Shadows of Lela

by Tessonja Odette

  “What are we going to do?” my father asked, his voice deep and strong.

  “We have to get my boy back,” my mother cried. “We cannot let him die!”

  “And we are not going to surrender!” King Verdian pounded his fist on the arm of his chair.

  “Then we bargain.” Father released a heavy sigh and rubbed his temples. He rose and stood at the center of the floor. “We will take our Forces to Centerpointe Rock. I will face Morkai, and offer him whatever I can. He’s a sorcerer; he can’t possibly want only land. We’ll offer him money, title, whatever we can bargain with. And when we have him where we want him, we will kill him.”

  A rumble of agreement came from the councilmen.

  “And if he doesn’t want to bargain?” King Verdian said.

  Arlous’ chest rose and fell as he took a slow, deep breath. “Then I will demand he take me in place of Teryn.”

  My mother cried out in anguish; I stood, my hands shaking. “No, father, you cannot give your life to that sorcerer! Trade my life instead!”

  “No, my son.”

  “You are king, and Teryn is crown prince. Mena needs you both,” I said.

  “I said no.”

  “But I am expendable.”

  “No!” My father’s shout and fierce glare silenced me and put me back in my chair. He walked up to me, his features softening as tears glazed his eyes. “You are not expendable,” he said quietly. “You are my son, and you are important to me and your mother. You are important to our kingdom. You may not be crown prince, but you are next in line. Our legacy will live through the lives of your children.”

  I swallowed a lump in my throat and lowered my head under his caring gaze.

  Father walked back to the middle of the room. “Teryn is crown prince and we need him alive. If Morkai will not bargain, I will convince him to take me in Teryn’s stead, but I will not give him my life without a fight. He must be convinced to keep me prisoner, and we will agree to war. In the chaos of battle, I will escape. We will have men assigned to the task of freeing me. There is a chance that I will be killed, but it is a chance I am willing to take. We will not surrender to this madman. We will fight him to the death.”

  My head was spinning. I wanted to argue, but I could think of no other plan. What else could we do? I looked to Father’s wide-eyed councilmen, waiting for them to speak up and talk him out of such a foolish plan, but they were clearly as dumbfounded as I was. I put my head in my shaking hands, realizing we were all doomed. In less than one month, I was going to lose my brother or my father. Maybe both. Maybe I would lose my own life.

  “You know you have Sele’s support,” King Verdian said. “This is an attack on us as well. We will organize our Forces immediately.”

  A rumbling of voices followed as plans were further discussed and messengers dispatched. Through the din, an unexpected voice stood out, saying, “I’ll go to my father.”

  The rumbling subsided as all eyes turned to Lex. “You need more support than you have. I’ll convince my father to join Tomas’ Force with yours.”

  “And what about Norun?” King Verdian said. “Their son was killed by this sorcerer’s Beast. We should ally with them as well.”

  King Arlous nodded. “We will send a message to Norun. Lex will go to Tomas by messenger horse. Let us hope they believe us.”

  “I’ll go with Lex in support.” I heard the words spill from my mouth, surprised it was I who said them. All I knew was that I couldn’t sit idle in preparation for my father to sacrifice himself. I needed to get out. “I’ll represent Mena and confirm Lex’s story. The messenger sent to Norun can report to me in Tomas. If Norun is open to our alliance, I can meet with them as well.”

  “Don’t expect much from Norun,” Lex said. “But your presence might help convince my father.”

  I looked to my father to gauge his response. He considered me for a moment, head cocked slightly to the side. I held my breath as I waited for his face to turn to disapproval. However, his eyes twinkled, and his lips twitched with the smallest of smiles. “I’ll allow it, Larylis. You may accompany Lex to Tomas.”

  With that, the kings returned to discussions with the council, the two queens linked arms and dismissed themselves from the room, and Lex sat pondering silently. With no eyes on me, I took the opportunity to slip behind a tapestry and out one of the hidden doors into a dark hallway. I closed my eyes and pressed my back to the cold, stone wall behind me. War. We are going to war. I wished so badly that I would wake and find I was only dreaming.

  A soft sound startled me. My eyes shot open and I looked across the hall where a female silhouette stood in the shadows of the opposite wall. She stepped forward into the dim light of the singular lamp lighting the hall. My heart stopped. It was Mareleau.

  My tongue felt heavy as I sorted out what to say to her. Compliments I had always yearned to give her came to mind, and I nearly succeeded at delivering one before I reminded myself that I did not love her anymore. This was not my beloved, carefree childhood sweetheart; this was the selfish, cold, spoiled Ice Princess.

  “You’re a little late. The meeting’s over,” I finally said, trying to appear aloof.

  “I know. I heard everything.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her hands were behind her back as she took another step toward me, her face unreadable as she eyed me with piercing intensity.

  I had to avert my gaze to keep my eyes from taking her in. Instead, I looked down the dark, damp, windowless hallway. “What are you doing here? Aren’t these the servants’ halls?”

  “I could ask the same of you.” She took another few steps forward.

  My eyes locked on hers and my mouth opened to respond but I remained speechless. Damn this woman. How does she still manage to make me feel so foolish?

  “You obviously remember these halls from when we were little. Do you remember how we used to hide in them?”

  “Yes, I remember. I’m surprised you do.” I hoped my words sounded as sharp to her as I’d honed them to be.

  Mareleau ignored my comment. “You were brave in there.” Her voice lacked all emotion as she leaned against the wall next to me. “To offer yourself in your brother’s stead. You must fear for him greatly. And for your father.”

  “Don’t you fear for him? For my brother, I mean?”

  Mareleau was silent a moment. “We are to be married,” she said flatly.

  “Oh?” I shrugged as if I were indifferent to the news. But who was I fooling? My heart sank into my gut.

  “As soon as you and Prince Lexington arrived here with a rumor that Teryn was in trouble, my father blamed me and my Quest. And that was before he learned all the details of war. He is done letting me choose my husband. I will be forced to marry Teryn, like it or not. If he survives the war, I should say.” Her voice held not even a hint of concern for my brother, and her tone implied she found herself to be the victim.

  “I imagine you are happy, then?”

  She turned her head, and slowly met my eyes. “Not really, no.”

  Heat rose to my face as I felt my shoulders grow tense. “You have finally found the man who would go out of his way to win your heart, and you are not happy? My brother may not have completed the Quest, but I’m sure he would have if he hadn’t been captured by a sorcerer! Can you not see his devotion? Do you not care that he is risking his life for you? He might be killed because of you!”

  Her eyes widened slightly at my sudden outburst, but the rest of her face remained passive. “I know.”

  My hands turned to fists at my side. “Prince Lex nearly exhausted himself to death delivering the message to us. And Prince Helios is dead! And you don’t even care?”

  Mareleau shrugged. “I feel bad for them, I guess. I’m afraid for the war. But I never knew these men, save for your brother. I never asked them to put themselves in danger. It was their choice to be so stupid—”

  “Are you serious? You sent them on the Quest!”

  “I didn’t ask
them to…I didn’t want…” Her mouth hung open, but no more sound would come forth. It was the first time I’d ever seen Mareleau at a loss for words.

  I clenched my teeth. “How many people have to die before you realize how selfish you are? When will you quit torturing others with your carelessness?”

  “Larylis—”

  “Oh, so now you know my name? All these years I’ve been in love with you, and you’ve pretended not to remember me. Then you chose my brother. And now not even he’s good enough for you? Will no man ever be good enough for you?”

  “It’s not that…”

  “Then what? Why do you treat men in such a way? Why are you such a heartless bitch?”

  “How dare you speak to me like that!” Mareleau’s eyes went wide, her anger matching my own. “You don’t know anything about what I’ve been through!”

  “What you’ve been through? What could you possibly have experienced that is worse than what Teryn is going through now? He’s going through all of this because of you, and all you can think of is yourself.”

  “I don’t love him, Larylis.”

  “That much is obvious. I don’t think that’s an emotion you’re capable of.”

  “I love you, you fool!” The words erupted in such haste, I could barely understand them, much less believe them. She took a step back, bringing her hand to her lips as if she too couldn’t believe the words she had just spoken.

  I couldn’t breathe. My heart pounded so hard that my chest hurt. My legs shook. A rush of conflicting emotions seared through me; I had to close my eyes to steady my spinning head.

  She said she loved me. I had waited so long to hear those words. My heart threatened to melt as I pictured myself sweeping her up in my arms and covering her with kisses, the way I’d always imagined. Then I remembered my brother. She was now betrothed to him. More importantly, I remembered how she had treated me all those years. How she tortured and ignored me. I remembered the letter she sent me. All I know is that I can’t love you.

  No. If she loved me, she could have had me long ago. She chose Teryn.

  I steadied my resolve, opened my eyes and met hers. “Am I to hear you right? That you love me? And I am a fool for it? Even in your expressions of love, you manage to be insulting.”

  “Insulting? It is you who insulted me first!”

  “I insulted you first? Shall we go back, then? To all the times you’ve ignored me? All the times you acted like you didn’t know me? How about to the time so very recently when you demanded I be taken away from your pathetic poetry competition?”

  “Please,” Mareleau said, her eyes filling with tears. “You must let me explain.”

  I so badly wanted to hear an explanation, to hear the words that would justify all the pains of my past and give me what I had always wanted. But what good would that do, given the smallest chance it could be true?

  “You don’t love me.” My voice sounded rough, distant, as if it wasn’t my own.

  Mareleau lowered her head and let out a heavy sob.

  “This is another one of your games, isn’t it?”

  “No!” She lifted her face, twisted with distress as she looked at me through tear-filled eyes. She was doing an excellent job at pretending. “I swear it’s true. I do love you!” She reached a hand toward my shoulder

  I stepped away from her. “Your games would have worked on me before, but I know who you are now. You are wicked. You will do whatever it takes to make every man go crazy over you. But you are too late for me. You belong to my brother now.”

  “Just let me explain!”

  “What is there to explain? You have treated me like the lowest of beings. There is nothing you could say to make me believe you somehow loved me. You had your chance with me long ago, and you tortured me instead and played with my heart like it was nothing more than filth under your shoe. You might as well have ripped it right out with your bare hands!”

  “Larylis, please.” Again, she tried reaching for me, but paused with her hand midway between us. Her tear-filled eyes turned hard as she put her hands on her hips. “I command you to stay and listen to me!”

  “You don’t command me, Mareleau. You have no command over me or my heart. Not anymore.” I paused for only a moment, knowing that turning away from her would feel like ripping the flesh from my bones. I took one last look at her and then ran until I could no longer hear her pleading cries.

  24

  Power

  Cora

  I awoke with a gasp as ice-cold water covered my face. I came to my feet, heart pounding as I backed against the wall of my cell, blinking into the dim light as two figures entered.

  One leaned against the cell doorway, arms crossed and snickering: Orin, Morkai’s little servant-boy. I wanted nothing more than to claw the smirk off his face. “That water was sent for you to bathe.” He tossed an empty wash basin at my feet. “Enjoy your bath?”

  I scowled as the second figure came to me and began brushing straw debris from my gown. My face softened when I recognized her as the woman who had helped me dress in my room days before. She handed me a cloth which I took to my face.

  This was the first time I’d been offered anything close to a bath, so I eagerly took advantage of the small pleasure of wiping down my skin. In the five days since I’d been put in the cell, I’d had contact only with the few guards who brought my meager meals, and Teryn. Teryn and I had managed to have a few hushed conversations, which always ended with a guard stomping by and demanding our silence. This sudden offer of cleanliness, while welcome, made me suspicious.

  “What’s this all about?” I tossed the now-filthy rag at Orin.

  “Morkai demands your presence, and he demanded you be clean first. Although, I can’t see why he’d bother. Dress you in a gown. Clean you up. You’re still ugly.”

  I ignored him, swallowing my self-consciousness as the woman re-tightened the laces of my gown. Then she brushed my hair, smoothing it down my back.

  “Come.” Orin grabbed my wrist. “If you struggle, I’ll kill you.” With his other hand, he tapped the hilt of his dagger. I obeyed and let him lead me out of the cell.

  “Cora?” Teryn ran to the door of his cell as we passed him. “Where is he taking you?”

  “That’s none of your business,” Orin said.

  “I’m fine, Teryn.” I forced my mouth into a weak smile.

  “Don’t hurt her!” Teryn shouted as Orin dragged me further down the hall.

  Orin led me down a familiar path through the castle and out onto the charred, black field of the former gardens once again. Morkai stood in the same place I’d last seen him, his back facing me. The stars shone above. I’d lost my sense of time, but I guessed it was late in the evening.

  “Coralaine!” Morkai turned and greeted me with a sickening smile. “Leave us,” he said to Orin, who quickly obeyed, receding into the shadows outlining the field.

  “What do you want, Morkai?” I kept my breathing steady, my face passive. Only my racing heart could have betrayed my calm exterior.

  “I wanted to show you some things so you could have the opportunity to see my power before you truly decide to stand against me.”

  “There’s nothing you could show me to convince me to join you. You’re a fool for even considering it.”

  Morkai’s eyes narrowed but his smile remained. “No, Coralaine. You’re a fool to doubt me. You’re a fool to even question me.”

  “And you’re a fool for keeping me alive. Why is that again? Because you respect my magic?” I let out a small laugh. “I still don’t believe that’s the only reason.”

  Morkai considered me as he rubbed the purple crystal at the top of his staff hanging at his waist. “All in good time,” he said quietly, almost as if he was saying it to himself. “You’ll see. I have a purpose for you. I’m willing to be patient this time.”

  I balled my hands into fists, wishing so badly I could access the Arts and find some power within me to use against him. But in
the time I’d been at Ridine, I’d felt a blockage between me and my power. I couldn’t disappear into the walls of my cell. I couldn’t slip through the bars. I couldn’t tap into the minds of the guards. I was helpless.

  Morkai seemed to forget me as he turned back toward the field and raised his staff. I felt a chill as the rubies on the staff began to glow, and before long, the ground began to rumble. I didn’t have to guess what was coming. It was the Roizan.

  The Roizan plodded through the field, halting in front of Morkai. Its open mouth panted as its enormous, red chest heaved. It pawed at the ground, seeming agitated. Morkai held out a hand, and the Roizan seemed to calm. It brought its gigantic snout to Morkai’s hand until they were touching. Both were still a few moments.

  My breathing became shallow, and I wished I could be invisible. I knew the Roizan had a bloodthirsty attraction to unicorns alone, but I didn’t know what to expect with it under Morkai’s direct command.

  Morkai stepped away from the Roizan and turned toward me. The Roizan plodded over to a spot of charred land and lay down, curling up in a crude imitation of a sleeping pet. “You remember my Roizan. Now, let me show you what we can do. What would you like to see? What is your favorite room in Ridine Castle? The dungeon?”

  Morkai turned toward the castle and reached a hand toward the base. I felt a rumbling beneath my feet that seemed to be coming from the castle itself. The sound of stone grinding stone shattered the air as the foundation began to shake.

  “No!” My first thought was of Teryn. I couldn’t help but imagine his terror as stone crumbled around him. “Stop, Morkai!”

  Morkai lowered his hand, smirking as he met my eyes. “You’re right, I need the dungeon. And I suppose I need the prince alive as well. How about that tower? Do you like it? Or could it use a bit of remodeling?”

  I raised my head to look at the lowest tower, unable to remember where within Ridine it was. Before I could contemplate it further, the castle again began to shake. Morkai raised his hand and stones began to crumble from the tower, falling against the castle walls and crashing to the ground below. I stepped back from the sharp debris that rained down to the ground before us. Morkai let out a jubilant laugh as, piece by piece, the tower crumbled until it was nothing but a pile of crushed stone.