| |
No one in the room moved. No one said a word. Their looks were torn between looking at a heartbroken sobbing Elder Hannah and a madman king, who was no longer grasping at his chest. He was growling much like a hungry wolf. Dribbles of drool ran down the corners of his mouth. His skin was discoloring from a sun-kissed cream color to a pale white. The look in his eyes told me he was no longer the King Theo that any of us knew. He appeared soulless.
“What’s wrong with him?” I whispered taking my eyes off the king and looking at Li.
“Our people call the herb shi,” Li explained. “He has been smoking the herb for decades. It is not meant to be used as for habit.”
“What is it for?” Hannah sniffled.
“It’s for clearing one’s mind. Used for restless nights,” Elder Bartholomeus commented standing up and dusting off his clothes. He towered over all of us. King Theo was no longer paying any of us attention. He was staring at a painting on the far wall of my mother, Queen Liza. Jumbled words he muttered at the painting. A conversation that only him and his mind understood.
“I believe we have all seen as much as we need to see,” Elder Grimson interrupted all of our thoughts. He sat in his seat, tall and relaxed. “I would like to get home to my wife and children before morning’s rise. May we discuss what needs to be discussed now?”
“Elder Grimson!” Hannah hissed. “Now is not the time to discuss anything. Can’t you see that the king is ill?”
“All I see is a woman in love with a madman. And a madman talking to a painting of his deceased wife,” Elder Grimson replied with no emotions to his tone.
“I agree with Elder Grimson,” Elder Con interjected. “We are only wasting time...Lasp Canton no longer supports the Kingdom of Hearth.”
It had finally been said. The Kingdom of Hearth had lost its first ally. The Lasp Canton. King Theo’s kingdom was about to crumble around him.
“I, Trinity, Elder of Appleton denounce King Theo and announce that Appleton Canton no longer supports the Kingdom of Hearth,” Elder Trinity whispered. Her voice barely carried across the room, but her words would be heard around the kingdom.
“There are other ways,” Elder Bartholomeus stated taking his seat once again.
“This is the only way,” Elder Con retorted.
“The Hearth people did not ask to be ruled by a king of poor choices. They did not ask to be left to the wolves. We cannot turn our backs on them.” A few of the Elders grumbled. Others nodded their head in agreement.
“I agree with you, Elder Bartholomeus. What do you propose we do?” Elder Samara asked placing her hands on her lap and giving Bartholomeus her full attention.
“There is nothing to propose,” Elder Xavier slammed his fists down onto the table startling a good portion of the room to include me. His outburst was unexpected. Throughout the entire theatrics, he hadn’t said a word. Only nodded or shook his head. Nothing else.
“Now you choose to speak,” Elder Samara rolled her eyes.
“King Theo is unfit to rule. All of Hearth would agree. Let him be dethroned,” Elder Xavier said nonchalantly.
“What?” Hannah gasped. “But he’s... he’s...” Her eyes darted back and forth between Elder Xavier and King Theo, who sat on the floor rocking back and forth while continuing to mumble at the painting.
“To steal power was not my nor my canton’s reasoning for coming here,” Elder Samara spoke up. “The throne is not ours to steal.”
“I agree,” Elder Bartholomeus concurred. “There is still someone of royal blood who can sit upon the throne without Hearth falling into the hands of another.”
“Ah. Yes. Now that Her Highness has returned,” Elder Samara directed everyone’s attention towards me, “and is of age, she can sit on the throne.”
“My reason for coming here wasn’t to sit on the throne,” I announced quickly and loudly before any of their minds had time to wrap around the idea of me taking the throne. I didn’t want the throne of Hearth. It was the last thing I wanted in this world. “My reason for being here was to protect those of you who opposed King Theo from being slaughtered when you left to go home.”
“Slaughtered!” Many of the elders growled.
“Rumors made their rounds to the Yamato Ki—” I stopped my words and looked at Li. His secret was for him to tell not me.
“Rumors of him planning to slaughter those of you who challenged him made it to our kingdom. Annaliese had us set out immediately to come to your aide,” Li stated.
“Our kingdom? What other kingdom is there besides the Vampire Kingdom on the other side of Whispering Hills that no one would dare go to?” Elder Con asked intrigued. “There is another kingdom?”
“Yes. The Kingdom of Yamato.” Li’s words were loud, clear and filled with pride.
“Don’t you mean canton?” Con asked raising an eyebrow. Li smirked and shook his head.
“Yamato is a kingdom and not a canton?” Elder Trinity asked excitedly. Again, Li nodded. Grimson threw his head back and laughed wholeheartedly. He sounded just as much as a madman than King Theo did. When he stopped laughing, he wiped the tears from his eyes.
“What has you laughing like a loon?” Con muttered.
“The one the king trusted the most was the one with the biggest secret,” Grimson replied trying to contain his laughter.
“Everyone in this room has gone bloody mad,” Elder Grimson mumbled.
“So you’re telling us that you are a king?” Elder Trinity asked Li.
“Emperor,” Li corrected her.
“An emperor?” Trinity was melting like butter over Li. Part of me didn’t like her flirting; however, the other part of me knew how easy it was to melt like butter over him. “Then why did you sit at this table for so many years when you had your own kingdom?”
“I had my reasons.”
“Am I the only one in this room who still remembers that there is a crazy king sitting on the floor rocking himself?” Elder Tyrus barked.
As much as I hated to admit it, Elder Tyrus was right. The discussion and talks of Yamato Kingdom needed to come later. Right now, a decision needed to be made as to how to handle King Theo. The decision I would leave in the Elder’s hands. My hands were too bias.
“Elder Li...” Elder Bartholomeus chuckled, “I mean, Emperor Li, is there a cure for what is wrong with the king?”
“No,” Li responded flatly. It was the same tone that he had used with the Elders and others numerous times. It wasn’t the sweet, passionate tone he used with me. I once found his other tone to be alluring. Now it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand.
“Li?” I asked softly. He looked down at me. “Please.”
“Sorry,” he smiled. “I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you,” I whispered and leaned in towards him. He pulled me close to his side. The top of my head he kissed softly. Butterflies rose in my stomach and my heart felt like it would burst from so much happiness. I couldn’t help giggling.
“If he had only used it short-term, then detoxing his body of the herb. However, this,” Li pointed at King Theo, “is not a short-term effect. This behavior is from long-term use. Detoxing his body would only kill him faster.”
“Kill him!” Elder Hannah burst into tears reminding us again that she was in the room. “I will bring him to Glenmore with me. We have lots of educated doctors with a world of knowledge.”
“Elder Hannah,” Elder Samara said firmly. “Reality is reality. Look at the man. He is carrying on a conversation with a painting! And as though no one else is in the room!”
“How dare you,” Elder Hannah shrieked, jumped up onto her feet and charged towards Elder Samara. Before Hannah could reach Samara, I placed my left hand out in front of me palm facing Hannah.
“Enough,” I grumbled raising my hand higher. Elder Hannah simultaneously followed my hand's movements. Her feet were no longer touching the ground causing fear to rise in her.
“Put me down!” she screamed frantically flailing her arms and legs. “Please! Please! Put me down!”
“Then behave!” I declared moving my hand over to the opposite side of the room away from Elder Samara. Elder Hannah’s timid body followed suit. Once I was satisfied with the amount of distance, I set Hannah onto her feet and flicked my wrist releasing her from my magic’s hold.
“Oh, thank gods,” Elder Hannah gasped and quickly took a seat beside Elder Grimson, who looked amused.
“If only we had food. Then this would be breakfast and a show,” Elder Grimson chuckled.
“Are we dethroning the lunatic or not?” Elder Con grouched. “Are we locking him away in a tower like they do in children’s tale? Are we leaving Hearth to fend for itself? Can we please stop getting distracted?”
“I agree,” I declared.
“You do?” Elder Con asked with wide eyes.
“Yes. I do. My hands are biased towards the king. I hope that the people of Hearth can rely on all of your knowledge and good judgment to help make a decision that is in the best interest of the people.”
“Do you not wish to sit on the throne?” Elder Trinity asked me softly.
“No. I do not want the throne.”
“Aye. Then a good judgment we will give to you, Your Highness,” Elder Trinity voiced. “Elder Bartholomeus, please, let us begin the council meeting.”
“But... but... he’s still...” Elder Hannah stuttered looking across the room at King Theo.
“Hush, child,” Elder Trinity reprimanded. “His body is here with us. His mind is not.” All the Elders shook their heads in agreement. Then they straightened up in their seats and began the discussion of what to do. I expected it to be a quick meeting; however, it was not.
“Kon?” I whispered. Kon walked over to me and bowed.
“Your Majesty,” Kon asked.
“Send for a doctor, a nurse, and a few maids to tend to that,” I gestured at King Theo.
“Consider it done, Your Majesty.” Kon gave me a smile, a frown to Li then he walked off. Li growled beside me making his and Kon’s fight that much funnier. Even during their fight I could still see their brotherly love for each other.
Standing on the tips of my toes, I cupped one of my hands around Li’s ear and whispered, “Play nice and I’ll let you help me break in the new bed.”
“Annaliese,” Li moaned quietly into my hair. “If you don’t behave, we’ll break in the Council’s table.”