Chapter Twelve #3
“As per Elvish law, the princess has the right to form her own private military force if she so wishes, so long as that force serves the interests of the crown,” I replied. “I’d say keeping Ilamanthe alive serves the crown’s interests pretty damn well. Cameron can’t do a damn thing about this.”
Abigail smiled. “You have been studying Elvish law. I am very impressed.”
“If I’m going to run this empire, I need to know the rules.”
Abigail nodded. “Indeed, though I can’t say telling Cameron about this would be wise. He’d make a big spectacle of it and accuse you baselessly of treason. He’d use bureaucracy to slow us down, and only get in our way.”
“That’s why we’re not going to say anything, and let him find out about it on his own time.” I hardly figured he’d notice. He was too busy getting drunk on wine and gossiping at parties to realize the princess had formed her own secret army right under his nose.
I moved in front of the women, raising my voice.
“I am seeking soldiers who are interested in becoming my personal fighting force, a battalion invested in fighting for the objectives of the princess. This will be an exclusive, elite, all-female fighting force, sworn to the will of the princess. If anyone doesn’t wish to put her life at risk, leave now.
There is no shame in turning away from that which isn’t your destiny.
But if you are willing to offer yourself and your strength to defend Ilamanthe, to preserve the resistance against The Mission and all it stands for, then join me. ”
Not one woman left the room. “Very well. From now on, you shall be called the Firebirds. You no longer take orders from the Emperor or his military commanders, but from me. I will provide uniforms for each single one of you. The royal tailors and blacksmiths are working on developing an armored gear set as we speak.”
“Yes, your highness!” The guards spoke as one, and Eldin commanded them to salute.
“Now what we need is a general.” I paused to think. “We need someone with enough fighting experience, someone who has expertise in leading Elvish soldiers. It can’t be just anyone.”
“Princess. I am here to serve you in whatever way I can.”
A voice that was strange to me caught my attention. I turned— and immediately felt my guts twist. Drea was standing across from me, a fist placed on her chest as she waited for me to address her.
I set on doing damage control. “You can’t be here. Whatever you think you saw today, it was nothing, and you’re not to tell the Emperor about this. That’s an order, understand?”
“You have nothing to fear from me, princess. I am here to help.” Drea let her fist drop and came closer. “I see what you’re doing here, and it’s a noble cause. I want to join the Firebirds in any way I can.”
“How can I trust that you’ll be loyal to us?” I argued. “You’re Cameron’s personal guard first. Not to mention his wife. Your allegiance is always going to lie with him.”
“There are ways around a bond, as you are well aware, and I’ve found my service to be of better use elsewhere.
” Drea knelt before me. “I no longer wish to serve the Emperor. My duty lies with keeping this empire alive, and I will not allow the Majestica family to fall unless my blood is spilt first. Allow me to serve you, and you alone, princess.”
Even his wife was tired of him. I glanced at Abigail, signaling she should advise.
“You are the mother of the Elvish race,” Abigail stated.
“Cameron holds power over you, but you are far from being his puppet. Drea is a knowledgeable guard with many years of experience leading soldiers. She is at the top of the Elvish army— no other is qualified enough to guard the Emperor himself. She would be an excellent choice.”
“But can we trust her? If Cameron orders her to tell him everything about the Firebirds, she has no choice but to do so,” I argued. “He hasn’t broken their bond, so she’s obligated to serve him before anyone else.”
“I beg your pardon, princess, but I would like to make it clear that I cannot continue to stand by and do nothing,” Drea said. “If I must put my marriage at risk for the future of our people, I will. I can avert Cameron’s gaze and make it so he knows nothing of the Firebirds, buying you time.”
“Are you okay with keeping secrets from your husband, especially when it comes to the fate of the empire?”
Drea’s visage darkened. “I don’t wish to lie to Cameron.
But I also know that he is no leader, and this empire will fall if nothing is done.
You are taking the action which is needed to save the Elves, while he fails to make the decrees he needs to.
I believe it is best in this situation to act first, and ask for forgiveness later. ”
Hiring Drea into my service was dangerous, but it was better to have someone close to Cameron, to mislead and keep an eye on him. I turned to Abigail. “I want Drea to be my general. She can command the Firebirds and lead them as a fighting force.”
Abigail nodded. “It is a risky choice, but I think a wise one.”
“Thank you, princess,” Drea said, dipping her head before rising to stand. “I will not let you down.”
“I believe that you won’t. This will become the greatest army in Ilamanthe, and perhaps even the world. The Firebirds will grow so strong The Mission won’t be able to stand against us.”
“I completely agree.” Abigail nodded. “The women Eldin has gathered are excellent fighters, and Drea will be an excellent general. The Firebirds will be a great asset in keeping our people alive.”
My words were dry as I replied, “Yeah, well, nothing’s more terrifying than a woman scorned, and we have a whole army of them working toward one goal. The Warden needs to be shaking in his panties.”
I looked toward Drea. “The Firebirds need to be ready to move on my orders. Once it’s time to go into battle against the Warden, even if that means marching tonight, we have to be ready.”
“I’ll get these warriors up to speed,” Drea promised. “Do not worry about us being adequately prepared, princess. We shall follow you anywhere.”
I was confident in the ability of the Firebirds to counter The Mission, or at least buy us time.
Maybe my friends would open the Elven Gate, or maybe they wouldn’t, but the Firebirds would be ready to fly either way.
We wouldn’t go down cowering like mice. If I couldn’t kill the Warden outright, I wanted to be a thorn in his side.
My Firebirds would deliver flames that would long scar him after he put our fire out.
The night passed, stars blinking violently overhead. I waited until the early hours of morning, when darkness had long settled over the land. I approached as a curse upon this palace, moving within the shadows toward the Emperor’s quarters.
The guards were making their nightly patrols. I’d asked Drea to make sure Cameron’s room was unprotected. She’d obeyed, not knowing what I was up to but not asking questions. She would do well in her role as a loyal Firebird.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep that night unless I did something about Charlie’s bruise.
I was still biding my time until the others got back.
More prevalent than waiting for the Elven Gate to open was the memory of the dark blotch across Charlie’s cheek, and the sight of the missing finger that Cameron had carved free from his body.
This ended, and it ended now. Cameron was a spineless cockroach scuttering around leaving disasters behind him, and when I saw cockroaches, I crushed them.
Ilamanthe was in danger due to the actions Cameron took. I was the mother of the Elvish race, but I’d have to be their father figure, too.
Cameron’s Familiar wasn’t around, which meant I had full access to Cameron’s suite.
Cameron had sent his alicorn away to patrol the skies day and night without rest, paranoid the Warden would somehow sneak in here.
He expected the poor creature to spot— and stop— a potential attack by himself before anyone else did, though he put no effort in safeguarding Ilamanthe himself.
He treated his Familiar like a servant, too. He needed to be punished for it.
I pushed open the door to Cameron’s suite, wheeling myself inside. The interior was entirely dark, nothing but the light of the moon glowing through the sheer curtains to guide my path. I moved slowly, approaching the Emperor’s bedroom.
From the interior of my dress, I pulled a fiercely sharp dagger. It glinted in the moonlight, craving violence.
Cameron was fully asleep, snoring loudly. He’d never see me coming. I rolled up to the bed and lifted myself onto it, softly depositing my weight beside his.
Cameron groaned, rolling over and reaching out his arms. “Drea. I knew you’d come back—”
I pounced on Cameron, laying over his body as I used one hand to grasp his throat, the other placing the dagger against his neck. I pushed my weight down upon my arm, choking him.
Cameron startled, floundering in the night. He seized up when he realized the person who was attacking him was me. I felt his heartbeat quicken as his eyes widened in surprise.
“Go ahead and call your guards. Killing the mother of the Elvish race is a catastrophe the monarchy will never get over, even with what I am now.” I held the dagger to his artery, threatening to press down.
Cameron spoke, though his voice was strained with the pressure I was putting on his windpipe. “They told me you were insane. You truly have to be mad, to attack the Emperor in his own bed.”
“I’m the one person in this palace who isn’t afraid of you.” I pressed the tip of the dagger against his throat until it drew blood. It trickled down his neck, staining his silk nightshirt.
“What is the meaning of this? I could make you wish you were never born, girl,” Cameron hissed.
“You can’t take anything from me. I’ve lost my marriage, my Familiar, my magic, and everything that matters. I have nothing left to lose.”
“You have your family and friends. There’s plenty of those to go through,” Cameron rasped.
A belligerent fury erupted within me when he dared to threaten the people I loved. He still didn’t understand who was in charge around here. I dug the tip of the knife in, twisting it so it stung. Cameron gasped with pain. “Go ahead and make a move against my family. Want to see who dies first?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Why are you here?”
“To give you a final warning. You will not strike Charlie again.”
“He is my son. I can do whatever I like,” Cameron snarled.
“You have no claim to him. He is mine, and mine to do with as I please.” Cameron cried out, though I choked my fingers around his neck. “You mutilated something that belongs to me. Tell me why I shouldn’t repay your actions blood for blood, and cut off your cock right now.”
“You want to divorce him,” Cameron hissed. “Why would you—?”
“Until I do, no one will touch him. I don’t need to forgive him to claim him, and he’s still my property unless I say otherwise. My name’s still on that marriage contract. Unless I set it ablaze, you’ll stay away from my husband, and let me decide what to do with him.”
“You cannot dictate anything to me. I am the Emperor!” he snarled.
“I am the future of the Elven Union, not you. You are nothing unless I say otherwise, and if I decree it, that shall be your name.”
“Why not just kill me now?” His eyes glinted, like he worried I would.
“I’m keeping you alive to prevent another uprising, because another coup can’t happen again. It’ll split your people and break the empire. Unfortunately, you are a necessary symbol of unity that must remain alive, but other than that, you have no purpose.”
“You have no idea of the resolve it takes to run a kingdom,” Cameron gasped against my knife.
“I don’t have my magic anymore, but I’m still deadlier than you could ever imagine. The next time you hurt Charlie, I will take your life as slowly as I can, and I’ll pleasure myself to the sound of your tortured screams.”
I pushed Cameron out of the bed, and he tumbled off the mattress and onto the tile.
He clutched at his bleeding neck as he stared up at me, and I uttered, “No real ruler has to wave his cock around, pretending he is the Emperor. Everyone knows who a true leader is the moment they enter the room, because strength is what they embody and who they are.”
I lifted my chin. “Now lie on the floor like the coward you are until sunrise, Nothing. Then get up, put your clothes on, have your breakfast, and pretend this never happened. When you go to bed, you’ll see my face in your darkest nightmares.
If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll make sure it’s the last thing you ever do.
I have eyes in the palace everywhere. And they’re all watching you. ”
I got back in my chair and left. Cameron remained on the floor, sniveling and whimpering.
And I left him there. Just like the weak, sorry, pathetic nothing he was.