Keepers of the Crown

by Lydia Redwine

  “Following the feast this evening, we will gather to discuss your stay here further. Until then, I will have you escorted to your chambers. Please, explore the castle at your leisure in the meantime,” Elizabeth said.

  With these words, she and Simeon turned back towards the castle, which Cam was very much grateful for since she was shivering in the icy air. “She seems nice,” Cam murmured to Peter and Cole who walked on either side of her.

  “She is far more than nice,” Cole said with a small smile. “She is kind, benevolent, noble, and strong considering the fact that she is now a widow, a sole ruler, and has a young child…” Cam did not hear the rest of his sentence, for her eyes snagged on the enormous banner spanning the pillars set on either side of the hall they had now entered. The banner was made of the same dark purple silk that they had seen so far. And set in this silk was threaded in silver a dove taking flight. Cam felt as though she had suddenly entered a home away from home. And it made her stomach coil into knots because she knew they were bringing danger upon this kind queen and her people.

  Hours later, Cam and Fiera had roamed the castle all on their

  own and spoken about all of their adventures to date. They were grateful to discover that they, Adria, and Amelia had been appointed a series of small, adjoining chambers around a large sitting room. The rest of the company had been arranged in the same vicinity. Cam and Fiera had roamed the corridors, spare rooms, snow-laden courtyards, libraries, and ballrooms before joining the remainder of their company in fresh clothing at the spot where they were to enter as a group into the dining hall appointed for their feast.

  Queen Elizabeth Rashka, as was custom, was seated at the head of the lengthy table. Cam saw that Simeon sat to her right and with a small, chubby-faced boy whose smile made his cheeks rosy the entire evening. The twenty persons of the court were arranged around the company of Mirabelle. Cam found herself situated between the two ambassadors; a couple named Lord Conrad and Lady Lorianne Zimmer. Ambassadors to where exactly, Cam was not sure. Caranthia perhaps, for she had never seen them in Mirabelle and there weren’t many other places for them to venture to nearby.

  “We’ve heard that several in your company have traveled many lands outside of your home country. We too have traveled as far as…” their words trailedoffas Camglancedacross thetable at Peter who was also not paying much attention to the conversation being held between the captain of the guard, the general, Lia, and his sister.

  She held his gaze as she continued to eat what was set on the platter before her. Roasted quail, some brothy stew, seasoned and cooked vegetables, steaming bread, and the hot fruit pies were courtyards she wonderful, it was all so rich after months of hunted creatures without seasoning and whatever scraps were given them in Silva’s dungeons.

  Peter seemed to be thinking the same thing. He had sampled each of the courses given and then proceeded to pick at the rest while taking many sips of his wine. Cam had glanced at it when a serving man had poured it into her glass. “Nottonight.” delightful after stepping in from the cold had just been in. Although the food was But her body was tingling just thinking about it. Cam’s eyes drifted towards the glass again. If only it were in a goblet and not so obviously seen through the glass. The color was dark and heady. Rich and flavorful. Warm and soothing.

  Cam’s hand clenched around her fork and she tore her eyes from the glass to attach upon Peter. He was grinning back at her when he picked up his glass and took a sip. The trembling in Cam’s fingers began again. The tingles had been coursing through her veins every night for the past week now. She focused on breathing in and out at rising nausea. Peter paused, the rim of his glass between his lips. He watched Cam’s expression before slowly setting down the glass.

  He did not drink again for the entire night.

  After the feast was finished, the company was ushered into an adjoining library and tea was presented. Cam held the warm cup in her hand but could not bring herself to drink it. The tea went cold as the conversation began to course.

  Cam glanced around the room at those present. Just her, Cole, Peter, Fiera, Adria, Amelia, and Saffira. No Ilea and no Joel, though Cam planned on telling them of this later. But not Owen. He had left the feasting as soon as it had ended.

  “Where was it, the Crown?” Elizabeth asked in a soft voice once all servants had left them.

  “Where Silva was for so long. And never realized it,” Cole replied. The queen sat down, her eyes wide.

  Eventually, she spoke, a smile lighting her features. “I can not express how grateful I am to you and your people for locating the Crown. Knowing that its whereabouts are known by our allies greatly comforts me.”

  “We couldn't have done it without all that you found and the Seekers’ quest to find Ilea. And Ilea herself,” Peter said.

  Elizabeth nodded. “Ilea is here, isn’t she? I wish to speak with her about what she knew of my parents.”

  Cole nodded. “I am sure she would be much obliged to speak with you, the daughter of her friends.”

  Elizabeth nodded before branching back to the subject concerning the Crown. “Despite my gratitude, I can not be a part of your endeavors to protect the Crown in any physical manner. Not completely anyway. I will grant you access into my kingdom to dwell in. We will protect you…”

  “That is another matter. Forgivemefor interrupting your majesty…” Cole said. “But we do not wish to put upon you the burden of our protection. We are bringing enough danger as it is. Shadow Bearers were hunting us just as we were leaving Mirabelle…”

  “It is my duty and honor to protect those who have done so much to protect the entire Spirit Follower population and the human race in the long run,” the queen returned firmly.

  “But if we were to bring war down upon Nazeria…” Adria began, her voice light and quiet.

  “Then we will battle with the Spirit of Elyon with us,” Elizabeth said. Then with a smile, she added, “As for my involvement, Simeon and I have decreed to the people that the leader of the Spirit Followers and that of the ruling body are two separate roles. Therefore, Simeon will be the one with whom you will complete matters involving the Crown and its protection. I will know of all that occurs and will allow this to happen within my borders, but beyond that…”

  “You will have no part,” Cole finished. “As you wish. We will not concern you with the matter any longer.”

  “Yes,” Cam added. “And thank you for your hospitality.”

  Elizabeth’s glittering gaze slipped to Cam and she nodded with a smile. “I am sure that by this point you are all utterly exhausted. I will end our meeting now so that you may all rest. I look forward to seeing you in my court in the oncoming days and coming to know you better. You are the kind of servants of Elyon that I wish my people to learn from.” With these words, the queen rose to take her sleeping son in her arms and exit the room. The company followed shortly after.

  Cam, feeling a throbbing in her temples that was quite intense, only hugged Adria goodnight instead of accompanying her and Amelia into the outside courts to watch the stars. She wandered through the dimly lit corridors until she finally reached her own private chamber.

  She slid the door open and found that the room was already occupied. Fiera was standing alone before the hearth with arms folded over her chest. Her grim gaze was alighted by the dancing flames. “Amelia and Adria have gone to watch the stars from the courtyard,” she said without glancing at Cam.

  “So they told me,” Cam replied as she neared her sister. “Are you alright?”

  Cam began to undress as Fiera’s lips parted and she said slowly. “I’ve begun thinking about what Elizabeth said about us being what she wants her people to learn from. She means us as Spirit Followers, but, Cam, you and I are not Spirit Followers…”

  “I do not know. I have thought about it, and with all that has occurred, I have no doubt that Elyon exists but…”

  “You still have far too many questions,” Fiera finished. “I’ve a
sked some of Caleb, but for whatever reason, I feel like a pitiful child when I ask him such questions. It is like inquiring of something that is so...obvious. Do you know what he said to me just yesterday?”

  Cam dropped the bottom part of her clothing onto the floor before pulling on loose fitting pants. She kept the delicate deep purple shirt on. “He said that he wishes to be so obviously filled with the Spirit of Elyon that no one can either deny or ignore it. And I think…”

  “Youwouldliketohave thesamething,”Cam murmured. “I feel...empty. I believe that if we were to receive the Spirit of Elyon, as our comrades have, we would be fulfilled...not as broken.” Cam sank onto the small sofa before the fire. “I know onefearful thingthat wouldcomeofthis, however.” Fieraturned to gazeat Cam. “IfwebecomeSpiritFollowers, wewillbehunted every day for the rest of our lives for simply believing. For simply believing and loving the enemy of the very being who has dominion over this realm.”

  “Ido not care,” Fiera said firmly. “Let them hunt meuntil I enter Caelae. If Caelae is truly not a house of pain and bloodshed. And if Terra is there…”

  Cam reached for her sister’s hand and held it in her own. Tears pressed into her eyes and an aching lump formed in her throat. “He let Terra and Mista die, Fiera.” Their names on her tongue made her feel like she was drinking poison.

  Fiera would not look at her younger sister but stared at her with a tightening jaw into the fire. Cam could not look at the flames. She clenched her eyes shut. “The questions burn, Cam. Where did Elyon come from? Has He always been? Caleb says that He has been forever, but what is forever, anyway?” Fiera dragged a hand down her face. “My head hurts.”

  Cam issued a sigh before sinking to the sofa. “Mine too.” And it did hurt. It throbbed and pulsed incessantly. It always did before she went to bed. Fiera turned to peer at her younger sister through the firelight.

  Her voice was a soft, broken whisper, and when Cam looked into her sister’s eyes, tears were glistening. “Why didn’t you tell me, Cam? Why didn’t you ask me for help?”

  Everything inside of Cam coiled at the questions. Her face warmed and not from the fire. Her fingers trembled in her lap. She clenched her eyes shut. “Because I was...I am ashamed, Fiera. Because I took every damned thing that I was and put it in a bottle.”

  Fiera was sinking to the floor before her sister and taking Cam’s shaking hands in her own steady ones. “How long, Cam? How long did you let it control you?” Her voice was soft.

  A tear slipped down Cam’s cheek, and her chest expanded with the ache blooming inside of it. Her voice was shaky. “For far too long.”

  “When?” Fiera pressed, her voice firm.

  Cam drew in a quaking breath. “When I came home for thefirst timeafter Apollyon was gone. When I sawGrandfather’s grave and knew he wasn’t buried beneath it. When I saw the roses littering the hall and Terra’s room…”

  The sobs hit.

  Cam sank into Fiera’s arms as the latter pulled herself up onto the sofa. “And you found a bottle.”

  Cam clenched at Fiera’s arm, her voice choked. “I smashed the first one against the wall. And drank the second. And the third. And the fourth…”

  Fiera drew away as she buried her face in her hands. Cam coiled away, everything inside of her plummeting at the sight of her sister edging away from her. “Fi-”

  “No, Cam,” Fiera said at last. Her tone was firm but whispered as she rose. “You don’t get to do this. Youdon’t get to shut me out when these things happen!”

  “You weren’t even there,” was Cam’s whispered reply. She did not look at her sister. Did not want to see the disappointment rising in those sharp, black eyes.

  “Anddidyoutell anyoneelse?”Fieracountered. Cam was silent. “That’s what I thought.” A stiff silence passed between them as Fiera began to pace before the fire. “And then you were still drinking when we left Mirabelle?”

  Cam nodded, her eyes slipping shut against the tears. “Yes,” she whispered. “But not as much as when I was at home.”

  “But more as we came into Mingroth.”

  Cam bent forward, her head falling into her hands as the sobs continued to wrack her body. She was so...tired. “I didn’t want this,” she whispered, thesound so small Fiera did not hear. “I wish more than anything that I could go back and fix it…”

  “And what about all those mornings you disappeared, Cam? While we were in Mingroth. What were you doing? Where did you go? To drink more?”

  Cam glanced up, her gaze now turning hard. All those mornings...for two hours each she would bend before the throne.

  Crack.

  Sting.

  Dribble.

  She heard the sounds, felt her flesh ripping open under licks of fire, felt and tasted her own blood pooling at her knees on the throne room floor. But Cam did not clench her eyes shut at thememory.Fiera’s glarewas toodaring. Slowly,Cam reached for the hem of her shirt and lifted it over her head. And even more slowly she turned so that the flayed tissue on her back could be seen midst the markings of the whip. The fire from the hearth burned the cuts even while they had been healing these past weeks.

  The silence was heavy. Like the ocean had entered the room without a sound and had swallowed up any semblance of light. Even the fire, though it burned brightly, seemed to dim. Cam glanced over her shoulder and did not find her sister burning with fury. But standing as still as a statue with tears streaming down her face. Fiera opened her mouth, but no words could come forth. And when she finally did speak, as Cam was slipping her shirt back over her bare chest, her voice was raspy and broken. “I wish you would have told me.”

  Cam beheld her sister with eyes just as glazed. She thought to say something like, “Itwouldhavedonenogood.” But instead, she said, “I wish the same thing.”

  Fiera was nearing Cam now in two quick strides. Her hands clutched at her younger sister’s arms. Her voice trembled. “You can’t do this anymore, Cam. Hiding things from me to protect me or whatever it is you think you’re trying to do. We protect each other. Which means if you’re struggling with anything, I amhereto have your back. But I can’t haveyour back if I don’t know how you need me.”

  Cam’s eyes wavered. Sheshookherhead, andFiera’s eyes returned to frustration brimming on ire. “Why, Cam?” she yelled, the frustration bursting from her. She pulled away from Cam and returned to the fire, her body moving with a quickness that displayed her apparent aggravation.

  Cam was boiling inside too, her tears becoming heated with anger as her cheeks warmed. “Because, Fiera, you weren't therefor mewhen Ineededyoumost!”Sheslippedher shirtback on.

  Fiera whirled on her sister, her eyes blazing but also wavering with confusion. “What?”

  “After Terra died! You shut me out! You shut everyone out! You melted away, and I didn’t know who you were.” Cam was shaking now, her nerves on fire. “And perhaps, if you had been there to talk to me about all of it, I wouldn't have been so alone after you went to the south and I had to go home and face it all. I was home, and you were in the south forgetting all of it! Finding a way to leave it all behind”

  Fiera’s voice rose above Cam’s, the sound tremendous in the small space, and Cam had little doubt that the entire castle could hear them now. “I went to her grave. Every. Single. Day.” Fiera gritted her teeth, her eyes flaring under the glaze of tears. “I went every day since I went to Cinis Lumen. I walked miles and miles every morning when they thought I was hunting just to see some stupid stone with her name etched into it.”

  Cam stumbled back, speechless. Air could not pass through her lungs. Everything within her numb. Every day. Terra’s grave was so far from where Fiera had been before they had left Mirabelle. And so near to the valley in which she had died. And yet, Fiera had gone there. Every day. Fiera spoke once more, her last words for the night. Her voice was soft yet still troubled. “It is strange that we pull away, hide within our sacks of dust we call bodies when we finally come to realize who is truly there
for us and...who is not.”

  “Even My close friend in whom I trusted, who ate My bread, has lifted his heel against Me.”

  -Prophecy in the words of Immanuel

  Forty-One

  Cam’s eyes squinted against the sunlight dancing on the water.

  The company from Mirabelle filed before her. She was last in the line, with Adria’s arm linked with her own. The cottages were quaint and cresting the coast of the sea. The stone wall was low enough that the docks and waters beyond could be seen from the windows within the structures. The sea was the color of the tiny blue flowers that grew in the corner of Terra’s garden in Medulla combined with the sapphire worn by those from Imber Fel. The sunrise sprayed pink across the waters. The fishermen and those boarding boats to ship coal across the sea were wrapped in furs.

  The sights trapped Cam.“So much like Imber Fel,” she murmured. Adria heard her and the sigh that followed echoed across the cobblestone streets that they were now walking upon.

  They slipped into the cottage assigned to them. Cam’s room was a tiny chamber with wood-paneled walls, a stone hearth, a twin-sized bed and a window which overlooked the docks. “I think it is quite quaint,” Adria said at the front room of their cottage.

  “I agree,” said Amelia. “Cassia and I had a room small as this when we were young. Only it was fashioned of rock.”

  “Tell me about her,” said Adria as she pulled up onto Cam’s bed. Cam stoodbeforeabuilt-in closet as she hung the few garments she had taken from Mirabelle.

  “About Cassia?” Adria nodded. Thenamehungin theair. Cassia was like a ghost, a shadow of the past Cam couldn't quite grasp. Amelia reached for it. Cam turned, the anticipation of what Amelia would say building in her chest.