Chapter 5: The King's Speech

The steam carriage deposited Jaden at the festival’s entrance. From there, he continued on foot with a brisk stride he hoped did not appear hurried. The fanfare of horns announced the king’s speech.

The only people left to see him were the solitary shop vendors who had drawn the short straw and would have to watch their booths. All the rest gathered in front of the stage.

Jaden swore under his breath. He had only just reached the periphery of the crowd when the trumpets sounded. If the king didn’t kill him, his father would.

“People of Elementi. People of Minerale. I wish the tribes of the Animalian territories were here with us today, celebrating the Moon Of Peace.” King Dresden paused, looking across the crowd. “One hundred years ago, the King of Minerale spoke these same words as the Twin Moons of Peace hung in the sky.”

The crowd erupted in unsettled murmurs and harsh whispers. Though Jaden had been aware of Dresden's connection with the old king, not many knew of it. It was common for every relative of a king to be murdered when a new one rose to power.

Dresden shook his head. “He didn’t know what our countries were about to experience. It was the first time the tribes had not attended the Moon of Peace. The transformation of the lush, vibrant Animalian territories into the desperate, famine-stricken region we know now came as a shock.”

Jaden broke through the crowd and made his way to his assigned seat in the front row.

His father leaned over. “You must enjoy taking your life into your own hands. You will show our King your support at every meeting, every party, and every speech. You will hope he will forget you did not bother yourself with coming on time to the most important speech of the century.”

Jaden nodded. He should have felt chastised, but he fought to keep the indignation off his face. What he was important, maybe as important as his father’s work, and dare he even think it, the king’s work.

His people laid down their lives to keep weapons out of the hands of their enemies, revealed traitors, and caught spies, but he couldn’t tell a soul. Not one person could know what he did, or he would put everyone at risk. He would continue to play the part of the dutiful, if forgetful, son of the Lord Ambassador.

Dresden continued, unaware of Jaden’s treacherous thoughts, “We find ourselves engaged in a great war that has lasted far longer than any war should. It is the kind of war that tests the strength, morals, and ability of a country to persevere. We have endured countless horrors, but how long until we crumble under the enormous pressure?”

A murmur of agreement passed from Mineralite to Elementi. Dresden’s speech riveted each one.

Jaden could feel someone's eyes on the back of his head. He turned to meet their gaze.

Of course, it is Sikar Vaugen.

Jaden countered with a raised eyebrow, challenging him to do something about all that smugness.

Sihara nudged him, and Sebastian turned his attention back to the speech.

“If we want peace, then we must kill this ugly monster known as war. There is no Elementi war. There is no Mineralite war. There is only a battle that must be fought by brave men and women. So enjoy your peace this evening. Tomorrow we make history.” Dresden stepped down from the platform, followed by uproarious cheering.

How many years has it been since a Mineralite king pursued peace instead of power? The idea that there might be a king who would be worthy of my trust and loyalty seems absurd.

Now Jaden understood what the rebellion meant when they said Dresden had the bearing of an exceptional leader. He had raised a vast army of people from all walks to topple the previous king with little more than his conviction and charisma.

If the King follows through on his words, if he unites the countries, Zephyr, or if he just unites Minerale, I will use all my influence to ensure he has a long and fruitful reign.

“Do you think he meant all that?” An Elementi highborn asked. Her dark, curly hair and tanned skin meant she was a Northern or Southern Elementi.

Jaden didn’t recognize her.

Before he could answer, a weary Elementi soldier spoke. “I would like to believe him. I would like for this war to end.”

Sikar Castel Vivas harrumphed, “I wonder if the king speaks for the rest.”

The woman must be Castel’s wife, Tia.

“As a matter of fact, he does.” Grand Admiral Gunter replied with a touch of amusement. “I haven’t heard a speech like that in a long time. I think I forgot what it is like to have a good king. He makes me want to dust off the old suit of armor and charge off into battle in pursuit of justice and all that.”

Jaden couldn't agree more. After everything that happened at the Blacksmith's Inn, the speech encouraged him that maybe he wasn't the only one fighting to unite Minerale.

He searched for Lady Josephine Ragös as the crowd dispersed. They had an understanding of sorts. She protected him from the eligible ladies and their power-hungry mothers, and he introduced her to the higher members of the court.

Josephine waited to petition the king with about as much patience as he would have in the same situation, which is to say, not much. Genetic alteration made Mineralites look alike, but somehow she stood out from the rest. She wore her dark hair down, and her gown was a vibrant dark blue. With an easy smile and a quick mind, Josephine could get under his skin if he let her.

But I won’t.

His father finished speaking to the king and made a beeline for him. Jaden decided to skip his father’s lecture. He spotted Sihara walking next to Sikar Vaugen.

He won’t chastise me in front of his colleague’s daughter.

If there was one good thing about having to make the move to the Ambassadorial Halls, it was the fact that Sihara had befriended him. No one else offered him the same honest friendship without a few notes to persuade them.

Sikar Vaugen put a protective hand on her shoulder.

Jaden fought the urge to roll his eyes. He bowed and flashed a fake smile. “Taja, Sikar, it is good to see you again.”

“Running from another lecture from your father?” Sihara offered a knowing smirk.

“Ha, you caught me.” Jaden put his hands up in surrender. “People reacted well to King Dresden’s speech. What did you think?”

Sebastian fidgeted with the copper hilt of his cane. “To be completely honest, I want to know what makes him so enthusiastic about the alliance. It makes me wonder if he has found some loophole.”

Jaden wanted to reply, but he didn’t ask for his opinion. “If we were talking about one of my previous rulers, I would agree with you, but there is something different about King Dresden.”

“Oh?” Sihara arched an eyebrow.

“The army that helped him take control was equal parts nobility and commoners.” Jaden explained, but the Elementi highborn didn’t understand the significance. “The last thing the nobles want is trouble with the working class. King Dresden has been in control for all of one moon and has already made vast improvements to the daily life of the general population, so they must think twice before assassinating him.”

“Do you think he will force the lords to sign the alliance?” Sihara asked.

Jaden chuckled. “Certain lords and ladies may need to be, uh, persuaded to see things from a different point of view. But no, I don’t think he will force everyone to sign the alliance.”

Sebastian glanced at his timestone. “I wish I had time to argue with you, but I must be going.”

He planted a kiss on Sihara’s cheek and left with a mischievous smile.

Jaden coughed. That was quite an overt display of affection for an Elementi.

Sihara touched her cheek. Another woman would have blushed, but she stood there, blinking.

Jaden caught the eye of a Mineralite Enforcer and gestured for him to come forward.

“Keep the Taja safe while her fiancé is away.” Jaden put three large notes in his hand.

That should more than cover the inconvenience of the lost pay from abandoning his post.

“Oh, Mikel will watch over me.” Sihara gestured towards her Northern Elementi guardian.

“The Mineralites will respect an Enforcer at your side.” Jaden would rather be overcautious than feel responsible for her kidnapping.

“And I’m sure your guardian won’t mind the extra pair of eyes.” The Enforcer added, eager to keep the extra notes.

Sihara shrugged. “If you insist.”

Glancing at the way Sebastian had left, Jaden asked, “Did he schedule a meeting in the middle of the Twin Moon Festival?”

“He received a letter by special courier.” Sihara lifted her chin, her arms crossed. “Apparently, the meeting could not wait.”

The disappearance piqued Jaden’s curiosity, but he didn’t press the point.

She had that look on her face, the same one she had when her father had to leave on important business on her birthday.

Someone could do with some cheering up.

He gave her his best, cheeky grin. “You know, just because you have to marry him does not mean you have to be the first to like him.”

“Jaden.” Sihara admonished, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her.

Mimicking Sebastian, he pretended to look at a timestone on his wrist. “Three minutes late? I may as well plan my funeral. I might die from the shame.”

Sihara covered her mouth to try to prevent a giggle from escaping.

The Enforcer made no such effort, chuckling at his terrible impression.

Jaden narrowed his eyes at the Enforcer, crossing his arms and pouting. “You, sir, have wronged me for some imagined slight, and instead of dealing with it like a man, I’m just going to glare at you all afternoon.”

Sihara laughed. “You have no idea!”

“Oh, but I do.” Jaden surveyed the crowd for Lady Josephine. She was still standing in line to speak to the king. Lord Byron stood in front of her, talking the king’s ear off. The king would tire of his inane chatter soon enough.

“I’m going to get a bite to eat while I wait for my date to speak with the king.”

“May I accompany you? I’d rather not dine alone.” Sihara replied, stealing a glance at the crowd.

Jaden gestured for her to take the lead.

Meat sizzled on an open grill, and chefs showed off their chopping skills to an appreciative and hungry crowd. Vendors called out order numbers. Fragrant spices mingled with fresh baked bread and smoked fish.

Jaden’s stomach growled with approval for everything, but he restrained himself to only two plates piled with food.

Much to his surprise, Sihara purchased a meal for the Enforcer.

They chose a seat at the outdoor banquet tables. The Enforcer and Sihara’s guardian took a seat a few spaces away to allow them to speak freely.

Jaden added a generous amount of sauce to his food before digging in. The meat melted in his mouth; he should have enjoyed the meal more than any he had had in the last few moons. But the guilt of the deaths of his people made it turn to ash in his mouth, and he almost couldn't swallow.

If only he had noticed something was wrong, he could have gotten out without them laying down their lives for his. He replayed every moment of his encounter in his mind as he mindlessly ate, trying to pick up on something he missed the first time.

Sihara stayed silent, staring in the direction Sebastian had left.

Her wedding date is coming up rather soon, isn’t it? I should tell Casper to purchase a wedding gift tomorrow.

Jaden cleared his throat. “You can always find secrets when you go looking for them. I remember this one lady. Oh, by Avari’s shadow, she had a closet full of skeletons! Sometimes it is better to have plausible deniability than to get yourself caught in the thick of things.”

“I don’t want to spend my entire life apologizing for things I don’t understand.” The fire in her eyes went out, and her shoulders drooped. “There I go again, being selfish. This marriage is not about me.”

Jaden frowned. “I don’t think a bride has ever said that in the history of our planet. What else could it be about?”

Sihara hesitated. “It is about protecting my family and my people.”

Jaden gripped his utensil hard, a flash of anger washing over him. “Is someone threatening your family?”

Sihara shook her head. “It isn’t like that.”

“It sure sounds like it to me.”

“I’m a woman.” Sihara stirred her gravy. “I wouldn’t expect a Mineralite to understand.”

“Try me.”

“I cannot inherit my father’s title, I can only give it to my husband.” Sihara stabbed her meat with her fork. “If I don’t marry Sebastian, my family will lose everything, and it will be given to my uncle. You know, the one that hates Mineralites.”

“Ah.” Jaden tried to keep his green vegetables from mixing with the sweet berry sauce on his meat, but the berries had touched most of them. He popped it into his mouth and regretted not trying it earlier.

“If you don’t like Sebastian, why can’t you find someone else?”

“We tried.” Sihara huffed. “Ever since the court learned I didn’t have an elemental ability after my confirmation, the rumors have gone flying. Some question my legitimacy, others think I was adopted since my parents were only able to have me. And the rest won’t risk ruining their pure bloodlines, since my children will likely share my lack of elemental control.”

Jaden winced. “I sympathize with you. I really do. Some people just can’t see past bloodlines.”

“Now my twenty-second birthday is a few moons away, and my eligibility to pass the title goes with it.” Sihara spat the words.

“If anyone can tame him, it will be you. After all, you taught me a thing or two, so that has to count for something, right?” Jaden didn't see another option to offer her except condolences.

"Please forget I said anything. I'm just nervous and really want things to work with Sebastian. I know he is really busy, and I shouldn't say things out of anger or frustration." Sihara stood to clear the table.

Jaden searched the crowd for Lady Josephine again. She still stood in line to speak to the king. She caught his glance and made an exasperated face.

He offered her an encouraging thumbs up.

Ah, I should pick out something for her. That's what everyone would expect me to do. A little gold bracelet, or a beaded hat, perhaps.

Jaden turned to Sihara. “I promised my sisters I would buy them a gift, but I don’t have the faintest idea what they would like.”

Sihara toyed with the end of her shawl. “Where is your companion, Lady Edith? She could help you shop for a gift for them.”

Jaden scratched the back of his neck. “We stopped seeing each other last week.”

Sihara shook her head. “Oh dear, already? You will never settle down, are you?”

“Settle down? Never.” Jaden laughed—a real laugh for a change—at the thought of how complicated his life would become if he got married. “Not until someone blackmails me so brilliantly, I won’t have a choice but to marry them.”

Sihara wrinkled her nose. “Oh, ha, ha.”

The life of a bachelor appealed to him. No one could be kidnapped and used against him. No one knew him well enough to manipulate him into compromising his morals.

“So who is your new companion then?”

“Lady Josephine Ragös.”

Sihara made a noise of approval. “A daughter of industry? I’ve heard she’s heir to the Ragös family fortune.”

“And a marvelous dancer.” More important than her fortune, since Lady Edith had left his toes sore after every dance. “So, are you willing to help me find something special for my sisters and Lady Josephine? You know they will hate me if I don’t bring something back.”

Sihara bit her lip. “Well, I haven’t found the perfect souvenir yet, so I guess it won’t hurt. Where do you want to go first?”

“Let’s start there.” Jaden pointed to a little antique trinket shop. They dove into the shack and let their eyes adjust to the stark artificial light.

Sihara checked the shelves for hidden treasures. “I heard about the Mineralite nobles murdered just before the Moon of Peace. What happened there?”

“Someone poisoned three nobles just yesterday. The King beheaded their tasters.” He wasn’t sure what had brought about the unprovoked attack on the nobles friendly towards the Scarlet Society, but he had a feeling it had something to do with the smuggling ring.

“That sounds awful.” Sihara’s eyes widened.

Jaden kept his voice low to avoid eavesdroppers. “Their replacements are useless. Someone will kill them within a moon or turn them into puppets for their agenda.”

“I am not sure which one to hope for,” Sihara muttered under her breath. She picked up a little black notebook and flipped through the pages. “Have the Enforcers found any clues as to the identity of the poisoner?”

“The poison comes from the Etanian Elementi Republic. The sloppy mistake indicates an amateur, but not one so inexperienced as to leave any other traces or clues about his identity.”

Sihara stiffened. “If anyone found out, it could be the end of the alliance.”

“No one will know.” He said it with the confidence of a man who had personally seen to it. “And this amateur will think hard before striking again.”

Sihara frowned. “Ah, you have ensured the killer knows someone has covered his tracks. He will not make the mistake of committing the same crime twice. It would be the same as revealing himself to the world.”

“I am not so sure that it is a man. Poison is traditionally a woman’s weapon.” Jaden found a bottle of expensive perfume perfect for Lady Josephine.

“In Minerale, perhaps, but in Elementi, words are a woman’s preferred weapon. They are the only untraceable weapon that can destroy someone’s life.”

Elijah stepped into the compact space. “Taja Sihara, you are being followed.”

“By a brown-haired man with a large nose and a scar above his left eye?” Sihara asked as she plucked a red crystal figurine of a fire dancer from the shelf.

“Yes… Taja.” Elijah sounded surprised.

“Oh, that is just Bailey. Sebastian hired him to follow me around and report on my activities.”

Elijah narrowed his eyes. “Sikar Sebastian has men reporting on you?”

“Yes, he is very protective.” Sihara’s lips formed a taut line.

A hand-painted fan decorated with swirling designs caught Jaden’s eye. “Ah, Aliza will love this. Now I just had to find something for Claudia and Roxann.”

Sihara brought the little black notebook to the shopkeeper’s counter. “What can you tell me about this journal?”

The shopkeeper smiled. “Ah, yes, this is the journal of a great archeologist. It isn’t written in Elementi, Mineralite, the common tongue, or even Animalian.”

Jaden recognized the runes right away. “It reminds me of the markings in my parents’s journals from the walls of the ancient ruins. Most likely, this is just a forgery. I doubt it is of any actual value.”

The shopkeeper took offense to his words. “I say, you have a bit of a nerve. I assure you, I was very thorough in my questioning of the man who brought it in. He had other artifacts from the ancient ruins with him.”

Jaden feigned interest, “Do you still have some of those artifacts?”

The shopkeeper scowled at his implication, “I sold them hours ago.”

Before Jaden could tell Sihara not to waste her time with this obvious scam, she set the firedancer on the counter.

“If you would throw in this figurine, I will buy both for thirty shy’lls.”

The shopkeeper thought it over. “How about forty shy’lls?”

Sihara counted the rest of her money. “Would you take thirty-six? I didn’t realize the food would cost so much.”

The shopkeeper laughed and accepted her bargain.

Jaden paid for the perfume and the hand-painted fan. “Do you have any idea what Claudia or Roxann would like?”

“Roxann has been going on and on about wanting an Elementi cloak.” Sihara raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you don’t remember.”

“Half the things they prattle on about are nonsense to me.” Jaden shrugged. He honestly should pay more attention, but they talked so much and their options changed like the weather.

Sihara rolled her eyes and led the way to an Elementi tent filled with dresses. After looking through a dizzying array of cuts and colors, Sihara pulled out a dark purple cloak with copper trim. “This one is perfect!”

Jaden paid for the cloak, and they left. He spied Lady Josephine wandering through the crowd. “Josephine, there you are! Finally spoke with the king?”

“Only after the king told Lord Byron to move along. That man never stops talking!” Josephine eyed the gifts in his hands.

Jaden fumbled to hide hers from sight. “So much for surprises.”

Josephine laughed and glanced at Sihara. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”

Jaden cleared his throat. “Yes, of course. Taja, this is Lady Josephine Ragös. Lady Josephine, this is the daughter of the Elementi Taj, Taja Sihara Dayal.”

Josephine curtsied, “It is a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you. I am pleased to make the acquaintance of a daughter of industry.” Sihara offered a slight bow and pressed her hands together. “I was just helping Jaden pick out gifts for his sisters. Perhaps you can help him find a gift for Claudia.”

“I’d love to help.” Josephine smiled. “If I remember, she’s the one who pestered me with questions about court fashion. With her lovely hair, you should get her one of those jeweled hair nets.”

Jaden offered Josephine his free arm. “If you will excuse us, Taja, we have a gift to buy and sights to see.”

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I based the king's speech off of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and several other famous speeches about war times.  

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