World Devoted

by Emily Albert

  When it dawned on her that they might not find the man who lied to them, Lenna ran to the wall and punched it hard. She punched again and again until her knuckles stung and her blood was on the wall. She didn’t even mind the pain; it only fueled her. She wanted to run out of the castle and scour the town herself, but instead she slid to the ground underneath the spot of blood and punched the floor with her other hand.

  She could feel the power rising inside her, getting her ready to conquer, just as her guardian had said. It was almost too much, yet it felt so good.

  That’s it. You’re ready.

  Both of her hands ached, and her face was still soaked with tears that had shed from her desperate anger. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. All she wanted to do was punch, kick, fight, and yell at the man. But all she could do was sit in the huge throne room and think about it.

  Lenna tried to imagine what he would say. Maybe that her mother hadn’t believed enough, maybe that this was what the gods wanted. This made her burn even more.

  As punishments tumbled around in her mind, the doors opened. A dozen guards walked in, surrounding the man she had seen earlier. She was instantly awake, walking over to him. He looked petrified of the guards and of Lenna, and she smiled wickedly. She had been waiting for too long.

  Flex your power, you can do whatever you please. You will feel this way for the rest of your life, only you will get stronger… Just you wait.

  A perverse part of her didn’t even care if he was the real murderer. She tried to scold herself for it, but it felt so good to have someone to punish for the crime.

  “Well, well, well, look who’s here. What’s your name? Do you realize that my mother is dead? She kept that awful amulet that you said would protect us at her bedside this whole time, and still, she’s gone. She left us—left me! So tell me that wretched thing was really cursed. There’s no point in lying. What do you have to say for yourself?”

  He was stunned. “My name is Joran Whittaker. A-and I’m so sorry, Highness, I heard about the Queen’s death, b-but I assure you, the amulet had nothin’ to do with it. It was blessed! But I think it was made to keep a certain demon away, so m-maybe… maybe the Queen was not cursed with that one. May she rest in peace… M-maybe she was cursed with a different demon. Or maybe it wasn’t strong enough to get the gods to protect you both, and I’m sorry—”

  Lenna’s hands shook. “This is madness. Your claim remains that there are demons that can possess us? We don’t believe in any of this nonsense! How could you even suggest it?”

  “Your Highness, it has b-been a pattern… and I mean no offense… a pattern that royals here are troubled. With what, I don’t know. But I thought maybe Queen Fay was struggling with somethin’, and I tried to help…”

  Lenna only thought for a moment about the possibility of the pattern before rejecting it altogether. “She did struggle, but not because of demons! Neither did the previous kings and queens! I cannot believe you would say anything of the sort!”

  “Your Highness, maybe there are no demons… I’m only tryin’ to explain why I—”

  “Now I understand,” Lenna announced, “This man is not a criminal, he is insane. Have him taken to the asylum!”

  As the guards shepherded him away, he shouted, “No! Please, no! There are so many people who believe the same things as me! I was only tryin’ to help! I’m not crazy!”

  “Then send the others there as well!” Lenna turned away, satisfied. The humming in her head was a loud warning.

  The sound of Remy’s footsteps and voice echoed down the hallway into the throne room: “Is everything okay? Lenna?”

  Waiting for him to come in, she took a deep breath. When she saw him, she said, “What are you doing here?”

  “I was taking a walk and I heard screaming. The better question is, what are you doing? What’s going on?”

  “You don’t have to worry about it. I was only setting things straight for Mother.”

  “What do you mean? What did you do? Why did I hear people screaming?”

  “One person was screaming because he’s crazy. Do you remember the amulets that he said would protect us from demons? They didn’t do a great job at protecting her, did they?”

  “Lenna!” Remy stared at her for a few seconds, mouth open. “Did you really have any faith in magical amulets to begin with? And now you’re so angry about them that you’re doing who-knows-what to a crazy peasant? Lenna, the amulets did not kill Mother! The amulets did nothing to any of us. Who are you?”

  “He’s crazy, so I sent him to an asylum. I had to do it. You don’t need to worry about it.”

  “Listen, I understand that you’re angry,” he motioned to her bloody hands, “but find another way to get it out. Okay? Find another way. You’re not acting like a queen.” He walked away with his hands running through his hair. He called back, sounding crushed, “And you’re not acting like my sister.”

  All at once Lenna felt absolute exhaustion. Being chastised by Remy made tears come back to her eyes. She couldn’t handle her fresh guilt and the distraught look on Remy’s face.

  “I’m sorry…” she said into the empty space. “I couldn’t stop myself. I’m so sorry.”

  Never apologize for your power. This is who you are. You will rule the world.

  Lenna tried to lean into her guardian’s words, but the forgiveness evaded her. She did not have the energy to wash the blood off her hands before dragging herself to bed.

  EIGHT

  As Lenna waited for the motivation to get out of bed, she heard a knock on her door. Then, after a moment, the person decided against that idea and threw the door open. Kendra marched in, tugged back the covers and hissed, “You threw a man into an asylum because he was religious? Are you going to throw me in too? Would you have thrown your mother in? And do you know how bad this looks for you becoming Queen? No one wants an intolerant ruler. I don’t even recognize you!”

  This is who you’re becoming. Doesn’t it feel wonderful? Powerful?

  “Did my brother tell you?”

  Kendra only rolled her eyes.

  “He wasn’t just religious,” Lenna said. “He thought demons were possessing us.”

  “I’m sorry,” Lenna amended when she saw Kendra’s stern face. She couldn’t disappoint her too. “I shouldn’t have…”

  Never apologize. You did nothing wrong.

  “No, you shouldn’t have,” she said bitterly. “Lenna, lots of religious people believe in demons. My mother believed in them. Perhaps it is a little eccentric, but it is just religion. Nobody can find out about this.”

  No one has to know. The evidence is locked away in the asylum.

  “No one will know, Kendra,” Lenna said, looking down at her hands, and Kendra sighed. She muttered on her way to the door, “I can’t believe you, sending a sane man to the asylum.”

  When Kendra was gone, Lenna got out of bed.

  Her ride with Pegasus energized her, and the powerful feeling lifted any crushing guilt. She wanted to make her guardian proud by continuing to move toward becoming Queen.

  She had learned from her mother that the best way to gain the respect of the people was to become involved, to make her presence known. Fay would often walk through the city, and even the most insignificant towns, on her own. That was what Lenna would do.

  “I need to show the people love and compassion, right?” She had asked her guardian during her ride. “I need to win them over?”

  You will have power over them once they love you, respect you.

  She rode through Everen, Runameade, and Asford. The towns were just as dingy as she remembered, but she felt above it all on horseback. Meandering the streets, she observed the people whose misfortunes begged for attention. People chanted desperate prayers as they scrounged for food or bathed in murky water. There were religious symbols carved or painted on almost every building—the same ones that were on the amulets—and people touched them and bowed their heads as they passed. These b
uildings were so broken and crumbled that she could hardly say any part of them was “indoors.” Some were barely buildings at all, but tents or canopies.

  Everyone was thin and decrepit with matted hair, smudges on their face, and torn clothes, but they didn’t look particularly unhappy. Spouses smiled at each other, people savored small pieces of fruit and bread with their families, grubby children ran around with handmade toys, shaggy dogs followed the children. Small groups of people held signs asking for donations to various causes. They all bowed and waved as Lenna rode by. Though it seemed unimaginable to her, they had hope for the future of the country. They believed she would make changes in their lives.

  There were people in the street praying and conversing, and Lenna came across one woman on the side of the road sitting on a blanket. As she got closer, they locked eyes, hers wild and hungry. Lenna rode past her, trying to subtly speed up, but the woman walked in front of Pegasus. “Hello there!” she called. “I can tell you about your wealth! Your family! Your power! Anythin’ in your life, I can predict!”

  Lenna smiled but said, “Excuse me, I don’t need my fortune told.”

  The woman scowled and walked slowly out of the way. “You will be the worst queen to ever live! You’ll die a sad, lonely death!” she yelled.

  Lenna’s heart fluttered at someone calling her “queen.” She stopped and turned around to face her. “How do you know I will be Queen?”

  The woman tapped her head with a dirty finger. “I can see the future.”

  Fortune telling was nonsense, but Lenna was flattered that she must have seen something powerful and successful in her.

  “Yes, I will be Queen.” She said, sitting up straighter. “But I will be a great one.”

  The woman shrugged. She did what could have been a rusty bow.

  “I am to be your queen, so you should have shown me some respect.”

  “Yeah, sorry, your Highness.” She shook out her greasy hair and tried to compose herself. “I am Lady Coira. I suppose you don’t want your fortune told, then?”

  “No, thank you. And you’re no lady.” She had to take a breath before saying, “I’ve never seen you in the castle before.”

  Coira snickered at the forced politeness. “But I am a lady—wanna see?” she said as she started to lift up her dress.

  “Put your dress down this instant!” Coira obeyed and smiled mischievously.

  It was evident Coira hadn’t bathed in a long time. Even though what Lenna had thought was dirt on her face was actually a covering of freckles, everything else about her was grimy. She couldn’t tell if her shabby brown dress had ever been washed or even changed. She had crooked teeth and thin, weakly brown hair that no doubt transferred oil onto everything it touched. Something about her—perhaps her cagey crystal blue eyes—was unsettling. Or maybe it was her harsh, choppy accent, which was harsh and choppy.

  No, she decided. The most unsettling part was that Coira seemed to be around her age and their lives were this different.

  “You’re not native to Haeden. Where are you from?”

  “You got it—not Haeden.”

  Lenna forced a laugh. “So?”

  Coira shrugged.

  “You don’t know, or you won’t tell me?”

  “Doesn't much matter, I guess.”

  “Okay, then… It’s been a pleasure. I must go.”

  “See you later, your Highness,” Coira hollered, sounding amused. Then she added, “Your Majesty!”

  Lenna didn’t even try to hide her broad smile as she rode away.

  They will hoist you up to the top if you let them.

  Nine

  The castle’s chapel was a comforting place filled with warm light filtered by the stained-glass windows. Arches and thick white pillars held up the lofty ceiling, and deep red, yellow, and green tile designs decorated the floor. Lenna was immediately taken back to praying with her mother when she noticed Kendra. She was the only one there.

  Kendra sat at a bench in the front by the upright disk statue showing every god’s symbol. Lenna walked up to it and stroked them all, marveling at how her beliefs had strayed so far from her mother’s. Even for her family, she could not make herself believe in gods when a totally different presence showed itself in her mind.

  Kendra looked up after she finished a prayer, sitting hunched over with her hands clasped together. She patted the seat next to her, and Lenna sat with her arm lightly touching Kendra’s.

  “I keep thinking it can’t be real. It didn’t happen, right? It couldn’t have. But it did.” Lenna spoke quietly to preserve the peace.

  “Yes, that’s common.”

  “I don’t like it.”

  “Yes, that’s common too.” She sat up straighter. “I don’t suppose you want to pray.”

  “Kendra, I…”

  “I know, I know. It’s okay. I don’t understand it, but it’s okay.”

  “I’m sorry about the man I sent to the asylum. I mean, I felt I had to do it. But it was impulsive, and I’m sorry.”

  Kendra sighed and leaned her head back, closing her eyes.

  “Can I ask you a question, Lenn?”

  “Of course.” Lenna braced herself for questions about the other night or how she had changed.

  Instead Kendra opened her eyes and said, “Do you think death hurts?”

  “People are scared of it, but I don’t think so. I think death is painful for a second, and then it’s nothing. You’re just… gone.”

  Kendra let out a shaky breath.

  “My mother is fine. I know she is. The scene looked bad, but now she’s gone. She’s not suffering. She’s okay.”

  Lenna put her hand on Kendra’s shoulder and she smiled at her weakly. “It’s not about that, it’s just…” Kendra trailed off and took Lenna’s hand. “Thank you, Lenn.”

  They sat that way for a while, until Kendra said, “It’s getting to be dinnertime. Maybe we should bring your brother some soup? It seems fitting.”

  Lenna pictured the half-eaten soup still in her mother’s room and in an instant let out a pained laugh.

  “You’re right, probably a bad idea. It’d bring back too many memories.”

  “No, Kendra. I just thought of something… but it can’t be. Can it? It’s impossible. He…”

  “Child, if you don’t tell me what it is then I can’t tell you whether it can or can’t be.”

  “I knew she had to be poisoned, Kendra. The soup. The soup…”

  “Remy brought the soup up himself every night. Maybe someone slipped something in. It could be true. Who would do that?”

  “No, Kendra!” Lenna pulled away and looked into her eyes. “Remy always stayed with her the whole time she ate.”

  “But he didn’t, because she didn’t even finish eating. Half the bowl was left. He must have had something to do, and when he left someone else slipped in. It’s the only possible explanation.”

  “He wouldn’t have left her. He sat by her side every night like a loyal dog. He never would have left.” Lenna voice trembled as she got worked up.

  “Now, now. If you’re implying the boy poisoned her, there’s no way. You need to calm down. You’re reaching for an answer, and we don’t have one yet.”

  “It’s the only way it could have happened. He was the only one with her.”

  “Okay, say he did it. I’ll play along. What’s his motive?”

  “Kendra, I don’t know! Maybe it was even an accident. I really don’t know. But it’s the only way.”

  Kendra shook her head slowly.

  “I have to talk to him. I have to hear him say it.”

  As she walked off, Kendra called after her halfheartedly, “Lenna, you’re not thinking straight. You don’t know what you’re doing!”

  That’s it… Yes, that’s it. Your next obstacle must go. Power will come when everyone is out of your way.

  The words sunk in. Did Remy want to take the throne? Would he kill their mother to get it? In the past the idea would have
been totally implausible, but now manic energy and a desire for power pulsed through her, and she was willing to believe it. She ignored Kendra and rushed to her brother’s room.

  When she walked in, he was still in bed. “Wake up,” Lenna ordered.

  He sat up and mumbled, “Hello.”

  “You’d better wake up quickly, because I have something to say to you.”

  “I guess it’s not ‘How are you?’”

  “Get up.”

  More hastily, as if Lenna has unsheathed a weapon, Remy sat on the edge of his bed. He had a nervous look on his face, mirroring Lenna’s anxiety as she tapped her foot.

  “You had better listen very carefully,” she said with so much conviction that it shocked her, “because what you say will change your future.”

  Remy sat frozen, staring at his sister who wasn’t fully his sister at the moment.

  “I know what you did to Mother.” She didn’t imagine it coming out so strongly, as she had no proof. But she hoped the bluff would get him to admit something. “I don’t know why you did it. I don’t know if you’re aware of how despicable it was. I don’t know how being poisoned, getting violently ill, then dying and leaving your children who love you is something you wanted for her. Maybe it was a relief, right? Such a relief to get rid of the thing that caused you so much stress.”

  Lenna paused dramatically, and Remy let her continue; whether it was because of shock or courtesy she couldn’t tell.

  “But I know that if anyone found out, they would not see it that way. In fact, it would look like you were trying to get rid of her so you could take the throne.”

  She looked at him expectantly, as if to say, “Am I wrong?” but she didn’t let him get a word in.

  “I don’t think they would want you to be their King. I think they would hate you for killing their beloved queen. Maybe you’d be imprisoned, or banished, or maybe you’d be killed. I can’t imagine that anyone would really want you to live. But maybe somehow, they would have mercy and you would be able to stay in the castle, just disgraced. Either way, no one would want someone like you to rule.”