Mysterious Warriors: Alone (20 page)

~ Chapter 45 ~

              “Rachel.” Gary embraced her. “Are you alright?”

              “Yeah.” She didn’t know how to process her emotions, but she did know she was fine. Her mother’s death was a surprise, but it wasn’t something she couldn’t handle. “She was my mother, but she never was a mom. I feel a little numb, but I’m not hurting.”

              “I don’t know what I’d do if my mother died.”

              “Because she’s your mom.” Rachel touched his shoulder. “Addison is incredible, and I love her so much. She’s more a mom to me than my own. You have no idea how lucky you are to have been raised by someone like her.”

              “I do now.” Gary admitted.

              Rachel looked at her husband. She’d told him throughout their relationship about her mother, but she was sure he didn’t truly believe everything about Margaret Colville until Gary had lived in Junipero. “Your mother is so different than mine. I would be devastated if Terena died, but my own mother… I’m sad. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t want her to die, and I’m not happy to see her gone.” She paused. “Mother was always ill when she didn’t get her way, and she was so selfish. I always thought all parents, especially mothers, were like that until I met yours. Your mother is so kind, gentle, and she loves you so much. She took time to get to know me, and she knows both of us well enough to know the truth. She knew our identities longer than we knew each other’s.”

              “She does like to be involved.” Gary nodded.

              “My mother never knew the truth about Tara or me. She never cared to know the truth, and she would have hated us for telling her. She would have died on the spot, and she would have blamed us. Your mother is a wise woman who cares about her people. My mother was a supercilious woman who cared about parties.”

              “She loved you in her own way.”

              “I know.” Rachel paused. “She loved that I’m married and made her a grandmother. I want to be a mother like yours, not mine. I’ve said that before, but I think you understand the significance now.”

              “I do.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m glad my mother is our mother.”

              Cabaya sat on a hard wooden chair in Kitnan’s house, chewing one of her nails. She still felt numb, unsure, and shocked.

              “I can’t believe the queen died.” Koketa shook her head. “She always acted sick and then better, and now she’s actually gone.”

              “What do you think the king will do now that his wife is gone?” Galdut asked. “He never hated us, not like his wife did.”

              “But he loved his wife.” Sarasa paused. “He still loves his wife, even in her death. I don’t think he’ll accept the Mysterious Warriors. He knows Queen Margaret would hate him if he did.”

              “Maybe he’ll abdicate.” Sacrifice’s voice was soft.

              “What?” Cabaya demanded.

              “He might abdicate.” Sacrifice stated. “A king can’t rule with a broken heart. Princess Tara will make a better ruler than either of her parents.”

              She wanted to thank him and scold him. Her father couldn’t abdicate. She wasn’t meant to be queen for many, many years. Her mother’s death was still a shock.

              “I hope Princess Tara can hold it together and rule the kingdom.” Koketa stated. “She’s always been kinder and more concerned about the people than either of her parents.”

              “What if she tries to unite the Mysterious Warriors with the Royal Guards?” Cabaya asked. “Would all of us be willing to work with the Royal Guards?”

              “She can make a prison and assign a warden.” Sacrifice looked at her.

              “We’ve want'd to worketh with the royal family and guards f'r a longeth timeth.” Kitnan answered. “I knoweth we can maketh Junip'ro a saf'r placeth, both Upp'r and Low'r City.”

              Cabaya was glad she had their support, but she still wasn’t ready to be queen. Her father was strong. While she knew he loved her mother, Cabaya couldn’t believe her father would abdicate.

              “Are you alright?” Sacrifice went to Cabaya and touched her hand.

              She nodded. “I just can’t believe the queen is gone.”

              “Me too.” He smiled. “But I know the future will be incredible. There are so many different possibilities now. I have faith that Tara will be a wonderful queen, strong and brave. She will be the person who brings unity between us and the guards. Maybe we can be together soon.”

              “I would like all that.”

~ Chapter 46 ~

37
th
day of Atz, year 520

              Tara stood between her father and sister, all dressed in dark pink. She wondered when Black Hood would make her next move, and she hoped the pirate would soon. Tara was tired of the game, and she wanted the final battle to begin. She wasn’t sure how long she could keep being two people.

              People far and wide came to Queen Margaret Colville’s funeral. King Cedrick and Queen Addison had stayed longer than planned, but they were returning home the day afterwards. King Kayne and Queen Lili of Lenalk were visiting, and townspeople and nobles alike, from Junipero as well as other cities in Zorba’s Reach, had come to see the pyre of their queen.

              Tara wondered how many people were secretly joyous about the death of their queen. It had never been a secret how Queen Margaret felt about her position as queen, nor had it been secret how her subjects felt about their queen.

              Lines of people paraded through the pyre opening to farewell their queen. At least none of the subjects spat on her corpse.

              Queen Margaret looked beautiful, even in death. Her dark brown hair was curled and placed around her head, a shining tiara adorned the locks, and she was dressed in a fine gold and purple gown. Someone had placed her planning books beside her. She would probably be upset her funeral wasn’t an exquisite party.

              Tara closed her eyes as memories flew into her mind.

              Queen Margaret handed Rachel a white box with a single purple ribbon tied around it.

              Rachel raised a brow but tugged the ribbon off. The younger princess pulled out a pair of white satin, fingerless gloves. She frowned.

              “You are now betrothed to Prince Gareth of Ada’s Circle!” Queen Margaret cried joyously, clapping her hands.

              That must have been one of the happiest moments in their mother’s life. Queen Margaret had always wanted to see her daughters married. It was a mother’s duty to see her daughters married. The queen would never see Tara as a bride.

              Sir Vance Lot stepped forward to speak at the queen’s pyre ceremony. His voice boomed as he spoke. “Tonight we celebrate the life of Queen Margaret Colville. She was a beautiful young woman who caught the heart of our prince. They had two daughters, one of which provided Queen Margaret with a beautiful granddaughter and a lasting peace with our neighbors to the north.” He nodded to King Cedrick and Queen Addison.

              “I want to stay too.” Tara looked at her mother. She needed freedom and friends. “Please don’t separate us now. I want to live there until her marriage, Mother. Please. Perhaps I’ll find a man in Ada’s Circle whom I fancy, since I haven’t found one here.”

              Rachel tried to hide her smirk. They both knew Tara said the one thing they knew their mother would agree to.

              “Of course.” Queen Margaret’s face beamed. “That’s a wonderful idea Tara. Besides, your father and I won’t be able to stay. It will be good for Rachel to have two people close to her.”

              If her mother would never see her as a bride, at least Tara still courted a man who loved her. The queen had that one small bit of pride in Tara’s decisions.

              “Queen Margaret was known for loving the finest things in life. She loved to laugh and enjoyed throwing the best parties in Erde. She loved her family, and she wouldn’t want us to mourn.”

              Silver, light blue, and white sheets of fabric draped from the third-story balconies, including one long sheet that went from the third story to the first, making a giant slide for children. The scene in the room in front of her was an elaborate illustration out of a book.

              Giant bubbles descended from the ceiling, suspended in the air and threw multicolored refractions down onto the crowded ballroom. Groups of jugglers, face painters, and musicians packed the left side of the ballroom while a group of acrobats and contortionists entertained guests on the right side.

              The fine feast was set up on the far side of the ballroom: gold plates, diamond-studded goblets, fine wine, roast duck, imported cheese, and rare fruit adorned the table with ornate lanterns embedded with jewels.

              As gaudy and ridiculous as her mother’s parties were, a small part of Tara would miss the opulence. Her mother’s parties always took her somewhere else and reminded Tara that there was magic in the world. Tara sucked in a harsh breath. She hadn’t expected to miss her mother’s extravagance.

              “She’d rather us enjoy a celebration of her life. Tonight, her husband, our King Warren Colville, and her daughters, Princess Tara and Princess Rachel, will light the pyre, releasing her spirit to find our lord Idrico and be led into the new world, perhaps even into Solapin itself.”

              King Warren didn’t look at his daughters as he stepped forward. Rachel and Tara flanked their father and raised their fire, lighting the pyre on which Queen Margaret lay. Red and yellow flames burst forth, a long rise of black smoke shot up before dissipating. Something close to despair rose in Tara as she watched her mother burn.

              Her spirit now free, Tara silently prayed for her mother to meet their god of comfort, finding peace in her death. She would throw the best parties in the next life.

~ Chapter 47 ~

              King Warren Colville didn’t know how to continue on. He took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror. His deep green eyes were bloodshot, sleep lines were caverns on his face, and his hair seemed to have salted over the past several nights. His world was gone, and everything he wanted, everything he believed in was gone. He had loved her with everything he had, and King Warren couldn’t go on without her.

              A knock brought his glassy gaze to the door. “Enter.” He knew who it would be.

              Alice Melvie, her strawberry hair loose around her shoulders, entered with Tara and Rachel.

              “Alice said you wished to speak with us.” Rachel stated as she went to her father and embraced him.

              Would these two precious daughters be enough? He wasn’t sure.

              “Yes.” King Warren hugged Tara, and the three sat in velvet chairs. “Thank you Alice.”

              She curtsied and went to the wall, where she usually watched him.

              “I have something very important I need to tell you both.” He took Tara’s right hand in his. “I’m going to abdicate. I can’t go on being a king without a queen. Your mother was everything to me, and I cannot rule this kingdom without her.”

              “No.” Tara whispered. “I’m not ready.”

              “You are.” King Warren assured her. “You have grown so much these past several years. Your mother wasn’t sure if her decision to let you live in Whitehaven was wise, but I know it prepared you. You will be a good queen. You are strong and brave, and you are wise and seek council. You will be a better queen than I can offer the people if I continued to be their king.”

              “I believe in you too.” Rachel looked at her sister with kind, deep blue eyes, mirrors of her mother.

              Rachel looked so much like Margaret that it nearly hurt the king to look at his younger daughter.

              “You are ready for this.” Rachel assured her sister.

              “Then I will make many changes.” Tara looked into her father’s eyes, and King Warren knew he was making the right decision.

              “You will do what’s right.” King Warren nodded. “I know you will.” When he was gone, she would be fine. Rachel and Tara were strong, and the kingdom would be safe with his daughter as its queen.

              King Warren nearly smiled as he touched his daughters’ shoulders. “Be each other’s strength and compassion, as you have always been. I believe in you both. Even countries apart, you will be alright.”

              It was as much as a goodbye as he could muster.

              Tara rested her head in her hands, elbows propped against her desk. She took a deep breath and waited for Alex.

              He knocked and entered. Tara stood and turned to face him. “Thank you for coming.”

              “You are welcome.” Alex stated.

              “My father just told Rachel and me that he’s abdicating.”

              “I wish I could tell you I’m sorry.”

              “You’re not?”

              “You’re going to be an amazing queen.” He stood tall and strong, and she went to him.

              “I want you to be the Captain of my Royal Guards.” She explained. “I want you to work with the Mysterious Warriors and help them keep peace in Upper and Lower City. You will be one of the reasons the people will see a new age of protection and regrowth. I want to rebuild Lower City. There’s too much decay and rot down there. Please say you’ll work with the Mysterious Warriors and me.”

              “I’d be honored.” He bowed. “As I said, you’re going to be an amazing queen. You have a pure heart and tremendous compassion, unlike your mother.”

              “Thank you.” She motioned for him to stand. “I want to build a prison for criminals in Junipero.”

              “It is rather ridiculous.” Alex shook his head. “You will be the first of your family to care about Lower City. Right now the Mysterious Warriors have no option but to just let the vermin of Lower City to run loose after they’re caught. You should build a jailhouse. In fact there’s a retired warden in Lower City. I believe his name is Haskel Worthing. He would be the perfect partner for such a project.”

              “That was exactly what I was thinking about doing.” Tara paused. “I feel like we’ve had this conversation before.” She paused as something washed through her. She wasn’t sure what it was, but there was something different about Alex as she looked at him.

              “I thank you for the honor of being named Captain.” Alex stopped by her door and looked back. “I will always protect you with my life.”