by M. D. Laird
“He is trying to frame me? You must believe me, how long have we known each other?”
“We have known each other since we stopped being enemies,” said Tharazan. “Since you stopped trying to remove me from my guild and take Laurentia for your own. Is that why you were so familiar with the keep on my border—is it yours?”
“He has filled your mind with nonsense. Are you going to believe that demon filth over one of your own?” She instantly regretted her outburst when she looked around at the alliance who had not missed the Imperator’s sentiments.
“I’m disappointed, Thanis,” said Tharazan. “Though I cannot say I am surprised; you have a history of this sort of thing.”
“Yes, I hate demons,” said Thanis, “but that does not mean I am not loyal to the Crown. He has the queen. He is the traitor.”
“The queen is upstairs,” said Tharazan. “We have just finished meeting with her.”
Thanis looked defeated. “You think you’re all so smart don’t you?” She sneered. “Playing at being friends and all getting along so nicely.”
“Why?” Tharazan asked calmly.
“Because the Elion should have ruled Arkazatinia, not the Impærielas. It was our birthright. The first crown had an alchemist bind the right with them, and I wanted it back. Now because of this corruption you are all going to be ruled by human scum—I hope you’re happy!”
“If the choice is between human scum and traitorous scum then it is not a difficult one to make. Who else have you been working with?”
“I will tell you nothing. Be aware that my people want the Crown. After I am executed a new ruler will rise up, and my people will make sure they know that the Crown is our right.”
“As you correctly infer,” said Tharazan, “the penalty for treason is death. How quick and painless you find that will depend on you giving us more than bloated speeches.”
“Torture me all you like,” said Thanis. “You will get nothing more from me.”
The alliance headed back to the library and gathered around the table.
“Now what?” Ester asked.
“We should have scouts watch the Guild of Elion,” said Avalon, “or maybe we should threaten them. Let them know we’re onto them and if they make a move, we’ll take them out.”
“Did they allude to anyone else during the meeting you observed, Calab?” asked Tharazan.
“No,” said Calab, “but he did say Thanis was supposed to kill ‘the other alchemists’ which may mean that was all of them. I was only with one of my men, and I didn’t know how powerful the alchemist was, we couldn’t risk leaving him alive to question him. Have the guards and the other alchemists said anything?”
“Nothing,” said Ester. “We’ll continue our interrogation. We’ll tell the alchemists that the third alchemist had ordered Thanis to have them killed and see if they reveal anything.”
“What about the queen?” Thalia asked. “Can we risk bringing her back? If we reinstate the Crown, it will send a message.”
“Perhaps, but it may be unwise to rush bringing her back until we know what we’re up against,” said Tharazan. “We’ll need to keep her under close guard until we’re sure the threat has passed. Calab?”
“She is safe where she is, for now,” said Calab. “When she is back the Impærielas are likely to be reluctant to allow any outsiders to guard her at the Guild of Impærielas. If they are, then she will need to stay here. We can re-establish the Guild of the Crown and meet there. The Imperium building is more defensible, but the guild sends a greater message.”
“So we learn what we can from the guards, the alchemist and the Elion,” said Tharazan. “Everyone should remain local to allow us to congregate with ease. Calab, do you have rooms here or shall we stay with Thalia again?”
“Yes, I will have them made up,” he said. “We should ensure that Thanis’ sentence is carried out quickly and publicly. The Elion should know that we do not treat traitors with mercy.”
Queene Orrla had arranged for Eve to have a room made up in the Guild of the Fae. The room was small compared to her quarters at the Guild of Asmodeus, but it was very light and airy and had a balcony with a view over the forest. Eve had not brought many changes of clothes with her when she left the Guild of Asmodeus two weeks earlier, and Orrla had provided her with clothing—mostly white and bright colours. She was enjoying her stay within the fae realm, the fae were very friendly, and it was nice to walk around unguarded. Queene Orrla had taken her on many walks through the forest both on foot and on horseback which, as an avid rider, Eve had enjoyed immensely. She had also joined a hunting party and hit a deer on her first attempt with a bow that had fed the guild. Following the beautifully prepared meal of venison, Eve had retired to her room to relax on the balcony and read in the last of the natural light.
“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” said a familiar voice. Eve jumped and looked in the direction of the sound.
“Calab,” she beamed at the demon who had appeared before her on the balcony.
“Prince Calab,” he corrected.
“Prince Calab,” she said her smile faltering when he showed no joy at seeing her. “You had me drugged and kidnapped. I thought I had been captured. Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugged. “I arranged for you to stay here, the queene wanted to ensure that her realm was secure—it was her call.”
“You could have told me I was coming here.”
“I said my men would take you to safety, you’re safe. You can’t possibly be angry with me.”
“I’m not,” she said. “Thank you.” He nodded formally. Eve was disappointed, she was happy to see him, but he was entirely unmoved. “Queene Orrla said that you suspected a traitor, was that the case?”
“Yes,” he said, taking a seat opposite her, “it was Lord Thanis of Elion. She believed the Crown was taken from her people and she wanted it back. She had allied with some dark alchemists to create the Imperium when the Imperator had been appointed as custodian, we believe. She saw the lack of emergence of the Crown as an opportunity to seize control. She knew she would have a fight on her hands to destroy the alliance and set about trying to remove groups from Arkazatinia through the Imperium. The Imperator was under the control of the dark alchemists—our light alchemists do not know how. However they achieved it, it seems his heart darkened under their influence, and he too began to have warped desires of his own. He was not satisfied with the plans to rule Arkazatinia and had designs on the rest of the world and Lycea as well. We believe this triggered Lady Ariana’s vision as the Impærielas are responsible for threats to Lycea.
“I was right to move you. You were in danger. When Thanis and the alchemists learned of your emergence, they wanted to secure their grip on Arkazatinia and plotted to kidnap you so they could unbind you from the Crown and bind it with Thanis. We have learned that the Elion has held a grudge against the Crown for millennia, and although Thanis has gone, they may try to rise up again one day. That is all we have managed to learn from the captives.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
“No one from the alliance. The strike went according to plan, but they were aware of our plans and had a team ready to move on my guild to kidnap you whilst the alliance were busy with the Imperator. I suspected a traitor, so I had ordered everyone out of the guild and had a team follow them when they left.”
“You left your library unguarded?”
Calab frowned. “You think I would choose to protect my books rather than protect my men?”
Eve shrugged. “It doesn’t convince me that you’re the heartless demon you claim to be.”
He appeared irritated. “Placing guards at my library would have drawn them to it.”
Eve smiled a little and changed the subject. “Does the Elion have a claim to the Crown?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe. The Crown has been under the Impærielas for as long as demons and angels have been on Earth un
der our current decree, no one is alive who was around before that and it is well before anything was documented. It has been handed down through stories I suppose.”
“But what if the Crown really is theirs,” she asked. “Would it be wrong of me to keep it? Would that be an act of treason? Was it an act of treason that it was taken from the Elion?”
“No.” Calab smirked. “It’s only treason if you lose. If you win, it’s called a revolution.” She returned his grin. “Besides, it doesn’t matter who thinks they have a claim on the Crown, Arkazatinia has chosen you to be the Crown. If it wanted the Elion, it would have chosen them.
“It is both a huge benefit and a huge drawback that we do not choose our own rule in this world. We do not have a say, and sometimes that does not go so well, but the advantage is that we know who should be in charge and if people challenge that then we know we need to deal with them.”
“As long as it suits you,” Eve said. “Which is why Malia was assassinated was it not? Because she caused problems? And the Imperator too?”
He shrugged. “We are not mindless minions. If someone goes against the accepted morals of the day, then we will deal with them. Both Malia and the Imperator threatened the exposure of our world, which is against our mandate, so they had to be dealt with.”
“You threatened the exposure of the world when you revealed yourself and kidnapped Andrew nine years ago,” Eve reminded him.
“I’m sure I’ll pay for that in Hell,” he said nonchalantly.
Eve shook her head. “It is a bizarre system. You only honour and respect rule as long as you’re happy with it, why not just rule yourselves if that’s the case.”
“You think someone like Malia should be left in a position of power?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying it’s not consistent. Why fight to have the Crown or me in place if you will execute me if you don’t like what I do?”
“Malia wasn’t the Crown,” he said. “And no one fought for the Imperator to be in power—he elected himself.”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“What do you want me to say?” he said. “Do you want me to assure you that you won’t be executed? I don’t have the gift of sight. Your fate is in your own hands.”
She sighed. “You said when the time comes I will know what to do. What if what I know what to do is wrong in everyone else’s eyes? How am I supposed to work with this system?”
“Welcome to Arkazatinia.” He grinned.
Eve rolled her eyes. “What has happened to the captives? To Thanis and the Imperator?”
“I took out the Imperator on the night of the strike and one of the alchemists when I followed Thanis and learned of her treachery. Another two alchemists and Thanis were publicly executed four days ago. The guards we arrested are imprisoned.”
“Does the Elion have a new ruler?”
“Yes, one has emerged. We have made sure that they know there will be consequences if they make another move against the Crown.”
“Has the new ruler been invited to have a seat in court?”
“We didn’t think that was wise.”
“We should try and work with them.”
“I don’t think the alliance will like that.”
“No, they probably won’t like that I’ve offered a seat to the fae either, but they’ll get over it…or perhaps they’ll just execute me.”
“You have?” exclaimed Calab.
“Yes.”
“The fae have never had a seat in the Crown.”
“Then it’s time they did.”
“It’s not your place to make these decisions.”
“Do you think I was wrong?”
“No, but you’re skirting outside your role. You cannot just do whatever you like.”
“What exactly am I allowed to do as the Crown?” she asked exasperated. “I am doing what I think is right.”
“It isn’t up to you.”
“How can it not be?”
“In the everyday running of things, you’re in charge—you have absolute power and everyone will do as you say. But matters of defence—including who we ally ourselves with—are not up to you.”
“This is the most ridiculous system I have ever heard of,” said Eve. “Why on earth would Thanis want the Crown so badly? It sounds like one long headache. I don’t want absolute power over spending or whatever, and if I can’t use my station to make a difference, I don’t want to be queen.”
“That’s just how it is.”
“Who makes the rules?”
“The Crown,” said Calab reluctantly.
“Well, there is no need for us to discuss it further. I will just change the rules. It was no doubt made by an Impærielas Crown who didn’t like to get their hands dirty anyway. I won’t be a queen who will leave the defence of my people to someone else while I hide away, ignore everyone and expect them to keep me safe.”
Calab groaned. “I hope you have a thick skin; this is not going to go down well. I’ll probably have to protect you from assassination attempts.”
Eve laughed. “I thought you liked the fae.”
“I do,” he replied. “I think they should have a place in court.”
“So what is the problem?”
“I know how everyone else will react.”
“You said I would know what to do when the time comes. I think this is what needs to be done.”
“I can see we are going to have our work cut out for us with you.”
“You did say things would get interesting.”
He grinned at her. “Are you ready to go back?”
“Now?” she asked, unable to hide her disappointment. “I guess I’m ready. I will miss the realm, though.”
Calab frowned a little. “Do you hate it at my guild that much?”
“I don’t hate it at your guild at all. Though, I’m not looking forward to moving into the Impærielas guild and getting used to another group of people. Do I have to go there straight away?”
He gave a small smile and said, “They were not happy for you to have outsiders guard you at their guild, and as none of them are trained in combat, we think you should stay at my guild a while longer. At least, until the Crown is re-established.”
“I can cope with that. I missed you.”
Calab eyed her curiously and muttered, “Your absence has been noticed.”
Calab agreed that they could stay in the fae realm for the night and return to Eurasia in the morning. They joined the fae queene in a nearby forest clearing for a concert she had arranged to celebrate Eve’s first victory on the hunt. The clearing was surrounded by white blossom trees and lit by hundreds of tea lights. The wind orchestra was assembled beneath a pavilion made from vines and decorated with ivy. The ground was a carpet of white blossom petals and Eve sat upon them besides Calab. Surrounded by the fae, they drank faery wine from wooden goblets and enjoyed the most enchanting music Eve had ever heard. It was magical, the colour of the petals changed with the music which ensnared every sense and enthralled every nerve.
Calab walked Eve back to her room after the concert.
“Wasn’t that beautiful?” she said. “You should bring me back here sometime.”
“Why?” muttered Calab.
“Because I love it here, and as my friend you should bring me back.”
He shook his head. “We’re not friends,” he said firmly. “You will be my queen, and I will be your subject—nothing more.”
Her stomach clenched, and her heart jolted from his words. They pained her, and she could not disguise the hurt she knew was written over her face. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I got carried away. Goodnight, Prince Calab.” She opened the door to her room and quickly moved inside.
“Goodnight,” he said, turning away from her and walking down the corridor.
Calab walked to his own room. He winced a little when he pictured the girl’s expression. He
had hurt her feelings, but she needed to be told. He did not like the way she looked at him. The smile she had given him when he arrived at her room made him uncomfortable, and then she had told him she missed him and wanted to have trips out with him.
No, we are not friends.
He began to wish that he had just risked her safety with the Impærielas after all.
Eve breakfasted with Queene Orrla in her quarters the next morning after she received a card under her door inviting her.
“Are you looking forward to the next stage of your journey, Queen Genevieve?” Orrla smiled, pouring them both the delicious fae tea that Eve now adored and would miss terribly.
“I am,” said Eve. “I’m nervous, though.”
“You will do wonderfully, and if the stress of the throne becomes too much, then you must visit me. Perhaps a less dramatic entrance is in order next time.” Orrla smiled and handed Eve a small golden bow. It looked like a charm from a bracelet. “If you’re wearing this when you visit the Laurentian forest you will be able to find the entrance to the realm. You may visit whenever you like.”
Eve smiled. “Thank you. I would love to.”
Orrla escorted Eve to the steps of the guild after breakfast where Calab and three of his demons were waiting to escort her back to the Guild of Asmodeus.
“I shall miss you,” said the queene, pulling her into a hug. “Be sure to visit soon, you’re an honorary fae now.”
“I will miss you too and the realm,” said Eve, hugging her back. “And I will visit very soon.”
Orrla kissed her cheek. “I have had the remainder of your venison packed for you to take with you and enough tea to last until you visit again.”
“That’s very kind of you, thank you.”
Orrla smiled and turned to her waiting escorts. “It’s been wonderful seeing you again, Prince Calab. Take care of our queen.”