Just ahead, climbing high above everything else, was the crumbling staircase. A little over a week ago, Charis had walked up these stairs carrying her weekly delivery of books to Nerissa, as she had countless times before. Now, instead of leading to Nerissa’s room, they led to the open sky. The ethereal beauty of the stars seemed out of place above the broken remains. She wondered if Nerissa were among those stars now, looking down on her from the heavens. From here, it seemed to Charis that she could climb the stairs and step into the heavens to join her.
Charis pressed on. Her destination lay beyond the staircase. Nerissa's room had been on the second floor, but the supporting pillars had collapsed, and the entire level had tumbled to the ground with them. Little remained recognizable, so she scanned the rubble intently in the dim light. She needed to find something familiar that would mark a suitable starting place. The treasures she so earnestly sought could be anywhere, but there was not enough time to look through everything.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end at the realization that she may also come across something she did not want to find. The bodies of those who had perished in the attack should already have been removed and put to rest. Surely, Casimer’s men had found everyone by now. However, according to the rumors, Nerissa’s body had not yet been found. The sole proof of her demise that had been discovered was her phoenix ring. That was no proof in Charis’ mind. She was the only one Nerissa had told of her plan to switch costumes during the party. Nerissa would have taken off the ring when she changed, but there was no way that Charis would share that information with anyone.
Had the attack occurred before or after Nerissa swapped costumes? Could she have survived and somehow escaped? Charis hoped from the bottom of her heart that she had.
The thoughts were banished from Charis’ mind when something off to the left caught her attention. Silhouetted by the moonlight was an unmistakable form. Two thick iron pillars, with a network of curving metal connecting them, jutted sharply out from the rubble. Not long ago she had been sitting on that bed talking about books with Nerissa. Her search would begin there.
Charis dug through the debris with fruitless effort for several minutes when a ray of moonlight caught on something small and shiny in a mass of stones nearby. Her heart skipped a beat with excitement as she plunged her hand into the gloomy nook and retrieved the object. The abrupt movement caused the wooden beam supporting her to shift. She dropped her lantern and tumbled backward with a resounding thump. Despite the burning desire to rub her throbbing bottom, Charis picked up her lantern and opened her clenched fist to inspect her find.
Attached to the blackened stone sliver in her hand was a fine wire. The crystal's six companions were tangled with it in a jumbled mass. For a moment, Charis could only blink and stare with amazement. These crystals had been one of Nerissa’s most cherished possessions! To find them whole and unbroken was more than she could have hoped for. They had always looked so delicate and seemed so fragile. It was astonishing that they had survived an assault which had reduced the entire Manor to rubble.
Charis gasped and swore as a firm hand suddenly clamped down on her shoulder.
"Here." The single word was surprisingly soft, almost comforting. Charis whirled around to face the person who had startled her. Amon stood behind her, his cloak and long red scarf stirred in the night breeze.
In his outstretched hand, he held a handkerchief. He had thought that she would need it to dry her tears since Charis was tenderhearted and cried easily. More than once, he had found her crying while reading a sad story. Much to his surprise, the face that now turned to meet his was neither red nor tear-streaked. Instead, her expression was a mix of shock and happiness. He assumed the shock was from his sudden appearance. Why, then, did she look happy?
"Th-thank you," Charis stuttered, taking the silken cloth from his outstretched hand. She turned away again and proceeded to rub the black soot from the object. Amon looked over her shoulder surreptitiously in an attempt to see what it was she had found. It was hard to discern the item in the dim light of their lamps. Charis enfolded it within the fabric before he could tell exactly what it had been.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Charis asked. The question sounded more like an accusation. Her attention was totally focused on Amon now that her discovery was safely tucked away.
"I saw you leaving and decided to follow you," Amon said. He squeezed Charis’ forearm. "It was past curfew, and it isn't safe to be out alone at night, so I was worried about you. This place is off-limits, not to mention dangerous. Let’s go, before we get injured or someone sees us. We could both get in a lot of trouble if we're caught here."
"I can go anywhere I want, anytime I want! There is no curfew in Niamh," Charis argued.
"Casimer rules Chiyo now," Amon replied patiently.
"Only if we let him," Charis scoffed.
Amon's hand twitched, but his expression remained calm. That was a reckless thing to say, especially here. His eyes narrowed. "You would do well to think about who you are talking to."
"And exactly what will you do about it?" She yanked her arm from his grasp. "You would also do well to remember your position. Do you think you would be able to continue your studies if I told my father you had threatened me? I know you're up to something. And whatever it is, I’m sure that you can't afford to lose your position at the University."
Amon sighed. “I didn’t mean for it to sound like a threat. I’m getting angry because you’re acting stubborn. The curfew is for your own good. The city isn't as safe as it once was," he explained. That was the second time tonight that Charis had surprised him. He thought she would back down at his insinuation, but she stood up to him instead. Amon had to admit that he admired her pluck, but he would have to tread carefully with her in the future. She was right—he absolutely could not afford to lose his position at the University.
The sound of approaching voices startled them both. Amon dropped smoothly to the ground behind some nearby debris, jerking a lock-kneed Charis down with him. Three men passed by, unaware of their presence. They stopped some distance away, in what used to be the Memorial Garden of the Manor. Slowly and simultaneously, two pairs of eyes peeked over the top of some splintered wood. There were no trees surrounding the area where the men stopped, leaving them eerily illuminated by the moonlight. Charis had never seen anyone like them before. Long, dark hair swung from high ponytails as the men repeatedly swung heavy mallets against the memorial marker.
The towering obelisk had served as the tribute to the Royal Family for as long as Chiyo had existed. The names of generations of Chiyo's rulers had been inscribed there so that the memory of their beloved rulers would be preserved forever. Miraculously, the memorial had survived the attack with little damage. Nerissa, Rica, and Parlen's own names had recently been carved into the tablet at its base. With every swing of the men’s mallets, the stone cracked and fragments crumbled away. Each blow tore apart the last and most sacred memorial of the Royal Family.
Charis closed her eyes and slid back to the ground, clutching the folds of fabric inside her pocket as silent tears streamed down her face. Casimer was destroying anything and everything that remained of the people who had been like a second family to her. She felt wretchedly small and helpless, huddling there as the sound of stones breaking echoed around her.
Amon knelt down next to her and awkwardly pulled the hood of Charis' cloak over her head. Despite what he had said before, he hadn’t really followed her here. It was an accident that he had run into her. He was glad that he had seen her before anyone else did. There would have been dire consequences had she been caught, tonight especially. He had hoped to encourage her to leave before his contact arrived. Now that the three Senka had arrived, it was too late for that. He patted the pouch beneath his cloak that contained the thick envelope with this week’s report. He couldn't miss this meeting, but he also couldn't let Charis discover his real purpose for being here. Beyond that, he really did hat
e to see her cry. It seemed there was only one way out of this mess. He just hoped he would be able to pull off his plan.
"Wait here. I'm going to approach them. Once I’m sure they aren't looking this way, I’ll take off my scarf. When I do, head straight out the gates as fast as you can." He offered a hand to help Charis up.
"You're going to get in trouble," Charis warned, wiping her cheek with the back of one hand.
"You’ll get in far more trouble than I will if you’re caught. I’m sure my uncle will forgive me for breaking his curfew, but he would not be so lenient on you." Amon paused a moment, then added, "Be careful on your way back."
Charis looked at him skeptically, and then a thought occurred to her. Why did she care if he got caught? If he did, then he would be gone from the University and she would be rid of him once and for all. The idea should have seemed appealing, but, oddly, it wasn't. She simply nodded to him in response, still a bit thunderstruck by the whole situation. Amon patted her once on the top of her head before standing.
He approached the trio with a casual wave, and Charis heard them greet him by name in response. She watched with trepidation as they smiled and chatted casually, the burliest of the men laughing and leaning on the handle of his downturned mallet. So they knew Amon. It wasn’t terribly unnatural for King Casimer’s cronies to know his nephew, was it? Maybe they were also involved with whatever nefarious plans he had at the University. She continued watching until Amon pulled his scarf from his neck and draped it over his arm. Charis turned away from the men and ran, keeping her eyes focused on the gates. She did not look back.
Amon watched until the bewildering girl was out of sight. Hopefully, she wasn't planning on doing anything else foolish. He would have to keep a closer eye on her from now on.
"That’s enough small talk. You’re late. You do have the information, don't you?" Amon’s contact asked.
"Of course I do. Have I ever let you down?" Amon replied. He removed the envelope from his pouch and handed it over. There was no way that he would let anything—or anyone—interfere with their plans.
Chapter 11
The Hidden City
Jin rubbed his arms in a vain attempt to keep warm and watched his breath drift away as misty puffs into the night. A short distance away, he could barely see the shadowy form of Ebba doing the same. More than a month had passed since the masquerade, so the nights should be growing warmer. Yet, on this night, a light glaze of frost already coated the budding greenery. The frost shimmered in the moonlight, which peeked in and out from behind the passing clouds.
Ildiko's chair beside the door of the nearby building remained oddly empty. Despite her delicate health, there was never a time that Jin had stood watch without her company. Tonight, however, she had another duty to fulfill.
This was certainly an unusual night, but everything had been unusual since Einar returned with that unconscious young man in his arms. The three Chiefs had divulged nothing about the man's identity yet. Still, speculation was already rampant throughout the village. The most prevalent theory was that the young man must be a nobleman who had been the second candidate to be Heir after Nerissa. Most rumors were unreliable, but they always contained at least a small grain of truth. In this case, Jin agreed that a secondary Heir candidate did seem to be the most logical conclusion. Until his mentor, Hania, or one of the other two Chiefs, decided to disclose the young man’s identity to him, Jin intended to operate under that assumption.
Sound carried well on this cold night, but despite how hard Jin strained to hear, the voices of the men inside were little more than an indistinguishable murmur. He had tried circling closer to the building, only to be turned away by a sharp look from Ebba. Jin desperately wished to be inside with Einar, Haku, and Hania. He felt useless not to be a part of the discussions. Instead, he was relegated to watching for snoops from a distance. Though he had already been named as Hania's successor, he would not be privy to all of the knowledge the three Chief’s shared until Hania resigned. He huffed with exasperation and watched another misty puff disappear into the night. If he were not allowed to hear them, then he would make sure no one else would either.
*******************
"Fifty Senka? He should consider it fortunate that somehow they all returned alive," Haku said, the fire in his voice growing with every word. His unnaturally white hair swayed side to side as he shook his head for emphasis.
Hania nodded sagely, his expression as placid as Haku's was animated. "Rian is still young. Right now, he feels the pain of loss and failure more acutely than his wounds. I expect that he feels even greater responsibility because of his father's role in the attack."
"He has no control over his father's actions. Particularly those of a father he hasn’t seen in twenty years. As for his own part in the fight, his squad was grossly outnumbered. No amount of training or years of experience could have helped in that battle. Rian will come to realize this eventually, and his pride will heal over time. Until then, we will ensure that he is kept too busy with training to become absorbed by self-pity." Einar's voice was strong, but the dark circles under his eyes belied the weariness that lay just beneath the surface.
"Rian is the least of my concerns!" Haku's brown eyes narrowed and frustration colored his face as he continued. "Casimer has held Niamh for the greater part of a month, and we have done absolutely nothing about it!"
Hania quashed Haku's growing vehemence with a stern look. "Save your fury for later, Haku. We have much to discuss tonight." He slid his gnarled hands into opposite sleeves of his robe, and wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes as he paused, frowning. "According to our informants, Casimer has been in contact with the governors of at least four of the five provinces asking for their allegiance. The Governor of Silvus was the first to submit—five days after Niamh fell."
"I never did trust Akkub," Einar muttered under his breath.
Haku folded his arms across his broad chest and shot Einar a knowing look. "What of the other regions?"
"I've had no word from three of the other four." The wrinkles softened a bit as Hania suppressed a smile. "But I have heard something quite interesting from the mountain province of Rhea."
"If they refused to cooperate with Casimer, it would be a great relief! Rhea spans all of northern Chiyo..." Einar trailed off, not wanting to think of what the situation would be if Alden, the Governor of Rhea, chose to side with Casimer.
"I was told that Alden covered Casimer's messenger in honey and feathers and chased him back to his carriage. He told the man that if he didn't hear him clucking like the chicken his King was, all the way out of the city, he would keep him in the coop with the other fowl birds." Hania's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"A waste of good honey," Haku remarked dryly. "They may need our help later."
"That’s unlikely," Einar interjected. "Rhea is surrounded by the Yoshie River. It is so deep and swift that it is impossible to cross except at the two drawbridges. Even before now, the region was nearly independent. Casimer would be hard-pressed to take them by force, especially considering how poorly he has been able to keep the rest of Chiyo in order thus far. That is why he is asking for the governors’ help. He doesn't have the power to do it alone, yet."
Hania nodded in agreement, silently applauding Einar's sharp strategic insight. "We should be careful not to misinterpret Alden's actions as loyalty. He is bold, charismatic, and impetuous all at once. He is quite a...," Hania paused, searching for the right word, "colorful...man, like his father was. But he is also like his father in that he acts only in Rhea's best interests. Relations between Rhea and the Royal Family have always been good, but Alden knows that they could just as easily stand alone as remain part of Chiyo."
"Fantastic," Haku groused. His mood was growing darker by the moment. "Tell me that you, at least, have good news, Einar."
Shadows hid Einar's eyes as he stared down at the floor in front of him. "Nerissa’s wounds are healing, but she still sleeps. Ildiko
is doing everything she can. She's using both herbs and crystals and even talks and sings to her."
"So Ildiko continues to have hope that Nerissa will wake?" Haku questioned pointedly.
"Yes," Einar replied.
"That is enough for me," Hania said, his voice and expression untroubled.
"Then should I request that Nerissa's name be left off of the memorial tablet? The replacement for the one Casimer destroyed is almost complete," Haku said.
"Let it be placed in the Ohanzee cemetery with her name on it," Hania said after a moment's consideration.
"Why?" Einar challenged, finally pulling his gaze away from the floor to meet Hania's eyes.
Hania's calm exterior melted away, replaced by resignation. "Nerissa is not the first person I've known to fall into such sleep. Not everyone wakes from it, and the longer it lasts, the less likely it is that she will. I don't like to think of the possibility, but we must not let our wishes make us lose focus on reality. Everyone thinks that the Heiress perished with her parents in the fire, and they mourn the loss of all three. If we reveal that she still lives, they will be elated, but if she dies without awakening, their sadness will be redoubled. It is far better not to give back hope prematurely."
Haku threw his head back. "Is there nothing else we can do other than sit back and watch while Chiyo is stolen?"
"Haste could cost us more than patience right now. We should continue with our current stance until the next course of action becomes clear. There is a reason for all chaos even though it may not be immediately apparent." Hania’s words hung in the air as silence descended upon the room.
*******************
Nerissa was floating in a dream, a place outside of time, on the horizon of life and death, where fantasy and reality blended together. It was a place of limitless possibility which could only be reached when the body rests and the mind's eye opens, freed from the restrictions of thought and reason. She drifted in the dream, her vision clouded and hazy, but she was unconcerned as long as she could see the soft light that shone like a beacon in the distance. Nerissa ached to move toward it, yet something tied her down and prevented her from reaching the serene light that seemed so tantalizingly close. Perhaps it was the pain that anchored her down. Why was there so much pain? The thought no sooner drifted through her mind than it evaporated into the fog. She knew if she could reach the light everything would be fine.
Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror Page 10