Chapter 34 #2
He kept that grave frown on his face, but Shaddan’s eyes glinted with confidence. “They’ll laugh, strip me of my title, and run me out of the country.”
“Even if you return with an ambassador of peace and an offer of alliance from the island?”
“Oh! I’ll be the ambassador,” Akina gasped, then turned to Reiven with huge, shining eyes. “Rei, can I please go?”
I thought I saw the corners of Reiven’s lips turn upwards for a split second, but it was replaced with the stern, concerned frown of an older brother, and secondly, a king.
“Well, I won’t spout any nonsense about you not being able to hold your own, but I am a little worried since you haven’t left the island before.
And it’s not like I can go with you to make sure you’re safe… ”
Shaddan straightened and approached the raised platform where we stood, eyes only for Akina. “By my life and honor, I’ll ensure the fair princess’s safety.” He took the hand she offered him and kissed it.
Her pretty scarlet eyes glowed, shuttered by the darkest, longest lashes I had ever seen, which she fluttered as she stared down at him. She pressed her lips together to conceal a smile, before shooting a look at Reiven that screamed he had no choice but to let her go at this point.
At his mild nod of approval, she giggled and daintily stepped down to the Druinn general’s level. “Well, I should begin preparations to—ah, how soon did you plan to depart, General Akshar?”
“Please, Your Highness, Shaddan is perfectly fine. I hope you don’t mind, but I was hoping to get a taste of Mourner culture before I left. It’s not like my people have ever been this far out to sea before, so I wanted to bring back something to my country. Perhaps you have some ideas?”
While it was obvious that Shaddan’s court charm was merely a face he put on to impress, the smile he gave her was so genuine, even I almost melted a little. The pair walked away, Akina clutching his arm as she babbled about the shops she planned to take him to, while Shaddan nodded and beamed.
They left the rest of us in bewildered silence for a moment, until Reiven broke it by giving an exaggerated groan. “Damn, I know I set them up, but that guy better keep his hands to himself.”
Jin scrunched up his nose and discreetly released the palm full of fire he had been hiding behind his back.
“Yeah, well, just wait ‘til he sees her first thing in the morning, before she’s rinsed out her mouth and brushed her hair and washed her face. I swear she looks like a half-dead person until at least noon.”
Reiven turned his gaze to Calinia, who had been watching silently, twisting her hair around her finger. She had always been quiet, but I didn't think I had heard her talk after we returned from Hell. While she seemed preoccupied with something, she still spoke before Rei could.
“How do you plan to grant Ashkade’s dying wish? It will be no small task to unite the four nations in some semblance of peace.”
“Zephra and I are charming enough to sweet-talk the other leaders into an understanding.”
“And…what are you going to do when the people of this world inevitably prove that their hate is too strong to simply set aside?” Calinia's sharp, catlike eyes didn't flicker away from him. “Start another war in the name of peace?”
The new king of Mourners sat taller on his throne, giving her an unreadable smile. “I don’t need a war.” The flaming torches on either side of Calinia sputtered for a heartbeat.
“I am not blind to what you truly are, Reiven Miyasagi. But for now, I will choose to believe you are as committed to Ashkade’s vision of peace as you claim.” She turned on her heel, but I cried out to stop her, no matter how bewildered I was at their exchange.
“Wait, Calinia. We wanted you to have…this.” I grabbed Ash's crutch from where it had been leaning against the throne and handed it over to her.
Shortly after we had returned from Hell, Reiven had Ash's body cremated, a Mourner ritual that I cried all the way through. His crutch was all we had left of him now. Calinia held it, staring wide-eyed at the simple designs she had carved into it long ago, as if she had never seen it before.
Calinia's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she tightened her grip on the wood. That crutch probably held painful memories, but also sunny ones of nursing Ash back to health. He always said that the Druinn who saved him treated him like family.
“Thank you for everything,” I said.
We embraced, and she hurried from the room, quiet, shuddering gasps of sobs following her out.
Reiven heaved another sigh and set his crown on the arm of his throne. There were too many things to say, so I settled for resting my hand on his shoulder.
“I'm not meant for this,” he grumbled, motioning at himself on the throne.
“You're doing fine.”
Jin smirked. “Yeah, don't be a baby. Technically, ‘this’ is what you were born for.”
“You're taking over for me as soon as possible,” Rei said, “but there's a lot of work to be done towards peace first.”
His younger brother rolled his eyes and gave Reiven a mocking bow.
“Trying to push all the responsibility onto me, Your Majesty? Typical.” He fished around in his pocket and produced a plain envelope sealed with melted gold wax, handing it over to me with a grin.
“Told you we make sure the last messages tied to the maples get to the people they're intended for. This is for you two.”
My heart ached as I stared down at the envelope. “Thank you.”
“I'm going to leave before you get too sentimental. But I want you to know that I'm glad you made it back, and that you're so determined to continue the Human's goal for harmony. And I'll follow you both until the end.”
With another masterful bow, Jin left Reiven and I alone in the throne room, his footsteps echoing across the stone walls.
Reiven held his arms out, and I gladly let him pull me into his lap.
He played with my hair and nuzzled my cheek, but both of us stared blankly at the envelope in my hand.
“Zephra…we have to start with our own people. If we can learn to get along, surely other Mourners and Sirens can work towards that too.”
“I know you're right, but…Reiven, I—”