by Scott Beith
Festivals and ceremonies were times of great celebration in the castle, where us commoners could dress up and mingle high society – as a bartender or waitress, of course, but it was still a privilege, as we were allowed to meet and greet all the distinguished members of The Capital.
“So will today be the day?” Tamara pried excitedly to Jade, referring to her insatiable lust to win the heart of a nobleman or knight.
“Not in any of these!” she moaned, still throwing her clothes to the floor with a pout.
To many of the young maids here, Parliament’s steps were a red carpet to all their dreams coming true. The place where they might meet a nobleman from another land who would take them away from the kitchens and the laundries and to a life of love, marriage and wealth – at least that was the generalised fantasy.
“And what of you? Will you be looking for love today?” Tamara asked me, staring down at me while leaning herself on a broomstick, bending the bristles against the dormitory’s floorboards as she held it like a highly-distinguished dance partner.
I was still seated on the floor, examining my dress’s silk fabric for any careless rips or creases. “Me?”
“Well, yes, dear, who else?”
“No. I’m still… waiting,” I replied, not one to fantasise about a noble rescuing me.
“Waiting for what?” Jade questioned.
“Old age?” Tamara teased in a friendly manner, with her and Jade giggling.
“No.” I giggled too. “I don’t really know… I guess for the one out there who’s been waiting for me,” I added optimistically, leaving the girls to their banter while I went somewhere quieter to get dressed.
Maids were rushing from chamber to chamber, flustered by the little time they had left to finish their looks before having to leave for work. All lined up by the only mirror we had in the quarters.
I folded my apron into my hand once dressed and ran out the palace doors, heading towards the royal courts near the centre of town, passing the deserted streets. I skipped up the sandstone steps towards Parliament House and entered the courtroom foyer as quick as I could. The crowd inside was already huge, though, and being at the back of the room I had to jump up and down from that backrow just to catch small snippets of the full scene unfolding.
The king was sitting on the throne, with all the prestigious nobles lined on either side of him. Arlo and Ebony knelt before the few small steps leading up to Helios’s throne chair, while Akoni, Camilla and Anara stood nearby, at the very front of the crowd.
I had missed all the vows and speeches, but had made it just in time for the knighting. Helios was standing up as he touched the tip of a ceremonial sword to Arlo’s right shoulder plate, and then moving it to his left. He did the same with Ebony. They rose, sending the crowd into a clapping frenzy, welcoming them into the first legion as members of Camilla’s Vanguard. The two of them replacing Radament and Ariss.
I put my apron on and entered the back area, happily beginning work as I found an optimistic charisma that came from all I’d done yesterday. I handed out beverages to the knights and noblemen as they laughed and enjoyed the after party celebrations.
An orchestra played an upbeat groove, while chatting dignitaries conjugated around the vast courtroom’s walls and up on the second story balconies, leaving most of this main foyer as a dance floor for the younger noblemen and women.
I felt a sadness creep over me at the thought that Radament lived for these kinds of events and would normally have made a fool out of himself already, being the wildcard that usually turned any dull celebration into a true party – but that was something that was going to have to stay in the past, due to him being gone.
“I never got a chance to thank you,” said a familiar voice to me from behind.
I turned around, expecting to find the prince, but happy to see it was Akoni standing behind me. He grabbed my hand and ushered me towards the dancefloor, where he took the empty tray I held and flung it away childishly, much like his best friend Arlo would do, making the point that I had just as much reason to enjoy this party as anyone else here.
He put one hand on my back and clasped his other hand with mine, the two of us spiralling and stepping around awkwardly in a fun but failed waltz. He was actually a rather talented dancer, to my surprise, formal events being just one of his greatest specialties as he stood straight and proper. “Since when do you dance?” I asked him.
“I don’t, but don’t we all just pretend?” He grinned, dipping me as if we suddenly switched into a tango class instead.
If only he could be this charming with Anara, I thought. And she was right there, only half a dance floor away, socialising with some of her more prestigious friends. She smiled at Akoni, making him blush and putting an end to his giddiness almost as quickly as it had started. The two of us retreating from the dance floor, heading back towards the doorway exit, away from the crowd.
“This event unfolded so quickly. Doesn’t the council usually take a couple of days to come to decisions like this? Could it not have waited at least a proper day’s sleep?” I asked Akoni as we then walked out towards the courtside gardens together.
“Milena says the tides are turning,” he replied. “That desperate times lay ahead for us,” he stated to me, seeming a little more flustered and distracted than usual. “I wanted to talk to you because I’m leaving tomorrow with Arlo. Milena has reconsidered my request to find a new crystal to replace the old one inside the Sunspire,” he said quietly, trying to appear as discreet as possible.
“Wow!” I replied, genuinely impressed. “But you’ve been making that pitch for years. Why has she agreed to it now?”
He shrugged and didn’t answer, in case the nobles we were walking past might overhear.
“So that’s why Arlo was so quickly promoted, aye?” I rephrased. “And where have you chosen to go for such a mining expedition?” I pried, once we were finally far enough away from the crowd to speak freely.
“The Crystal Caverns,” he answered calmly, taking a sip from the glass he’d taken from the bar under the balcony by the gardens.
“What?!” I exclaimed, loud enough to attract the attention of a few nearby nobles, having to be reminded to lower my voice and whisper as he stared plainly back at me. “Akoni, that’s not in The Borderlands. You know how dangerous it is out there.”
He did know, but even still, he didn’t respond. Instead, he led me further outside – away from prying ears. “Yeah, I know,” he then said, leaning towards me. “Milena finally approved my proposal to go there,” he whispered quietly as we entered the fresh tropical greenery of the small botanical gardens.
“Why do you need to go all the way out there? And why would she approve you two to go without anyone else to back you up?” I whispered, taking us off the open grass and sitting on one of the many wooden benches, so we could have a deeper and more serious conversation.
“Don’t share any of this, but things are worse than what we want the nobles here to believe,” he elaborated, waiting a second only to continuing speaking in an even quieter voice. “The Sunspire isn’t just damaged anymore, Kya. It’s collapsing. Cracks are growing faster than Helios can mend them. At this rate, he fears it’s just a matter of weeks before it breaks completely.”
It was all beginning to make sense now: why the army didn’t initially give aid to Ambarvale, and why all resources were being kept in the castle. “And Milena still condones this? Sending her heir and only son into The Badlands without any additional escorts?”
“The more we bring, the greater the risk of being spotted,” he explained.
“I get that, but still…”
“It’s strange, I know. I guess no one fears the darkness quite like she does… I mean, why else would she take old-man Helios as her husband?” Akoni joked. “But you’re right, she was reluctant, to say the least. Unfortunately for her, Arlo is the only one strong enough to carry the crystal without a wagon,” Akoni explained to me, giving me a mome
nt to let everything he said sink in.
I sat in silence, contemplating what exactly I wanted to ask, as I’d need to get back to work soon. “So why the Caverns?” I asked, “What’s so special about going there?” I added, trying to refrain myself from any idle chat and deciding to only ask the most important questions that I could think of at the time.
“The gold in the Sunspire can be easily mended with the gold Arlo said you and him found in the farmhouse, but the centre crystal cannot simply be fixed once cracked. It has to be replaced altogether… And there’s only one place where we can find one that large again.”
“The place where you father found the last one,” I said, answering my own question, smiling in the realisation of its significance. “Clever,” I then stated to him. “Promise me you’ll take care of each other,” I said, almost wishing deep down inside I could go with them.
“Of course, Kya,” Akoni vowed. “I don’t want to die any less than you want me to die,” he muttered humorously.
I stood up, ready to return to work.
“Wait. Wait,” Akoni said to me in stall, pulling me back down beside him. “I almost forgot to give you what I came here for,” he said, rummaging around in his vest pocket and pulling out something small and glowing. A beautiful ornament with flawless silver links cradling a bright iridescent crescent moon pendant dimly glowing like the rare moon itself. “Back when Arlo was trying to teach me to fight,” he mentioned with a grin, no doubt remembering how terrible those days were, before he found his calling as a field scientist. “He told me one thing I’ve never forgotten… He said that some might prefer a stick over a sword, or an arrow over a bolt, but all weapons are just extensions of whatever part of their body they excel with the most,” he explained while I stared, mesmerised, at the sheer aesthetic brilliance of this gift I could only assume he was about to give me.
“But not all weapons are swords or sticks,” he then stated amusingly. “You and I use our eyes and minds to survive. And after all that you did for me last night, I think it’s time you got something to go with that warrior spirit,” he said, smiling as he placed the pendant into my two cupped hands. Shadows growing behind my hands and at the back of my fingertips. My two hands almost trembling as I struggled to contain my teeming excitement as I began to unlink the necklace’s chain and, with Akoni’s help, carefully put it around my neck to forever sit.
It was a present so pretty and heartfelt that I could do nothing but sit there in silent admiration of it, staring at its twinkling and mild brilliance.
“It’s a broken shard from the Sunspire,” he explained. “That crystal won’t dim for at least a few hundred years or so. Long enough to keep your shadows alive and strong, should night ever come at you again and you need to conjure a quick shield or sword,” he said.
“I had kept this fragment to remember my father,” Akoni then added, with a tone of guilty shame to his voice as he said it. “But now that I know he’s still alive, I don’t really need it anymore. Not when it’s far more useful and beautiful on you.”
Words couldn’t explain how truly appreciative I was of his sentiment. But it came with sad tidings, as I realised what a big deal it was for Akoni to let it go, choosing to relinquish all idealistic hope of his father’s redemption.
“Akoni, I love it so much! Thank you!” I praised, hugging him, wishing to add that I was sorry about how everything had worked out, but deciding to avoid the topic of his father altogether, knowing it would only bring him further discomfort to mention it out loud.
Akoni merely looked at me and nodded. “Well, I should go back. One last hug for the road?” he then said with a smirk, preparing himself for a long afternoon of preparation and packing.
We hugged and, just like that, he took his exit, leaving me to tuck the necklace under my work apron and dress before heading back towards the courtroom.
I felt so bad for Akoni and what he was going through. He’d been teased his whole life about his father being crazy, only to find out first hand that it was all true. It made me feel even worse to think he’d given up this precious gift – a piece of his father – to me. But I couldn’t help but be riddled with my own selfish happiness about receiving it. A gift so small and yet life changing. It could open up new doors that I’d never imagined in my wildest dreams were possible.
With a light source by my side, even in pure darkness I would never go without a shadow again. I could be a builder, or a warrior – anything my heart desired. Through discipline and training, who knew what constructs my shadows would be capable of. How dense and solid I could make the mist become if I were given a chance to fine tune my skillset.
But firstly, before considering my bright future, I needed to do one last thing: find Arlo and properly thank him for all he’d done for me – and to congratulate him on his well-earned promotion. And make sure he took care of Akoni, especially with everything he was going through.
I reentered the courtroom, passing Milena, who smiled mischievously at me as she walked by. I wondered if she was smiling about all the things she was going to punish me with when we were finally away from the safety of the public’s eye.
I suddenly started to feel a bit sick, and when I turned the corner my shadow appeared in front of me, blocking my path. For some reason, it – or I suppose I – didn’t want me to take another step. Curiosity pushed me through the shadow, waving my hands to disperse it completely.
There, on the other side of the room, stood Arlo beside Ebony and her parents, suddenly starting to kneel down with a nervous but enthusiastic smile. Ebony gasped, pressing both hands to her mouth. I froze, feeling paralysed. I didn’t understand what was happening. All I could feel was my own heart pounding uncontrollably. I started to feel nauseous, like I was going to need my shadow back just to help me stand.
The prince got back up. My eyes were glued to the scene as I watched Ebony stare at a sparkly rock on her finger. Her and Arlo then kissed, while the crowd burst into clapping and cheers.
Anara, who came up to congratulate Ebony’s father, looked at me with concern, just as shocked with what she was witnessing as I was. She faked a smile and then congratulated Ebony as well.
I couldn’t breathe. I spun around, bumping into another waitress coming in to get a closer look, forcing me to push my way through the swarming crowd. Turning the corner once again, I returned to the empty hallway that led to the gardens and rested against the wall.
What was wrong with me? My whole body was shaking and I felt numb as my mind tried to process what I’d just seen. I was suddenly struck by a burst of clarity as I finally came to terms with the most ugly truth of all...
I think I’m in love with Arlo!
11
The Feast
I abandoned my duties and went straight home, burying my head under the pillow of my hammock bed, hoping to escape what had just happened. I only got a moment’s relief before the news spread to the servants’ quarters, just after my own arrival. The staff running around in a fluster, now having to prepare a dinner celebration for the prince and his fiancée with barely a moment’s notice. It was another bloody banquet I was going to have to work at.
For the first time in my life, I wished I was on rubbish duty, just so I could avoid watching and serving Arlo and Ebony at the dinner table.
I put on the same sticky and stained apron I’d been wearing this morning, covered with smudges of grime and filth, as I begun heading to the dining room. I passed Arlo and Ebony on the way to the dinner table, trying to keep them oblivious towards my own insufferable heartache. I was frequently turning my back and making every noticeable attempt to avoid the two of them catching sight of me.
Dusk was just settling as the dinner was hastily served.
“My apologies that the king could not be with us this evening,” Milena told Ebony’s parents. “More last minute maintenance was required on the sphere,” she politely explained just before Jade, I and a few other servants came to the table with di
shes, waiting to serve the hors d’oeuvres.
Milena gave a small finger flick, and we placed the dishes on the long dining table – the finest hors d’oeuvres we could improvise, given the short notice. Dried lily pad petals coated in sugarcane toffee as a quick but effective sweet delicacy. Only to have prime saffron strings plucked and grinded with sunflower seeds in order to make the bread for the main meal, accompanied by a few various spreads of crushed nuts made into varying assortments of sauces or spices for the mushroom stews and mountain bread dips we had slaved over making.
“It seems he is never able to get away from that machine anymore,” the doctor remarked. “How bothersome for you and your family.”
“Yes, it must be taxing having to always put the kingdom before family,” his wife, Judge Delphi, then added as she thanked me for handing her an extra side-plate to put things on – the crisp clean frock of her long sleeve white dress hardly interfering with her ability to put hot and staining food down upon it. The awkwardness of a gypsy looking lady who despite her clear judicial profession was not accustom to fancy-wear like her beautiful but dipsy daughter had become over time.
Ebony sat silent and embarrassed to all conversation transpiring around them, unsure of what exactly to risk even saying. Best of friends before it all, it was amazing how one little gesture can change so much and turn her and Arlo so suddenly into strangers.
“Now, boy, there’s a story I have been anxiously waiting for you to tell,” the doctor then said to his nervous future son-in-law. Arlo and I both staring blankly at each other as we tried to gather what exactly the doctor meant by that statement.
“Story?” He timidly reiterated.
“That sword,” the doctor then had to clarify, pointing to the corner where Arlo had put his new sword down, still too in love with it to put it away.
“Ah, the sword. Well, after I lost my own we,” he pointed to me, “found this one in the abandoned farmhouse,” he said as I handed him an extra plate too for adding unwanted food on.