Piper did as she was bid. She focused instead on grounding the pain that coursed through her. Very slowly she moved first her toes, then her hands. She wiggled her fingers and moved her shoulders up and down. The sharp pangs within each muscle gradually diminished. After several minutes, she removed the compress, and rolled to face the room. So much was still a blur, but she could make out two figures sitting across from her. They sat in the high backed, wooden chairs typical of the dwarves. She could make out light through the small round window over their shoulders.
“What happened?” she whispered. “I remember the— what was that? I fell unconscious. We were at least a day from the fortress. How long have I been sleeping?”
“Your friends brought you here swiftly, and we were able to heal you. You have been sleeping for two days,” said the woman.
Piper sat up, though more carefully this time. A cup of broth found its way into her hand, and she sipped at it cautiously. Her stomach wanted to resist, but she fought it. She knew she needed the nourishment. With each sip, the room began to come into focus more clearly. Empress Nefiri sat across from her in a plain wooden chair. The woman watched Piper with her usual stone faced emotion. She remembered the woman from when she was a child visiting the mountain with Gran. Nefiri had hardly aged since then, though such was typical of dwarves.
A man she had never seen before was bent over the hollow stone pillar, stoking the fine within. She was sure he was Elven, but he bore no heraldry of the King or Taraniz. Piper said nothing, but continued to sip her broth until it was gone. The elf straightened the water basin resting on top of the pillar, and resumed his post in the chair beside the Empress. At once Piper recognized his blue gray eyes. Her heart began to pound and she nearly dropped the mug in her hand. It was one of the men who frequently accompanied Taraniz to Outland Post.
“You!” Piper cried and flung herself from her bed. “Why have you brought me here? When did the Dwarves align with Taraniz? You’re not taking me to her!” She scrambled for the door handle, her head spinning again. Nefiri stood and stepped toward Piper.
“He is not here for Taraniz, Piper. He is here for the King. He is a friend. I would not turn you over to her if my life depended on it. Please, calm down. We are here to talk, nothing more. There are many things you need to know. May we speak in peace?”
The Empress rested a hand on Piper’s shoulder, and the girl stilled. She had finally found the handle of the heavy wooden door. Her thumb pressed the latch. She need only swing the door inward, and she could run. No doubt, though, there were armed guards waiting outside if the Empress was in here. And, if this man had come representing the King, it meant Aramor may not dead. It meant there might still be a way to fight Taraniz— a way that did not have to include her.
She released her grip on the door, and it latched again loudly. She turned, her icy green eyes staring at the man the entire way back to the sofa.
“Let’s hear it then,” Piper replied. Her firm and commanding tone had returned as she sat. “What news have you that is so important it could not wait until I was fully recovered?”
“This is Valar Marion. He is the head advisor to King Aramor. It was he who came to us first,” Nefiri hesitated and glanced at the man beside her. “Well, there is much to tell.”
“Then do so quickly. I do not wish to be hampered with nonsense in my condition. I do not understand why this could not have waited until the council hearing.” Piper snapped, waving her hand before her.
“Because there is much more than the issues of the council,” said Valar. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Piper, I am sorry to be so direct with you, and I regret if any of this comes as a shock. But we are on limited time, and a decision must be reached.” He sighed again and pulled a leather bound book from his pocket. “My lady, it was I who brought you to Outland Post as a child. I brought you there because King Aramor asked me to get rid of you eighteen years ago. King Aramor did so because he could not bear to watch his kingdom be torn apart by feuding twin sisters.”
Piper felt tears brim her eyes. She felt her breathing quicken. Her grip tightened on the arm of the little fainting couch as Valar continued.
“King Aramor knowingly married the daughter of a half human, but it was all kept very quiet. Queen Runa was very beautiful and very kind. She was greatly loved by all the people in Chartile, and the marriage made sense. When she became with child, she was unable to control the magic she had suppressed for years. It was believed she had grown out of her magic, or that it simply had dried up for it had not been used for so long. She was locked away in a tower wing of the palace, and the people were told she was ill.
“When she gave birth, she could not control her magic, and she died. No one knew she carried two heirs. King Aramor chose the first born and asked me to get rid of you. I couldn’t kill you. Runa had been dear friend, and you were only a few hours old. I took you to Outland Post. Your grandmother was a friend of mine, and I knew her daughter could not bear children of her own. I knew you would be safe there, far away from the palace.
“When she was thirteen, Taraniz began acting… strange. It was as though she were using magic, though there was no evidence of such. We found ourselves unable to defy her, and King Aramor became weaker by the day. I knew your grandmother and parents had raised you with all the proper courtly etiquettes, as the granddaughter of a palace scribe and retainer should. It was I who stopped Taraniz from killing you that day at the rebellion, and it was I who asked the Dwarves to watch you and protect you in secret all these years you have lived in the mountain. I knew this would not be difficult, as you and Dimitri had been close as children, and he was now liaison to the Empress.” Valar stopped. He quickly wiped away the tears that had fallen from his eyes. Piper had staunched hers some time ago. He walked to the window, and Piper stood to face him.
“Please just say it. Please get it over with,” she pleaded. Valar looked into the dark green eyes that once belonged to Runa. She was like her in every way from the flowing red hair to the long, thin fingers. How anyone could have mistaken her all these years was a miracle.
“You are the rightful heir to the Elven throne, Piper Romilly. King Aramor is now dead by your sister’s hand. Your given name by your mother is Eva Ruani, and since Taraniz has committed acts of treason against the Crown, it is now yours. If you will accept it.”
Piper was silent for a long time. She sat. She stood. She paced. Nefiri looked only at the floor and listened. Valar stared out the window.
“What if I choose to walk away from all this?” Piper finally asked, “What happens if I say no?”
“Certainly no one is forcing you to do this, Piper,” Empress Nefiri said. “But, I can assure you, you have every quality Chartile needs right now. Look how you protected Outland Post, or what you have done for Jack, Leo and Jayson.”
“It all seems so convenient,” Piper snapped, the anger returning to her voice. “Quite convenient that there just happens to be another heir who has been perfectly trained to take Taraniz’s place. Should I turn out to be a poor ruler will a bastard son suddenly surface out of nowhere?”
“Of course not!” cried Valar. His eyes softened even as his brow furrowed. “I know this is difficult, Piper. You have no idea how hard it has been for me to watch you struggle all this—”
Piper rushed at Valar, and stopped inches from his nose. “Then why didn’t you do anything? You waited until it was convenient for you, while I’m living off scrawny diten mice and mushrooms!” She pushed him as hard as the venom would yet allow. Valar stumbled back into the empty chair, and Nefiri covered her mouth with her hands. He wasn’t hurt or angry, and he didn’t move to stand again.
“I’m sorry,” said Piper taking a step back. “I guess I haven’t been trained quite as perfectly as you thought.”
“There are some rough edges to polish,” Empress Nefiri said lowering her hand to reveal a soft smile. “Still, it is part of who you are, and we’re not here to ch
ange you. We want to give you the opportunity to have what is rightfully yours, if you so wish it. No one ever said it would be easy.”
“You know that those on the councils, Elven and Dwarvik, are going to take convincing. What proof are you prepared to offer?” Piper asked, resuming her steady pacing from the couch to the door. She bit at her cuticles as her nails had long since been chewed away. Valar opened the leather bound book he had carried with him. Carefully he laid three pieces of parchment on a table, then sat without a word.
Piper looked from Nefiri and Valar to the table. It was as though a treat she had never been allowed before had been set before her for the taking. No stipulations, no tricks or gimmicks. The hair on the back of her neck rose and tingled with both fear and delight. Her legs wobbled as she approached the table and picked up each piece of paper in turn. She studied them for several minutes then turned to Valar and the Empress.
“This is your evidence? This proves nothing!” she said.
“Runa may have passed nearly two decades ago, but there are still some on both councils who will remember her,” said Nefiri in her gentle, consoling voice.
“That’s not all,” said Valar, rising from the chair, “These numbers in the corner? They indicate the location of the genealogy record associated with each person.”
“Why didn’t you bring that?” asked Piper and she realized she sounded exactly like Jayson.
“It is missing,” said Valar, “I do not know if Taraniz took it or if it was removed when you were born. Without that, this is the best evidence we have.”
Piper paced the room again. “There is someone who may know where the records are,” she said abruptly.
“We have sent a scouting party to find her,” said Nefiri.
Piper looked between Nefiri and Valar. Her jaw had slacked and her eyes darted wildly.
“I don’t understand,” said Piper. She had attempted to keep her voice calm, but could not.
“Your grandmother has been captured.” Valar said frankly. “The people in Outland Post say it was the palace guards that took her. No doubt they followed me, and captured her for the same reasons I went to her.”
“We have to send someone after her!” Piper cried desperately.
“If Kaytah was taken to the palace, she has allies there that will keep her safe. Have faith, Piper. You have more friends than you know.”
“And what of the information she has? Surely they will kill her for it. If she reveals its location, then Taraniz will destroy it. If not, then no one will have it.” Piper could hardly cope with the imagery her grandmother being tortured. The fact the room spun at times was the only thing that kept her from rushing to save Gran that very moment.
“There will be other ways, other things we can use if it comes to it. Piper, Kaytah will be fine.” Valar smiled reassuringly, but it did little to sooth the girl’s fears.
Piper’s eyes closed. Again, she willed away the tears that formed in her eyes. Gran had been kidnapped because of her. No, Gran had been kidnapped because of a secret about her. This wasn’t her fault. But no matter how many times she repeated the words to herself, her feelings of remorse, ebbed by those of anger and betrayal still seemed to eat away at her insides.
How many people had known who she was all these years, and had done nothing? She had been lied to, and hidden away like something unwanted. She had been unwanted, she reminded herself. She had been unwanted by the person who should have loved and wanted her the most. No one had cared about her until it suited their own interests. Now that the dwarves were in danger, she was supposed to emerge from the shadows and save the day. If she accepted her role as Queen, her days of roaming the mountains and forests were over. She would spend most of her life repairing the damage Taraniz – or rather, Duke Noraedin – had caused.
She saw Dimitri smiling and running his fingers through his hair as she thought. As Queen, her marriage would be agreed upon by a majority vote within the Conclave of Nobles. They would never allow her to marry the half-Dwarvik-half-human retainer of the Dwarvik Empress. She could not so easily cast aside her friendship, her love for him. He had been her only friend as a child, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him. The very thought of it made her stomach turn.
She hadn’t realize she had been staring at the parchment on the table the entire time her mind raced. Their contents slowly faded into focus again. Piper sighed and turned to face Valar and Nefiri.
Chapter Eight
Princess Gemari
Jack, Leo and Jayson were relieved they had been given a guide while exploring Fortress Kelsii. After only a few turns, they knew they would have been lost. Leo had droned on for nearly ten minutes about the scientific process of dehydration and starvation until Jayson threatened to shove a hunk orenite in a rather uncomfortable location, and Jack had to pry the rock from Jayson’s fist.
Sintori, Harasan of House Geofra escorted them by pony down a magnificent tunnel toward one of the oldest orenite mines in the mountain. Much to Jack’s disappointment, Princess Gemari had other duties leading up to the meeting with the Council that afternoon which required her attention.
“It is said, from this mine came the orenite used to create the circlet that was the downfall of Duke Noraedin,” said Sintori. The boys were held captive by the man’s tales. The architecture and craftsmanship of the mountain added to the wonder his stories stirred within them. The inlaid jewels that surrounded them at every turn dazzled in the firelight of the torches and lamps. Even the stone itself was a masterpiece in its own right. Bright white limestone had been layered with dark obsidian in swirls and stripes all along the tunnel. This was but one of many tours they had taken over the last several days with the princess, but they never tired of the sights and tales.
Princess Gemari was much like Nefiri in her appearance. She was the Empress’s niece after all. But her demeanor couldn’t have been more different. She was twenty-three in Dwarvik years, but the boys thought she had been the same age as them. She had explained the slower age progression of the dwarves was believed to be in part due to their constant exposure to orenite, but no one was really sure. Gemari was short, only a little over five feet tall. Her amber eyes and brilliant white smile only added to her bouncy and bubbly personality. Although she was very knowledgeable, she giggled a lot. Especially at anything Jack said. She seemed to find him mesmerizing. She stared at him with sappy, doe eyes and batted her eye lashes.
Jack was unsure what to make of Gemari’s attempts at flirting. At fourteen, his experiences in the field of romance were quite slim. The more he talked with her, the more comfortable he became. After only a few days, the two were giggling together almost incessantly, much to the disgust of Jayson and Leo.
The two boys had been glad of the break when Sintori joined them. They had wondered if Gemari had been instructed by Nefiri to purposely flirt with Jack in order to sway their decision. They had not yet decided whether to help promote Una to the Empresshood. The decision meant men would still be no closer to having the rights they were accustomed to back in their world, and Princess Gemari would never be allowed to have a relationship. They secretly suspected that even if Queen Isla had done things that defied her own people’s law, the changes she would try to instill could be beneficial. But they never spoke it, even amongst themselves.
They had been told Piper had finally woken the day before last and was doing well. Dimitri had been to visit her once, but she wanted to be alone. She kept to her room in The Sapphire Quarter, which the boys learned was reserved for royalty. Only the Empress, Queens and Princesses stayed there, and visiting royalty from neighboring races. Jack, Leo and Jayson wondered even more what secrets Piper held.
Life seemed to be rather peaceful at Fortress Kelsii, despite what the boys thought they would find after learning about The Black Diamonds. The members of the rogue organization seemed to be few and far between, and certainly not much of a threat, in spite of Nefiri’s rant and the increased security to prote
ct the visiting Elders. The men they talked to had nothing but genuine, good things to say about their wives. For the most part, they were happy. And the women loved their husbands unconditionally in return. They showed their love by carrying out their duties as wives. It was all very perfect. Almost too perfect, in Jack’s opinion. He lived in a home that looked perfect to the outside world. He knew better than to believe the façade these people were promoting to their prophesized kings.
It was the last day of their visitor excursions. The council meeting was to take place later that afternoon. Jack, Leo and Jayson had been fitted with proper Dwarvik attire, and would be attending as honored guests of the Empress herself. As they returned from their tour of the orenite mines, Princess Gemari greeted them at the entrance to the tunnel with a deep bow. The boys still considered it odd as they had yet to see any other women give this gesture to the men, save for the Empress, Queen and Princess Gemari. Gemari had said it was a sign of respect. The dwarves believed those appointed to political statuses were to give thanks to those who put them there. They wore very few treasures and their clothes were plain. They were there to serve their people, not flaunt their power. Although they never wanted for anything— the best food, the fanciest quarters, the most expensive fabrics— everything they owned was almost entirely devoid of the intricate carvings and gem work the dwarves were renowned for. It made the boys uncomfortable when Gemari bowed to them since they could not bow back.
“Sintori, I thank you ever so kindly for taking such great care with our guests. I shall resume my post of them at this time,” she said kindly. She bounced slightly on the balls of her feet and flashed her brilliantly white smile.
“Of course, my Princess,” Sintori said and dismounted. The boys followed suit, their legs feeling a bit like jelly from the long ride, and Sintori gathered their reigns. “Please, let me know if I can be of any further assistance to any of you.” The boys inclined their heads in a small bow as The Princess had taught them was the appropriate gesture. The Princess bowed low again, and the beads of her braided hair brushed against her knees.
Chartile: Prophecy Page 8
