Crown of Sunlight

by Payton Taylor

  The more Westin thought about it, he realized none of it should have been possible. He'd never heard of anyone receiving their memories that the king had altered. He would have to dwell on that later, though. He needed to stay focused for now.

  "Murderer!" the older woman shouted at the king, and it was all Westin could do not to echo her cry. But he knew he would be dead in seconds if he showed any sign of dissent.

  The king gave a sinister smile, "Suicide, I think you mean. You saw her stab herself with her own knife. I never touched her."

  "Everyone knows you're a Murmur!" she hissed at him.

  "But can you prove it?" he drawled. He turned to Orrin, still hunched over on the floor, "I know where they are now. Thank you for your help."

  The king turned and strode from the tent and Westin watched, unable to stop him.

  At least, for now.

  Chapter 11

  Sunny

  Writhia, 5219

  Vianna

  The trip to Vianna took most of the day.

  Seren had explained that Vianna was another country and they were heading for its capital, Creseon. "Not to fear, the trip will be relaxing, you'll see," he said quite seriously as if sitting still for a long car ride would be awful.

  Sunny sure thought so. She was just thankful they didn't have to walk on foot through the Forest of Death, the name she’d come up with all on her own.

  Giddy, Seren had led them to a carport-like area filled with "transports." They looked like cars to Sunny, or, at least, fancy space vehicles.

  The transports were low and sleek, their tops a continuous arch. The one they were in was dark green, which she figured was to act as camouflage with the surrounding forest.

  It hovered several inches from the ground, which had fascinated Jo. She kept babbling about people on Earth who had attempted to build hovercars but had ultimately failed. She asked Seren question after question, which he seemed all too happy to answer.

  Of course, Sunny thought it was neat, but things like this were where she and her sister differed. They both loved books, but Jo preferred curling up on the couch with one of her four-legged friends, watching horror movies. She liked gardening and peaceful-quiet. Observing. Learning.

  Sunny, on the other hand, loved being outdoors and was a bit of an adrenaline junkie. She’d rather spend her time on any fast-moving ride at an amusement park. She enjoyed taking pictures and traveling, but her one true love would always be dancing.

  Sunny had asked Seren what the cars ran on, and he had launched into a detailed explanation about compound chemicals and air energy. She eventually zoned out, while Jo nodded along as if she understood perfectly.

  Sunny realized that, while Seren was a little timid, if you asked him directly for information he did not disappoint. During their trip, he had pointed out several plants and animals, explaining their eating habits and how their environment functioned. Whenever he remembered a new fact, his face would light up, and his hands would come off the steering wheel, waving enthusiastically.

  She was impressed with all of the knowledge he had retained. A few times she heard him whisper a couple of words under his breath, then he would quickly glance at them, uncomfortable, muttering an apology as if they would be offended by the whispering.

  “Why are you apologizing?” Sunny asked. “Kian says people don't like it when I talk to myself.” They had learned Kian was Seren’s older brother who was off traveling on official Lorlean business at the moment.

  A sudden memory flashed in Seren's mind. Sunny saw what looked like a younger version of himself pacing back and forth.

  She realized it must've been Kian when the figure turned to a beautiful little boy who had to have been Seren . "I know you need to do these things, and. . .move the way you do," he said in a voice that cracked. Kian cleared his throat and put his head down, then sighed as if what he was about to say next would come at a great cost. "But, do you think you can you hide it? I mean—" he growled and tugged at his dark hair. Kian's desperate and youthful face, the face of a teenager who had to grow up too quickly, turned into a look of resignation as he glanced around at the people giving them odd stares and whispers. "I hate this, Seren. Just know that I hate asking you to do this, but I'm trying to protect you. . ."

  Sunny had to pull herself out of Seren's mind. She couldn't bear to watch anymore, and she hated that Seren and Kian had had to go through that. Just the thought of having to tell someone you loved to stop being who they were for their own safety made her tremble with rage. The injustice of it all made her want to go back in time and scream at those who made two children feel so insecure and unsafe.

  No wonder Seren apologized for something as simple as a whisper.

  “Well, to be honest, Seren, some people may find it a bit odd," she started, because there would always be assholes they would have to coexist with. "But you know what? Who cares what people think. If you feel the need to do something to soothe yourself, then you go right on ahead and do that! I mean seriously, who is it hurting?” Sunny said still feeling the fury quaking through her body at the flashback she witnessed. “Just feel free to be yourself," Sunny said with a reassuring smile.

  She continued, "Anyway. . .I talk to myself all the time. I enjoy it, actually. Sometimes it reassures me when I need to follow directions. Hell, if I didn't I probably would have burnt the house down every time I cooked dinner."

  "When have you ever cooked dinner?" Jo asked, with a smile in her voice.

  Sunny grinned. "What do you call all those nights when I slaved in front of the microwave, waiting for the beep to tell us our food is done? I don't think you appreciate my efforts, Jo," Sunny sniffed, and then laughed. It felt good to joke with Jo again.

  Seren frowned at first, but when they started laughing, he joined in. His shoulders seemed to relax from a tension she hadn't even realized he was holding. Sunny hoped she made him feel a little more comfortable with them.

  Finally, after eating tons of junk food, stopping for multiple bathroom breaks, and almost a full day of driving, the most beautiful, golden castle appeared in the distance.

  As they got closer, she noticed the capital city surrounding the castle—Creseon, Seren had told them it was called. When they entered the city, Sunny was amazed. The buildings all seemed to have a golden hue though they were startlingly modern. They were as tall as skyscrapers with thousands of windows reflecting the sunlight.

  The castle stood in the center of Creseon, surrounded by a beautiful river. The castle itself was like a jewel, made of stones that reflected the sunlight as if they were gold as well. At the corners, large, circular turrets reached into the sky. As they rode throughout the city, Sunny saw that there were people everywhere: some shopping, some working, some just out to lunch. She'd even seen drive-thrus, similar to the McDonald’s they had back home. She watched, flabbergasted, as transports merged into heavy traffic. Everything was the same, yet completely different. It was magical, as if they had been transferred inside a strange fairy tale.

  It was the most beautiful place Sunny had ever seen. She kept her face pressed against the window, taking it all in as they drove across a large, ornate golden bridge and under a giant archway with a golden sun at the top of the arch. Under the sun were carved letters that read: THE KINGDOM OF VIANNA: Always Burning Bright.

  They stopped in front of a golden gate, and several cameras turned toward the transport. Seren pushed a button and his window came down. Sunny saw a video monitor and heard a voice tell Seren to state his name and business. He tensed and remained completely still as he quickly said that his name was Seren Reed and he brought visitors from the Lorlean Lands. When he was finished talking, his fingers drummed extra fast, as if to let out nervous energy.

  A camera descended and shot through the window, turning every which way to inspect the interior of the transport. First, it buzzed up to Jo's face while she self-consciously patted her hair.

  Then it buzzed into Sunny's face, and she hea
rd an audible gasp come from the video monitor. The camera immediately zoomed out, and the gates began to open. Seren pushed the button to roll his window up and drove through.

  They meandered down a long driveway that circled around in front of the castle. Seren stopped in front of a huge pair of steps where a petite woman who looked to be of Chinese descent was waiting for them. Though she appeared Chinese, Sunny supposed they probably didn't have a continent called Asia here. She walked forward and opened Sunny's door. A sleek bob framed her pretty face, which looked stern. She was very business- like in her loose black suit, reminding Sunny of a corporate CEO ready to make a multimillion-dollar deal.

  As they got out of the car to stand before her, Sunny felt like a total slob. The woman gave them each a shallow nod before introducing herself. "I am Khione Zabala, the queen’s advisor. Welcome to Vianna, please follow me." She turned and walked through the large golden doors, and Sunny, Jo, and Seren followed her inside.

  The entryway was so massive Sunny had to crane her neck to see the ceiling. It was light pink with gold trimming with a golden sun in the center, its rays pointing out in every direction.

  The decor was very elegant, yet reminded Sunny of beach scenery.

  Standing before them was a woman who looked about sixty, and instinctively Sunny knew this was the queen. Khione introduced her as Queen Asteria Corvinus. Jo and Sunny looked at each other at the sound of their own last name. It couldn't be a coincidence, but she wanted absolute proof that this woman was who she said she was. You could never be too safe.

  The queen was about average height, but she looked at everyone as if she were the tallest person in the room. Where Khione was efficient and composed, this woman was regal, a queen through and through. Although her hair was gray, there were still a few blonde streaks left in it, and it flowed in loose waves over her shoulders. Her pale blue eyes had dark circles under them, and her cheeks were hollow; she looked malnourished, or even ill. She was wearing a simple white silk gown, and she was slightly out of breath as if she had rushed to be there. As Sunny looked around, she noticed two nurses waiting nearby, ready to rush in if the frail queen showed any signs of distress. Her hackles raised immediately when she saw how many armed guards surrounded them.

  The woman put her hand to her mouth. "Eleyna?" she asked, her voice catching.

  Sunny felt the air leave her lungs as she gasped. So, this woman did know their mother, and must have thought Sunny was her since they looked so much alike. She looked over at Jo who looked just as shocked as she was. "How do you know our mother’s name?" she asked the queen.

  The queen let out a sob and mumbled something else.

  "Excuse me?" Sunny said softly. The woman already looked spooked enough.

  "Noelani!" the queen cried out and lurched forward, throwing her arms around Sunny in a bone-crushing hug. Sunny tensed, not knowing what to do. It wasn't every day that she was hugged by random queens. The queen backed up and cupped Sunny's face, studying her intently. "That nose. You have your father’s nose!" the queen smiled, clapping with delight.

  Sunny was instantly skeptical. Of course, she wanted her father to be alive and well, residing here in Vianna, but she knew better than to let that false hope in. Would he even want to meet them? Their mother had always said their father was an honorable man, but sometimes she wondered if her mom just painted a perfect fairytale image of him for them to hold on to as children, not wanting them to know the truth if he wasn't such a great person after all. They'd never even seen a picture of him.

  "You know our father?"

  When Sunny said 'our,' the queen looked over at Jo, just noticing she was there. Another gasp left her lips, and for a second Sunny thought she saw a flash of fear enter the queen's eyes, so she went ahead and pushed her way into her mind. She knew it was an invasion of privacy, but she didn't care. She saw that Jo did the same. The Queen's thoughts were dark and murky. She found that, yes they were related, then her thoughts cut off abruptly. Sunny guessed it was because of the illness they sensed she had.

  The woman walked over to Jo and cupped her face the way she had Sunny's. "What a blessed day," she breathed. "It's a miracle! I have two granddaughters when I thought I only had one."

  So this was their grandmother. Sunny had a million questions, but something was holding her back. She wanted to feel excited, but everything was still too new.

  "Could you please explain to us what's going on? We've had a rough couple of days." The queen looked at them, noticing for the first time that they were dirty with tangled hair and wearing clothes that didn't quite fit.

  "My dears, look at you! Tell me everything."

  *****

  For the second time that day, Sunny reiterated everything that had happened up until that point. The Queen's advisor, Khione, had wisely suggested they go to a sitting room so the queen could rest.

  The queen had asked a servant to bring them food, and the servants had more than delivered. The table before them was loaded down with every delicacy Sunny could imagine. There were meats, fruits, and vegetables. The drinks were the sweetest beverages Sunny had ever tasted. Everything tasted better there.

  Seren sat beside Jo, and the queen had thanked him at least three or four times for bringing her granddaughters to her. Seren had grinned and nodded at his plate.

  As the queen listened to Sunny's tale, with Jo interjecting every few minutes to add in details Sunny had left out, she gasped. The queen had looked so horrified by the whole ordeal that Sunny decided to leave the part about the Swarog out.

  When Sunny was finished, the queen sat back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. "I see," she said. "You have told me your tale, and now I suppose I shall tell you mine."

  "As you now know, my name is Asteria Corvinus, and I am the queen of Vianna. When my son, Silvius, came of age, I handed my crown down to him. He married a beautiful and intelligent woman named Eleyna Ambarsan." Sunny and Jo gasped at hearing their mother’s full name. She had told them once that her maiden name was

  Ambarsan. "They had a daughter named Noelani, who would one day inherit Silvius' crown." Her eyes grew grave. "But when Noelani was two, Silvius died in a terrorist attack, trying to save citizens from a burning building that had been blown up."

  At the news of their father’s death, Sunny felt the tiny spark of hope that had flickered inside her die away as she became an orphan once again. She was at least relieved to know her father had in fact been an honorable man. She reached out and grabbed Jo's hand, both for comfort and support.

  The queen noticed the gesture and gave a small, sad smile. "After Silvius' death I stepped up to resume my role as queen until Noelani came of age, but several months later, she and her mother disappeared. We feared the worst and thought you were dead, but I see now that she must have taken you to that world to be safe. She must have realized she was pregnant with her second daughter and fled to keep her children safe, which I am now relieved she did." She smiled lovingly at both of them.

  Sunny tried to absorb all of the information she had received. She felt overwhelmed and, afraid she would cry in front of the others, she shut that part of herself off and tried to appear brave.

  Looking over at Jo, she saw that her sister was doing the same thing.

  She cleared her throat. "Can I see him? Can I see our father?"

  Tears sprang to Asteria's eyes. "Of course you can. Khione?"

  Behind her, Khione took out what looked like a clear piece of glass. But after she pressed her fingers against it in a typing motion, a 3D picture sprang to life above it. The picture was a handsome man in a military dress uniform with a multitude of badges pinned over his breast. His face was ruggedly handsome and—her grandmother was right—Sunny did have his nose. He had blue-green eyes and short, golden blonde hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Sunny couldn't believe she was looking at their father. She looked over at Jo in excitement, but Jo was frowning.

  "I don't look like my mother or my father," Jo mu
rmured. "How is that possible?" Sunny remembered that from what little their mother did speak of their father, she always said Jo took after him. She looked to Asteria, who looked somewhat suspicious but quickly covered it.

  "You look like your grandfather, dear." She motioned to Khione who typed some more on her tablet, and a different picture appeared. This man was also wearing military dress and had blue-green eyes, but that's where the similarities ended. Where their father was tall but stocky, their grandfather was even taller with a lean build, much like Jo's. He also had dark brown hair, and the shapes of their faces were the same. Jo looked relieved to see the similarities between them. Jo had always had a hard time fitting in, and Sunny was glad she wouldn't feel set apart from her own family.

  Sunny and Jo studied the pictures of their father and grandfather for several minutes before their grandmother piped up. "Not that I do not want to spend as much time as possible with you girls," she began, "But you look as tired as I do, and I'm a sick old woman. Why don't you get cleaned up and get some rest, and we can discuss more tomorrow."

  Just as they stood up, something Asteria had said came to the forefront of Sunny's mind.

  "What did you mean our mother fled to ‘keep us safe’? Safe from what?"

  The queen paused for a second, then let out a resigned sigh. "Well there were a lot of terrorist attacks happening at the time, but other than that. . .things were fairly safe here. To be honest, no one knows the true reason your mother left."

  Sunny suspected there was more to it than that, but she would ask more questions tomorrow. She thanked the queen and followed Khione.

  Khione led them and Seren through the richly decorated corridors of the castle to a long hall with many doors. Sunny and Jo were assigned separate but adjacent rooms, while Seren got a room across the hall.

  Khione bid them goodnight and turned to go when she noticed Sunny and Jo hesitating to enter their rooms. She laid a hand on Sunny's shoulder and looked her and Jo in the eye.