‘You were destined to be that person.’
‘But not yet. Not until I am Empress. I’ll be lucky to survive to be the crown princess.’
‘Don’t say that,’ Remi muttered.
‘They might have disappeared for the moment, but we know where they are, and we know what they want. With or without the high priestess, they will come for us, for me.’
‘Do we draw them out?’ the emperor asked.
‘We aren’t strong enough to face them,’ Lis said.
‘You have a phoenix,’ the hunter said.
‘But we can’t use it,’ Remi said.
‘We can’t sit here on our hands waiting for them to come to us.’
‘We can’t do this alone,’ Lis said, looking towards the empress.
She shook her head ever so slightly.
‘Would she come?’ Remi asked.
‘I don’t think she should. And she won’t risk her family.’
‘Who?’ the emperor asked, stepping forward.
‘Wei-Song,’ Lis said.
‘Yang would come,’ Remi added softly.
Lis shook her head then. She didn’t want Yang in the middle of this. She had never wanted him involved in this. He was a healer, not a soldier. Although she wasn’t quite sure what she was, at this point. They might have discovered something new in working together, but she wasn’t sure how they could use it. Would it be enough to show themselves and have the whole world bow down before them, as the soldiers had done? She shivered at the idea.
‘What is it?’ Remi asked softly.
‘I’m not sure what we can do,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to drag them into this.’
‘We are all a part of this.’
Lis nodded slowly. She hadn’t been sure she could stand against the magics last time, and this time they would be even more determined for blood. They could attack at any moment. ‘Did they have others behind them?’ she asked.
‘Who?’
‘The magics. There was fighting in the streets on the other islands, yet only a relatively small number of magics fought here. Are they hiding, or waiting?’
Remi shook his head. ‘I don’t think I was aware of all that went on. Only what they thought would benefit them for me to know.’
‘Did you not question more?’ the emperor asked. ‘I taught you better than that.’
‘You might have,’ Remi shot back, ‘but I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly.’
The light flashed behind his eyes, and Lis put a hand on his arm. He blinked and looked at her slowly, then smiled and released his breath. The fire died down.
‘Could we go to some of the other islands and find out?’ Lis asked.
‘The Empire is in an uproar,’ the emperor said. ‘The people already question the crown prince. On what basis could you say you were there? Any hint of an investigation, and they are going to assume it is the magic war all over again.’
‘Wedding parade,’ the empress offered.
‘Pardon?’ the emperor said, turning to her.
‘No,’ Lis said before she had the chance to think about it too much, and Remi appeared more disappointed than she had ever seen him.
‘Tradition would have the hidden princess and the crown prince travel the Empire after their wedding to meet with the people.’
‘We aren’t to be wed for years,’ Lis said, trying not to look at Remi.
‘These are difficult times; the people need to see you together.’
‘I’m not ready,’ Lis whispered. ‘I’m not trained to be the crown princess, or an empress. I am a country girl with magic, fighting with soldiers. The people won’t want me.’
‘Yes, they would,’ Remi said.
‘We would be attacked.’
‘I also think it is an excellent idea, Your Highness,’ the hunter said, and Lis turned a steady gaze on him.
‘Am I to offer them cake as we go?’ she asked.
‘Your cakes are good,’ Wei-Song called behind her. Lis swung around, raced across the room and threw her arms around her friend.
‘So, we are winning this on cake,’ Yang said, standing in the shadows beyond the doorway. Lis released Wei-Song and stepped forward to throw her arms around him.
‘You should have stayed away,’ she whispered, holding him close.
‘I wanted to, but you know Wei-Song once she gets an idea in her head. You look much better,’ he added once she released him and stepped back.
‘I just needed some things to fall into place.’ She looked back at Remi standing in the middle of the room, still flanked by the soldiers. She had worried he would be angry or uncertain about Yang, but he didn’t appear to be.
‘Have you heard what might be to come?’ Remi asked as Wei-Song moved into the room.
She took the time to bow to the emperor, who stood awkwardly from his throne, and the empress, who wanted to race forward. Lis could see her itching to move, but she stood silent beside her husband.
‘The visions have stopped.’
‘She has had no more?’ Lis asked.
‘She saw something of you coming together, and then nothing.’ Yang said.
‘Not a vision since. She is a very different child,’ Wei-Song added with a smile.
Yang followed a few steps behind and bowed to the emperor, the empress and then Remi. ‘Is there a plan?’ he asked.
‘No,’ Lis said.
‘Yes, a wedding parade,’ the empress said, far too chirpily.
‘You realise you are throwing your own traditions away,’ Lis said. She tried not to sound disappointed, but she failed. And she wasn’t quite sure why she felt that way.
‘It is a good reason to get you onto the other islands. I only hope you will get the chance to discover what you need.’
‘The soldiers will travel with you,’ the general said.
‘As would a hunter, and a healer,’ Hui Te-Sze said, looking at Yang.
‘And your maid, of course, would be useful,’ the emperor added.
‘Is there is no other way?’ Lis asked.
‘Not unless you are so determined not to marry me,’ the prince said, the disappointment rolling from him. ‘If it is not what you wish, we shall consider something else.’
‘Why would she not want to marry you?’ Te-Sze said with a sly grin. ‘You are nearly there already. Did you not just kiss the man before the emperor?’
Lis felt her whole body colour, the heat almost the same as what Remi had produced earlier.
‘Lis,’ he said softly, taking her hands. ‘If you are not ready, we can come up with another plan. I could go undercover and appear as though I want to get back with the magics.’
‘That isn’t safe,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘They know you have left.’
‘But…’
‘I chose you,’ she said. ‘I choose you. I don’t want to destroy all the Empire’s traditions. I’ll go down in history for all the wrong reasons.’
He laughed then, the sound comforting. ‘I think the history books will be discussing far more than the date of our wedding.’
She smiled and nodded once.
‘It is settled. We shall send news of the changes. Do you think we could send Advisor Gan out to tell the people, or should we surprise them?’ the emperor asked.
‘Maybe the latter,’ Remi said. ‘Let’s not give them too much time to prepare.’
‘We will need enough time of our own. There are dresses to make, hair pins and the like to organise.’
‘I am sure there is much we can do,’ Wei-Song said, and she gave Lis a wink.
Lis turned slowly, and her dress changed to a brilliant red.
‘Something a little more like an empress,’ Wei-Song whispered.
She turned again, and the material looked as though it floated. The brilliant red background was now covered in a pattern of golden phoenixes. The empress stepped forward, in awe, looking over the fine material.
‘If only we had organised the crowns as well.’
‘I may be able to help with that,’ Remi offered. He waved his hand over her head, and those around her stared openly. She put her hands up but couldn’t feel anything. She glanced up, and instead of beads falling towards her, there were flames.
‘I can’t wear this on the whole journey,’ she said. ‘I might set the carriage alight.’
‘But you would draw out any magics,’ Yang offered.
‘And what of the prince?’ the empress asked.
Lis rested her hand on his arm, closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. His clothing changed to match hers. He swirled his finger, and a matching crown of flames hovered above his head.
‘You must at least allow me to do your hair,’ the empress pleaded.
Lis could only smile and then focused on the emperor. He didn’t look as pleased, and Lis wasn’t sure what she could do to make him more so. ‘Do you think we should wait, Your Eminence?’ she asked.
He shook his head slowly.
She put her hand on Remi’s arm and returned their clothes to what they had been, the crowns disappearing at the same time. She bowed low before the emperor. ‘Forgive me,’ she said.
‘There is nothing to forgive. It is what we need,’ he said. ‘And yet it goes against all I wanted.’ He stepped forward and surprised Lis by taking her hands. ‘I have no one to present you to.’
She smiled then. ‘You have a whole Empire.’
‘You have us,’ the general said. ‘The men would be honoured to be amongst those before such an event.’
‘When the sun has filled the main square tomorrow,’ the emperor said. ‘Line them up before the throne room steps, and we shall have the couple sent out before evening to start their journey.’
Lis bowed low, and he turned without another word.
‘I hope we have somewhere to stay,’ Yang said.
‘A larger palace than your last one,’ the general said.
Lis laughed.
‘Do you have another option?’ the general asked.
She shook her head, and they moved as a group towards the laundry.
Yang looked back at her several times to ensure they were headed in the right direction, and Wei-Song poked at him repeatedly.
Lis walked silently with Remi in the middle of the group.
As the light faded from the small windows in the dormitory room, Lis leaned against the platform, singed as it was. Yang walked in circles around the large room, his arms stretched out like a child. Two young soldiers arrived with armfuls of bedding, which Remi was quick to direct. He and Yang settled by one wall, Lis and Wei-Song by the other.
Despite the time away from each other and the plans for the following morning, there was little chatter between them. They settled quickly, although Lis was sure she lay awake for a long time. The room dropped into darkness, and someone snored quietly.
She was sure she heard movement, and she held her breath. She strained in the darkness to sense who it might be, but she couldn’t see anything. They had doubled the guard on the door, and although Lis had said they could be inside the room, they waited outside.
With the movement of her covers, Lis expected Yang to be setting up at her feet, although he hadn’t done such a thing since they had left the palace across the island. She was sure he had done far more for her when they’d been at the school, but she hadn’t been aware of any of it.
‘It is cold,’ Remi whispered, sliding in beside her. ‘I have got too used to being close. And from tomorrow, it will be given that we share.’
Lis could feel her face grow hot. Once they were wed, it wouldn’t be simply sharing covers.
Remi wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. ‘Are you nervous?’ he asked.
She nodded into the dark. ‘Do you think the people will be accepting?’
‘They will love you,’ he said, kissing her forehead.
‘Do you think we are doing the right thing?’
‘You don’t?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘Are you not comfortable with this?’
‘Nothing of this match has been what it should have been, or what was expected. I fear the people won’t forgive me for changing so much of the world.’
‘It is a brighter place for having you in it.’
‘You didn’t think so not so long ago.’
‘Maybe the world has already changed for the better by having you in it.’ He kissed her forehead again and lay still. The only indication that he was still awake was the tight hold he had on her.
Chapter 17
Lis woke with a jolt, alone in the large room. It felt dark and cold. She stretched and headed to the door. Perhaps the others were getting ready, given what today was to be. She wondered for a moment if she really could wear a crown of fire. Smiling to herself, she pushed open the door and was surprised to find the courtyard before her empty. There were no soldiers, no men, no prince.
‘Hello?’ she called out. Surely, they wouldn’t have left her alone. She headed towards the throne room.
The whole island was oddly quiet. Not even a bird chirped. No wind even to indicate the rest of the world still existed.
She stopped well before she reached the steps of the throne room. People were lying across the flagstones. She picked up her skirt and ran. Her hidden princess soldiers lay at odd angles across the stones, as though they had been cut down while they’d stood in neat rows. Blood seeped out across the world, the bitter scent of it causing her to put the back of her hand to her nose. She looked up at the steps and then raced forward. Yang lay dead partway up the stairs, reaching out to Wei-Song, who had also been cut down. The empress was next, almost at the top of the steps.
Lis looked about wildly. There was no one else around, and no sign of magics. She took a deep breath and headed inside the throne room. Sun filtered through the windows, high up along the walls, and the dark polished floor squeaked beneath her bare feet. There was no one there. She turned slowly, trying to determine where they could be, but as she turned to face the throne again, the emperor sat slumped to the side, his golden tunic soaked with red. She stepped forward blindly, and her foot snagged on something, causing her to trip.
Landing on her knees, she came face to face with the staring eyes of Remi. She gulped down the overwhelming loss that threatened to break through her skin. In his arms was a woman. Lis reached out and brushed a blood-matted clump of hair back from the woman’s face, only to reveal her own. She sat back screaming.
She opened her eyes, unable to breath in Remi’s tight embrace. A soldier raced through the door.
‘What has happened?’ the soldier asked, stopping suddenly and then bowing.
Lis shook her head, looked up at Remi and then promptly burst into tears, burying herself in his chest.
‘It was just a dream,’ he whispered, waving the soldier away.
Lis nodded, but it had felt far worse than just a dream. It had felt so real. She wondered if there was any meaning behind it. She couldn’t remember what she had been wearing when she’d found herself; it could have been a vision of what was to come. The visions may have stopped for others, but might they have started for her?
‘Can we send someone to check on the emperor?’ she asked, running her hand across her face.
‘Of course,’ he said softly, and she heard the rustle of someone else climbing out of their bed.
‘Is it morning yet?’
‘Not quite,’ Wei-Song said. ‘Was it so bad? Were you burning?’
‘No,’ Lis whispered, clinging tighter to Remi. ‘Everyone was dead.’
‘Who?’ he asked softly.
‘Everyone. The soldiers, Yang, Wei-Song, you…’
‘We are all well,’ he said, running a hand over her hair.
She nodded again and tried to focus on the firm, comforting realisation that he was there with her. She squeezed her eyes closed, but all she could see was blood. She sat up slowly, and he rubbed gently over her back.
‘Sleep,’ he murmure
d, but she couldn’t. Then Yang was back in the room and climbing into his bed.
‘The emperor is sleeping soundly.’
Lis nodded slowly. It worried her that this might be an indication of what was to come. Like all the dreams she’d had of a burning world, when she had flown with Remi—was that the phoenix? Was she destined for something greater, as everyone seemed to think?
She spent the rest of the night sitting beside Remi, trying not to revisit the images that haunted her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw her own lifeless form, and it scared her. As the morning light started to brighten through the window, the general appeared in the doorway. She stood carefully, so as not to wake those around her, and padded across the room.
‘Has something happened?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘I just wanted to ensure you were well. You don’t appear to have slept very well.’
‘Bad dreams,’ she murmured, thankful that the sheets still blew back and forth across the lines before her.
‘You know this is where you are meant to be,’ he said, indicating that they move away from the door. ‘He needs you.’
She looked back then, and nodded. ‘I need him too,’ she admitted.
‘I had feared him lost,’ the general went on in a hoarse whisper. ‘And as much as I thought we shouldn’t be using your magic or placing you in danger, you were the only one to save him.’
Lis nodded again. ‘Do you think this is the right thing to do?’ she asked. ‘Will the people see it for what it is and not think we are hunting through them as my father did?’
‘Maybe if they know you have some magic, it will help.’
‘Unless they are like Peng and don’t want the magics to return—then it will cause more trouble.’
‘We may not know what the Empire will be. But I trust the two of you will do the right thing by the people, whatever that might be.’
‘Thank you, General Zou-Hou. We would never have survived this long without you.’
‘You are much stronger than you realise.’
‘I hope you are right.’
As they rounded the corner, Lis’s heart stopped. Not only her own guard, but all the solders still on the island were lined up before the steps of the throne room. The emperor and empress waited at the top of the steps, and he was dressed in the golden clothing of her dream. She held tighter to Remi’s arm.
The Magics of Rei-Een Box Set Page 64
