Chapter 6
Six
After a night of tossing and turning, I finally fell asleep only for a door closing down the hall to wake me up.
I jump out of the grandiose golden bed and throw back the heavy emerald curtains covering a tall arched window.
The early morning sun is breaking the horizon.
Stigian looks magnificent even without the blue, green, and red lights beaming from the tall buildings.
The streets are empty of citizens in their bright, flashy attire, and the destruction from yesterday is gone.
Even the brilliant veil of dawn can’t hide Stigian’s grandeur.
I imagine that like me, Khiros and Cyffreds alike found it difficult to sleep after yesterday’s attack.
They thought they were safe within the tall, thick walls of their kingdom, and never considered that someone would sneak through their defenses, especially after Lucent’s failed attack almost a year ago.
They couldn’t have been more wrong. In a matter of seconds, the safety they felt had vanished.
The absence of security in Stigian conjures the same fear for Lucent.
I spent hours last night praying that my family is safe, the palace is enough to keep Borin and Leif protected, and the people of Lucent haven’t fallen victim to the cruel attacks of the Allaji.
I’m eager to hear from the guards that Micah sent ahead of us.
My nerves won’t calm until I know my kingdom is unharmed.
I rifle through the trunk that Salone packed for me.
At the time, I thought it was unnecessary.
What was I going to need these dresses and delicate shoes for?
We were supposed to spend the night at a military camp close to the Stigian border after the anointment.
It was a trip that should have taken only a full day and didn’t require five gowns.
It just goes to show how a princess should be prepared for anything.
I choose the dress that has the fewest embellishments.
It’s a red gown with a wide neckline that sits off my shoulders, and a slit in the front that comes dangerously close to showing parts of me that are better left a secret.
I gather my hair on the top of my head in a heap of waves that frame my face and accentuate the back of my neck.
With a light hand, I apply my makeup and rest my crown on top of my head.
Stepping back from the full-length mirror on the wall, I look for any signs of imperfections.
Freckles dust the bridge of my nose and cheeks and the liner I drew around my brown eyes makes them look darker than normal.
I fidget with the clingy material of the dress, making sure it hugs me in all the right places.
It isn’t what I would have normally chosen for a meeting of this magnitude, but it will work.
I step out of my room and find Zek sitting outside of it. The front legs of his chair are lifted from the ground, his head resting against the wall and his arms crossed over his chest. He opens one eye and looks up at me. “Trying to outdo the Stigian queen, I see.”
“Working with the ridiculous wardrobe my sister packed for me. Why is she so opposed to me wearing pants?” I say, moving down the hall.
He scurries to his feet to follow me. “Maybe she wants you to look more like a queen instead of a girl who spends her days swordfighting with Sibyls and whipping their asses.”
I smile and glance at him from the corner of my eye. “I am amazing at sparring.”
“Overconfident is what you are. You just didn’t have the right partner to challenge you.”
“And I’m sure you think you could be that challenger.” I lift a brow, descending the stairs to the second floor. “Talk about overconfidence.”
“I think of it as self-awareness.”
We stop at a set of double doors where Kyron’s guard along with another stand at attention.
I can’t help but to smile at Lance. He is a mountain of a man who selflessly watches over his prince.
As everything erupted in chaos yesterday, he was determined to help Kyron, pulling the wood from his shoulder and practically carrying him to the safe room.
The guard was even there when I lost control and overpowered the prince.
I may not like who he serves, but I respect the way he cares for his keep.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t be of better use inside? You never know the threat I could pose to your prince,” I say.
One side of Lance’s lips tilts up. “I have a feeling that he can handle you just fine. But don’t worry, if you cause an uproar, I’ll be there.”
“You should count on it,” Zek chimes in. “I mean just look at my princess; she has a way of causing a scene.”
“Statera knows she wreaks havoc on the emotions of my prince.”
A spark of resentment ignites within me. It’s hard for me to see anyone take pity on Kyron in our situation. His emotional wounds were self-inflicted. Mine were caused by his carelessness.
I take a deep breath and flash a fake grin. “All right, you both can stop comparing royal guard dicks. I get it. You both have been assigned to pains in the asses.”
They exchange cocked brows in agreement, and I gesture for the warriors to open the doors.
A cool breeze rushes out of the room, and I step inside.
“I received this letter—” Esmeray shoots her black gaze at me and purses her full red lips. “It is good of you to find it in your busy schedule to finally join us, Your Grace.”
I ignore the queen at the head of the oblong table and curtsy to my king. “My apologies, Your Majesty. I let my worries get the better of me last night and had trouble sleeping. I’ll be on time in the future.”
Micah nods and says, “Sit. The queen was about to tell us about a letter she received.”
I take the seat at Micah’s right-hand side and turn my attention to Esmeray.
My gaze wanders to the empty chair beside her.
It’s an ornate smaller replica of hers, no doubt meant for her heir.
But it’s empty. I glance around the table at her counsel.
They all wear impractical and revealing clothing, makeup in the colors of tropical flowers, and black, judgmental eyes.
Not seeing Kyron, a sense of calm moves over me, and I relax a bit.
That is until movement in the front corner of the room catches my attention.
He leans against the wall with arms crossed and his eyes locked on me.
The elegant attire he wore for his anointment have been traded for a leather jacket, black tunic, and form-fitting black pants.
It’s the same clothing he once wore as the Lucent army’s general.
Except now, a golden crown rests upon his head.
“As I was saying before I was interrupted.”
My eyes dart back to Esmeray.
She runs a slender hand over her long ebony hair, her expression seeping with disapproval.
“I received this letter last night from the Allaji king. He states that yesterday’s attack is a taste of what is coming.
Due to our division of the land, he feels it is free for the taking.
Pliris should be one kingdom, not two, and he plans on absorbing it into his own.
” The queen hands the letter to a Cyffred servant who brings it to Micah.
“Why the sudden interest in our land?” asks a middle-aged woman with purple hair and a feathered orange hat.
“Rumors have it that the Allaji have depleted their resources,” my father answers from across the table.
“Many of them have taken to living permanently as their animal counterparts and shown no restraint. The grasslands at their eastern borders are barren, and with few in human form to maintain the fields, their grain mills are running empty.”
“So they’re starving; we can help with that. Get them back on their feet and taking care of their own land. Problem solved,” I say.
“Not quite.” Micah shakes his head and presses his side of his knuckle to his lips.
“I have it upon good authority that the Allaji king is on his deathbed. Even if we decided it was worth the effort, I’m not sure who to contact.
They do not pass down their crown the way we do.
Their next ruler is chosen in an archaic fashion. ”
I turn to Zek. “You spent time with the Allaji while we were at the Sibyls’ temple; did you hear anything about this?”
His eyes go wide, like he didn’t anticipate being part of the discussion. He finally lifts his chin, clears his throat and says, “Most of my time with the Allaji was not spent in deep conversations, Your Grace.”
My cheeks turn pink. Zek mentioned that he enjoyed the shifters’ company because expectations were low and desires were high. They live very uninhibited lives according to the explicit details he shared. It seemed that was one of his favorite reasons to be in their company.
“However,” Zek says, “I do know that most of them were at the temple to learn about the competition known as the Sovereign’s Rite.
They were studying past tournaments, hoping to get an edge on their opponents.
Many of the competitors battle to the death, but combat isn’t the only focus.
The next ruler must complete a task that benefits the entire kingdom.
In the end, the Allaji people choose their ruler, so the competitors must make a lasting impression. ”
“Nothing says I’m the strongest, most knowledgeable person for the crown like seizing the prosperous land of another kingdom,” Kyron says from his corner.
“It’s the perfect motive for what’s happening.
This competitor could be popular among their people and rallied others to join them.
If that’s the case, they intend to follow this through for the crown.
No diplomatic means will stop them. This is war. ”
Why must everything lead to endless battles? Our people haven’t rested in thirty years, and Kyron is so willing to jump into another conflict. I won’t sit silent on the matter. There must be a better way.