EPIC: Fourteen Books of Fantasy (71 page)

Klawdia took a step forward. ‘I understand, Your Majesty.’

‘Adenine, I hope you understand that you’ve been the victim of horrible dishonesties. You were never recorded as a citizen of Senya, yet alone as a healer. I feel personally responsible for every tragedy that has befallen you and seek to address this… in my reign over the lands.’

The king stepped down from the throne and came over to stand in front of me. I bowed my head.

He placed a hand on my shoulder. ‘Consider this an official apology.’

‘Thank you,’ I said.

The king turned and resumed his seat. ‘Mayor Vawdon, I will give you a second chance. From now on, all matters involving healers will go through me. I will be sending out notices to all other towns and their mayors to make sure they do the same.’

The mayor bowed. Emala put an arm around her father’s waist.

‘Healer Euka. I do not wish to embarrass you here. You should never have dealt with Mayor Vawdon directly. Klawdia’s actions were fuelled by your disrespect to my laws. It’s for that reason that Klawdia will be allowed to live.’

I sighed with relief. Jemely beamed at me.

‘You will accept this decision,’ he said to the scowling healer ambassador. ‘Now I need to judge the fates of Klawdia, Adenine, and Jemely. We will reconvene here in two hours. For now, you may return to your rooms.’

I couldn’t move as I sorted through the day’s events. Emala had talked against Mother, and Healer Euka had lied. Yet the king focused on the fates of Klawdia, Jemely, and me? I turned to Emala and hissed, ‘Why did you say that about Mother?’

‘I’m sorry, Adenine. You’re her daughter. You love her. That’s why you can’t see it.’ Mayor Vawdon tugged at Emala’s dress, and she followed him out of the room.

I lay on my bed, trying to still my swirling thoughts. There was nothing in me, no energy, no hope, just anxiety, fear, and defeat.

An hour later, a knock snapped me awake. I sat up and gasped as King Erageo sauntered into my room, his thick cape trailing behind him.

‘I apologise for interrupting your rest. Would you speak with me?’ he asked, pointing to my small table and chairs.

I straightened my hair, slid from my bed, curtsied, and sat down at the table.

The king sat opposite me. I fiddled with my dress and hair, and my heart pounded in my ears. Even in my nervous state, I thought he seemed more troubled than I. We sat there for a moment, neither of us speaking.

He placed both arms on the table in front of him, cleared his throat and clasped his hands. ‘First, I need to apologise, more so than I have already done. You
are
young. Soon, your eyes will behold more than most girls your age will, or even should. But even so, you need to hear this. I can trust you, can’t I?’

‘Yes, Your Majesty.’

‘In private, you may call me Erageo.’

‘As you wish,’ I replied.

‘It must be difficult for someone so young to contain such power. You have a wonderful gift. I hope you will use it in the service of others. There are other healers within these walls, not many, but some. All must go to Meligna one day. As must you.’

I averted my eyes to hide my disappointment. I thought back to the angry crowd outside Mother’s house. South Senya could no longer be my home.

King Erageo continued, ‘What I say out there in the court is being observed by Healer Euka. Her friends are powerful, and she serves the Queens directly. I must keep the peace between us for now.’ He looked me in the eyes, took a deep breath, then looked away. ‘I am sorry you must go away.’ And in his disclosure I saw all of it. His struggle, his loss, his helplessness. He already fought a battle, a silent one that he was losing.

‘Please…’ I slapped a hand to my mouth. I had spoken out of turn.

‘It has to be this way. But I think out of this has come an opportunity. I know Healer Euka has acted outside our laws because the Queens grow more conceited and confident. I feel them testing my power. So in response to this I’m going to raise the age of healer girls to sixteen. And instead of taking children away from parents, I’m going to build a smaller castle behind this one where the children and their parents can come and live until the girls are of age.’

I beamed at him. ‘I like that. Are you saying that only girls of sixteen can go to Meligna?’

‘Yes. But they must stay longer. The Queens ask for four years of service and training for each girl. Many stay in Meligna. In fact, I don’t remember the last time any returned. I sent letters off to inquire after them. They replied saying they had decided to stay.’

‘Can’t we entice them back?’ I asked.

He frowned and spread his hands. ‘I don’t know. We need to change the attitude of the South Senyan people. With time and the cooperation of the Queens, we could succeed. But the Queens will not help us. They have their own views and none of them in our favour. We could take them back by force if the Bivinians assisted us. Healer girls are accepted in Meligna, worshipped to some degree as they once were here in South Senya. If you can learn to be part of that, you might find some happiness, too.’

‘There is nothing for me there,’ I said curtly.

‘I see.’

‘Why do the girls have to go at all? Can’t we just tell the healers no?’

‘A kingdom is only as strong as its army, and ours is weak. For now, if the Queens demand it, I will give them healer girls. I must obey.’

‘It’s not fair.’

‘No, it isn’t. But I have talked with Healer Euka. She promises to take good care of you, and I will make sure she does.’

Tears welled up in my eyes. ‘Please don’t punish Mother.’

King Erageo took my hand. ‘I don’t blame your mother for her actions. This is my fault. All of it. The laws I have passed, and my actions, have made me a bad king, as bad as my father.’

‘That’s not true. You don’t have a choice,’ I said, abruptly feeling stupid for trying to reassure a king.

He waved his hand. ‘No punishment will befall your mother.’

‘And Klawdia?’

He threw up his hands, stood, and walked over to the large window. ‘I have no choice but to banish Klawdia to Ruxdor or give her to the Queens. She’s better off out there being hunted by the chieftain and living in the snowy, untamed peaks.’

‘She might die in Ruxdor.’

‘I will only send her to the border. There, she will be freed with enough provisions to get by. Hopefully, she’ll survive. But
you
must think about yourself now.’

He came back and knelt before me. I looked around the room hoping no-one spied on us. What would they think seeing their king kneel before a common girl?

‘I ask you this favour,’ he whispered. ‘You will spy on the Queens for me. I asked the same of the others, but they stopped communicating with me. I believe they have betrayed me. Find out whether this is true. If the Queens plot against me you will report it.’

‘What if I get found out? How will I tell you what I know? What if they don’t let me send messages or they lock me up?’

King Erageo stood and resumed his seat. ‘You let me work that out. We may see an increase in the healers’ hate of us soon. If it grows too strong, I will find a way to bring you home. I must prepare for the worst.’ His eyes became hollow.

‘What happens if they call for us to go to war?’ I asked.

King Erageo began to answer, but a soldier came through the door. ‘Time to go.’

The king left, but the soldier made me wait a few more minutes before he escorted me down the hall.

Chapter XXXIV

B
ACK
AT
COURT
,
EVERYONE
HUSHED
when Morrog raised his hand. King Erageo stared down at us. A confident expression replaced the troubled look he’d worn moments earlier in my room. A merchant and king shared traits: they both must act.

Jemely looked scared. Klawdia stared into the distance, the blue of her gaze piercing whatever she imagined. I threw them both a grim look, hinting that I already knew my fate. Klawdia raised an eyebrow, and I nodded, hoping I’d answered the correct unspoken question that danced on her lips. She threw me a half-smile. Yes. We understood each other.

Leaving for Meligna meant I would leave Frooby also. Would Mother cope without me? Silly question. Mother would be fine. Varago would take care of her.

I hardly listened as King Erageo passed sentence on Klawdia. Healer Euka smiled, and I guessed she thought about Klawdia being close to her city, where she might capture her. I wanted to strike the golden-eyed woman across the face for taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others. But Klawdia had tried to kill the ambassador’s beloved Queen Toxiv. In Healer Euka’s eyes, Klawdia was the criminal. If Healer Euka had tried to kill my king, I might feel the same anger towards her.

The king said nothing that surprised me. I was to go with Healer Euka to Meligna. ‘Out of all of this,’ he added. ‘I have come to a decision that will affect your Queens. I’m raising the age that healer girls must go to Meligna to sixteen. This is to discourage any further blinding of children.’

Gasps erupted from the onlookers. The gentleman and ladies in the court exchanged worried glances. Healer Euka scowled.

The king ignored the responses. ‘To further ensure healer girls are to be protected by me, I will construct a sanctuary adjoining the castle. There, healer girls and their families will be allowed to live out their lives until their daughters move away.’

I couldn’t help but smile. The king met my eyes briefly, and I saw a glint of triumph in his countenance.

‘This will not sit well with the Queens. I advise you to meet with them immediately,’ Healer Euka stated.

‘I will consider that after I am finished,’ the king said nonchalantly.

‘Jemely,’ the king said finally, ‘unfortunately, your issue with Healer Euka has nothing to do with my court. But I will give you the option of having the trial here or in Meligna.’

‘Meligna,’ Jemely said.

I stared at her in shock. ‘Jemely?’

She looked at me and smiled. And it hit me. She was coming to Meligna to be near me, to protect me where Klawdia couldn’t.

‘No,’ I said to the king. ‘Let her answer again.’ With every part of me, I willed her to choose Juxon City for her trial.

The king looked at Jemely and raised a questioning eyebrow.

‘Meligna,’ she repeated.

‘Meligna it is,’ the king said.

Healer Euka didn’t seem entirely indifferent to the decision. She watched for my reaction, and I tried to give her nothing to use against me later. But I could not conceal my concern. I glared at Jemely and shook my head. Even if she was in Meligna, there were no guarantees we’d even see each other. And she’d have no family there, no occupation. What was she thinking?

‘Healer Euka, are you happy with what I’ve decided today?’ the king asked.

‘No. Klawdia deserves to die. But seeing as she has no country to call home, I will assume her death would be of no consequence to South Senya
or
you. That will please my Queens. As for your new law about the healer girls, ready yourself for the consequences of your decision. Expect a summons to a diplomatic negotiation. We will give you one chance to change your mind.’

King Erageo’s face darkened, and he stood from the throne. He focused angry eyes on the ambassador and pointed to the back of the room. ‘You will humiliate me no longer. Leave my court.’

Healer Euka smiled and pointed at me. ‘I will visit you in your room later.’ She turned on her heel and strode from the room.

‘Mayor Vawdon, are you happy with what I’ve decided today?’ the king asked.

‘Y-Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your kindness,’ the mayor replied.

‘Good. This trial is now over.’ King Erageo pushed his cape aside and turned to leave. His two advisors fussed over his sudden and angry departure.

I sprinted toward the king, and soldiers moved to stop me.

‘Let her go,’ King Erageo said, raising his hands. ‘What is it?’

‘I’m not fourteen yet. My birth date is in two days. Let me stay in Borrelia for one day with my mother. Jemely too. She won’t be trouble. She’ll behave.’

The king regarded me for a moment. ‘I’ll see that it’s done.’ He gave me a knowing look and walked away.

‘Thank you,’ I said, though he was already gone.

Klawdia was being led away. I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her neck, her guard tried to push me away, but I held on tight and she nuzzled her face into me.

‘We’ll see each other again,’ I said.

‘Soon,’ she agreed.

The soldiers pushed me away so hard that I stumbled. When I regained my balance, I glimpsed her red hair disappeared into an adjoining room.

I turned to find Jemely but she had already been taken.

A soldier tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned around.

‘Mayor Vawdon said to give this to you.’ He placed a scroll in my hand. ‘Now, back to your room.’

My shoulders drooped as I obeyed.

Chapter XXXV

T
HAT
EVENING
,
AS
PROMISED
, H
EALER
Euka visited me. ‘Will you join me for a walk?’ she asked.