by K. T. Webb
Nikita growled and drew back just as Legacy stepped behind Emrys. Upon seeing herself reflected in Legacy’s eyes, Nikita instantly changed her demeanor. She let out a short sniff of irritation with the young man who quickly could have become her lunch had she not maintained the sliver of self-control that kept her from attacking him.
“I feel I should take my leave,” Nikita gave Legacy an apologetic glance as she bounded to the door, nudging it open with her head.
When they were alone aside from the two guards placed there for her protection, Legacy returned to her throne. Emrys looked pleased with himself. She was almost sure he viewed Nikita’s exit as a victory for him. In a way, he was right; it had been a victory that she left, and he was uninjured. But her exit had been a victory all her own. Nikita had proven she was more than the animal he imagined her to be. An animal would not have hesitated to rip his throat out.
“Now, before I have these men escort you to your cell, your brother would like to have a few words with you,” Legacy looked to one of the two guards standing near the door, “Please go to the war room and tell Evander he is needed.”
After the guard left, Emrys took the opportunity to fill the few seconds of waiting for Evander with more chatter. “Whatever will you do if my brother resists your orders? Unlike me, he is not currently chained to his own body. He could strike you down in an instant and free me of these shackles.”
Legacy stared blankly at him. If she gave him any answer, it would only fuel his need to goad her into saying something she should probably keep to herself. Though, it did not matter if she said anything to him. Her mind was already picking apart his statement. What would she do if Evander’s love for his brother was stronger than his affection and loyalty for her? Perhaps she had read him wrong the entire time and the two had been working together to bring King Junius’ plan to fruition. If they killed Legacy and put Noble on the throne, they could rule Alderwood however they pleased. Noble was still young and impressionable; he was also desperate for a father figure to show him even the tiniest scrap of kindness. How easy would it be for the brothers to destroy the progress Legacy had made with her brother and turn him into the monster their father wanted him to be?
The opening door jarred her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Emrys smugly grinning from his chair, and beyond him, she saw Evander as he strode into the room. Immediately, she realized her mind had been allowing Emrys to play tricks on her. He may be restrained, but he was still able to do damage. The look on Evander’s face told her the fear on her face must have been easy to read. He came to her without looking at his brother but made no move to comfort or hold her as she knew he would have if they were alone. But their eyes connected, and she was immediately more at ease.
“Evander, after speaking with Emrys, I have decided that he no longer has a place in the castle. I have offered to find him an apprenticeship or employment in Pallisaide before he is released from custody. He believes this to be an unfair punishment for his attempt to overthrow Maris and Gray.”
Evander looked at his brother with a cross between pity and disappointment. “I think that is probably a fairer fate than should be handed to one who would destroy the peace we are trying to create.”
A sputter of shock erupted from Emrys. “Are you insane? This woman has poisoned you against your own brother? How is that even possible? You cannot choose her over me. Father would never allow it. Mother would be disgraced.”
Evander shook his head, “No. You cannot use our parents to guilt me into your manipulative games. I am not a child. I am sorry you cannot see how much Alderwood needs this change, but I have made my decision. I will not change my mind.”
A wave of relief washed over Legacy at his words. It had been foolish to question his allegiance to Alderwood. To her. Her personal fear mixed with the seed of doubt Emrys tried to sow had almost painted Evander as a villain in her mind. He was indeed a good man forced to play a role he did not fit for too many years. When given the opportunity, he saw the chance to choose his own path. He decided to fight for the good of Alderwood. He made a choice to help wage war against the darkness threatening to engulf them all.
“You are not my brother. The brother I remember would sooner spit on her face than agree to the terms of this dismissal. What next, will you marry the wench?”
Evander swung before either guard registered his movement. His fist hit Emrys in the jaw with a force stronger than Legacy suspected he possessed. The chair toppled over, taking the prisoner with it. Blood flew out of Emrys’ mouth as he fell unconscious to the floor. Evander stood over his brother, breathing heavily, ready to pounce should he show any indication of waking. He continued to stare at the limp body long after the guards hoisted him to an assisted standing position between them.
“Take him to his cell. I will not hold him long, but I need to get a few things in order before his release. See that he receives care for his injury,” Legacy waited for the door to close before turning her attention to Evander.
His shoulders rose and fell in a highly animated motion as though the rage he held at bay may escape at any moment. Legacy gently took the hand that had struck his brother and gently kissed it. Evander visibly relaxed. He looked down at the Queen and pulled her into his arms, apologizing over and over into her hair. Legacy broke away to look at his face.
“You told me not to let him get to me, but he pushed you over the edge with a few stupid insults.”
Evander furrowed his brow. “He called you a wench. That was not only untrue but utterly disrespectful. How dare he try to cheapen your character to make me feel guilty for turning my back on him.”
“Well, he called Nikita a mongrel, and she pounced on him,” Legacy told him.
“He did that and lived to speak to me?”
Legacy nodded, “Nikita realized she was acting like a beast rather than the magnificent creature she is. She saw that she was proving his insults true by wanting to rip his throat out.”
“Well, he deserved worse than a punch to the face. I think he would count himself lucky if he had any sense. I truly am sorry he said those things to both you and Nikita. He has no right.”
“But he does. I do not want anyone in Alderwood to think they are restricted from sharing their opinions because of me. The difference is that most people would be more articulate about sharing their opinions with others.”
Legacy took Evander’s hands in her own, “We did not have much time to talk earlier. I think we should probably figure out where we stand.”
Evander smiled down at her before pulling her in for another kiss, then looked her in the eyes and said, “Well, I daresay, I may be in love with the Queen of Alderwood.”
He kissed her once more, deeper and more desperate than anything she could imagine. Love. She knew she was feeling something for him that was bigger than any emotion she had ever experienced but had not stopped to consider that she had actually fallen in love with the man who may save her from a terrible fate.
In the days that had passed since Emrys sealed his fate in the throne room, many things had changed in the castle. Legacy attended the official presentation of the newly trained guard. She was proud of Maris and Gray. Their hard work had paid off, and the members of the guard would be far better suited to the new regime than the Makt had been. It impressed her how well many of the former Makt soldiers adapted to their new roles. Not all of them were like Emrys and those who supported him.
The crisp winter air had begun to give way to the comfortable warmth of spring. Legacy felt certain winter should last longer, but the residents of Pallisaide reminded her she had traveled far enough south that the cold only lasted a few months. Since spring was beginning to dawn, Noble had been begging her to take him into Pallisaide. He had not been given much opportunity to explore beyond the square, and he was excited to see what else the city held. After some coaxing from Noble, she finally relented. She needed to meet with some of the business owners to s
ecure a place for Emrys to try and start his life over.
Legacy had spoken with Evander extensively about how they would monitor Emrys to make sure he did not pose a threat to the civilians of Pallisaide. In the end, they decided there was no way for them to be absolutely confident he would successfully assimilate into a new life. But they would do their best by positioning guard members around wherever they found for him to work.
Now they stood outside the home of the last person she expected would help someone like Emrys. She held Noble’s hand while Evander knocked on the door. It did not take long for someone to answer. Theon looked momentarily surprised before smiling widely at the Queen, her brother, and her bodyguard.
“Well, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company, Your Majesty? Please, come in,” he stepped back, gesturing for them to enter his home.
“My brother wanted to see some of Pallisaide, so I inquired where to find you and your boys. I hope we are not intruding,” Legacy tried not to sound like the visit was required.
“Nonsense. Although, we were not expecting company so the house could probably use a little tidying up.”
Legacy glanced around at the cozy home. Nothing seemed out of place. It had the reassuring scent of a home well-loved and the comfortable look of a family who lived together happily. Theon’s concern over the state of his home had more to do with his perception of her status than what the home actually looked like at that point. Once inside, Noble busied himself with a few toys sitting on a shelf. He eyed them in wonder until Theon took one down and handed it to him.
“I am a woodcarver by trade. My boys are training to take over the business when I retire. The time has not yet come, but I feel every hour worked deep in my bones,” Theon offered them seats in the chairs placed around the table in the kitchen.
Noble played quietly with a few of the handmade treasures Theon entrusted him with. It warmed Legacy’s heart to see her brother behaving in the carefree manner a child should be accustomed to. She turned her attention back to Theon. There were things she needed to discuss with him.
“I have a favor to ask, and it is a rather big one,” she paused to gauge his reaction, “I need to find somewhere for a certain person to work. I think he needs to do some manual labor, but nothing where he would be working with animals or women. He has very little respect for people who do not share his view of the world, but he has not known anything outside of the Makt.”
Theon narrowed his eyes, then tossed a glance at Evander. The wheels were turning in his mind, he was either preparing to tell her he knew exactly who she was asking about or offer his help. Either way, Legacy was ready for his questions.
“I think you can cross my shop off the list of possibilities. When do you need to know? I can ask around.”
“Thank you, Theon. I am hoping we can help this man reform enough to become a productive member of our city,” Legacy glanced at her brother again.
“And if he is not able to be rehabilitated? What will happen then?” Theon posed the question in a tone that indicated he was raising the issue to provoke thought more than he was expecting an answer.
Legacy looked at Evander, they had discussed the possibility more than once. Emrys was being given a golden opportunity to live his life under his own terms without the influence of the Makt. Only time would tell if he was capable of putting that behind him and creating a life for himself that did not involve the cruelty he had learned from his father.
“My boys will be home soon if you would like to stay for dinner,” Theon offered.
“Can we?” Noble shouted.
Both Legacy and Evander chuckled at his exuberant response. They agreed to stay for dinner on the condition that they would help with preparations in any way they could. Evander offered to head to the bakery for fresh rolls. Theon took Legacy to the back yard where they had cultivated a small vegetable garden. The two of them began picking ingredients needed for their meal.
“I have to say, Your Majesty, I am coming to respect you more each time we talk. You have shown me that you are true to your word. The people of Pallisaide have never been happier. I know much of that has to do with the removal of the Makt from our streets.”
“Please, call me Legacy. I know everyone is accustomed to addressing people in my position by their titles. However, I feel most do so out of fear rather than respect earned by that title.”
Theon stood and shook his head in her direction, “Like I said, every interaction with you shows me you should be respected. I will call you Legacy if that is what you wish but know that I do not fear you. You have not shown any desire to strike fear into our people.”
“I appreciate your words, Theon. I know the month or so I have been on the throne is not enough to repair centuries of damage caused by the power-hungry Kings who occupied it before me. I believe removing the Makt was only the first step in a long journey that will end with a stronger and freer Alderwood.”
Theon dropped a few potatoes in his basket. “When you say those things, I get the feeling you know something more than I do. The fight for Alderwood did not end with killing King Junius, did it?”
“No. King Junius and his father were only pawns used by a darker source. The Shadow Mages have been around far longer than any of us can fathom. The power they wield is not theirs to command. It is stolen magic used for personal gain. The wild magic of Alderwood is meant to live in every living thing. Did you know there were once three kingdoms that worked together?”
“I cannot say I have ever been told that. Kingdoms outside of Alderwood? As in places beyond the farthest borders?” Theon wiped the sweat from his brow.
Legacy told him a much shorter version of the story she had memorized from her childhood. She was beginning to see that part of the reason the Shadow Mages seemed to be winning the tug of war between them was due to the people of Alderwood not knowing how things should be. If they knew how much they were missing, they might be willing to help free the wild magic. By the time she finished telling him about Nikita, they had successfully prepared the vegetables together. Noble still played quietly in the sitting area though Legacy knew he had been hanging on every word of the story he could hear. Evander returned shortly before the two older sons arrived.
“Boys, where is Nero?” Theon asked when he noticed the absence of his youngest son.
Calix, the oldest of the boys, rolled his eyes as though the mention of his youngest brother caused him irritation. “He stopped to get some flowers. Have you forgotten what day it is?”
Theon paled, “Oh, it completely slipped my mind after the arrival of our guests. I asked them to stay for dinner with us,” he looked at Legacy and Evander apologetically before offering an explanation, “Today would have been my wife’s birthday. We celebrate it every year to remind ourselves that she will be with us so long as we keep her memory alive.”
“We would not want to intrude on something like that. If it would be better, we can leave and join you for dinner another time,” Evander offered.
“No, mother would have loved visitors. We can make this a birthday party rather than just our traditional family dinner,” Rune, the second oldest, replied brightly.
“I agree. It would not be an imposition in any way. Nero will be home soon; the boys and I should prepare the meat.” Theon ushered his guests into the sitting area and gestured for his boys to follow him.
Evander took her hand in his as Legacy sat watching her little brother play. One day, all her family would be together again, and they could celebrate things like birthdays and holidays. They were far from a traditional family, but they would begin traditions that brought them closer together. Noble had a toy dragon in one hand and a knight in the other. Nearby, he set the figurine of a woman and another small dragon behind the knight as though he were protecting her from the monster. Noble spoke quietly the way children do when they are embarrassed to have adults hear their play-acting. It warmed her heart to see him behaving as thoug
h he had no cares in the world.
The front door opened to reveal Nero holding a large bouquet of wildflowers. The mixture was eye-catching with deep purple blooms, bright orange lilies, and snow-white blossoms. His eyes first landed on Legacy and Evander before they found Noble, and his expression changed.
“What do you th-th-think y-y-y-you are d-d-d-doing?” he stuttered angrily. “Th-th-th-those are n-not y-y-y-yours!”
Theon must have heard the panicked cries of his son because he returned to the sitting room before Nero had finished with his outburst. He took the flowers from his son and laid them on the table before returning to calm him.
“Son,” Theon said directly in an attempt to get Nero’s attention. “I took them down so he could play with them. He is not going to hurt them. They are toys, they are meant to be played with.”
“B-b-b-but th-th-they are m-m-mine,” Nero shook his head in disbelief.
“Yes, they are. Noble is not going to keep them. I promise. Take a deep breath. You only stutter like this when you are upset.”
Noble rose to his feet and offered the toys he had been playing with to the older boy. Nero was probably a few years from his sixteenth birthday if Legacy had to guess his age. He still had the look of boyhood and had not yet matured enough to be considered an adult. As he carefully took the toys and replaced them on the shelf, Legacy took note of how he positioned each toy. They were clearly important to him in a way they did not understand. Toys that had probably been childhood favorites now had a particular spot on the shelf where they could be admired but never touched again.
Nero took a deep breath and thanked Noble then apologized to them for his outburst. Theon had been right about the stutter. There was no trace of it when he was calm. Legacy watched the young man retreat up the stairs muttering that he would need to wash up before he could help with dinner. Once he was out of earshot, Theon felt he needed to explain his son's behavior.
“Those were toys I made for my sons before their mother was taken from us. This is not the entire set, though. Calix and Rune kept their pieces in their rooms. Nero wanted the rest of the pieces to stay here because he thought they would remind us of my wife.”
