Page 53 of Her Royal Blood

He really did have a heart for his people and I appreciated it.

“Yes,” I said to Hawk. “Get as many people to safety as you can and when we defeat Polonius, they are welcome in Navarrah City and I’m sure Aria will gladly allow them to live in Onyx Rah as well.” I said, speaking for Aria, though I knew she’d share my sentiments. “And my promise stands. Anyone who fights for Navarrah City or against Polonius will be honored and welcomed.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” Hawk slapped my back roughly, but everything he did was gruff. “Perhaps when Polonius is gone we can liberate all of Brahman’s Peak and turn it into a prosperous kingdom of hardworking people once more.”

I loved the idea of Brahman’s Peak becoming a working person’s paradise where their hard labor is rewarded with comfortable homes and enjoyable entertainment.

“That would be the most ideal scenario, one I will discuss with Aria when we’ve won. But for now, are we ready to continue the fight?” I asked our group and we ate our meager rations, drank some water, changed out of Crypt Claw clothing and said our goodbyes.

We were all enthused after destroying the airships and energized by the idea that our fight might soon be coming to an end. As everyone dispatched to their duties, this left Cheyenne and I alone together making our way to the Obsidian Valley, which I was glad for as it gave me some time to connect with my younger brother again.

Chapter 18

Aria

I entered the room as Gabrielle sat speaking to Halo who was bound to a chair. As soon as I stepped in I left the fold between realms and waved away my invisibility to reveal myself much to Gabrielle and Halo’s surprise.

“Aria?” Halo barely breathed. “What are you doing here?” She seemed equal parts horrified and happy to see me.

“Aria!” Polonius bellowed from below.

“We have to get you out of here,” Gabrielle stood up and started whispering in hurried tones. “He’s in a horrible mood. He lost the ports in Navarrah City,” she said with a bright grin. “And when he heard, he ran downstairs to confirm with Boris, the general of the Crypt Claw army, if the news was true. We don’t have time to talk. Meet me in your old room. Polonius has taken it over. Halo is kept bound in this room so that Polonius can guard her. Use your invisibility spell.”

“Go, I’ll be fine,” Halo assured me as I followed Gabrielle.

Gabrielle rushed to my old room and I cloaked myself with invisibility folding into time and space while Gabrielle sat down at the long wooden table and started reading a huge book on magic with ancient leather binding.

“I’m going to get you both out of here,” I said while she pretended to read.

“I can’t leave,” Gabrielle whispered in such low tones, I could hardly hear though I was standing right next to her.

“He’ll lock down the city if ‘Aria’ escapes and will begin killing citizens one by one, until you return. I know what I’ve gotten myself into. I know how dangerous it is. And I’m okay, Aria.” Her face is pained and there is a deep sadness there. “This is what I can do for our kingdom. This is how I can best serve my queen.” Tears welled in her eyes, but didn’t fall as Polonius walked into the room.

“Did you not hear me call?” Polonius asked in a voice softer and more controlled than I might have expected.

“I’m sorry,” Gabrielle said, sitting straight-backed in the chair as she rubbed her neck. “I must have gotten lost in my reading. There is a magical fertilizer…” Gabrielle seemed like she was about to share something she’d read with Polonius but he dismisses it.

“I don’t have time for that now. Come with me.” Gabrielle stood up out of her chair and we followed Polonius to the room where Halo was being kept.

“Please Polonius, my magic suffers when I can’t eat or drink anything.” Polonius harshly pulled at Halo’s bindings freeing her hands. “It’s been a day since I’ve had food or water, not to mention needing to void my bladder.” Halo looked at him with desperation and innocence, something that would beguile him.

She knew what she was doing, and I was so proud of her, of both of them, for playing Polonius so well.

“Get her water,” Polonius barked at Gabrielle and she poured a glass from a pitcher of water near Halo that she couldn’t reach because her hands were tied.

Gabrielle gave her the glass and she drank it greedily.

“Why isn’t your magic working?” Polonius barked at Gabrielle.

“I told you, it’s erratic and untamed. It did work last night, but I’ve used it up,” she huffed back at him just as I would.

She was giving a marvelous performance. Gabrielle and I had been friends for most of my life. Seeing her impersonate me so well warmed my heart. She really was doing her part for the kingdom, in fact more than her share. I vowed to myself to knight her when I got the chance. She deserved the accolades and a good husband one day, as I promised. I didn’t dare to think of what she’d endured.

“Fine. Both of you come with me downstairs.” With that Polonius walked out of the room and Halo and Gabrielle gave each other a glance.

This must have been their routine, it was mid morning, perhaps Halo stayed bound until Polonius was able to keep watch on her himself. So far the scheme was working as Polonius believed that Gabrielle’s Aria had magic that was weak and unpredictable just as we hoped he would.

“So?” Polonius asked while walking into my workshop which he’d also taken over and marched up to Sire.

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