by D N Meinster
“I love you, not your last name,” she replied.
Doren chuckled. “I suppose I should hold my tongue. I spent years trying to escape my name.” He looked back toward the throne. “For so long, I wanted to get away from him. Now I just wish he was here.”
Rikki reached out for Doren’s hands and slipped her fingers between his. “There’s still time to abdicate.”
“It’s been too late for that since the war ended. All the other kingdoms swore their allegiance to me.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“It was not my doing,” he emphasized. “I suspect it’s all temporary, though. Only one king kept all of Ghumai united under his reign. Not even Neanthal was capable of it.”
“So how do you think it ends?” Rikki asked.
“I don’t see this monarchy lasting,” Doren replied. “The Five Kingdoms will drift apart. Kytherans will learn about how all the other kingdoms choose their leaders. There are better systems than ones based on inherited leadership.”
“Are you saying Kytherans will demand those systems? Or you will?”
“I never wanted to be king, yet here I am. Say my kids—our kids—don’t want it? We shouldn’t force that life on them. Wouldn’t it be better if the leader is selected based on ability?”
“And who would choose?”
“The Bellish give the Directorate a vote. The Twileans give all their people a vote. Those are systems worth a look.”
It seemed Doren had been scheming in the days leading up to his coronation, but Rikki found herself in complete agreement with him. She didn’t want her kids to suffer in the ways she and Doren had. They could be taught to be responsible in life without having their entire futures defined for them. Castle Tornis didn’t have to be a prison. It could be a home.
“So you will be the last King?” Rikki asked.
“That is the idea,” Doren stated. “We only have to convince everyone else that it’s right.”
“If we don’t, we’ll have monarchists and traditionalists fighting here like they do in Terrastream,” Rikki said.
“There’s a truce at the moment,” Doren revealed.
Rikki didn’t recall anyone mentioning that to her. “Who managed that?” She couldn’t imagine Loraya seeking peace with her enemies.
“The Bellish have been using their technology to intimidate everyone into peace,” Doren said. “And everyone’s following along because they want what the Bellish have.”
“So they’re really in charge, not you?” Rikki sought clarification.
“Actually, I asked them to do it,” Doren said. “These five kingdoms haven’t been together in three hundred years. If old prejudices haven’t hardened, their ways of life have. Someone has to keep the peace. Why not the kingdom with actual peacekeepers?”
More had transpired in Rikki’s absence than she’d anticipated. And apparently Aros got all of his information second hand.
“I better start sitting in on your High Council meetings,” Rikki said. “I want to stay up to date with what’s going on out there.”
She was done being cooped up in her room. So much was happening, and she still had the ability to see it all. Even without magic, she could influence the direction the world was going in. It was an exciting time, and she was missing all of it.
“There’s always a seat for the Grand Mage,” Doren responded.
Rikki gave his arm a harsh tug.
“And Queen,” he grumbled.
Ghumai would always know her as Neanthal’s Slayer. And she would always think of herself as the Grand Mage. But being Queen was more than a consolation. Spending her life with Doren was what she’d always wanted. And despite all she’d lost, she still had that.
Rikki let go of Doren’s hand, put both her hands on his cheeks, and gave him a passionate kiss. She then wrapped her arms around him and didn’t let go until another had joined them in the Throne Room.
Doren didn’t notice Aros until his friend vociferously cleared his throat. Ever since Aros had gotten better with shifting, it’d been harder to detect when he entered a room. This had become more of an issue as the number of private meetings between the King-to-be and foreign leaders had increased. Intense discussions would be interrupted by Aros’ arrival.
It had always been Doren’s intention to let Aros stay in Castle Tornis and even join the High Council. But he hadn’t been planning on making those offers until he was actually king. To negate the drawbacks of his constant intrusions, and make it seem like Aros was supposed to be there, he bequeathed the position early.
Given Aros was already a guardian, Doren considered making him the Head Guardian. But Caterina had served them well during the war and in the aftermath. He couldn’t take that title from her.
So a new role was created for his friend. Aros would be the Royal Governor of Ghumai, and he would answer only to the King and Queen of Kytheras. And, since there was neither king nor queen, Aros was technically the most powerful man in all of Ghumai for the last several days. He just didn’t know it.
“You two are late,” Aros informed them.
“We must be incredibly late if Aros is the one telling us,” Rikki commented.
Aros crossed his arms. “I haven’t been late since I became Royal Governor.”
“In fact, he’s often too early,” Doren noted.
As it was only the three of them in the room, Doren felt it was the perfect moment to reveal a recent revelation.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about what would happen if I decided to abdicate. My father told me there were other heirs out in the kingdom, and since we’ve been back, I’ve tried to find out who.”
Aros was apparently puzzled, but Rikki was gazing at him intently.
“The records of these heirs are held in a single book, updated at regular intervals solely by the librarian. It is well hidden, and since we haven’t yet replaced Madam Brel, there hasn’t been a librarian. There was no one left that knew where it was. All I was able to get was rumors. But it was enough. I found it down in the crypt.” Doren stared into Aros’ eyes. “Turns out we’re more than friends, Aros. We’re family.”
Aros’ arms fell to his side and his mouth dropped open.
“You’re next in line to the throne.”
Rikki burst out laughing.
“Want it?”
Aros vigorously shook his head. “I would never take it from you.”
“If you are the last King, do we tell the other heirs of Aergo out there who they are?” Rikki asked. “Or do we burn the book?”
Doren wasn’t ready to consider either option. “That’s a question for another day.”
Caterina rushed into the Throne Room, carrying his father’s green coat and Aergo’s sword in her arms. She scowled at all of them. “There are five kingdoms waiting for you!”
Each member of the trio flashed her a guilty look.
Caterina moved on Rikki and shoved the royal objects into her possession. “Good to see you out of your room.” She eyed Doren. “Your first task should be to replace Linus and Phyllis, because I’m done acting as castle servant.”
“We appreciate what you’ve done, Cat,” Doren stated, grateful that she’d filled the void the deceased servants had once occupied.
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, making for the exit. She grabbed Aros’ arm as she went. “Shall I take him with me?”
Doren eyed his friend. “Aros stays at my side.”
Caterina grunted and left the three of them alone.
“We do this together,” he said.
All three of them locked arms as they left the Throne Room and headed down the corridors. The castle was as quiet as it’d ever been, as the entire staff had already left for Treatis Square.
There was little conversation as they marched onward. An uncertain future awaited them, but they drew courage from each other to face it. After all, it wasn’t like they had to take on Neanthal again. Their challenges would no longer be embodied by a single de
migod. Every little concern would be theirs to take on. Each political consequence would be theirs to deal with.
It was not the future they’d once dreamed of. Doren was supposed to abdicate. Rikki was supposed to be a fugitive mage. And Aros was supposed to be a blacksmith.
As they emerged from Castle Tornis, none was certain that this new future would be better than what’d they’d planned for as children. And though they had new titles, they were all aware of what they lacked. They didn’t have magic or a Goddess’ voice to guide them. They didn’t have old kings to seek advice from or ancient advisors to offer their wisdom. But they did have each other.
A wooden stage had been erected at the front of Treatis Square that was an exact replica of what had been built for the Celebration. But there were no chairs nor food for this event.
Too many had come for the Coronation. And as they disembarked from the AGT’s that paused at the fringes of the square to unload, the guests realized they had no choice but to stand.
Doren had never seen so many people gathered together who were not part of an army. Thousands-upon-thousands all had their eyes on him as he made it to the top of the stage with his friends. He could feel himself start to tremble.
“I don’t have magic to quiet them,” Rikki whispered into his ear as they looked out upon the audience.
But she didn’t need it. They all seemed to go quiet in anticipation of the event.
Rikki was about to start speaking when Keisler ran on stage and gave her a thin metal stick. He hurried off stage just as quick.
“My fellow citizens of Ghumai,” Rikki began, her voice amplified by the Bellish technology. “Though we are here to celebrate the coronation of a new king, I ask you to give a thought to what you have lost before we continue. Think about those who sacrificed themselves to prevent a second Dark Reign. Remember the faces of those you will never again see. Consider that piece of you that you will never get back.
“And once you have done that, I ask you to never think of it again. Do not dwell on it. Do not let it ruin you. It’s a new, united world, and in a few moments, we will have a new king. We cannot move forward if we are anchored down by our past. So honor your losses, but let them go. Join me, join our new king, and together, let’s point Ghumai in a better direction.”
Rikki dropped the silver stick down her sleeve, giving herself a chance to better present Aergo’s sword and jacket.
Doren hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Keisler, however. The Director had reminded him that he didn’t just have two friends who were on stage with him. There was an empress in Faunli who was eager to squash the old rivalries. There was a lady in Faunli who was possibly more intelligent than the Bellish and seemed amenable to joining his High Council. There was an entire directorate in Belliore working toward peace. There was a Streamer whom he suspected would soon be moving into his Royal Governor’s quarters. And there was an entire island that wouldn’t stop sending gifts and offering aid.
And they were all out there, watching him, as Rikki placed Aergo’s sword in one of his hands and swung the glistening green jacket over his shoulders.
“I give you the King of Kytheras, Doren Tunsev!” Rikki announced, silver stick back in hand.
Doren was no longer shaking as the throng erupted in deafening applause. The apprehension had washed away as soon as the sword was placed in his grasp. It wasn’t because of who it once belonged to, or because he was going to trade it for the shield that was hanging in two pieces on the wall of his room. It wasn’t due to a realization that he had five kingdoms worth of advisors to count on, or due to friends that stood at his side amongst cheering just as they’d done in battle.
No.
King Doren Tunsev was finally confident that he could be the ruler of all those people clapping for him. And that would lead to a glorious future for Ghumai, indeed.
A Note from the Author
The end!
I mean, it’s probably the end. I didn’t actually include those words in the text of the novel. And that may be because ten years down the line, I might just revisit Ghumai. I totally don’t have a title already set.
Or three titles.
The Sixth Heir.
Okay, dammit, there’s one.
Yes, this is the end of Kings of Ghumai, but one day, we will return to that land that has occupied nearly seven years of my life. It probably won’t even occupy seven weeks of yours, but that is the inherent disconnect between those doing the writing and those doing the reading. This place means a lot to me, and though I may be stepping away, I’m not saying goodbye.
I’m grateful to you, though, dear reader, for making it through five of my novels. I’ve got more on the shelf and even more on the way. So stay in touch.
I’m on Twitter.
I’m on Facebook. And Tumblr.
I also have my own website! And my own mailing list!
And, for the last time, please leave a review!
Until I write again.
-D. N. Meinster
