Ferrickton was a modest, peaceful town. Most homes were simple one-room cabins, save for the lord’s mansion, the inn, and a few larger houses where the town’s knights lived. It had no walls, but the Red Forest bordered it on all sides. The reddish-brown bark of the trees reminded Alexia of Zander’s wild hair, and she daydreamed of walking through the woods with him, naming the colors of the leaves. She imagined his hand in hers, his smile warm as sunlight, and the way his eyes lit up when he looked at her. Touching her locket, she channeled Leverith’s spirit, her thoughts drifting to kissing him again. She dreamed of taking him to Sapphirica, of him defending their love like Elior shielded Pelianna from Phyreon. But reality crashed in—she was to be married to Gideon’s son. Fear rose in her belly and up into her chest imagining the reaction the king would have to her bringing this boy from the Ruby Kingdom home with her.
Her mind had wandered like the ever-changing wind the last two days. She could stop thinking about Zander as easily as one of those trees could uproot itself and walk about the town on its canopy. His eyes were Leverith’s twin moons, pulling her into orbit, even as the thought of what she must do repelled her.
Thinking about the mission killed her happiness. Ferrickton’s people had welcomed her and her companions with kindness. They had given her work at the lord’s mansion, Maleon a job in the mines, and Sir Timmeck a position with the town guard. The townsfolk worked hard to provide for their families. They feared Zamael, revered Meladon, and worshiped Leverith, just like the people in her homeland. They reminded Alexia of the villagers she rescued in Fritjof. Here, she was the ogre.
Alexia had slipped away to find some solitude during her break, but Allison, the adorable twelve-year-old girl, found her anyway. The child plopped down beside her, staring at the trees. Alexia couldn’t help but marvel at Allison’s sandy-brown Isihlan skin and wondered if her claim of being descended from the Shadowseer was true.
Allison’s innocent friendliness, more than anything else, awakened Alexia to the evils of her mission. From the moment Alexia arrived the previous morning, the girl had been an unrelenting source of joy. Gesturing to the Red Forest, Allison said, “My dad says monsters live in those woods. Someday I’m gonna grow strong like him and fight them.” She swung a stick at a nearby tree, giggling as it snapped in two.
Alexia smiled but barely held back her tears. “Allison the Almighty!”
“The Breaker of Sticks!” Allison curtsied dramatically, drawing a laugh from Alexia—until her throat tightened.
The little girl slid closer and put a hand on Alexia’s back. “Can you sing me another song, Alexia?”
“I don’t know if I’m in the mood,” Alexia replied, her voice strained.
“Please? I’ll trade you a story for a song?”
Alexia couldn’t find it in her heart to deny such sweetness. “This song is about the two greatest lovers ever,” she began.
“Pelianna and Elior!” Allison exclaimed.
“No,” Alexia corrected gently. “It’s the ‘Ballad of the Sun and the Moon.’ It’s meant to be a duet, but I’ll sing the Moon’s verses too.”
“If you teach me, you won’t have to sing alone!” Allison said eagerly.
Alexia smiled, her fingers tightening around the locket Zander had given her. She let Leverith’s spirit flow through her, the locket profoundly amplifying her power. It felt like her own piece of Mirrevar. How had Zander come to possess such a powerful conduit? Love flowing through her, she melded into the melody of her favorite song:
Love’s shining light
Shines on us so bright,
For all the world to see,
The love of you and me.
In all our innocent dreams,
And all our lover’s schemes,
And all our heart’s regimes,
All feel our beams.
Moon, I shine for you,
I love you, big blue.
I love you through and through,
No words ever this true.
Sun, ‘tis you I embrace,
When all the world’s a race.
‘Tis you I chase,
My love’s resting place.
Love’s shining light
Shines on us so bright,
For all the world to see.
The love of you and me.
No matter how far,
You are always my star.
No matter the time,
You are worth the climb.
No matter the wait,
You are my life’s mate.
No matter what they say,
You are always my way.
No matter the fire,
You are my desire.
No matter the cold,
‘Tis you I will hold.
No matter the pain,
Our love will never wane.
Love’s shining light
Shines on us so bright,
For all the world to see,
The love of you and me.
For all the world to see,
The love of you and me.
Alexia wiped away the tears that had gathered in her eyes. The words of the song had always seemed like a distant fantasy to her, something to aspire to. But now, thanks to Zander, she didn’t have to dream anymore. She only had to hold onto the hope that she would see him again.
Allison clapped and cheered, her voice bubbling with admiration. “That was beautiful, Alexia! Have you ever thought about singing for the archlords?”
Alexia chuckled through her tears. Singing had always been a private joy, shared only with her parents. Her father used to say she could be the greatest voice in Sapphirica if she just let people hear her. But the thought of performing in front of others terrified her. “I don’t think I could ever do that,” Alexia admitted.
“Why not?”
“Because people terrify me.”
Allison frowned, as though Alexia had just said the most nonsensical thing in the world. “You wouldn’t be scared once you saw how much they love your voice.” She stood up, hands on her hips, and belted out the chorus of the song, her voice wildly off-key, but so full of heart that Alexia couldn’t help but smile.
“See, I did it, and I don’t even have the voice of a Divine.” Allison crossed her arms with a triumphant grin, daring Alexia to challenge her.
Alexia smiled, tears welling in her eyes, Leverith’s spirit flowing through her like a flooding river. “I believe you owe me a story.”
“Ha! You’re trying to dodge me, Alexia!”
“And you’re far too clever for your age,” Alexia replied, shaking her head with a smile. “You’d do well at the Leverian University or Meridian’s Erudition.”
Allison shook her head firmly. “Nice try, Alexia, but flattery won’t work either!” She leaned in closer, her cherubic smile almost too much to bear. “Promise me you’ll sing when people need to hear a song.”
There was no escaping this persistent child. Alexia sighed in surrender. “I’ll share my song when the time comes.”
“Ha!” Allison picked up another stick, smacking it against a tree and snapping it in half. “You can’t escape the Breaker of Sticks!” she roared in her deepest voice.
Alexia couldn’t help but laugh at the little girl’s antics, though her heart ached. She glanced toward the mines, the guilt stabbing her gut like a jagged blade.
“You know, my cousin went to the Leverian University,” Allison said. “She awakened a few moons before I was born.”
“Now that sounds like a story,” Alexia said, hoping to shift her thoughts away from the mines.
Allison nodded eagerly, launching into the tale of her cousin Asa’s awakening. But as the child spoke, Alexia couldn’t shake the dark thoughts swirling in her mind. Visions of dead miners and soldiers flashed before her eyes, along with Allison’s lifeless face. Her heart twisted in knots. She didn’t know how she was going to do this and ever be able to love herself again. She spent the remainder of the day trying not to think about the mission, but it was always there, looming like a full moon.
As she left the lord’s mansion at sunset, a small tug on her tunic startled her. “Alexia?” Allison’s soft voice called.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Alexia exhaled slowly, calming her racing heart. “Yes, Allison?”
The girl’s face beamed with a brightness that rivaled the setting sun. She grabbed Alexia’s hands, her wide emerald eyes filled with hope. “Do you wanna play with me? My cousin gave me a doll, and I wanna dress her up like you and make her sing!” She lifted the doll, her voice lilting in a playful tune. “La la la. La la la!”
Alexia’s heart softened, and a smile tugged at her lips, despite the sorrow that dominated within her. She wished Leveria knew peace and not Zamael, wished she weren’t bound by her duty. “I’m sorry, sweetling. I’d love to, but my father is expecting me.”
Allison’s smile faltered, her shoulders slumping. “You should be free to do what you want.”
The simple statement struck Alexia hard, her throat tightening. When would she be free? Free to follow her heart, to do what felt right, to love Zander without fear, to befriend this sweet, precocious child who happened to be born on the wrong side of an invisible line? Would this always be her life? Committing one atrocity after another, serving Zamael in the name of loyalty and duty, bonded to a prince she didn’t love, trying to conquer a kingdom full of people she could love. This wasn’t the song she wanted to sing. This wasn’t who she dreamt she would be. Her grandfather fled Kavova to escape indentured servitude, and now, what was she but a slave to the Gemstone War?
Tears stung her eyes as hopelessness surged within her. She knelt down and pulled Allison into a tight embrace, clutching to the little girl she was ordered to harm when all she ever did was love her. “You are a ray of light in a dark world. Never forget that. I love you.”
“I love you too, Alexia,” Allison whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “I’ve been lonely since my mommy died, but you’re changing that.”
Alexia broke inside, her silent tears falling into the girl’s golden hair. She held her tighter, guilt eviscerating her soul.
“It’s okay, Alexia,” Allison said softly. “Leverith watches over you. She wants you to be free too.”
Alexia kissed the top of her head, wishing more than anything that the girl’s innocent words were true.
Alexia shifted the conversation as she walked Allison home, steering away from anything that might betray the storm brewing in her mind. When they reached the family’s cabin, Sir Barnett greeted them at the door. He was a sturdy man, solid in a way that belied the softness in his eyes. He looked nothing like his daughter, but the warmth between them was unmistakable. The untitled knight sent his daughter into the cabin to help prepare dinner and then pulled Alexia aside.
“Allison adores you,” Sir Barnett said, his voice heavy with gratitude.
Alexia managed a weak smile. “I adore her too.”
“I’m glad you came here, Alexia. I haven’t seen her smile like this since her mother passed last year. She’s been a shadow of herself and nothing I tried could bring back her light. But you’ve brought her back. She’s the little girl I remember again.”
Alexia lowered her eyes, trying to hide another wave of tears. She felt like a monster, knowing that tonight she would dam the flow of this town’s lifeblood.
He extended his hand. “My home is always open to you. You’re welcome for supper, or just to spend time with Allison whenever you like.”
The pit in Alexia’s stomach widened. She hesitated before shaking his hand. “Thank you, Sir.”
He smiled kindly. “Please, call me Barnett.”
Alexia nodded. She met his eyes, wanting to tell him she didn’t deserve his kindness. She was too much of a coward, but Barnett noticed her hesitation.
“I know that look. You’re probably wondering if she’s really mine?”
Alexia took a breath, thankful for the diversion. “Not that. Is she really descended from the Shadowseer?”
“That’s what her mother and aunt believed. They came to Ferrickton as young girls, without their Isihlan mother, so I can’t speak to the lineage myself. But I can vouch for their honesty. Neither of them were the type to lie or seek attention. Both Allison and Asa look like their mother and nothing like their fathers. I can’t explain it.”
Alexia nodded, grateful for his answer. The Shadowseer had always fascinated her–a figure who had battled his inner darkness as fiercely as any enemy. She felt a sharp kinship with that struggle now.
She thanked Barnett and took her leave, praying to Norali that she might light her way through this night, causing as little pain as possible.
The night was cool and windy as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the chill only worsened Alexia’s mood. It was Norali’s Moon, the second of summer—usually the sunniest and most hopeful of the thirteen moons. But tonight felt different, ominous. It was Zamael Waxing, the full moon just peeking over the northern horizon to catch the last rays of the sun. Many legends surrounded the full moon; all of them ended in tragedy. They were tales of death and devastation, of dreams turned to dust, of love twisted to hate, tales of innocence lost. Alexia could feel the Dark Brother’s corrupting presence creeping into the air.
Despite the dread gnawing at her, she steeled herself to do the best she could to let Leverith’s spirit prevail tonight. She would sabotage the mines without harming anyone. Even though it would still hurt these people, there was no other way. She sighed, wishing she were as free as Allison believed her to be. But she had no choice. She couldn’t disobey King Gideon Sapphire.
Alexia tried to comfort herself. These people were strong; they would survive the mine’s loss. Fewer weapons would be forged, fewer accidents like the one that had injured Allison’s uncle. But her justifications felt flimsy, and she leaned on them only because she had nothing else.
When she returned to her suite at The Rusty Pickaxe, the silence inside was as cold as the wind outside. Maleon stood by the hearth, stoking the flames with magic, while Timmeck sat on the floor, sharpening his blade. Neither of them looked up.
“You’re late, princess,” Maleon said, his voice edged with hostility.
Ignoring his tone, Alexia handed out their meals. “What’s the report tonight?”
Timmeck stopped sharpening and looked at her. “One sentry posted at the mine entrance. I’ve got patrol duty.”
Alexia nodded. “I can put him to sleep, or you can lure him away. We’ll sabotage the mines tonight, make it look like a natural cave-in. No one gets hurt, and we leave without suspicion tomorrow morning when our jobs are gone.”
“No,” Maleon said. “I know where to strike to shut down the mines for moons. Better yet, I can arrange an accident during the day. Hundreds of Rubies will go down there and never come back. No one will ever suspect us.”
Alexia stared at him, horrified. This was the man who’d been her friend and mentor, the man who’d saved her life in Mirrevar. In the space of two days, he became unrecognizable. “I can’t let you do that. These people have done us no harm.”
“No?” Maleon’s brown eyes flashed. “What about the Hedgeman who nearly put a dagger in your heart? What if the families of those you killed in Vulcan got a hold of you? Would they do you no harm? The Ruby Kingdom is your enemy, child. You need to hit them hard, or they’ll never surrender.”
“This war is my enemy,” Alexia said firmly. “I won’t end it by letting you kill innocent miners.”
Maleon stood, his gaze dark. “You’ve got the power to conquer this kingdom, end the war, and make Leveria whole again. These miners? They’ll be Ruby soldiers soon enough, out for your blood. Only conquest can truly end the Gemstone War. Let go of your innocence and embrace what you’re capable of.”
Alexia kept her voice calm, though her frustration simmered. “You can’t end a cycle of violence by adding more to it. War is not the solution to war.” Alexia clutched the locket, drawing on Leverith’s spirit. “Peace is the only solution. Leveria will only heal when we remember our true purpose—Leverith’s love. The Sapphire and the Ruby were once one kingdom. By the grace of Leverith, they can be united again.”
Maleon let out an exasperated sigh. “You’re naïve if you think love alone can fix this. Linus tried, and he died for it. The only thing that can forge lasting peace is power.”
“Queen Alexia Leveria—”
“Overpowered three armies with a single spell,” Maleon said. “Loving though she may have been—like you—it was her power that people revered.” He stepped toward Alexia. “You need to relinquish your desire for that boy and become a queen powerful enough to bind this realm together. After the blood has been spilled and the Ruby submits to you, lasting prosperity can be sustained through love. But remember, Philladon didn’t create this kingdom with kisses and kind words. He broke everyone who wouldn’t bend, and then uplifted them once his power was absolute. That is the only way.”
Alexia trembled, unsure. Maleon’s certainty chipped away at her fragile confidence. His argument rang true: Linus, Queen Alexia, King Philladon, their stories told of how power was the glue that held kingdoms together while love was the catalyst that made them thrive when they were unified. Love, on its own, wasn’t enough. Still, she couldn’t stomach his plan. She couldn’t resign herself to hurting innocent girls like Allison, good men like Barnett, and her own life’s mate.
“Gideon is a born conqueror," Maleon continued, like a hammer smashing into her confidence. "He knows he’s winning and you’re his ultimate weapon. You can make the Ruby submit, bond his son, and reign over a unified Leveria. Do you want the ten years of peace Linus’s path bought, or the thousands that Philladon delivered? You must decide, Alexia, whether the millions of lives you’ll save in the coming centuries justify the thousands you must take now.”
Alexia slumped to the floor, clinging to her locket for an answer. Maleon’s brutal calculus was undeniable; history supported his claim. The only thing in the way was her heart telling her it was wrong.
Timmeck’s voice broke through the silence. “He’s wrong, Alexia.” His expression was more serious than she’d ever seen. “The Divine Thirteen sent you to us for a reason—to end the war without spilling innocent blood. You don’t have to be like Philladon or Linus. All you have to be is Alexia Bluerose. Follow your heart, and you’ll reforge peace.”
His words strengthened her resolve. She turned to Maleon. “We seal the mines tonight. No one gets hurt. If we’re unseen, we leave in the morning. If we’re spotted, we head for Mirrevar. Can you follow the plan?”
Maleon’s face twisted into a scowl. “I’ll follow your orders this time, but don’t expect me to ever take them again.”
Part of Alexia shared his sentiment, wishing she never had to rely on him again. But another part still hoped Maleon could find his way back to being the man she once admired. “I don’t want this to be the end of our story,” she said softly. “I still believe in you. I believe you can be the hero who broke the stone off the mountain, who saved my life in Mirrevar, who gave me courage when I doubted myself. I know you’re still in there, behind the cynical mask you wear.”
Maleon’s expression softened, vulnerable for the first time since their fight on the River Road. “Forty years ago, I’d have stood beside Timmeck and pledged myself to your cause. But dreamers don’t change the world, Alexia; the world changes them. All I want now is to kill Rubies and see the Sapphire win this war.
“You don’t have to be that man,” Alexia said, her voice breaking, tears filling her eyes. “It’s not too late to dream again.”
Maleon groaned, turning toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Alexia asked, worried.
He gave her a sharp look. “A man can’t even piss without asking permission now?”
Timmeck shot him a glare. “No need to be a jackass, Maleon.”
Without a word, Maleon opened the door.
“Maleon!” Alexia called after him. He hesitated but didn’t turn around. “It’s not too late.”
“I’ll be back in a degree,” he muttered, walking away.
Alexia sat on the cold floor beside Sir Timmeck, her stomach roiling with dread. She tried to settle it with a few bites of food, but the unease in Ferrickton tonight was thicker than any meal could soothe.
“I’m proud of you,” Timmeck said. “When I first met you, you seemed untouchable, all skill and poise. But you weren’t real—you were hiding inside a shell. What you’ve been hiding, though, is the most beautiful part of you. I used to want to follow you into battle. Now, I dream of following you into peace.”
Alexia set down her fork and looked up to meet his steady one-eyed gaze. “I’m proud of me, too,” she said, letting her armor fall. Her journey had taught her that the mask she wore to protect herself also held her back. It shielded her from judgment, but it kept her from reaching people. She couldn’t touch the hearts of Maleon or the many Leverians craving vengeance by burying the dreamer within her.
She slid closer to Timmeck until their shoulders touched. She cared about him, and he cared about her. There was no need to hide that. Together, they finished their meal in the quiet warmth of shared belief—a fleeting calm before the storm.
Maleon entered just as they finished.
“What took you so long?” Timmeck asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
Maleon’s face was unreadable, as flat as the barren walls of the room. “After my piss, I figured I’d replenish my fluids,” he muttered, his voice distant, almost hollow. Alexia frowned, sensing the undercurrent. Was he nervous about the mission? Or was he brooding over their earlier conversation? Either way, his detachment unnerved her.
She stood, donning her robes and fastening her rapier at her hip. Her fingers curled around her staff—Aurora—its familiar weight bringing a momentary sense of control. The locket was a stronger conduit for channeling the Divine, but she wasn’t ready to part with the staff she’d trained with for years. Silence hung in the air as they waited, hearts pounding. It was time.
“Let’s get this over with,” Maleon said, his tone flat, eyes distant.
Alexia and Maleon leapt from the second-floor window, carried by Zafrir’s wind to land soundlessly on the ground. Timmeck, already armored for patrol, joined them as they stepped into the freezing night, the full moon casting an eerie blue glow over the town. The wind howled, biting through their clothes, and Alexia clenched her jaw, every muscle taut with anticipation.
The mine’s entrance loomed ahead, but the sentry was missing. Unease coiled in her stomach, like water boiling over a cauldron. She glanced at the moon, uncertainty freezing her in place.
“Zamael’s Hells!” Maleon hissed. Before Alexia could react, he bolted toward the mine. She lunged to grab him, but he slipped from her grasp. She and Timmeck followed in desperate pursuit.
“Halt!”
The voice shattered the quiet like breaking glass, Alexia’s heart shattering with the silence. Seven men emerged from the shadows of the trees, swords gleaming in the moonlight. Alexia went into hyperfocus, determined to make pain smaller. She wouldn’t let these men die tonight. She summoned Leverith’s spirit, visualizing the blue waves of love cradling the soldiers to sleep like a mother soothing her child.
Thin tendrils of blue light, soft as moonbeams, curled toward the rearmost sentry. He resisted, but Alexia’s will was stronger. His knees buckled, and he collapsed into the dirt, unconscious.
But something was wrong. The air vibrated, a foul presence creeping into the space like a sickness. The darkness pressing down on her made her want to retch. She shoved the feeling aside—her purpose too important to falter. She couldn’t let this night become Zamael’s triumph.
Another sentry fell, then another. But the foulness in the air grew thicker, the vibrations stronger. She felt the dark energy pressing on her, smothering her every breath. Sweat drenched her palms. Three men still advanced, oblivious to their fallen comrades.
The ground beneath her feet trembled like a scared child. Maleon groaned beside her, his body shuddering as if gripped by the same dark force. The dread reached a crescendo, and Alexia struggled to keep her focus. Two guards remained standing.
Then, Maleon’s voice ripped through the air. “Chasmatius!”
The earth screamed in response, splitting open with a deafening roar. Two deep chasms tore through the ground, the wails of the planet like a tortured soul. Alexia clapped her hands over her ears, staggering backwards as the ground shattered in front of her. The sound was unbearable—an agonized cry that would echo for miles.
Ferrickton awoke beneath the full moon to a nightmare.