Unable to draw a breath, Kaori could feel the strength in her arm giving out. Her lungs burned. The pain at her throat was excruciating, pressure building around her esophagus, Deliao’s fingernails digging into the skin, blood trickling along her neck down into the folds of her shirt. I invoke thee. The thought was barely coherent. It was impossible to think clearly. Fog settled over her mind, a sensation of weightlessness beginning around her toes and up her legs, gradually becoming more and more detached from her own body. She was dying. Deliao was winning. Eylanial, for the sake of the life you protect, I invoke thee…
Through the haze of her thoughts Kaori felt an unusual warmth start to build around her right hand. A muttered curse could be heard from somewhere overhead, the voice resembling Deliao though in her state of distress she couldn’t focus on the sound to decipher who spoke. The heat built to an almost uncomfortable temperature, slowly extending out from her arm into her shoulder, down to her midsection, revitalizing her limbs with newfound energy. In a sudden wash of power her eyes snapped open, amazed to discover a bright silver glow enveloping her body, the intensity growing until she didn’t think she could take the warmth anymore, crying out as she thrust her arm toward Deliao. The light erupted outward with the motion in a blinding flash, lifting Deliao off her, the sound of his sword clattering along the tiled floor filling Kaori’s heart with excitement and awe. He was disarmed. If she could regain her senses long enough to strike, there was a chance she could still win.
Clambering to her feet, Kaori ran toward Deliao where he was already starting to pull himself up. It didn’t take long for him to regain composure, easily evading the first swing of Kaori’s sword, a bewildered expression replacing his earlier confidence. “You demonic bitch!” he shouted, winding back to throw a wild punch toward Kaori’s head, his knuckles brushing across her temple as she leaned out of the way at the last second. “I knew your people were evil. Your taint must be destroyed!”
“The only evil in this room is you!” Kaori narrowed her eyes. She wasn’t sure what happened to create the light which she used against Deliao. Whatever it was, it left him shaken, unfocused. A perfect opportunity to strike. Spinning out of the way from Deliao’s fist, she stepped to the side, slamming the base of her sword hard against Deliao’s head. Not expecting the blow, he hit the floor hard, coming to land next to where Therek’s body remained. He laid there for a moment, stunned, allowing Kaori a chance to focus on her surroundings.
Something about Therek’s bruised and bloody figure was different than she remembered. A soft azure glow was again visible from his eyes, the lids swollen and red, but undeniably open. He was awake! Her lips parted to cry out his name, realizing immediately the mistake it would be to bring Deliao’s attention to her discovery. Both men were moving, groggy and uncoordinated, neither one appearing to take note of the other. If only she could get Therek’s attention. With his help, she could end this all before Deliao had a chance to recover his focus. The gods may have seen fit to aid her once; there was no guarantee they would offer assistance a second time.
Staring down at her right hand she pondered whether it was possible to recreate the light without calling upon the gods. One more flash might be enough to disorient Deliao while drawing Therek’s eye to the close proximity between the two. The question was how. She knew it was possible to direct the internal energy to her hand as a form of illumination, but never had she attempted to throw it like a projectile weapon. Just because you have never tried does not mean it isn’t possible. At that moment she was willing to do anything. Her window of opportunity wouldn’t last forever. If she didn’t try now, she wouldn’t have another chance.
Head tilted forward, she directed her focus to the palm of her right hand, praying that this plan would work. The light formed quicker than she expected, though not to the same brightness as it had been before. Less impressive, but no less capable of distracting Deliao from what was going on around him. Inhaling deeply, she gathered her strength, pointing the tip of her sword toward where Deliao lay, the silver glow transferring from her hand into the hilt of her weapon, traveling along the blade like a silver flame, thrown from the metal to flash in a brilliant display before Deliao’s eyes. The light caused Therek to blink, twisting his head to see where it came from. Instantly Kaori saw recognition in his eyes, rolling onto his stomach to settle himself on his hands and knees. It only took a moment for him to catch Deliao in his grasp, arms wrapped under his shoulders to restrain him there, preventing Deliao from getting away.
There was no time to second-guess her actions. Running forward, Kaori lunged with perfect form toward Deliao’s stomach, afraid to aim much higher in fear of impaling Therek in the process. The world around her seemed to slow as the tip of her blade cut through Deliao’s abdomen, gasping from the rush of adrenaline which coursed over her to hear his agonized scream fill the air.
“You cannot win that easily!” Deliao cackled maniacally, grabbing for the hilt of Kaori’s sword still clutched in her right hand. It didn’t seem possible. She didn’t want to believe that he could survive a blow to such an extreme. The man was insane. Stronger than anyone she’d ever known. If he didn’t die from the wound she inflicted, she didn’t want to think what it would take to defeat him.
“Strike him again, Kaori!” Therek shouted, tightening his hold around Deliao’s shoulders.
Caught up in the moment, Kaori tried to retract her sword, unable to force it from Deliao’s hand. “I… I can’t!” she cried. Even in his wounded state, Deliao was too powerful. She didn’t possess enough strength to break his hold.
Before she could do anything, she felt Deliao’s boot collide with her leg, a grotesque snap resounding through the walls. Bright flashes of red filled her vision as she collapsed to the floor, screaming in agony from the pain shooting through her knee. She couldn’t focus on the fact that she was no longer in possession of her weapon. The pain was too much. Distracting her from being able to think about the danger she placed herself and Therek in by allowing Deliao to attain control over the sword.
A pained grunt came from Therek as Deliao brought his head back hard into Therek’s nose, breaking free of the arms which held him down. He was on his feet within seconds, pulling Kaori’s sword from his stomach in a frightening show of strength and perseverance, eyes locked on Kaori, crazed and unfocused. Without a weapon and unable to stand, she was at his mercy, dragging herself across the floor by her right arm to try and crawl away, knowing it was futile but unwilling to lie there and accept death without at least attempting to escape. Through the chaos of her thoughts she could hear someone shouting her name, a loud scrape reaching her ears just as she felt something bump against her outstretched fingers. A sword. Lifting her head she could see the familiar design of Therek’s weapon lying next to her hand. Not wanting to let Deliao win, she wrapped her fingers around it, rolling onto her back just as Deliao reached her, the blade of her own sword pointed toward her, closing in with incredible speed and accuracy, the sheen of the metal dulled by the blood which still covered the surface.
Lifting her shoulders from the floor she let Deliao’s momentum help drive the tip of Therek’s sword into his chest, bringing his progress forward to an abrupt halt. Therek’s weapon was larger. Heavier. Capable of doing more damage than the slender blade of her own sword. The size prevented Deliao from recovering so quickly, his eyelids opening wide in disbelief and pain, releasing Kaori’s sword to let it fall to the floor at his feet. His weight toppled forward to lean against Kaori’s outstretched arm, too heavy for her to support in her condition. With a final cry she released her hold on the weapon still protruding from Deliao’s chest, her uninjured leg slipping between their bodies to throw him backward and avoid being crushed underneath.
Afraid to hope that he was dead, she lay there in silence, waiting, listening for any sound which would indicate another attack. Shock was starting to set in, the pain in her limbs more noticeable than before. She couldn’t move her leg. No
t that she wanted to. Just the thought of trying to bend her knee brought tears to her eyes. Vaguely, she was aware of Therek kneeling over her, his arms sliding under her shoulders to help lift her off the floor. “You are going to be alright,” he assured her, pulling her tight against his chest, careful not to apply too much pressure to her left arm.
“Is he…” She couldn’t finish the sentence, too afraid of the answer.
Gently, Therek brushed a stray strand of hair from Kaori’s face, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss upon her forehead. “Hush, Kaori. Everything is fine. Do not worry.”
Do not worry? How was she not supposed to worry? They were in the middle of a war. If Deliao rose to fight again, she was in no condition to defend herself. The battle continued outside the door, blocking their path to where Kaori needed to be in order to acquire help for her injuries. She felt ungrateful for not being happier at the prospect of victory. There was just so much which weighed on her mind, hindering her ability to take joy in defeating Deliao and Sulel. So many people died to achieve the freedom they were so close to attaining. As she lay there in Therek’s arms, Liurn’s body was likely being carried back to the medical tents to be thrown on a pile with the other nameless corpses who had fallen for their cause. Did Therek know? Was he aware of his friend’s unfortunate fate?
“Liurn’s dead.”
Her throat contracted with emotion to speak the truth out loud. It was difficult to read Therek’s reaction to the news, his eyes too swollen for her to see much in their depths. His expression remained solemn, staring at Kaori with his usual calm, the only indication of emotion that of the slight tremble in his voice when he spoke to comfort her again. “His death is not in vain. You have achieved victory for our people as you promised. It is the start of a new era in Carpaen. One which Liurn was proud to give his life for.”
“It is one for which too many of our people have sacrificed.” Slowly regaining her senses, she tried to push herself to an upright position. If Therek was correct, and their victory was complete, they had to make their way to the others and announce the deaths of Sulel and Deliao so they could hopefully end the fighting before anyone else had to die. “Help me to my feet,” she grimaced, frustrated by her inability to stand on her own. Walking on her injured leg was out of the question. The only way she would be able to stand and announce their victory was with Therek’s assistance. It wasn’t quite what she had in mind when she envisioned their triumph, but it was better than being carried out as a corpse.
Concern creased Therek’s handsome features as he looked Kaori over with a scrutinizing gaze. “Your leg is broken, Kaori,” he frowned. “It is best you not try to stand.”
“Our people must not see me like this. We must present them an image of strength. They will need it after everything they have endured, and will continue to endure until we are able to restore a sense of normalcy to their lives.”
It sounded brave. More courageous than she felt in that moment. She knew it was what had to be done, but she wasn’t ready to experience the full extent of the pain which would accompany the task she intended to undertake. Walking on her right leg was impossible. The only way she would be able to address the people without being carried in Therek’s arms was to find a means to support the weight without use of her leg. But how? There wasn’t much within the throne room which could be used for a crutch. Her best option was to retrieve Therek’s sword and rely on the sturdy metal to keep her upright.
She wanted to find the weapon and make her way out of this dreadful room yet she couldn’t bring herself to move. It felt good to just lie there in Therek’s arms. Basking in the comfort of his embrace. He was alive. Despite everything from her dream which had found its way into reality, she managed to save him from death at Deliao’s hands. But once she stepped out of the throne room, their lives would change forever. They would be forced to separate, concealing their feelings from one another for the sake of Therek’s dream of establishing a female monarchy. Duty would lead them in different directions and she wasn’t sure her heart was ready for that. Not after having lost so much over the past year. If she let him distance himself, she would lose the last person she cared about. Life would feel empty sitting upon a golden, jewel-encrusted throne without someone by her side to share it.
Therek’s melancholy expression was enough to tell Kaori that he shared in her sadness over what they had to do. His arms tightened around her briefly, holding her against his chest in a protective embrace. The warmth of his lips moved along the top of her head, gently kissing her hair until he reached her forehead, meeting her gaze with a grief-stricken eye. “Let us get you to your loyal subjects,” he whispered, the pressure of his arms sliding away from Kaori, leaving her cold and disheartened to feel the empty space where he once was. It was all she could do to keep from crying, closing her eyes to try and compose herself before Therek took note of her emotional state. Now wasn’t the time for an in depth conversation about their future. They had a war to finish.
While Therek made his way to gather their fallen swords, Kaori pulled herself along the floor to Sulel’s corpse, her stomach churning to think of the brutality she showed with his death. The silver base of the crown remained settled over his neck, the long, diamond-tipped tines embedded deeply into the skin, blood pouring out of the wounds to pool on the tile underneath his head. If she wanted to have any chance at convincing the Imperial soldiers that their Emperor was dead, she had to bring something with her to act as proof. The crown was the most convincing piece of evidence. A token by which to remember this battle, and to remind their ancestors of this day long after she passed from this world.
Averting her eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to look while she pulled the slender tines from Sulel’s neck, cringing at the sound of tearing flesh. It didn’t take long to remove the crown from its resting place, the diamonds along the pointed tips covered in the dark, gruesome liquid, their shine tinted a deep crimson though still somehow managing to sparkle in the light of the chandelier. The Imperial Crown. It was there, in her hands. A symbol of a new beginning for Carpaen. The Vor’shai had won, though at a price, and she was now the undisputed Queen.
“We can make you a new crown,” Therek’s voice wafted through the air to meet her ears. It hadn’t crossed her mind that, as Queen, she would be expected to wear something so fine as the jeweled object held in her hands. This one was more masculine. Intended for a king. An Emperor. But she couldn’t just throw it away. Not only did it represent victory, it also served as a reminder of what could happen when a leader let power go to his head. A mistake she had no intention of making, nor did she desire to see it made by future kings and queens of the Vor’shai.
Turning the crown over in her hands she examined the exquisite craftsmanship. The smooth, flawless surface of the silver. There had to be a way to preserve it in remembrance of the lives lost for the sake of freedom. Metal could be melted. Why make a new crown when the old one could be reformed? “I do not need a new one,” she mused. “I want this one re-fashioned so whenever our people look upon the crown of their Queen, they remember the sacrifice made by our people. The darkness which can be caused by greed. We will learn from the mistakes of the humans so this never happens again.”
Therek’s footsteps came slow and hesitant, his eyes staring sadly down where Kaori remained on the floor. Hand outstretched, he gently wrapped his arm around hers, helping to guide Kaori to a standing position, cautious of her injuries. She relied heavily on his strength to prevent her weight from shifting onto her right leg. Without him, she wasn’t convinced she would be able to stand. The pain was too great. Determination could only give her the willpower to tolerate so much.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Therek asked, hands firm around Kaori’s right arm to keep her steady. “I can announce our victory and return with help.”
Adamant, she shook her head, unwilling to bend on her decision. “You know me, Therek,” she forced a smile through the pain. “Our
people will see their Queen carrying the crown of our defeated enemy. It is my first act as the official monarch of Carpaen. I just… require the help of my general.” Her smile became more genuine as she tilted her head up to gaze at Therek, grateful for his presence. She wasn’t sure how to feel in that moment. Happy. Sad. They were victorious and the only thing she wanted was for Therek to take her in his arms and ride off with her into the sunset the way romance always worked in the fairytales she was told as a child. But this was reality. Her fairytale would end with her great knight in shining armor holding her up while she put on a show for the entire country in which her subjects would never know of the love shared between them. It would be the greatest secret of the Vor’shai royalty.
When their eyes met, Kaori could see the struggle Therek endured as well. But it was he who argued the decision to keep their love hidden. A single word from him and she would gladly shout it out for all of Carpaen to know. Yet he said nothing, instead offering her his sword while they began their slow, tentative pace toward the door.
By the time they stepped through the arched entryway into the hall, Kaori questioned her own sanity for being on her feet. The pain was getting worse. Tears threatened from the corners of her eyes, impossible to wipe away, her only functioning arm held tightly by Therek to keep her from falling. Every soldier in the corridor stopped at the sight of them exiting the throne room, Vor’shai and human alike, their attention immediately drawn to the bloody crown dangling from the numb fingers of Kaori’s left hand. “Cease your fighting!” Therek announced loudly, the sound of his voice echoing along the hall to reach the ears of every soldier in range. “The Emperor and his general are dead. Long live Queen Kaori Levadis of the Vor’shai!”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 87
