by Bridie Blake
“My mother wants to be left in peace,” Teddy snapped as he came through the door. “Not paraded around in front of those ignorant nobles on your arm.”
Hallam got to his feet and smiled at his nephew. “Now, now Teddy. You act like I plan to take advantage of your mother.”
“I wouldn’t put it past you.”
Hallam sighed. “I don’t know what I’ve done to make you think so poorly of me. It saddens me to no end.”
Teddy opened his mouth to respond but was stopped by Nic’s arrival.
“Ah Nic, there you are!” Hallam exclaimed. “I take it you’ve been busy rubbing shoulders with your constituents? Wonderful idea. Show them that they’re wrong to doubt you simply for being young.”
Nic frowned as he bent down to kiss Tryphena’s cheek.
“For being young?”
Hallam shrugged as he took a seat. “That’s the excuse I’m giving them for your reluctance to arrest that girl.”
Nic closed his eyes and took a breath. “You’re talking to them about it?” He asked through gritted teeth. “The issue should not be discussed outside the walls of Parliament.”
“And when they ask me why you won’t arrest the person responsible for his death what would you like me to say? Look at your poor mother. She is distraught over this business. If you won’t do what’s right for your kingdom at least do it for her. It’s time to be a man.”
“I am king, Hallam, and I know what is right for my kingdom.” He turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Teddy to watch the look of contempt cross their uncle’s face.
Teddy had been suspicious before but now he was convinced. He just needed Nic to believe him.
—
“Teach me how to fight with my magic,” Tempani said as she caught up to Mother Chennai.
“Once you understand the elements, you will be able to fight.”
“How? What does starting a fire have to do with fighting? Yes, it is a handy thing to know when we’re travelling and sleeping outdoors but beyond that?”
Mother Chennai smiled at her. “Start a fire for me. Go on,” she insisted when Tempani hesitated.
Tempani rolled her eyes and stared at the log on the ground. Sparks appeared instantly before turning into a flame.
“Make it bigger.”
Tempani did as she was told, and a small fire now burned before her.
“Separate a small amount from that and throw it towards that tree,” she said pointing towards a tree that stood a few feet away.
Tempani concentrated on the fire and tried to pull out just a fraction of it. She smiled when she did but in doing so lost her concentration, causing the fireball she’d created to return to the log.
“Try again but make it smaller. I don’t want to burn down the tree.”
She bit her lip and tried again, taking care to just extract a tiny amount.
“Good,” Mother Chennai murmured when she had it floating in front of her. “Throw it.”
Tempani focused on the small ball and turned her mind towards the tree. It went hurtling towards it but before reaching it, was doused with water.
“I have shown you how to throw fire, but I extinguished it using another element. Understand the elements and you can do almost anything. Soon you won’t even need to start a fire. You will simply be able to conjure it with the pure force of your mind.”
She grinned at Mother Chennai. “Show me how you did that.”
—
Nic was in his study late that night. Aubrey had tried to convince him to move into his father’s study and rooms, but he couldn’t bear the thought of being in the room where Wimarc and his attacker had been killed.
He had spent the day in Parliament trying to work out how best to handle the transition. He had known this day would come, but it wasn’t supposed to be for a number of years. He wasn’t ready to be king yet.
There was a soft knock on the door before Teddy let himself in. His younger brother appeared tired. He had spent the day in mourning with their mother and siblings. Nic had wanted to join them, but his duty came first.
Teddy sank into the chair opposite his brother. “You don’t think she did it, do you?”
“I don’t know what to think,” he said. “Hallam is pushing me to authorize her arrest. Otto is assuring me she is innocent. Everyone’s at me to make a decision.”
“What does your head tell you?”
“That I have no choice but to find her. Question her.”
Teddy jumped to his feet and rushed to Nic’s side, grabbing his arm. “They will kill her the moment she steps foot back into the city. You know that!”
“What else can I do?” Nic cried. “The man who killed him is dead, but he can’t have been the mastermind. How did he get in here? How did he know his way around? The nobles want answers. They want action!”
“But what do you want? Do you think she did it?” Teddy asked.
“There are rumors,” Nic whispered. “Tales of a prophecy. If she is building a rebellion…”
“Nic,” Teddy warned. “She will be killed.”
Tears swam in Nic’s eyes as he faced his brother. “I know. But I have no choice. He said ‘Tempani our queen’. I heard him.”
Teddy froze. “He said ‘our queen’? Are you sure?”
Nic nodded.
“Were his eyes blank and unmoving?”
He nodded again.
A small smile crept onto his face as he thought back to the conversation he overheard at Darby’s manor. He patted Nic’s shoulder. “He didn’t act for Tempani.”
“How can you be sure?”
“The Kalaowins don’t refer to their leader as queen. Even if she sat on this throne what would they call her?”
Nic’s eyes widened as it dawned on him. “Shiasa,” he whispered. Of course the Kalaowins would never refer to any of their leaders as king or queen. Their traditions and beliefs are strong. Stronger than the Kamari way.
“And it sounds like he was bewitched. Someone else spoke for him.”
“She needs to be warned,” Nic said. “There will be people who want revenge no matter what.”
Teddy nodded and gripped his brother’s arm. “I know where she is,” he said. “I’ll go to her.”
Nic couldn’t help but smile. “I knew it.”
Teddy shrugged. “What will you do?”
Nic stood and helped Teddy to his feet. “Find out who’s behind this.”
“You know of my suspicions.”
Nic shook his head. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “They were brothers. Could you do that to blood?”
“Accuse me once more of having an affair with Tempani, and let’s see.”
Nic laughed sadly. “How can you joke at a time like this?”
“Because what else can I do?”
Nic sighed and pulled his brother into a hug. “Be safe.” His voice caught in his throat. “Keep her safe.”
“I will.”
—
Tempani laughed as Madoc chased after Tilaw, trying to wrench his sock from his teeth. Tilaw was quick and darted out of reach as soon as Madoc’s outstretched hand got too close.
“Just let him have it,” Tempani cried.
“No chance,” Madoc puffed as he lunged again. “I didn’t bring many with me.”
Tempani waved to Bhatia and was surprised when the girl waved back. She was about to call her over, but Bhatia scurried off before she got the chance. Tempani shrugged. At least she got a wave. That was something.
“Shouldn’t you be off practicing your magic or something?” Madoc asked, steadying himself against a tree to catch his breath.
“And miss all this?” She laughed. “Even a sorceress needs a laugh every now and then.”
“Is that what you’re calling yourself now is it?”
“I guess.” She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. “Doesn’t seem very fitting though does it? I mean, there’s still so much I don’t know.”
“You’ll learn,
” he said. “For now let’s enjoy what we have left of these warm days before the cold sets in.” He offered her his arm, but she pushed it away.
“Race you to the stables?”
“Fine,” he said. “The loser has to get my sock back.”
“You’re on,” she said and they took off. She let him take the lead and run for the gate while she slipped away and crept around the side to her trusty spot in the wall. She pushed the rock aside and leapt nimbly through it. She then darted through the courtyard and laughed at Madoc’s protests as he caught up to her.
She reached the stables and whistled sharply. Tilaw bounded up to her, tail wagging and sock hanging from his mouth. “Drop,” she said.
He obeyed and dropped the sock at her feet. She bent down and picked it up, wiping the saliva on her breeches before handing it back to Madoc. “You might want to wash that.”
“All I had to do was say drop?” He mumbled as he walked away shaking his head.
Tempani spent the remainder of the day enjoying the sun. She knew these days were a luxury and thanked Mother Chennai for forcing her to take a break from their lessons. She would have happily continued learning, but Mother Chennai was wary of pushing her too far. Especially after the incident in the infirmary the other night.
She wondered if she would ever know enough. If she would ever be ready to lead this rebellion? More often than not it felt like an impossible task. Yet so many believed she could make it happen. But were they pinning their hopes on a prophecy that promised it would and not on the girl who was supposed to fulfill it? What would happen if she didn’t succeed? Would another girl come forward further down the track and be the new chosen one? Or would all hopes die if she failed?
That thought sent a shiver through her. She knew she would probably die and wondered if that thought would ever stop terrifying her. The thought of no longer belonging to this world was not something she enjoyed. She didn’t want to leave her friends behind. Chae. Nic. Even her father. She wished she could make things right with him before it all came to a head but knew it wasn’t an option. He was on King Wimarc’s side. He had been forever.
And what about Chae? He still hadn’t decided if he was with them. She had let him have time to himself to think it over, but he had yet to come to a decision. She knew Dahlia had spoken to him about it. Even Madoc and Darby had tried. When would he decide? The longer he stayed here the harder it would be for him to plead ignorance. He would be considered a conspirator, and he would be executed. Even Nic couldn’t stop that.
She sat down to dinner that night, her thoughts still with her fears, and ate in silence. The others watched her, but she chose to ignore them and instead shoveled food into her mouth at an alarming speed. All of her court manners were gone as she washed down a mouthful with a swig of wine. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
“Pass the stew,” Bhatia said when she sat beside her.
Tempani glanced up. “You’re sitting with us?”
Bhatia shrugged as she spooned food into her bowl. “It appears that way doesn’t it?”
“I guess so.”
“Don’t take it personally,” she said. “I just wanted to be here when all the fun started.”
“Fun?”
“I’ve just come from checking the perimeter,” she said.
“We have guards on watch,” Madoc scoffed. “I think they can handle it.”
She glared at him. “If that’s the case why did I see the intruder before they did?”
“Intruder?” He choked and jumped from the bench, making it rattle as he did. “Why hasn’t it been reported?”
Bhatia shrugged and swallowed her mouthful. “I’m sure they’re on their way to tell you.”
“Is she for real?” He growled.
One of her men, Indiro, came running in and almost crashed into Madoc. “Sir,” he panted. “We’ve caught someone breakin’ in.”
“How did they get past the patrol?”
“He must’ve used magic,” he stammered. “We didn’ see him till he got through the wall.”
“The grounds don’t allow for enchantments. If he’d cloaked himself it would’ve disappeared the moment he entered the convent,” Tempani explained as she followed Madoc.
“Your guards need to learn to look inside for danger too,” Bhatia called out.
Madoc swore under his breath and broke into a run.
“We got him tied up,” Indiro said as he ran alongside them. “In the stables.”
They burst into the stables, and Tempani blinked her eyes to adjust to the dark. The horses neighed softly as she passed them. She paused briefly to pat Mincha’s nose and then strode up to the group of men. At the center of the group was a young man, his hands tied behind his back, as he was pinned to the hay by one of her men. His face was half covered in the bale but Tempani recognized him anyway.
“Is that any way to treat your prince?” She asked and pushed them out of the way.
“We ain’t seen him before,” Indiro said. “How was we to know?”
Tempani reached down and untied the knots binding Teddy’s hands together and helped him to his feet. His face broke into a smile, and he pulled her into a hug.
“Thank the Gods you’re safe,” he whispered and then he turned to Madoc. “Is there somewhere we can talk? You best call Darby too.”
“Fetch Darby and the others,” Madoc instructed the men. “Send them to my rooms.”
Teddy didn’t talk much as they made their way to Madoc’s rooms. He seemed content to just walk in silence and stare at the stars. Tempani clung to his arm, concerned about the lines around his eyes. He was exhausted and pale. She just wanted to feed him and put him to bed, but he was insistent that he had something important to tell them.
Colbert was the last to arrive, and once the door was closed behind him, they all turned to Teddy.
“So this is the face of the rebellion?” He asked as his eyes flickered over each of them. “I’m impressed you kept it all so quiet.”
Tempani rushed forward and gripped his hands between hers. “I wanted to tell you,” she said. “But it would have put you in an impossible situation.”
“I’m not angry.” Teddy smiled at her. “I had my suspicions. It’s nice to know I’m smarter than I look.”
“Why are you here?” Darby asked.
Teddy’s smile disappeared. “I’m sorry to tell you this but father is dead,” he said. “Murdered.”
They collectively gasped and then turned to each other, wide eyed and worried. Tempani felt tears welling in her eyes, and she wiped at them angrily. She didn’t even like the man, but she knew that Nic loved him. And Darby cared for him greatly. As did her father.
“So Nic is king?” Chae asked. “You can go back and marry him now. Put an end to this fight you’re planning and do it the proper way.”
Teddy shook his head and got to his feet. “That’s why I’m here. They caught the man who killed him, and he told them that he did it in your name, Tempani. People want you to pay.”
“He’s lying!” She cried. “Can’t they question him? Find out that he’s lying?”
“Hallam cut him down before he could be questioned. They believe they have their confession. That’s all that counts.”
“But can’t Nic do something? Unless he believes…”
“No,” Teddy cut her off. “He doesn’t believe it. He sent me to warn you. Leave. Go into hiding.”
“He’s king. He can protect her,” Chae argued.
“The nobles want her blood,” he said. “Hallam leaked word of the man’s confession. I believe he is behind the entire thing, but Nic won’t hear of it.”
“Hallam?” Madoc rubbed his chin. “What makes you so sure?”
Teddy frowned. “I’ve had my suspicions about him for some time so I’ve been watching him. Had him followed by people I trust. He and Ricton have been meeting privately. Away from the palace.”
“But why kill his brother?” Madoc asked
. “He already had an influence over him.”
“My guess is he wants total control of the kingdom.”
“So Nic will be next then? You need to warn him!” Tempani cried.
“He doesn’t believe me,” Teddy said. “Besides, your father will keep him safe.”
“We need to leave,” Darby muttered, coming out of his shock with a hard look in his eyes. “Now.”
“And where will we go?” Chae asked. “Disappear into the mountains?”
“If Teddy found us so easily, then we need to leave quickly,” Madoc said. “They’re probably right behind him.”
“Wait, how did you know where to find us?” Darby asked.
“I was told.” Teddy met his eyes. “You know where to go from here.”
Darby nodded, understanding his meaning, and then turned to Tempani. “It’s time,” he said.
“Madoc, round up your men and tell them we’re leaving. Colbert, get Zadi and gather as many supplies as you can,” Tempani ordered. “The rest of you, be ready to leave in one hour. We’ll ride as hard as we can and get some distance behind us.” She turned to Chae. “You must decide now. Are you in or out?”
Chae gripped his sister’s hand. “Who’ll watch his back if I’m not around?” He nodded towards Madoc.
Madoc laughed and clapped his friend on the back. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
“Let’s all meet at the gate in an hour,” Darby said.
—
Tempani trudged outside, dressed for riding in her breeches and shirt. She strapped her sword to her waist and swung her bow behind her back. If they were followed, she would be ready to fight.
Mother Chennai was waiting for her, holding Mincha’s reins. She accepted the reins from her hand and smiled weakly at her.
“You’re ready for this, my daughter,” she said. “Practice what I have shown you and follow your heart. It will lead you in the right direction.”
Tempani was overcome by a sense of loss. “I wish you were coming with us. I would feel safer if you were there to guide me.”
Mother Chennai reached out and tucked Tempani’s hair behind her ear. “I will always be there to guide you,” she whispered. “But now it is time to stand on your own two feet. These people are willing to follow you. The rest is up to you.”
