XXXIV. AS I LOOK INTO THE ABYSS
Aislyn chewed her thumbnail as she paced before the bank of floor to ceiling windows overlooking the Gojira mountains. The red silken train of her court dress rustled against the tile floor, following her like a trail of blood from a wounded beast. Dark clouds obscured the peaks and dry lightning streaked silently across the ominous range. The range was so named after an ancient slumbering beast that was once rumored to live there, the peaks being the spines on its back and tail. She had never placed much stock in such fairy tales, but couldn’t help but shudder when gazing upon them.
She fondled the cameo nestled between her breast with one hand and tore at her hair with the other. She tore out the ribbons and pins, leaving her ebon lock in disarray. With a forced deep breath, she tried to fix her appearance. Should a member of the court or anyone see her in such a state, they could possibly use it as an excuse to have her certified as unfit to rule. Given the vultures already leering in the wings, she was surprised someone hadn’t tried already. Above all else, she needed to maintain an air of cool collectedness.
After several moments of fussing with her hair, Aislyn threw down her fists in frustration at her apparent lack of agency and the silence about her missing husband. Wiping tears from eyes on the back of her hand, she turned back to the mountains looming before upon her, mocking her. After coming so far, she had lost it all to some nonsense tradition. Even in death, she could not be free of that usurpers meddling. The kingdom was rightfully hers, but as the days passed with no word from Aichlan and the expedition, the cost was becoming more and more unjustifiable.
Aislyn placed her hand to the cold glass as she gazed longingly towards the mountain. For Odell to die alone, so far from home while that usurper got a peaceful afterlife was the most unjust thing she could imagine. Especially as his only crime was loving her. She closed her hand into a fist as the hot tears streamed down her face, leaving black trails of anguish upon her cheek.
“If you have died my love, I pray you fell before you’ve reached the summit, so that bastard will be cursed to wander for eternity.”
“It is too soon for such thinking, your majesty.”
Aislyn gasped and clutched her hand to her chest as she spun around. The lounge had been empty, and the door secured, yet there Séverin sat. At her desk drinking her -presumably- lukewarm tea. Her shock quickly turned to outrage at his intrusion, and the way he seemed to stare through her with those strange red eyes of his. He had taken on the courtly uniform of black velvet waistcoat with gold facings and tails, breeches with stockings, gold buckled shoes, and a dueling sword at his hip. In other circumstances, Aislyn would have been amused by this display, as the man had no title, no land and no name in his own country, let alone hers. Yet he had proven his usefulness without overstepping his authority, so she was willing to indulge him in most regards. Making this recent change in attitude all the more concerning.
This time was different however. Aislyn knew his type well, as she shared some of the same qualities. She was alone now, save a few members of the elven council and three Aes Sidhean Knights left behind to guard Ashe. Her court was still fractured, and with no king, some bold and or foolish nobleman would attempt to assert himself and the ancient edict that no woman should rule alone. An antiquated law she had yet to sweep away.
“I am not disturbing you, am I?” Séverin’s tone was flat but his eyes piercing.
“No…” the words caught in her throat and came out as little more than a hoarse squeak. “Not if you have news.”
Séverin leaned back in the chair and regarded her silently for several moments. Aislyn felt herself begin to squirm under his gaze, and made a conscious effort to meet him head on. He had caught scent of her weakness.
“None good I am afraid.” He said at length. “a search party just returned, the weather is too unforgiving to traverse the mountains.”
“They’ve called them off!?” Aislyn knotted her gown in her fist. “This is outrageous! Upon whose authority?”
“In light of recent events, the small council has decided we cannot risk undue loss of soldiers until the weather clears, or we receive some positive sign the king still lives.”
“If they fear for their lives then they will get back on that blasted mountain and find their King!” Aislyn fury rumbled through her tone, full of conviction if not lacking means. “My wrath will far exceed any inclement weather.”
Séverin smiled and propped his arm up on the armrest. “I’m certain you don’t mean that, your grace.”
“Hmm.” Aislyn narrowed her eyes as she took note of his casual body language. “I trust this is not all you seek to burden me with.”
Séverin refilled the teacup and took a sip before replying. “They expressed a concern for your well-being. They are worried the stress of losing a husband at so young an age might lead you to hysterics.”
Aislyn felt her blood boiling in her veins. Her hands were shaking as tears of rage spilled from her eyes. The usurper had stacked the palace with those against her, though admittedly, she had not done much to endear herself to the gentry of Marquez. They were sycophants with designs on power beyond their ken, they would only squander all her ancestors had built up before her to line their own pockets, running the country into a flaming pile of shit whilst tarnishing the Dorso name irrevocably.
“I’ll kill them…”
Séverin chuckled and took a sip of tea. “I’d not let them hear you say that, your grace.”
If it were peacetime, she would conceivably be able to call Elysia or Catharone, even Aes Sidhe to support her claims. They would not squander such an opportunity to put her in their debt, and her detractors lacked the forces to stand against them. However, now, she had nothing. Aichlan was gone, and Alice had taken their army into Sorn. The Colby-Nau had no stake in this conflict, she could not count on them, not that there were many of them left to count on. Aislyn took a breath and put her finger to her chin, pacing once more before the mountains. The stinging hole in her heart was at least numbed somewhat, replaced by a sinking pit of anxiety in her gut.
“The lady Ashe has offered the services of her Aes Sidhean knights, Siegrun has vowed to stand by the crown of Duvachellé, and even Admiral Donnelyn has expressed his support.”
Aislyn scoffed and stared at the black clouds over the horizon. That little cadre could do little more than shuffle her out of the city under the cover of darkness should it come to open hostility. There would be no civil war or bloody coup, she would simply be executed followed by a quiet transfer of power. As gratifying as it was to know she wasn’t completely alone, it meant nothing practically. It did not escape her notice, however, that Séverin did not list his own name in that short list of valiant defenders.
“And what do you want?” Aislyn turned to face Séverin, who watched her with an amused glint to his eyes. “Money? A title?”
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“Should I truly desire those things; I can acquire them without you. No,” Séverin tilted the teacup, watching with disinterest as the liquid spilled to the floor. “My chief concern is the safe return of my sister. All else will follow.”
Aislyn found herself confounded by his unexpected reply. “If she lives, I can promise she will have a place here, but I am afraid that I can’t simply proclaim someone alive or dead.”
“Can’t you?”
Aislyn felt her cheeks flush, he was toying with her. “What have they promised you?”
“They? Who are they, your grace?”
“My court.” Aislyn hissed through clenched her teeth. “Now answer me, I command it!”
Séverin glanced about the empty room, as if searching for someone. “Who are you speaking to your grace? I must say, I had my doubts about some of the accusations the small council levied against you; paranoia, instability of mood, delusional thinking.” Séverin clicked his tongue and shook his head. “You’re usually much more careful than this, you truly love him, don’t you?”
“They sent you to observe me, didn’t they?”
Séverin nodded. “More or less. I feigned similar concerns and made my desires clear enough.”
“And?” She demanded. “Are you going to kill me here? Or turn me over to them?”
Séverin set the teacup back down on the table. “Neither.”
Aislyn stopped herself short of breathing a sigh of relief. “What do you want?”
“I told you already.”
“I can’t do that.” Aislyn hissed through clenched teeth. “Please…”
Séverin chuckled and held up his hand. “Please, you’re too proud of a woman to beg from the likes of me. Not that it would matter.”
Aislyn felt her blood run cold at his sudden shift in tone and demeanor. “What do you mean…”
Séverin watched her with his cold gaze, seeing through her, beyond her. “I have arranged for a carriage to take you out of the city.”
Aislyn felt her heart stop as she collapsed to the floor. It was over. She had been so concerned with finding Odell, she failed to see the signs. They had moved far quicker than she had anticipated, or perhaps they were more competent than she gave them credit for, the feckless lords of Duvachellé.
“Admiral Donnelyn and the Knights will then secure passage to Aes Sidhe. Órfhlaith has already arranged for a ship to be waiting.”
“Tonight…?”
All the planning, scheming, waiting, and in an instant, it was over. Her grasp on power had slipped as quickly as it had come, all because of some stupid law that required one possess a cock to rule.
“I and the other Colby-Nau will remain here. Forgive me for being blunt, but Órfhlaith has a nation to look after and I wish to save what remains of my family. I’m certain you can understand…”
Aislyn clutched her stomach and doubled over as she sobbed openly. Her husband, the only man besides her father she had ever loved, was dead on a mountain and her kingdom was being ripped out from under her. For the second time. There was no justice in the world, the only justice was that which was bought, or which came at the expense of the weak. She had been weak.
Séverin sighed and stood. “Come now your grace, time is of the essence.”
Aislyn continued to sob uncontrollable, much to Séverin’s chagrin. She rocked herself on the floor, tearing at her gown and clutching her stomach as sobs wracked her body. Séverin approached and tried in vain to lift her to her feet. Aislyn heard him grunt in discomfort as she went limp in his arms. She had no desire to resist him, but neither did she wish to be moved from her spot on the cold floor. Her only wish was to melt into the stone and become as cold and numb as it was for eternity, to shed her mortality, the heart that still beat for another, and the painful memories of her failed aspirations.
“Do you want to die in such a miserable state? We must go!” he said through clenched teeth.
“I can’t!” Aislyn wailed.
Séverin drew back, surprised and irritated by her response. “Why the hell not?”
Aislyn grabbed him by the hand, tears running down her face as snot and make-up ran. “Because I'm pregnant!”
“Aw hell…”
The handles to the door jiggled and a knock soon followed.
“Shit…” Séverin shushed the queen and drew his blade.
They stood there in tense silence for several moments, but another knock did not come. Séverin released a held breath and silently crept towards the door while a black, inky puddle formed before him. He leapt back and took a reverse hand grip on the short sword as a pale skinned woman with mangy black hair and ratty black robes rose up from the floor.
“Oh,” The mage said in surprise, “why the hell didn’t you open the door?”
“That was you?” Séverin hissed.
“Yeah, but then I remembered I could just do that. What are you doing?” She glanced over Séverin’s shoulder to see the sniveling Queen still on the floor. “You didn’t rape the queen, did you?”
“No.” he replied flatly. “Senka, I need you to take her to a carriage just outside the walls.”
Séverin handed her a piece of paper and a wad of banknotes. Senka looked down at them, perplexed, but tucked the notes between her breast all the same.
“Alright, why?”
“Don’t worry about it, just take her there and wait for Admiral Donnelyn. He’ll be accompanied by two Aes Sidhean knights. You’ll travel with them to Blanche Fleur, where you’ll take a ferry down the river to the port in Eefrit. From there you can part ways. But at the first sign of trouble, grab her highness and warp straight to Eefrit, find a ship and get her to Briartach.”
“That’s a lot to remember…”
Séverin’s eye twitched as he aimed a finger at her, trying his best to keep his calm. “Just get to the carriage, Francis knows everything else.”
“Alright, I suppose, but doesn’t she want to see the king first?”
Séverin clamped his hand on Senka’s mouth and pushed her towards the door. “The king is dead, and members of her court have planned a coup. You need to get her out of here now.”
Senka pried his hand off her mouth. “What? I just saw the king.”
“Where?” Séverin snapped, doubtful.
“Downstairs, he was carried by that big man and that archer woman. They looked pretty fucked up.”
Aislyn sniffed as she gathered up her gown. “Odell is alive?”
“And his friends. What’s this about a coup though?”
Another knock at the door interrupted Séverin, and before he could stop her, Senka opened it. A smiling handmaid burst into the room, only for her smile to quickly fade upon coming face to face with the grimy Senka and Séverin pressed up against her.
“Oh, apologies sir, I thought her Highness was in this room.” The maid gave them a quick once over as she backed out of the room. “Excuse me...”
“You were not mistaken.” Aislyn said as she wiped her face off on one of her gloves.
“Your highness!” The woman gasped, shooting accusatory looks at Séverin and Senka. “Are you alright?”
“It's fine.” Aislyn snapped. “why have you come?”
“Oh, well I’ve miraculous news your grace, His majesty, King Odell has returned along with Master Madden and mistress Phillips!”
“And Aichlan?” Séverin asked.
The handmaiden shot him the evil eye and curled her lip at him. “His whereabouts are unknown, but Colonel’s Enyo and Donough are currently searching for him. I figured her majesty was more concerned with the whereabouts and safety of her husband at the moment however, so I neglected to mention it.”
“Of course.” Séverin replied dryly.
“Please,” Aislyn dabbed her eyes and blew her nose into the glove. “Take me to my husband.”