The Last of the Firedrakes (35 page)

My hands were becoming clammy, and my heart had started hammering in my chest. Was this going to be a formal audience, in front of so many people? What if I slipped up? What if I said something wrong? All these people would laugh at me.

When we reached the dais where the king sat on the throne, Aunt Serena curtseyed and gestured for me to do the same. I immediately dropped into a clumsy version of a curtsey that I remembered from ballet class. Aunt Serena had been teaching me, but I wasn’t very good at it.

The king looked pleased. He was a big, burly man with deep-set eyes and closely cropped salt-and-pepper hair, which peeped out from beneath his crown.

The king looked over to one of the guards standing on the side of the throne. “Where is my son?” he asked, his voice booming across the throne room. “Did I not expressly give a command that he was to be here for this audience today?”

The guard looked embarrassed. “I am sorry, sire. The prince got away from us again,” he said in a soft voice. “We have no idea where he is.”

“Probably out in a tavern, holed up with some wench as usual,” said the king loudly, his voice laced with disgust. “Just find him. I want him here for the harvest ball tomorrow.”

“Yes, sire,” the guard said, nodding, and backed away into the shadows.

Some of the ladies in the crowd snickered and giggled. It looked like the reports about the crown prince were true. He sounded like quite a rake.

The king dismissed the sniggering, smiled, stood, and offered me his hand. “Come, my dear,” was all he said, as he led me through a door behind the throne room into a smaller, more comfortable room. This was the private audience chamber of the King of Eldoren, and I immediately felt more at ease.

We sat across from each other, Aunt Serena and I perching ourselves on an elegant settee, while the king sat on a high-backed chair opposite us.

“The countess has informed me of who you are and why you are here,” said the king. “We are glad to have you with us.” He smiled. “I wanted our first meeting to be private, but later we can have a meeting with the council.”

I must have looked startled, because Aunt Serena put her hand on my leg. “Don’t worry, my dear. I told you we will not do anything you do not want. My father has arrived, and once you have had a talk with him, we can decide what is to be done.”

I nodded. I was dreading meeting Uncle Gabriel. He was going to be so angry with me.

The king looked disconcerted. “I thought that fae-mages were a myth,” he said, “but Serena has informed me that you are being taught to control your powers.”

“Yes,” I said meekly, looking down at my hands. I was still embarrassed about the fiasco at school.

“It also seems your powers are exceptionally strong, like your father,” King Petrocales said. “It would be a shame to see such potential go to waste, so we must get as many nobles as we can to support you if the war comes. You will need troops, and you need to be ready to face Morgana and Lucian.”

“But . . .” I said, trying to get a word in.

The king held up his hand to silence me.

“Let me finish. When the time comes, we can decide what is to be done. I understand your hesitation. Serena had informed me that you are reluctant to rule Illiador.”

I nodded again, more fervently this time. The king’s brows scrunched together as he rubbed his temples.

“Nonetheless, you need to understand that we cannot permit Morgana to rule, nor can we permit her to invoke the old law of Illiador as the high kingdom. If Azaren were king, it would have been a different story altogether. I do not know how much your aunt and granduncle have told you about your father,” he said, looking at Aunt Serena and back to me.

“After so many years, we had given up hope. You must be the one to ascend the throne. If you do not claim your right, the other noble families of Illiador will rally to someone else’s banner, there will be strife in your kingdom, and your family name will disappear. Illiador is your kingdom, and you are its true heir. Do not shun your destiny because the way ahead seems too hard. You must embrace who you are, take your life into your own hands, and win back your kingdom in the name of your father Azaren and the great Firedrake dynasty.”

I knew what he was saying was right. It was my duty to hold the kingdom for my father. He would never have wanted Morgana to destroy the kingdom like this. But why was this king helping me? Couldn’t he just take over the kingdom himself? I thought all kings were power hungry.

“Your father was a dear friend of mine, Aurora,” said the king, obviously sensing my confusion. “I do not want his legacy to go to ruins. When my own kingdom was in strife, Azaren was the one who brought troops into Eldoren to quiet the rebels. He was a kind and just man and would have made a wonderful king. I owe it to him to see his daughter restored to her rightful place on the throne of Illiador.”

Hearing the King of Eldoren say all these things really drove the point home. And, even though I had decided a while ago not to run from my destiny and to accept my role as queen, I still had doubts as to whether I would be able to succeed in this monumental task. Morgana would not give up her throne easily, and there were no guarantees that I would even survive long enough to sit on the throne. But I was willing to try. I owed my parents that much.

“What do I have to do?” I said finally.

“At the moment, you need to advance your training and strengthen your powers. No one will follow a weak queen. Although,” he paused, and then he went on, “you being a fae-mage will rally many to your cause, but only if you learn to control your magic.”

“When and if Morgana attacks us, I intend to be ready,” I said, now resigned to the idea, but sounding more sure than I really was.

Serena got up, came over to me, and hugged me fiercely. “I knew you would soon come to understand your responsibilities,” she said smiling.

“Azaren’s name itself will rally most of the nobles to follow your banner,” said the king, standing up and indicating this meeting was over. “In the meantime, I want you to enjoy yourself here as well. Just stay within the walls of the palace, and you will be safe for now. I will leave you to meet your uncle. What’s done is done. Now that everyone knows your true identity, it is futile to try and hide it.”

Serena stood too and curtseyed, and I did the same.

“Know this: you have the support of Eldoren, should you choose to stand against Morgana. After the ball, we can meet with the council.”

“Thank you,” I said simply. What else does one say when someone gives them an army?

The king nodded and opened the door. “We shall see you on the morrow,” he said and left the room.

We followed him, curtseyed again, and were led out of the throne room.

People were whispering and giving me strange looks. A group of ladies in ostentatious dresses, heavily adorned with jewels, were whispering something about the Duke of Silverthorne.

I followed Aunt Serena to Uncle Gabriel’s rooms to meet him. As we entered, I rushed in and immediately went and hugged my granduncle. I had genuinely missed him, and his big gruff presence was comforting.

“So!” said Uncle Gabriel, after he hugged me back and sat down next to me. “It seems you have been extremely busy since I have been gone, young lady.” His tone was affectionate.

I smiled. “It was a tough few months, but I’m still here,” I said, trying to sound flippant. I was relieved. At least he wasn’t shouting at me.

“Yes, you are,” said Uncle Gabriel, suddenly more serious, “but that does not mean that I approve of your behavior. You showed the extent of your powers to everyone. People have already started talking about you.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to argue; what I had done was stupid. I had revealed myself when I had been told not to. Now I had to deal with the consequences.

“I also heard about your other escapade at Evolon,” went on Uncle Gabriel. “Sneaking out of school at night, and with the Blackwaters . . . what were you thinking? I should have warned you about them.” He had an exasperated expression on his face.

“That’s what Rafe said,” I said.

“And what else did Rafe say?” Uncle Gabriel asked, amused.

“Nothing,” I said blushing, and looking down at my feet.

“Well, it was a good thing that he was there to help you,” Uncle Gabriel said with a twinkle in his eye. He raised one bushy eyebrow. “Serena also told me that you were the one who discovered the Blackwaters’ plans.”

I nodded. Now I was really going to get it.

“That was very resourceful of you,” he said, to my utter surprise. “And I am glad that while you were at school you did not forget your responsibilities as a queen. This shows me that you have the potential to recognize a threat and act on your suspicions. Due to your information, we are now aware of Morgana’s plans to collect all four keys. I have alerted the other Guardians, and three keys, including mine and Elial Dekela’s, are secure and hidden in secret locations. Unfortunately the mage who was entrusted with the fourth key was killed before I could get to him.”

“So Morgana now has one key?” I said.

“Yes,” he said. “I had the Blackwater’s house searched, but we found nothing. They must have already given it to Lucian. We have spies in Illiador keeping an eye out for that fourth key.”

I nodded. At least I had done something right and three of the keys were safe. But one question was still bothering me.

“So where is the Book of Abraxas now?” I asked Uncle Gabriel.

“In the safest place it could possibly be,” said Uncle Gabriel.

“Which is?” I asked.

“It is better you do not know,” said Uncle Gabriel. “I have made sure the book is hidden. And, without the Book of Abraxas, the key to open it is useless.”

I was not convinced. Morgana wasn’t the type to back down. If she wanted the book, she would find a way to get it.

“Now,” he said, getting back to business. “I want to discuss what we are going to tell the council.”

Serena looked over at her father. “Do you really think it’s a good idea? Once the council knows, we cannot go back,” she said.

Uncle Gabriel shook his head. “It is already too late for that. The time has come to start building alliances. I’m afraid we may soon see a war.”

“War!” gasped Aunt Serena, her hands flying to her lips, unsuccessfully covering her horrified expression.

“Yes,” said Uncle Gabriel grimly. “Andrysia is not strong enough to withstand Morgana’s army. I spoke to Queen Maya; her sons are hotheads and want to go to war. Andrysia is already readying their troops in anticipation of an attack. If the threat of Eldoren attacking from the south does not deter Morgana from her plan to rule the North, then we will have to make good on our threat and go to war against her. We cannot let Morgana’s rule continue. When and if we do stop her, we need someone to put on the throne, someone who has a blood claim to the throne of Illiador.”

“But what do I do until then?” I asked. “I can’t go back to Evolon. Everyone knows who I am now, and they are scared of me too.”

“You will go to Elfi,” said Uncle Gabriel. “Isadora, your grandmother, will teach you the ways of the fae. Only when you have mastered your powers will you be ready to remove your amulet.”

“Tomorrow night at the ball we will announce you to Eldorean society as the king has said,” Uncle Gabriel continued. “The king will also publicly state that he supports your claim to the throne of Illiador. That will keep you safe from everyone else in Eldoren, but not from Morgana.”

Uncle Gabriel opened the door and looked at me. I got up and so did Aunt Serena.

“Make the most of your time in the Summer Palace, Aurora. I have some work I need to finish in Eldoren, and then in a few days we will leave for Elfi,” he said.

“You’re coming with me?” I asked, extremely happy that he may be accompanying me. I always felt safe when he was around, and I was also apprehensive about meeting my fae grandmother and the rest of my fae family.

“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Can’t have you traipsing around Avalonia on your own, can we? Who knows what trouble you will get into?” He chuckled to himself.

I laughed, too, as I followed Aunt Serena out of the room. It was time to reveal my true identity to the world. But first, I had a royal ball to attend.

25

The Royal Ball

The grand hall was brilliantly lit with enormous crystal chandeliers that hung low and were interspaced along the length of the great ballroom. Rainbow-colored specks of dancing light wove along the marble floors like dancers in the midst of a crowd. One whole wall along the length of the massive room was decorated with gilded mirrors and elegant brocade settees. Huge, cream-and-gold, silk-covered, high-backed chairs were placed tastefully and strategically around the room just in case one of the many dancing couples wanted to rest their tired feet.

The opposite wall hosted magnificent arched French doors that opened out onto a white marble balcony, which overlooked the pristine manicured gardens of the Summer Palace. The gardens at the front of the palace descended in tiers down to the very edges of the white cliffs, which dropped hundreds of feet down into the azure depths of the Bay of Pearls.

The royal herald stood at the top of the grand staircase, announcing the guests. He had been instructed what to say when he introduced me.

I walked forward on Erien’s arm, my Lady Charlotte creation swirling around me in a sapphire-blue, satin confection. Penelope had reversed the glamour the old fae lady Magdalene had put on me, and the color of my hair and eyes were back to normal: glossy black curls and shining emeralds. My hair was elaborately styled with a cascade of silver flowers woven expertly through the tumbling waves, which reached my waist. Aunt Serena had given me a beautiful diamond diadem to wear in my hair, and it looked lovely.

Kalen, who had just arrived that morning, walked behind us, leading Mrs. Plumpleberry.

“His Lordship, Erien, Earl of Everdale!” announced the Herald.

Everyone turned to look at us.

I started panicking. My heart had started beating fast, my palms had become clammy, and I looked around at the sea of faces that swept across the grand ballroom of the Summer Palace. I felt faint; I hated people looking at me.