Chapter 24 #2
“Because he is a hypocrite. He lies for his own gain, and he does not care who gets hurt. He has no respect for the gods’ creations, yet he claims to be a godly man.
And he murders children,” Sophos’s voice hardens on this last sentence, his relaxed face twisting into anger.
“He kills people’s babies just so he can have more power. ”
“Did you always think this way?” Alastor asks.
“No,” Sophos says.
“And why do you want to help Princess Morgana?”
“Because I believe she is likely not evil, and is our best chance of stopping Caledon from destroying this world with his greed.” He pauses. “And that means she is my best chance of keeping the only two people I love safe.”
“Love?” Tira whispers, disturbed.
“His sister and her son,” Corrin explains. “His nephew is a solari. We’re helping to hide him from the Temple.”
As the magic fades, Sophos wipes a hand across his brow, shielding his face. It strikes me as a gesture of deep shame. He isn’t a man used to being exposed like this, least of all in front of a room full of people who wouldn’t mind seeing him dead.
“It’s alright, Sophos,” I say. “Your secrets are safe with us.”
He looks uncertain but doesn’t argue. In just a few seconds, his mask slides back into place, and he’s the inscrutable bearer once more.
“Are you going to move ahead with the challenge?” he asks.
“Yes. Later today, in fact.” I glance down at my dress; he nods in approval.
“You look appropriately regal,” he says. “But it may still take some work for you to undo the damage the Grand Bearer and Queen Oclanna have done to your reputation.”
“We’ve thought of that,” Harman says. “We have a few people to vouch for her.”
“Perhaps,” says Sophos. “But I doubt they will be as effective as having the endorsement of a Bearer of the High Temple.”
I stare at him as Damia leans forward. “That’s why we got here as fast as we could. He’s going to speak against Caledon at court.”
Harman sucks air through his teeth. “That’s going to put a big target on your back,” he warns Sophos.
Sophos studies Harman. “I’ve had a target on my back since I had my very first doubt about the Grand Bearer. Every day since then has been a tightrope walk to survive. I thought you, in particular, would understand the choice I’m making today is easier than that.”
“What do you mean?” Harman asks.
He looks between my brother and me. “From what you said moments ago, it seems you’re the head of the Hand. Correct?” he says calmly.
Harman holds his gaze. “Correct.”
Sophos nods. “We’ve heard whispers about you at the Temple. You must see that fighting a battle in the shadows is harder than stepping into the light and speaking the truth.”
“I do,” Harman admits.
Sophos closes his eyes. “It will be a relief to shed the lies at last.”
I stand, smoothing my skirts. “I think we’ll all be relieved when this is over.”
Leon pulls the chair further out for me so I can step away from the table. As I pass him, I remember what he promised upstairs. When you’re queen…
When, not if. I hold tight onto that certainty. Today I’ll take Trova’s throne, and after that, my friends won’t have to hide or live their lives in secret. We’ll all step into the light at last.
It feels appropriate that we ride to Elmere palace in broad daylight.
At first, I wear a glamour and a cloak, though only until we reach the long avenue that leads us up to the palace.
I don’t want to get arrested before we’re even in sight of the gates.
But when we spy the bronze archways up ahead, curving into the leaves and acorns of an oak tree, I throw my cloak off and remove the magic masking my face.
Once upon a time, I looked at those symbols on the palace entrance and felt inadequate.
They’re meant to remind people of the strength of monarchy—sturdy as an oak—yet when I first clapped eyes on them, I believed I was weak and helpless.
How wrong I was. Back then, I couldn’t ever fathom the strength I’ve found within myself in the days since.
And now I need all that nerve and courage to keep moving toward the looming palace, toward the confrontation that will decide who wears the crown.
It helps that I have my intimidating escort with me, every one of them a force to be reckoned with.
Including Will, who joined us in the old royal guard uniform he’s kept all these years.
Now that we’re making no attempt to hide, people we pass stop to stare at the odd collection of people—a woman in a red dress, surrounded by burly soldiers, a royal guardsman and, strangest of all, Bearer Sophos.
When we’re a few yards from the gates and the fae remove their glamours, the stares become gasps and shouts of alarm. Suddenly, it’s very clear who I am.
The guards stiffen as we approach, obviously expecting some kind of attack. However, as Will and Sophos move to the front of our group, confusion spreads. The bearer is instantly recognizable, and Will looks like one of their own.
“Fetch the captain, quick,” one of the guards, a sandy-haired man, barks to another, who sprints up toward the palace.
“Halt!” the sandy-haired guard orders us, drawing his sword. The noise of the growing crowd threatens to drown out his words until Sophos lifts his hand.
As his power fills the air, silence envelops them all.
“Go ahead, my love,” Leon prompts.
I swallow, arranging my face into what I hope is a regal expression as I project my voice for everyone to hear.
“I am Princess Morgana Angevire, rightful heir to the throne. I seek an audience with my aunt, Lady Oclanna,” I emphasize her title, showing I refuse to acknowledge her as queen. “I am here to challenge her for the right to rule Trova.”
Sophos lets the bubble of silence drop, allowing the crowd’s shocked noises to swell once more.
A large, dark horse comes galloping down the palace’s drive toward the gates, topped by a man in armor.
He steadies the animal beside the gates, surveying us.
Middle aged with a thick brown beard, his eyes are bright with intelligence, though his face gives little away.
He dismounts, his hand on the pommel of his sword as he addresses us.
“Princess Morgana and Prince Leonidas, I, Captain Drisha, issue your arrest under order of Her Majesty Queen Oclanna.”
But he doesn’t immediately order his men forward or even draw his sword. Instead, he pauses, waiting to see what our response will be.
Sophos dismounts so that he’s face-to-face with the captain.
“Do you know me, Captain Drisha?” Sophos asks.
“Yes, Bearer Sophos.”
“Then under decree of the Temple, you must let us pass,” Sophos says.
“Forgive me, Bearer, but I can’t do that,” Captain Drisha says, his voice respectful but firm. “I’m under orders to arrest Their Highnesses—unless, of course, my men and I find that an impossible task.”
He looks around at us meaningfully. He’s giving us an out, telling us that if we leave now, he wouldn’t be too enthusiastic in his attempt to stop us.
He doesn’t want this to get ugly, and I don’t blame him.
I wouldn’t want my men going up against a bunch of ruthless fae soldiers and a prince whose powers are legendary, either.
“Is that Drisha Fordswell, by any chance?” Will dismounts, stepping closer toward the captain. Drisha’s stoic expression flickers, the friendly tone catching him off guard.
“Will Mercer?” he asks unsurely.
“Age has caught up with me, but yes, it’s me.” Will smiles. “I always knew you’d make captain one day. Congratulations.”
Drisha takes in Will’s uniform, and his face hardens again.
“I can’t let you pass,” he says. “I have my orders, and the prince and princess must submit to arrest.”
“I know your hands feel tied,” Will says.
“But there are some loopholes. For example, if the queen has given the Temple control over Elmere, then a Temple decree would outweigh a royal order, don’t you think?
And as you see here, we have one of the Temple’s highest authorities asking that you let us through. ”
“If I allow an attack on the palace, I’ll have failed in my duties,” Captain Drisha says stiffly, but there’s a waver of doubt in his voice.
“We’re not here to attack the palace,” Leon growls. “Her Highness wishes to issue an official challenge to her aunt. There’s nothing illegal about that.”
“And I don’t want any bloodshed,” I say. “If it eases your conscience, Captain Drisha, then why don’t your men escort us all to Lady Oclanna directly? Disarmed, of course. You’ll have done your duty. Then she and the court can take it from there.”
Captain Drisha shifts uncomfortably. He doesn’t like any of this one bit, but I can see that Sophos’s presence has thrown him. He looks between the bearer and Will.
“Do I have your word that this isn’t a trick?”
The two men offer their assurances.
“Very well,” Captain Drisha sighs, turning to signal to the other guards.
They’re quick to close in around us, forming a tight perimeter as the rest of us dismount from our horses and surrender our weapons.
As we walk through the gates and up the long drive, it all feels too surreal, and I have the sense of watching our group approach the palace from afar, as if I’ve floated out of my body.
Even when we enter the palace and walk the corridors I walked so many months ago—passing the portraits of my parents I studied after their murders—I still feel at a distance from it all.
A soothing touch reaches out to me across the mooring.
“You can do this. Remember that all Oclanna did to take that throne was order an assassination. Think of everything you’ve done. You’re already more of a queen than she’ll ever be.”
Leon’s words pull me back to myself. I give him a small smile before letting my mask slide into place: the face of a queen who is powerful and confident in everything she does.
The court will be gathered for the weekly audience session.
It’s why we chose today and this time to come.
Everything about this has to be visibly legitimate and above board so no one can argue with my right to be here.
But human laws and regulations aside, I know this is my destiny.
The gods were intentional when they gave the Trovian princess celestial power, setting in motion a chain of events which would change this nation forever.
I might not know the ending of the story yet, but from the moment I first took breath, my fate was written in the sun and the stars.
The doors to the throne room open, and I step inside to meet that fate.