Chapter 14: Take Two

Despite Casper’s assurances that Jaden would do everything in his power to protect the king, Sihara worried that it wouldn’t be enough.

If the king dies while in the Ambassadorial Halls, the resulting riots will threaten everyone who lives here.

Sihara entered her fathko’s study and found it empty. The timestone on the wall said it was nearly time for lunch.

All of this running around trying to convince someone to do something about the assassination has made me lose track of time

Her fathko would be in the parlor. If she hurried, she might speak with him before they announced the midday meal.

Pity there isn’t a shortcut to the dining room.

Several moments later, she heard laughter coming from the parlor. If he was entertaining guests, she would have a beast of a time pulling him away without causing a scene.

Her fathko’s guardian, Antton, stood in front of the door. His curved saber was sheathed, but he didn’t need it to be intimidating.

Antton looked at Sihara and then shot a questioning look at his younger brother, Mikel. “Your duties include protecting the Taja’s reputation.”

Antton would not rebuke her directly so Mikel had to bear the brunt of his criticism.

Mikel replied stiffly, “The wedding preparations are keeping her busy.”

“I don’t look that bad, do I?” Sihara stepped into the small washroom and made a face at her reflection. She had to take out the few remaining pins in her hair and opt for a much simpler updo. Her rouge was a lost cause, so she just washed it off.

Antton stepped aside. “You should not let everyone push you to work too hard, Taja.”

If only he knew. Sihara smiled faintly, “Some days it can’t be helped.”

Inside the parlor, the heavy purple curtains were drawn aside to let in the light from the overcast day. Conserving the torches and their fuel had become second nature by now.

Roxann, Claudia, and Aliza sat as far away from the fire as they could while still engaging her majka and Lady Vivica in light conversation.

Her fathko and the Lord Ambassador were locked in a private discussion.

Sihara groaned inwardly. I will have to catch him after lunch.  

Sebastian locked eyes with her across the room, and an icy chill rushed through her. They had not spoken since the incident in the banquet hall. Her fathko assured her Sebastian regretted his harsh words, but that did not soothe the ache of losing someone who loved her for who she was, not for her appearance or passing similarities to her cousin.

Even if they never existed.

“Don’t just stand there. Come warm up.” Her majka patted the spot on the couch next to her. “What have you been up to this morning?”

Sihara offered a mirthless smile. “Visiting with friends. Passing on messages.”

“Did you see what Jaden bought me at the festival?” Claudia preened, turning her head to and fro to catch the light with her jeweled hair net. She looked much older than her eighteen years.

Sihara leaned in conspiratorially. “Don’t tell Jaden I told you, but Lady Josephine had a hand in that.”

“Don’t be silly. We already wrangled the full story out of him.” Roxann laughed. “I really do love the cloak. Pity it is too warm inside to wear it.”

The butler opened the door. “Everyone, if you would please make your way to the dining room, lunch will be served.”

In the dining room, three tables were set out in the tradition of each of the countries.

Sihara had never once sat down to eat at the Animalian dining area. No one had, not in a hundred years. She imagined the leather bags filled with feathers would crack from the years of disuse.

Next stood the wooden Mineralite table, carved with gentle curves and feet ending in nimr paws. Standing like soldiers at the ready, the lattice backed chairs brought to mind long dinners spent shifting in those uncomfortable seats.

In contrast, the round Elementi stone table wore a simple linen cloth and their sun-baked clay cookware was far more economical than the Mineralites’ glass dishes. They did not have a place for a favored head of the household and left no special place at his right or left. You could sit anywhere you pleased without fear of reprisal.

Sihara seated herself cross-legged on the soft padding that served for seats around the low table.

Aliza tried to copy Sihara’s posture and asked in a whisper, “Is this how you always eat Taja Sihara?”

“This seating is customary in the Vindish Republic, where my fathko is from,” Sihara replied. She had seen little of Aliza since they had sent her to the Mount Rayvik boarding school. She would likely continue her formal education after the autumn break.

Children did not dine with Lord Ambassador or Taj, which meant that Aliza had turned thirteen while she wasn’t looking.

I feel so old.

Claudia smiled maternally at her younger seska, “This is Aliza’s first taste of Vindish food.”

Roxann unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap, “Don’t worry, we will warn you what foods to avoid for your first time.”

Aliza’s eyes widened in apprehension.

Sihara tried to suppress her laughter and failed. “No, no, nothing like that. Our food is much spicier than you are used to.”

Sebastian found a way to sit at the table with his restricting Etanian Republic suit. “Once you get used to it, everything else seems bland and tasteless. Although, the difference will be much sharper for you since you are used to the standardized Mineralite diet.”

That can’t be comfortable. I should have my lady-in-waiting send him a suit from Vindish or Balar.

The footmen filled small bowls with water to allow each of the highborn and nobles to clean their hands before the meal.

When Aliza washed her hands, she somehow spilled half of the water on her dress.

Sihara offered her napkin under the table.

Roxann mouthed a thank you.

She could get used to having the younger girl around. She had always wanted a little seska.

The servants brought lunch out in an orderly fashion. From the flat purple bread to the colorful vegetables with spicy cream sauce, it was enough to make a Mineralite faint. Maybe she should ask the cooks to prepare a simpler meal tomorrow, for Aliza’s sake.

Sebastian sipped his tea. He made a face of disgust and swallowed with difficulty.

“Is something wrong, Sebastian?” Sihara asked. Did someone poison him? Just like those Mineralite nobles before the festival?

“Ah, no, just needs more sugar and cream.” Sebastian chuckled in embarrassment. He motioned for the nearest servant over. “It is a very strong tea.”

Aliza tried to stifle her giggles. “Guess you aren’t used to everything, are you, Sikar?”

Sebastian held his tongue, though it apparently cost him a great deal of self-control. His glare spoke fathoms of the thoughts running through his head.

Jaden burst into the dining room from the Mineralite wing. He avoided Sihara’s eye and sat down beside Claudia. “Sorry, I am late. I had… an urgent letter to send.”

“Did you hear about Victoria’s marriage to the knight?” Aliza poked at her plate with her purple flatbread.

Sihara’s heart raced at the mention of her dear friend. She caught her fathko’s eye and noticed a similar blanched expression as the one she must be wearing. Does he already know about the assassination plot? Or he is worried for another reason?

Jaden swallowed a bite but gave no indication of concern. “I heard she eloped with the knight and they were married in the Balar Republic before her parents could talk her out of it.”

“It seems she did the right thing.” Sihara glanced at Sebastian.

“You think so?” Aliza shook her head. “But she lost her title, her lands and will now live a dull life as the wife of a soldier!”

Claudia’s lips pressed together in a firm line, “I hardly think wondering if the love of your life will come back alive or dead every waking moment would be a dull existence. Painful, perhaps, but never dull.”

Sihara nodded. “I think she did the right thing marrying her true love. Shouldn’t the fact that she gave up her title and traded it for life with him show the depth of her love?”

Sebastian stirred his food with his flatbread. “Instead, our society views it as the foolish acts of two young people who know no better.”

He was thinking of his elopement with Rosabella. She would never be free of her ghost if she married him.

When I marry him. Not if.

“Well, I think Victoria was not thinking straight. If your true love is not at your station or higher, find another one.” Aliza took a little bite of the spicy fried vegetables. Her eyes widened, and she swallowed too quickly.

“You rarely get a chance at true love twice,” Sebastian commented after a long, contemplative bite. “But if you do… well, nothing else matters.”

Her majka began in a quiet voice. “I served as a battlefield nurse when my youth had allowed such rambunctious activities. I weep when I remember the terrors our men go through in defending our borders. I am glad the knight found such a lovely and capable woman as Victoria to share his life with.”

Capable? Majka must know Victoria is a spy. Am I the only one who didn’t know?

Tarak squeezed her majka’s hand. “I fear the fall of our countries within the next planetary rotation unless someone takes immediate action.”

Kern grunted. “I agree that immediate action is necessary. Now if only we could get the other highborn and noble people to agree with us and forget this silly business about rules. What happened to the blood oaths and just keeping your word? If our countries worked together, we would have a much greater chance of success. We must stop bickering with each other and join forces to fight the actual enemy.”

Kern spoke the words by rote. The endless repetition had worn away the passion and energy that had been behind them.

“Please let’s not ruin this lovely afternoon with talk better left for the Halls.” Sebastian’s words held a patronizing tone. “I’m sure there will be plenty of time for later.”

A moment of leaden silence passed. The Lord Ambassador and her fathko shared a look.

 If they had eaten at the Mineralite table, the clink of forks and knives on plates would have filled the silence, but the flatbread did not make a sound on the clay plates. 

Tarak wiped his face and stood. “Kern, we should excuse ourselves and prepare for the next session.”

Kern nodded. “I believe you had the librarians bring the books to your study.”

Sihara dropped the last bite of her flatbread and reached out to pluck at his sleeve as he walked past her seat. “Wait, Fathko, I must speak with you.”

“I will catch up with you.” Tarak dismissed Kern and motioned towards the empty parlor.

She stumbled to her feet and entered the parlor, waiting for her fathko to close the door behind them.

Tarak smiled down at her. “It has been ages since you tugged on my sleeve to get my attention. What is bothering you?”

Her fathko had so much to deal with, she would be quick and explain what she had learned about the assassination.

“How long has Victoria been your spy?”

Why can’t I keep it together?

“Ah.” Tarak’s face pinched, and he cleared his throat, “If you are afraid that I used her to spy on you, you needn’t worry. She is a genuine friend, perhaps more than any other of your friends.”

Sihara crossed her arms. He had neatly avoided her question.

Tarak rubbed his chin. “I had hoped to keep you out of the darker side of politics, but I see it is no use.”

Sihara softened. “I understand you wanted to protect me, but I am in the thick of it now and I wish I knew the right thing to do.”

Tarak’s eyes snapped to her face. “What happened?”

Sihara sat down by the dying fire, “Victoria came to me after the session, she overheard Lord Neron planning the assassination of the king with the Mineralite Superiority Movement.”

“By Avari’s black heart.” Tarak had never used the goddess of death’s name in vain. “Was she followed?”

“Yes, but the Mineralites didn’t see her face, and I helped her get into the servants’ halls, so I think she escaped her pursuers.” Sihara almost didn’t want to tell him the worst part, but she had to get it out or some lord or highborn would blindside him. “She told me to go to the King’s Guard, but they didn’t believe me. The guard told me not to make accusations about your political rivals. I couldn’t back up with facts.”

“Sihara, look at me.” Tarak sat across from her. “You did the right thing. They are fools if they don’t believe you.”

Sihara nodded weakly, debating if she should include the rest of the story.

“There is more, isn’t there?”

“Moons, I can’t hide anything from you, can I?” Sihara rubbed her wrist.

Tarak chuckled, “No, not even what Ersilia bought for my birthday.”

“I’m surprised you remember that,” Sihara smiled. “I couldn’t think of anyone else to turn to. I told Jaden, but he said he couldn’t do anything about it. He sent a letter to the King’s Guard to back up my claim.”

Tarak grunted. “Your instincts were close. Next time, bring it to me or Kern. We have more sway in the court and the ear of the king.”

“Fathko, he knows Victoria is your spy.”

Tarak patted her hand. “I’m not surprised. If nothing else, Jaden is well-informed. I was foolish in thinking I could keep you out of this spy craft. I fear left you vulnerable to their machinations.”

Sihara wrapped him in a hug, and his grey stubble tickled her neck. “We have time now.”

Tarak laughed, “You are planning a wedding and I’m trying to forge an alliance between two very different countries. Perhaps after this has settled, I will help you understand.”

Sihara mumbled an agreement. There would always be a disaster for her fathko to fix. She would just have to learn on her own. And fast.

***

Ozone permeated the air of the Meeting Hall, and the windows ran with moisture. The flames of the torches wavered, burning brightly and reaching towards the Elementi.

There was a charge of lightening in the air and Sihara’s poor frazzled hair didn’t take it well.

None of this surprised Sihara. Her people felt threatened. The glowing, activated powerstones around the necks of the Mineralites did not come as much of a shock either. Her fathko had his element under control and Kern had not given in to the temptation of activating his stone.

Will the Mineralite Superiority Movement try to kill the king today? Where are the King’s Guards? Sihara tried to calm her thoughts as Grand Admiral Gunter ascended the steps on the side of the raised platform.

Settling his notes on the new podium, the admiral looked hard at the nobles and highborn sitting before him. “In the past moon, 1,260 Mineralites were killed by Animalians, 159 Mineralites were killed by other Mineralites and Elementi killed only 48 Mineralites.”

He spoke in a factual manner that drove the bleakness of his words home.

Sihara’s heart stopped for a second. How can we trust each other when we are still killing each other?

“You may go into this alliance thinking once we win the war, we can continue our… disagreements?” The admiral stopped, squinting at his notes as if they were a lieutenant who had spoken out of turn. He shook his head and placed both hands on the edge of the podium. “I am not one to mince words, no matter how much some people want me to. It isn’t in my nature. So I will be honest with you all.”

He took a deep breath. “This childish and foolhardy bickering between our countries has weakened us to the point where the Animalians have overtaken many of our borders. It is our own fault that this war has lasted as long as it has.”

The Grand Admiral leaned closer. “This has left us with only one choice, and you know I would not lie to you. I would not tell you it is worse than it is, nor would I choose to embrace these… men if I did not know it is our only hope.”

His face grew blue as he tried to regain control of his emotions, but failed. “We are forming an alliance!”

He continued in a lower voice, “And I will be really, painfully, honest with you. I don’t care if you want to be a part of it or not. Sign the document or walk over the border and see how your new masters treat you.”

With that, the Grand Admiral left most of the jaws on the ground, regardless of their country of origin.

Jaden cleared his throat and whispered. “Well, that will be a tough act to follow.”

“I can only hope everyone takes his words to heart.” Sihara could only dream of having the same freedom to speak her mind.

If the Grand Admiral’s performance intimidated the Honorable Hector Pavia, he didn’t show it. He set his notebook on the podium and nodded at the Admiral. “Your commitment to this alliance is much appreciated, Grand Admiral.”

He turned to the crowd with a reassuring smile, “To those who may feel intimidated by his words, take heart, there are few things that can stop a Mineralite that wants something and if they want to work together, I say we let them.”

The comment earned a chuckle from a few of the Elementi.

The soldier seemed to be the complete opposite of the Grand Admiral. While Gunter led with an iron fist, Hector seemed more like Sihara’s grand-fathko.

Hector grew somber. “In the past moon, 67 Elementi died because of Mineralites, but only 38 of those deaths were purposeful. The rest were the result of their madmen’s creations. In the same moon, the Animalians have slaughtered 4,574 Elementi.”

“Creator help us.” Tears formed in Sihara’s eyes and she bit her cheek hard to keep them from falling. She knew people died out there on the front lines, but she never asked how many. These were fathers, husbands, brothers, sons. More than four thousand mothers, wives, and sisters would be crying themselves to sleep. Never to see their loved ones again. 

Sihara lost the battle against the tears. 

Jaden offered her a handkerchief. 

Hector raised his voice over the cries of the crowd. “If we do not form this alliance soon, we will have lost two entire generations. We must fight our real enemies, the ones out there taking more lives as we speak, not our potential allies in this room. Murders will not undo murders. You must forgive, or else your hatred will destroy everything we hold dear.”

Hushed conversations and the shuffling of paper joined the discordant murmurs of the crowd as the Elementi spoke with one another and the Mineralites passed secret messages.

Maybe, just maybe, all the lost Elementi and Mineralites lives would not be in vain.

"I call to the podium the Honorable Elias of the Balar Republic." Her fathko said, directing Victoria's husband to step up.

Sihara had missed him before. She almost didn't want to hear what he had to say, but for the sake of those who had passed, she least she could do was listen and feel. To mourn them. To mourn their suffering. 

"You may not know me and for the the Mineralites I will explain my position and how I have come to learn the facts which I will share with you. As an honorable knight of the Balar army, I command my own troop of soldiers and answer to the Balar general." Elias took a deep shuddering breath. "Many of you have never met an Animalian. They are faster than us, every sense is heightened. As if they have all of the extra sensory Mineralite powerstones: sight, hearing, and agility."

The Mineralites shuffled in their seats.

"They are capable of incredible depravity. Their god demands in fact. They do not hold compassion or mercy in high regard as we do. They inflict suffering with... disgusting..." Elias cleared his throat. "They enjoy the suffering they cause."

"And how is the Balar army keeping the Animalians from overtaking the Republic?"

Elias stared into the distance. "We have become... savage. For every strike, we strike back ten times harder, but it is getting more difficult as we lose so many soldiers with every ambush."

Elias covered his face, his voice rough, "The things I have seen, no man should see. I have lost far too many good men to them. Every hour, every minute, we spend debating this alliance, is another second that a good man dies. They are monsters and if we don't stop them every single man, woman and child among us will suffer in horrible ways."

"Thank you, Honorable Elias, I think we have the information we need." Taj Tarak gestured for him to step down.

Lord Gustav of the House Prien raised his hand and Kern nodded for him to speak.

"A most convincing, ah, speech." Lord Gustav pursed his lips. "This soldier has failed to mention that he is the husband of a close family friend of the Taj. I am not sure if we can trust his testimony, however moving."

Tarak stood up, an almost imperceptible crackle of lightening rolling through his cloak.

Elias raised his hand for the Taj to stop, wiping away a tear. "While I find your willingness to defend me admirable, Taj. I think I can speak for myself in this regard. Yes, my wife is the former Sikara Victoria, a friend of the Taj family."

He took a deep breath. "The only reason I am here instead of on the front lines is because her family wished to personally explain that I am the reason why she has lost all of her land inheritance. There are no other soldiers here to tell you of what they have seen and what they live through everyday, wondering if the Animalians will kill them next."

"Does that answer your question satisfactorily, Lord Gustav?" Elias asked, with a crisp edge of disdain. "I am sure you have your own Mineralite soldiers, you can call on to tell their side of the story."

"We... we do not have a Mineralite soldier here."

"Then you must take my word for it." 

A Mineralite noble wearing a blue coat stood and seven Mineralites from the crowd pulled handkerchiefs over their faces and jumped over the barrier. Green crystal flowed out from their indestructibility powerstones and covered their entire bodies. The rogue Mineralites grabbed the first Elementi they could lay their hands on and pressed a dagger to their throat.

The King’s Guard appeared from out of thin air, surrounding the king. They aimed and rightly hesitated. If they shot at the men, the bullets would ricochet.

Mikel unsheathed his curved short sword, pushing Sihara and her majka behind him.

Jaden activated his own indestructibility powerstone. He positioned himself in front of his majka and seskas.

Sihara covered her mouth, and her heart thudded in her ears. Up on the stage, her fathko called upon his element, a bolt of lightening wriggling in his fist.

The Mineralite nobility leaped to their feet, ready to engage the new enemy that had presented itself, but they too paused.

The Ambassadorial Halls had become home to every element as the Elementi fumed over their captured comrades.

“Speak your demands.” King Dresden’s voice held a dark edge that made Sihara pray she never had the king’s ire directed at her.

The Count in the blue coat spoke for the group of troublemakers. “Cease entertaining this pathetic idea of coexistence and we will allow them to live. Or if they would prefer we put them out of their misery so they don’t have to die at the hands of the Animalians we would be glad to oblige.”

King Dresden considered their words as one would reflect on a fine wine. “Speak your master’s name and I will allow you to live.”

“Death would be preferable to being a traitor.” The Count snarled.

“Can you not see that is what you are doing?” The King pleaded and Sihara willed the men to see reason. “Surrender the hostages or I will have no choice but to order your death.”

“There will be no surrender! You want us to work with the Elementi, to share with them everything that makes us great. What happened to Mineralites being the best and the one true conqueror of the world? The Senken started this. Instead of punishing them, we got comfortable with inferior people living among us.” The Count glared at Jaden.

Both Kern and Jaden returned his gaze without flinching.

The King’s body went stiff at their words. The silence blanketed the room in a heavy curtain. Movement felt nearly impossible. Sihara’s breath strained and every muscle tensed.

“Then you give me no choice.” King Dresden spoke the words oh, so softly. “Kill the traitors.”

Her fathko directed his bolt of lightening into the traitor closest to the stage.

The room erupted into chaos. The Elementi and the Mineralites climbed over the rows of seats into the arena in the center.

The orange trails of light drew Sihara’s eye to the speedsters as they zipped in and out of the melee, disarming the traitors.

The fire from the torches danced in the hands of the fire controllers, making the traitors scatter.

Gravity defiers leaped into the air and dive-bombed the traitors, flying the captive Elementi to a safer distance.

The sacred Meeting Hall turned into a battlefield as Mineralite nobility and Elementi highborn fought side by side against the traitors.

Sihara covered her eyes. She couldn’t watch this violence unfold.

The clash of weapons and cries of battle eventually quieted.

“Is that all of them?” King Dresden asked.

“All the traitors are dead, your highness.” Grand Admiral Gunter replied.

Sihara opened her eyes and wished she hadn’t.

“At the expense of three Elementi highborn.” The King sighed and deactivated his powerstone. “I cannot in good conscience tolerate this kind of prejudice in my court. It is the poison that kills a society, making each person rotten at their core.

He gestured at the death and destruction around him. “And this is what happens when you resort to violence instead of trusting in the result of these deliberations. Let us take the rest of the day to mourn the loss of these fine men, and tomorrow we will continue. I will not allow their lives to be lost in vain.”

Mikel touched Sihara’s shoulder. “The battle is over, Taja. We must leave. These talks are no place for you any longer.”

Sihara rushed out of the room, certain that she would stain the floors with this mornings meal.