Chapter 29
T he day arrived to put the plan into place.
As far as people know, this was to be the second tournament challenge.
There were two schedules floating out there.
One covered what the public knows, and the other was the plan to arrest Egan.
After Egan’s arrest, Father intended to address Lord Denenbaum as well, but he hadn’t revealed his plans to me.
The day would begin with commencing the second event. My event planners recommended announcing the event’s start time and, later, the results, although it wasn’t intended for a public audience.
Ivy and Amyra helped me into my gown for the day.
We had Eliza modify the gown to include hidden armor within the corset.
It was incredibly uncomfortable, but I appreciated the extra layer of protection.
The dress reflected the colors of the season, one of my favorites.
The red and oranges of the leaves are always so vibrant this time of year.
Eliza used a large red ruby at the center of the sweetheart neckline and scattered smaller red gems and glass beads across the rest of my neckline, which helped to draw the attention away from the rigidity of the rest of the bodice.
Ivy gained a new tiara for me as well, featuring a red ruby at the center, with red and deep orange glass gems shaped into colorful fall leaves accenting it.
I almost felt like I was wearing a crown of fire.
The plan was to use the announcement of the second event to commence to announce instead that Spencer was the winner and that we would be wed this spring.
We expected Egan becoming enraged at the deviation in planning and the realization that he was not to be Elthas’ King.
We hoped he then could not control his powers, like the way he was at that dinner many weeks ago.
At that point, we could easily arrest him.
The Priestesses would be nearby, ready to contain most of his reaction, if needed.
Amyra and I had been working to create walls with our ability to control water and earth, but we had made nothing that can stop a stick penetrating it, let alone something worth protecting.
We had also been testing to see if I could connect to fire since my eyes turn red when I had heightened emotions.
Unfortunately, we hadn’t had luck on this avenue.
We also hoped that others might act out, not too many that we couldn’t handle it, but enough to bring attention to Lord Denenbaum and any other conspirators.
General Kellen had agreed to station many of his men among the crowd in plain clothes, supplementing the castle guard, in case fighting broke out.
I was nervous. Provoking Egan, and potentially a God of Death, was intimidating, but it was necessary to get this plot against me under control.
I hoped that word of the spectacle would prevent Scoria Bay’s allies from blindly siding with them, but I didn’t think I would believe a report that includes magic if I wasn’t a witness.
It was time to make this announcement. My stomach flopped, and I worried I might be sick. Ivy was standing behind me, staring at me in the mirror. “Are you ok, Lyla?”
I nodded. “I can’t say I’m excited about this, but I am ready for this to be over.”
Amyra and Ivy both nodded their agreements. “Let’s go, my Love.” Amyra holds her arm out, inviting me to grasp her elbow.
They planned to make this announcement at the grand castle entry, an enormous staircase from the courtyard to the castle doors.
This was the traditional place for major royal news, such as announcements of betrothals, births of new heirs, and so on.
The stairs had three landings since they went so high.
Father, Ethan, and I planned to stand at the highest point, and the princes would stand at the landing just below us, ten steps lower.
We expected the Council and Priestesses to stand at the lowest landing, and we invited the crowd to stand around the courtyard, but not within ten feet of the bottom of the stairs.
People packed the place. My anxiety spun out of control. ‘ Breathe, baby girl. And guard your mind. But most importantly, breathe, we planned for this .'
Relief flooded my emotions when I heard Spencer’s voice.
I searched for him and saw him standing right next to Frederick and Egan, positioned between them.
I didn’t know if I wanted to be mad at him for standing right next to Egan, or to be grateful that he positioned himself to keep Frederick away, since he was just as innocent as the rest of this crowd.
I joined Father on the platform, as planned.
Ivy and Amyra stood to the side at the top of these stairs, along with the personal assistants for Father and Ethan.
I looked through the crowd and found each of the Priestesses positioned as they promised.
The Council looked unaware of the plan. I was supposed to seek their approval for this selection before telling the world, but we couldn’t risk Lord Denenbaum or anyone else telling Egan in private.
I knew that I’d have to answer to this decision later.
I looked around to take in the crowd. It seemed like the entire city showed up for this announcement, which surprised me.
I didn’t expect them to care about hearing something starting behind closed doors.
I noticed the sky was blue, not a cloud to be seen, and it was clear enough to see the sea.
Just before the horizon, you could barely make out the small islands that mark the beginning of Scoria Bay’s territory gently sitting on the water.
Father’s hand reached out to my shoulder, showing it was time to speak. We both stepped forward, on the edge of the landing, so that our voices could carry far enough to be heard by everyone. A trumpeter standing on the side provided the signal to calm down, and the crowd stilled.
“Thank you, everyone, for arriving this morning,” I began.
My stomach started doing its own somersaults, and I wondered if eating breakfast this morning was wise.
“I am honored to have all of you here, to see through this tournament to select my betrothed, and to find you, the people of Elthas, a King worthy to lead you.” I paused for the applause, waiting for it to die down before I continued my announcement.
“I am thrilled to announce that the search is over.” I smiled as the crowd erupted into an even more energetic celebration. “Rather than continuing with the Tournament, I’d like to announce the winner. He has worked hard to prove himself since we met the evening of the ball.”
I glanced down to the princes. Frederick and Egan seem shocked, and Spencer’s attempt to match their shock was lacking. He was certainly no actor, which made me smile.
“He proved himself worthy in the first round, and while I can’t speak to how he’d have handled the other two events, I am confident that he will be the King you all deserve.”
Egan’s face was darkening. I checked my mental defenses and felt the wall. I worried we were wrong about Death not being able to get through those mental barriers. It was too late to change course now. Egan was shocked enough.
“I’m pleased to inform you that our next king, and my husband, will be Prince Spencer.”
I offered a genuine smile as I looked around the crowd.
So many celebrated, but some were upset and jeering.
I looked back at the princes and saw Egan reaching for something in the folds of his shirt.
I shouted to Spencer, trying to get words out, but no sound came out.
He reacted, understanding my intention. He shoved Frederick to the side and then reached for his own dagger.
Time seemed to slow as my fear for Spencer’s safety overcame me.
Two castle guards restrained Egan’s arms before any further moves could happen. I felt relief, and the adrenaline slowed, hopeful that this meant there would be no show of magic.
Then Egan pointed at me and growled, “You, you are trash, filth. I should have ended you in that dining room like he told me!” Lightning shot across the air at me from his hand. His strike hit me in my stomach, knocking the wind out of me as I fell to my knees.
My emotions erupted, and before I could compose myself, pebbles rose in the air as I stood. I looked down, grateful to find the armor did it’s job, even though the fabric burned at the impact site.
The ground shook.
Then gasps sounded all around me. I looked at the crowd to see what the gasps were for, and people were looking horrified, pointing out to the sea.
I followed their reaction, and saw an island rising above the others, fire shooting into the skies above.
The perfect blue sky marred by white and black smoke.
The clouds grew rapidly, quickly covering the land, blocking the sun.
Within minutes, ash started falling from the sky.
“Everyone, take shelter!” I heard lots of shouting all around me. Did Death do this?
I made eye contact with Egan.
“If you did this, if you killed my people, I will end your entire kingdom. Elthas doesn’t deserve to survive.” He swore his oath with so much vitriol that I could feel the cold black void of his soul.
Spencer reached me, standing in front to protect me. I felt frozen by all that was happening.
“You will never reach her,” Spencer promised.
Egan replied, but castle guards, plain clothed soldiers, and villagers all swarmed between us, so I couldn’t hear.
People were rushing into the castle to take cover from the burning ashes falling from the sky.
I coughed as Amyra grabbed one of my arms and Spencer took hold of the other as they guided me inside.
Somewhere near me, I heard Ivy rushing us to get inside .
It took hours for the ash to slow down enough for people to return to their homes.
The islands still had smoke billowing into the sky, but winds had shifted to blow it over open water.
In all the chaos, Egan had escaped the guards who had him.
Once we found that out, Father had the General and Guard Captain organize so that no one left the grounds without their knowledge.
While the guards checked for Egan, Father had all of us shelter in Juniper’s office all day into the evening.
He hoped that by choosing her space, it would be unlikely for Egan to find me and carry out the plot.
Ethan, Ivy, Amyra, and Spencer all joined us, and Juniper had the Priestesses assemble with us for added protection, for them and for us.
Juniper’s office, at the hall’s end, simplified defense, and the cavern offered extra protection should anyone breach the door.
While waiting here, I used my gift to lift all the ash covering everyone, helping to clean them as best as I could.
“Juniper?” I asked, as I stood by the windows, watching the ash swirl out through the cracks in the glass. “Egan accused me of causing that… whatever that is. I don’t know what even happened. Do you think I did it?”
Juniper’s face told me everything I feared, but I still waited for her answer. She took a moment before talking.
“Yes, I felt the magic gathering and surging, and it came from you. You caused a fiery eruption, made the earth tremble, and caused rivers of fire that reshape the ocean . You are the Queen foretold, and Spencer is the King.”
I looked around. Every time my eyes landed on a priestess, she thumped her chest and knelt before us.
I looked at Father and saw pride as he lowered his gaze to offer me that same respect.
I looked back out to the pillar of fire and ash spewing from Scoria Bay.
“ She shall cause the land’s heart to bleed flames into the sky and will herald a change in the realm itself . ” I whisper.
What do I do now? What change is coming?