Page 5 of The Nightmare Queen
“Hm?”
“If you change your mind and need me to come with you.” His tone is hopeful. I know staying behind here is less exciting than the possibility of meeting a queen no one has set eyes on outside of her own kingdom. I down the last of my drink, gripping his shoulder in assurance.
“You’ll be the first to know.” I say. A small smile settles on his face, but his eyes give him away, he knows I am only placating him and that he’s needed here. I decided I was okay if he chose to resent me for the decision to leave him behind if it kept him blameless for a little while longer.
The walk back to my apartments was quiet most soldiers having headed back to their own quarters after eating. The door clicked shut with a thud behind me and I take in the spaciousness of it. These rooms are really meant for the King and Queen should they deign to visit their outer towns. But they never do.
The whole post was covered under a thick layer of dust when I first arrived a few years ago. It hadn’t been occupied in decades until the issue with Hadar and King Baelor cropped up. At first the problem was mostly with the kingdoms that had no ley line magic. We thought maybe it was a border dispute, that King Baelor had gotten a little hungry for more space to rule, we never imagined that he’d move onto a magic imbued kingdom.
After the occupation of Evendell it was clear Baelor wanted more than just land to own, he wanted control. Of what that much is still unclear - but my father decided he wouldn’t allow some tyrant to take Vellar from us. It’s probably the only thing we’ve agreed on. His choice in tactics to shield us against Hadar’s Guards however have grown repetitive, consistently failing us and leaving us with the same result. Loss of men and resources, but he won’t listen to reason. As long as his borders have not officially been breached he feels we are being successful in our efforts.
His inability to see reason and sense for the depletion in our ranks is how I ended up in the library going through history books upon history books until I found the record of the Battle of Vellar. King Killian of Obsidian allowed us to employ his mercenaries and militia to squander an internal dispute that cost him his life in the end. Some time after that, his wife Ayla, was killed in their home. The circumstances behind her death were not disclosed at any annual meetings of the realm and the only man we saw in their stead was their regent, Felix Grim.
No one knew they had a royal sitting under their noses until ten years ago when the elusive Queen Eveera took up her official role and title. The different courts bombarded him with questions at the next trade meeting, wondering why her parents had proclaimed her dead at birth. Rumors ran wild that she was as monstrous as the beasts that lived out in the woods of Obsidian. Others still don’t believe she’s alive as she's never shown herself in the public eye before. But, I only have one option left to me now, and that’s to hope she is as generous as her father was - despite the tension our kingdoms share.
Sleep didn’t find me easily the past two nights. There was however no time to waste and with our things packed, and horses loaded we set out towards Obsidian. I had a conversation with Bennett yesterday morning detailing what his job would be for when we were away and when we came back. We settled on him being the one to let us back in. We’ll do our best to keep in touch, and he’ll do his best to break the news to the army that Obsids would be joining our ranks.
I look over to Will on top of his horse, his face is scrunched in what seems to be a now permanent frown, “I don’t know why I go along with your insubordination.” He gripes, shaking his head.
My hand clasps his knee, “because you’re subordinate to me. I thought that was obvious.”
He rolls his eyes. “The only thing that’s obvious, is you’re going to get me killed one of these days. And all because you thought you knew better.” I don’t miss the venom in the last sentence.
I shrug off the bite in his words and muse my thoughts aloud. “I wonder if it’s as bad as the rumors claim. The monsters, that is. Suppose it must be if even she barricades herself from whatever they are.” Bair is close to the border of Obsidian, almost a full day’s ride. We should make it to the edge of Vellar by nightfall. The earlier we left the sooner we could begin our scheme.
Our kingdom grows depressing as we leave the post behind. The crops are almost barren from the high demand, most villages are falling into disrepair thanks to our overbearing presence. Another thing my father refuses to look into - the actual welfare of people without noble blood.
We stay quiet the entirety of our first day, our horses powering through the terrain getting us as close to the border as we can. As the day grows darker and air colder, I start to see the border wall and gates come into view. I had Bennett ride ahead of us yesterday to let us out without any questions. His presence being here early was to help avoid any back and forth from the few groups that patrol here on rotation.
We dismount our horses, making camp next to Bennett’s things. “I see you made it here with no issue.” He says cheerfully, Will claps his shoulder but still says nothing, he just laid out the mat next to Bennett’s and closed his eyes. My friend looks down at him and back up to me, “rough ride?” he whispers.
“Let’s just say it would have been much more entertaining had I waited to send you here.” He laughs at that while helping me unload the packs on the horses. The darkness of night sweeps quickly over us, and if I closed my eyes tight enough I could pretend we were all kids again, hiding out in a field from our responsibilities. But the anxiety sitting in my chest is a persistent reminder that we are not children and there is no more hiding from our responsibilities.
Bennett’s snores take over the camp.
“You ready for tomorrow?” I turn my head towards the voice. Will is staring up at the sky his eyes staying focused on the stars.
“You’re talking to me now?” I ask.
He ignores my remark, “my father is a smart man.” I want to respond to that and ask what that has to do with anything but he keeps speaking. “He’s been serving under your father for his whole rule. I’ve never doubted my father’s loyalties or his concern for Vellar. But you doubt yours.”
“You don’t have to share the same feelings I do for my father and you don’t have to think less of yours just because he works for the crown.”
He snorts, his laugh one of disbelief. “We all work for the crown. But now you’ve made me an enemy to the crown. An enemy to my kingdom and to my father. I’m proud to have this role and serve, but I think being your friend may end up being the biggest mistake of my life.” I don’t have any words, the sting of what he said burning through me.
“I—”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” Will flips back over to face Bennett, ending the conversation.
Great. That talk will making sleeping so mucheasier,I think.
The wind rustles quietly through the branches above me, the fire burnt out awhile ago and I came to the conclusion awhile ago that sleep was going to continue dancing around me. Every time my eyelids fell heavy enough my brain would start up again. Two many thoughts of the journey, the risks, my father’s wrath once he finds out.
My mother protested to me leaving for Bair again. Rambling on about how much pressure my father was under, that I should be more understanding. Neglecting to notice how much of that pressure has actually fallen on her son’s shoulders. But if it doesn’t have frills, parties, or gossip involved my mother rarely notices anything. Her head is stuck in the clouds of aristocracy with every noble socialite wife’s lips secured firmly to her ass.
I would have thought that their ignorance would have sowed more hate amongst the common Vellaran folk, but apparently my golden parents could do no wrong - except for appointing their broken son as general of their armies.
My Wield was seen as taboo,poisonous mistinstead of healing mist. It was blasphemous, an abomination, a curse. For those not included in my ranks they think that the reason our armies numbers keep falling lower and lower is because of me. They couldn’t possibly imagine a king as great as my father, King Eiser, would lead their husbands, fathers, and sons to die a worthless death.