by Laura R Cole
CHAPTER 12
Layna strolled to the curtained balcony and peeked down at the throng of people gathered below. She had announced that she would be making an appearance this afternoon and already thousands had gathered outside. She had never been one for public speaking, and when the subject was trying to make up for the mistakes of Telvani’s betrayal…
She retreated and resumed her nervous pacing. The afternoon wore on until the time for her announcement drew near, and Gryffon joined her, holding Phoenix. He took her hand and squeezed it, a comforting gesture that never ceased to calm her. He had offered to make the speech with her, or even for her, but as the blood-heir and native of Gelendan, the people needed to believe in her. She gave him a quick smile and drew a deep breath, stepping out onto the balcony.
A cheer rose up from the crowd below, but whether it was one in her support or merely that their wait was over, she couldn’t tell. She waited a few moments as they died down before spreading a spell outwards to help carry her voice to the farthest reaches of the mass of onlookers.
“My People,” she began, and had to pause as once more the crowd burst into a flurry of excitement. She waited patiently as the cacophony petered out. “My People,” she repeated, “since you gave me the honor of becoming your Queen I have strived to make Gelendan a better place.” She gathered her thoughts and steeled herself for the next part. “But your faith in me has been tarnished by the faith that I had in another. Lord Telvani, who was my trusted advisor since my ascension to the throne, has been uncovered as a traitor to all of us.”
A murmuring broke out among the amassed peoples and Layna had to wait several minutes to get the quiet she needed to explain.
“It has been discovered that he was part of the Order, the secret society that I told you existed for the purpose of breeding those with talent and possessing the mark, and furthermore had progressed this society into a new purpose. These he called his Faithful.”
She closed her eyes and didn’t bother trying to calm the outraged cries, feeling a similar emotion herself. When they had quieted to let her speak, she continued, “I feel as though I have walked into the serpent’s lair,” she admitted, hoping they could sense the despair she felt for not having recognized her mistake sooner. “The snakes of the Order ran far and deep, and I failed to see the one that was right under my nose, even as he committed heinous acts in my name.” Her voice cracked and she was forced to stop. Gryffon appeared at the edge of the curtain, not far enough that he could be seen outside, but enough that his presence immediately allowed her to regain control of herself.
She sighed and it echoed over the amplified spell, her anguish resonating across the square. She took several deep breaths, but still couldn’t speak.
Then another voice broke out, and Layna looked around to see who it was. Her eyes landed on a young woman who had climbed up onto the statue in the center of the courtyard and was waving her arms to the crowd for their attention. As Layna peered closer, she realized that it was none other than Natalya, who had brought her baby girl back to her. She quietly sent a tendril of magic towards the girl to amplify her voice as well.
“Listen!” she shouted and was visibly surprised by the volume of her voice as it echoed off the stone walls. The people quieted down and she cleared her throat. “I am possibly the last person alive from Hardonia.” Her words silenced the last of the people talking. “Some of you may have heard that it was attacked by bandits,” there seemed to be a feeling of agreement throughout the gathered people until she continued, “but that is a lie.” A slight murmuring spread across the crowd. “In reality, it was a group of elite guards riding under the banner of the Queen, but following orders of Lord Telvani who were responsible for such a thing. His Faithful. And even worse, it was done to cover up the kidnapping of my sister, who was taken for Lord Telvani as part of his plan to gather high talents for his own experimentation.” The murmuring was growing angry now and Natalya seemed to sense the change. “But none of this was done with the knowledge or consent of the Queen. Lord Telvani used her to do unspeakable things and she is standing before us today, in front of YOU today, apologizing for what HE did!” Her hands were going a mile a minute, expressing her conviction in her words. “Have none of you ever been swindled by a merchant, betrayed by a friend, or cheated on by a spouse? Are we all so perfect that we know the true person behind everyone we know? Is it so bad that our Queen trusted one of her subjects? NO!” she hollered and was met by a smattering of applause. “Queen Layna came in after King Nathair had opened the flood gates of blood-magic being used again, started a war with Treymayne, and turned himself into a dragon and started eating people. Eating people.” She paused to let this sink in. “Queen Layna had to pick up the pieces from all that, and how did she do it? By visiting every corner of her country…personally. Even I met her. How many of you here today have seen her before, helping with her own two hands to clean up the mess of our country?” A cheer went up and was echoed through several areas of the crowd. But Natalya didn’t stop.
“I, more than anyone, should hate her for allowing my sister to be stolen and my parents to be slaughtered,” her voice broke and the swarm waited while she regained her composure. When she spoke again it was in a soft voice. “But I don’t. It wasn’t her fault. I can’t hold her accountable for every action of every person in her kingdom. And yet this is exactly the standard to which she holds herself. She is doing the very best that she can, and I for one think she is the best thing to happen to Gelendan since the times before the Dark King. Who else can say they defeated an evil dragon?” Another cheer rippled through the crowd, growing louder as it spread. “Who else can say that their love for their husband is so strong that together they are the world’s greatest mages?” The following cheer was louder this time. “Who else can say they withstood an attack by a circle of powerful mages out of love for their child and for their people?” Natalya had to wait several minutes for the applause to die down enough for her voice to be heard once again.
“Our Queen Layna, our King Gryffon, and our Princess Phoenix. I am proud to say that they are my sovereigns, and I pledge my loyalty to them. Let the Princess’s namesake ring true throughout the land. We may have been burned more than once, but like the mighty Phoenix, we too shall rise from the ashes and become that much greater!”
The cheers that broke out were a wild frenzy and Layna felt a tear stream down her cheek. She had never expected such a show of support from the people gathered here, let alone Natalya, who had been scarred beyond repair by her failings. Gryffon did join her now, handing their baby girl to her.
Layna looked down at Phoenix held lovingly in her arms and glanced at Gryffon with affection. Then she held the baby high out in front of her, displaying Phoenix to her subjects. Yes, Natalya was right. Phoenix would rise out of the ashes of all the mistakes that had been made.
This action brought about even more cheers and someone started chanting, “Hooray for Phoenix! Hooray for Phoenix!” that spread farther and farther out across the crowd, nearly deafening Layna.
She caught Natalya’s eye and smiled.
The girl smiled back.
Everything was going to be alright.
*
The scene reflected in the scrying glass of another, who watched the proceedings with interest, her eyes following the motion of the baby Phoenix as she was held in the air.
“Yes,” she purred, leaning closer to the image, “Hooray for Phoenix. Let her usher in the new era…”
* * *
Continue the story in:
Bricrui: The Forgotten (Book 2)
Light the Reign: The Forgotten (Book 3)
BOOKS BY LAURA R COLE
The Eleventh World Saga:
BloodRunes Trilogy
Unleashed Fury
Those Who Fear the Darkness
Leoht
The Forgotten Trilogy
Serpent’s
Lair
Bricrui
Light the Reign
Connect with the author: www.laurarcole.com
