Avria’s words hung in the air, leaving Daniel, and all in attendance in shock. Katrina visibly balked beside him, her surprise evident in her expression. If not for the clear reaction from everyone present, he would have thought he misheard or misunderstood her declaration.
“Avria.” Telmos said, his voice tight with restrained anger. “We have not discussed anything of the sort. Let us adjourn for now and resume once we have spoke more of it.”
“Nonsense.” Alektor smiled. “Princess Avria has made a fine decision. And one that I will support fully.” His eyes turned toward Daniel, who struggled to maintain any semblance of composure. “That is, if Hego Daniel would agree to such a union.”
All eyes fell on Daniel, the invisible weight of their scrutiny nearly crushing him. What the hell is going on? He thought, sweat starting to pour out of every part of his body. Why would she bring this up now? She didn’t even talk to me about it! She told me she wasn’t interested, before… His thoughts churned as the memory of her near death at the hands of Oo’lak surfaced. Before she almost died… maybe something changed in her? He looked at her, her gaze downcast, seemingly uncomfortable. It was then that it all made sense, and Daniel turned a fierce gaze toward Alektor.
He must have put her up to it. He fumed, being torn by the obvious manipulation of Alektor, and the longing for someone he genuinely cared for. “I will not give a response now.” Daniel’s voice was akin to a growl, as his response rippled through the hall. “King Telmos is right. We should take a break to discuss it.”
“I find no need to.” Alektor replied coolly. “Princess Avria has named you as her choice. Do you accept, or not?”
“If that’s the way its going to be.” Daniel narrowed his eyes, “Then I do not accept.”
There were gasps and loud murmurs from the surrounding nobles and council members. And Avria looked up at him in surprise.
“There!” Telmos exclaimed, relief clear in his expression. “Hego Daniel has refused. “Let us take a small recess to discuss amongst ourselves, and continue afterward.”
“There is no need.” Alektor said, his words were stern and weighted, but his eyes never left Daniel’s. “We have gone over many important issues, King Telmos. I feel that the less pressing matters can wait until next week, or be solved by your own council.”
“Very well.” Telmos said, clearing his throat awkwardly. “I hereby declare this council session ended, and bid you all a fond farewell. We will assemble again next week.”
The sound of Alektor’s stone orb slamming on the table caused several members to jump, but he stood unceremoniously and made his way out of the chamber. Daniel stood as well, trying to make his way to Avria, but she had quickly followed Alektor out of the door, leaving Telmos and Daniel both attempting to catch her.
Something was out of place in Daniel’s mind. The whole declaration stank of Alektor’s manipulation. And regardless of his feelings toward Avria, he couldn’t allow himself to just fall willingly into such a plan.
Katrina grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the nobles and council members who were funneling out. “What the hell was that!?” She hissed, trying to keep her voice low. “What’s going on with Avria? Why would she ask for something like that?”
“I don’t think she did.” Daniel sighed, “This has Alektor written all over it.”
“You think he put her up to it?” She shook her head, looking unconvinced. “Avria isn’t someone who just gets ordered to do things and agrees out of nowhere, Dan. You know her as much as I do.”
“Then I don’t fuckin’ know, Kat.” Daniel snapped. “I was caught off guard, just like everyone else here.”
“And you said no.” Robert’s voice rang, as he approached them.
Daniel and Katrina’s heads snapped toward him, but he closed in closely to continue. “I gotta say, Dan. That was pretty badass.”
Daniel sighed, clearly irritated at the unwanted intrusion into his and Katrina’s conversation.
“Before you guys bite my head off, just listen.” Robert pressed, “The last time Alektor pulled something like that in the middle of a bunch of people was when he married me off to Athica. I didn’t have the guts or the wherewithal to tell him to go screw himself then, but I wish I had.” He paused, looked Daniel directly into his eyes. “This is not the same thing, though. You need to talk to Avria.”
“What the hell do you know about it?” Daniel shot back. “You don’t know anything about her.”
“I know a lot more than you think.” Robert crossed his arms. “That woman saved me from a fate worse than death. Despite everything I did to her and her clan. She chose to show me mercy, and beyond that, forgiveness. So go talk to her and find out exactly what is going on.” He turned toward Katrina, “Both of you should.” With that, Robert turned on his heels and left them in silence.
“He’s right, Dan.” Katrina said, her voice soft. “We need to talk to her, as soon as possible.
~
Robert made his way down the hall toward the royal wing of the palace. His heart was heavy with his task, but this was a trial he needed to endure. With each step he felt the sour bile in his guts churn in fearful anticipation. As he turned the final corner to his destination, he was hailed by the two Rexunii guards who stood sentry before the door.
“King Reku.” The both said, bowing in unison.
“I have come to see her.” Robert nodded toward the door. “Don’t announce me, and whatever you hear in there, don’t enter or interfere.”
The two guards glanced at one another nervously, but nodded again, and stepped out of his way.
Robert took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come and slid the stone door open. As he entered, the soft smell of some unknown flower played at his senses, calming him. He heard the door slide closed behind him, and then heard the rustling of someone on the balcony.
“Kat, is that you?” A vaguely familiar voice called.
A feminine form stepped from the balcony into the room, and stopped mid stride as she met his eyes. Robert’s heart sank into depths unknown as he locked eyes with the former Krya of Vul De Rah, Illya of house Ignos. She stood in silence, her perfect face, which started with a pleasant and beautiful smile, slowly turned dark with sadness and rage. Her radiant yellow eyes pooled with tears, that spilled over and began running down her smooth red cheeks.
“What…” She croaked, trying to keep the emotion from overwhelming her. “What are you doing here?”
Robert held his resolve, knowing there was nothing he could say that would truly make up for the pain he had caused her. He remembered her gentle council when they first met. When she came upon him in this very palace nearly two years ago, broken and feeling sorry for himself. She sat down with him and consoled him, as a friend and an ally. Now she looked at him with pure and unrelenting hatred.
“I came to see you.” He said, stepping closer.
“Guards!” She yelled, stepping back in panic.
Robert stopped his advance and took another deep breath, letting it out slowly. Several moments passed as she kept glancing frantically from the door of her quarters, which remained unopened and him. “So, you are here to kill me then?”
“No.” Robert replied, looking again into her eyes. “I am here… to offer myself to you.”
Illya’s face twisted in confusion. Any fear she had before, turning to rage. “What do you mean by that? What do you have that I would ever want, you murderer!?”
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“My life.” Robert declared, his voice bringing even further confusion to her expression.
“Y-your life?” She shook her head in disgust. “What are you talking about?”
“I remember,” Robert began, turning to examine the late afternoon sky outside her balcony. “When I first met all of you… how scared and feeble I must have seemed. Like a lost little animal.” He paused, letting the memories of his first experiences in Pelemont come to the fore of his thoughts. “You showed me so much kindness then… but I was afraid, and desperate to get home.” He met her eyes again, attempting to portray his sincerity as best he could. “What I did to you and your family, Illya. Nothing I can say will make up for it. And the only thing I have to give, is my life.” He stepped forward again, causing her to back up again, but he pressed on. He grasped her hands in his remaining one and brought them to his forehead.
“S-stop it.” She protested, her words little more than sobs.
“Avria forgave me for what I had done to her, and to your clan.” Robert declared, holding her gaze. “But she can’t forgive me for what I did to you and your family. So, I offer you, my life. And the choice, Illya.” He knelt before her, his face quivering with subdued emotion, and when his hand slipped from hers, there was a bone dagger left in them. He held his arms out to the side, baring his chest as his royal cloak fell, and revealing that he was missing an arm. “You can kill me, right now. Or take your pound of flesh too, Illya. I deserve it, either way… but… but if you choose to forgive me, I swear to you, I will do everything in my power. Everything, to ensure your house survives. That your children are protected and want for nothing. That your world survives what’s coming.”
He swallowed the lump in his throat, as he tried to read her thoughts through her horrified expression, which turned into a sneer. She glanced at the dagger in her hand and gripped it tightly. “Curse you.” She snarled, raising it up above her head. “You took everything from me. My father, and my brother. My house’s honor! Everything we had spent hundreds of years building! And… and my freedom.” Her body jerked with her sobs, but she tensed her muscles, in preparation for a strike.
Despite what he had allowed to unfold, and his imminent demise before him, Robert felt no fear. To the contrary, he felt more at peace and relieved than anything. Then he saw the hatred in her eyes break, like a fever in the night. And her expression changed to one of unfiltered rage to guilt. She let out a cry of anguish and fell to her knees before Robert.
He held out his arm and embraced her while she cried. Everything she had endured over the last year or so, came out in a wave of sadness and pain. He felt her arms wrap around him and tighten with each breath.
“Thank you…” He whispered, feeling an unfathomable peace wash over him. “I will not fail you, Illya... I swear it.”
~
Daniel stared at the Lokkadonian guard who now stood in his and Katrina’s way. “I said I need to see her.” He snarled, his last bit of patience fading with each moment his path was impeded.
“I’m sorry, Hego Daniel.” The guard replied. “The Princess has expressed strict instructions to remain undisturbed.”
“Avria!” He yelled past the guard’s shoulder toward the door. “Are you seriously hiding from us right now!?”
The door slid open, and Avria pushed the guard aside in a Dunamis enhanced rage. Her face left little question to her mood as she stared daggers at Daniel. “I am not hiding from you!” She bellowed. “I am in the middle of a meeting with my father, the KING! And I do not have time to deal with you right now.”
“Oh really?” Daniel stepped closer to her, his face defiant. “After what you pulled in there, you better make time for me. I don’t care who’s in there with you, we’re going over a few things, right now.”
Avria’s face turned an angry blue as she growled in frustration.
“I’m not leaving until we talk about what the fuck just happened in there.”
“Let him in, Avria! For the love of the spirits!” The sound of Telmos’ voice boomed from within the room, and Avria sighed in resignation before standing aside, allowing Daniel and Katrina to enter.
Within, Daniel saw Telmos sitting on one of the couches of the small meeting area within Avria’s room. He looked tired and irritated, but Daniel didn’t care as he sat down across from him. The two shared a silent glare at one another, until Katrina’s form sat down next to Daniel. Avria sighed as she returned to where she had probably been sitting before they were interrupted, but she didn’t sit.
“Alright,” She declared, crossing her arms, her signature scowl on her face. “Get on with it.”
Daniel scoffed. “Fine. Tell me what the hell happened in there?”
“I was asked a question.” Avria spat, “And I answered.”
“Don’t dance around the question, Avria.” Telmos interjected, “Alektor put you up to this, didn’t he? You made a fool of us in there.”
“I did no such thing.” Avria retorted, her fingers flexing with her words. “You made a fool of us by attempting to outmaneuver Alektor, and turn our first public council meeting into a political spectacle!”
Telmos balked in surprise. “I only intended to show him that we were not to be trifled with.”
“You were baiting him, father.” Avria fumed. “Attempting to force him into a union with me. We all saw it; you aren’t as subtle as you think.”
“I only want what is best for our house.” Telmos looked at Daniel for support. “A union with Alektor would put house Regios into the highest position within Eleutheros. And he knows that you are the only true option for him. No other lady in our entire kingdom comes close.”
“He would never accept it.” Avria shook her head, unsaid words plain on her face.
“You’ve spoken to him, haven’t you?” Daniel asked, his tone a bit more relaxed.
“I have.” She turned to him, her fierceness also subsiding a bit. “And his words within the meeting were true. He told me he would support my decision; whomever I chose.”
“And you chose, Dan?” Katrina asked, her face one of confusion. “Why?”
Avria sighed, meeting Daniel’s gaze. “Because a union with him seemed the most acceptable. I’m sorry I didn’t speak with you sooner, Daniel. I was going to.” She glanced at Katrina. “But when we arrived, I saw you with Katrina… and didn’t feel it would have been appropriate.”
“Avria.” Telmos interjected, leaning forward. “What did Alektor tell you?”
Avria seemed incredibly uncomfortable as she pondered an answer, but a loud knock at the door pulled all of their attention from her.
Alektor strode in, his face one of determination and anger as he approached them. Telmos attempted to stand, but was waved off quickly as Alektor came to a halt. “You are very clever, Telmos.” He stated, his eyes narrowing toward the King. “But this is not going to go as you think it will. I will not marry with Avria, or be forced into marrying the Baa’Yega princess.”
“Enough of this nonsense, Alektor.” Telmos scoffed. “You know as well as I do, she is the best choice.”
“She has made her choice.” Alektor pointed toward Daniel. “And I think it is a far better union than I. The power your family would wield is incalculable. High Kings come and go, Telmos. Even if we managed to have children what more could we offer to Pelemont?”
“Hey!” Daniel yelled, pulling both of their attention. “I’m standing right here, guys. How come no one asked me about any of this?”
“Because you are a thickheaded and stubborn man, Daniel.” Alektor spat, all semblance of his normally cool and calm demeanor gone. The words were so jarring to Daniel, he couldn’t find any words to respond.
“We are so close.” Alektor fumed, wringing his hands in frustration. “But none of you can see it. Our world is on the brink of destruction! And you are bickering about political security, or being told who to marry. Avria is in love with you, you fool.” Alektor pointed to Daniel. “And you feel much the same, don’t deny it. I have tried to be understanding and patient with you, all of you. But the only one here who seems to see the true threat we face, and make the sacrifice to counter it, is Avria!”
Daniel stared on in stupefied silence as Alektor’s words cut into him like a blade. He had never seen him so angry in all the time he had known him. A fact which, alone, spoke volumes of the severity of their predicament. Katrina shifted uncomfortably beside Daniel, the words clearly having an affect on her as well. Crap, he thought, glancing toward her and seeing her mortified expression.
“Now.” Alektor continued, taking a calming breath. “Telmos, your daughter has chosen Daniel as her mate. He is a spirit-sent, and is one of a very few of us who can actually kill demons. The Dunamis is nearly ineffective against them. As the spirits would have it, the human’s possess an innate ability to purify and destroy them. As he displayed when he saved our very lives from the fatal poison we consumed! She has made this decision based off of that fact, and the fact that she happens to be quite fond of him.” He paused, taking another breath, then turned to Katrina.
“I know that the two of you have been together.” He said, causing her to stiffen. “But I am asking you, to let this go forward, Katrina. Unless you wish to declare to me and everyone in this room right now, that you are willing to marry Daniel instead, and assume a true courtly position. If not? Please, allow it.”
He turned to Daniel, his eyes hard and unrelenting. “As for you. Make up your spirit-forsaken mind. We cannot win this fight without you, and by all the spirits, you know I have gone out of my way to ensure that you are cared for and given every resource you could imagine. Look at her.” He pointed toward Avria. Daniel did, and saw her eyes rise up from the floor to meet his. Their golden glow calming the torrent that swirled within him. “She shares your fierceness and conviction, Daniel. But has something you lack greatly; tact. Look her in the eyes and tell her that you would deny her.”
To Daniel’s surprise, he saw no dismissal or irritation in her eyes. No reluctance to the words Alektor was saying, or denial at all. Instead, he saw an eagerness, and barely restrained fear of his answer. She has changed… so much. He thought, before being pulled from her by a light squeeze on his hand.
“It’s alright...” Katrina said, weakly. Tear-filled eyes meeting his, as he turned toward her. “He’s right.” Katrina smiled at him, before turning toward Alektor. “I won’t interfere with a union between them.” She turned then toward Avria, “There isn’t a better woman in this entire world, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Thank you, Katrina.” Alektor said, bringing his hands together. “You are the last piece, Daniel. This choice is yours alone. Do not fear any retribution from me, either way. Illya and even her brother are safe from any harm. I am a man of my word, and will honor my oaths or be struck down by the spirits themselves.”
Why is this so damn important? He thought, turning back to her. Then with a shiver, he felt the pull of something from within. His power, or something far greater urging him forward. He acknowledged it with a mental nod, then took a deep breath, before answering. “Alright, Avria.” He said, standing. “I accept.”