“No, your Majesty, I’m not.” Nelina cast her eyes downward as she picked up the tea.
Celeste dropped a small lump of sugar in her tea “He mocks our way of life, and you were almost killed for his petty amusement.”
“Your Majesty, my Magus did nothing to harm me, the palace guard did not listen to him.” Nelina stared at her cup wanting the agony of tea to end.
“Your Magus is he? Well, I’m your Queen,” She sipped her tea, “You’re his slave, sold to him by that sweaty slaver Johan right?”
Nelina took a small drink of her own tea and then set it down raising her eyes upward to Celeste. “I am honored to be considered his consort.”
“He’s after my throne, it’s why he whipped a city guard in public.” She sneered, “To show that you were equal to me, which you are not!”
Nelina did not respond to the Queen yelling at her.
“The King is under the impression you are a helpless woman trapped.” Celeste pointed to a generous pouch of gold coins, and five gold trade bars on the end table. “No matter how much he wants to keep you, if you pay him what he paid for you, you can buy your freedom. It’s the law in Danthamore.”
Nelina’s eyes became fixated on what lay on the table, it was after all her freedom for the taking, if she wanted it. “Gracious Queen, you are both kind and generous, yet I must respectfully decline. I am loyal in both duty and service to my Magus.” She disliked the taste her tea yet drank it anyway.
Celeste pursed her lips together. “I suppose I should know that with how upset you were thinking you failed your precious Magus, while you lay choking on your own blood.” Her lips curled into a reminiscent grin “It was quite the sight, an epitome of why women should not bear weapons or wear armor.” She scoffed, “But no epiphany for you is there? No sense in your woman’s mind not to try and do what men do?”
Nelina again chose silence rather than try to answer.
“Agnar being wrong about you isn’t a surprise, but I for one question this blind devotion of yours. I think you are in love with your devil Magus.” She leaned over taking one of the berry crepes and took a bite.
“If it pleases your Majesty, I do not wish to discuss my relationship with the Magus.” Her eyes locked with Celeste’s. “I think it would anger him if I were to do so.”
Celeste finished the last of her tea, and then set her cup aside. “I think we’re done here,” she sighed, “I have a dinner coming up in a several fortnights that I’m sure the Magus will bring you to, I’ll expect your attendance.” The Queen looked to the door of the Solar. “Orson!”
The heavy wooden door creaked open, “Yes, my Queen?”
“My guest and I have finished our tea, please, take her to Elian.” She smiled at Nelina “Run along now back to your Magus, we’ll see each other soon enough.”
Nelina stood up. “Thank you, your Majesty, but what about my armor?”
“It would be so rude of me not to have your armor cleaned for you, it will be delivered to your Magus, later today.” Celeste waved two fingers in her usual arrogant, dismissive manner. “Now go.”
Nelina left with Orson, who escorted her as they walked up to the stairs leading to the city’s outer wall which was the quickest way to the Northern Barracks. The warm early mid-morning breeze sweeping off the Torbian Sea was gentle as he led her down across the wide path of the wall.
Orson remained quiet as he continued onward stopping to help her take the stairs or to open a door until they arrived at the training yard of the Northern barracks.
Elian after having returned from his meeting with the Magus was having the men in formation running a series of simple drills with their weapons drawn when all their eyes diverted past him. “What are you men looking at?” Elian turned around with his own surprise to see Orson standing with Nelina.
Orson stepped to the side, making a gesture with his hand. “Queen Celeste has finished her mid-morning tea with her guest and I have escorted her in good health back to you.”
“Good Day to you then Orson, I’ll be sure to tell the Magus you brought her to me.” Elian was positive that Ru’ark had not condoned tea with the Queen.
Orson muttered under his breath and left without another word.
“Samuel, take over the exercise for the men,” Elian walked up to her presented her with his arm to escort her. “I’ll take you to Magus Ru’ark.”
“Thank you, Captain,” she accepted his arm to go back in the direction she had just come with Orson Elian leads her back across the wall. Little was said as they walked with the midday sun beating down upon them, which was intensified from the black stone of the city walls.
“Why are you dressed like this, it’s not appropriate, even for tea with the Queen.” Approaching the Royal balcony and the Magus apartments Elian continued his escort of Nelina down through the royal balcony and the fragrant garden as they approached the door to the Magus’s study.
“The Magus and I oftentimes dine alone, he appreciates when I wear beautiful dresses such as this one, and it is not meant for tea with the Queen of Danthamore.” She blushed, “Her Grace had it with her and insisted that I dress in it.”
“I understand,” He patted her hand with a comforting smile, he should have known it was some game of Celeste’s. “Pay the Queen no mind. Tomorrow we’ll see each other at practice, in armor.”
“Yes, in my armor.” She smiled with a light laugh as the guard opened the door for her.
Ru’ark was deep in his research in combining the Nivecus and Alter Waraeu and what their offspring would entail, but more to the point of his and Nelina’s children would bring. The creak of the door to his private chamber opened, which grabbed his attention. This was a time in the day when he was left undisturbed.
Nelina walked further in. “Ru’ark?”
Ru’ark stood up from his desk, surprised. “What are you doing here?” The dress she was wearing was not conducive to training with Elian. “You’re supposed to be training.”
“The Queen has my armor, she said she was having it cleaned and returned, she insisted I wear this dress.” She hoped the Queen would never do this again, it was horrible explaining her dress to Elian and Ru’ark. “She forced me to have tea with her.”
“Indeed, and during that time what did she speak of?” He sat back down behind his desk ittitated and indicated to Nelina she should sit in the chair across from him.
Nelina sat down. “The Queen offered me the opportunity to claim my freedom there was more than what you paid for me.” She looked down. “I told her no, I explained I was loyal to you.”
He leaned in forward. “Why do you think she did that then?”
“I think she is afraid of losing her Kingdom.” She raised her eyes upward. “She failed at swaying me to her course.”
His sigh was one of relief to know he did not have to be there, to show the Queen it was he who was in control. “It’s good you didn’t accept and make a hasty decision, I’d have to begin the process all over again.”
“Process?” She felt numb and cold.
He sat back comfortably in his chair. “Indeed, to find someone else like you to try with.”
“I’m glad then that I did as you wanted me to.” Nothing else had bothered her until this moment when the burning in her chest became unbearable.
“Did she say anything else?” His demeanor was more relaxed.
Nelina offhandedly touch the emeralds on her dress. She wanted to burn it right now. “She said nothing else of value, other than she expected to see me with you at an upcoming dinner.”
“Is that so?” A slow smile crossed his face.
“Yes,” Nelina smiled presenting the façade of being okay. “May I please rest for the remainder of the day? I don’t feel good.” She was desperate to cry and wanted to be alone in doing it.
He figured having to deal with Celeste had been taxing on her. “Of course.”
With a tight half-smile, she left the room before he could say anyth
ing else.
Kinnat’s walk through the palace had been a long one as she was led to the peak of the Kings tower and the Throne room for her meeting with the King and Queen. Its polished obsidian cut walls looked as though it they were made from strands of the stone. The architectural feat had been lost to time using an art form of stone masonry from long before the First Kingdom. The wide walls of the circular throne room were unique with Obsidian throughout its entirety, from the floor to the ceiling leaving the windows untouched. The windows spaced around the room bled into a larger dome with a clear misty glass, which allowed for the full light of the day to stream in. The black stone floor beneath shone with a mirror finish. The two thrones themselves were imposing as they stood high on their alabaster dais and were flanked on each side by two more. The middle two daises held the two thrones of the King and Queen, while the other four were spaced evenly on the sides of each throne creating the shape of a half circle. It was here Kinnat stood before the Grand thrones of Danthamore with their high backs and intricate carved obsidian legs off set by the alabaster accents and plush velvet cushions. Above the King and Queen high in the wall hung manacles embedded into the stone. She stopped while the herald announced her arrival.
The herald bowed to the King and Queen. "Holder of the Flame and Grand Seer Kinnat is here to see the High King and Queen of Danthamore, First Rulers of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms, First Council of the Ruby Isles, and Grand Cast to the Twin Kingdoms."
Celeste was not impressed with the animal bones and skins for clothing or the dead animal skull the Seer was wearing on her head. “Welcome Seer Kinnat to Danthamore,”
“Greetings Kinnat of the Ruby Isles, we thank you for your quick arrival.” Agnar was appreciative she had managed the journey in the short time she did.
Kinnat expected there to be a good reason for them wanting her here. “The message I received was vague at best, why am I here? My ship braved the Broken Sea past the Chainless Coast to hasten my journey, by the Grace of the One God we arrived without incident.”
Celeste glanced at Agnar. “You’re here because of the Magus. He’s a danger to all the Kingdoms and the known world, we need him taken care of.”
Agnar cocked his head to the side. “He’s gone so far as to kill a palace guard with his unnatural gifts.”
Celeste interrupted. “He did that to protect his precious little slave pet.”
Agnar continued, “If that isn’t enough, he has removed the Palace Guards from the eastern part of the palace and put the City Guards in their stead. The Captain of the City Guard Elian is also beholden to the Magus.”
“The Magus is very dangerous, and I’ve communed with my ancestral spirits to know this as a truth.” She looked from Agnar to Celeste. “Is there anything else I should know of?”
Celeste decided it was as good a time as any to tell Agnar about what she had been doing. “To be honest Seer, I was in the Magus’ private chambers, before all of this.”
“You did what, you’re at fault for all of this!” Leaning toward the queen, Agnar was appalled.
“Oh, Shut up Agnar! Leaving you to do something is leaving it to fail.” Celeste’s attention went back to Kinnat. “He has a strange mirror that shimmers and he has a brother who talked to me through it. THAT brother is way better than the Magus we have now.”
Kinnat’s mouth twisted downward in disgust. “You can’t trust any of them, you should cease any and all dealings with any Magus.”
Celeste pursed her lips together. “You will have to do something about the Magus that is already here before I agree not to have any dealings with his brother.”
“I will yer Grace, the first thing we need are those closest to him, you said the Captain of the City Guard Elian is?” Kinnat was confident she could acquire the information she was after.
Celeste turned to Orson, “Let’s drag in the Captain of the City Guard, Elian, in a nice way as not to upset the common folk.”
Orson bowed, “As you command my Queen.” He motioned for another guard to follow him out.
Elian stood on the city’s outer eastern wall with the shouts and clanks of steel on steel in the training yard below as his men continued in their morning drills. The incoming cooler breeze from the Torbian Sea implied the winter season was close approaching. However, the Great Waste with its never-ending heat blowing into the city meant there would never be an icy grip of winter to hold it. He was standing with two of his men when Orson and his man approached. “Good Day, Orson, are you here to take one of the Magus’s soldiers to tea today?”
Orson grinned, “Yes, in fact, today it’s you, let’s go.”
“Is that so?” Elian turned to his two men. “Resume your posts,”
Elian stared at Orson the whole time as he made his way down the steps. “Well, I wouldn’t want our Queen’s tea to grow cold, please Orson, let us make haste.”
“I’d watch myself if I were you, Captain.” Orson stepped forward and waited until Elian fell in step behind him.
Kinnat heard the door to the throne room open as the Captain of the City Guard stepped through.
Elian approached the Queen and lowered himself down on one knee. “My Queen, how may I serve the crown today?”
Celeste glanced at Kinnat. “The Soul Seer is our guest and will be staying at the Manor in the noble district, you’ll need to keep a watchman or two there.” Her brown eyes shifted to a hateful glare of contempt to Elian. “Since your Magus does take up residence in the entire Eastern section of my Palace and all.”
It was one thing to exchange barbs with Orson, but he left the Queen to the Magus. He stood all the way up. “As your Majesty commands, I will make sure it is done.”
Kinnat walked up and pressed her hand firmly on Elian’s chest, and in doing so fell into a trance with her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
Elian’s chest felt the lingering tingle from the shock of her touch. “What are you doing?”
“Quiet, Captain!” snarled Celeste.
Kinnat blinked a few times before coming out of the haziness of her spirit channeling, “He may go.”
Celeste leaned forward sneering, “You heard her, go, Captain.”
Elian gave a quick bow and immediately set out to find the Magus.
Kinnat waited until the door behind Elian closed. “I have spoken with the spirits of his parents, my impressions were that the Magus has been in these lands far longer than any of us have suspected.”
Celeste was more than disappointed. “That’s it? He’s been here longer than we thought? They knew nothing else?”
“She would have told us if there was more Celeste, so shelve that sharp snake’s tongue of yours.” Agnar was getting angrier at her meddling, they were lucky a Soul Seer was here to begin with.
Kinnat held up her hand for Celeste and Agnar cease their bickering. “I need to see the Magus myself and whoever else he may be close to.”
Celeste smirked, “Easily done, I planned on having a formal feast to honor your visit and he’ll be there, and he’ll bring his slave pet too.”
Ru’ark was standing in the royal gardens leading out to the grand balcony watching as Adar and Nelina were in the depths of her training when Elian approached.
“Magus, there’s a problem.” Elian’s face was etched by his distress with what had happened in the throne room.
“What kind of problem?” Ru’ark motioned for him to follow has they made their way back into the palace and toward his private chambers. He was curious as to what had his steadfast Captain panicking.
“The Queen brought me to the Throne Room, the Soul Seer was there, she used her spirit charms and knows you’ve been here much longer.” Elian kept his step in line with the Magus as they walked.
“Is that so?” Ru’ark chuckled, “Don’t trouble yourself over it Elian, there isn’t anything Celeste or the Soul Witch can do at this point.”
Elian became less rigid. “I’m glad to hear it, then Magus, and I’ll get back to
my men.”
Ru’ark stopped in mid step. “One moment before you do,”
Elian paused “Yes, Magus?”
“How is Nelina’s training going?” To Ru’ark, she was not quite the same after her outing with Celeste.
Elian nodded with a wide grin, “Good actually, she’s like a dry cloth to a bucket of water. The last few weeks she’s been a bit quieter than usual.”
“I see. Perhaps she would be ready to take a trip outside the city gates with you to visit Ned and to move along my shipment to the Ruby Isles? I’d like to see it set sail before Nelina and I leave for our journey to the Marsh.” He thought to find out how she handled herself away from him. That, and maybe she would share with Elian what was bothering her.
“Absolutely Magus, she’ll love being able to ride on her horse outside of the palace walls.” Elian had no hesitation in taking her with him, in fact, he thought it might be valuable if Nelina met a few of the Magus’s connections.
Stopping at the door to his private chamber, Ru’ark put one hand on Elian’s shoulder as he had oftentimes before. “Good then, and as I said, don’t worry about the Soul Witch.”
Ru’ark watched Nelina with her back turned to him. Since her tea with the Queen, she had not been the same. She carried a broken, cold, pain filled smile with emptiness and solemnness. The only time he felt warmth from her was while she slept, as if they were reconnected. When he wrapped his arms around her, she would turn still asleep and embrace him pushing her body against his. His lips would find the nape of her neck and elicit a soft moan from her before she turned back around while remaining close to him. He was at a loss for her demeanor and behavior. Thus far, he had resisted the temptation of the last few days to weaving his power into Celeste. To punish her for whatever this was that Nelina had become.
Her hair was long and draped over one shoulder, exposing her back. The world was a cruel place he understood that. Still, he found it unfair that he had to risk a woman whom until of late, wore her love for him as a badge for anyone see. The dress she was wearing was as close as the seamstress could manage for what the women in Aghadine wore. He went over to her and with a gentle touch and he rested his hands on her hips while kissing the nape of her neck. “You please beyond measure Nelina, I mean that.”
The Magus (A Chronicle of Rebirth Book 1) Page 12
