally held up a hand and the Kingdom fell silent. He nodded in Catherine’s direction, and she began talking fast, just so no one else would begin another rally cry.

  “We’re not here to take away from your accomplishments, nor is this a selfish undertaking. My Sages and I are here because my Kingdom and yours are about to be under attack from Zen-echelon. We –“

  “So are you going to kill us if we say no?” a merchant shouted. “We heard about Languor!”

  “Why don’t you give us yours?!” Another yelled. “We’re the only Kingdom to properly use the stones! We can figure out a way to defeat Zen-echelon on our own!”

  “Yeah,” yet another said. “What makes you Allayans so righteous! Give your stone to us and we have a better chance of success!”

  “My people, please,” the King replied. “The Princess is not familiar with our customs. Perhaps we should give her a crash course. We will stick to the original proposition – a debate. And I think the topic has already been provided through your concerns. In your infinite Prattlian wisdom, you have determined that we should give the stone to these Allayans only if they are deemed worthy. Indeed, what makes them more qualified to bear this great power?”

  The crowd shouted in approval as the King raised his hands in the air.

  “Please put two podiums in the middle of the courtyard. Any Prattlian that wants to debate one of these Allayans may step forward. Age is not a factor. And Princess,” the King said as he turned to her. “You, or either one of your Sages may participate. It is your choice. I will give you a couple of minutes to strategize while we set up.”

  Arimus, James and Catherine huddled together while the crowds dispersed from their location to strategic locations around the centered podiums.

  “This is absurd,” Arimus said. “Our greatest enemy could be on his way to wipe them off the earth, and they want to verbally spar.”

  “We must follow their custom,” Catherine stressed. “If the situation was reversed, we would probably challenge them in our own way. No one just gives up their Kingdom’s primary source of power.”

  “More importantly,” James said. “Who should debate this? I know the King promised it to us no matter what, but that doesn’t mean the people will be convinced. They may riot. It could be Languor all over again.”

  “Catherine, you’re best with words,” Arimus replied. “Think of the speech you gave to our people back in Allay. Apparently it did some good. Think of all the new Sages that are rising up.”

  “But that wasn’t all me…was it, James?” Catherine smiled at him. James bowed his head and blushed as Arimus glanced back and forth between them.

  “I don’t follow,” Arimus said.

  “James gave the people his own speech,” Catherine replied. “About what it takes to become a Sage. Against all our secrecy and cries of discretion, he basically took the hidden world of the Sentinel Academy and made it public. All I did was tell the people that they needed to fend for themselves in our absence. I didn’t inspire them to become warriors. James did.”

  “I was caught up in the moment,” James said as Catherine put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Don’t be afraid,” she said. “Just say what’s on your heart. When you spoke in Allay, you did it out of love and concern for them. Deep down, you knew that being villagers wasn’t enough – not for the attack by Alexander, and certainly not for any horrors to come. You wanted them to prepare themselves, and from what we hear, you succeeded. You planted the seed. I merely watered it.”

  “Are you sure? That you want me to do this?”

  “I’m with Catherine. Win this debate,” Arimus said with a grin. “And don’t screw it up.”

  “Fine,” he sighed. “I’m a little nervous…but I’ll do it.”

  They broke the huddle and James walked to the empty podium slowly. The crowd began murmuring amongst themselves, pointing toward Catherine who they no doubt expected to participate. At the opposite end of James was a merchant that appeared to be in his forties. Well groomed and boasting a brown beehive beard, he proudly approached his podium with hands in his pockets, his fingers rummaging against the fine green covered silk that draped over his body. The crowd began bumping elbows with one another and chuckling without restraint. James glanced around him anxiously. Apparently, this guy was no joke.

  “The participants have been determined,” the King yelled out. “Now, in the interest of time and fairness,” he chuckled, looking at James, “we won’t format this debate as we usually do. Though I would love to see how the young Sage would have fared in an eighty-round battle, we will turn this into a five round affair. Each participant will receive three minutes to say their peace, in which case the debate will shift to the other side. At the end of five rounds, a winner will be determined, and the fate of the Prattlian stone will be decided. Is that adequate?”

  The crowd cheered in unison and the King began stepping back.

  “James…Yelon…you may decide who goes first.”

  “Yelon can,” James said abruptly as the crowd groaned in disapproval.

  “Apparently, you don’t even know how to debate who goes first,” Yelon sighed. “But fine, I’ll go if it pleases you.”

  “Yelon,” the King said. “Your three minutes begins now.”

  “Ahem,” Yelon said. “Well, the topic of today is whether Allay or Prattle should have the right to the stones. This is all assuming that Zen-echelon is in fact on its way to destroy us, and that these stones will not be used for selfish gain. This exchange of words is merely to determine the more suitable party for ensuring our victory. With that being said, let me give you a little bit of history about Allay. Amongst the five Kingdoms spread throughout the land, they are seen as the weakest, and have been for decades. Now let me clarify further - they were
seen as the weaker Kingdom before we even had a guard! And why is this? Was it through no fault of their own? That their forces were simply decimated in the siege of 88? No. It’s because of their lack of organization and vision.

  “The Quietus are our closest neighbors, and yet we’ve survived countless attacks. Not because of our physical strength, but our collective strategy. We study them constantly; scenarios are revised and practiced every day. And when they do sniff us out, to see if we can be caught unawares, they are distraught to find we never are. Even before our guard was created, we were able to outsmart them, forcing them back home in droves, disappointed…and empty handed. As much as it may pain us to say it, we treat them with respect. And this, is something Allay does not possess. Although they had hundreds of Sages at their disposal, warriors of power limited only by their imagination, they were devastated within a day, leaving the rest of their Kingdom crippled and even more confused than they previously were. They paid for their lack of vision. Their disrespect and underestimations. They thought themselves strong, when they were weak, and this illusion is what I intend to make clear today. The Princess and her Sages come with good intentions, but no vision, no respect for their enemy. They simply believe their strength exceeds our own, and that every other Kingdom but they, should give up their right to lead the charge against this obscure and dangerous enemy. Thank you.”

  The crowd clapped as all eyes turned to James. He tapped the podium absent-mindedly as he stood up tall, looking at the man that had just torn down his home with so many words. He took a deep breath and let his heart do the speaking.

  “My opponent is right in some points,” James admitted, bringing forth a number of gasps. “I think his assessment of why Allay failed against the Quietus is spot on. And the only reason I say so, is because I was a shining example of everything Allay claimed to be, but wasn’t. See, I wasn’t trained to be a Sage since birth. I was a villager, and I could barely even be called that. I was lazy, self-centered, and thought I was entitled to riches, glory, and respect…I was a fool. And the only reason I’m standing here before you today is because my father signed me up for the Academy. He figured it was better that I die fighting for something than waste away on my bed at home. I barely even made it to the school itself. The only reason I made it there was because I didn’t have the money to take me elsewhere…I learned a lot, on my journey to become a Sage…one painful lesson was that I couldn’t just become what I wanted, or accomplish what I desired, simply by wishing it. I had to work, and I’m sure you as Prattlians know this all too well. But it didn’t come easy. It had to be beat into me, over and over, ripping apart not just my body, but more so my attitude, and my character.