Chapter thirteen
Noor was waiting for me in my chamber when I returned from my daily morning run.
“You look exhausted,” she commented, running a hand through her curly blonde hair.
“Running from your problems isn’t the answer, Alora.
You’ve been doing this for weeks. Is it even helping?
” Loki and Enyo rubbed against her before going outside on the balcony to rest.
Removing my boots, I took a few sips of water before answering her. “There is nothing wrong with wanting to tone up. I realised how out of shape I was on the pilgrimage. You and Luz run as part of your power training.”
“That’s once a month and optional. When are you going to talk about this? Nell, Luz, Fynn, and I are all worried about you. We can see that you’re distracted. You don’t have to face this alone. Talk to us.”
“It’s easy for all of you. Your powers have manifested. Fynn is part of the army. What do I have? Occasional hands that glow, but no real power. I’m the princess and what can I offer my race? Nothing! I’m useless.”
“Uri has already told you how powerful you will be. You must be patient, Alora. Everything will come when Holy Ether deems it time. Give her extra blessings later at the temple. She might listen. This can’t be the only thing that is worrying you.
What really happened in the Barren Lands?
Why won’t you talk to me? We tell each other everything. ”
It was difficult not being able to confide in Noor about Darce and the reason I was running every morning.
In two weeks, I was already faster and panting less.
It gave me hope that I would make the four laps around the lake next time.
“You wouldn’t understand the pressure I’m under, Noor.
” I sighed, slumping down on my large, white bed next to her.
“Explain it to me then.” She gave me a questioning look. “You don’t have to face anything alone. I look at you as a sister. You can confide in me. Whatever you tell me won’t leave this chamber.”
Needing something to mislead her, I decided to use my usual fear. “What if war strikes and I can’t help yet again. How many times will I have to watch you all risk your lives while I sit in the palace?”
“Has Xavier given you reason to worry? Is that why you’re so distracted? Are we going to war?” Noor’s whole body went rigid with fear. She’d only been on two separate battlefields since her power manifested, but she hardly spoke of what she had endured or seen.
“No!” Stretching out my arms, I comforted her. “There is no war coming.” Noor didn’t look as if she believed me. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. “I need to bathe before the blessing. Can we continue this conversation later?”
“You can’t talk of war and leave it there. If you know something, you must let Nell know.”
“I’ve hardly seen Xavier or my father! There is no concern of war right now. I was speaking metaphorically. When the time arises, I worry I’ll be useless again.”
“You couldn’t have saved her at Cataha, Alora. No power could have matched that darkness. Lito still shivers when he talks about that fateful day.” Talking about my mother wasn’t something I wanted to do right now.
“Please, Noor. I can’t talk about Duska right now.” Moving off the bed, I walked out onto the balcony and watched the city below me. “All I’m doing is trying to help my powers manifest. You needn’t worry. Seeing Raiden killed by a noc beast has affected me, but I am dealing with it. I promise.”
“You can power train with me whenever you want to,” Noor soothed. “Maybe giving your powers a gentle push with training might help ease your unrest.” It wasn’t a bad idea. I knew Noor and Luz trained together monthly.
“I’d like that.” I sighed as a gentle breeze teased the drapes by the balcony entrance.
“I’ll leave you to bathe. See you at the gathering later.” When I gave her a small smile, Noor left, leaving me to finally relax my aching body.
****
SEVERAL EYES WERE ON me at the blessing ritual.
Ignoring them, I walked up to the altar and dropped the blessed flowers into the infinity pool below.
Uri eyed me suspiciously. Had he received a further glimpse into my future?
Had he seen the warrior that I would become?
My father gave me a look of indifference as I passed him, but Xavier’s gaze was almost predatorial.
It was a shame that Loki and Enyo weren’t allowed inside the temple.
Xavier’s look would have gotten a few growls from them.
They were waiting for me outside, though.
Silently, I moved back to sit next to Noor and Luz. The general looked over his shoulder at me. “Xavier appears to want your attention,” Luz observed, looking between us.
“He can wait. I’m going power training with you and Noor after this.”
“It’s not wise to provoke the general, Alora. I thought you were trying to make amends with him and your father?”
“When did I say that?” My eyes moved between Luz and Noor. Luz shook her head and looked at Nell, who was near Uri at the altar. “Why would I need to make amends? I’ve done nothing wrong! My father went against his word, and Xavier is siding with him!”
“Keep your voice down,” Noor stressed. “This is a place of worship.” A few eyes were on me, but I didn’t care that I was making a scene.
“We can have this conversation later, when we’re away from your father and Elin.
” At their names, my gaze moved in their direction.
Both of them were shooting daggers at me. They must have heard my outburst.
“For the love of the gods. Pick your battles, Alora,” Luz cautioned. “You may be the princess, but your father is the king! His word is final. You know this! What has gotten into you? Going against his wishes will end badly for you.”
“He may be the king, but the power has gone to his head. Training female Dylin should be allowed. I think he fears what we could become if trained. Some of the most powerful light powers belong to females.”
“Alora, shut up. Now!” Noor was panicking, but I continued to babble as if we were sitting in the tavern, drinking some ale.
“Our army could be unstoppable. When I become queen one day, that is the first thing I’ll change. By royal decree, any female that wishes to train in battle will be granted permission! Our armies...” A voice interrupted me before I could finish.
“I want a word with you in private, Alora!” My father’s stern voice was now right beside me. His stance was full of rage. I was about to be reprimanded. Judging by the expression on his face, he wasn’t going to hold back, either.
As I followed him to one of the private rooms beyond the altar, I could hear the muttering of voices behind me. Making a mockery out of him hadn’t been my intention. I could hear some of the whispers of shame as I walked past them. What had I done?
“Have I not given you everything you’ve ever wanted, Alora?” His eyes were wide with emotion as he turned towards me once we were alone. “All I am asking is for respect as your father and king! I do not think I’m being unreasonable!”
“If you made decisions alone, I would respect you more!”
“What are you trying to imply? All my decisions are my own.”
“Elin is in your ear and you know it! She doesn’t simply warm your bed anymore. She’s in your head, making decisions about our kingdom! You have hardly spoken to me since I returned from the Barren Lands! You spend every waking minute with Elin, allowing her to poison your mind.”
“The relationship I have with Elin is none of your concern. When I lost your mother, Elin was there for me. I could confide in her like no one else.”
“Don’t you dare bring my mother into this! Her side of the bed was barely cold before Elin replaced her.”
“Alora, no one could ever replace your mother. Duska...she was the best of all of us. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t regret what happened in Cataha.”
“You never speak of her anymore. When she died, I felt like you simply forgot her. How could you? She was everything to me!”
“Because it was too painful. It still is.” My father’s eyes were wet with tears as he reached out to stroke my face. “I see so much of her in you these days. Your beauty is the same as hers. You’re rebellious like her, too.”
“I’ll never be as beautiful as her.” My mother’s beauty had been as unique as her powers. She’d been flawless.
“Why are you constantly going against me?” My father asked, his eyes pleading with me to be truthful.
“I feel betrayed by you,” I admitted as a single tear trickled down my face.
“You didn’t even consider me for warrior training.
I completed that pilgrimage on my own, and you didn’t even commend me for it!
It was like I had done nothing. I survived an attack from a noc beast, and still received no praise!
It was clear that you and Elin had already made your minds up before I’d even left.
You were never going to allow me to train, were you? ”
“There were bigger things to consider if I had allowed you to train with the warriors. Politics is something you have no experience in, Alora. If you trained as a warrior, how many other female Dylins would want to follow suit?”
“Why is that such a bad thing? You could double your army.”
“A male Dylin’s purpose is to protect its female.
How do you think our warriors would respond to the females joining them on the frontline?
It will distract them from their purpose.
An even bigger threat would be Noxlin’s capturing our females.
You know what happens if a Noxlin gets his hands on a Dylin female.
She will be defiled. Is that what you want for our race?
Is that the future you want for our females? You must look at the bigger picture.”
“I wasn’t defiled by the Noxlin male that saved me.”