LEGENDS: Fifteen Tales of Sword and Sorcery

by Colt, K. J.

  Healer Euka followed the king silently out the back of the room through a carved wooden door framed by two statues of armour.

  Everyone shuffled around to take their seats. The soldiers ensured that I sat alone at one end, so I couldn’t talk to my friends. Klawdia was kept apart also.

  When they emerged half an hour later, Healer Euka appeared triumphant, her eyes shining.

  The king walked over to the mayor. ‘Mayor Vawdon, will you do me the honour of a private audience?’

  The mayor’s eyes widened with alarm, but he complied. They were gone for only a short time before returning. Mayor Vawdon’s forehead was deeply creased as he resumed his place at Emala’s side. She gave him a questioning look, but he ignored her and kept his eyes on the empty throne. The king gestured to his advisors and they followed him out of the throne room.

  They were gone a full hour before they returned. Morrog and Sellend called for all of us to stand in a line in front of the throne.

  We did, and the king took his seat and sat quietly and then scanned us quietly. My heart was hammering with anticipation.

  ‘This is what I see before me,’ he said finally. ‘Klawdia, you have acted as a law unto yourself. Your crime is treason.’

  Klawdia kneeled. ‘I accept your judgement.’

  ‘Adenine,’ the king said. ‘You are the victim of unfathomable and undeserved atrocities, not to mention dishonesties. I have taken your experiences as a personable responsibility that I will right, and will address this in the coming months.’ The king rose from his seat, stepped down from his throne and came to me. He placed a hand on my shoulder. ‘Consider this an official and royal apology.’ ‘Thank you,’ I said.

  ‘Mayor Vawdon,’ he said, his hand still on my shoulder. ‘You will receive a second chance as mayor. However, from this day forward, all matters involving healers and dealings with the Queens will go through me. All other town mayors will be notified of the change in legislation and for a time, one of my advisors will come to Borrelia to council you in your daily operations.’

  The mayor bowed. Emala beamed and hugged her father.

  ‘Healer Euka. I don’t wish to embarrass you further, but your dealing directly with Mayor Vawdon, who is under my authority, is in violation of your political freedoms in this country. Klawdia’s actions were fuelled by your disrespect to my laws. It’s for that reason that

  Klawdia will not be executed.’

  I placed a hand over my heart with relief, and smiled at Jemely who was beaming.

  Naturally, Healer Euka was scowling.

  ‘You will accept this decision,’ he said, letting go of my shoulder and moving in front of the ambassador.

  ‘As you wish,’ she said.

  His expression lightened a little. ‘For now, I need to think about the fates of Klawdia, Adenine, and Jemely.

  In two hours, we will reconvene here. Return to your rooms.’

  Even though the king had given us an order, I couldn’t move for the thoughts that were rushing through my head. Emala had talked against Mother, and Healer Euka had lied. Yet the king focused on the fates of Klawdia, Jemely, and me? I turned to Emala and hissed, ‘Why did you say that about Mother?’

  ‘Forgive me. I spoke my truth. You’re her daughter and you love her; that’s why you can’t see what she’s done to you is wrong.’ Mayor Vawdon squeezed his daughter’s arm affectionately, and she followed him out of the room.

  I lay on my bed, drowning in thoughts. There was nothing in me, no energy, no hope, just anxiety, fear, and defeat.

  An hour later, a knock snapped me awake. I sat up, rubbed my eyes, and froze as a cloaked figure entered my room. King Erageo flicked back his hood and I gasped.

  ‘Forgive me for interrupting your well-earned rest. Please grant me some of your time.’ He pointed to my small table and chairs.

  I straightened my hair, slid from my bed, curtsied, and sat down at the table.

  The king sat opposite me. I fiddled with my dress and hair, and my heart pounded in my ears. Even in my nervous state, I thought he seemed more troubled than I. We sat there for a moment, neither of us speaking.

  He placed both arms on the table in front of him, then cleared his throat and clasped his hands. ‘First, I must apologise, more so than I have already done. You are young. Soon, your eyes will behold more than most girls your age will, or even should. But even so, you need to hear this. I can trust you, can’t I?’

  ‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

  ‘In private, you may call me Erageo.’ ‘As you wish,’ I replied.

  ‘You have a wonderful gift. I hope you will use it in the service of others. There are several other healers within these walls that must go to Meligna one day. As must you.’

  I averted my eyes to hide my disappointment, but in a way I knew I could never return home. Especially when I thought about my kinsman, my neighbours and townsfolk calling for my death.

  ‘Can I meet the other girls?’

  He shook his head. ‘No. At least, not this visit.’ Then he continued, ‘What is said in the court is being observed by Healer Euka. Her friends are powerful, and she serves the Queens directly. To maintain diplomacy, I must be careful.’ He looked me in the eyes, took a deep breath, and then looked away. ‘I want to give you a choice.’

  ‘A choice?’

  He nodded. ‘I wish to make a decree when we return to the court, but I must give something up for it, and that something, or in this case someone, must be you because the other healer girls in my care are much younger than you are.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘I want to raise the age that healers go to Meligna to sixteen. This will anger the Queens. However, if I allow Healer Euka to bring you with them, that will soften the blow.’ In that moment, I saw all of it. His struggle, his loss, his helplessness. He already fought a battle, a silent one that he was losing.

  ‘Healer Euka has acts in opposition to my laws because the Queens grow more conceited and confident. I feel them testing my power, and I must respond to it. Instead of taking the children away from parents to come and live here in the castle, I will build a commune comprising opulent villas next to the castle here. There, the children and their parents can live richly until the girls are of age.’

  ‘So the girls will be sixteen before they go to Meligna?’ I asked.

  ‘If you choose to do me this favour, I will be in your debt. Especially with what I ask of you next…’ He inhaled. ‘For now, the Queens demand four years of service from each healer after their initial training, yet none have returned afterward. I have sent many letters over the years—all were returned stating they wanted to stay in the healers’ city.’

  ‘Can’t you entice them back?’ I asked.

  ‘You don’t understand. I’ve received thirty, thirty of these letters declaring their love for Meligna, and not one of them returns to even see their families. I suspect the letters have been forged.’

  ‘Why don’t you go to Meligna?’ I asked.

  He shook his head. ‘It’s too risky.’

  ‘I’m afraid of the people in my town,’ I said. ‘They hate me and want to hurt me, maybe that’s why the girls don’t want to come back here.’

  ‘Indeed. At least in Meligna they have a chance of acceptance, and I hear they are worshipped for their gifts. It was once like that in Senya… Adenine, you might find solace there. Maybe even a home.’

  ‘I only have one home,’ I said sternly. ‘But if my going means you’ll raise the age to sixteen, then I’ll gladly do it. I still don’t understand why you don’t just refuse to give the Queens any more healer girls. Tell them the bloodlines have run out or something.’

  ‘Their knowledge of the bloodlines is far superior than mine, not to mention their spies are everywhere here. People’s loyalty is too easily bought. As for opposing them… a kingdom is only as strong as its army, and ours is weak. For now, if the Queens demand it, I must attempt to please them.’

  ‘It’s
not fair.’

  ‘No, it isn’t. I am grateful to you, Adenine. I threatened Healer Euka that she must promise to take good care of you. She’s not a pleasant person, but she is knowledgeable, respectable, and very wealthy.’

  Tears welled up in my eyes. ‘And Mother?’

  King Erageo took my hand. ‘I blame myself for what your mother forced you to do. This is my fault. All of it. The laws I have passed, and my actions, I’ve already failed as a king.’

  ‘That’s not true. You’re protecting your people,’ I said, abruptly feeling stupid for trying to reassure a king.

  He waved his hand. ‘No punishment will befall your mother.’

  I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. ‘And Klawdia?’ I asked, opening my eyes again. ‘She protected me.’

  He leaned back and clenched his fist. ‘Foolish woman. Her punishment must be seen to be harsh to satisfy Healer Euka. I either hand her over to the Queens or banish her back to Ruxdor.’

  ‘She might die in Ruxdor.’

  ‘I’ll free her at the border with enough provisions to survive a few days. But you must think about yourself now.’

  The king rose and came to kneel beside me. I looked around the room hoping no one spied on us. What would they think seeing their king kneel before a common girl?

  ‘I ask you this favour,’ he whispered. ‘Act as a spy for me against the Queens.’

  ‘A spy. Why me?’

  ‘Having broken my rules, Healer Euka is now in my debt. She must treat you as if you were my own daughter. Win her trust, find out what you can about the others like you, and if the Queens plot against me, report it to me. I will rescue you and the others from the city.’

  ‘What if they discover me? I can’t write letters to you or they’ll see them, won’t they?’

  King Erageo resumed his seat. ‘You let me work that out.’ His eyes grew hollow.

  ‘Was Mayor Vawdon right about the war?’ I asked.

  King Erageo began to answer, but a soldier came through the door. ‘Time to go.’

  The king pulled his hood up to hide his face and swiftly left without another word, but the soldier made me wait a few more minutes before he escorted me down the hall.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  BACK AT COURT, EVERYONE HUSHED when Morrog raised his hand. King Erageo stared down at us. A confident expression replaced the troubled look he’d worn moments earlier in my room. Merchants and kings seemed to have a trait in common: they must both be skilled in pretending.

  Jemely’s hair was a mess, and her eyes were wild with fear. Klawdia’s face was more composed, yet her bruise had grown a darker shade of purple. I wagered they’d been staying in the prisons.

  I threw them both a grim look, hinting that I already knew my fate. Klawdia raised an eyebrow, and I nodded, hoping I’d answered the correct unspoken question that danced on her lips.

  Leaving Meligna meant leaving everyone behind. I didn’t know how Mother would cope without me. Silly girl, I thought. Mother will be fine. She has Varago. He’d have a lot more time on his hands now that he couldn’t be a doctor anymore.

  At that moment I thought of Frooby and wondered how he was. I desperately wanted to see him before his sickness claimed his life.

  I hardly listened as King Erageo passed sentence on Klawdia. He simply repeated exactly what he’d told me in my room earlier. Smugness was written all over

  Healer Euka’s face, and that arrogance reminded me of Jark. Perhaps she thought that without the king’s protection, Queen Toxiv might be eager to capture her.

  That made me want to strike the golden-eyed woman across the face. How dare she take pleasure in the misfortune of my friend? I didn’t care that Klawdia had tried to kill the ambassador’s beloved Queen Toxiv—the queen probably deserved it anyway.

  As always, the part of me that tried to understand others made me consider that if Healer Euka was faithful to Queen Toxiv in the same way that I now felt towards King Erageo, then it made sense she hated Klawdia so much.

  ‘As you wish, Healer Euka, Adenine will go with you to Meligna,’ the king said.

  Healer Euka smiled triumphantly at Klawdia and Jemely, and then when our eyes met, that smile failed a little and turned into a sort of sincerity.

  ‘These events, however, have brought me to a difficult decision. One that will surely upset the Queens.’ King Erageo drew a breath for courage. ‘All healer girls must be sixteen years of age before they are sent to Meligna. This is to discourage any further blinding of children.’

  Gasps erupted from the onlookers. The gentleman and ladies in the court exchanged worried glances and murmured to each other. Healer Euka’s face was a thunderous scowl.

  The king ignored the court’s reaction and continued, ‘A sanctuary will be built within the walls of the castle whereby future healer girls will live with their parents until it is time for them to leave. In doing this, the girls will be protected from unscrupulous folks who wish to take advantage of them.’ He glanced at me, and there was a triumphant glint in his countenance.

  ‘This is untenable.’ Healer Euka stated. ‘Does this new rule apply to the other healers in your possession?’

  ‘It does. In the meantime, you will make do with

  Adenine,’ the king said calmly. ‘Now, Jemely.’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ she replied.

  ‘Unfortunately, your issue with Healer Euka will require a civil, and separate, trial. This can either take place here or in Meligna.’

  ‘Meligna,’ Jemely said.

  I stared at her in shock. ‘Jemely…’

  She met my eyes and smiled sadly. And it hit me. She was coming to Meligna to be near me, to protect me where Klawdia couldn’t.

  ‘No,’ I said to the king. ‘Let her answer again.’ With every part of me, I willed her to choose Juxon City for her trial.

  The king looked at Jemely and raised a questioning eyebrow.

  ‘Meligna,’ she repeated.

  ‘Meligna it is,’ the king said.

  Healer Euka didn’t seem entirely indifferent to the decision. She watched for my reaction, and I tried to give her nothing to use against me later, but I found it impossible to conceal my concern. Even if Jemely came with me to Meligna, there were no guarantees we’d even see each other. And she’d have no family there, no occupation. What was she thinking?

  ‘Healer Euka, are you happy with what I’ve decided today?’ the king asked.

  ‘Absolutely not. Klawdia, like Jemely, should be trialled in Meligna. We will judge her more fairly…though now she is no longer under your protection, I will assume her death, should it occur, will be of no consequence to you, Your Majesty.’

  The king pressed his lips together, but said nothing.

  Healer Euka smiled wickedly and she looked at

  Klawdia. ‘Queen Toxiv will be pleased.’

  Klawdia spat in defiance, and a soldier punched her in the back. The Ruxdorian easily took the hit and her expression turned menacing as she stared the ambassador down.

  ‘As for your new law about the healer girls,’ Healer Euka continued. ‘There will be dire consequences. Expect a summons to a diplomatic negotiation where you will undo this ruling.’

  King Erageo’s eyes flashed as he jumped to his feet. Blood rushed to his cheeks, and his posture straightened. For a moment, I thought he might attack the healer; instead, he raised his arm and pointed to the back of the room. ‘You will humiliate me no longer.

  Leave my court at once.’

  Healer Euka curtsied in silence, and as she turned, she said to me, ‘I’ll see you in your room later.’ She walked gracefully from the room.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ the mayor said, ‘I want to thank you again for your mercy.’ Arse-kisser.

  ‘The trial is now over.’ King Erageo pushed his cloak aside and turned to leave. His two advisors fussed over his sudden and angry departure.

  I ran towards the king, trying to catch him before he left, but his soldiers stopped me.

&nb
sp; ‘Let her go,’ King Erageo said, raising his hands.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I’m not fourteen yet. My birth date is in two days.

  Let me stay in Borrelia for one day with my mother.

  Jemely too. She won’t be trouble. She’ll behave.’

  The king regarded me for a moment. ‘Granted.’ He gave me a knowing look and walked away.

  ‘Blessings to you, my king,’ I said to his back.

  I heard cursing in Ruxdorian as Klawdia fought the soldiers off. ‘Don’t touch me.’

  This would be my only opportunity to say goodbye, so I sprinted to her, ducking under the soldiers’ grasping hands, and wrapped my arms around her waist. The guards tried to tug me off but she ducked down to huge me around the shoulders.

  ‘We’ll see each other again,’ I said.

  ‘Soon,’ she agreed.

  As she loosened her grip, the soldiers lifted me off her and dropped me hard against the floor. I banged my knees. When I got to my feet, I glimpsed her red hair disappearing into an adjoining room.

  Jemely was gone also.

  A soldier tapped me on the back, and I turned around.

  ‘This is a letter from Emala,’ He placed a scroll in my hand. ‘I’ll escort you back to your room now.’ My shoulders drooped as I obeyed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  EVENING CAME, THE MAID STOKED the fire which blazed in the magnificent hearth and as promised, Healer Euka visited me. ‘Let us walk and watch the sun set,’ she suggested. She seemed calmer since the court proceedings.

  As we walked, I became utterly lost by the twists and turns of passageways, but the ambassador kept striding forward. Eventually we emerged onto the castle grounds, and two guards stood to attention as we passed.

  Dusk lingered as wisps of orange and red smeared the horizon. We strolled around the side of the castle, and at the back, the ground sloped down to the large lake that was visible from my room. There were scores of castle windows, and I tried to determine which one might be mine.