Crusade Across Worlds (20 page)

He looks at Vix. “You have informed
them.”

“Is the queen really dead?” Pratt
winces.

“I’m afraid so,” Clarence takes his place
next to the Fychu. He unfolds his arms, gesturing to Mae. “I can
take her.”

“No, it’s fine. I can sit.”

Vix sets Mae in one of the chairs and turns
to Sampson. “Where is Ariana?”

“
Queen
Ariana,” Chancellor Keller
moves into the Dining Hall, a solemn, sickened expression coloring
his features, “is currently with Maris, Salva and her guards in the
queen’s quarters.”

“Is Ariana okay?” Mae falters. “
Queen
Ariana?”

“She is as well as can be expected.”

“Do we know what happened?” I ask.

“All we know is that Queen Ravan was found
with a blade in her heart only a short time ago.”

“Who found her?” Reid asks.

“Queen Ariana.”

To find your mother murdered… and so soon
after learning your sister was killed—I can’t imagine what Ariana
must be going through. Or maybe I can. I walked in to find Granny
Ruth the same way—dead on the floor, blood surrounding her. My
heart had stopped. My entire world ceased to exist. There was
nothing like it, nothing like finding someone you love in such a
condition.

“And you are
certain
it was murder?”
I ask. “The queen was distraught—how do you know she didn’t decide
to—?”

“Take her own life?” Chancellor Keller
poses. “No. Queen Ravan would never be that selfish. She served her
people first and foremost.”

“How is it possible that someone could get
into her room?” Blovid frowns. “Was it not highly guarded,
especially after yesterday’s events?”

“Yes. Which leads us to question the loyalty
of everyone still here,” the chancellor’s expression darkens. “We
believe there may be Musko sympathizers hiding among us.”

“Oh God,” Mae covers her mouth.

“What do we do?” Tucker asks.

“Right now we must be strong for the
Mybyncian nation. In the past twenty-four hours they have lost
their future and present Queen in an assault on the international
Foreign Headquarters. They need to be reminded that we are still
here, a strong and unified force. We will
not
bend to
terrorism; we will
not
give into these threats. Ariana,
though still young, is ready to assume her role as the next leader
of this nation. And we must prepare and support her in this.”

“How?” Pratt asks.

“Her coronation will take place later today.
After that, she will visit the other three metropolises.”

“When?”

“Over the next week.”

“And you’ll go with her?” I ask.

Chancellor Keller nods. “In my absence I
will leave the Fychu in charge. Under him, Maris, although she will
retain her duties as the Head of the Northern Guards.”

“What are you going to do about the
murderer?” Tucker crosses his arms. “What’s the plan for that?”

“I have my guards questioning everyone who
was here last night. They are also sweeping her room and talking to
one another to find out who was near enough to get to her. If they
had access to Queen Ravan’s room, the assailant must have a high
security rank.”

“Do you have any idea who it could’ve been?”
I ask. “Any possible leads?”

“At this point…” he shakes his head, “…it
could be anyone.”

A long silence stretches before Tucker steps
forward. “Can I see her? Ariana?”

Chancellor Keller stiffens. “I do not
believe
Queen
Ariana will have time to meet with anyone at
the present moment; I am sorry. She is undergoing much grieving and
stress. After her coronation later, you may be able to briefly
speak with her but going forward…I am afraid to advise you that her
time will be limited.”

Tucker’s expression drops.

“I must excuse myself,” the chancellor
offers a slight bow before leaving the Dining Hall.

Once he’s gone, we all turn to Sampson who
runs both hands through his whitish hair in exasperation. “I was
hoping not to stay here for a week, but seeing as it is at the
chancellor’s request…”

“It’s not like staying on Nerwolix would
derail the invasion on Dellapalania,” Clarence offers. “Besides,
the Mybyncians need our help again. I’m pretty sure Hozfin is back
on his feet after the invasion three months ago.”

“It would give us time to find the traitor,”
Blovid adds. “If there is an enemy hiding among us—”

“But how would we locate them?” Qippert
asks.“There is no way to tell.”

“I doubt that we would have any success in
identifying the queen’s killer unless he or she strikes again,”
Sampson says.

“Strikes again?” Pratt wedges herself into
the conversation.

“Ariana is still very much in danger.
Whoever wanted Queen Ravan removed will also want the same for
Ariana. He or she could be working under direct orders from
Varielle herself.”

“And what about Perio?” I glance around the
others. “He doesn’t want her dead, does he?”

“I don’t think so, no. But it’s really
Varielle who has been running the show.”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems…” Sampson starts, “…that
she
was the one who procured the Nhazual for Perio. She was
unaffected as you recall.”

“How do you know this?”

“Ariana told us. Excuse me,
Queen
Ariana,” Clarence corrects himself. “When she was held hostage for
those few days, Perio told her.”

“And what exactly does Perio think will
happen with Varielle?” Mae asks. “If he’s still in love with
Ariana, is he planning on marrying Varielle to become the
king?”

“I think the two have very different plans
for what comes next,” Clarence crosses his arms. “I believe Perio
will still want to make Ariana his wife and convince her over time
that he’s doing what he thinks is best. Is that—would you agree
with that?” He turns to Blovid and Qippert.

Both nod, but the Arizal Leader offers a bit
of a shrug. “During my time here, I could not see Perio giving her
up. Ever. That may have changed, but it would take a lot to have
changed it,” he looks at Qippert.

“I agree. Perio will always want Ariana for
his wife. It is my belief that he will do everything in his power
to make that happen. Varielle…she is most likely supporting him in
the idea that Ariana will come around, but in reality, she plans on
using her death as a way to get close to him and console him.”

“You’re right then,” I turn to Clarence.
“Whoever killed the queen is working for Varielle and not the
Muskos. It must be someone close to
her
.”

“Maybe she had a personal guard or
something?” Pratt suggests.

“Possibly. Maybe we can talk to Keller about
it after Ariana’s coronation later, which,” Clarence looks around,
“is an important moment in Mybyncia’s history. We must remember
that Ariana is no longer just a princess. She is a queen now, so
the same rules do not apply.”

“Rules?” Tucker raises a brow.

Sampson nods. “She will be burdened with the
responsibility of ruling this World. Whereas she had several
freedoms before, she must put her people and their wellbeing before
herself and her individual happiness. I’m sorry,” he pats Tucker’s
shoulder, “but things will not be as they were.”

A lump rolls down the Rogue Leader’s throat.
“But she’s the queen. She can choose to do what she wants.”

“Rulers are slaves to the service of their
people. Ariana’s obligations have changed, young Rogue.”

“You don’t know that for sure.”

Sampson’s face falls slightly. “You are
correct. This is something you will need to discuss with her.”

Tucker looks at Reid, hoping for some
counter argument, but there isn’t one. Reid squeezes the Rogue
Leader’s shoulder, but Tucker doesn’t notice. He crosses his arms
and stares ahead.

“All right,” Sampson rubs his hands
together, “we’ll have to be on our best behavior. As Clarence said,
this is a major milestone in Mybyncia’s history. Everyone expected
Sansa as the next ruling body, but not for quite some time. And
here is Ariana, the youngest of Queen Ravan’s daughters, assuming
authority amidst a domestic and foreign threat. There will be a lot
of doubt and fear in this splintered nation.”

“What can we do?” Mae asks.

“Just support her,” Clarence says. “And pray
to the Way this all works out.”

***

The ceremony has just concluded.

It was a little over an hour, composed of
Chancellor Keller asking Ariana to accept the responsibilities that
every queen must, to serve her people and do everything in her
power to put them, and the nation, first. She agreed without
hesitation, her voice strong and powerful as she took the oaths her
mother did—the oaths her sister would have taken in a few years.
The ceremony was held in the Queen’s Hall in the main part of the
palace, but unlike the FH, which caters to air-breathers, we had to
don our protective gear for the event as it was completely
submerged.

Since the Queen’s Hall is three times the
size of the Great Hall, it was hard to see what was happening.
Mybyncians occupied the closest space around the center ceremony,
leaving us, the foreigners, to the back of the room to hear what
was happening. Now that Ariana is officially the queen, the
Mybyncians have started easing back, forming a center passage to
make way for her departure to the Queen’s Quarters, where she will
retire for the remainder of the day.

Sampson turns to us as the crowd parts. “I
suppose that is it. We are officially in the new era of Queen
Ariana’s rule.”

“So what happens now?” Jace swims backward,
bumping into Werzo.

“Now we retire to the FH. Ariana has left me
in charge while she and Chancellor Keller travel to the three other
metropolises. We may be able to wish her a quick congratulations
before she leaves. Remember,” he looks around, “everyone on their
best behavior.”

The guards approach in two lines, eyeing us
as they move through our group and out of the Queen’s Hall. Nearly
thirty guards pass before Chancellor Keller appears, and behind
him, a stunningly beautiful Ariana. She’s dressed in a rose gown
dotted with iridescent shells and her lavender hair is pinned back
with pearls, the ends swaying in the water. With her focus down,
she nearly misses us until she looks up and her bright, orange eyes
find Tucker. The corner of her mouth lifts, but drops just as
quickly.

“Our sincerest congratulations,” Sampson
bows as the chancellor and queen come to a halt, “to you on this
day of your celebrated coronation. May you reign as righteously as
your mother.”

Ariana inhales the water with a nod. “Thank
you, Fychu.”

“Chancellor Keller said you wish to leave me
in charge of Pryncbia during your travels to the three other
Waters?”

“That is correct. I expect to be gone no
longer than a week, but as Chancellor Keller will accompany me, I
would prefer the city left in the hands of someone I trust; someone
I find…capable. You would do me a great honor to reign over
Pryncbia in my absence.”

“It would be my pleasure, Queen Ariana,” he
bows again and with difficulty, the rest of us follow suit. There’s
nothing really to hold onto, so a few of us go tumbling forward but
the Rogues reach out, trying to steady one another.

Tucker moves closer, but a guard throws his
arm out, hitting his chest.

“It is fine, Villo,” Ariana passes him and
faces Tucker. The two look at each other, the rest of us caught in
this long uncomfortable moment. Finally, Ariana forces a smile. “It
is good to see you.” She breaks their stare and looks around. “All
of you.”

“Ariana,” I start and then immediately
correct myself. “
Queen
Ariana…we are so,
so
sorry to
hear about what happened. All of it.”

“Thank you.”

“Our deepest condolences for your losses,”
Clarence adds.

“If there is anything that we can do…”
Blovid tries.

But Ariana shakes her head. “I appreciate
all of your support and kind words. Your selfless sacrifice to
watch over and protect my kingdom in my absence is more than
enough. I offer a queen’s gratitude for your friendship during
this…time of adjustment.”

“Ariana…” Tucker moves forward again but the
same guard blocks him.

“It is
Queen
Ariana,” Chancellor
Keller corrects. “Please remember to address her as so.”

The Rogue Leader nods, trying to see past
Villo, but this time Ariana doesn’t make it so easy for him. Tucker
gets as close as the guard will allow and peers over at her. She
keeps her eyes averted until they drift back and when their focus
meets, she inhales. Tucker is motionless, waiting, just waiting
like the rest of us for what comes next.

“Q-Queen Ariana,” his voice is tender.
Heartbreaking.

A lump rolls down her throat. “Hello,
Tucker.”

Another long pause.

“It is customary for the queen to retire to
her chamber now,” Chancellor Keller says.

Tucker nods and looks at to Ariana. “I just
wanted to say…” he takes a breath. “I just wanted to say… good
luck.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice about
to break.

The guards start to move and the chancellor
ushers her forward, “Come, your majesty.”

“We’ll be here when you get back,” Tucker
says as she starts to leave. “We’ll wait for you.”

At this, Ariana pauses and turns to face our
group. The guards stop with her, but she drifts past them, moving
towards Tucker and me. In a low voice that only we can hear, she
leans in with a whisper. “If I were you, I would take an interest
in visiting the Gorgen fields. I am led to believe they hide more
than precious Dilly.” Her focus settles on me, willing me to
understand before her eyes flicker to Tucker. Grief appears, but it
hardens quickly. “And do not wait for me, as you will be wasting
your time.”