“There has to be something done.” Isolde shouted into the mayhem of noise at the palace. After everybody had seen the circle, nobody wanted to remain there anymore, believing that the place was a cursed place and we all moved back to the palace to discuss and come up with new ways to handle what we just saw.
I had honestly thought it was going to be handled rationally but as soon as we got to the council’s hall, hell broke loose as the council argued, each having different course of action for the Empire.
Isolde own was that it could be fought.
“How can you fight something that you cannot see?” Gogan said weakly.
Me and Arius sat in a corner as we watch them haggle.
“They think that they have the final say.” Arius whispered to me. “When they get this way which is only during crisis, the best thing for you to do is to let them exhaust their selves.”
“Have you ever seen them like this?” I asked Arius whose hand was passing through my hair. Normally I would not sit down and let him continue to do this but I was tired and drained and it really felt nice. So I allowed it to continue.
“Yes, when my father became sick of a sudden.” Arius answered with shadow entering his eyes.
I leaned my body into Arius so as to remove his mind from the memories which he was caught in. Memories which was not pleasant for him.
“Are you okay?” I asked him and he gave me a smile before he shook his head like he was removing cobwebs from his hair.
“I am now.” He replied as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder so I will be pressed close to him and then we turned and continued to listen to the arguments which was taking place.
“Look my own is that we should direct all our forces into protecting the people. We don’t know what this is.” A man with a short frame but who was capable of projecting his voice so loud that his words, I could clearly hear among the dim of other noises too.
“Next thing you will say is that we should go hiding. I thought you were a commander Ruslan.” Isolde lips curled in disgust.
“I am a commander but I know that it isn’t a death sentence, especially when fighting will do no good.” Ruslan returned.
“Fighting does every good. It shows that we will not let Northshore be destroyed.” Isolde bits out.
“Differences in location, Isolde was raised in a place where she had to fight and claw her way out of. The only thing appreciated is strength and she possessed the most of it, that is why she is a commander. Ruslan on the other hand grew up on a place that values peace and tranquility, he will always seek for a non-violent way but when push comes shove, he fights to protect that tranquility, that is why he got to the position of a commander. His legion does most of the guard duties when entering Northshore and some points in Northshore which are very delicate.” Arius explained and with his words I realized something important.
Northshore was just like Dar, where Dar had different leaders, Northshore own crazy was too much, they needed one supreme leader to put the rest of them under check and that was what Arius was.
Each person represented his part of the empire in some small way. “Gogon comes from a healing settlement?” I guessed and Arius smiled at me.
“Correct, He is the best medicine man that exists in the whole empire.”
“Northshore will not be destroyed, not under my watch.” Ruslan vowed.
“Then take active steps to fight, you and I know that from defensive to attacking when weak is almost the same thing as a defeat.” Isolde said in a soft tone.
The rest of the council bickering had died down.
“I cannot put my people in danger.” Ruslan shut his eyes.
“You are a coward.” She spat. “Kayd, Casnar?” She called out as two other member of the council looked at her at the mention of their name.
“On the fence.” Casnar grunted.
“Me too.” Kayd said, when I had seen him originally, I had thought that he was a woman but I learnt better as time went on.
“That does not meant that we don’t have a solution or a suggestion.” Casnar started just as Isolde took a breath, probably to start screaming. There was more to this than we knew. Isolde anger against this seemed personal.
“What is your solution?” Isolde asked in a calm tone which raised my eyebrows. She was anything but that and for her to be that way right now, it just means that she will soon explode and not in a pretty way.
“The wrath of Yama is ever ready but we have no Yama.” Kayd said as at once they all turned to look at Arius who froze beside me.
Just like me, I was sure that he was not expecting that.
“I don’t want to do the coronation now, My father just died, I need time to grieve.” Arius started but they shook their head.
“I am sorry my king. We understand the need for you to grieve but the empire might be in danger and remember that we do what is best fpor the empire. Ypu need to accept that title officially.” Gogan said as Arius closed his eyes removed his arm from me, in fact, he became distant.
“I don’t want that now. What will it do beside it just being a fancy title?” Arius protested although weakly like he knew that the council will was stronger than his and that they had already won because he had no choice.
“The army listens to you. You have access to over two hundred and fifty thousand warriors. You get to have the knowledge of your forefathers. Knowledge we will need during this time. Because certainly, this cannot be the first time that Northshore has been threatened like this, we need to know what was done then and see if we can replicate it now.” Dahlia said.
She was the quietest of the council and the wisest, I would not be surprised if she comes from a place in Northshore which people are known for their knowledge.
“Two hundred and fifty thousand?” I questioned. “My legion is just barely ten thousand.”
“You have the smallest legion.” Kayd replied me offhandedly.
“My queen?” Arius said and when I looked at him, the question was clear in his eyes.
There was no other choice, it was the least thing for us to do, something which everybody already expected. People would not think something is wrong and that was something which everybody need now. To be calm.
I gave a barely visible nod and Arius sighed.
“Prepare for my coronation.” Arius ordered as he held my hand as if I was his life line and we left.
I didn’t complain when we moved towards his room and I did say anything when Faye came out from her room to see me and Arius going to his room. |
Arius acting like Faye was not standing there, entered his room and shut the door behind me and then he placed me on the bed. I thought he would renegade on his words about not touching me but he didn’t.
All the man did was to rest his head on my laps.
“Let’s stay like this for a while.” He said very softly, so soft and low that I almost missed his words.
“Let’s stay this way so I can shut out the world even if it is just for a little while.”