Loyalty Fallen Hub

Chapter 18

The day of the coronation of the new king of Iridalys, something had changed. That much was evident in the increased number of guards around the massive hall. There were also many nobles missing who had been expected to attend but were detained for various reasons. Still, it was a magnificent sight.

The crown was encrusted in jewels, the largest of which was the fire opal that signified royalty. The man who carried it on a silk pillow knelt before the Illian and the priests who would declare the young king crowned. The two priests lifted the crown together and placed it on Illian’s bowed head.

When he raised his head, the watchers’ cheers were deafening. Ony Trista didn’t cheer. She watched in silence, her bright blue eyes boring into his dark ones as he stared out over the crowd.

Illian raised both of his hands, and the cheering eventually silenced. His voice carried throughout the great throne room as he said, “Today is an occasion that marks not only the crowning of a new king, but of a new determination, forged after years of hard battles, to usher in an era of peace. As everyone here knows, the forming of a treaty with Navinor was recently put in jeopardy after an unfortunate incident involving my sister, the former Princess Kathryn, who has since been banished. I have continued negotiations with Navinor in hopes of forming a treaty despite those events. Today, you will hear their answer.”

The crowd murmured in astonishment and fear as the double doors burst open and a small cohort of 10 troops with Prince Gregory at their head tramped down the long carpet towards the throne.

Prince Gregory stopped in front of the throne and inclined his head. Then he turned to face the crowd. “Navinor has agreed to a peace treaty with Iridalys!” he announced.

The listeners cheered, though somewhat hesitantly. Trista felt herself growing hot at the sight of the man who had been responsible, at least indirectly, for the deaths of many of her family members. She half wished she had a dagger hidden somewhere on her person and was close enough to kill Gregory herself. But she quickly dismissed the crazy thought. There had been enough killing, after all. A peace treaty was long overdue. And anyway, she was pretty sure she’d faint at the sight of blood.

Illian called, “The terms of the peace treaty will also help to ensure the eradication of slavery from the civilized world.”

Then they cheered in earnest, for despite the fact that many of them might have profited from the trade in various ways, it would fatally damage their reputations if that became known.

Trista was confused and curious as to what Illian meant, but he seemed to feel there was no reason to elaborate. “The treaty will soon be published in its entirety with all of the terms in plain view of the public. As of now, I declare this ceremony closed.”

“Long live the king!” shouted the priests.

“Long live the king!” shouted the rest of the watchers.

Trista joined in, keeping her eyes fixed on Illian’s stern face.

Illian swept out of the throne room without a glance in her direction. The cheering died down, but the watchers were confused. Tradition indicated that they should have been invited to a feast. Instead, they were escorted out.

Trista returned to her room only for a few minutes. Then she set out for the garden, where she knew Illian would be waiting.

Illian’s guards blocked her at the entrance. “No one is to go in, Lady Trista,” General Valen informed her, somewhat apologetically.

Trista fixed her eyes on his face. “General, inform the king that I am here and wish to speak to him,” she commanded.

“He does not wish to be disturbed,” Valen began.

“It’s all right, General.” Illian’s voice sounded tired.

Valen bowed. “As you wish, my lord.” The guards moved aside to let her pass.

Illian was sitting on a stone bench, surrounded by cheerful yellow flowers. His face was as cold and hard as she had ever seen it.

Trista sat next to him without asking. He remarked, “Shouldn’t you be bowing before your king, Lady Trista?”

“Hardly, Illian. And didn’t I tell you to call me Trista?” She looked up at him confidently.

But she didn’t feel so confident when she saw the dark, grim look in his eyes. He said, “Things have changed.”

“Why? Because someone tried to kill you? I doubt that’s even the first time. And it had nothing to do with me. Why would you let the actions of one maniac ruin a friendship we’ve had all our lives?”

Trista reached for his hand, and he didn’t pull away. “Aren’t you lonely, Illian?” she asked.

He smiled, with that little bit of sadness that always remained in his expressions since the first war. “Lonely? Why should I be? I still have Lenore and General Dorian and many others.”

“Who do you trust?” she pressed him. “Who do you know will be on your side no matter what?”

“Am I supposed to say ‘you’? Because I think you’re more loyal to Kathryn than to me. And the truth is, Trista, I have no use for more people who are blindly loyal to my sister whatever the cost. I need people who are loyal to me, who can see everything I’ve done for this kingdom and will serve me without question. Are you going to pretend you’re one of those people?”

“No.” Trista was very matter-of-fact.

“You’re quick to deny your loyalty to your king.”

“It’s not that I’m disloyal to you at all. But I don’t believe loyalty should ever be unconditional or ‘without question.’ And I still think you made a mistake in banishing her. But Illian, I think you need me more than she does right now. After all, she has Ren. So for now, I’m going to stay. I’m going to help you and try to understand what it is you’re dealing with, and what you need. And I’ll do whatever I can for you.”

Illian cocked his head. “Now, why would you do a crazy thing like that? Why don’t you just go home and mind your own business?”

“Because I love you-and Kathryn. I love you both,” Trista said hastily. “You’re basically…my family. And it’s not like I have a lot of my own family left. You’re important to me. Your relationship with each other is important to me. And I refuse to believe your family’s legacy is the two of you at war with each other. I also don’t think you’re happy, Ilian.”

“And you’re going to make me happy?” he asked with a smirk. “One would almost think you were aiming for the position of queen.”

Trista turned bright red and snapped, “Don’t be ridiculous! I…I’m just trying to help.”

“I know.” Illian sighed. “If you refuse to go, then I guess the only way forward is to let you make yourself useful. You’ll join me for breakfast tomorrow.” He stood up. “We’ll talk about what you can do for me then. And if you want to go, I won’t stop you.”

“I won’t go,” Trista promised.

Illian shrugged. “We’ll see. You haven’t heard what I’m going to ask you yet.” With that, he left her there.

Seconds later, Lenore joined her. Clearly, she’d been listening in.

Trista lit up when she saw her and immediately gave her a hug. “Princess Lenore! How are you since Kathryn was banished?” she asked sympathetically. “I can’t imagine how you feel.”

“I am well, but what do you think you’re doing, Trista?” Lenore demanded. “Illian isn’t the safest person to be around for someone like you. He won’t hurt me only because we’re close, but if he banished Kathryn, what makes you think you’re safe?”

“I…believe Illian can change. He was always kind to me as a child,” Trista stammered. The words sounded ridiculous for some reason when she said them out loud.

Lenore raised an eyebrow, then sighed. “Well, at least I have someone to gossip with and argue with now. You’d better stay for a while. I don’t have anyone to talk to these days when I’m not at the academy.”

Trista smiled and put her arm around her companionably. “I’ll tell you all the latest noble gossip, and you tell me about the academy,” she suggested. The two girls walked inside together, chattering away. Trista felt the anxiety that had gripped her at Illian’s words fading. It was not as though he would ask her to do something wrong. She could trust in that, at least.

Many miles away, Ren watched with an expression on his face that was more hurt than angry as Kathryn and Chance walked away from the cottage and headed towards town. Brenin muttered under his breath when he saw the look and then went out for a walk to escape the moping.

When Brenin returned, Calix was busy sitting in front of the cottage with the green opal in his hand and staring at a little sprout intently. Brenin watched him for several minutes, but the boy didn’t move. After a little while, his eyes began to glow dimly. The old veteran raised an eyebrow as the sprout grew several inches, leaves emerged, and a bud began to grow towards the top.

But Calix stopped abruptly before the bud could flower, looking down at the green opal with a worried expression. The color had turned paler.

Brenin remarked, “Those are pretty rare these days.”

The boy jumped at the sound, skittering backwards like a frightened mouse. His eyes darkened again to their normal black coloring, and he stuffed the opal in his pocket.

The soldier frowned slightly. “I’m not gonna hurt you, boy,” he told him.

Calix looked ashamed, but he said, “Y-you look d-dangerous.”

“Well, I am dangerous. But not to my friends.” Brenin sat down heavily on a log next to the outdoor fireplace, keeping a respectful distance from the skittish young healer.

“We’re not f-friends.”

“Have it your way. But you helped my boy. I won’t forget that,” Brenin said bluntly.

Calix looked uncomfortable.

The older man went on, “I never really thanked you for it.”

“I didn’t ask for th-thanks.”

“I know that. Still, I appreciate it. That brat may be a fool at times, but he’s a good person, much better than I will ever be. Believe me when I say, his life is worth it.”

Calix didn’t seem particularly interested in listening to him. He pulled out the green opal and looked at the little sprout again.

“If I can ever help you, tell me. Whatever it is. I owe you one,” the old man finished. Brenin didn’t like talking much more than Calix did, so he decided that was a long enough conversation for the both of them. He stood up and left to hunt for some small game.

Unbeknownst to him, Calix watched him go. The boy had a strange expression on his face of mingled grief and gratitude. Those feelings seemed to surprise him, and he put a hand on his chest and gave out a deep sigh as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him. Perhaps this time, something he did had actually mattered.

Kathryn had gone into town with Chance, despite Ren’s disapproving gaze following her as she walked away. She felt a bit guilty for leaving him behind, but she brushed off the uncomfortable feeling and decided she was going to enjoy the walk.

She’d forgotten how tiresome making her way along the narrow path could be, however. She was soon panting, trying to keep up with Chance and far too stubborn to say out loud that she needed to rest. He glanced over his shoulder and asked with a smirk, “Want to stop, Miss Kathryn?”

She only glared at him and didn’t reply. She was completely out of breath and exhausted by the time they finally reached the little town that was nearly two miles away from Cal’s home.

Kathryn looked around with interest, as she had rarely spent time in such places during her time as a princess. She noticed immediately that there were festive banners draped everywhere. Chance also noticed and stopped a passerby to ask, “Excuse me, is there some kind of celebration going on?”

The man glanced from Kathryn to Chance with brief curiosity before saying, “Where are you from that you don’t know it’s the coronation day of the new king?”

Kathryn started violently. Though she’d known her father’s health was poor, she’d had no idea he was dead. She felt a lump in her throat, and tears started in her eyes that she had to turn away quickly to hide.

Chance on the other hand gave a knowing nod. “Ah, of course. I knew that…I just lost track of days on the trail here. Speaking of which, is there a tavern where we can have luncheon?”

“The tavern’s always open,” the man nodded. “You’d better have good money though; the old man there is more stingy than is decent, I say.”

Chance smiled at the man. “Thank you,” he said. He led Kathryn inside.

Kathryn’s mind reeled. Her father had never been affectionate towards her. He had instead created a world in which she, Lenore, and Illian constantly competed for his attention and his interest, and Kathryn had always received the worst end of that deal, at least until Illian left to fight in the war.

Then he had ordered her arrest and tried to force Ren to confess to a crime he didn’t commit. Kathryn had been angry. She’d even hated the king for a moment. But now, she felt desolate. There was a sense of loss and grief that numbed her and made her stomach revolt.

Chance said quietly, “Perhaps we should return. We can always come back.”

“No.” Kathryn shook her head to clear it and took a deep breath. “There’s no reason. My father and I…were not close.”

“Excellent. Then you can buy me a meal,” Chance said cheerfully.

Kathryn shook off the dark cloud that had fallen over her and glared at him. “Buy your own meal.”

“But I don’t have any money.” Chance sighed dramatically and turned out his pockets to show her.

Kathryn rolled her eyes, but in the end, she bought him food. As they sat down to eat, they heard people around them chattering about the coronation. Chance watched Kathryn’s face as they heard someone say, “King Illian will be better than his father ever was; at least he’s not a coward who ran away from the battlefield.”

Her expression was unreadable, and he had to give up. He remarked, “This must be hard for you, Miss Kathryn.”

She didn’t even hear the words. She was thinking about when she’d seen him send the message with the bird. It was obvious who he was sending a message to. And while at first she had considered pretending she didn’t know and waiting to intercept one of his birds, she was starting to think there might be a better option; a way to get him on her side.

Chance cocked his head, confused by her lack of a reaction. “Miss Kathryn,” he began.

Kathryn interrupted, “Where are the birds?”

Chance started violently, then hastily covered up his reaction with a puzzled smile. “Birds?” he asked.

“I heard there are birds that can be trained to memorize and return to a particular location, carrying a message with them. And this would be the nearest place where you could contact Illian.” Kathryn’s eyes bored into his. “Does someone care for them for you?”

She knew she was taking a risk. She was alone with him, after all, and Ren was stuck back at the cabin. But she hoped her apparent vulnerability would put him at ease and make him lower his guard.

He started to reply, paused, then started again. “Well, I could pretend I have no idea what you’re talking about, but there’s not much point, is there?” he said dryly.

“None at all.” Kathryn’s tone was even. “You’ve been keeping him informed since the beginning. Now, I won’t ask you why. I’ll just ask you to pass on a message to him.”

Chance frowned. “What message?”

Kathryn leaned forward, keeping her eyes fixed on his face. Her heart was beating fast, but she didn’t show it. “Tell him that I challenge his right to the throne.”

Chance’s eyes widened. “What-”

“Tell him that I have no intention of letting him keep his position as the king of my country. Tell him that I will return one day, with an army behind me, to take back what belongs to me.”

Chance stood up quickly, his face reddening. “Are you crazy, Miss Kathryn? What do you think will happen to you if you send a ridiculous message like that?”

Kathryn shrugged. “Why should you care? Simply deliver my message and let Illian know that he will never be safe again.”

“You’re the one who won’t be safe!” Chance blurted.

Then he noticed the slight smile playing around her lips. Several different expressions of confusion, uncertainty, surprise, and annoyance crossed his face in quick succession. “You were testing me,” he remarked.

Kathryn chose not to reply. But she felt relieved. As she had hoped, there was a possibility she could turn him over to her side. Chance sat back down slowly, rubbing his forehead in frustration. “What a strange woman you are. I don’t understand you at all.”

“It’s not so difficult. I don’t believe you are completely loyal to Illian. You lie as freely as you breathe, and your story of how you met him, and why he gave you that dagger, doesn’t add up. You said he saved your life. So that means you would owe him, but it wouldn’t explain why he’d give you a dagger. And you claimed you did a few jobs for him and he gave you something that precious?” Kathryn chose her words carefully. “Illian is not the sort to give gifts for something so small. He’s desperate to keep you by his side for whatever reason; something you know, something you did, or something he has over you.”

Chance chewed on his lip thoughtfully for a moment, evidently trying to decide how to respond. At last he said, “And so what?”

“Tell me what he has against you. Maybe I can help you,” Kathryn said softly.

Chance laughed, though there was a bitter note in the sound. “Sure you will. How are you going to help me when you’re in a worse situation than I am?”

“I won’t be without a homeland forever. I have friends. Allies.”

“Who?” Chance demanded.

Kathryn cocked her head. “You first. You could use this information against me, after all. What happened to you?”

Chance took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, though his face was calm. “All right. I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you…everything that Illian knows about me. And what I know about him. I lied about when I met him. It wasn’t during the second war. It was about a year into the first. And he wasn’t captured.”

And Chance began to tell her the truth about what had happened during those missing days.

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