by K T Munson
Ashira Highlander
Ashira had thrown herself into the repair of Roanoak. People came to see her for problems that had occurred because of Hadrian and she heard every horrible detail. She would listen to their stories and help them as she could. Cain was busy rebuilding the city and working with the officials to get everything running smoothly again.
As the last petitioner left, Ashira leaned sideways in her seat and let her mind wander. It had been two weeks since they had retaken Roanoak and they had done the best they could, in that time. Two weeks had seemed like an eternity because she often found herself dreaming of Eliron. She would scold herself because she was acting like a love struck girl.
“You should go to him,” her aunt’s voice said, startling her.
Ashira stood and held her hands out to her aunt. “I am so happy to see that you are well.”
They had found their half-starved Aunt Padma in the cells. She had cried and clung to Cain and Ashira because she thought they were dead. She had been so worked up that Ashira had put her straight to bed. She had asked where he was, but Ashira had assured her that he was in the north.
“I am better,” Padma said kissing her cheek, “and now that I am I can help your brother while you return home.”
“I am home,” Ashira said with a smile as though her aunt was losing her mind.
“This was your home,” Padma responded with her all knowing smile, “Where does your heart long to be now?”
Ashira’s eyes fell to the ground as she answered, “In Vargos.”
“Then you should go to him,” Padma said putting a hand on her cheek, “Life is short.”
“I have to undo the damage Hadrian caused,” Ashira managed as she pulled back. “There is so much that is needed of me.”
“Who caused damage?” Padma asked confused.
“Hadrian,” Ashira said, “The man who proclaimed himself the rightful king.”
“Hadric,” Padma said with a nod, “He was the rightful king once, but your grandfather chose Rodrick instead.”
Ashira stopped moving as she blinked in bafflement. “He was right?”
“Not really,” Padma said linking arms with Ashira and she led her through the palace. “Rodrick was crowned, he was king. Hadric could never understand why but I was sure he would ruin Roanoak. He wanted to be king so bad that nothing else seemed to matter.”
“That is so sad,” Ashira remarked her eyebrows pressed together. “He never loved anything else but power.”
Her aunt looked up at her suddenly and opened her mouth as though to stay something. Instead she shook her head and patted her arm without saying a word. Ashira didn’t like the way her aunt seemed to be keeping something from her.
“What is it?” Ashira asked her eyes piecing.
“Nothing dear,” Padma finally responded. “I don’t like to talk about Hadric. He was exiled because he could not let go of what he wanted, even though it wasn’t his.”
“There you are!” Cain called, hurrying over to them.
His hair had been cut, his face clean shaven, and his eyes were serious. He wore a new cut of clothes and still refused to relinquish the sword. In his heart she knew he would always be a water dancer.
“Were you looking for me?” Ashira said.
“I was trying to decide where to focus the building for the new defenses,” Cain said holding up the drawings. “I wanted your opinion.”
Before Ashira could answer her aunt held a hand up and said, “You have relied on your sister quite enough. She is a queen now and cannot remain here as your princess, forever.”
Ashira’s mouth fell open as she looked at her normally mousy aunt. Cain held the unrolled map in place as he looked at his little aunt in equal amazement. Padma stared at Cain, who had been crowned king the day before, and told him exactly what he should do.
“You are a king,” Padma said with attitude. “Act like one.”
Her heart swelled at the thought of returning to Eliron and she looked at Cain hopefully, “If you can manage without me, I think it is time I returned to my husband.”
Cain looked between them his eyes snapping back and forth nervously before he said, “I don’t think I could deny you.”
“My Queen!” She heard Missari yell a moment before she leaped into her arms.
Ashira laughed and hugged the girl in return exclaiming. “I am so happy you are alright.”
“Eliron’s men had us delivered to my family if he should not return,” she said holding on tight as the butterfly made of metal bobbed in her hair. “I was so worried for you.”
“I worried for you as well, Missari,” Ashira said relieved that her little friend was alright.
“I apologize for my informal behavior,” Missari said leaning back blushing, “I could not contain my joy.”
“Missari,” Ashira said holding out her hand, “this is my brother, King Cain and my aunt Padma.”
Missari’s eyes went wide and seemed to cover half her face. Padma smiled at her as the girl fell to her knees. Everyone jumped back a little surprised.
“I am sorry, my king!” Missari proclaimed from the ground.
“Please do not kneel,” Cain said bending down to help her up. “I am not a king that needs such a deep bow.”
“You are our new king,” Missari said glancing between them nervously. “You deserve my respect first and foremost since I am in your kingdom.”
“I like her,” Padma chimed in.
“Brother,” Ashira said putting a hand on his arm, “If you need me, you know where I will be.”
Cain sighed. “If you did not love him, I would not let you leave.”
“I know,” Ashira said. She kissed his cheek and then her aunt’s before leaving.
Missari hurried to catch up and asked, “Are we returning to Vargos?”
Ashira stopped. “You still want to go back?”
“It was hard but my father respects me because of what I did and what I saw,” Missari explained proudly. “I am happiest when I serve you.”
Ashira smiled as she hurried towards her rooms. “We need to hurry, Eliron is waiting.”
She opened the door to her room as a fist collided with her head. She heard Missari gasp her name as she fell but the man wrapped a hand around her mouth before she could scream. Missari wiggled in the man’s grasp but her little useless body did nothing to deter his hold.
“Don’t hurt her,” Ashira muttered as she blinked her eyes.
Ashira tried to stand up as her head spun, but a second man covered her mouth. He held something up to her nose that stunk and she tried to turn her head away. She convulsed once before darkness took her.
Chapter 68
Lancel Storm
The days had moved slowly since Eliron’s return. There were moments of rush and hurry but mostly it was subdued. Ashira had brought a certain sort of light to the castle that was now missing. Kaden had been clearly reluctant to vacate his new role of king. Yet he had no love from the people for his actions; they were, after all, the actions of a coward.
Lancel could hear singing as the people continued to celebrate his return. To everyone’s surprise they were also celebrating Queen Ashira, the king’s savior. Everyone told tales of her defeating an evil monster to keep the king alive. Others sang that she had saved the king with only the love in her heart.
Lancel listened to their foolish tales and had no heart to correct them. Ashira had accomplished an amazing feat. Yet without her being here, all of it seemed for not. Eliron kept himself busy, fixing one problem Kaden had caused after another. Everyone was fully aware that he kept himself especially busy to distract himself from her absence.
Hector came walking down the hall towards him and Lancel straightened to hold out his hand. “I never thanked you for your help.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” Hector said with a half-smile but clasped his forearm merrily, “You brought him back.”
“Our Queen saved him,” Lancel admitted lett
ing go of his upper arm. “I just helped him return after the fact.”
“I am surprised our Queen remained in Roanoak,” Hector said as they turned to walk. “The people have been calling for her.”
“Our King will not last long,” Lancel admitted. “He has threatened twice to bring her back.”
“Ah, here he comes again,” Hector said glancing over his shoulder.
Eliron marched towards them with purpose, his legs moving double time. Lisbeth was at his side and they were talking intently. Lancel focused on Hector who tipped his head and turned down another hall.
“Lancel!” Eliron called interrupting his sister, “I am going to get her. It has been more than a fortnight.”
“She said she would return,” Lancel insisted yet again. “I do not doubt your Queen will keep her word.”
“I know she will, but my patience has run its course,” Eliron admitted.
Lisbeth smiled broadly and winked at Lancel. “I am sure she has missed you as much as you miss her.”
“I am going to ready an Eagle and fly directly to her,” Eliron said impatiently, “I will need a small escort.”
“I will come as well,” Lancel said as Eliron hurried off.
Lancel shot Lisbeth a look who grinned at him mischievously. “You should hurry, he is quite determined.”
“What did you say to him?” Lancel asked his eyes narrowing.
“Whatever I needed to,” Lisbeth said raising her head defiantly. “You both have been walking around in a daze since you returned without her. The realm will operate better with her here.”
“Is that all?” Lancel said disbelievingly.
“Well,” Lisbeth pursed her lips, “I just got a sister I have always wanted and I don’t like that she is all the way in Roanoak when her place is here.”
“Her brother needed her,” Lancel reminded her, “And they had to bury their family.”
“She has had enough of time to do that,” Lisbeth said pointing towards her brother’s rapidly retreating back. “You better get going or he will leave without you.”
Lancel sent her a reproachful stare as he started down the hall calling back, “Try to stay out of trouble.”
She sent him one of the grins that made him nervous and called, “Never!”
Lancel half walked, half ran towards the Eagles’ nests. He found Eliron already mounted and talking with a caretaker. He was giving instructions to something before he spotted Lancel.
“Hurry up!” Eliron said impatiently before urging his eagle to fly.
Shaking his head, Lancel hurried towards the saddled bird. He quickly mounted, gave a salute to the caretaker before following Eliron. Lancel felt his adrenaline spike as they rose into the air. Lancel looked down at Evermore and took in its white walls and misting waterfalls. This home, he had come to love and cherish.
He loved to fly over the city and the land. It gave a perspective that only flying could give and he marveled at what he saw. Eliron glanced around as well here and there but mostly his eyes were set to the horizon.
Lancel continued to watch the countryside until he saw a rider. It was strange to see a rider, on horseback, in Vargos. A chill struck through him as he realized it must be coming from Roanoak. He called to Eliron and pointed down. Eliron nodded and the two birds descended down and down towards the rider.
The horse startled when it saw the oversized birds and nearly threw its rider. When the horse finally calmed itself, the rider put some distance between them. Lancel was beginning to dislike messages that came by horseback from Roanoak; they always seemed to bear bad news.
“In the name of the Water King, we command to know the message you carry,” Lancel said and saw the man’s eyebrows rise in surprise.
“You are king Eliron?” The man asked looking at Eliron.
“I am,” he responded still straddling the Eagle.
“I bear bad tidings from King Cain of Roanoak,” the messenger said, “Princess Ashira, Queen of Vargos, has gone missing. King Cain is leading a search of Guildafrey and requests your presence.”
“You may return,” Eliron said looking towards Lancel, “Hadrian?”
“Who else would dare to take her?” Lancel responded trying to remain calm.
“We will search every inch of Guildafrey until she is found,” Eliron said and quickly returned to the sky.
Lancel wasn’t worried who had taken her, he was more worried about why. Ashira had become a symbol amongst the people and holding her was like holding the heart of the south hostage. If the people discovered she had been taken, he imagined they would not take the news well. Either way, they needed to hurry.
Chapter 69
Hadrian
Hadrian waited patiently for Ashira to wake up. King Cain, the only surviving heir, had closed the city too quickly for them to flee. His men had successfully captured her only to be stuck within Guildafrey with no immediate means of escape. The King had even posted guards around many of the secret passage ways and the rest would only get him into the palace not out of it.
She sucked in a breath and her eyes slowly opened as he said, “You are so much like your mother.”
Ashira sat up all the way then and pushed herself back against the headboard. She looked around, her face set in worry and disorientation. When her eyes fell back on his face, her features contorted in complete abhorrence. She loathed him as he had always loathed Rodrick.
“It is almost impossible to see any other features besides your mother,” Hadrian continued. “That is why it took me so long to figure it out.”
“What do you want?” Ashira snapped her eyes two pools of green-blue hate.
“Those eyes,” Hadrian said studying her face, “where did you get them?”
“My aunt bears this color as well,” Ashira snapped him, “What is to you, murderer?”
“What about your brothers? Do they bear this color?” Hadrian asked and he already guessed at the answer.
She studied his face suspiciously before saying, “Why does it matter?”
“I thought not,” Hadrian said leaning into the light, “These eyes were gift from my mother.”
Ashira glanced towards the door and back to his face her mind trying to understand what he was implying. Hadrian sat patiently watching her. Her breathing suddenly increased and she started to shake her head. It had taken Hadrian a long time to realize what her eyes had meant.
“That’s impossible,” Ashira said shaking her head. “Your mother was dead by the time I was born.”
Hadrian nodded patiently, “Yes, she was, but I believe you got them from your father.”
“You just said that you and my aunt got them from your mother, therefore, I couldn’t have,” Ashira said shaking her head before gasping and whispering. “No.”
“I loved your mother, but I was born the heir and was supposed to marry someone of superior birth,” Hadrian reminisced and his heart ached. “I can still remember her before your father proposed. I don’t know why she accepted him when she had my love. She married him, it broke my heart, and soon after our father decided that Rodrick should be king.”
“My mother loved my father,” Ashira countered as tears slipped down her face.
“Don’t you see?” Hadrian said looking down at her hopefully. “I am your father.”
“You’re a murderer,” Ashira said lurching away from him and shaking her head. “My mother never would have betrayed my father.”
“I came to give you freedom from your arranged marriage,” Hadrian informed her as he reached out for her.
“Any hope you had of convincing me to love you died the day you killed my brothers and my father.” Her voice came out in a hiss.
Hadrian pulled back as though she had slapped him. He felt regret creep into his heart as he looked at her sob, softly, behind her hands and hair. Madness; that is what had consumed him and he realized what he had become. Vivia’s daughter, his daughter, had been too much of a temptation.
He stu
mbled back as a man gave a strangled cry outside. Hadrian started forward leaving the bound Ashira to her tears. Hadrian unsheathed the sword dazed and started for the door. Ashira called for him to stop, to just leave, but he ignored her.
Hadrian opened the door and found a few of his men fighting a small group. He told the two guards by the door to leave, run, there is nothing left to do. They looked at him confused but did not argue. They had been discovered; all was lost.
The young man at the front moved with complete grace. He was a Water Dancer, as Hadrian had once been. Rodrick had lacked the grace and he used to joke that his wife would make a better Water Dancer. Hadrian walked down the steps into the street, pushing his men aside and telling them to leave.
He raised his sword as King Cain’s sword collided with it. The boy narrowed his eyes and Hadrian pushed off of him. They circled each other as Hadrian reeled from the choices that had led him there. His hatred and resentment had guided him, covered by a desire to end slavery.
Cain struck out first and Hadrian narrowly parried. They exchanged blows, young Water Dancer to old Water Dancer. Their movements were fluid, their swords like extensions of their bodies. Thrust, parry, spin. His movements drove him, his heart confused.
Hadrian felt himself slowing, he was not a young man anymore and he had confused himself with a younger more able man. It did not take long for Cain’s blade to slice across his chest and bring him to his knees. He looked up as two men helped Ashira from the room.
She looked at him with only pity now as they came down the stairs. Vica had been right, he never belonged anywhere, but he could have made the north his home. Padma’s words that he would have ruined Roanoak, rung in his ears as Ashira called out, her hand reaching forward.
He was never meant for greatness; he had succeeded where many had failed and had only concentrated on what he lacked. The sword dropped from his fingers as he thought of Vica. His last thought, as Cain’s blade, ripe with vengeance, penetrated his heart, was of her face.
Chapter 70
Ashira Highlander
Ashira watched the waterfalls of Evermore as her mind wandered. In the days following her alleged birth father’s death, she had found herself wondering what else had been a lie. She didn’t know if her mother had given herself willingly or Hadrian had simply taken what he wanted. It was difficult to imagine her father loving her, as he did, while knowing the truth.
