by J. B. Jenn
“Understood.”
“And Galtrand.” Trester watched him pause, “thank you for reconsidering my offer of you being one of my guards and advisors.”
“I didn’t.”
Trester laughed. “Believe what you will.”
Hethera
King Adair had summoned her just a day after she had arrived as promised. It seemed the king was a man of his word. Still, she felt the rising fear in the back of her throat. She felt as if she could fail at any moment. All she had were her words.
Taking in a deep breath, she stepped into the throne room. Sitting on the throne with a peaceful look was a tall man. He was slightly overweight from a sedentary lifestyle. His hair was platinum and kept short. A small beard, cut short, sat on his chin and connected with his moustache. Bright green eyes met her and he gave her a respectful nod.
“Your Majesty,” Hethera said, bowing.
“You may rise.” His voice was surprisingly strict. When she looked to him, the peaceful look was replaced by one of impatience. “You may also dismiss your guards. You are safe within my palace and throne room. I swear to you no harm will come to you.”
Hethera looked toward the captain and gave him a nod. She didn’t like sending Ianen away, but at the same time, she wanted this man to listen to her. When the doors closed behind her escort, she turned her gaze back to the King of Drakal. For several moments, he sat there, studying her at great length.
“I understand you come with a request from King Zavad?” Hethera nodded. “Well, let’s hear it. I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Hethera frowned. “Waste any more time, your Majesty? How do you know you’re wasting time until you’ve heard what I say?” Adair laughed and waved her to continue. “The guard outside the gate told me you knew of the fighting across Hartland?”
“Yes, but that’s all we know. Have you come to enlighten me then?”
Hethera frowned again. “Yes. What I have to say will be difficult to believe. All that I ask of you, your Majesty, is you try to listen without a clouded mind.”
Adair leaned forward. He met her eyes. “You have my attention, Lady Hethera.”
She took in a deep breath and began explaining everything which had happened. Whenever she spoke of demons, she could see he didn’t believe her. She understood it was difficult to take on another person’s word, especially a stranger’s. As she told him about King Barend and how he had turned his people into demons, Adair leaned back and, folded his hands. Finishing with the fight against Urian and how the demons were now crossing into Yul and the Desert, Adair sighed.
“Forgive me, Lady Hethera, but this all sounds… unbelievable. Do you have proof?”
“Proof? All you have to do is send scouts into Carthoda or even into Cascade and there is your proof!” She met his bright green eyes. “Why haven’t you done this, your Majesty? Why aren’t you more curious about what’s happening across Hartland? Even if your kingdom isn’t involved in the fight, it will feel the repercussions coming. Certainly, you know this? Eventually, you will see demons here.”
King Adair sighed again. “Yes, we will feel it, but I would rather avoid whatever it is inflicting Hartland. The peace was nice while it lasted, but everyone knew it wouldn’t last. Someone would start fighting again and they have.”
“Against demons!” Hethera countered. “We aren’t fighting one another.”
“No?” Adair asked, raising his voice to silence her. “Do you not wish soldiers to fight against King Barend?” Hethera snorted at him. “See my point? There is always someone responsible for these wars and pointless deaths.”
“No, I don’t see your point. You haven’t listened to a word I said. I can tell you don’t believe me about the demons. I knew you wouldn’t. I wouldn’t have believed it either, if it wasn’t for…” She stopped herself.
Adair raised one of his platinum brows in response. “If it wasn’t for what?”
She shifted, knowing if he didn’t believe in demons, he wasn’t going to believe in her sight. “I do not wish to discuss it with someone who is closeminded. Perhaps I should return to my room and let you think on what I’ve said.”
“That won’t be necessary. My answer will be the same. I won’t kill any of my men for a war Hartland is in again. We have enjoyed our peace and we will continue to do so. You may leave and return to King Zavad. I do apologize he has wasted your time.”
Touch him. Show him.
She looked to Adair with wild determination before racing up the five steps to the throne. Her hand closed around his wrist. Images passed through her mind to his of what she had seen, of what They had made her see. There was war coming, no matter what they did. If they could stop King Barend, the war wouldn’t be as devastating. When she was finished, she released his wrist and stepped back. He gasped as he stared at her wide-eyed.
“What are you? Are you a wytch?”
Hethera smiled softly. “No. I’m a Seeress. I was chosen by the Gods of Old to see the future. What I showed you is only part of what could happen. Hartland needs your help. If you don’t help, your precious Drakal and the peace you have witnessed here will not last.” She stepped down to where she’d stood before. “I will take my leave now and let you think on your decision.”
De’Nae
She loved the power she had been given. She knew she should feel guilty about the price her husband was paying for it. It was difficult when she felt invincible and when he’d been treating her with such suspicion and indifference. De’Nae trembled from the pleasure of the power coursing through her veins.
As her husband had disappeared hours ago, she had enjoyed being alone. Barend was not the man she thought him to be. It would be over, soon. They finally had Mercea, the person Verite wanted. There was nothing which could be done for Barend. The changes Verite had caused were permanent.
De’Nae stood on the balcony, looking out across Carthoda. The snow covered, rolling hills were beautiful. She watched the waterfall cascade down the sides of the plateau into the lake below. Looking in this direction, it seemed as if everything was normal within her kingdom. It was far from it. Carthoda was about to make history. They were about to change Hartland forever. Because of it, Carthoda was mostly barren now.
Turning away from the balcony, she saw the glass globe in the corner of the room. It was growing brightly and pulsing angrily. She glided over to the orb and allowed her fingers to slide along it. Verite’s presence hovered just at the surface, eager for contact. When she placed her entire hand on the orb, his presence was angry until he realized who had contacted him. She didn’t need the globe to speak to him. She only touched it now, to feel the demon’s power.
Where is your husband?
Forget about my husband. We have her.
Silence answered her. She could feel him thinking.
Bring her to me. I must have her body now. I need her.
Of course.
She removed her hand from the orb. She stared at the globe for a moment more, thinking about her husband. At one time, she had loved him. Now, she knew she didn’t. His goal of bringing Hartland together was a good one, but she didn’t need him to do it. He was already wavering. She could see it. He was weak. Everything they’d done would not be for nothing. They had to proceed.
Behind her, Barend cleared his throat. When she looked to him, his face told her he had seen her communicating with Verite. She met his glare with a small smile.
“What did he want?” His voice was defensive. His distrusting eyes never left her.
She stared at her husband. He wasn’t the same man she had married over a decade ago. The demon was killing him and she felt nothing. He waved her away, shaking his head, and took a seat in one of the chairs. His aging body was exhausted. From there, he stared at her with sourness.
“He wanted Mercea.”
“What’s been done to me, can it be reversed?”
“No.”
“Did you even bother asking?” De’Nae
sighed. “Of course you didn’t. You don’t care. You don’t care he’s draining my life from me!”
“How can you say that?” she asked, blinking.
“LOOK AT ME!” She found herself inexorably drawn to him. There was some of the man she had married still in him then. “How can you stand there and watch what he’s doing to me and not care? You are my wife!”
“It was part of the plan. You know that. When he didn’t receive Mercea as promised, he had to take his strength from someone else. You were the only one he could.”
“THIS was never part of the plan! My death was never part of any plan!” He stopped, staring at her wide-eyed. “It was, wasn’t it? This was part of your plan. You made this deal with him. If he couldn’t have Mercea than he could have me. You probably didn’t capture Mercea on purpose.” Sadness came to his eyes. “I’m such a fool. I should have known.”
De’Nae’s eyes teared up for a moment before she could steel herself. “Believe what you will. I won’t stand here and argue with you. I have other things to do.”
“You aren’t leaving. You owe me answers!”
De’Nae disappeared.
Mercea
No one had come to see her in a few days. She sat against the stone wall, staring at the bars, waiting. She had attempted to break the bars earlier, wishing she had the strength of the Gods themselves. As she had tried, she had come to realize there was something different about the cell. She didn’t know what. Under normal circumstances, she should have been able to escape.
It had been centuries since she had found herself in a position like this, though that time she had been trapped inside a smooth walled room. Somehow the room had dampened her abilities, too. The Gods had ordered it destroyed. She wished they’d been able to study it.
By the time the other Servant had come to free her, she had dug a quarter of the way through the wall. Her hands were bloodied, but she had never given up.
Just one hundred and fifteen years later, he had fallen to corruption and she had been forced to kill him. Every Servant she had been ordered to kill, ate at her. They were her brothers and sisters. Several of them had fought by her side. A few of them had even been lovers. But she was always diligent in what the Gods ordered her to do.
Mercea sucked in a deep breath. She had to focus on how she was going to escape. She couldn’t count on Ogden freeing her. There was a good chance he was still in the southwestern part of the world. He probably didn’t know what had befallen her.
Whatever fate awaited her here was hers alone to face. She had known going to see King Flynn was dangerous, but she had never expected to find Queen De’Nae there. She had never expected this.
She looked up at the rock ceiling. “If any of You are watching me, I could use some help here.”
The pitter patter of footsteps in the distance alerted her to someone approaching. She wondered which one had come to see her. De’Nae to gloat about her capture again? King Barend? Either way, she wasn’t looking forward to the visit. The two seemed to think they were above justice.
When the footsteps stopped in front of her cage, she brought her gaze to the bars again. However, she found herself staring at a child. She was beautiful. Long black hair spiraled around her young face and gray eyes. The two stared at one another.
“My father needs help,” she said softly. “Please. I know you’re a Servant. Help him.”
Mercea studied the child for several moments, detecting a familiar magic. “It isn’t so simple. I don’t know how to help him. I don’t understand what’s happening to him. Besides, I’m here, in this cell.”
The child started to turn away, but hesitated. “If I could help you escape, could you help my father?”
“Now why would you want me to escape?” Mercea asked sharply. She met the child’s eyes, shaking her head. “Enough of your games, De’Nae. I won’t help your husband, even if I could. Both you and King Barend deserve the fates waiting you.”
The child looked at her for a moment before disappearing down the tunnel.
Ogden
For an army of their size, they were moving swiftly. It seemed as if most of the soldiers didn’t tire. They were already on the outskirts of the Desert. Perhaps another week or week and a half would pass before they were outside of the North Gardens Palace. All the men were eager to do their part for their kingdom and king.
However, Ogden still found it peculiar King Sabin was willing to help. Part of him felt as if this were a trick. It felt as if the army following him would betray them. It was a feeling he hadn’t been able to shake for days now.
Ogden pushed the thought from him, telling him they were here helping them. It was what his task had been. He had to think he had succeeded.
With the thought of her, he wondered how she was doing with King Flynn. Would he see her at the Desert palace when they arrived, grinning at him because she had completed her task first? He hoped it was what he would see. For the last several days, he couldn’t shake the feeling of doubt and ill omen. Something had happened, and something was about to happen.
“Sir,” a man called from behind.
Ogden turned to see a young man. His name was Irute. He had come along, despite having a wife at home who was pregnant with their first child. Every time Ogden looked at him, he felt guilty for having pulled the man away from them. He felt selfish for asking these men to fight and possibly die. He felt doubly selfish for this man. This man may never see his wife again. He would never be able to hold his child. He knew it was the price of war, but it didn’t help with the feeling. Ogden scanned the soldiers before looking to the man, wondering how many more were like Irute.
“The men need a break. We’ve been marching for most of the day. We’re exhausted.”
Ogden furrowed his brow. He looked up at the sun, only to realize Irute was correct. There were some things he wasn’t use to yet being a Servant. Not tiring easily was one of them.
“Call it.”
“We stop here soldiers!”
Ogden watched them sit down. Relief washed over them. Ogden looked in the direction of the Desert palace, wishing he was close enough to see it. Once again, he scanned the soldiers, feeling guilty for pushing them so hard. A few of them showed signs of exhaustion. Others didn’t. He wanted to apologize but was afraid they’d view him as weak. No, he had to maintain how these men viewed him. He also had to maintain their speed.
He wondered if being a Servant ever got easier.
Querra
She was still angry. How could King Trester deny the help she offered? He was such a fool. Querra rose, moving away from Eiden’s arm which held her close. When he didn’t wake, she smiled at him before leaving him there.
When she had first left her meeting with King Trester, she had been furious. Eiden had barely been able to obtain the story from her. She had wanted to leave. She had even wanted to challenge him for authority. Something had stayed her hand and made her stay. Maybe she wanted to prove him wrong. Prove to him she was reliable, despite him not wanting her help. One way or the other he was going to get her help, even if she had to command the Relentless to follow him into battle.
As she walked through the burnt part of the forest, the stars shined overhead. The moon was but a sliver. It was all she needed. She had never been afraid of the dark. Others had often warned her that her fearlessness would one day get her killed. They were probably right, but, as of yet, it hadn’t. She wasn’t about to change either. These people needed someone like her.
She wrapped her arms around her as she walked along the ashen ground. The night’s air had a crispness to it. Her thoughts kept focusing on how many of them would survive. Would she? She supposed that was the scary part of war. No one knew when their time was coming. They had to make their peace now before it was too late.
Querra closed her eyes. She had a difficult decision to make. Since her meeting with Trester, she had considered leaving more than once. She knew it was childish, but she didn’t want to give
help to a man who didn’t want it. Yet, what kept her here was she wasn’t certain he didn’t want it. She kept wondering if he was testing her and if she left or challenged his position to the throne, she would fail.
Regardless, there was one thing certain. Cascade needed the Relentless. Hartland needed the Relentless. No sane person would turn away people willing to fight demons.
She sat down, leaning against one of the intact trees, to watch the sun rise. There was something about being in the trees which calmed her. Some found the forest haunting, disturbing even. She had never found it as such. The forest was a place where nature was in control. Since the fire, taking more than half the forest with it, it had been quiet. Heartbreakingly quiet.
She enjoyed going to a place where a human hand had barely touched. Humans controlled and destroyed so much around them. In places like the Decau Forest, it helped remind her Hartland was so much more than mankind. Hartland would continue to live on whether they were still here or not. With this war, though, she didn’t know if mankind would win. Demons were much stronger and quicker than humans.
“If You are up there, it would sure be nice to know You’re on our side,” she whispered.
Sabin
The old king sat across from his young wife. Talatha had barely spoken a word to him since the Servant had left. Even now, as she sat there, her eyes were turned down to the plate in front of her. She hadn’t touched the salad sitting on it. He wished he could give her what she thought she needed.
Often, he wondered if she thought he wanted an heir from her. He had two full grown sons with children of their own. He had married Talatha because of her beauty and kind heart. He needed nothing else from her, except her love and smile. As he stared at her, he wondered if marrying her had been a mistake.
“Talatha.” When she remained staring at the plate, he sighed and rose. He walked over to her and gently grabbed her chin, turning her face toward him. “Please, look at me, love.” She obeyed. A soft smile came to him. “Why do you feel you have to give me a child? I married you because I love you, not because you could give me more children.”
