Dovetailed (21 page)

Zaren watched her walk through the crowd. She was charming, kind, and easily accessible. Every kel she spoke to seemed as smitten with her as he was, and the advice she gave each made a difference.

Once he’d given his first set of instructions, Zaren jumped down and ran toward the back of the room to help assist the kels back there. He figured he and Palamina could meet in the middle. Most of the group seemed to grasp what he and Palamina were teaching, which was good. The Leviathans were unforgiving creatures and most of these kels would probably die, but it was still better than the alternative of sitting here and waiting for death to come knocking at their door.

After they finished, Zaren and Palamina climbed back up on the table. “Now, let’s move on. The best way to—”

A slight crackle charged the underground room. Zaren narrowed his gaze, curious about the strange movement, and before his eyes Michael and Venus appeared, as did a cart filled with swords. Seth, and Hamel, the swordsmith, had a hold of the cart like their lives depended on not letting go.

The row of kels he’d been training jumped back in surprise until they realized who it was. At least they knew Venus, even though the idea of her—a god—being among them and speaking like she was just another kel made them uncomfortable.

Seeing Michael with Venus gave him a moment’s pause. It was the Formytian in him, the protector. It’d been his obligation for as long as she’d been alive to protect her and keep her safe. Now that he knew she was the child of Ith and Aetha those protective feelings just grew stronger. His knowledge also made what he’d done, his job in keeping her safe for so many years, seem more important. He wondered if he would’ve done anything different. He wanted to believe the answer was no.

“Venus,” he said, hopping off the table.

Palamina joined him.

Venus faced them. She seemed out of breath and frazzled. Some kind of substance covered her hair, face, and clothing and she stank terribly.

Palamina wrinkled her nose.

“It’s Leviathan blood,” Venus said. “King Antyon has released the Leviathans.” She moved her hands from her hair down to her boots and back up again. When she finished the smell was gone and she was clean.

“Cool trick,” Michael said.

Zaren agreed.

“I want to be able to do that,” Palamina added.

Zaren knew they were putting off the inevitable, but if what Venus said was true, there wasn’t time. “What do we do?”

Venus picked up a sword from cart and walked over to the nearest kel. She took the old sword from him and handed him a Daemon blade. The male kel took it, tossing it between hands. “It’s so light,” the kel said.

“And dangerous,” Venus added. She turned to Zaren, Palamina, Hamel, and Seth. “Make sure each Kelvieri gets one.”

They picked up swords and, as each Kelvieri came forward, they handed them out.

Zaren noticed Michael pull something from his shirt. It was the color of onyx. “That’s the Illeyse,” Venus said as Michael untied the leather strap.

“What’s it for?” Zaren sensed it was important… something about the way Michael and Venus moved it and held it.

Venus opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. “I’m not sure,” she finally said.

Venus studied the vessel, the Illeyse, uncertain about what needed to occur next. She held it between her fingers, feeling it pulsate.

It was tough to focus through images she was receiving of the destruction happening above, the Leviathans ripping through homes, tearing up ground, and killing Kelarians who hadn’t gone into the tunnels for safety. There were also images of Dervinias running through the jungle. He was obviously healed and going somewhere. He seemed to be struggling to decide whether he should confront his father or see his daughter. Venus also noticed Palmo sneaking away and contacting King Antyon, giving him details about where he was. She’d hoped his choices would be different because now the young prince would need to be punished. Venus had a sudden urge to protect Amberlee from the pain she would experience when the truth came out, but she resisted. Amberlee needed her trials, the pain. As the wounds healed she would become stronger, and that strength would be used to rebuild and reestablish Alayeah.

Taking away her pain would take away the woman she was meant to be.

Venus continued to search her mind and, like a bright light cutting through the storm, she located the steps necessary to use the Illeyse. Venus blinked several times and noticed Zaren, Michael, Seth, and Hamel staring at her with worry.

“It’s okay,” she said, hoping her words would calm their fears. “I know what to do.” She stood in front of the Kelvieri group. It was important she address them.

They were understandably nervous. She wanted to ease their burden. They’d been through so much and there was still more to go through. Some would even die. Giving them some ease from their trials would give them the strength they needed to go on.

What they needed was inspiration, a clear vision of what it was they were fighting for. They needed to know what victory would mean and why fighting, even dying, was worth it.

Venus jumped onto the table Zaren and Palamina had been standing on. “I commend you on your desire to be here. Your strength and determination are admirable. You’re going to need it to defeat what we must face, because the monsters destroying your homes, your crops, and your livelihoods aren’t weak and spineless, but they are like you. They believe in their cause. They hold convictions about what is right for the future of this world.

“I stand before you as witness that their leader, King Antyon, has deceived them with pretty lies. What they are fighting for, without realizing it… it’s the total rule of King Antyon. And I’ve seen his design for this world. It isn’t one of peace or happiness. He intends to enslave. He doesn’t want citizens, but pawns, and once he’s accomplished his desires here he intends to move to Earth, a planet not unlike ours.

“We cannot let him take away our freedoms. We cannot let him dictate where and how we live.” She raised her Daemon sword high into the air. “We cannot let him choose our lives for us.” Zaren, Seth, and Palamina climbed onto the table next to her. They raised their swords in the air with hers. “Are you with me?”

“Yes!” the crowd cheered back.

“Are you with me?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” They shouted in unison.

“Fabu,” she responded. “Here’s what must be done.”

Queen Amberlee had spent the better part of two days speaking with her people. They’d gone from hatred and anger to love and devotion. Talking to them helped her see the needs of the people, their wants and desires. It had also given her a greater understanding of family.

All this time she’d believed they weren’t necessary but, as she’d watched families interact, she realized how much she wanted one. It made her love Venus, forgive her, and have a strong desire to get to know her better. It also made her crave a family of her own. She’d secretly watched Palmo, the way he interacted with her people and their children. The traits she saw in him didn’t fill her with happiness. He was arrogant, easily offended, and downright belligerent with any he thought were below him, and that was everyone but her.

She even noticed that the way he spoke to her was with sarcasm and conceit. He belittled her, put his needs above hers, and seemed to care only for himself. Even more than that was the way he constantly snuck around. Palmo would leave for hours sometimes and, when she asked him where he went, he would shrug and tell her it was none of her concern.

It was beyond frustrating. His actions filled her with mistrust. Her love for him, she was sad to admit, had diminished considerably.

Amberlee sat at a table with three children. She was playing with one child’s long white hair while the others colored pictures.

Palmo sat down and leaned in. “Why are you touching them? They’re dirty.”

Amberlee sat straighter. “Because I want to,” she replied.

Palmo took in a deep breath then, in a louder voice, said, “It’s a waste of time to be down here. What proof do you have that the war is still going? Everyone who’s gone to the surface hasn’t returned. It’s probably because they’re living their lives again.” He stood and walked over to a group of kels. “We should get out of these stinking tunnels.”

Amberlee’s anger peaked. She didn’t want to admit that those who’d gone to the surface hadn’t returned because they were probably dead.

“Don’t you want to return to your homes?” Palmo asked, walking to another group.

“Go find your mothers,” she whispered to the girls at the table.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” each said with a curtsy and bounded away.

Amberlee stood. She noticed several of those Palmo had talked to were agreeing, and it was understandable. The tunnels weren’t filled with the comforts of home. It was boring down here, crowded and definitely smelly.

She wanted out of the tunnels as well, but leaving now would seal their fates, of that she was sure. If the war had ended, Amberlee knew without a doubt Venus would’ve at least sent someone down to tell them.

“The war hasn’t ended,” she said coolly, raising her chin when he glared.

“How do you know?” he asked. “It’s like we’ve been buried alive. I can’t stand being down here another second. Those above have forgotten us.” With each word his voice got stronger and louder.

Many stood and were following him around, yelling encouraging words.

Amberlee walked over to Palmo. “You need to stop this. You’re making the people anxious. If the war was over, Venus would’ve said something. She wouldn’t forget about us.”

Palmo snorted. “So you’re taking her side, even after all she’s done to oppress and keep you from who you were meant to be.” He shook his head. “It wasn’t that many days ago you said she was still awful. In fact you said she was worse than ever. Now that you’re a queen you think she’s going to care more about you? About any of us down here?” He came closer, getting in her face. “She doesn’t like you. She isn’t even one of us. Why would she give a damn what happens to us?”

Amberlee pressed her fists into her sides. “Have you already forgotten what she did for you in Helker?”