“People of Rothdara, behold your new Countess!” There was pleasure in the General’s voice as he presented Kaori to the crowd, his hand swiping across the block to soak it with the blood of her parents before bringing it up to meet both sides of Kaori’s face in turn, covering the skin of her cheeks with the thick substance. Her lips trembled, mortified by the sensation, aware of the blood which drenched her clothes, her skin, her hair. “Let this be a lesson to you all. The Emperor will not tolerate disobedience. For too long your people have taken advantage of his kindness; but no more. May the blood upon this girl’s body serve as a constant reminder that your life is a privilege. One that the Emperor is under no obligation to allow.”
Turning on his heel, the General walked away, the sound of his footsteps slowly fading into the distance. The entire town stood in stunned silence, staring up at Kaori upon the stage. Her hands were shaking. Rolling her palms over, she looked down at the blood which covered them, unable to tear her eyes from the sight. Her parents were dead. They would be remembered throughout history as the innocent Count and Countess who died for the crimes of their daughter.
Her parents’ blood was not only upon Kaori’s hands, but upon her conscience. In her mind she went over and over the events of the last few days. She should have done more. There must have been something she could have done to prevent this from happening. Something more she could have said to the Emperor to guarantee his cooperation. Perhaps if she’d simply agreed to his desire for her body, he may have been more amenable to her requests.
Falling to her knees, Kaori remained in silence, aware of the crowd slowly starting to disperse around her. No one knew what to say. No one knew what to do. It was easier for them to turn their backs on the day’s events. But Kaori didn’t have that luxury. She couldn’t just walk away. This day would haunt her for the rest of her life. That was the only thing she knew with any certainty anymore.
Weeks passed in a haze, days holding no meaning. No enjoyment. It didn’t feel right to take pleasure in life. To enjoy the title which defaulted upon her due to the unfortunate circumstances. Countess Kaori. She didn’t deserve the prestige. After what she had done – the actions which led to the deaths of her beloved parents – no one in Rothdara would ever respect her. Not the same as they had for Etyn and Katri Levadis. She couldn’t expect anyone to accept her when she couldn’t even accept herself.
Visitors came and went from her home to offer their condolences. No one knew how to act when in Kaori’s presence, their conversations awkward and tense at the silence they received from Kaori in return. Her voice had been lost since that fateful day which changed her life forever. She felt sorry for Sivar. Sunken into her own depression, it was easy to forget at times that he grieved the same as her, though he was left to entertain the frequent guests with a smile so as to uphold proper etiquette. Some visitors were greeted by Sivar with more joy than others. On occasion his lovely Pehrona showed up on their doorstep to inquire of Kaori’s well-being. Though Kaori found her idle chatter unwelcome, she knew it was helpful for Sivar to have her there. Despite the death of their parents, he still carried a torch for that woman unlike anything Kaori had seen before. It was impossible to tell if the feelings were reciprocated, but that was unimportant at the present. What mattered was that she gave Sivar something to hope for. A glimmer of happiness in the midst of his loss.
Given the shorter distance between Rothdara and Tialore, Liurn was their most common visitor, stopping in nearly every day to check on Kaori and her brother. When at the Levadis home, he took time to help Sivar with business matters which were overlooked because of Kaori’s grief and inability to focus on the responsibilities required of her. The role of Countess wasn’t something she wanted. Not like this. She wasn’t ready. Politics wasn’t an area with which she possessed expertise. It required diligence and attention to detail. Sanity. Right now, she questioned her ability to simply function as a person.
Although she preferred solitude, there was only one guest Kaori didn’t mind entertaining. Whenever the servants announced the arrival of a new visitor, she prayed it would be Therek. Not because she held any special feelings toward him or desired his company. In truth, it was his silence she enjoyed. He entered the home under a pretense of desiring conversation yet he spent the entire time seated quietly across from Kaori, neither one speaking a word or attempting socialization. She wondered at times if he truly wanted to be there or if he simply paid her parents respect in death by keeping an eye on their children. Regardless of his reasons, she appreciated the effort. There was no doubt his actions reflected a deep remorse for something Kaori couldn’t understand. The somberness of his sharp features had become more noticeable over the weeks since the execution. After the bodies of Kaori’s parents were cleared from the scaffold, it was Therek who utilized every ounce of sway he held over the Emperor to obtain possession of their remains for the sake of some semblance of a proper burial. A funeral pyre was arranged at the center of town, bringing people from all over Carpaen to mourn the death of the beloved Etyn and Katri Levadis. When the flames were extinguished, Kaori felt the pit in her stomach deepen, realizing that it was over. Her parents were gone. Nothing remained to remember them other than the memories she possessed along with a simple headstone the townspeople dedicated to pay their respects at the local cemetery.
“You really should go outside, Kaori. Get some fresh air,” Sivar mumbled from the doorway, eyeing Kaori curiously. “I grieve the same as you, but you know Mother and Father would not want us rotting away in this house.”
Slowly, Kaori lifted her eyes to meet her brother’s steady gaze, saying nothing. The accuracy of his statement wasn’t enough to increase her desire for physical activity. She was content to remain seated there for the remainder of the day, thinking over the things she’d done wrong in life. There were just so many! How could she possibly be expected to continue living with any sense of normalcy when she had so many regrets? So many things she hated about herself. Her parents were dead because of her foolishness. She should have argued more on the matter of completing the rites before traveling to Avishul. If General Deliao never discovered her delicate position in society, the Emperor wouldn’t have been able to use her parents to prove some ridiculous point. It would have been her blood on that scaffold. Her life taken in punishment for her actions. It should be my name on that headstone, not theirs…
Frustrated by her silence Sivar turned away, leaving the room with nothing more than a loud exhale to make his agitation known. Kaori watched the empty doorway, wishing he would come back. It wasn’t her intent to upset him. Conversation was just too difficult. Her head was filled with guilt and blame which blocked her ability to form the words everyone expected her to say. Dejected, she lowered her head back down, shoulders slumped forward, consumed once again by the emptiness which surrounded her.
Several moments passed before Kaori registered the sound of footsteps approaching from somewhere in the home. Hurried. Accompanied by a familiar voice which indicated that Sivar was on his way back to the sitting room, only he wasn’t alone. An extra pair of shoes could be heard over the wooden floorboards, their pace quickened, moving swiftly along the hall toward where Kaori remained. Curious, she leaned forward, peering at the door in wait of who would enter. It came as no surprise to see Liurn’s familiar face come into view behind Sivar, the strain on his features more visible than normal.
“This is an outrage,” Liurn shook his head, moving quickly across the room to situate himself on the sofa, facing Kaori from in front of a large ornate window which overlooked the yards of the Levadis property. He looked disheveled. Unusually shaken. “How much more are we supposed to sit here and take?”
“He is the Emperor, Liurn. We have no choice other than to accept his decrees.”
“But he is taking away our rights! If we let him have the power, he is going to continue this repression.”
Interest piqued, Kaori listened to the boys talk, though she didn�
��t dare ask questions. They looked deep in their conversation. Distressed over whatever news Liurn brought. What has the Emperor done this time?
“We do not have the power to stop him,” Sivar frowned, his stance rigid where he leaned against the doorframe. “If we argue his actions, it would only serve to anger him. And we all know what that leads to.”
“He is destroying everything our people stand for. I cannot believe there is nothing we can do.”
Unable to hold her tongue, Kaori swallowed hard, the sound of her voice foreign to her ears after so many weeks of silence. Something was wrong. It wasn’t like Liurn to behave this way. “What has happened?”
“The Emperor,” Liurn let his head roll backward, staring up at the ceiling. “He announced yesterday that our people are no longer allowed to worship our gods. When questioned, he said it is imperative that Carpaen be unified in our beliefs and customs.”
“It cannot be enforced,” Sivar argued, folding his arms across his chest. He looked irritated, though Kaori couldn’t be sure if it was the news which upset him or if it was something else. “This will never last, Liurn. You are getting yourself worked up over nothing.”
“Nothing?” Liurn lowered his head, staring at Sivar in disbelief. “Several of our people have already been arrested for disregarding the law. General Deliao’s men ransacked three chapels between Rothdara and Tialore alone. There is no telling how many others have been destroyed because of this.”
For the first time since Liurn’s arrival, Kaori could see the lines on Sivar’s face soften. He looked shocked. Rattled by what Liurn was saying. “Arrested?” he breathed. “How is that possible? He cannot condemn someone for their religion.”
“He can and he is,” Liurn shook his head in defeat. “It looks like your parents’ execution was just the start of the Emperor’s plan. I am beginning to wonder if this wasn’t his intention all along.”
“To persecute the Vor’shai? There are too many of our people within his court. A rebellion isn’t something he can risk.” Easing his stance, Sivar came to stand at Kaori’s side, gently resting his hand upon her shoulder. She glanced up at him, curious as to what was going through his mind. He sounded hurt. As if the possibility of the Emperor doing something so heinous was unheard of. It angered her that he remained so naïve to the truth after everything that man had done. Sivar was there for the execution. He knew what Sulel and his general were capable of.
Resting his elbows on his knees Liurn leaned forward, biting his lower lip in contemplation. “I just do not understand what he stands to gain.”
Something tugged at the corners of Kaori’s mind. Flashes of a memory long discarded as nonsense. In her head she could hear the sound of a woman’s voice speaking, telling of some story whispered among the humans about the Vor’shai. Salene. Their conversation from within the confines of her room at the Eykanua palace drifted into Kaori’s thoughts, bringing with it a new wave of discontent. Could it be true? “He is afraid,” Kaori whispered softly, the sound of her words catching the attention of the men. Liurn stared at her in confusion, baffled by the statement.
“Of what could he possibly be afraid?”
“Us,” Kaori stated simply, staring Liurn down, calm, somber. “While I was at court, the Countess of Argyll spoke of a rumor. A fear held by many humans in regards to the Vor’shai and supported by the Emperor.” She couldn’t help but laugh at the memory. It had seemed so frivolous at the time.
“I fail to see how this is humorous,” Sivar removed his hand from Kaori’s shoulder, stepping away to get a better look at his sister.
Straight-faced, Kaori held her brother’s gaze, hoping he would recognize the severity of what she was about to say. “The Emperor endorses a fear amongst the humans that our people are somehow possessed by evil. That the energy inherent to the Vor’shai is the work of some devil. People are known to fear that which they do not understand. Or perhaps, that which they desire to possess and are unable to acquire.”
“I see the logic there,” Liurn nodded in agreement. “If he fears what our people are capable of, it makes sense that he would attempt to make us afraid of him. To put us in our place.”
“It still seems foolish to risk our ire if he fears us the way you think.” Sivar let his fingers weave through his hair, deep in thought over what Kaori presented.
Shaking her head, Kaori rose to her feet, glancing between Liurn and her brother. “Just because the Emperor believes the Vor’shai hold some incredible power does not mean our people recognize the strength we possess. We are a peaceful people. It has never been our intention to use our energy for gain. But we could – and that is why the Emperor fears us.”
“While the thought is plausible, I cannot accept it as anything more than speculation.” Sivar looked torn. Able to see the points presented by Kaori and Liurn while unwilling to consider the possibility of it being fact. “Let us wait and see what becomes of those who have been arrested. Their fate will prove whether this nonsense is true. Until then, there is nothing to be done.”
Sivar was conflicted. Kaori could see it in his eyes as he turned away from her and Liurn to make his way through the doorway, leaving his friends behind without another word. There was still too much going on. Kaori couldn’t blame him for the hesitation he exhibited. They both yearned for an explanation of their parents’ death. To find a reason why the Emperor felt it suitable to murder two innocent people. Neither of them was willing to accept it was strictly justice. If Sulel possessed any integrity at all, he would have accepted Kaori’s offer to take the place of her parents and enact his so-called justice on one who deserved such a wicked punishment for the supposed crimes committed against his men.
At her brother’s unexpected exit Kaori lowered herself onto the high-backed chair she had been seated on, staring down at her hands, filled with uncertainty. For a brief moment she felt a fire inside that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. A burning desire to get out and do something… anything. But what was there to do? She was just a girl. It would take more than one woman to bring the Emperor’s ulterior motives to light.
Lost for further words, she prayed Liurn would find her company dull enough to make his departure. Without Sivar there to answer Liurn’s questions, she would be forced to abide his conversation on her own. His eyes were already upon her. Watching. Curious. Intrigued by her decision to speak. Please, just go away…
“How have you been, Kaori?”
Damn. For sake of etiquette, she was required to say something. Luckily, there was no requirement on the extent of her response. “Fine.”
Head cocked to one side, Liurn looked her over closely. “For some reason I am not convinced.”
Releasing a heavy breath Kaori allowed her gaze to meet Liurn’s, staring up at him through her long lashes. “What do you expect? My parents are dead.”
“That is not your fault. No one understands why you continue to blame yourself.”
“Because it was my crime they died for.”
“An action you may have done, but not a crime. The people believe you, Kaori. They do not blame you.”
“They believe me?” she laughed miserably. “The General stood before the entire county and called me a liar.”
“That does not mean everyone trusts him. I saw the guilt in his eyes while he condemned your words as falsities. Why else would he insist you be silenced so quickly?”
Shaking her head, Kaori sank against the soft cushion of the chair. She didn’t have the strength to maintain perfect posture for the sake of her guest. His welcome was already wearing thin. “I appreciate the consolation you offer, but you must forgive me if I am not able to accept it. I was there. I saw the horror on those people’s faces –”
“Their horror was at the General’s behavior!” Liurn interjected vehemently, rising to his feet in a passionate display. Kaori stared up at him, startled by the sudden movement. “He murdered a man and a woman whom he admitted were innocent, declared you a liar when
you claimed his men accosted you while then assaulting you himself before the entirety of Rothdara. If anyone feels anything other than sympathy for you, it is respect for standing up to him. Even your brother was too afraid of the consequences to intercede.”
Surprised by the fervor Liurn expressed, Kaori blinked, stunned, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to believe him. It was too much to hope for that the townspeople had been able to see through the General’s lies. While it wasn’t enough to bring her parents back from the dead, it at least brought a sense of comfort to consider that the Levadis name had not been completely sullied. “Do you honestly believe this?”
Regaining his composure Liurn slowly settled himself on the sofa, clearing his throat before speaking again. “I do,” he nodded sharply for emphasis. “Personally, I think our people are counting on you to give them the same strength.”
“Same strength for what?”
“To stand up to the General. To fight back against what the Emperor is doing to us.”
“That is ridiculous,” Kaori breathed, exasperated by the thought. It was treason to consider what Liurn implied. To fight against the Emperor. Even if she was willing to break every law in Carpaen, she didn’t know the first thing about handling the business of a Countess, let alone heading an uprising.
“Why is it ridiculous?” Liurn challenged, a hint of his earlier passion still ringing in his tone. “I saw the look in your eyes when I told you about the Emperor’s new decree. The determination with which you spoke when arguing why our people shouldn’t let someone tell us what we can and cannot worship. If anyone is capable of standing up for us, it is you.”
Shaking her head, Kaori lowered her gaze to the floor, disheartened to think of how much faith Liurn had in her. It was misplaced. Horribly inaccurate. Nothing she had done over the past few weeks could be considered the actions of a leader. She was a mess. Destroyed by the humiliation laid upon her the day of her parents’ execution. Her behavior was a display of weakness, not strength. “I am not sure what you are hoping I will say,” she sighed, giving up on the thought of arguing. Liurn was too set in his opinion. There would be no swaying him from it. “I hate the Emperor and want nothing more than to see him punished for what he has done to my family, but our people are in shock. They need time to let this all sink in before anyone will consider rebellion. Uncertainty leaves us too weak.”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 22
