FIFTY-FIVE
CAZ
We hike the grand staircase of the palace and don’t stop until we’ve reached the top.
Several guards stand before the entrances fully armored. When they spot us, they immediately withdraw their weapons and rush our way with fierce battle cries.
“It’s Monarch Harlow of Blackwater!” I yell, raising a hand before they can swing at us.
Their shouting stops and they come to a halt, their weapons still raised.
“I’m here to see Alora,” I say, panting.
A familiar man emerges from the group of guards, a thick braid hanging over his shoulder and a scythe in his hand. His brows are heavily stitched together, and his nostrils flare as he scans me.
Proll, Alora’s first guard.
He studies my clan but lingers on Hassha, looking her up and down in her cloak and armor. I expect him to ask who she is, but he doesn’t seem to care about that right now.
“Alora is about to address the people about the attacks,” Proll says, his voice anything but welcoming. He raises his scythe and presses the blade of it to the heart of my shirt. “You show up right after the attack happens, Monarch Harlow. Are you behind this?”
Rowan and Killian raise their guns and point them at Proll’s head. He looks between them, unphased.
“We like you, Proll, but you put even a scratch on our monarch and we will kill you,” Killian growls, pressing his thumb down on the hammer.
Proll side-eyes them, raising his chin and bringing his beard with it. Then he steps back and yanks his scythe away.
“As if I’d ever kill our closest ally,” Proll mutters.
“What attacks are you talking about?” I ask.
Proll looks past us to the people still clamoring at the gates. “I will let the queen explain. I can’t leave her for too long. Come.”
He turns before I can get another word in, and we follow him through the line of soldiers still glaring at us. Once we’re inside the palace and have reached the throne room, I see Alora standing in the center.
She’s not alone. Devlin is here as well as Whisper Grove’s monarch, Conan. Devlin I knew would be here because he had no place to go, but Conan must’ve taken the fast train to have gotten here so quickly.
“I wouldn’t lie to you, Alora. We were told to meet you here,” I hear Conan say.
“And I was already on my way for refuge,” Devlin informs her. “We fought against those creatures you have hanging over your wall. We saw a bloody dragon . There was a Regal—Selah. She was sending those things to kill us until the other Regals stopped her.”
“ Regals ?” Alora repeats with a scowl. “Now I know you are lying to me, Monarch Devlin. Do you take me for a fool? The Regals are gone!”
“I know you aren’t a fool, and neither am I,” Devlin counters, clenching his teeth. “I know what I saw.”
“My queen.” Proll’s voice bellows through the room, and Alora whips her head to find him.
When she spots me, relief rinses over her. “Caspian. Tell me this isn’t true,” she says, hurrying our way. “Tell me these people are mad or that the youthwater is contaminated and that those creatures my men put down are nothing more than brutes in masks.”
“It’s all true, Alora.”
Her face pales as she looks me over, searching my thoughts. “I can’t read you. Why can I no longer read you?” she asks.
I sigh.
“Explain everything, Caspian. Now ,” she demands.
I tell her about The Regals, even down to Yuri (though I don’t explain my abilities). I speak about the dragon and the attack in Blackwater. As the words pour out, Alora stares at me as if I’ve lost my head.
“You must be mad too,” she breathes. “The Regals are long gone—and who is Yuri? I’ve never heard of a fourth Regal, and I’ve studied them for years. I’ve studied all of Vakeeli history so much I could recite it.”
“Everything you think you know about Vakeeli is a lie, Alora,” I say. “It was all fabricated by the historians. Just people trying to make sense of something that was never meant to make sense.”
“Even if what you’re telling me is true, the dragon seems out of the question,” Alora persists. “If Selah was controlling it, why would she be trying to murder you? She’s our creator. She’d want to save us—especially you , considering you’re Cold Tethered. You’re one of her greatest creations.”
“Because destroying her people is something she’s wanted for many years.” Hassha beats me to it, and Alora’s frown deepens as she swings her eyes to her, trying to figure out who she is. She’s likely trying to read her too, but I doubt she can grasp anything. “Selah wants every single person in Vakeeli dead. That is a fact.”
“How do you know?” Alora inquires.
Hassha removes her hood, revealing glowing blue eyes and silvery-white hair.
A sharp gasp leaves Alora as she takes several steps backward, cupping her mouth. “Are you…”
Hassha nods, giving Alora a gentle smile. “Hassha, yes. My sister Korah is in Blackwater. We are here , Alora. We’ve never left.”
“But I— how ? I’m not understanding how this can be. All the books said you were dead—that you were long gone and only Selah might remain.”
“Yes, well, the books lie, dear.”
I can’t help sensing endearment from Hassha as she speaks to Alora. It’s like she’s talking to one of her daughters—patient, calm, tender.
“Your mother Yareena was from Kessel.” Hassha steps closer. “She was one of my greatest warriors. I gave her the blessing to marry your father when she met him, to become queen so she could make a change in this world. And here you are. The change.”
Alora’s eyes brim with tears as she marvels at the Regal. Then she does something I’ve never seen her do.
She bows.
Hassha stands in front of her, pressing her fingers to Alora’s chin to angle it upward. She gently forces her to stand straight again.
“My mother always told me stories about her past, but I didn’t realize it took place in Kessel,” Alora breathes, eyes sparkling. “I always assumed everything took place in Vanora.”
“She never mentioned it because she wanted to protect the island. And you.”
“Well, this is chummy and all, but I didn’t come all this way for a fucking family reunion,” Devlin shouts, pacing our way. “What are we going to do about that evil bitch flying on her dragon?”
“We prepare ourselves and we fight,” Hassha says, looking at Devlin like he’s a pile of horse shit. “You’re quite arrogant for a man so new to this world.”
Devlin clenches his jaw, and I can tell he wants to snap back, but even he wouldn’t be stupid enough to challenge a Regal. “I’m arrogant because I know what I’m doing. I was raised to be a warrior. I fought in the caves in Ripple often and I never lost. My men and I will fight. Just tell us what to do.”
“That’s about the wisest thing I’ve heard come out of your mouth, Devlin,” Rowan laughs.
“Fuck you,” Devlin shoots back.
“Oh no. Did I make the little prince angry?” Rowan taunts.
Devlin’s face turns red, and a growl rips out of him as he rushes Rowan, shoving him against the chest.
Rowan brings his fist back and punches him, instantly splitting his lip.
“Enough!” My voice fills the throne room, echoing off the walls.
Killian steps between Rowan and Devlin, breaking up the fight.
“If we are to win this war against Selah, we have to be on the same team. Do you understand?” I demand, glaring at Rowan and then Devlin. “That means all our differences must be set aside so that we can save this world. Now unless you want her to continue burning it all down, I suggest everyone suck it up and settle your differences. Is that what you want, Devlin? For her to kill you? Kill your whole family? Your pretty little girlfriend?”
“No,” he grumbles, swiping his bloodied bottom lip.
“Well, if you don’t pull your shit together and stop swinging your dick around, we’ll never win this.” I take a step closer to him, looking him hard in the eye. “From this point forward, we are a team. That means the feud between Blackwater and Ripple Hills ends now. It is your job to tell your people that, just as it is my job to tell mine. Do you understand?”
“Fine.” Devlin cracks his neck, looking from me to Hassha. “Will you be fighting in this war with us?”
“Yes,” Hassha answers.
“Then I’ll tell my people. But right now, they’re scared,” Devlin says, his features softening just a bit. “They watched everything they loved burn when she flew by. Some of their families were killed. Right now, we’re just lingering, setting up camps in the forests. We can’t live that way for much longer.”
“Whisper Grove has space for more people,” Conan says. I turn my eyes to him, nearly forgetting that he’s here. “We’re still in the process of rebuilding ourselves, but you’re welcome to take residence there until the war settles.”
“That is very kind of you, Conan,” Alora murmurs.
“Of course. There is just one concern I have.” He raises a finger. “Whisper Grovians are not known for violence or fighting. I’m not sure how we can be of use right now.”
“You’re not completely useless.” I look Conan in the eye when he finds my gaze. “Whisper Grovians may not be able to fight, but you damn sure know how to make a good weapon. Work on creating bombs, armor, weapons, shields. And if any of your men are willing to fight, we’ll do our best to train them with the five days we have left.”
“Okay, sure.” Conan nods, rubbing his hands together. “We can do that.”
“Good.” I put my attention on Alora. “We have five days to prepare. Right now, your people are scared, but you have to tell them we must fight or we will die.”
“I know what to tell my people, Caspian.” She rights herself, drifting past me to her throne. “My people aren’t strangers to battles. Many of the Gilded will stand, myself included.”
At that, Proll moves forward. “I cannot allow you to fight, my queen. We’ll need you in Vanora. You must stay protected.”
Alora’s eyes soften as she studies him. “I will fight, Proll. And if you want to protect me, you’ll stand by my side while I do.”
Proll’s nostrils flare. He wants to counter it, but he can’t. Instead, he gives a slight bow of his head and says, “Always, my queen.”
“Will any more of those creatures infiltrate Vanora?” Alora asks. “We found them lurking around the palace. Some were climbing the walls. I put out an alert for everyone to stay in their homes, but of course they did the opposite. I can’t say I blame them. It’s rare that I send out an alarm.” She points her attention to Hassha. “What should I tell them?”
“There is a reason no one was harmed by those creatures. They were nothing more than a scare tactic,” Hassha explains. “Selah was told to fight fair and to let us prepare for this war. If more arrive—which I doubt they will—kill them. In the meantime, I’ll place protection over all remaining territories. This will give you the opportunity to train in peace.”
Alora nods. “Very well.”
After speaking a bit more, we part ways, and a heaviness weighs on my shoulders. There is animosity all around us, and none of us are safe. Not even Alora is safe in her palace, surrounded by all her guards.
If we win this war but these territories lose their monarchs, the world will be chaos regardless. That alone worries me.
What’s the point of putting our lives on the line if it will all go to shit anyway?