Both her uncle and Jinx had noticed her restlessness and had asked her what was wrong. She had shrugged it off, not knowing how to tell them what she was thinking about, hesitant to go through with it. After a while she made up her mind, she knew what she had to do.
Every few days she would walk to the castle. The gates were barred, but she could hear people working, clearing debris, trying to rebuild, just like Rowan had said. Rowan, she hadn’t seen him or heard from him since they had parted ways on the road home. As the third week ended she found herself wondering if she would ever see him again. He was king now, he was trying to rebuild a kingdom ravaged by war. He didn’t have the time to spend with a farm girl from down the meadow. She wasn’t angry, she understood.
The first morning of the fourth week, a scroll arrived with a package wrapped in red paper. It was hand-delivered to Benjin by a royal guard none of them recognised.
“Open it, open it,” chanted Shaya and Jinx together. A note was stuck to the package, Benjin read it eagerly.
Greyborn
You might want to clean yourself up.
Elle
“Just open it,” Jinx was practically jumping up and down on the table.
Benjin tore through the paper like it was his birthday. He lifted the lid from the box and exploded in roars of laughter. Shaya snatched the package out of the old man's hand as he tried to catch his breath. Inside, was a single glove. Shaya didn’t see why it was so funny. It was a rich brown colour, leather with a silver metal buckle. When Shaya looked closer she saw it wasn’t an ordinary glove, but a gauntlet with straps attached to it. She almost pulled her uncle across the table. As he complained she shoved the gauntlet onto his bandaged stump and buckled the straps around his wrist. For a while, he just stared at his new hand. It didn’t move or do anything really, but he seemed happier with it on.
“Looks good on you,” Shaya assured him.
“Fits like a glove” he giggled. The girls just rolled their eyes.
“Read the letter,” Shaya quickly shoved it in his face.
The scroll was a white sheet of parchment wrapped in a red ribbon, complete with the king’s wax seal. Benjin broke the seal, sat down at the dining table and unravelled the letter. Shaya peered over his shoulder and read along.
Benjin and my dearest Shaya,
I hope you are both well. My crowning ceremony is to be held on the twelfth of this month, in the rebuilt great hall at castle Arrolyn. I do hope you can both attend, I feel it has been too long since our last meeting.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Your friend, Rowan.
Shaya grinned from ear to ear. The twelfth was only a few days away, she could suffer the monotony a few more days. Benjin re-read the letter and looked up at her with a raised eyebrow.
“Dearest Shaya?” He said with a curious smirk.
“Oh, shut up,” Shaya nudged him, but couldn’t stop grinning. She didn’t know why she was smiling so much, or why her stomach tingled so. It would be nice to see him again, she admitted to herself, even if it would be for the last time.
♦ ♦ ♦
Four agonisingly slow days later, Shaya found herself walking into the throne room of castle Arrolyn. It looked a lot different from the last time she had been there. No army of Krarg bashing down the giant doors this time. The deep red banners remained, hanging from the walls. A new addition was a map of Arrolyn, so big it covered a sizable portion of the back wall, behind the stone pillars. Shaya knew it was there to keep the passage they had used to escape hidden. The outside of the castle still showed signs of the fire that had ravaged through it. Debris had been cleared, and some parts had begun to be rebuilt, but the throne room looked brand new. Everything had been polished to a mirror sheen, the chandeliers shone brightly above in the mid-day sun pouring in through the windows.
The air was electrified with exhilaration as crowds of every race poured into the hall. Everyone was excited to see the new king; each person was dressed in their finery for the grand occasion. Even Benjin had made an effort, he had combed his usually wild moustache and wore his best fur jacket, something he needed as autumn slowly crept into winter. Jinx had returned to her usual spot on Shaya’s shoulder smiling contently. Shaya had taken her hair out of her usual braid and let it hang loose. She wore her favourite tunic, a deep turquoise with silver decals, grey pants and her knee-high brown boots that had been polished within an inch of their life. Around her waist sat the belt from her armour and strapped to it, was Valour. She got some odd looks, bringing a sword into the castle, but she didn’t care. She recognised some of the guards from their adventure. They took one glance at her and Benjin and waved them through, smiling.
Across the room was Ortuskuss and his guards towering over everyone, dressed in their finest. They had left the battle axes and war hammers at home thankfully. Ortuskuss wore a purple sash across his massive chest, and a silvery cape wafted behind him. Shaya caught a glimpse of Avem and Avis talking with Myana near the front of the crowd.
A few surprised outbursts behind them caught Shaya’s attention. The crowd was parting, all staring at the floor. To Shaya’s surprise and delight, Sap and Floret waddled through the crowd, followed slowly by Oakmore, the Rootling chief.
“Who, what is that?” Benjin looked stunned. Shaya forgot that no one had seen Rootlings before. She ignored her uncle’s bewilderment and walked over.
“Sap,” she grinned “What are you doing here?” she said kneeling down.
“Hello, Shaya. Rowan Prince invited us, we honoured guests.”
“Hello there, Sap” Jinx hopped off Shaya’s shoulder and fluttered down, landing in Sap’s open hand.
“Hello pretty Jinx,” he said with a smile.
“It’s wonderful to see you all,” she said to the Rootlings.
“Come on,” Oakmore grumbled, “Let’s get to the front or we’re likely to see nothing but people’s legs.”
“Alright father,” Floret sighed with a roll of her eyes.
“I not being rude. You didn’t say hello, did you?” Oakmore muttered and jabbed a finger in his temple. Gerald popped his blue head out from the moss on Oakmore’s head and chirped loudly. He began pecking Oakmore as the Rootling flapped his arms over his head complaining.
“Come, pretty Jinx, I tell you our adventure getting here. Do you know what a horse is?”
The Rootlings and Jinx wandered off leaving Shaya with Benjin, a confused look still plastered on his face.
“They’re friends,” she said simply.
“Right,” clearly, he still didn’t know what to make of walking, talking plants.
Shaya continued to look around the room. On one side of the empty throne stood Ellesia, dressed in shimmering silver armour, a scarlet silk wrap draped around her shoulders that hung low behind her. She spotted them, smiled and waved them over. The two of them battled through the crowd to where Elle stood waiting.
“Glad you could make it,” she said, “The king will be thrilled,” she smiled at Shaya.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” said Benjin grinning under his moustache.
Suddenly, a door to the side opened, and six guardsmen poured out, all wearing silver armour like Elle’s and holding golden trumpets. Behind them came the elderly Royal minister, a large white robe dragged along the floor behind him as he walked. He held a crimson velvet cushion. Nestled on top of it, was the crown of King Leon, soon to be the crown of King Rowan.
“It’s about to start, I’ll speak to you after,” Elle went to go back to her post, but Shaya grabbed her arm gently.
“Elle,” she whispered sharply as the muttering of the crowd began to
die down “Can you give Rowan this?” She pulled out a sealed envelope. “After the ceremony.”
“What is it?” Elle whispered back.
“Important,” she said flatly.
Elle hesitated for a moment, Shaya could see she wanted to ask more questions, but she merely nodded and took the letter.
“What was that?” Benjin asked.
“Nothing, it doesn’t matter,” she said looking up at the guardsmen that had now lined behind the throne. “Come on, let’s get a good view.”
Shaya didn’t notice Benjin’s concerned look as they squeezed their way to the middle of the throne room.
The trumpets blared, silencing everyone into quiet anticipation. Rowan stepped out and walked to his throne, the trumpet blasts echoing all around the vast room. His hair was neat, for a change. He wore red and black robes over a red and gold tunic. A golden chain hung around his neck, attached to a flowing dark crimson cloak that hung down to the ground behind him. He stopped and looked out into the crowd, his face stern, his eyes searching. Finally, his gaze rested on Shaya’s beaming smile. He let slip a subtle smirk, and Shaya grinned up at him. His stern expression returned as the brass instruments fell silent and the minister approached.
The old man cleared his throat and pushed his tiny spectacles up his crooked nose. With a quiet voice, he addressed the crowd.
“The prince you see before you is no more. Today, we the people of Arrolyn, crown him king, like his father before him. May the line of kings live on in his name. By the Goddess, our holy light, may his reign be long and blessed. So say we all.”
The minister slid the crown off the cushion and turned to Rowan and stepped forward. Rowan faced the elderly cleric and bowed his head lightly. With white-gloved hands, the minister held the crown high above Rowan’s head and slowly lowered it until it rested atop the young king’s black hair. They both turned and faced the crowd.
“I present to you, King Rowan Ki,” said the elderly minister proudly.
The great hall exploded in cheers and whistles. Rowan suddenly looked just like his father. As he stood there, Shaya could almost see the man he would one day become and the king he strived to be, and it filled her heart with a warm fluttering glow.
The thundering applause rang out long and loud as King Rowan stood looking out at his subjects, an honoured smile on his face. Shaya cheered until her throat was raw, she clapped until her palms stung, then she clapped some more. Jinx flew around the room like a golden blur, flapping around Rowan cheering, before going back and settling on the head of an overjoyed Sap. Shaya was sure she had seen Ellesia wipe away a tear as she applauded.
After a while, Rowan held up a hand, and the room fell silent. He hung his head as he lowered his hand. There was a moment of silence. A silence so quiet, Shaya could have sworn she could hear Jinx’s tiny wings flapping from the front of the crowd.
“Thank you all,” Rowan said finally, he gazed out at the hundreds of eyes staring back at him. “Today is more than this. It is not a day for a king, but a day for a kingdom. Our kingdom we hold so dear in our hearts. It is a new day, a new beginning, for all of us. No longer do we need to live in fear of the darkness of ancient tales. The light has come. Together, the people of this great kingdom rose up. Together we fought that, which would doom our lands. Now the war is over. Now we will rebuild stronger than ever. United as one.”
Applause erupted once more. Rowan looked down at Shaya with a smile as the cheering grew louder. Rowan’s smile faulted when he saw a single tear run down the young girl’s cheek. She wiped it away with her palm and nodded at him. He looked away and silently thanked the rest of the crowd.
Shaya turned and started making her way through the elated crowd. She didn’t see Benjin’s panic when he realised she had gone. Nor did she see Rowan’s smile disappear, when he caught a glimpse of the back of her head vanishing into the mass of adoring faces.
♦ ♦ ♦
The castle doors closed behind her, and she took a huge breath as if she had just surfaced from Lake Coral. She wiped the dampness from her cheeks and hesitated. She went to take a step but froze.
Is this the right thing to do? Her mind shouted at her. Why now, can’t you wait? Maybe just a few more days?
No.
Shaya shook her head, she had made up her mind. She walked over to one of the bushes and yanked out her new backpack she bought from Ki Town the day before. Quickly, she slung the bulging brown bag over her shoulder. It was heavy, but it had everything she needed for her journey. She took one last look around, swallowed the lump in her throat and began to walk down the stone pathing leading away from the castle.
“Where do you think you’re going young lady?” said a stern voice behind her.
She stopped in her tracks and her mind split in two.
Keep walking, don’t look back.
No stay.
Finally, she turned to see Benjin’s solemn face looking back at her. His eyes, she had never seen his eyes filled with such sadness. Jinx sat quietly on his shoulder, her eyes already red from crying.
“I’m sorry, Uncle. Don’t try and stop me. I have to go,” she fought back more tears. Her stomach lurched.
“I know you do Kido.”
Shaya was stunned. She expected screaming and shouting and a lot of swearing from her uncle. Benjin walked towards her slowly.
“It was only a matter of time” sniffed Jinx “We’ve been waiting for this ever since we got home,” she hopped off Benjin’s shoulder as the old man walked forward.
Benjin nodded. “You need answers, and you’re not going to find them working on a farm with an old man, but-,” his bottom lip quivered. “Weren’t you going to say goodbye?”
“I couldn’t. I thought you would make me stay. I left you a note at home,” Shaya suddenly felt quite ashamed.
“A note? Like the one you left for the king?”
Shaya nodded, she felt terrible, her hands began to shake, a crushing feeling formed in her chest like her heart was being squeezed in a vice.
“I’m sorry, but I have to do this.”
Benjin bent down and held his niece’s head in his giant hands.
“Be safe,” he kissed her on the forehead, she could feel his warm tears in his bristly moustache. He looked deep into her eyes “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
“Whatever I find. You will always be my father.”
Benjin grabbed her and pulled her close, his great shoulders shaking as he wept.
“I love you. I love you so much,” the old man sobbed.
“I love you too,” she smiled up at him. Wiping away the tears again, she let out a sigh. She fought she would have to fight him, to make him see why she had to leave. She was glad he had caught her, she was glad she had this moment with him.
“Love you to Jinx,” she smiled at the sprite.
Jinx sniffed again “I Love you more.”
Suddenly her heart skipped when she heard the castle doors open. She peered around Benjin to see the king and Ellesia walking briskly towards them.
“There you are Shaya,” Rowan said as he grew closer “I’ve been looking for you. Ortuskuss presented me with this,” he went to pull a silver sword with a gilded handle from a red and gold sheaf. “It’s an authentic Boaruss sword he had made-,” Rowan trailed off as soon as he saw the teary-eyes and sad faces. He let the sword slide back into its scabbard with a quiet click.
“What’s the matter?” he asked with sudden concern in his voice. Then he spotted Shaya’s bag and froze. For a moment he looked at her as if she had just said something truly offensive, he looked hurt. “Where are you going?”
Shaya closed her eyes and sighed heavily; she couldn’t handle another goodbye.
Give me a group of Krarg to fight fine, she thought, but not this, please not this.
Rowan saw the guilt on her face “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Shaya said flatly. Rowan walked up to her, Benjin slumped over to Elle, they exchanged sombre glances but said nothing.
“Why?” Rowan looked angry, but his voice was desperately sad.
“That day on the island, the Goddess told me so much but left me with more questions than I have ever had before. I finally know who I am,” she felt the tears filling her eyes again “But
I need to know what it means to be me, to be what I am.”
“And you didn’t tell me because you knew I would try and stop you?”
“No,” Shaya felt the tears fall as her voice broke “I knew if you asked me to stay, I would.”
They both fell silent, staring at each other with sorrow filled eyes.
“I don’t want you to leave,” Rowan said finally, “But I understand why you have to.”
Shaya smiled through quivering lips and pulled Rowan towards her.
“Thank you,” Shaya muttered.
They embraced for a long time, neither one wanting to let go first. The ache in Shaya’s chest was crippling. Her hands trembled, her mind pleaded for her to stay.
They finally let go. Rowan’s hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment longer before he had to wipe his eyes.
Shaya looked over at the emotional mess that was Benjin, the stoic (but about to break) Ellesia and the sorrowful sprite.
“I’ll see you all soon,” she said as she began to walk backwards. Just before she turned away, she stopped and looked back at Rowan.
“Your sword,” she said, “What’s its name?”
“Hope,” Rowan said with a hint of a smile.
Shaya grinned.
“Perfect.”
With that, she turned and walked away. Rowan, Benjin, Jinx and Ellesia watched in tearful silence as golden wings spread from beneath Shaya’s backpack and she rose up into the air. Open mouthed, they gazed after her as she grew smaller and smaller against the blue sky.
“She left you this,” Elle said, still looking up into the sky. She held out the small white envelope.
Rowan took it and ripped it open, his damp eyes went back and forth across the page. A smile slowly appeared on his face, and he looked back up at the sky. Shaya was nothing but a small black dot on the horizon.
“What did it say?” Benjin asked.
The Shattered Moon (A Divine Legacy Book 1) Page 38