26. Keira #3
“Could a weak queen reduce a man to ash?” I ask them. “Could a weak queen fight an entire gang of Truth Templars without fear or difficulty?”
Aldrin steps out of the shadows with the other half of our force and joins the raging fight.
With a flick of his wrist, immense roots tear out of the ground, wrapping around the innocent nymphs and lifting them onto the balconies.
More encase the immobilized Templars who stand over the nymphs with axes poised above their necks.
The ground in the nearby patch of forest opens at Aldrin’s bidding, and his victims are dragged into those pits by roots, swallowed whole as the ground slams closed on their bodies.
The earth magic in this court reacts most strongly to his command, as he is king over all creatures in the land, including the foliage.
“My queen has the strength of power and character to win and rule this court on her own, but she isn’t alone.” He raises his sword in the air as all eyes turn to him and widen.
Many in the crowd above gasp, and some even cheer.
Aldrin looks more god than man. He doesn’t need a crown to announce him as the king, not with the ring of long horns erupting from his head in his primal form.
The black streaks across his face and neck make him appear brutally powerful, paired with the shoulder spikes of his heavy armor.
Some of the Truth Templars whimper and try to run at the sight of him.
One actually wets himself. I shoot two arrows in fast succession, thrusting powerful air wields around them to intensify their force.
When they land in the backs of two fleeing Templars, they pierce through chainmail, flesh and bone, right into their hearts.
The rest are still engaged in sword fights with our warriors.
I whip back around to Aldrin as he starts speaking again.
“I have died twice for the Spring Court, and twice I have returned from death. I am here as your salvation from tyranny. It is not the low fae or the Winter fae who bleed this court dry, but your own High Chancellor Titania. Since when do we kill people on the street without trial? Your neighbors and friends are dying at her hand. Business is tough because of her levies and the food shortage is of her fabrication. I will bring the City of Vertical Gardens more food than it can eat, then I will bring it the political freedom it deserves!”
It is like his mere presence calls upon the lady of the night blooms that dot the masonry walls of every shop and apartment.
The luminescent center of each flower points straight at him, casting him in a bright glow.
The people themselves cannot drag their eyes from him, despite the fighting that still rages around us.
“Hail the true king and queen!” a high fae calls out from one of the balconies.
“The king has returned to save us!” another shouts, and more cheers follow.
A Templar runs right for Aldrin, axe held high, and the ground swallows him up immediately.
I place a hand on the back of a huge man who takes a swinging blow at Cyprien, and the Templar melts rapidly down to dust. Cyprien gives me a nod of thanks while I heave in front of him.
The use of such magic takes a toll, but the people need to witness what I am capable of.
My father rams a sword of fire into the gut of the last Templar. Vines snake out from the forest, wrapping around the limbs of the bodies and dragging them into its depths, the earth swallowing them up.
Klara and Rainier scale steps of hardened air up to the balconies where the flower nymphs huddle among a group of their neighbors.
Someone has wrapped blankets around their shoulders and put hot drinks in their hands.
Mother and son heal their minor cuts and wounds, but there is nothing they can do for the shock that grips the nymphs.
I walk to Aldrin’s side and take his hand, but it is the people I address.
“Spread the truth of what you have seen here tonight. Tell everyone you know about the brutality and mindless prejudice of the Truth Templars, especially those who have not experienced it firsthand. Let all know that your king has returned to save us all.”
“We do not discriminate against any group of people, and we help those in need. This is how we are different, better , than Titania and her Truth Templars,” Aldrin announces.
“Those closest to these fine nymphs targeted tonight—take them into your home and care for them. Any who are able-bodied and willing, help us clean up and rebuild their home and business.”
It takes us until almost dawn, but all traces of the Truth Templars’ destruction are corrected.
The shop is cleaned of ash. The burnt plaster walls are replaced with beautiful wood paneling grown from the foliage all around, complete with shelving.
The stolen silverware and coin are replaced and an array of blooms are grown from Spring magic for the nymphs to imbue with their unique essence, harvest and style in the morning to sell in their shop.
Apparently, their wares are popular because some of their flowers have specialized healing abilities, some release a strong floral scent that fills a home for weeks on end, and others sing an enchanting melody for hours after being fed a drop of raw magic.
My body shakes with fatigue by the time we are done, but the achievement feels so gods-damned good. Tonight was empowering, after a long time of sitting on my hands and pretending to be less than I am.