by Kelly Carr
Valeria glanced at the sky outside the window. “Not long, I think. None of us wanted to return to our rooms without reporting back to you. Is that Davu?”
“Yes,” Liana said. “It’s a long story.”
“Hello, Valeria,” Davu said with a grin. “Have you missed me?”
“Sure, sure,” Valeria said, still sounding half asleep.
“Did you manage to bring any of the Trevi back with you?” Liana asked, going over to the fireplace and reviving the dying fire with a flick of her fingers.
“Not many,” Valeria said grimly, shaking Susan’s arm to wake her. “Only a dozen or so. Most of them would rather cower in the forest than meet their enemy head-on.”
Elias wasn’t surprised, but he saw Liana’s look of disappointment. “Well, it’s better than nothing. Susan, what did you learn?”
“Not much,” Susan replied, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and looking curiously at Davu. “She danced with all the same people you did. She repeated her story about the Trevi attacking Lezar and asked if they would aid her. Between her claims and my attempts at making them see reason, they don’t seem to know what to believe, but my father seems very ready to accept her version of events. It may not be safe for you to stay here much longer. My father might try to do something ridiculous like arresting you.”
The thought had crossed Elias’ mind as well. He was about to suggest they find accommodations elsewhere when Liana shrugged.
“It’s certainly dangerous here,” she said, “but it’s safer to stay and keep an eye on our enemy than to run and hide and have no idea what she’s doing. If I’m arrested…well, we’ll deal with that then.”
“No one is going to arrest you,” the prince said sleepily.
Elias turned in surprise, he hadn’t noticed the young man waking up.
“I trust that if it were up to you, no one would,” Liana said with a fond smile at the man, “but your father may have other ideas, and if I’m arrested, neither of you can interfere. I can’t have you getting yourselves into trouble with the king, when you may be needed to help us later. Am I understood?” She looked both of them in the eyes until they nodded their acquiescence. “Good, now then, can I have my bed back? I’m rather tired.”
Valeria and the Princess scrambled off the bed, and Liana took their place. Her eyes were closed before Elias pulled the door shut. He watched as Valeria and Susan disappeared into Valeria’s room down the hall. The prince walked away in the opposite direction, glancing back several times, as though reluctant to leave.
Elias planted his feet in a sentry’s stance, Davu standing beside him. Both kept a wary eye out for any sign of unusual activity, but all was still. Elias shivered. The corridors were unusually cold for the season. His expression darkened as he thought back to the first breath of cool air that had heralded such tragedy for the Trevi long ago…
Chapter twenty-three: valeria
Valeria laughed as she spun through the ballroom, hand in hand with Susan. The glow of the crystal chandeliers glinted in the princess’s eyes as she drew her close…and suddenly crumbled into dust.
Valeria screamed and looked around wildly as the people around her melted away. Her attention was drawn to the figure of Queen Katya advancing towards her. The queen raised an arm, with a satisfied smirk, and pain shot through Valeria’s veins like ice…
...She awoke with a gasp and leapt from the bed, dagger in hand, before she registered that the only other person in the room was a very startled-looking Susan.
“Are you alright?” she asked, concerned.
Valeria took a deep breath, and her heartbeat slowly returned to its normal rhythm. “I’m fine,” she said. “Has something happened?”
“There was a messenger from the city,” Susan said.
“What is it?” Valeria asked, throwing on her usual clothes and strapping on her sword for good measure.
“Many people have come to the city asking to see the king. Liana’s already on her way down there. We’d better…”
Valeria was already out the door.
It wasn’t hard to find the place where the influx of new people had gathered. Numerous wagons were drawn up in the marketplace, and animals stood about nervously, raising a clamor with their various calls of distress.
Valeria and Susan fought their way through the crowd, in search of familiar faces. They saw James nearby, but the king was with him, so they looked elsewhere. Finally, they spotted Liana, Elias, and Davu forcing their way through the crowd, towards the king.
“Liana!” Valeria called.
“Valeria, Susan, there you are. I was wondering where you’d gotten to,” Liana said, the relief plain in her voice.
“What’s going on here? Where did all these people come from?” Valeria asked, gesturing at the confusion around them.
“They’re all refugees. They’ve come from all over. They say the weather has turned unnaturally cold, killing their crops and forcing them from their homes. Many claim to have been attacked by terrifying creatures.”
“Genvu,” Valeria growled. Liana nodded grimly.
“Do they know how many?” Susan asked.
Liana shook her head. “It’s impossible to say. Perhaps just a few, perhaps hundreds or thousands.”
Valeria swallowed, but hid the stab of fear that ran through her at the prospect of thousands of Genvu descending on Corralis.
“What’s being done to help the people?” Susan asked.
“I believe the king is trying to come up with a solution that will cause the least amount of disruption. Those who have family in Corralis should be fine. The rest may have to build temporary homes outside the city unless they have the coins to lodge here, which is unlikely. There are a large number of wounded, who are being taken to the old city ballroom. It’s been converted into an infirmary.”
“What can we do to help?” Susan asked.
“That’s exactly what I was about to ask your father,” Liana said.
The king seemed to be talking to half a dozen people at once, but he stopped the moment he saw the group of Trevi approaching. Valeria saw a flash of anger cross his face as he recognized Susan amongst them.
“Your Majesty,” Liana said with a hasty curtsey, “how can I be of assistance?”
“Assistance?” the king replied, apparently surprised by the question.
“Yes, of course. I was thinking that perhaps, if the people of Corralis are unwilling to open their homes to the refugees, the castle grounds might be a more secure place for them than the edge of the city, and would paint Your Majesty in a more magnanimous light. You should also cancel the Harvest Festival. It’s much too dangerous to—“
But Liana never got a chance to finish her thought. The king made a gesture, and three guards stepped forward and seized Liana, Valeria, and Elias by the arms, relieving them of their weapons. Davu, unnoticed, melted into the crowd.
“Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?” Liana asked, though they all knew the answer.
“Liana of the Trevi, you are under arrest for conspiring to attack my people and take control of my kingdom.”
“Father!” Susan said, but another guard took her by the arm and dragged her away, ignoring her shouts of outrage.
Valeria opened her mouth to protest, but then she saw Queen Katya nearby, watching with an amused, self-satisfied smirk on her face.
Liana saw her as well and sighed. “She’s taken you in,” she said, more to herself than the king.
“Silence,” said the king.
“Father!” James said, pushing his way through the crowd. “What are you—“
Liana looked at him sharply, and Valeria saw her glance meaningfully from one of the guards to the next. Valeria looked at them too and only just stopped herself before she burst out laughing. By chance, the king had chosen none other than Emory, Finn, and Darcy.
James looked furious, but he stopped talking and allowed them to be taken away.
Valeria, Liana, and Elias
went with their friends quite peacefully. When they were well away from the market square, out of sight of the king and the rest of his guards, Davu came barreling around the corner, arms raised to cast a fighting spell. Liana jerked her arms free of Finn’s grip and blocked his initial attack.
“Stop!” she said. “They’re friends.”
Davu lowered his arms, a confused expression on his face.
Liana turned back to the guards. Valeria watched their expressions and felt her heart sink.
“We can’t just let you go,” Emory said guiltily. “We might get arrested ourselves.”
Valeria laughed. “How about a daring escape, then?”
The men looked at each other uneasily. “You’d better make it look good,” Darcy said reluctantly.
“With pleasure,” Valeria said cheerfully, already unwinding her glider from her waist.
“Elias, Davu, head for the beach and meet us back here after dark,” Liana said. “Gentlemen, catch us if you can.”
Valeria shot into the air alongside her friend, with a whoop, making a point of swooping low over the market square. There were shouts as they were spotted. They turned west towards the forest, in the opposite direction Liana had sent Elias and Davu. Valeria smiled grimly as she heard the scrambling sounds of a hasty pursuit.
Several miles away from the city, they abruptly dropped down into the trees, landing gracefully among the topmost branches. There they waited, as their pursuers swarmed into the forest and proceeded to spend the next few hours in a fruitless search for their well-hidden quarry.
Night fell, and most of the guards returned to the city, leaving only a few to continue the hunt by lantern light. With a sigh, Liana looked over at Valeria. Valeria met her eyes. The game had changed. Cautiously, they rose from their hiding place and glided silently back to the city, safe under cover of darkness. Valeria hoped the king’s men would exhaust themselves searching for them in the forest and conclude that they had simply gotten away.
The city was dark and quiet. All the shops were closed, and few windows were lit. Elias was waiting for them right where they had left him. He leaned against a house, his eyes closed. They snapped open as Liana’s feet hit the ground, and he was by her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her. “Thank goodness you’re alright,” he said.
Liana’s eyebrows rose, but she returned his embrace. “Of course I’m alright, old man. Did you really think they could catch us?”
“There are signs up all over the city. The king has given orders that you’re to be brought to him dead or alive,” Elias said. “I know you can take care of yourself, but even a Human soldier can get lucky, and one stray arrow is all it would take.”
“Well, for now, I’m fine,” Liana said. “They think I’m hiding in the forest and they have no reason to think I’d be foolish enough to return to the city.”
“I’m fine too, by the way,” Valeria said testily. “Not that anyone asked. Where’s Davu?”
Liana looked around as if noticing his absence for the first time.
Elias shrugged. “He went around the city and is headed for the Erean Forest. He’s too conspicuous to stay here, and I think he’s missed Jina. You ought to have returned there, too. Clearly, there’s no longer any hope of convincing the king of Torvain or any of the other kingdoms to help us. What do you hope to achieve by remaining here?”
Liana looked at him in surprise. “The king may be unwilling to help us, but whether he believes it or not, he needs our help now. Besides, I won’t abandon James and Susan to whatever Katya has planned for them.”
“Hear, hear.” Valeria agreed.
They spent an uncomfortable night at the edge of the city, huddled against one another for warmth. The following day, they arranged to stay at the home of one of the Trevi of Torvain, who were all perfectly willing to help them. Her students all considered the accusation that she was the one attacking Torvain utterly ridiculous.
Over the next two days, Liana did her best to keep her head down and remain unnoticed. However, despite Elias’ repeated warnings that it wasn’t safe, she insisted on visiting the temporary infirmary at night. With the help of two Undines from the city, she quickly managed to heal all of those who weren’t seriously injured. Each morning, many mystified patients were sent on their way by equally baffled healers, until only a few remained.
The city was abuzz with news of the refugees, who continued to arrive over the following days. They were hastily accommodated wherever possible so as not to interfere with the organization of the harvest festival. Despite Liana’s warning, the event was going ahead as planned. Liana and Valeria spent a significant amount of time working with their friends in the city, to develop defense strategies and contingency plans in case of an attack.
For two days, neither of them heard from their friends in the castle. Valeria cursed herself for neglecting to teach Susan the Sylph message spell, but there had never been any need for it until now. Unable to do anything about the lack of communication, both of them threw themselves into their chosen tasks.
Each day it grew colder until, on the evening of the festival, flakes of snow could be seen drifting down with the setting sun. Valeria glanced over at her friend from where she was helping light the lanterns and saw resignation in her face. They all knew what was coming, and were powerless to stop it. At the same time, she saw a hard glint of determination in her friend’s eye, and could almost read the thought written across her face: “It will be different this time.”
chapter twenty-four: james
James looked out over the city, already covered in a thin blanket of snow, and frowned. It was unusual for snow to fall at the festival. He hoped the farmers had been able to harvest their crops before the cold ruined them. If not, it could be a very hard winter.
“James,”
The prince flinched, then relaxed as he realized it was only Susan. She joined him at the window.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
“Yes,” James said, a note of relief in his voice. Both he and Susan had been forced to remain in the castle on his father's orders. He had been desperate to get out for days. To his relief, there had been no word of Liana or her friends, though he missed their company. He knew Susan missed them too. “Do you think they’ll be at the festival tonight?” he asked.
“I have no doubt they will,” Susan said. “Come on, the others are waiting.”
James made a face, but allowed her to take his arm and lead him down to the entrance hall, where his mother, father, and Katya were waiting, along with a variety of courtiers. At Susan’s advice, most of the royals had quietly left the day after the ball, but King Haku and his queen had insisted on remaining behind for the festival.
Deliberately positioning himself as far from Katya as possible, James joined the small party. He saw the young queen frown and shivered. He didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to keep her at bay.
The snow crunched underfoot as they all walked down to the city together. Thousands of lanterns lit their way, and music drifted from every square and gathering place. The streets were lined with merchants selling everything from pipes to pastries, the delicious smells of the latter making his mouth water, as he passed them.
The festival was always the best event of the year. Most of the kings and queens preferred the grandeur of the royal ball, but James could practically feel the city thrumming with life as he hurried towards the market square.
For once, the square was empty of any merchants. Instead, hundreds of people danced to the tune of music so infectious that James could feel his own feet twitching with eagerness to join them. Some wore fancy suits and dresses, but most wore their everyday clothes, and a few wore what could only be described as rags, but all of them looked happy.
Almost immediately, refugees gathered around the king, full of questions about what was being done to manage their situation. James and Susan took advantage of his distraction and slipped away through the crowd. On the other
side of the square, James glanced back to be sure they hadn’t been followed, then relaxed and let out a relieved laugh.
“Free at last,” Susan said with a grin. “I’m off to look for Valeria.”
“Be safe,” James called after her, but she had already disappeared.
James took the hand of a plump, rosy-cheeked woman and led her into the dance, always searching the edge of the square. He kept a wary eye out for Katya, but though she was no longer by his father’s side, he never saw a sign of her. Finally, he spotted Liana, wrapped in a dark cloak, hovering near the entrance of an alleyway. She spotted him at the same moment and, beckoning, withdrew further into the shadows.
James bowed to his partner and turned to follow.
“I’m so glad you’re alright,” he said, taking Liana’s hand. “I’d have come to speak with you sooner, but my father has had me and Susan watched closely, ever since you ran off. I think he knows somewhere deep down that our allegiance now lies with you.”
“Thank you for that,” Liana said with a brief smile. “What’s the news from the castle? What has Queen Katya been up to?”
James grimaced. “I’ll tell you all about it, but first let’s look around the festival a bit. Who knows when your next opportunity to enjoy a Torvinian celebration will be.”
He could see by Liana’s expression that she knew he was deliberately avoiding the issue, but she allowed him to lead her away from the market square and over to the streets lined with merchants. They purchased some bread and cheese from one of the carts and tiny cakes from another and ate them as they walked along.
James showed Liana how to tell which of the vendors were from Torvain and which came from other kingdoms. He saw her admiring the embroidered silks of Marakai and the jewelled bracelets of Bethen. On a whim, he purchased a single silver bangle set with five tiny amethysts. Its simple, modest style suited the young leader of the Trevi, who blushed as he slipped it onto her wrist.
