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nineteen

Thylas

T he King called a meeting this morning. I wasn’t fully awake yet. The sun was just beginning to emerge over the sands as the youngest member of the Prel I’ve ever seen started knocking on my door. He looked only seven lunar years old, and I wonder if the age of enlistment has changed since I left. I vaguely remember some of my friends joining when I reached my tenth cycle, but when I would ask my mother when I could join, she simply said it wasn’t for me to worry about. It wasn’t long after that conversation I found myself thrown into the sea.

“You were called as well, I see?” Rhenor comes to stand beside me, Siphonie behind him.

“Ambassador duties, I assume — but why are you here?” I lower my voice. “And have you found out where our men are?”

Since we came to the castle, we’ve been separated from our troops. At the gates, someone met us and ushered the royal party into the castle, but the rest of the Shayi would be taken to their rooms in the soldiers’ quarters. We haven’t seen one since. At first, I didn’t think about it because I was concerned for Naxa, but now it is becoming worrisome because I have not seen Lelfait — my commander — nor any of the handful of ladies that Carnaxa brought with her.

Rhenor shakes his head. “Not yet ... I’ve not been able to find the soldiers’ quarters but I plan to look today after we see what the King wants from us.”

Siphonie sniffles and I glance back at her. Her eyes are still puffy, as if she’s spent all night crying. She meets my eyes and a sad smile crosses her lips before she pulls the hood over her head and glances back to her feet. Rhenor catches my stare and leans towards me. “She is worried about Naxa.”

I just nod my head and grip the pommel of my sword on my hip. I can understand. The worst part of that night wasn’t watching Carnaxa with Ereon ... that I knew all along would happen. If she would have asked for Ereon to join when we shared our night, I would have obliged. But knowing that she was going to be marked as property of Shaston, knowing everyone there was wanting a piece of her as well. It was too much, because I was completely powerless to help. She doesn’t even know me.

We arrive outside of the throne room and I sigh. I miss the colors that would flood Antalis. The light, the happiness, the laughter — there is none of that here. I straighten my spine as Sache Ataiun saunters into the room. His lips twist into a cruel smile.

“Ambassador, the meeting will be held elsewhere. I’m going to take you there. Bêl Rhenor and Bêlit Siphonie, you two as well.” He eyes Siphonie up and down before speaking, “Are you with child?” I turn quickly to her. I notice the small bulge that barely shows through her gown. How Ataiun would have even noticed such a thing is beyond me.

Rhenor steps in front of Siphonie, shielding her from his stare, and she instinctively places her hands over her stomach before he responds, “Yes, the Goddess blessed us shortly before leaving Antalis. My wife is carrying my heir.” His hazel eyes cut into slits as he waits for the Sache to answer.

“Just something I noticed ... perhaps we should get her some garments that don’t cling to her like a second skin. It would be more proper while in Shaston.”

He turns around and starts walking down the stone hallway. I hear Rhenor mumble to Siphonie, asking if she is okay and to not worry. The dark brown gown she wears covers more skin than any she ever wore in Antalis. We’ve barely been here for a full moon cycle and already the Sache is becoming too bold regarding Siphonie. I knew women weren’t treated well. My father constantly mistreated my mother, but we weren’t of royal blood — we weren’t guests from another kingdom. I would have never wanted Siphonie or Rhenor to come had I known this is what they’d have to endure.

My thoughts flicker to Anara, still in my room. She had nowhere else to go. She couldn’t return to Ereon’s and after seeing how the King treated her, I certainly wasn’t going to let her be caught in his sights again. So she remained and is there now. Anara didn’t tell me much about her life other than somehow she made Ereon fall in love with her. She stated she would tell me a story about how it all came to pass, but decided against it almost as the words “I made him feel that way” came from her lips. Even if she had wanted to, I wasn’t in the mood to discuss anything. I could just faintly hear Carnaxa’s scream as the plal ryow was happening. I rushed towards the door and Anara fought against me with more strength than I expected, until I crumpled at her feet and she just held me until sleep took us. I knew even if I made it into that room, I would have caused more harm than good. We haven’t talked about it since, instead choosing to discuss the weather and food and random things from a different life.

“Come on ...” I run a hand across my cheeks, realizing I really need to shave. “Let’s get this over with.”

Outside of the palace is a long walkway covered in black leather-like fabric, reminding me of the bracelets we are forced to wear — the wretched thing is like a shackle. Large pieces of cloth hang over the tops of poles to create enough shadows to walk without being burned. I shield my eyes with my left hand as the brightness overtakes me. I should have grabbed more of my Shastonian garments. I would have, had I known I was going to be outside. There is a building at the end of the walkway and I assume that is where the meeting is being held.

Ataiun opens the door and motions us inside. As I enter, I see that Carnaxa and Ereon are already here. Carnaxa stands in a silver dress made of a light silk fabric. The bodice has black embroidery in swirls that flow from her collar to the tips of her toes. The sleeves are long and reach past her fingertips and she wears a veil that covers her hair, not showing a single strand, her crown fitted across the top.

Ereon stands with one arm behind her back and his other hanging loosely at his side. He wears a matching top to her dress, and I can’t help but envy him once more. Seeing him with a crown is still startling after not seeing him with one for many moon cycles. It’s a reminder that he will always be ahead of me in title and rank.

“Finally, you have arrived,” says the King, whom I didn’t even notice. He sits to the left of Ereon, behind a large desk. A small oil lamp is set on top of the desk filling the room with light. The King only stares down, looking at the various documents across his desk. He finally looks up at me.

“Ambassador —” His eyes connect with mine and his jaw clenches before he coughs and starts again, “Ambassador Thylas, welcome to Shaston. ”

I stop in front of his desk, feeling Siphonie and Rhenor standing behind me.

“King Atlas, I have tried to make your introduction before now and was denied. I would like to know where you have housed those who came with us from Antalis. I cannot find a single one and need to secure their safety.”

The King looks me up and down as if seeing me for the first time, but I know he saw me at the wedding ceremony. I was the one who walked her down the aisle. Regardless, he seems to accept who I am and waves his hand as if he doesn’t care. “The madness arrived with the soldiers that you brought and they have been placed in quarantine to prevent the spread. They will be released when I deem it safe.”

I want to say more but he continues, “It’s been a busy and strange time. Which leads me to today’s agenda. Since it concerns the Kingdom of Antalis, I wanted to let you know we received a message from King Clennom for you today. I took the liberty of seeing what the news was —”

“As Ambassador, my messages to or from King Clennom are my concern only and it is ...” I stop for just a split second to consider my words. “Highly inappropriate to open a sealed letter.”

King Atlas simply shrugs. “As I was saying, things here in Shaston are different.”

Fury builds in my veins at being completely disregarded. If I cannot read my own messages first, then what true power will I even have to help the people of Antalis? What is the point of having an ambassador at all ?

“The deluc has completely devastated Antalis with more than half the population either in seclusion or already showing the bloodstreaked eyes of the disease. King Clennom is still quarantined inside his palace’s walls. The Antalian envoys that were sent to the Southern Continent have returned with a message that the Southern Continent does not wish to risk their people becoming sick with the deluc and will refuse any travelers from the north for fear of contamination. They will no longer send anyone from their continent over either. Oh, and he wished to let Ereon’s wife know” — the King peers down at the letter where I can see King Clennom’s writing — “Marianna and her child were taken by the deluc and her husband, Fanon, killed himself in mourning.” He rolls his eyes and tosses the note aside. “Seems a waste of a life to throw it all away for a bitch and the worm in her womb. The weakness of Antalian men constantly amazes me.”

Carnaxa clutches at her dress and her eyes glaze over with tears. Marianna was a friend of hers, not as close as Siphonie, but one nonetheless. We all grew up together. I had hoped when Marianna had left the palace that she would be safe from the deluc, apparently no one is. Ereon leans over discreetly and whispers into Carnaxa’s ear. She nods and takes a deep breath.

“That was news that someone of Antalis should have delivered to our heir,” I begin as the King looks at me once more, raising an eyebrow as if no one has ever told him he was mistaken. “From now on, I will relay any information from Antalis to those who need to hear it. You may be King of Shaston, but I am Ambassador of Antalis and therefore, King Clennom’s representative. ”

Atlas smirks and nods his head and his eyes flicker towards Ataiun, who stands guard at the door behind me. “Very well.”

Not the answer I was expecting and I look to Ereon, who stares back at me, equally surprised by the response. Atlas grabs another letter from his desk and I notice the green seal of Midaeliea.

“King Elino wrote to me asking for aid against the khind . Apparently, the monsters have left their mountain home and are now slowly breaching Midaeliea. The madness is also happening there. I have told them we do not have the time to concern ourselves with their troubles.”

“Father” — Ereon steps up — “King Elino and Queen Natala have always been our allies and friends. We could spare a few of the Prel to help them.”

The King stands up and even though he isn’t nearly as tall as Ereon, he dominates the space.

“And how will we help quell our own issues inside Shaston’s borders with the madness, or if the khind come north, if we send our men to help kingdoms that have merely dealt with our presence?”

“According to Ryul, the kukhe in the north has calmed down for now. You know, they seem to come and go in cycles. Perhaps we can gather some of those men and bring them back to help with the madness.”

Ryul, I remember him from Antalis. He was constantly skulking in the shadows. I thought it was to hide the scar on his face and now I realize, he is Ereon’s man. While he may report to the King, I would bet my last coin that he is more loyal to Ereon .

Atlas turns from Ereon and I can hear the breath Carnaxa releases as if she’s been holding it for too long. I need to be alone with her, to see if I can help her remember. I need to talk to her, to hold her. The scuffing of the King’s chair as he moves it out of the way draws me from my thoughts.

“Perhaps. But first there are some things we need to do today. I didn’t call you all here for just this.” He opens a second door and past him is a whipping post and beyond it, a crowd has gathered. “There are some things that need to be handled, starting with Bêlit Siphonie.”