13. Eveera
Eveera
The nightmares keep getting worse.
And to add more kindling to the fire, the blood seal allows him to experience them with me.
Every day I look at him it’s like I am looking at her killer. I suppose it’s a healthy reminder. My eyes apparently like looking at him.
You should remove them and get new ones, I think.
I am consistently having to redirect my thoughts to spend most of their time combing through old memories, pushing on the recesses of my mind in an attempt to get back to when we first noticed the creatures. It was right after they died. The voice in my head supplies. The whispers around court said it was like Obsidian was revolting against the loss of it’s King and Queen. The harsher rumors whispered that maybe Obsidian wasn’t just mourning the loss but rejecting it’s new Queen.
From the start the creatures appearances have had variation among them. The humanoid and the non. How appropriate that the kingdom whose sovereign held such an unsavory Wield was surrounded by the most foul of beasts. The one tonight, however, superseded humanoid. It was present - sentient as it locked eyes with Rorin and I. Thank the useless gods for the one mercy that none of the other men noticed. We don’t have the time to diffuse panic.
Once we made camp, I commanded Armond to Void himself to the army again. We needed to warn them of the hot spot. It was easy for the prince and I to ignore what happened and resume what little activities we can while waiting for morning to come. Making me a culprit of avoiding two things tonight as my mind refuses sleep. I’m not the only one wide awake though. Ezra is off to the side of camp, standing guard and doing a poor job of it as he stares into the fire.
“You should go talk to him.” The voice startles me at first. “
Vada?” I ask. She grunts into my mind, confirming. “ You’re snooping.”
“I do not care enough to snoop, little demon. I can feel his toxic masculinity all the way here, in Oriya. Deal with it.” As quickly as she came she was gone again from my mind. She’s right , the little voice in my head sings. Fucking annoying conscience . My shoulders sag as I make my way to him, leaning up against his tree. “You’re angry with me.” I say.
He chuffs at the statement. “I am frustrated, there is a difference.”
“Is there, Ezra? With you?” My head lolls to the right. Not close enough to touch his arm but enough that when I look up I see his blonde hair loosely falling from the bun it’s twisted in.
His blue eyes look sideways at me through the rogue strands. “With me? ”
“Yes, with you Ez. You’ve been acting insecure since right before we left.” I state, picking at my fingernails.
He lets out something between a growl and a chuckle, “Insecure.” He repeats.
“Did I stutter? ”
He holds his hand up, cutting off any further reply from me. “No, let me speak now. As your Commander, your Head of Guard, as your…whatever I am, I have a role to uphold.” Oh brother. “ But since dickhead princeling showed up, you have completely disrespected that role.” His expression warns me from opening my mouth to argue. “Which means not only have you disrespected the significance of my job but you’ve disrespected me. Humiliated me. More so than you have before.” His body moves so that he is standing almost chest to chest with me, one arm placed above my head. “Imagine my panic, when I get word you’re being carried, YOU of all people, into your own bedroom by him. ”
His teeth are clenched, the vein in his neck bulging. “You were hurt. You needed Marjorie for gods sake, twenty fucking minutes before we’re supposed to leave. You’ve enlisted all of us in essentially a suicide mission for the kingdom that murdered your parents - and that fucking blood seal?! You. Are. QUEEN. Eveera. You can always tell Marjorie no. No matter how many times she swats at you because of it.” He breaks eye contact with me, instead choosing to look at the sky. His body is rigid, tense. “He doesn’t even give you the space to Wield out here so that maybe we can travel safely. But that’s not the worst part. No, no, no. The worst part is you allow him to be there. You would never let me do something like that, hell, you don’t even let Mecham go with you and he’s your best fucking friend. But him?” His face screws up in disgust. “I know you don’t owe me anything for whatever we are, Eveera. But it’s extra salt in the wound when you won’t even lay by me at night. You choose to be over there. And if it were just Axel, I might understand. But it’s not - it’s Axel plus the princeling and his rat.”
“Mouse.” I correct, drawing an eye roll out of him.
“It’s disgusting. I’m only entertaining this mission for your sake. Because I’m obligated to keep you safe.” He growls the last bit .
“OBLIGATED?!” I snap. “Let’s get one thing straight here, Ez. You are not obligated to do anything. Last I checked we don’t share a blood seal that ties you to this. You don’t want to be here? Go. Home. You don’t want to serve as Head of Guard? Quit. You’re angry with me over the fact that Rorin doesn’t know how to respect personal boundaries. I’m not allowing him to do anything, I just don’t care enough to put up an argument with him. It’s not like my powers are a secret. They certainly wouldn’t be one after helping the Vellarans.” I spit, pressing my chest up against him. “Find a way to deal with this or go home.” My palms flatten, shoving him off of me.
“That’s right, go storm back to the princeling.” He mumbles.
My fist tightens around cool metal before I have time to think about what I’m doing. “AGH! YOU INSOLENT BASTARD.” Schwoop! The hilt of my dagger shakes by Ezra’s head where it sinks into the bark of the tree I just stood against. I feel my power leaking from my fingertips as I struggle for control. He shakes his head walking away from the tantrum he coaxed.
Axel’s familiar scent fills my nostrils before I feel his hand clasp my shoulder. “Evie? We okay there?” He asks tentatively. I take a deep breath regaining my composure.
“Just…I need to go.” I say storming off into the dark woods. This time no one followed.
When dawn crept up I made my way back to camp. Everyone was just barely waking up when I walked over to the mats. Ezra’s stare burning a hole in me the entire time, but I refuse to look at him. His accusation that I’ve forgotten our roles is laughable. I will never forget what and who we are. He doesn’t get to put the prince’s annoying and invasive behaviors or Marjorie’s desperation on me.
“Your Highness.” I jump at the intrusion, my hand clutching at my chest.
“Shit, Monty you scared me.” I rasp.
He nods towards where my head guard stands. “You and Ezra have it out?” He asks, his face and tone serious.
Not you too. “UGH. Please, Monty, I am begging you - and I never beg - for this conversation to be over before it starts.” He nods while tacking up my horse for me. “You’re not mad at me too, are you?”
“Your Highness, I don’t have any place feeling anger when it comes to you.” Highness. His tendency for formality makes me laugh.
“Mond. The title.” He glances down at me. The look in his eyes is tender, so much softness these men hold for me. It’s disconcerting.
“Eveera.” He says slowly, testing it out. “I don’t think I need to tell you how proud I am of who you have become. For the queen you are now,” I smirk, “but even with the growth you’ve made these past ten years - you’re still at times that same headstrong, obnoxious, and reckless young queen I was forced to train.” He laughs to himself, “I still remember the rage you came at me with. Your powers were in full swing, you had zero control. You were terrifying. Maybe more so back then. And I was your magical punching bag, trying to navigate the both of us through all of that. But we did it, because you chose to have a clear mind with everything.”
My brow cocks at him. “Are you saying I am not in control? That my mind isn’t clear? Or that I am behaving like a twelve year old with no manners.”
He drags his hand across his chin, thoughtfully. “I am saying - we are here for you. Not him. You made this deal. We simply follow.” My gaze narrows at him, this speech sounding eerily similar to my argument with Ezra. “I am saying , do not lose control. Not around them. He is sneaking us into his own territory to fight a war that is not ours. You can’t afford to slip or to have a clouded mind.” His hand falls to my shoulder. “I trust you. Find that control. Nobody believes in you more than I do, little serpent.”
Little serpent. At the call of that name, the serpents on my skin slither slightly, a memory of him taking me into Oriya after my Wielding nearly killed us both surfaces and I smile. His hand has slid down my arm, tracing one of the markings. The same look of reminiscing flits across his features. He was the first person aside from Felix to show me familial love after my parents died. Someone I can count on still to be willing to do anything for me. Even if it’s walking directly into the mouth of a beast we aren’t prepared for. I shrink away from the tender moment, not wanting to dwell in it for too long. At the shift in my demeanor he switches back to his professional persona and leaves me and my horse.
Rorin and Mousy announced they’d be leading the rest of the journey. Not giving any of the rest of us a choice in the matter. Apparently their faces need to be seen first to prevent any “ accidents ” as Mousy says.
I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for any other hordes that may have decided to become self-aware and attack. So far in the few hours we’ve now ridden there has been no issues. The terrain is starting to get more unfamiliar the closer we get to the border. The only times I have been out this far have been with Vada to deal with the outer land situation.
I’ve tried reaching out to her since last night but it’s been silent. Big lizard baby.
“Where’s your head at, Evie?” Axel asks, sidling up to me.
“Oh you know, just the impending shit storm we are probably walking into. I’ll kick ass, of course.” I wink at him .
That same goofy grin of his spreads across his face, “Of course.”
“Who’s ass are we kicking?” Orem’s voice pops in.
“Yours.” We say in unison earning us a frown from him and a laugh out of his brother.
He puffs his chest out. “I could kick your ass, Mecham!” He points back and forth between Axel and Maxwell. “ Both your asses!”
“Nobody is kicking anybody’s ass. Enough with the immature banter.” Ezra barks.
Axel lets out an exaggerated gasp. “Evie, I think he just called you immature.” He looks over to his head of command mischief already brewing behind those deep brown eyes. “Hey Ez! Does the immature banter include the queen? Because if so, I wouldn’t count on keeping your head for too long.”
Ezra doesn’t respond - resuming his sulking at the back of the party. Petulant bastard. The two brothers and Axel chose to continue their argument of who would kick who’s ass while my attention switched to a very silent princeling and his comrade. A dangerous idea plays in my head as I saunter up to the two of them. “You’re both very quiet. No snide comments, no gasps of disgust or disapproval?” I hum.
Mousy’s jaw clenches at the sound of my voice. “I’m going home. So no. Today there is nothing you or your lot could do to irritate me.”
I smirk, “oh?” I ask, leaning down and reaching into my saddle bag. He eyes me warily as I fish around for the package Seth handed off to me before we left. “Absolutely nothing?”
He tilts his chin up and stares straight ahead. The prince gives me a dark look as he watches my hands deftly unwrap the parcel. With the final piece of wrapping falling away, the item rolls around in my palm, revealing itself. Rorin’s eyes widen and he gasps causing Mousy to whip around his head and look. I fasten the string of the item around my fingers, allowing me better mobility and access to dangle it near Mousy.
He shrieks so loudly he almost falls off his horse. “WHAT THE BLEEDING GODS IS THAT?!” His voice shrill as the tone of his skin goes from beige to green.
“I thought it obvious?” I play dumb as I hook the item to my saddle. When neither party gives me a response, I sigh, “well, traveling with the full-sized head would have been preposterous. So I had it shrunk. Now Percy is travel sized! It’s so convenient!” I wave my wrist around, shaking the now shrunken version of their fallen comrade’s head around violently.
Mousy gags, his face can’t decide if he should look enraged or disgusted. One thing is for sure, his hatred for me has deepened. “You could have done literally anything else. Burned him, buried him, but to desecrate a man’s corpse?!” He shrieks.
Looking down I pat Percy’s head with my opposite hand, the action causing the soldier to gag a second time and speed his horse up to move far away from me. My chest rumbles with amusement. Much to my disappointment however, Rorin barely gave me much of a reaction. He quickly resumed his broody silent ride once Mousy’s horse was out from between us. Naturally, with the gap now there, our two animals gravitate closer.
“ I’m guessing your father won’t appreciate my handiwork? ” I ask, testing out our newfound telepathic capabilities. His shoulders roll backwards, the tension rippling through his back.
“ Probably not. ” He replies, the words curt and unfeeling.
I roll my head towards him, “ not even after I save your sorry kingdom? ” He doesn’t give me a response. Those two hazel eyes fused to the sunrise. “ So I can forget the thank you dinner when we’re all done then, huh? ” I thought the jest fell flat until he laughs.
But the laughter has no humor in it, it’s the precursor to his snap. “Is everything a joke to you?”
I shrug, “not everything, no.”
He glares in the direction of Percy. “You had to do that?” He stares at it as it bounces against the buckle on the side of my saddle. His expression is stormy. I can tell he’s deciding whether or not he wants to let the situation go or to fight for the Vellaran’s honor - not that it matters, he’s already dead. You can’t raise what’s already dead.
“ You irritate him. ” His deep voice floats into my mind but his chin jerks in the direction of his man.
I smile. “ Really? What gave you that impression? ”
“ Call it a hunch. ” He says dryly.
He’s suspiciously tense. I’d say it’s because of me or even Percy but it feels unrelated to my morbid display. “ So, why the brooding lone wolf persona today? ”
Rorin grunts. “ You’re not the only one with a kingdom to worry about. ” My mind rattles at his words. His voice is teeming with fear, the kind I am all too familiar with. This is the fear of losing something, disappointing someone or someones .
“ You know if you keep making that face it’ll freeze like that. Then you won’t be so pretty anymore. ” I say down the seal.
He laughs, again, this time with some levity. Unfortunately for me, it’s not a sound I hate hearing. Even if I hate him. “ You think I’m pretty, huh? ” He jests.
I roll my eyes, “ You know you’re pretty, princeling. Just not as pretty as me. Obviously. ”
The prince purses his lips, a slight smile resting on the corners, “ Obviously. ” He replies. The rhythm of the hooves beneath us is the only sound reaching our ears. The men behind and in front have no idea a whole conversation is happening between us.
“ I know I’m not.” I say.
He looks at me, finally. His face scrunched up in confusion. “What?”
“I know I’m not the only one with a kingdom to worry about. You have your own men you worry about. ” He’s quiet for a moment, contemplating what I said. “How much time do you think before we reach your commander?” My voice carries out loud, available for everyone to hear.
“Ah-hem. We’ll be there right at nightfall. Should give us enough time to go through the wall and rest before heading to the post.” He replies.
We stay riding next to each other the rest of the way. No more words were exchanged, verbal or mental. Armond came up quietly behind us at some point and fell into step with Mousy’s horse. My anxiety mixes with my Wield creating an unbalanced level of control inside of me the closer we get to the border.
The stone structure of the barrier wall comes into view as the sun begins setting. The realization that I will no longer have the royal upper-hand becomes readily apparent. Mousy looks back at us and tilts his head, signaling for Rorin to take his place next to him.
The prince listens and I follow.
His companion bristles as line up my horse with theirs, barking orders at me to back up.
“Fuck off, Mouse.” I snarl.
No way in Helys was I going to retreat behind them to meet this “commander”.
“ He meets me at your side or not at all, princeling.” I growl into his mind. He doesn’t argue - he doesn’t respond at all, actually, his arms tightening on the reigns and his jaw ticking in anticipation. Or maybe that’s agitation. Hard to tell as we wait.
The agreement from what I recall was that the man, Bennett, would meet us several yards away from the gates. Supposedly, others know we are coming but for now we will try to keep a low profile. After meeting with us, he will usher the group in. We’ll have to organize someone to do the same for the men and women traveling behind us. Their numbers will be noticed no matter what precautions we take.
“Where is he?” I hiss, getting impatient.
A low vibration hums through me as his voice sifts past the chaos of my brain, “ Slow your heart, Nightmare. It’s putting me on edge.”
“ You put me on edge!” I snap.
A whistle trills out into the wind and Mousy perks up. He sends back what I can only assume is the return call and then a shadow moves towards us at break neck speed.
On instinct all of my men and I reach for our weapons, “HOLD. It’s only Bennett.” Mousy yells.
“Oh that makes me feel better.” Axel mutters.
Slowly the shadow materializes, the last light glowing behind him and illuminating his golden armor. Bennett grins brightly, “Prince, welcome back.”
He drops off his horse, Rorin and Mouse doing the same, arms extended out to embrace each other.
My men give me hesitant looks that I ease with a mischievous wink. As the three of them break apart I palm one of my throwing stars, sending it flying directly for the new man's face. As if Rorin already knew my plan, his hand snaps out and stops the star mid flight - that's the third time he’s done this - directly before hitting its mark. “ Again? That wasn’t very nice.” His rough voice barrels into my mind, damn that voice .
His tone is a strange mix of exasperation and amusement, maybe even a little feigned disappointment. It’s anticipation in his voice you’re hearing. He’s learning all your tricks. The voice built into my mind says. Desperately, I wished it were Vada’s voice mocking me instead of my own but she’s kept quiet. I’m beginning to think her most recent chastisement about Ezra was the last time I’ll hear from her for the next however long I am out of Obsidian.
“ I’m getting impatient, princeling.” I sing back to him. Our brief words are exchanged in the same second it took for shock and panic to register on the other two Vellaran’s faces.
Mousy’s panic wears off as profanities escape his mouth - along with some compliments to the tune of “you completely insufferable, horrid, violent disaster of a queen! He is here to help us.”
“Shove it, Mousy. Your…” I wave my hands to gesture at the three of them, “reunion is taking far too long. Can’t save you if we are still in my territory.” My hands, now empty, are on my hips.
The gilded guard, steps forward, “you must be the Queen.” He states giving a swift bow.
“Really? I for sure thought I saw her running around somewhere. No? Oh well then I must be her.” He blinks slowly, taken aback by my brashness. “And here I thought I didn’t need an introduction.” I push my horse past his standing figure hearing Mousy mumble, “no, you need a warning label.”
My fingers flick for my men to follow me, not wanting to dawdle any longer.
Behind I hear faintly, Bennett whisper, “well she’s certainly something” followed by a noncommittal noise from Rorin and Mousy’s reply of, “she’s a headache. ”
Glad to see I’ve made such a stellar impression on the three of them, I think.
We made it through the gate under the cover of darkness without any hiccups.
For the first time in fourteen years, Obsidian is left without a sovereign behind castle walls. And it’s again at the request of Vellar. My horse has grown twitchy with the feeling of my emotions much like Vada would be. Just without the mental link. It doesn’t help that Rorin keeps casting concerned glances my direction.
“ Keep giving me that look, princeling, and your new fear will become blindness. ” I gripe.
“ You’re tense.” He replies.
“ Were you not? When on my lands? I’m simply returning the favor.” His laugh enters my mind and damn the half-dead butterflies in my stomach for thinking even for a second that they could flutter at the sound. We hate him , I remind them.
The now nine of us stop a few miles north of the wall to make camp.
My hands are idle now knowing that I won’t have to expel any energy here. Axel comes up behind me, his arms looping around my shoulders. He rests his head on top of mine. “Enemy lands, Evie. Guard up, always.” He whispers. I give a single bob of my head in answer before disentangling myself and laying out our mats.
My Wield is itching to search and find any weaknesses in our newest companion. Giving in a little to it, I send one tendril to slither his way. “ Pull them back.” Rorin’s voice commands in my head throwing my concentration. His hazel eyes are narrowed into slits when I look up to see him leaned against a very green tree.
I raise my hands half way in a sign of mock surrender, “ just feeling out my enemy.”
His tone deadpans, unamused. “My wrist isn’t burning, you aren’t in danger. Don’t toy with him.” I redirect my tendril to Rorin then, allowing it to explore up his leg, his chest, and finally settling around his throat. I try not to shiver as his stare burns into mine while he allows my Wield to search his skin. No one else noticing our silent battle.
“ Then I guess I’ll play with you.” I muse, it comes out breathier then I had intended.
That same rough laugh echoes against the walls of my skull again. Assaulting my every sense. How many times is that now? I wonder.
“ Careful, Nightmare. You might enjoy that.” I let out a weak, disgruntled noise, but it saves me from him noticing the mad flush creeping onto my cheeks.
The tension has minimally eased without the threat of the creatures. But now the threat lies with us being off Obsidian ground. Bennett tried to make curt conversation but I shut that down by flopping over onto my mat. My men following suit.
As snores sound, I strain to hear the three Vellaran’s conversation. I don’t understand a word with Rorin’s baritone voice somehow soothing me to sleep. I’ll blame it on the pure exhaustion of the past few days - it’s certainly not due to my comfort level being here. His scent is the last thing I remember sensing as his body laid down on the mat next to mine.
Bourbon and citrus.
Of course he would be the sickeningly perfect combination of bitter and sweet.