Descent

by Charlotte McConaghy

  ‘Foolish?’ Athena repeated. ‘Your bravery was a far cry from foolish, Fern!’

  Fern shook his head stubbornly, his eyes distant and haunted. ‘It wasn’t bravery. It was just the opposite.’

  Then he kissed her lightly and rolled into sleep, leaving her to lie awake a long time and wonder what he’d meant. And she knew, somehow, that he wasn’t even really in the room with her.

  Chapter 22

  ‘But where will our food come from, if we cannot trade? And what on earth could we trade?’ Mia asked, a deep crease in her forehead. ‘Sand?’

  ‘We used to grow our own crops, and import only the grain. We will see if we can work out a deal with the Emperor.’

  ‘But how can you grow crops in the desert?’

  ‘We have always lived here. There are ways. There is water everywhere, even here. You just have to be able to find it. There are those among us skilled in doing so, and I will send for them to begin their work. In the meantime, I have summoned the Emperor to discuss a treaty, and sufficient supplies for the winter.’

  Mia had forgotten, again, that it was winter. Here in Tirana, it was hotter than any weather she had ever felt on Earth. It had been only a day since she arrived, and she was already being thrust into the semantics of ruling. ‘What can we offer him?’ she asked.

  Tye smiled. ‘You have trained a very good army, my lady. One of the best. We will offer him use of it, whenever he needs.’

  ‘Good. Then the most urgent problem is sorted?’

  ‘It should be, highness. If Liam agrees.’

  ‘Is there anything else?’

  ‘There is always something else, majesty, but for today you have done enough.’

  ‘I haven’t done anything except discuss things and order people around,’ she exclaimed. Surprisingly, she had found issuing orders and commands a lot easier than they should be.

  ‘That is what you are here for, highness,’ he said, shrugging.

  ‘Could you please stop calling me that? It’s just Mia.’

  Tye looked at her, and she fidgeted uncomfortably. ‘You must understand, to me—to all of us—your name is Nayana. Calling you something else is strange. It feels like a betrayal of sorts. And it reminds me that things have changed. That some things are gone.’

  Just then Liam entered and bowed his head. Strange, that she was suddenly on the same level as him. ‘Hi,’ she called out across the room. Every room, she had discovered, was huge in this palace. It still hadn’t sunk in that it was hers.

  The Emperor smiled and came over to join them at the table. Tye immediately stood, walked a few steps away and folded his arms, a distant look on his face—the pose of a servant.

  ‘Tye! Sit down, you loser. I need you here,’ she said firmly. The dark man’s eyebrows rose. He hesitated but did not argue, sitting down as he had been told.

  ‘Well you certainly seemed to have found a place.’ Liam grinned and she couldn’t help but return the smile.

  ‘Crazy, huh?’

  Liam shrugged. ‘Sharif saw something in you. He would never have given us the clues if he didn’t know you were important to this place.’

  Mia beamed. ‘Now, down to business. I have invited you here, Emperor Liam, to ask you something.’ The words were as Tye had instructed. ‘We would like to make a treaty with you and your people. The Kabduh have always been friends to the people of Samaraq, and we want this to continue. I need food supplies from the other countries, and I need you to bring them to me until I can arrange for a truce or treaty or something to be drawn up between Samaraq and the High Country. In return I will let you have full use of my army, any time you need it, plus a monthly tithe.’

  Liam’s eyes narrowed. ‘Your army is still trained? After all this time?’

  ‘Samaraq was lost outside time. Nothing has changed. My army is as good as it has always been. They are hard, well-trained men and women, and they are at your service, if you want them,’ Mia said simply.

  ‘How do you know this?’ Liam asked, and Mia flushed.

  ‘I just do,’ she said firmly. ‘Whether I remember or not.’

  The Emperor shrugged. They discussed further terms and conditions at length, which was far more complicated than Mia had expected. Eventually Liam smiled. ‘I accept your treaty. Where do I sign?’

  Tye handed him a scroll of parchment and a pot of ink. And that was that, Mia thought, immensely proud of herself. She had just negotiated her first treaty.

  Liam excused himself and promised to join them for the banquet before he departed.

  ‘What banquet?’ Mia hissed after he had gone.

  ‘The banquet being organised in your honour. This is a time for rejoicing, my lady—we are free!’ Tye said with such happiness that Mia laughed.

  ‘You know, maybe the fact that I was born on Earth is why I don’t remember?’

  ‘Possibly. It is a strange thing to have happened. I wonder why the goddess made it this way.’

  She frowned. ‘You think this has to do with the gods?’

  ‘What else would it have to do with?’

  Mia shrugged lightly. ‘I don’t know much about religion, but I know that I don’t believe in gods.’

  ‘And yet you tell me your friends battled with them only two years ago.’

  ‘I didn’t explain very well,’ she murmured, trying to order her thoughts. All the stories, everything that Harry had told her about that war ... Mia shook her head. ‘I mean that I don’t believe in the power of the gods,’ she said flatly. ‘It might have been different once upon a time, but right now it sounds to me like they care too much about alliances within themselves and power games than about anything to do with mortals.’

  Tye cocked his head. Then he smiled.

  ‘What?’ she asked, feeling abashed.

  He shook his head quickly. ‘Nothing, forgive me. I was only thinking that in some lights of the sun, you seem a great deal like a woman I used to know.’

  Which, strangely, thrilled her no end.

  ‘Mia, you may be right about the gods,’ he said pointedly. ‘But you must not have that attitude towards religion in general. All belief is sacred. If only for that hope it brings people, it must be honoured. Our own, here in Samaraq deserves a little more respect. Wait until you have learnt a little about our own goddess before you decide you don’t believe in her.’

  She blinked. At first there was an apology on her lips, but she held it back for some reason she was not entirely sure of. Instead she looked at her hands. ‘You’re right,’ she said firmly. ‘Of course I’ll try.’

  Tye grinned and nodded. ‘Good. I can help you by showing you a few things.’

  ‘What things?’

  ‘Traditions that Samaraq regard very highly, and may help to convince you of the power of faith.’

  Suddenly Mia felt uncomfortable. Why did she always feel uneasy around the important stuff? She knew it was stupid, but every time she was faced with something that carried any kind of weight, a conversation that held the slightest meaning, she wanted to crawl into a hole.

  Like religion, and trade agreements, and armies and economics. How could she possibly be equipped to make informed decisions that would affect an entire race of people? Luca and Anna were the ones who knew about this stuff. They watched the news, had discussions with their parents, and actually listened in school! All Mia had ever been interested in was parties and her boyfriend.

  If only she was older she might know a bit more about the way the world worked. As it was, she was going to have to rely on this man.

  ‘How was it that I saw you in the pool?’ she asked quickly, changing the subject.

  ‘I’ve been waiting for you. Tye shrugged. ‘Now I think it’s time you started getting ready for the celebrations tonight. I have sent ladies to your rooms to help you.’

  ‘Oh, thanks, but I have some ladies who came here with me. Send for them instead.’ She’d been far too tired the night before to even remember Claudia and Gwen, but she
was sure they had been taken care of in the palace.

  ‘As you wish,’ he replied and smiled, leading her back to her gigantic chamber. At the door he said, ‘I have had some food laid out for you in your room—you must be starving.’

  ‘Thanks—I am, actually.’ Something occurred to her. ‘Tye, there’s no meat, is there?’

  ‘Yes, why?’

  ‘I don’t eat meat.’

  He looked at her, frowning. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I ... I don’t eat it because I don’t like the thought of animals being slaughtered.’ Stop feeling embarrassed, she told herself. It’s perfectly normal not to eat meat.

  Tye was staring at her. He opened his mouth, then thought better of it and shrugged. ‘As you wish,’ he said again.

  She entered her room and was amazed again at what she saw. Like the rest of the palace, her room was marble, but black marble rather than white. The sun shone through a huge window on the south wall, creating dazzling patterns of light on the walls. A balcony overlooked the city, and beyond that, the desert for miles. There were marble pillars, and green plants, and she could not even guess where these might have come from. Wall hangings adorned her walls, and her large bed was canopied with cloth on all sides. There was even a fountain, trickling cool, calming water.

  Claudia screamed in excitement when she saw Mia, and ran over to hug her.

  ‘Are you well?’ Gwen asked worriedly, following Claudia into the room.

  ‘Yes, yes I’m fine. A little shocked,’ Mia laughed.

  ‘Imagine that! You are the queen of the lost city! Why did you not tell us?’ Claudia asked.

  ‘I didn’t know! I still don’t remember! I’m only going on Tye’s word and some painting of me!’ Mia exclaimed.

  ‘Is that wise?’ Gwen asked sharply.

  ‘I trust him ... strangely.’ Mia shrugged.

  ‘I thought he must have been the king!’ Claudia sighed. ‘I thought you two might have been...’

  Mia blushed. ‘So did I at first,’ she admitted. ‘Thank god it’s not the case though—I have enough to worry about beyond forgotten love affairs.’

  ‘We’ll have to find you a handsome nobleman, or prince. Perhaps one of the Kabduh!’ Claudia offered.

  ‘Claud, I don’t need to go and pair myself off just because I have a high-powered job.’

  ‘If anyone could be the lost queen of an ancient city, Mia, then it is you, without a doubt,’ Gwen murmured.

  ‘It’s because I’m bossy, isn’t it?’ Mia said seriously. Her two friends looked at her then burst out laughing.

  When they’d calmed down, Mia rubbed her eyes tiredly. ‘I’m going to have to work so hard to keep this place afloat. To keep myself afloat,’ she said faintly. ‘I don’t know what I’m doing!’

  ‘I’m sure it will all sort itself out, my lady,’ Claudia said. ‘You should just concentrate on getting your memory back.’

  ‘Thanks, Claud,’ Mia smiled gratefully.

  ‘What on earth should you wear?’ Gwen asked practically. ‘We have no idea of the fashions here!’

  ‘I think we should put you in white—it seems to be the colour here, and it will set off your hair—’ Claudia began, but Mia interrupted her.

  ‘No, I don’t want to wear white. Everybody wears white here. Black. Find something black,’ Mia ordered. The chests were full of white, but when they looked underneath, there was a whole drawer of brightly coloured sashes and drapes.

  The ladies helped Mia to wrap a black cloth around her. She had it done so that there was no skin showing.

  ‘But you will look out of place if you are too conservative,’ Claudia protested.

  ‘I don’t care. I’m the queen, I can look any way I want, and the last thing I want is for ... the men here to find me attractive,’ Mia said uneasily. ‘It’s difficult enough to get respect without looking like a hussy.’

  ‘A what?’

  ‘Never mind.’

  Her eyes were painted in bright red, as were her lips, to match her hair. She had sparkling diamond jewellery at her ears, neck and wrists, and when she appeared in the dining hall and stood on the dais, there was a silence from her guests that she did not quite understand.

  Mia knew she was not exactly pretty—not like Jane. Her features were too blunt for classic beauty, but that night, as she stood in front of her people, she appeared one of the most startling women anyone had ever seen.

  The crowd sank low in a bow to their returned queen. Mia sat down on her tall throne and they resumed their standing positions. A long carpet ran down the middle of the room, and people gathered on either side. Tye stood in the shadows behind the throne, dressed as he always was, staring straight ahead, his face expressionless, his stance relaxed and alert.

  Mia’s throat felt dry, and her jaw seemed to have seized up. What everyone perceived as strength in her stature was actually a kind of rigor mortis born of terror—she could barely move she was so nervous. ‘Good evening,’ she managed to rasp. Somehow she knew she had to hold it together, realising that if there was ever a moment in her life in which she had to step up and take control, then it was now.

  ‘I am ... so happy to be here,’ Mia said, her voice soft and barely audible. Looking out over all the beaming faces she realised it was true.

  It had seemed to her that she should tell them the truth, be completely honest about what had happened to her. But looking at the joy and hope in their eyes as they stared at her, Mia realised something. Being a leader must be like being a mother. You protected your children, even if it meant keeping the whole truth from them. What was best for Samaraq, right now, was for its people to feel safe and familiar, steady and constant. For them to feel like they had someone they could rely on.

  ‘A terrible thing has happened,’ Mia began clearly. ‘A horrendous act of injustice and cruelty.’ She gazed around at the crowd. ‘But we will not allow it to change us.’ Her voice held a new strength now. ‘Everything will be as it was. We will not be cowed into changing who we are or what we believe in. We are stronger than that.’

  An eruption of cheers filled the hall and Mia felt a thrill of triumph. Quickly she motion for Tye to come forward. ‘Yes, highness?’ he asked in a whisper.

  ‘What should I do now?’ she hissed into his ear and he smiled.

  ‘Ask the herald to call them forward one at a time so that you may greet them personally.’

  ‘I don’t know who they are!’ she muttered, but turning back to her people she said, ‘I want you to come forward, each in turn, to speak your name and profession so that the gods might know that we are back, and we are here to stay.’

  The herald began calling out names. Couples or single people would walk down the long carpet and bow low to the ground before her, then introduce themselves and what they did in the city, their voices ringing through the hall with pride.

  Towards the end of the procession a tall and very lovely dark-skinned woman walked calmly towards her and bowed gracefully all the way to the floor. Her long black hair and black eyes contrasted strikingly with her white gown, and she would have been very beautiful if her face had not been etched with fury.

  Mia shivered, wondering what she could have done to deserve such hatred.

  There were two people in front of the woman, and Mia was alarmed to realise she had not even noticed them, so commanding was the presence of the woman. The couple was older and were clearly family, as they each shared the same facial features.

  ‘You may rise,’ Mia said with a sudden feeling of apprehension.

  The young woman stood and smiled coldly. The man said, ‘Greetings, majesty, my name is Marius, son of Melius, and this is my wife Opharia, and my daughter Odette. I am your Army General, highness, in charge of the royal guard, and the army itself. I am pleased to serve you again, majesty.’ The man stood tall and proud, with a clear aura of arrogance. His hair was greying at the temples and there were lines around his eyes, but his body was still strong despite his ag
e, and he held at his waist a curved sabre.

  ‘Greetings, Marius. I’m sure I will have a chance to speak to you properly in the days ahead,’ Mia said warmly. Odette was staring at her and Mia tried to meet the woman’s eyes, but she had never been good at conflict.

  ‘Do I have permission to speak, your highness?’ Odette asked crisply.

  ‘Of course, go ahead,’ Mia replied uncertainly.

  ‘I would personally like to welcome the queen back from her long ... holiday. It seems fortunate enough that she was spared the same torture as us, despite the fact that it was her actions that sent us there in the first place. A stroke of luck, indeed.’

  There was a quick intake of breath around the hall. Mia stared at Odette, her heart thumping. What was the proper code of conduct for that sort of rudeness? Tempted to flee, Mia clasped her hands tightly together in her lap. But then she remembered something. The mosaic in the entrance hall. Mia’s own face staring back at her. Queen Nayana had gazed out of that picture with a look of absolute power. She had been loving, but so too had she been deadly.

  And Mia realised that this was her city. She could do whatever she pleased.

  ‘Thank you, Odette,’ Mia replied softly, not knowing where her next words came from. ‘But next time you wish to personally welcome me, do so without the insult or I will have your tongue from your mouth.’

  Oh my god, Mia thought, did I just say that? Do they even take people’s tongues out here? Or was that utterly barbaric?

  The silence deepened. She could see some people smiling in relief.

  Odette lowered her head, but there was no fear in her eyes, Mia noticed with begrudging admiration. Feeling a sudden power, Mia stood from her throne and said in a voice deadly soft, which nevertheless carried out over the entire hall, ‘Do not mistake me, people of Samaraq. I am sorry that I was not included in our banishment. But I will go through my own trials—I have done so already in order to bring you back. I am queen here. There is no question—obey me, or suffer the penalties.’

  And this, finally, was the queen they knew and loved, and for such a long time had been waiting for. Hard and fierce, with complete faith in her convictions.