by K. T. Webb
Evander cleared his throat. “Men, line the bridge between the tower and the great hall. We need to be on the lookout for anything that seems out of the ordinary and be prepared to end any threat before it reaches the Queen.”
The men responded instantly, walking in an orderly fashion to the posts they had been assigned. Once they had left, Legacy turned to face Evander full on. “Is there something you are keeping from me, Evander? Do you know more about what is happening down there than you are letting on?”
He inhaled slowly and exhaled in a controlled manner while rocking on the balls of his feet as though searching for the words he needed. “We are not entirely certain what is happening, but the reports we received from concerned citizens that arrived at the castle this morning give us reason to believe some of the Makt enthusiasts are organizing an attack.”
Legacy shook her head, “What do they expect to gain from this?”
Evander shrugged in response.
“I want to go down there and talk to the people directly,” Legacy insisted. “I think if they hear from me directly, it may help ease the unrest.”
“I fail to see how that is a wise decision. What if they attack you?”
Legacy shot him a look of irritation. “I am fully capable of taking care of myself should the need arise.”
Evander crossed his arms over his chest as though being forced to contemplate her words out of respect when he really wanted to veto her statement altogether. As he continued to stare at her, Legacy copied his stance, raised an eyebrow, and began tapping her foot impatiently. After a few more moments, he released an exaggerated sigh followed by amused laughter.
“You know you are impossible, correct?”
Legacy grinned. “Yes, I do.”
Evander offered her his arm as any gentleman would, but she refused to take it. Instead, she strode forward confidently, past the confused soldiers lining the wall and down the spiral staircase. Evander was right behind her, followed closely by the soldiers who had surmised they would be expected to fall in line. Legacy did not pause when she reached the bottom step. With her head held high, she confidently exited the courtyard and strode into the streets of Pallisaide.
The sight was not what Legacy had expected. Chaos ran rampant through the streets. Women and children were crying out, reaching for men who were being herded into wagons with cages. The Queen shouted above the din, trying desperately to get the mistreatment to stop.
“Unhand these men! What are you doing? Release them immediately!” she demanded.
Evander stared between Legacy and the young man shouting orders at the soldiers. Legacy narrowed her eyes when the men did not immediately begin releasing the insurgents. Instead, they looked to the man who could not have been more than a few years older than Legacy herself.
“I do not believe I stumbled through my words. You have been ordered by your Queen to release the people in those cages. I expect you to do so immediately.” Legacy raised her voice above the shouts from the crowd.
Evander cleared his throat, giving a pointed look to the soldier giving orders. Realization dawned upon Legacy as she recognized the shared features between the men. She was reminded of the way Evander had described his brother; he had been a true believer in the mission of the Makt until the moment Evander himself laid down his weapons. Knowing that he had been so passionate only made her question his actions more.
“Emrys, our Queen gave you an order,” Evander’s voice held an unspoken warning.
The soldier nodded briefly but still refused to release the prisoners. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. These men were causing a disruption in the streets. We are simply detaining them to diffuse the situation.”
“Under whose authority do you detain them?” Legacy inquired.
Emrys blinked in disbelief. “I was unaware I needed to take orders from anyone when it comes to preventing unlawful uprisings.”
Evander inhaled sharply as the Queen approached his brother. Legacy did not have time to reassure him. She was not her father’s daughter, there would be no irrational punishment or shouting to correct his insolence, but she needed her people to see that she would not be pushed around by anyone—especially a former member of the Makt. Once she stood directly in front of Emrys, Legacy prepared herself for an uncomfortable confrontation.
“I am not sure if you are aware of this, but the Makt is no longer in existence. With the death of King Junius, his law was overturned, and his methods abandoned. As your Queen, I hope to show you there is no need for such extreme measures to be taken. There is no need to detain them until we are certain of their guilt and the intentions behind their actions.”
A glint of anger flashed in his eyes for a fraction of a second. “I apologize, Your Majesty. May I explain the reason behind these arrests before we release potentially dangerous criminals?”
“I would prefer to have the accused explain themselves. It would be unjust for me to make a judgment based solely upon the word of those who work for the crown.”
Murmurs of appreciation rippled through those watching the scene unfold. Legacy had no idea if what she was doing was a good idea, her only thought was for the people who may be wrongfully carted off to who knows where for crimes they may not have committed. She continued to maintain eye contact with Emrys. He was unyielding at first, but after a few more pointed glares from Evander, he began to allow the prisoners to file out of the wagon.
The citizens accused of treason ranged in age from no more than twelve to well over seventy. Legacy made an effort to make eye contact with each one before she began questioning them. She still had no clue what had transpired. It was vital for her to listen to each person and consider their story carefully. Believing it would be the least productive to start with the youngest because he may look to his elders for guidance, Legacy first approached a man who appeared to be around forty.
“Hello there. I am Legacy, Queen of Alderwood. May I ask your name?”
The disheveled man kept his eyes glued to the ground. It was unclear as to whether he was averting his gaze out of respect or avoidance. Legacy waited patiently for him to respond. When he continued to remain silent, she moved the conversation forward without hesitation.
“I apologize, I do not know if we have had the opportunity to meet formally and I would rather we met under different circumstances. However, I would like to speak with you regarding your current predicament. Can you tell me what led these soldiers to detain you?”
He worked his jaw without speaking, his neck muscles strained slightly before he spat at her feet. Legacy hid her disgust as she ignored the gasps chorusing from the crowd. Evander took a step closer to her as though his presence would stop the man from spitting again. Legacy began to second guess her logic for questioning the middle-aged man over any of the others. Her rapid breathing was dangerously close to betraying her nerves. With two deep, steadying breaths, she managed to maintain her calm exterior and continue to address the men in front of her.
“I know we do not know one another, but I want to make sure you are not being mistreated in any way. In order to do that, I want to hear the reason for the treatment you have received from someone amongst you. Can any of you tell me what happened here this morning?”
A few of them shifted uncomfortably. No one spoke or made another move. The man who spat at her continued to stare her down as though daring her to punish his behavior. Legacy’s stomach formed knots. Finally, she approached the oldest among them, hoping he would be wise enough to see she meant them no harm.
“What about you, sir? I refuse to believe it is comfortable for you to have your wrists shackled, and all these men crowding around you in that cart. I only ask that someone explain the situation to me so we can work together to find a solution.” Legacy tried to approach the situation from a different angle.
“I have no part in this. I was only trying to get to the bakery. My granddaughter is sick with an upset stomach, the bread was
meant to settle her a bit so she can rest.” The man was not begging for mercy, he was not making up a sad story to trick her into letting him go. Legacy could see in his soft brown eyes that he was truly innocent.
“I believe you. You may go about your business. Emrys, unchain this man at once.”
She waited until he was released to continue her questioning. Legacy turned her attention to the young boy she had purposely avoided moments before. Now that he knew she would show mercy, he may be more willing to speak for himself rather than looking to the others for guidance. The boy was nearly as tall as Legacy herself; shaggy red hair hung in his eyes, obstructing her view of the many freckles peppering his face.
“Can you tell me what happened here, young man?”
As predicted, his eyes darted toward the man who spat at Legacy. She had surmised he was the leader of whatever had happened. The older man responded with a threatening glare that Legacy was certain would silence the boy. Legacy refused to give up just yet. She stepped between the boy and the other man, hoping that if he was unable to make direct eye contact, he would be encouraged to answer her.
“Look at me, do not worry what anyone else may think of you. I do not want to let these soldiers punish you without reason, and I need to be certain that any punishment that may be handed down is appropriate for whatever crime may have been committed.” Legacy placed a hand gently on his shoulder, “I know you can tell me what led these soldiers to treat you like criminals.”
The boy held her gaze, clearly refusing to give in to the urge to look away. “We are not criminals.”
“If that is true, I need to know why you are in chains.”
“This is ridiculous! Are you going to take the word of a bunch of insurgents over your own men?” Emrys’ outburst caused Legacy’s blood to boil.
She held a hand up to indicate that Emrys should stop speaking. He began to protest, but Evander placed a hand on his brother's forearm to silence him. Legacy returned her focus to the group of men in chains.
“Please, tell me your story.”
“We want to be free,” the boy replied.
Legacy maintained eye contact with him, “Can you tell me what keeps you from freedom?”
“You do,” the older man growled.
Legacy turned her attention to the man who had spit at her. “Your freedom is not mine to take or give. You are citizens of Alderwood and may live your lives as such. Under my rule, no members of the Kingdom of Man shall be stripped of their freedom unless convicted of a crime that warrants incarceration. Tell me why you believe yourselves to be deprived of your freedom.”
He glanced around him, hoping to garner support from the crowd. His face fell slightly when no one spoke up in his defense. “You and your soldiers exist only to keep us from being free. You control our every move; govern our every thought. You hold the ability to slaughter us without reason. We refuse to let that happen again.”
Legacy felt the pain conveyed in his tortured voice. Clearly, the man had experienced horrific treatment at the hands of the Makt, under the direction of King Junius. Nothing she said would remove the hurt or memories of death and violence the people gathered around her had endured. Only through repeated action would she prove herself different from her father.
“The past is done and over with. King Junius is dead, the Makt dismantled. I stand before you as a fair ruler, one who is working toward freeing not only the people of Alderwood but also the wild magic that once flowed as it pleased through every living thing in our world. I do not believe the same things my father believed.” Legacy stepped closer to the man, “Tell me why these soldiers think you should be chained.”
He glanced around once more, searching for an excuse to avoid the question. When he found no reason to delay, he grunted his response. “Some of your soldiers were harassing the innkeeper’s daughter. She is not much past her sixteenth birthday, and they fancy themselves worthy of her hand. This one here,” he jerked a thumb at one of the soldiers near Emrys, “Pushed the poor girl, and she fell.”
Legacy narrowed her eyes at the soldier, his appearance was consistent with the scuffle that likely followed the situation described by the accused man.
“What happened after the young woman fell?” She tried to coax the man into providing the rest of the story.
“I punched him in the mouth,” the young boy spoke with confidence.
She fought the urge to laugh openly at the pride he took in the physical violence that ensued. With a glance at Emrys, she continued her questioning. “I fail to see how this incident resulted in these citizens being placed under arrest. To me, it seems as though our soldiers should be taught to respect others. What do you think, sir?”
The man who spat at her released a wide grin for a fraction of a second before composing himself once more. “I am not sure what you are trying to get me to say, but I will not make any such suggestion.”
“What is your name?” Legacy insisted.
“Theon.”
“Well, Theon, what I need you to know is that what you did speaks volumes to me. While I believe we can solve things without physical violence, I understand there are times when that may be our only option. You are not accustomed to soldiers who listen to what you have to say. You are not accustomed to a ruler who treats you with the respect you deserve.” Legacy glared at the soldier who had been accused of pushing a young girl to the ground, “It appears possible that all of my soldiers may not hold the same values as I do. I will not stand for this behavior. I demand that these men be unchained at once.”
“Are you not even going to listen to what we have to say?” Emrys demanded.
She ignored his outburst and turned her attention toward the soldier in question, “Did you do what these men say you did?”
He hung his head, refusing to offer an answer. It was the only response she truly needed from him. Legacy turned to Evander, lowering her voice for further instruction. “I need all soldiers brought to the courtyard after their midday meal. We are going to find out who is truly on our side and who may be working against us.”
Evander nodded in response. He began shouting orders to the soldiers. Within moments, the citizens were freed, and the soldiers were glaring at Legacy with ill-contained aggression. She chose to ignore them and address the crowd instead. An empty cart nearby caught her attention and would act as the perfect location for her to be seen and heard by everyone in the vicinity. Legacy climbed onto the cart, smoothing her dress as she stood at full height.
“Citizens of Pallisaide, please know that I am not my father. Gone are the days when you needed to live in fear of murder or torment at the hand of your ruler or the soldiers tasked with protecting you. The Makt is no more. King Junius is dead. I am your Queen, and I will value your lives above any selfish endeavor. We are Alderwood, and we will live by the wild magic that courses through our veins.”
Raucous cheering erupted around her. Even Theon clapped and offered her a smile. Legacy knew they had a long road ahead of them, but she would do whatever it took to weed out those who may still support the old ways, and she would strive to rebuild the trust that should be placed in the person sitting upon the throne. It was well before lunch, but she had a lot of work to do to prepare to face the men she was supposed to be able to trust with her life.
Evander closed the door to the throne room after ushering Legacy inside. He firmly placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her away from anyone who could be listening outside. If she did not enjoy the feeling of his hand guiding her, she might have twisted away from him. But his touch was comforting in a way she could not explain.
When she faced him, there was something about the stormy look in Evander’s eyes that had her preparing for an onslaught of questions he deserved answers to, so she waited to speak. He took a deep breath and began his tirade.
“Legacy. I know you are brave, but I am certain you are not stupid. Do you have any idea what could have hap
pened today if the situation had been more volatile?”
She studied him a moment. “Was that a rhetorical question or do you want my answer?”
Evander crossed his arms, staring at her impatiently. “I want to know what you were thinking.”
“I thought that would have been evident,” Legacy raised an eyebrow and scrunched her face. “I am trying to show the people they have nothing to fear from me, and in the process, I discovered that some of our own soldiers have no idea how to be decent human beings. I will not stand for the kind of behavior that was described to me in the streets today.”
His face softened as he listened to her concerns, “I know. I agree with you. I have already instructed the men to spread the word about their audience with you in the courtyard. I am only worried about you putting yourself in dangerous situations.”
“Let me stop you right there. I appreciate your concern, but I did not ask for you to spend your time following me around. You chose to do that on your own. I am not a child, and you cannot expect me to mind you.”
She instantly regretted the sharpness in her tone. Evander looked wounded. Her mind flashed back to their shared dream experience the night before. She recalled his explanation about the moment he saw her during the battle, the moment that caused him to abandon the cause he never believed in to join the one he felt instantly connected with. Legacy knew the wild magic must have been at work in him during the set of circumstances that led them together.
“I do not expect you to mind me, Legacy! But I feel like I am personally responsible for your safety. I can think of no other reason for why I am able to step into your dreams. Can you?” Evander tried to hide the frustration rolling through him in waves.
Legacy conceded, “I cannot. Perhaps, for some reason, our paths are meant to intertwine. It is odd, though; I know for certain you were not present in my visions at the time I received my mark. Yet, it feels completely natural that you were present in my dream. Almost as if you were meant to be there all along.”
