by M. D. Laird
“Calab,” Eve said, taking his clawed hand in hers. “Don’t talk like that. You’re nothing like Jason.”
“I try not to be.”
“Well, Jason doesn’t even do that. You’re a good man, Calab.”
He snorted and raised his hand to caress her cheek. “I don’t believe that,” he said, “but I love that you do.” She smiled and covered his hand with her own.
Despite Calab no longer having a position within the quorum, Eve still wanted him to attend the defence meeting. All of the leads attended to meet the team of IT specialists and light alchemists. There were eight of them altogether; a Procnatus named Michael led the team with an alchemist named Altrin.
“Lord Thalia has informed us of your request, Your Majesty,” began Altrin, “and it is something we have looked at before and have spent some time working on. However, given our current technology, it is not something that we can add to a handheld device. The energy that is required is immense, even the alchemists and sorcerers who use shields are drained of energy very quickly, and they are using it as nature intended. To produce that artificially will be difficult, I imagine it will be possible to have it as part of the vox one day—we can certainly prioritise our work to that effect but, I’m afraid for the foreseeable future, it is not possible.”
“What about using something larger to power a shield, something similar to the outrider?” Eve asked.
“Maybe,” continued Altrin. “It might be possible—if we had a few devices. I can’t say how large the shield generated will be or even how effective.”
“There would be an issue with mobility,” said Michael. “Even if it was part of an outrider and could move around it will be difficult to move around to make sure everyone is shielded.”
“We’d have to lure them to where we want them,” said Tharazan, “and ensure we stay within the perimeter.”
“How long will it take you to develop a prototype?” said Eve.
“It’s difficult to say, Your Majesty,” said Michael. “We’re not yet sure how it will work exactly. We will have to try to adapt existing features. Most of the vox features manipulate the consciousness of humans, perhaps it could manipulate magic. Without knowing exactly what we’re doing and what hurdles we will face, we cannot say. We don’t even know how long we have so we can offer no guarantee that we will have something ready in time. I would strongly suggest that you proceed as though this is not an option and try to find another way.”
Eve nodded and tried to hide her disappointment. “Thank you,” she said calmly, “if you can try your best to develop something, we will all be very grateful. We will do as you suggest and try to find another way. Can you think of anything that may help and other technology we have not thought of?”
The team looked at each other and shook their heads. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” said Altrin. “Weapons grade technology is not our speciality, perhaps there is something in Lycea? Mortars or something you can use to wipe them out from a safe distance.”
Eve looked around the table. “I’m no expert in military technology, is that a viable option?” she asked.
Calab interrupted the muttering amongst the alliance. “I don’t think we should do that, Your Majesty,” he said. “The success would depend on us attacking first, catching them unaware and killing all of them. If they realise that the mortars are coming, they can deal with them or shield against them. If any survive, an attack on us would be imminent, and we would still have no defence against them.”
“We should not attack them first,” added Thalia. “We should try and prevent war as far as possible rather than start it. Mortar fire would also risk the lives of innocent people, that would make us no better than the Alchitch.” Eve gulped, and the room remained silent. They were back at square one, and they were still doomed.
The meeting concluded and Eve took a vector back to her guild with Calab. She slumped in the seat beside him. “What are we going to do, Calab?” she said miserably. He put his muscular arms around her, and she fell into his embrace.
Hidden from view, two witches observed the queen and the demon embrace in the vector. One grinned wickedly at her companion who returned a vicious smile as they tailed the vector.
Eve spent the remainder of the evening prowling her library desperately trying to find a link to her purpose in Arkazatinia in the sea of scribbles and arrows.
She curled up with Calab in her bed when she had become exhausted from thinking too much. Her hands lay on his tight abs, and her head rested on his bare, muscular chest. She listened to his heartbeat and felt his hot breath on the nape of her neck. She wanted him. She wanted to kiss his bare chest and creep up to kiss his mouth. She wanted to feel his lips against hers, to feel his clawed hands run along her naked flesh. Instead, she remained still and resisted and hoped that he could not sense the desire emanating from her. She could not bear it if he rejected her again. Keeping her breathing steady and her thoughts on anything but Calab’s hot skin burning against hers, she eventually fell asleep.
“I should go to Laurasia today,” said Calab the next morning as they lay in bed.
“I don’t want you to go,” said Eve, snuggling closer to him. “Stay here with me.”
He chuckled. “And risk getting fired? I don’t want to get on the wrong side of my boss, she’s a real dragon.”
Eve poked his ribs, and he winced playfully. “I could fire you, so you don’t have to go.” She grinned.
He sat up and gave her a dazzling smile before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
After a gruelling morning of training and a hearty lunch, Eve was back in her library. She had pulled down the scribbled notes and hung large sheets of paper in any space that was not covered with bookshelves. She added the notes and arrows hoping that it would make more sense if it was neat—it did not. She was just as baffled. She did not even feel like she was close. Nothing that made her think she was onto something other than the coincidence that there were too many coincidences. Ezra entered the library carrying a letter and broke her frustration.
“This has just arrived, Your Majesty, it is marked urgent.”
“Thank you, Lord Ezra,” she replied, putting down her red marker and taking the letter. Ezra left, and she looked at the envelope. It was addressed to her in neat, but eerie-looking script—she did not recognise the hand. She tore open the envelope and revealed thick, expensive paper. She sank to her knees as she read:
HM Queen Genevieve of Impærielas, Crown of Arkazatinia,
As you no doubt are aware, the dark alchemists and witches have allied, and it is our intention to claim the Crown for our own. Your not so inconspicuous scouts will have also informed you of our new magical abilities, and after our demonstration upon the fae, you will have realised that they far exceed any powers that your alliance has. We are sure that it will not have escaped your notice that the situation is dire and you will be foolish to stand against us.
However, we are not without mercy, and we will give you an opportunity to save your people. Surrender the Crown to us, and your people will be unharmed. We will rule Arkazatinia with or without your surrender, but your surrender will save countless innocent lives. If that is not enough of an incentive for you, we have also taken the liberty of picking up a friend of yours who we will be happy to free once you surrender the Crown. If you would like to save your librarian from a terrible fate and save your people from certain death, then we strongly suggest that you meet us at dawn tomorrow. We have enclosed the coordinates for your vector to allow you to arrive with ease. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Warmest wishes
Your enemies
Ps. Calab says hi.
She could not catch her breath, and her heart beat out of her chest.
They have Calab. They’ve taken Calab! What can I do? I have to save him. I have to save my people. I can’t let them be ruled by the Alchitch.
&nb
sp; She stared at her scrawled map.
Think. Think! What is the link?
Nothing. She could see nothing. She descended once more into a panic. She looked at the time—it was three in the afternoon. She was to meet them at dawn.
What the hell do they mean by dawn? Why couldn’t they just give me a time? How am I supposed to know when the light will appear? Am I supposed to be late and let him die because I don’t know what time they mean or be too early and have less time to plan? Take a breath. Focus. Concentrate.
Her thoughts cycled through every interaction she had had with Calab.
I have to be missing something.
She stood and ran to Lady Ariana’s apartment.
“I apologise for my intrusion, Lady Ariana,” said Eve, handing her the letter. “I have received this.” Lady Ariana said nothing and studied Eve. “Lady, I have not stopped thinking, but I cannot find my purpose here. I believe that it has something to do with Calab and me, but I may be clutching at straws.” She quickly reeled off the content of her wall map and still Lady Ariana said nothing. “I just don’t know what it all means. I’m running out of time. If I haven’t figured this out by dawn tomorrow, I will have to surrender to them.”
“They will not let you live,” said Lady Ariana quietly.
“I know. But if I don’t surrender, they will kill everyone. Please, do you know anything more? Anything about the magic they’re using? Have you seen anything?”
“The magic they are using is ancient, so old that nothing is written.”
“How are they accessing it?”
“I do not know.”
“Can it be stopped?”
“I do not know.”
Eve's hands came to her face in frustration. “Can you tell me the prophecy again?”
“The prophecy said the one who shows loyalty with no thought of reward, sees the truth but does not hide, and seeks allegiance in the face of adversity shall be deemed worthy to rule all.”
That doesn’t help.
“Was there anything more?”
Lady Ariana shook her head. “That is all of it.”
“Do you know if my relationship with Calab means anything? If it’s significant in all this?”
“I have seen nothing more.”
Eve wanted to scream but swallowed her rage. “What was the Crown like before the Imperium? Who were they?”
“The Crown was King Reglas. He was an Impærielas.”
“What was he like?”
“He was fair, just, and hard-working—he was like all Impærielas.”
“What happened to him?”
“He died. He died in his sleep. At the time we thought he had chosen to fade though it is not impossible that he was poisoned by the dark alchemist who was controlling the Imperator.”
They never told me that before I ate anything.
“The Crowns before him,” said Eve, “is there anything significant about them, about me? Are there any differences or similarities that stand out?”
“The other Crowns had sorcery abilities,” she replied. “All thorian leaders have some magical ability—I have my sight.”
“But I don’t,” remarked Eve. “Why is that?”
“You are an outlander, you are human. Beyond that, I do not know.”
“Do they have the abilities before or do they get them when they become a ruler?”
“They gain them when they become a ruler.”
“Automatically or is there something to be done first—some ceremony?”
“They receive them as a matter of course.”
Eve sighed. “Have you ever known an outlander to have any magical abilities?”
“I am afraid not, Your Majesty.”
Eve bit hard on her lip and tasted blood in her mouth. “What am I to do? I’m lost.”
“You need to learn your purpose.”
“How?”
“It is your path. Only you can take it,” said Lady Ariana plainly. “Though it may be worth considering that it is Arkazatinia’s will that the demon, as the human, has been taken from you. You have become rather too close. I have heard that he has spent many a night in your room. It is not appropriate.”
Eve was a little disconcerted. She had never heard Lady Ariana express an actual opinion, but this turned to anger. “I love Calab, Lady Ariana,” she said as pleasantly as her temper would allow. “I know it is considered inappropriate, but I love him very much, and I will not let him go without a fight.”
Eve left Lady Ariana’s apartment feeling more frustrated. Frustrated enough to do something risky and incredibly reckless. She exited the front door of the guild and summoned her demon guard.
“Your Majesty,” he said, landing in front of her, folding his wings and bowing slightly.
“I need you to take me to see Asmodeus.”
“Asmodeus Prince Nakhiel?”
“No, High Prince Asmodeus.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. That’s not possible.”
“It is urgent that I speak with him,” she said calmly. “You must be able to take me to Hell or can I use a vox?”
“I can’t, Your Majesty, and if I could, I couldn’t bring you back.”
“If you can’t take me,” she said. “Can you tell me how one would get there, hypothetically?” He frowned at her and shook his head. “Please, it’s important,” she pleaded.
“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you that.”
“The lives of all Arkazatinia depend on this.”
He looked anxious, and she could see the battle with his reason displayed in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” he said finally. “It is against our orders to knowingly take any action which places you in danger.”
“As the queen, I order you to tell me.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but there are some orders we cannot take from the queen.” He returned to his post.
Eve wanted to scream in frustration.
Why will no one help me? Who do I have to pray to— Pray! Should I pray to Asmodeus?
She returned to her library and sat on the floor in front of the map. Pray. Pray. That shouldn’t be too hard. Except she had not said a prayer since she was a child and it was not to a demon high prince. She was not sure how that worked or if it would work at all.
She closed her eyes and focussed hard on the room where Calab met Asmodeus. She concentrated on the demon’s face, his voice, his name, and begged him to hear her plea. She repeated her prayer again and again until she drifted off still sat on the floor with her legs folded and her hands clasped.
Eve did not know what was more awful: the sulphur that choked her and burnt her nostrils or the searing temperature that burnt her skin. She looked up into the face of Asmodeus and gasped. He was even more terrifying than she remembered and she suddenly regretted whatever stupidity had made her think this was a good idea.
She composed herself and tried to breathe. She pulled herself up to a kneeling position and bowed in front of him as Calab had done. “High Prince,” she said, choking as she tried to clear her throat. “Forgive my intrusion, I am—”
“I know who you are, little queen,” he said, his voice booming around her. She waited for him to say something more—he did not.
“May I have leave to rise?” she asked. He glared at her with his shining green glass eyes—his face contorted with feral rage. She gulped, but he waved his hand and bid her to rise. She stood and took a few breaths before speaking again. “I have come to you with a request for help,” she said slowly.
Asmodeus laughed a cruel laugh which crawled under her skin and stung every nerve. “You think I will help you?”
“I hope you will,” she replied calmly.
“No wonder the boy likes you,” he said, his tone was vicious and acidic. “You are quite intriguing. You have my attention, little queen.”
“The dark alchemists and the witches have allied. They are planning to at
tack the Crown Alliance and want to take the Crown for themselves. They are using an ancient magic, and we will be powerless against it. They have taken Calab and have sent me a letter to say they will release him and leave everyone unharmed if I surrender the Crown to them.”
“And?”
“And I need to know how to stop them.”
“How to save yourself?”
“No. How to save my people and save Calab.”
“They have already told you how to save them, you need to simply surrender.”
“That is not saving them. They may be alive if I surrender, but they will be ruled by them and who knows what they will be subject to.”
“And what do you expect me to do, little queen?” Asmodeus snarled. “Do you expect me to save all your friends and kill all your enemies for you?”
“I need some answers. There are things I don’t understand, and I’m running out of time. Lady Ariana told me that I was selected to become queen because of a prophecy. She said I have to learn my purpose. I have been going over every detail of my life. I think my purpose has something to do with Calab. There are too many coincidences.
“I learned of Arkazatinia because of him and then I saw him in a park and he brought me back. He regained his emotions because of me and sacrificed himself for me. The day he did that I was linked to him as the sorcerer was channelling his energy and I came here with him.” Asmodeus raised his eyebrows. “The sorcerer was a fae sorcerer,” she continued, “who I allied with because Calab hid me with the fae from the Imperator. That’s why I’m here, in case it was intended that I should have followed him here, in case there is something I am supposed to learn from you.”
“If you had been listening on the day he came here, you would know that I do not know why he regained his…feelings.” He growled.
“I know that,” she said, “but is there anything more that you may know? Anything about the prophecy?” She tried to control her tone and remind herself who she was speaking to.