3. Timas
Chapter 3
Timas
T he birds chirping outside my window should probably bring me joy, but I can’t seem to find any this morning. Late last night, a message came from the council ‘requesting’ a meeting with me to discuss the Night Court Queen’s proposal. Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly happy about the summons, but Emilia, being the light that she is, calmed the ever-growing storm inside me. The current situation is wearing on my senses, and I know I can’t keep this up without having some sort of breakdown, but I need to be strong, if for no other reason than to protect Emilia. My anger is at a constant simmer. One big event is sure to set me off, but not if I have my flower. She is the calm to my storm, the peace when things are too loud. I didn’t even realize how much I lived in such turmoil until she entered my life. She has brought such joy but also such serenity to the burden-ridden life I live.
The chair I am sitting in feels bumpy and uncomfortable, though it is likely one of this island’s most expensive pieces of furniture. The upcoming meeting makes me feel uneasy and agitated. A light breeze passes through the window, glancing off my exposed skin. I head to my closet to grab a robe and get this foolish meeting over with. What does the council expect of me? To forget entirely about Emilia and our bond? I doubt they would ever consider such a thing if it were them in my position. The closet is full of robes in varying colours; the royal blue and white robe hangs delicately among them. To everyone else they seem elegant and light but the moment I put them on I feel the weight of responsibility sit heavy on my shoulders. Grabbing the robe, I slip my arms through and tie it around my waist. I gulp down the burning hot tea before setting off to the meeting chambers. I focus on the burn in my throat, ignoring the stupidity I am about to face. As expected, Milori is waiting outside of my suite.
“Good morning, sunshine.” His enthusiastic smile annoys my already aggravated state.
“How is it you can be so happy when we are off to discuss forcing me into a bond with someone other than Emilia.” The smile he has on his face wavers just slightly, but he straightens his back.
“A smile towards an enemy can distract them, presenting an opportunity to strike.” Slightly taken off guard by his shrewd plan, I can’t help but smile at his interesting approach to conflict. He has always had a unique way of dealing with an opponent, likely having to do with the constant attacks he used to endure before he moved to Sonas. A grunt is all I can muster however, because my mind is fully engaged in the upcoming battle. Eventually, I find my words .
“I have to admit I am not exactly in the best state of mind going into this meeting. The Fae wait… centuries to finally find our spirit bond, and once we do, we rejoice! But because I am King, I have to sacrifice the most treasured bond for the Kingdom’s sake.” I take a deep breath, letting out a long sigh. “But that’s what the monarch is supposed to do, isn’t it? Sacrifice even our own happiness for the sake of our people.” The thought is a sobering one. There is a large part of me that would burn the entire city down to keep Emilia by my side, but as the duty of being King sets in, I wonder for the briefest of moments whether I should consider Neeve’s proposal. Milori stops abruptly and turns to me.
“Timas, you are a good King. You have dedicated your life to the Day Court people. You have instituted many programs to help the lower class and have started breaking down the barriers between classes. The thought that you do not deserve happiness is the stupidest thing you have ever said, and that’s saying something because you have said some stupid things.” A smile threatens to break through my grimace. Milori has always been able to pull me out of my spiraling thoughts. The image of Emilia pops back into my mind, and I am reminded that I need to focus. A shoe scuffs on the floor ahead of us, breaking the silence hanging between us, reminding me it’s time to face the council.
“I appreciate your kind words, friend. Well, most of them. I don’t think calling your King stupid is good for your long-term health.” He snorts, and we both turn to continue to the meeting chambers.
“The King needs a good reminder every once in a while.”
Though my thoughts are troubled by this situation, I put my mask back up to put distance between myself and the council. The five council members are sitting around the table, waiting expectantly for me. Milori goes left to take up his sentinel position by the wall. I catch Estola’s eyes, hoping she might be able to give me some information on what I am about to face, but the calculated look doesn’t settle my nerves. If she is assessing everything and every one, this is not going to go well for me. The room has a single large window that is opposite the door, allowing the sun’s rays to warm the room, though it does nothing to tamp down the cold feeling that is sitting in the room. The tall backed chair meant for the King, sits in front of the window. Taking my seat on the velvety chair, I take in the council members. I have never seen the council so tense before. Raza’l looks like he is about to fight in a war while Zilor looks agitated and annoyed. I have never liked his arrogance, and today it is especially grating. Uldor remains stoic, but for the briefest moment, I see fear cross his face. Quickly it is replaced with an impenetrable mask. I wonder if I saw it correctly. Estola is looking at everyone else, not avoiding my eye contact but rather taking in everything she can, like a spy collecting information. What is most surprising, however, is Aecus. He seems eager to get this meeting going, which is extremely odd considering he is usually more interested in finding his next drink. Aecus speaks first.
“Your Majesty, we have heard about our most recent guest and we believe it would be prudent to discuss what the Night Court Queen proposed.”
Straightening my back, I stare down the council members.
“Do not think me so foolish that I do not already know you have discussed what was proposed. Let us not play games here. You are aware of what Neeve, the ‘Rightful’ Queen of the Night Court has offered and I am unwilling to agree.”
The volume rises as the council mutters to themselves. I look over at Milori to assess our situation. He is staring down Aecus with a great deal of skepticism. Aecus addresses me again.
“It would seem that this Queen brings a real solution to our problem. Why are you not considering it?”
“I find it interesting, Aecus, that you have such strong feelings on the matter. You have always been more interested in your wine than what happens in this room.” I watch as my words hit something in him. Fear and indignation reveal themselves on his face, but for as long as I have been King, I have never seen him stand for something, or anything for that matter, in this room. Something doesn’t feel right.
“To imply, Your Majesty, that I do not care for the Day Court people is insulting! I care just as much as everyone else here.” Before I can respond, Zilor speaks up.
“The job of the monarch is to protect its people. It has been nearly two years of constant fear that another one of the people of Sonas will be killed by the invisible hands of the Night Court. We can not just dismiss this proposal!” Raza’l speaks next.
“Your Majesty, this is not a situation that should be dismissed lightly! The Day Court people should always be considered first. Their safety should be the top priority.” My gut turns with his implied words. The King is to sacrifice even the most treasured bond of our people. But that is what it comes down to: the safety of my people over my own happiness. The thought sours in my stomach. Estola clears her throat, and the chatter dies down slightly as she speaks.
“You naive and obtuse men are willing to trust a woman who claims to be the rightful Night Court Queen? We know nothing about this woman or what she is even capable of doing for us. Who’s to say she isn’t just out to become the Queen of the Day Court? She has given us no reason to actually trust her. Besides that obvious problem, you are all just willing to force a bond onto another Fae person who has found their bonded ? As if that bond is not one of the most treasured and sacred bonds in our entire culture? Are you really claiming to care and fight for the ‘people’ or is there another motive behind these outlandish ideas?“ The room erupts into loud shouts as the council members bicker with each other. But Estola is right. We are all assuming what the Queen says is true, embarrassingly, even I had not thought that through.
“Enough!” I fuse as much power as I can into my voice, but not enough to do any real damage. The ground shakes slightly at my voice just as my tattoos begin to glow. The room quiets down, and all eyes fall on me.
“You all talk as if I do not know our struggles. As if I have not been spending countless hours trying to solve this problem. As if the Fae blood that has been spilled in this city does not weigh on me!” The anger I feel toward their blatant distrust in me is all-consuming. I have done nothing but give my entire reign!
The heavy doors to the chambers push open, and the swishing of heavy fabric fills the room as a guard gasps in breaths of air from running.
“Your Majesty, there has been another murder. An upper-class male. But this one is unlike the others. The house is completely destroyed, and the male’s body is mangled. It is nothing I have ever seen before.”
Fear grips my stomach, listening to the guard’s every word, but it is quickly replaced with determination and anger. The room erupts into shouts and yelling from the council. This death will only solidify in their minds that political bonding is the only option.
“This is yet another reason to consider the Queen’s offer.” The room quiets at Uldor’s voice. “This cannot continue. With no success in close to two years, we are running out of options.” I’m momentarily stunned into silence as I look at the oldest member of the council. He has always been a level-headed member, even adjusting his older perspective to accommodate the new generation of Fae people. He, too, thinks the proposal is a good idea? He has always valued the most sacred parts of our people. But it is Aecus that brings this ever-growing standoff to a collision.
“I propose we bring it to a vote in accordance with the Royal Compliance Act.” My heart sinks to the bottom of my stomach and a heat of anger covers my face. To enact the one law that can force a King to do as the council says is beyond unreasonable! Never have I seen a council so quickly try to take away the decisions of a King. To circumvent my authority and toss Emilia aside brings about a rage that I have not felt before. Slamming my hands down on the table, I stand abruptly. A crackle of power dances from my hands as I stare down the council members. Fear is evident in their eyes as the power in me grows.
“You will enact a measure intended to keep tyrannical Kings from rising to the throne?! I have been nothing but a good King and you plan to force me into a political bond, tossing aside the most sacred bond our people have?”
The room is filled with a heavy silence, and the fear is palpable. Aecus, the fool, squeaks out his response.
“It is for the good of the people. We should have a vote within the next four days.” His weak reply does nothing to calm my anger, but exacerbates it further. I push down hard on the table, splitting it in two. Some shouts come from the council, but if I stay one more moment in that room, I will do more than destroy a table. My feet fall heavy on the ground as I exit the room, guards quickly going to the side to clear a path for me.
I head towards the back courtyard to find some peace. The quietness of the garden can usually calm my anger but not today. My heart still pounds even though I have put much distance between myself and the council. My shoes scuff on the stone pathway making the only real noise in the garden. The birds must be singing and the water from the fixture in the garden must be making noises but I can’t hear them because the conversation in the meeting chamber replays in my mind. Eventually, after much walking, I am calm enough that my breathing has gone back to normal. The light breeze takes the heat of my anger off my skin which is a welcome relief.
Milori finally makes it to my side, his hands clasped behind his back as he stares off into the distance.
“Something doesn’t feel right.” Milori isn’t known to be an overly serious person, but the weight of his words and the tone he speaks in right now affirm the same thoughts and feelings I am having.
“This entire situation is not right.” I angrily spit out the words, not because I want to be angry at Milori but because it is becoming a bit too much.
“Didn’t you see what happened in there?” A flash of annoyance surfaces in me.
“Of course I did! They have called to vote on my future bonding! My bonding ceremony with Emilia is essentially canceled. Another murder has occurred causing pain to the Fae people.” The anger I had almost tamped down rears its ugly head once more .
“No Timas. The council is being controlled.” I stop walking and face Milori.
“What are you talking about?”
“This is the first time in over a century that Aecus has spearheaded a council meeting. The last one was about the trade agreements with the islands, all because the wine he preferred wasn’t being shipped to Sonas because of the taxes. He doesn’t care for the well-being of the people, but for his own addiction. His concern for the welfare of the Day Court people ended when he was badly injured during the last war. His adamant response and then subsequent proposal to call for a vote shows there is something more going on. And let’s not forget that Uldor also seems to be on board with this idea. He has never reacted so quickly with so little information. He is thorough and looks at all the angles before he makes a decision, and yet today, he wants to consider the Queen’s proposal without vetting her? There is something very wrong going on.”
Milori is right. My own anger did not allow me to see the nuance taking place within the room.
“What do you suggest we do?” Sometimes perspective is needed, and right now, I need some.
“I am going to go to the crime scene and see if I can find anything. Maybe the Night Court made a mistake this time and we will make progress on this issue, and if it isn’t the Night Court who committed this murder then perhaps we will find something that will lead us to them. You need to find Emilia and tell her what has happened.”
The idea of telling Emilia about what happened in the meeting breaks my heart. She is such a kind and selfless woman, and I desire greatly to protect her, but Milori is right. This forced vote affects her as well and if we truly are to be partners in this life we will talk about it and face it together.
“Alright, I’ll find her. I want a report as soon as possible. If there is someone controlling the council, I want to know about it. Whoever has foolishly decided to toy with me and my darling Emilia will not enjoy the punishment it will incur.
“And Timas,” Milori says before walking off.
“Yes?”
“I have done some digging on Queen Neeve. It turns out the previous King did die and had a daughter named Neeve, who was presumed dead. Her story so far has checked out.” Nodding my head, Milori leaves while I mull over the day’s events.