Chapter 25
Esiree
Ishould have felt guilty about luring Vastion into my bed for no other reason than to make him lie next to me.
I should have felt guilty about the speech I was about to give.
Not because it was a lie, but because it’s not entirely the one I had rehearsed many times in the presence of Mina and Vastion himself.
The speech they had planned was finely manicured, written with a politician’s flair, but it turned to ash in my mouth every time I rehearsed it.
Now that I stood here before the moment I would finally deliver it to my first territory, I felt overwhelmingly like a fraud.
Looking out at my fellow human citizens, I could see the exhaustion and grief in their weathered expressions.
It was prevalent in every creased brow and unsteady gaze, every nervous bite of a lip.
Signs of a life stricken with the pain of loss and the anxiety of constantly being on alert.
While I would be certain that all key points of the census would be addressed, I chose first to address them as their queen—their human queen.
“I know my presence here is meant to serve as a brief distraction from the woes of your daily lives. I know that this dress and the fineries adorning my head and wrists are nothing but something pretty to admire. But do not be fooled by my new title or attire; I am one of you. I have always been and will always be a human citizen of Devana, till my dying breath.” I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my shaking hands and meet their appraising stares.
“I can see the burden each of you carry. Be it your loved ones taken too soon by the mindless beasts who hide in the lightless veins of our world, or those of you who reluctantly offer your blood to feed your protectors. I am keenly aware of the impossible situation in which we find ourselves.” I scanned the room, noting how many Vampyr sentries remained, and Lord Elek’s face was expectedly panicked by my unscripted diatribe.
His normally static posture began to shift back and forth with frustration and indecision of how he’d handle my transgression.
But I would not be silenced; he would have to drag me from this pulpit.
“When I was but a babe in my mother’s womb, the territory of Leto fell under siege by the Rabids.
She was attacked, and her wounds were significant.
Whether it was the pain or the distress at the butchery taking place all around her, she went into labor right there.
Amidst the screams of terror from neighbors and loved ones fighting and dying near their cottage, my father remained vigilant in delivering me into this cursed world. Against all odds, I am here today.
“Sadly, my mother died there, and we shared only a few moments before death parted us. And it was not the last time. Death has been a frequent visitor to our lands; darkening our doors, lurking in the waning light of day, and whispering its cold promises on the wind. We have all heard it. We have all felt it. And yet we fight for a future where our children aren’t born to become Vassals.
Where your sons do not endure sleepless nights to defend their homeland.
Where your daughters are not raised to be Tributes.
We share this vision, and we are right to hope for it. Right to fight for it.”
I paused, resisting the quiver of emotion threatening to unleash itself in the form of tears. I bit down on my resolve and continued. My audience remained silent, hanging on to my every word.
“It may sound strange, but your king fights for that same future. The Forlorn, or Rabids as we call them, were once human too. I believe there is no hope for those beastly creatures. However, the Crown, the Vampyr citizens, and their sentries stationed in our territories cling to their civility with a firm grasp. Our continued existences are intertwined, and it’s imperative we partner with them. ”
By now a small group of children had gathered before me, seated cross-legged. They looked up to me eager-eyed, their expressions hopeful, fueling my passion.
“I live in the Vampyr city, a place as mysterious as it is familiar. Like you, they have jobs; they go about their day-to-day tasks of running Eventide as you run Muir. They have families, relationships, and comradery. They take solace in moments of revelry and dance as you do. To ignore the pain of their reality for a moment. Sure, some of them are better dressed and younger looking than us…” That earned a laugh.
“But I have witnessed how they are more like us than we have cared to acknowledge. I, too, have carried that prejudice with me since the day the Forlorn took my mother’s life, our souls passing one another in the aether between the heavens and Devana.
” A woman in the front squeezed her child’s shoulder, and I watched as she swiped a tear from her cheek, prompting me to mimic her movement as a traitorous drop fell from my own lashes.
“Today, I ask that you participate in a most critical census. Yes, I will not hide from you that the dwindling numbers of humans and Vassals has our Vampyr counterparts concerned. But I am concerned about your needs. Are your food stores sufficient? Are your walls well-fortified? Are your weapons sharp and at the ready? In order to help provide Muir with necessities, I must have accurate headcounts. Children, women, the elderly, the sickly, and those with child. All of you matter. Even kin that have passed on can secure their legacies through ink and parchment. They may no longer walk among us but let them not slip through the histories unnoticed.”
I lifted my hand, placing it atop my heart, trying my hardest to convey my conviction to Muir and all of Devana.
“We are stronger together. We survive as one. May the Gods bless Devana and my reign, and may they someday see fit to lift the curse from which we all suffer.”
The silence following my words was deafening.
I didn’t know if the sentries were about to execute me at Lord Elek’s command or if the watchful eyes of my fellow humans had now deemed me a traitor.
But even if they never allowed me to visit another territory, if they never granted me another speech, then let it be known the Lady of Leto’s last words were spoken like a queen—not a Tribute.
When I felt my anxiety-stricken lungs could no longer bear it, there was a sudden break in the silence.
One clap, then another, followed by resounding cheers, and at their warm reception, I finally breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The afternoon census went smoothly as Vastion’s staff directed citizens to line up and wait patiently. His scribes worked quickly and thoroughly, documenting names, ages, and any other key details that we could convince the humans to share freely or could be easily observed.
Sporadically, children brought me gifts; bracelets and crowns made of flowers, the occasional polished rock with striations of color.
Valueless trinkets that they deemed treasures, and I collected them all with gratitude.
When I returned to Eventide, I would display them on my writing desk as a reminder of my brief visit.
I hoped Lailanor could assist me in finding a way to dry out and preserve the flowers somehow.
Lord Elek continued to give me questionable looks all afternoon, but it was too late. I’d said my piece. Even if Vastion was furious with me, it wasn’t as if he had some magical ability to erase the Muirians’ memory. Perhaps kings stuck to a script, but not me.
Roxelana courageously approached to say hello and introduced her betrothed.
He was very attractive, though he bore none of Vastion’s striking features.
When they stepped aside, all that remained was her father and another man, unfamiliar to me.
He glanced around the room taking note of any Vampyr close enough to overhear our discussion before he spoke.
“My, my,” he said in a haughty tone. “Your father was confident in your ability, but never did he mention what an extraordinary actress you are.”
The smug man next to him added, “Quite an impressive speech. One might believe you truly were a Vampyr sympathizer.”
Ignoring their arrogant assessment of my speech, I inquired, “Have you word from Leto?”
Roxelana’s father responded with raised brow. “We have no reason to believe a breakthrough has occurred, but Nile continues his work.”
“Then you have no update,” I chided them.
“We had hoped you might bring news, despite your months in these monsters’ midst.”
I sneered. “And how exactly would such news have crossed my path when I reside at Eventide? How quickly did you expect this plan to work? I’ve only just barely begun to earn the trust of a precious few.
” I began to shift back and forth nervously, constantly checking for the arrival of any overly curious onlookers.
“Is there anything you would have us relay to your father on your behalf?” he asked.
I felt the pit in my stomach drop the moment the words left my mouth. “No, other than ‘stay the course.’”
They both nodded. “Yes, My Queen. If you wish to have us share anything else of note before your departure, you need only ask. Our faith lies in you and your father.”
Roxelana’s dad and the other man, who I deduced to be an uncle or cousin, walked away and left me to my guilt-ridden solitude.
Stay the course, I thought to myself. I hadn’t meant it.
Not at all. I wanted to yell from the top of my lungs that we were searching for a cure and that in the meantime, we were going to do everything possible to destroy the Forlorn!
I believed in the Parcaetes’ cause, and with every passing day I even believed more in Vastion.
But I couldn’t tell them that. I couldn’t reveal any of that.
I still hadn’t convinced myself I could reveal those sentiments to Ari and Father, let alone Muirian strangers.
If they suspected my priorities had shifted, they’d have every reason to usher in a new human queen.
One who did not favor the Vampyr in any way.
When daylight began to wane, the town transitioned for the early evening, which meant I’d only have an hour or so to hear grievances before another celebratory dinner.
There was always a possibility that Vastion’s party would not be back in time, and he promised me that between Lord Elek and Orin’s assistance, I’d do just fine hearing the petitions.
While each individual approached the dais to air their concerns, I tried my best to listen intently, but I grew more distracted every moment.
Were they successful? Had the weapon performed better than expected?
Every time the doors at the end of the long hall opened, I gripped the sides of my chair, hoping to see his face, but those hopes never materialized.
After quickly giving in to the requests from the first three petitioners, I realized that I was not holding as firmly as Lord Elek liked.
Part of me didn’t care. This treasury wasn’t bereft of money; it was running low on blood, not coin.
Anything I gave away he could easily replenish.
After a few more requests were granted, Orin interrupted, indicating it was best to start supper and allow the queen to rest since it had been a very long day.
Vastion’s commander couldn’t have cared less if I got an ounce of sleep; he just didn’t want to be lectured when his boss returned to find I’d said yes to every single request without an intervention.
He was already perturbed that he’d been assigned as my personal guard instead of being by Vastion’s side.
I’d have preferred he be at Vastion’s side too.