It was pretty ingenious. “You could do the same thing in Sol. It will take longer because we don’t have the magic and discs. But we have enough physical gold that we can hand out. Maybe make it different. Every person who checks in with a necklace on gets gold.”
“Okay, we’ll do our best. But your mother is going to be a problem,” Leo said.
“I know.”
“She needs to be careful because more than likely, someone close to her is the Voice. I still can’t believe it’s not your father. We were so sure.”
“We were, but it’s not.”
“Is it possible it’s your mother?” Sage asked.
“Luna said he was the father of her child. I don’t think that’s possible.”
“Unless Luna was mistaken.”
“I guess so. I don’t think it’s my mother though. She’d had plenty of opportunity to kill me, and she didn’t.”
Leo entered with three guards.
“They will stay with you until I return this evening. There are five more posted outside your door. I know you want to help, but you have to stay here.”
“Do you think the Voice figured out what’s going on yet?” Zwaantie asked.
“We’re not sure. It seems the only command anyone has been given is to kill you. Perhaps the Voice knows, but it’s not taking advantage of anything.”
“Well, get those necklaces on people before he figures it out.”
Zwaantie wrote a quick letter and sealed it with her seal so her mother couldn’t argue. Mother would be furious. She might even call Zwaantie.
Sage and Ajax left with Leo, and Zwaantie collapsed on her couch and opened the Ticker. She didn’t look at it often, but she wanted to see what was going on.
The first picture was of Leo kissing her at the coronation. She had to suppress a smile. In spite of everything that was said between them that night, she’d enjoyed the kiss.
She’d enjoyed the entire evening.
Ari still hung heavy in her heart, but she’d seen a glimpse of what her and Leo’s life could be like if they were to move past their issues. Though she’d ruined it when she spilled the beans about the baby.
Leo was distracted right now, but he’d remember eventually, and then he’d stop speaking to her. She wished they could move beyond this place where they were trying to love each other. They could live happily like that. Maybe now that she wasn’t trying to sleep with him, they could be friends.
Several pictures on the Ticker were of the sun. The Stellans were fascinated. Magic still worked, but the sun shone brightly overhead. Temperatures were rising, which meant it was even more stifling.
People speculated on what this meant for food. They’d be able to grow it now. Others talked about crossing the border. Everyone felt it was safe since Zwaantie was queen of Stella.
The news of Ari’s death had been pushed aside. The people of Stella were happy. The vipers were gone, the sun was shining, and life was good.
Zwaantie’s heart felt heavy. Life was not good for her.
She turned off the Ticker and found a movie. If she was to be stuck here, then she might as well make the time go by faster. Six movies later, Leo burst into the room, just after midnight.
“As far as we can tell, everyone is protected. You should probably still go out with a guard, but you won’t have masses trying to assassinate you.” He collapsed next to her. “You’re safe.”
“That’s good.” She was a bit dazed from her movie binge.
“Did you watch movies all day?”
“I had nothing better to do.”
He chuckled. “You look bushed.”
“Thanks a lot. You don’t look so hot yourself.”
“It was a long day. I’m going to shower, and then we should go to bed. You can go out tomorrow and enjoy the sun.”
She changed while he was in the shower, and slid into bed. Molly curled up next her, and Zwaantie scratched her behind her ears.
She thought she’d doze off, but Leo climbed under the covers, and Zwaantie’s eyes flashed open. They hadn’t slept in the same bed since they’d been married.
He gave Molly a pat. “Tomorrow, we’ll need to talk about the implications of a sun and other things.”
“It will change our rule quite a bit.”
“Do you plan on ruling from here?”
“I don’t see how we could avoid it, unless you were willing to move to Sol. Both kingdoms belong to both of us. It’s not only my decision or yours.” Zwaantie pulled a pillow out from behind her and set it on her lap.
“Our people will more than likely move around quite a bit in the next few years as they learn about the different ways of life.”
“Yes. I expect in fifty or a hundred years, you won’t be able to distinguish Stella from Sol.” Zwaantie looked at him, hoping for a sign that things might be warming up for the both of them.
He grinned. “That’s pretty amazing to think about. Our children will grow up in a very different world than we did.”
She was shocked he’d mentioned “our” children. Two nights ago he made it seem as if a future for them would be impossible. She didn’t want to bring it to his attention.
“How long do you think the fascination will last?”
Leo put his hands behind his head. “You mean before they decide the novelty is not fun, and they want things to go back to normal? I give it two weeks.”
“No way. It will take at least a month, maybe two.”
“You overestimate people.”
“I like to think the best of them,” Zwaantie said.
“I hope you’re right. If we have a month or two for things to settle, it will make things much easier when people get restless.”
“Whatever happens we can deal with it.” Listening to him talk made her optimistic. The past had been difficult, but the future was wide open with possibilities.
Leo flipped around so he was facing her, his head propped up. “I think we’ll rule well together. Especially in this situation where we both have experience from the different lands.”
He seemed so casual, like the fight they had didn’t mean anything. At some point, they were going to have to deal with their relationship.
For now though, the affairs of Stella and Sol would keep them together.
Chapter 15
The Failure
Raaf looked around his workroom. Overnight, it had exploded with five times as many orbs as it had before the sun set. The entire population of Stella was now under his control. Stella had a greater population than Sol. To have that many people under him was a rush. He could come out of this wretched room and walk among his people once again, since everyone would be his.
He sat back and watched his universe. Up in the corner something strange happened. An orb turned black, like Zwaantie’s and the slaves who went to Stella.
No.
A few more darkened. Raaf slid off the table and walked into the middle of his orbs, standing before the big one, and looked up. One by one, each and every orb went dark. Raaf couldn’t move, couldn’t even fathom what was happening.
This was Zwaantie’s fault.
Damn her and that king for getting in the way.
It had to be those necklaces. He gave a command to rip off the necklaces if they were spotted. Most of the new orbs were dark, but almost all of Sol still seemed to be under his influence. If Stellans crossed the border, the Solites would remove the necklaces, and gradually he would gain power over the world. He could be patient.
Shoes clattered on the floor, and he spun around.
“You failed,” Wilma said. “Now we wait for our death.”
“You’re so optimistic,” Raaf said.
“You had every opportunity. Though I’m not surprised. You can’t change the future, no matter how hard you try.” She stared up at the balls. “My sisters are dead. I’m all that is left, and my days are numbered.”
“Your sisters?” Raaf asked, curious.
“Yes. There were
three of us. The past, the present, and the future.”
“You were the future.”
“Yes. When the wall went up years ago, the past became the wall.”
“And the present?”
Wilma cackled. “Oh, that was rich. She was angry at the mages who insisted on creating the wall. She became the monsters of Stella. Do you not know the story of the three sisters?”
Raaf frowned. “I don’t really care.”
“Sure you do. Sit. This is a story that might help you in the coming days.”
Raaf sat, not sure what else he would do at the moment anyway.
“Before the prophecy came, I could feel the changing in the earth. I am the last of my kind, left behind from the old magic that used the earth, not the sky. This magic controls things outside the realm of physical and mental magic as you understand it. The earth magic controls time. The past, present, and the future. We three were on the earth since time began. One who could change the past, one who controlled the present, and one who saw the future.”
She cackled. “I do miss them. My sisters of the present and the past died when the sun and star mages decided to change the world. They died protecting it. The sister of the past became the barrier, and the sister of the present became the vipers. She was angry that she died after all the warnings she gave the people, but they didn’t listen, and now they must pay. I saw the future and knew it could not be changed. I begged my sisters to reconsider their movements, but in my heart I knew they would not. I could not see so far as their eventual demise, but I did see what they would become. The day the barrier was erected they refused to stop.”
“Just because your sisters didn’t listen doesn’t mean we have to be beholden to your vision. We can still succeed.”
“Come now, you’re smarter than that. How many times have you tried and failed? It’s time to let it go. The time of the Voice is over.”
He slammed his fist down on the table. “No. I will not lose. It may take some time, but with the people of Sol still under the influence, Stella will fall. You just wait.”
Chapter 16
The Queen
Over the next few days, Zwaantie managed to get out and enjoy the sun. She and Leo even went swimming once. She didn’t tell him she’d done it already with Ari. So far nothing had been said about their fight or the baby. Plus the sun was an exciting enough event. The Ticker was full of fun and happiness.
She spent most of her time planted on her couch talking with either Sage or Ajax. Getting the necklaces on Solites was proving more difficult than the Stellans. But they were making slow and steady progress.
Friday afternoon, she and Leo took a private lunch in their rooms. He held up an apple. “Soon we’ll be able to grow these on our own. Can you imagine?”
“I know, it’s going to be pretty incredible.”
“I’m going out to see one of the new farms after lunch. Would you like to go with me?” A farm. Imagine!
“Very much so. We should bring a few Solites over to help establish the farms since they’ve been doing it for years.”
Leo picked up the fork. “That’s a great idea. Let’s talk to Sage about it when she calls this evening.”
“That is, if she doesn’t call earlier.”
Leo chuckled. “She doesn’t understand the people of Sol. She expected them to be just like you.”
“She didn’t realize I wasn’t like the rest of them.” It seemed so long ago that Zwaantie snuck away from the castle to go running around the forest with Phoenix.
“She’s learning fast.”
“Not fast enough. Dad’s having trouble as well. Your mother is defying him at every turn. She’d got most of the guards listening to her.”
“I don’t know what to do about that, short of locking her up.”
Leo ran a hand over his face. “Believe me, Dad would like to, but that would cause trouble with the Solites.”
Zwaantie’s device buzzed, and she spun around. Sage stood there with a scowl. Dirt was smeared over her face. Grass and straw stuck out of her hair. Her pants were ripped. Zwaantie stifled a giggle. “What happened? I just talked to you two hours ago.”
Sage stomped her foot. “Horses are the devil.”
“You tried to ride a horse?” Zwaantie couldn’t help the laughter in her voice. It was the first time she’d laughed since Ari died.
Sage pulled a piece of straw out of her hair. “Not successfully, mind you. I want to come home.” She let out a breath.
Leo coughed to cover his own laugh. “How are things going with the necklaces?”
“I think we’re close. I didn’t see anyone without one today. A few more days and we should be safe.” Sage brushed at dirt on her pants.
“Leo and I were talking. When you come home, you need to bring a delegation of farmers to teach the Stellans how to grow food.”
Sage nodded. “We should send a tester out here and see who can do magic. They’re fascinated by what I can do. I taught a girl how to make light, and now they all want to know.”
“I think that’s a great idea. We need people from both sides to teach.”
“I’ll get the delegation together and let you know when I’m coming home.”
Sage clicked off, and Leo creased his eyebrows. “She called just to tell you she can’t ride a horse.”
“You have no idea. She called me when she pulled a carrot out of the ground, milked a cow, and found the stinky pond I used to hang out by. At least your father calls about real issues. Though Sage’s calls are more entertaining.”
Phoenix had gone with Sage and threatened to throw her in their old pond. Zwaantie’s heart pinched just a little bit. She missed home, more than she thought she did.
“I’m going to go home with the Stellan delegation. Just for a little while.” Zwaantie wouldn’t meet his eye. She knew he wouldn’t like the idea.
Leo dropped his fork. “What? No. You need to stay here.”
“Why? What good am I here? I can help my people as they adapt. Show them the different kinds of magic and help them adjust to not having the Voice. I’m the best person for them. Plus, I’m their queen. They need to see me.”
Leo came around the table and took her hand in his. It was the first time he’d been so affectionate. “Listen. I know Sage managed to get most of the necklaces out, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe.”
“I’m just as safe there as I am here. You could come with me.”
“I’m needed here. You know that.”
Her voice rose a couple of notches. He was being unreasonable. “Why shouldn’t I be needed in my own kingdom?”
“We may have tuned out the Voice, but he still wants you dead, and he’s in Sol. Possibly even in the castle.”
“Fine. Then we need to destroy him.”
“What do you think we’re doing?”
“No one seems to even know how to find him, let alone kill him.” Zwaantie slumped in her chair. “I’ll never be able to go home at this rate. Please, I need to go. I have guards. Stellan guards. They’ll protect me.”
He closed his eyes for a moment. “They couldn’t stop your own brother from trying to kill you. Besides, it’s not just you I’m worried about.”
Her heart clenched at the thought of Raaf. He was still out there somewhere, hunted by Stellans. No matter how often she said he was innocent, no one believed her.
“Then who are you worried about?”
“Your baby.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She brought her hand to her stomach.
“He’s the heir to the throne. The first royal child who will be truly both Stellan and Solite. You can’t risk his life.”
“You didn’t seem to care much about him when I told you.” She was surprised he even brought it up.
He let out a breath. “I’ve had time to think about it. That child was conceived the day I caught you and Ari in the garden. He’s the reason the vipers stopped. We can’t risk his life.”
S
he snorted. “Nice. So you don’t care much about him other than to make sure he doesn’t mess things up for Stella.”
“You should be pregnant with my child, not his.” He words were said through clenched teeth.
“How’s that supposed to happen if you won’t even touch me?”
“That ship sailed a long time ago. I thought we’d been over this already. Since the wall has fallen, I’ve realized we work well together, and I expect we can develop a decent friendship as long as you don’t keep trying to force something that isn’t there. I will raise him as my own. He will never know.”
He will never know. The truth slammed into Zwaantie, and she pressed her hands against her stomach. Ari’s son would never know who his father really was. She couldn’t share stories with him and encourage him to be like his dad. This wasn’t fair.
She scowled at Leo. This was his fault. Not only that, he’d just told her they would have marriage without love. She was prepared for a year or so of recovery from Ari, but she hoped eventually she and Leo would have something. But the way he was talking, it was as if they’ll never have anything.
“I thought you loved me. Or at least that’s what you told me. Multiple times, in fact.” Zwaantie held her head high. She wasn’t going to let him win this one.
“You think that after you betrayed me, not just once, but twice, that I’m going to take a chance with you again. I’m sorry. It won’t be happening. Also, you are not going to Sol. End of discussion.”
She stood up tall. “I am going, and you can’t stop me. You’ve made it clear you care for me as an ally and nothing else. You have no claim on me. I will make my own decisions. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some packing to do.”
He gave her one last glare and stormed out of the room.
Zwaantie fiddled with her necklace. It was not lost on her that as long as they were discussing how to run the kingdoms, they got along wonderfully, but the second they brought feelings into it, all hope was lost.
She supposed she was still grieving and would be for some time. He probably was as well. The excitement of the week didn’t change the fact that Ari was dead, and she was now stuck in a marriage that would never have love.
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