She deserved to be happy. Reynard, as much as we butted heads, was a good man. I could let her go, release her from my darkness. It would have been the hardest thing I’d ever done, but for her, I would do it.
I swallowed the hurt creeping up from my chest. I didn’t have time to wallow in self-pity. King Corbin may not have believed the Solis royal, but I did.
King Corbin waited in the courtyard for his subjects to gather. Queen Nicola, dressed in gold and orange like the setting sun casting its rays across the world, scanned the faces of those already there from one side of her husband. Zephyra stood to his other side, wearing a pale yellow gown of silk and chiffon… a gift from Terra. The fire elemental and Percifal, who I learned was her lover, were given anything they needed during their stay at the kingdom of earth.
The unforgiving ball of sun beat down on us from high above in the cloudless sky. All had been invited to hear what their ruler had to say this high noon. The wealthy, the poor, the soldiers, the children. All who were able had come.
So when the courtyard outside the palace was full of people of every shape and size who hailed from Terra and its surrounding villages, King Corbin began his speech.
“People of Terra!” he started and all conversations ended. “King Zaeden is marching toward Terra as I speak.”
Audible gasps swept throughout the crowd, and a few ladies waved their silk fans at their faces.
King Corbin continued, “Fear not, my loyal subjects! Our goddess, Celestia, has sent help. She has not abandoned us, her children, to die.” He beckoned Zephyra to step up closer to him. “This woman is a fire elemental from Solis. She has agreed to help us fight this battle. With her power and the might of our army, we will annihilate King Zaeden and his army of dogs!”
The crowds murmured their agreement. Some whispered to their neighbour. Though King Corbin was assuring his subjects all would be well, I felt unease in the air, saw the fear on their faces. I glanced at Zephyra. She had gone pale making her freckles stand out starker. Percifal stood behind her and placed a hand on her elbow, a steady hand of reassurance.
“We have increased our guard at all entrances to Terra, and our soldiers are preparing for war. Should any of you see any sign of King Zaeden’s army, you are to alert the nearest guard,” King Corbin, the two women and Percifal stepped off the platform. A priestess took their place.
Her long brown hair hung loose down her white robed shoulders like ribbons of silk. “Today we pray to Celestia for her guidance and protection…”
I didn’t hear the rest of her words. My eyes fixated on Zephyra. She was frightened. I felt the same fear pounding in my heart. I had to find out more about her power. I had to get her alone.
When the priestess had finished the prayer, and the crowd began to leave the stone courtyard, I started after Zephyra and Percifal. But someone snagged my arm. I peered over my shoulder. Blaise stared up at me with big amber eyes. I hadn’t spoken to her since I’d found her and Reynard swooning over each other.
“You—” she started.
“Not here.” I glanced in the direction of the palace orchards… my favourite place as a child.
I led Blaise to the blooming trees that would soon be ripe with cherries, or apples, or peaches. White and pink flowers emitted sweet aromas, promises of juicy fruit in the hotter season. White balls of fluff from the poplar trees lining the outside of the orchard floated through the air as we wound our way through the fruit trees and along the lush grass until we were out of earshot.
I stopped walking and faced Blaise. “I know what you’re going to say, and no, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
She stared up at me and set her jaw. She said it anyway, “You have power like the fire elemental. You should help her.”
“I will not break King Corbin’s trust. If he knew I was keeping this secret… I can’t believe Aquila’s king is working with the Dark Lord. I knew he’d been determined to go to war since his greed had gotten his wife killed, but this… it’s madness.”
I’d heard the story from Cedric. King Zaeden had stolen gold from the island of Gwon. The island’s ruler retaliated by killing his wife, Queen Thea. Ruthless, but it was King Zaeden’s own problem. He was throwing a tantrum because none of the other kingdoms would join forces with him.
Blaise let out a breath and shook her head. “I don’t think you have this power by coincidence, Seph. This Zephyra knows more than you do. Perhaps you should confide in her about your earth magic.”
“Earth magic? You think I’m the earth elemental?”
She batted a piece of floating fluff away from her face. It landed in her hair instead. “It makes sense, doesn’t it? You’re able to grow and control vines with your magic. Have you been able to do anything else?”
I studied the cherry tree behind her. I remembered the day I’d coaxed the cherry tree to produce fruit even though it was the wrong season. I looked back at Blaise. “Nothing that doesn’t have anything to do with some type of plant.” She was right. She had to be. But why? Why had I been given earth magic?
And then I remembered my bloodline. My true bloodline... Dirva. Dirva had been the daughter of Terra’s first king. It was because of her power the kingdom never froze. Maybe I should speak to the fire elemental. Still, I wasn’t about to let my king find out this piece of information. And I damn well wasn’t letting Blaise get in the middle of it. “It doesn’t matter.” I began to stride past her. “I’ll use my sword in this battle, nothing more.”
“You’re being a coward.”
I closed the distance between us. Fury clouded my judgement. “I’m sure Reynard will protect you.”
“I don’t need protection,” she snarled back. “And he’s just my friend. Which is more than I can say about you.” She was small, but she was mighty as she clenched her fists and threw the words in my face.
We didn’t utter a word for a few breaths.
She reached up and gripped the sides of my face to pull me down to her height. She kissed me with the heat of a thousand fires. I could barely react, so shocked by the impact. Our fingers interlaced and then she tore away and stormed off through the orchard, leaving me feeling raw and utterly confused.
I’d find her later. We both needed time to cool off, but Reynard… they were only friends she’d said. Could jealousy have made me so blind? So thick-headed?
I headed back to the palace to try to find Zephyra, but when I found her, she was with Percifal. Damn, I thought. I wanted to speak to her alone. I didn’t know or trust the man she’d come to Terra with, but they were always together.
I trailed them for a while down a corridor but was cut off by Ger. “There you are. I’d begun to wonder if you’d decided to tumble with one of the ladies,” he teased with that wide, yellow-toothed grin of his.
“Hmm,” I replied, watching Zephyra and Percifal disappear around a corner, only half-listening to what he’d said.
Ger turned his face to where I’d been looking and chuckled. “I’m afraid that one’s already got someone to tumble with.”
Giving up hope of speaking with the fire elemental for the day, I turned my full attention on Ger. “What do you want?”
“Cheerful today, aren’t we?”
I waited with a raised brow.
Ger continued, “Constable Bouvant wants us all performing drills until sundown.”
I gestured with my arm. “Lead the way.”
Constable Bouvant had us busy from sunrise to sunset on the days leading up to Noctis De Celestia, preparing for battle. When we weren’t doing drills, we were taking our turn at scouting the perimeter outside of the wall in case King Zaeden or anyone else who meant us harm showed up early. I was unable to find time to slip away to try to speak with Zephyra. Maybe it was for the best. If I told her about my power she’d probably demand I use it to help her battle.
I studied the blade of my sword as I sharpened it the evening before Noctis. It was a more reliable weapon. I was good with a sword.
I had no idea how much power I had in me. The sword was the right choice. It had to be. We wouldn’t truly be fighting Vesirus. We’d be fighting a deranged king acting in his name. I told myself that over and over. If the Dark Lord had gifted King Zaeden with some dark magic… well, I’d think about that when the time came.
I couldn’t think about what Blaise’s kiss in the orchard had meant. I needed to focus on the upcoming battle. For her, I needed to focus for her. So she could live in the light and not be forced to suffer in darkness.
I heard a commotion outside my door. I opened it to see what was going on. A small group of soldiers had gathered just down the corridor from my room. Blaise was with them.
She noticed me watching and strode toward me. She placed a hand on my doorframe. “Two people from Aquila showed up outside the gates today,” she informed me. “A man and a woman.”
I didn’t move. “Were they taken to the dungeon?” Aquila had deemed itself our enemy. Its subjects were a threat to Terra. It only made sense to keep them locked up. The only reason the man from Aquila wasn’t currently rotting in a cell was because he’d come with Zephyra, who seemed to be on our side.
“They were, but they’ve been released. They’re friends of the fire elemental and her lover.”
I pressed my lips between my teeth, and then said, “I don’t trust this… any of it. Why would Aquila’s own people come to aid us?”
Blaise stepped closer, challenging me. “Maybe some of Aquila’s people don’t want to work with King Zaeden and the Dark Lord of Mnyama.” She bit her lip and then whispered, “Some say the woman is a water elemental.”
I didn’t miss the pointed look she gave me. I slowly pushed the door shut while I said, “Good luck tomorrow, Blaise.”
Chapter 19
Before the sun showed its face on the day of Noctis, the army was dressed and ready for battle. We gathered outside the entrance to the soldiers’ quarters.
King Corbin walked back and forth across the line of soldiers, dressed in glinting armour of his own. “Today we fight against darkness,” he shouted so we could all hear. “You honour Celestia and your kingdom today! Many of you won’t see tomorrow, but your sacrifice will not be forgotten. You will be given a place by Celestia’s side. It is those of us who survive who will feel the loss.”
A few nodded, some raised their swords above their heads. All who were there were prepared to fight. We knew not all of us would make it. And I knew if I died that day, I’d die a hero, my heart no longer darkened by the shadows of my past.
King Corbin’s armour clanked as he continued to pace. “Today, we fight for our wives and our children. Today, we fight for our honour. We fight for our kingdom.” I cheered along with my comrades, my brothers and sisters. “We may not be thanking Celestia by celebrating on this night, but we are thanking her by fighting in her name. We will end King Zaeden’s tyranny and show the Dark Lord that as followers of Celestia we will not be defeated!”
We roared, brandishing our weapons. I’d fight for my king and my kingdom… for my comrades, who were my family by bond. It could’ve been me up there giving a speech to this army if King Lelund had claimed me as his son. I shivered at the thought of having so many eyes watching me. I wasn’t born to be a king, and I never would be one. Everyone who knew the truth was dead… except me and perhaps Blaise. And I was sure she’d agreed I’d make an awful ruler.
As I headed for the wall surrounding Terra with the rest of the army, King Corbin stopped me. “Queen Nicola is pregnant,” he said lowly to me. “Ger and Reynard are guarding her chambers. If it looks like we’re going to lose the battle, ensure they get out of here safely.”
I stilled at his proclamation. An heir to his throne, he and his supporters had been waiting for this blessing. If they had a son, the throne wouldn’t be passed to one of his distant cousins. Terra’s throne always went to a male, unless there were no males to take it. If that happened, it would go to a female until a male within the royal bloodline was born. I met my king’s softened gaze and nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I will do everything to protect the queen and your unborn child.” I meant it. Everything Cedric had taught me, everything I’d ever accomplished, had been for the good of the kingdom.
King Corbin smiled slightly. “Thank you. Now, let’s go obliterate our enemies.”
We took up our positions outside the wall, in amongst the thick forest surrounding the kingdom. Birds and insects went on chattering as though we weren’t about to break out in war. I knew Blaise was up in a tree somewhere with the other archers, bow and arrow ready to pierce the hearts of our enemies. I could shoot an arrow well enough, but I lacked the skill of hitting my target every time. We all had our strengths. A sword was mine.
Somewhere near the back of our army, the fire elemental and her friends were positioned to take on anyone who made it through our defenses. They had been told to be careful with their powers. King Corbin wouldn’t have them destroying his kingdom with their elemental power. They were lucky Queen Nicola believed their magic came from Celestia. If she hadn’t spoken up in their favour, I was sure they’d all be dead by now.
All day, we waited for King Zaeden to arrive. Squires brought around water full of fresh water a few times. Armour clanked as soldiers shifted from foot to foot, growing restless. The calm before the storm.
At last, when the sun had set through the trees and the big, round moon woke from her slumber to light the night, we heard Aquila’s army approaching.
I readied my sword, its blade shining in the silvery moonlight. When I saw the first of Aquila’s soldiers, my heart stopped. They moved through the trees like mindless corpses. Their eyes glowed bright green-blue. Something wasn’t right. They moved unnaturally, like they were being controlled by some unseen force. My breath caught in my throat as I realized… Vesirus. I had never feared my enemies, and I wasn’t about to start.
I bellowed a cry of rage against the king who believed he could take my kingdom, my home. I charged with my comrades and met my enemies with a crash of steel. I hacked, chopped, ducked and parried. Limbs flew through the air and hot blood sprayed my face. I impaled a soldier through the gut, but he kept coming at me with those unseeing eyes. I wrenched my sword from his body, leaving a gaping wound in his belly, and swung it at his neck. He fell to the side like a tree toppled by lightning from the impact.
I finished the job in time to swing out of the way of the axe about to implant itself in my chest.
I stabbed my blade through the soldier’s foot, but he didn’t seem to feel a thing as he swung again and caught the top of my shoulder. I grunted, clenching my teeth against the pain, and bashed him in the face with the hilt of my sword. Stunned, he hit the trunk of a tree, giving me an opening to stab him in the heart. He stared at me for what felt like eons, unblinking, before falling to the ground.
The dirt turned thick and muddy with the blood of both friend and foe. The air reeked of death, and screams from both armies echoed off the trees.
A spark of orange lit up the corner of my vision. Zephyra had set a woman on fire. The burning woman fell to her knees, but no sound came from her mouth as she burned alive. These soldiers of Aquila didn’t feel anything.
An arrow fletched with green and red feathers punctured the throat of the soldier charging at me, and I wondered if it’d been from Blaise’s quiver. A sick whistling came from her throat as she tried to breathe. She fell only after her face turned purple. At least these soldiers did go down. It just had to be a killing blow.
I fought and fought, my body weakening with each kill.
The wall grew closer as I was continually knocked backward, and the enemy advanced.
A thick fog the colour of the soldiers’ eerie eyes seeped through the trees and along the mossy ground from where I’d spotted King Zaeden. He was weaving some type of magical spell. It was the only explanation for such a strange fog. If only I could get nearer to him. But he seemed untouchable, as if that fog gave him some type of powe
r.
I cut off the head of a large brute with no hair, watching it roll when a whip of water cut through a group of soldiers and sent them flying.
Sprays of water erupted from the ground and added length to the liquid whip as it snapped again.
Clouds blocked out the glowing moon, and rain poured down in sheets upon the carnage.
Some of the archers had jumped from their trees to fight with swords… others had fallen and fought to keep standing. Where was Blaise? I hadn’t seen her once since the battle broke out. It was a relief to know Ger was safe, guarding the queen.
An enemy soldier with a long, black braid and a face painted in blood knocked my sword from my grip.
I reached for the twin daggers I’d strapped to each vambrace. I sliced and cut at the male soldier who’d gouged my leg with his blade.
As I stabbed one of my daggers through his glowing eye, I saw Blaise fighting for her life with a blade, her face coated in dirt and blood. She could only block the blows the soldier dealt her with an inhuman force.
I stumbled over to her defense but I wasn’t fast enough.
The enemy disabled her.
Now weaponless and barely standing against exhaustion, Blaise was about to meet her end. And I wasn’t going to make it in time.
I took a deep breath and released my power into the ground beneath the lumbering enemy’s feet. A vine wrapped around his ankle. The soldier pitched forward, face first, onto the blood soaked soil.
Blaise regained her feet with a pain-filled howl. She stomped on the soldier’s neck, crushing it and ending his life.
I released the breath I’d been holding onto as our eyes locked and a knowing smile crept over her lips. She was the reason I’d used my power. For her, I’d do anything. A realization that shook me.
That one smile… that one second…
I noticed the other soldier approaching too late as she reached down for her sword.
The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series Page 62
