At almost the same time, Carceron burst into easy laughter. “I see your future, boy. You have just sealed your own fate. The constellation animals will only ever heed those of their own rank. Travel the lands if you will. Unless you can convince your puppet to make requests on your behalf, you’ll only be scorned. But what will she do with her knowledge?”
The orange bird cawed with a frightening loudness and Cyric looked at me.
Leddy passed behind him. “I warned you to be careful. Why do you pretend as if you have no power over her?”
His gaze turned even darker, staying on me. His grip tightened over my crown.
Carceron was watching me. “She’ll call them to help the chimera,” he said, expression delighted. “I can feel my bondmate. He will agree. He is eager to fight.”
“The princess belongs to me and she won’t make any requests without my consent,” shouted Cyric.
The orange bird hissed. Leddy raised her hand to it, while the red bird shouted an even louder call that quieted the orange one. “Carceron, you speak too soon. The Akadian is right. She is not her own.”
“I—” Everyone looked my direction; I hadn’t used my voice in so long, it felt awkward to speak. “I am my own,” I said. “I am loyal to Yanartas, and Shaundakul, and against Akadia. My people are trapped there, and the rest of the kingdoms are in danger of facing the same fate. If I can call your animals to help the chimera, then I would.”
Cyric’s eyes turned livid, but he looked to Leddy as she laughed. “You can’t call upon the Zuque on a whim. You may only bring a case before them. Then they will weigh it and decide. But no case can be brought by a caged thing. They will not hear of it.”
Both birds called in unison; I felt their eyes on me, watching, studying.
Cyric exploded with a shout. “This is foolish. They’re nothing more than animals. Both of you are the ones who decide who they’ll fight for, and Akadia is the best choice by far. The Yanartians are weak, they have nothing to offer you. Akadia can give you everything you want. We are stronger. We will win this war.”
“You’re not listening to what we’ve said at all,” Leddy replied, while Carceron threw his head back and laughed.
I blinked away tears at Cyric’s words. Even if I’d expected him to say such things, they still hurt. I thought at least by now that I had made some difference in him. And most of all it was obvious that he’d lied about the Echrians being Akadia’s allies. He had brought me here to try and win them to Akadia’s side. He was after these animals of theirs, somehow tied to dragons, and the other two. How could he use me to win enemies against my own friends?
Carceron pointed a finger at Cyric. “You will die for your sacrilege and your pride. The constellation animals will have their vengeance. I have seen your fall.”
“I’m not afraid of your birds,” Cyric spat. “I live by my own strength, and I have killed granted animals before. If you won’t listen to reason then you will make enemies of Akadia. Don’t think you’ll be safe in your valleys.”
“I told you, Leddy,” Carceron said. “He would not even try.”
“He’s too scared,” she agreed. “He thinks he’ll lose.”
“Shut up!” Cyric exploded. “I’m not afraid of anything, do you hear me? Nothing. Now tell me once and for all, will you join Akadia or die?”
“Look now, he wants to leave,” Carceron laughed, “Shall we free him, Leddy?”
Leddy concentrated her brow, came to stand almost between Cyric and I, looking at both of us. “I thought at least to get a taste of some endeavor.” She sighed. “The Zuque see no outcome. You will leave with your prize, Akadian.” She swept a hand towards Cyric.
He glared at her, relaxing the grip that had fallen to his sword, then he started marching directly towards me.
I realized with a sudden urgency what was happening and that this was too great a chance to help Yanartas for me to give up. “No,” I called. “Don’t let him take me. Help me. If you free me then won’t I be able to ask your birds to go to war? Isn’t that what you’ve been saying?” I looked to Carceron, since he had seemed the one to want to fight.
He frowned irresolutely, showing perfect patience while Cyric’s angry steps brought him closer to me all the time. I wasn’t even brave enough to look at Cyric’s face. “Freedom must come first,” Carceron said, “then requests for help.”
“But if you stopped him from taking me, then I would be free. Just don’t let him.”
Cyric reached me now; he grabbed my wrist, yanking me so hard it hurt.
“Keep your peace, Akadian,” Leddy said, “we will not steal her from you. But this hall will not see violence.”
“I’ve had enough of your commands,” he said.
“Carceron, please,” I called.
The golden-haired man frowned. He looked to both the birds, then back at me. “The Zuque have the strength to fight Akadia; Echrians do not. I am sorry, Daughter Solidor.”
Cyric pulled at me again. I tried to wrench away from his grip. I did not want to leave the glowing chamber, or the hope and chance to help my people, nor go out and admit that Cyric had done all the things he had; that he had once again stopped me from helping my people.
“Take heart, Princess,” Leddy said, “Remember all you have heard here.”
“I know the end to your riddle,” Carceron added, “Your choice will be your own again.”
They turned away from us, speaking more to one another while they walked. As they neared a wall, the two Vermillion birds called out and swooped down from their perches. They collided in brilliant fire and the four of them were gone.
#
Cyric slung me down onto the floor of his room. I grabbed at my arm, which he’d yanked and squeezed, despite the fact that I’d barely fought him as he’d led me back to the inn.
“Cyric, how could you say those things?” I shouted. “How could you do them?”
He ignored me, pacing his floor, seething and violent.
“You lied to me! You told me that they were Akadia’s allies. You said nothing of Shaundakul. How could you try and use me to destroy my own friends?”
He continued to pace, then suddenly rage built in his features; he spun and glared at me. “How could I? What about you? Begging for them to take you like that—after the way you’ve been acting—as if I were torturing you.”
“You are torturing me! You’re keeping me from freedom. Are you forgetting I'm a captive?”
“You’re the one that’s forgotten,” he accused, “That’s why you’re surprised I didn’t tell about the animals. Well, why would I, Ellia? The only reason you’re here is to get Akadia what it needs, and you couldn’t even do that.”
“I will never help Akadia!”
He shoved a finger at my chest. “Then we will always be enemies. Because I am an Akadian.”
I began to shake my head viciously. I thought through the meeting, and I thought through the things the Echrian’s had said, and the animals, and all that had happened in the past few days. “You’re not,” I said. “You’re not Akadian.”
He scoffed.
I stood to my full height. “Cyric, I know that you want to let me go. We don’t have to go back to Akadia. You can help me. You can come with me.”
“You’re so stupid, Ellia,” he said. “You’re a stupid girl. A stupid, spoiled, princess.”
“You don’t really think that. You’re just pretending to. You’re pretending like you pretend Lox isn’t evil.”
“I am loyal to Lox!”
“You can’t be loyal to Lox. He’s a monster. He murders anyone who gets in his way.”
“Traitors.”
“Tobias wasn’t a traitor. He only killed him because he defied him and what will you do when Lox decides to kill me too? Will you let him Cyric?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Lox would never kill you.”
“Why not? Because I’m royalty? That didn’t stop him from killing Tobias. And as
soon as I’m not useful anymore, Lox will kill me too. Why can’t you see that?”
I expected Cyric to argue again, but he didn’t. He was turned from me; he had gone very still. I feared with a stabbing in my chest that I was losing him. This was where he would stop talking with me; this was where he would leave. But I couldn’t bear it, for I felt that if he took me back to Akadia now it would mean the end of my hopes to save him. “Cyric, please. Don’t go back; don’t make me. Don’t do this.”
Slowly, he turned. His expression was hesitant; I couldn’t read it, but his face was as red as ever, and his pulse was blazing. His jaw locked, and he went cold. “I will return you to Akadia,” he said. “And if you’re afraid of Lox, then you should consider speaking with the Echrian rulers on Akadia’s behalf.”
I felt blood boil up in my skin. I couldn’t believe he was speaking these words and so calmly after all that I’d said. “Never!” I shouted. “Never! Do you hear me? Never!”
Cyric held my gaze steadily. Then he said nothing as he walked out of the room.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CYRIC:
On our way through Ghaund, we met up with some scouts and learned that Selket had fallen to Akadia. It was stated plainly that Lox’s weapons had allowed the victory, that chimera had been killed there by the dozens. At this news Ellia ceased to speak to me; and the journey back to Akadia was nothing like our departure from it had been.
#
The city was teeming with celebration over the defeat of Selket. Cries and spoils, wine, and dancing filled the streets. As we rode in, hardly anyone noticed us. I’d seen it like this once before, after the destruction of Karatel, only this was much louder and brighter. Somehow painfully bright. Soldiers and tradesmen alike, gathered in the largest squares. The square proceeding the palace was fullest, each balcony occupied. Most drinking or dancing. Women wore their finest clothes, guards neglected their posts. But then there were others, standing at the edges of the squares, or behind in streets, or looking out from inside. Their faces dark, their cries mixing in with the sounds of celebration.
In the palace district I passed a group of soldiers, recognized some that I had trained. I passed more, then another group, then another. Each was like a weight being dropped on me. I thought how all of them obeyed me. How they trusted what I told them each time we trained, things that would mean the difference between their life and death in battle. But not just that, they followed me into battle. Attacked who I told them to, killed who I told them to. And I’d led scores of battles—how many men had followed me to their deaths?
These weren’t things I normally thought and I didn’t know why I was. Everything was too loud; I wanted to go back to my room, but Ellia was there already. Besides, I knew that I needed to find Lox. We’d arrived the very day that the palace would celebrate its victory over Selket; though it wouldn’t be until the night. When I got to Lox’s building, the doors were swung open. There were Akadians streaming in and out and cluttered inside. Councilmembers, nobles, soldiers. Lox was already dressed for the party in a red tunic, thick with silks that left him no less foreboding than when he wore his armor. Most seemed to be there in attempt to be the firsts of the night to congratulate him. No one held a pretense that Scanth had won the victory, which was likely why the party wasn’t waiting for his return. Lox saw me, quirked a brow up in surprise, but only gave me a gesture that said I should wait.
It was another hour before the room was clear, and even then Thane remained.
“You have good timing, son,” Lox said, standing in the center of the room, “I was worried that you would miss the celebration.”
Thane had just closed the front doors. He walked back towards Lox’s side. I nodded my head to him. “If you want me to tell you about my trip, shouldn’t he leave?”
“He knows of it already. Go ahead.”
With a tight jaw, my eyes grazed Thane. Then I launched into a description of all that had happened in Echren. Or at least, most of what had happened. When I finished I expected Lox to be angry. At first he did look it, but then he just laughed. “These Echrenian rulers sound as foolish as the Shaundakulians! Perhaps we should have waited until Selket had been destroyed. No doubt once they hear of that, they’ll regret their treatment of you.”
“The Lieutenant could always return once the other eastern kingdoms have fallen,” Thane suggested.
“Which won’t be long,” Lox added confidently.
I’d heard both of them going on about the imminent fall of the eastern kingdoms while I’d been waiting; Lox was obviously pleased with Selket’s fall. I thought I should have been grateful that it distracted him from my failure, but most of what I felt was annoyance. “I don’t think it would make a difference,” I said, “Like I already told you, they weren’t interested in Akadia’s accomplishments, or even our power. They made it sound like the other rulers wouldn’t be either. Byako or Genbu.”
“Not interested in power,” Lox scoffed darkly.
It instantly reminded me of one of my earliest days as an Akadian soldier, when I’d overheard Lox in the training district, speaking with one of his men. He’d said that power was what gave men their value. Before that I’d never heard anyone speak so.
“But they cared for the princess’s opinion,” Lox went on, his gaze clear now, “and you couldn’t persuade her to speak for Akadia at all?”
These words brought their own memories. Ellia; not during the meeting with the Echrian rulers, but afterwards. Shouting about betrayal, about hating Akadia; nothing unexpected, until she’d spoken of Tobias. Until she’d compared him to herself as royalty. I’d known right away what it had meant, just as I’d known I should have guessed it long ago, as I’d watched Amalia kneeling next to Molec, begging that Lox be punished for his death. Ellia had obviously expected me to have known; which meant she thought Lox knew, and she was probably right. The only thing she’d been wrong about was that he had told me.
These thoughts mingled in with my previous ones, of Lox speaking about the value of power; of his acceptance of men who possessed it, men like me. I’d been trying not to think about it, but now I decided that it didn’t matter if Lox hadn’t told me about Tobias. A traitor was a traitor.
“I’ll never be able to convince Ellia to help Akadia,” I answered. “If you want me to have any luck in Byako, it would be better if she didn’t come.”
“But wasn’t it her presence that allowed you an audience with the rulers in the first place? No, it’s vital that she go. I agree though, that it won’t do much good if she’s arguing against us the whole time. It seems I’ve underestimated her stubbornness. I thought that…” Lox’s paused, his eyes falling on me, scrutinizing, “Perhaps I was wrong. I know I told you before to be kind to her, but I don’t want you wasting your time with that now. She obviously requires firmer motivation.” His eyes slit to a corner of the room. Before I could say anything, he raised his hand, summoning Thane to him. They exchanged short remarks, all through which I was narrowed, but then this often happened between them. Should I care just because it was Ellia they were discussing? I didn’t even know if they were. I glanced away, meaning to see how dark it was outside, but instead my eyes fell on Veera. She was leaning against the doorway of Lox’s balcony, wearing a dress so red it made it hard to believe I hadn’t noticed her before. I expected her smirk, instead her eyes were full of scrutiny.
I looked back at Lox, but only in time to see him gesturing Thane towards the door. “Veera, you’ll go with Cyric to the party won’t you?” he said. “I have business first.” She nodded, though he didn’t look to see it. “We’ll discuss all of this more tomorrow, Cyric,” he added.
And then he was gone, Thane behind him.
I stared at the door, mostly because I didn’t want to look at Veera. When I did she stared a while like she had been, then her face broke suddenly with a smile.
“How was Echren?” she asked.
“Didn’t you hear?”
“
Just the last bit…” She nodded behind her. “We have time before the party, why don’t you come tell me about it outside?”
“I still have to get ready.”
“We both know you’ll just wear your armor. You’ll still have time to bathe.” She nodded again.
I held her gaze a moment, then walked towards the open doors. She waited for me then moved past me to the side railing that faced back towards the city, so I did the same. The sound of celebration had died down, probably just because we were farther from the lower districts. Even though the sky was darkening blue, I could see plenty thanks to the torches, but it wasn’t a few seconds before my eyes found and stayed on only one place.
My balcony was two buildings over and one story down from Lox’s. There was a figure standing there, sideways to me, her arms leaned into the rail, her head turned upwards. For the first time that night, I thought of only one thing.
“You look as if you’ll leap over the balcony, Cyric,” Veera said.
Her tone was knowing. I glanced at her once. I didn’t know how long I’d been staring. I immediately doubted that Veera had brought me out here to speak of Echren, in fact I was sure she’d meant for me to see who I had. “I thought you wanted to hear about my trip,” I challenged. But I didn’t look away from Ellia, because I didn’t want to.
“You could tell me. But I’m sure I already know.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“What do you think I mean, Cyric?” she said, her voice a sigh.
Ellia leaned forward a little, hunching deeper as she hugged her elbows. “You sound like the Echrians,” I said, “talking in riddles.” My own voice sounded distant.
“Perhaps I’ll speak plainly then,” Veera replied. “We so seldom speak plainly here in Akadia, isn’t that true, Cyric? Even between you I? Even when Lox is involved?”
For the first time, my simple focus was broken. I looked at Veera and noticed something strange, not just in her expression, but in the tightness to her throat, the lines around her eyes, as if she were straining just to maintain her face as it was. “What are you talking about?”
Fallen Kingdom (Fallen Trilogy book 2) Page 18
