Chapter 7
“Begin what?”I ask. I know his tall ears can hear me. But he doesn’t stop again. He turns a corner in the dark tunnel ahead of me and is gone.
I am now alone with an unfamiliar elf, who leads a legion of more unfamiliar elves, in an unfamiliar land of wild magic. The Human Queen merely exists. It seemed so unfair. But now that the butt that’s in that throne is mine, I’d be happy to just sit and catch my breath.
It’s been a long, long day.
However, if I’m only meant to sit…what “work” is there to do?
“Come along, Your Majesty.” The way the elf general has to force the formality through gritted teeth tells me that, even if she knew the Human Queen would arrive, she’s not exactly pleased to be answering to a human now. “I’ll show you to your royal apartments.”
As she goes to leave I notice a gash, gnarly and scabbed over, on the hand she rests on the pommel of her sword. Infection reddens its edges. “I can look at that,” I say, without thinking.
The general stops, blinking several times at me. She finally asks, “Look at what?”
“Your hand.” I’m already rummaging through my satchel. I used up some supplies with Emma, but I should still have—
“It’s merely a training accident,” she says dismissively.
“Well, it’s getting infected and it won’t be any trouble for me.” I find the jar of salve I was looking for. It’s good for minor injuries.
“We have a castle healer for such things,” the general says before I can even get the jar from my satchel.
“Yes, but I have—”
“You are a queen,” she interrupts me in a low and intense tone. Her eyes dart back to the knights still several paces behind. “Healing someone like me is beneath you.”
Beneath me? Healing and helping is…beneath me now? The words grate against everything I’ve ever known.
Suddenly, the grays of this place are darker, more shadowed. Everything takes on a dingier and duller edge, if that were possible. I’ve been taken from my home, my people, my family, and now they’re going to take me from the one thing I’m good at? The one thing I’ve worked toward?
I try and work up my courage, opening my mouth. But I don’t get a word in.
“Now come this way, please.” She has to grit out the word “please,” as if my offer was that shocking, or troublesome to her.
Only a sigh escapes my lips. I can’t fight any of this. Focusing too much on that will overwhelm me with everything that’s been taken from me. The best thing I can do, for now, is try and survive.
I can’t pass judgment on this life until I try and live it. Hopefully it will surprise me. And, if it doesn’t…I just have to remember that my presence here has put an end to the Weakness in Capton and has ensured another one hundred years of peace.
The castle is more of a fortress that’s been built directly out of the mountainside, and I wonder what it’s meant to keep out. Cut through the fortress’s center is a single pathway of stone, two portcullises on either end. The cobblestone road has been smoothed with time; deep ruts from carts span the length of the path.
This is the only entrance in and out of the city, I realize. If the city is to be taken, the castle must be taken first.
A third portcullis is between the two entrances of this long tunnel. Behind it is a small underground courtyard lit by torches mounted on soot-stained walls. They illuminate two heavy doors.
“What’s that way?” I point to the far end of the tunnel.
“None of your concern.” The woman stops, hand on her sword. “We’re going this way.” She motions to the doors.
“Is it beyond the city?” I ask anyway.
“Yes. Which is none of your concern. Now come.”
Her soldiers must’ve heard an unspoken command to them; the legion now surrounds us in a semi-circle as if they’re guarding from invisible attackers.
Left with no other option, I follow her up to what must be the castle’s entrance. The guard’s eyes flash a bright blue at the doors and then she turns to me. “These doors are magicked shut. It’ll do you little good to try and flee.”
“Why do you think I’ll have reason to flee?” I ask, as if the thought hadn’t already crossed my mind…more than once.