Page 18 of Iris of the Crowned Flame

“Luther doesn’t know. You’re right that he would do everything to ruin you over the idea, but he knows nothing. I’ve been watching, and only one Councilor seems to have noticed anything, and that’s Lady Mallard.”

“Oh, that’s not good. I can’t have any of the Council questioning that. I need to fix that.”

“What you need to do is find out what Spencer is about to share. Then tomorrow afternoon, after processing the information, we can figure out what to do.”

I nodded, and he gave my hands a squeeze.

“Yes, yes, that’s a good idea. Thank you, Ethan.”

He smiles and hugs me. “I’ve got your back. You will get your crown, and you will lead our people, and we both will make sure that you are the last monarch to worry about this.”

I pulled away from the hug, offering him a smile. “Thank you. Truly, just thank you. I hope we can.”

He reached for the door, and we return to the sitting room. I settle into my seat again, and Ethan sat down next to Amyra. She stood up to continue working on my hair. I suppressed a smile as a brief thought fluttered by, imagining what my hair must have looked like while Ethan walked me off that cliff of panic.

“OK, Spencer, just before Ethan arrived, you said your mother’s stories related to your promise of happiness to me?”

He cleared his throat. “Yes. I’m so sorry for creating panic. It wasn’t intentional. I just was trying to tell you about this, and I just picked the worst way. Uh, anyway, so those stories and fables about how people could sense things that others couldn’t? The magic that our land used to have, and how different people could use it in different ways?”

“Yes, of course, but I don’t understand how that applies to how you’ve heard these rumors.”

“I didn’t hear any rumors. I have poked and prodded for them, to be sure, but there is not a single rumor about this. Your courtiers, if they are aware, are invested in keeping outsiders in the dark.” Spencer’s assurances echoed Ethan’s from earlier, and I felt calmer.

“Noted. I’m glad that no one is spreading unfounded stories.”

“Unfounded?” Spencer raised his eyebrow. I averted my eyes.

“Anyway, those fables are real. Mama shared them with me, and with us, because she has a sense that allows her to see things others can’t. I have that same sense. When I look at people, I see an aura about you, it’s like a haze that speaks to me inside my mind. Your haze has changed since you left Vondalon. When we were there, it was earthy, almost smoky, and I could see flames when you had heightened emotions. I must admit, seeing those flames spark was part of why I would tease you so much.” He smiled at the memory.

My face twisted in confusion. I looked at Ethan and he was also confused, and so was Ivy. Amyra was behind me, but I didn’t have to see her to know she was just as lost as us.

“Sorry, you’re still confused. The story Mama always told about the Gods blessing the change makers. It’s real. Mama doesn’t have a powerful ability; she isn’t sure what she sees. Although she sees the haze, her view is less detailed than mine. She also only sees it for certain people. I was the only one she saw it with for the longest time. She says I have a greenish fog around me. She also saw it with you, too. From you: Earthen, brown tones were what she saw. She told me she told us stories about the Gods blessing change makers because she could see our hazes and that meant we are the change makers, and she knew we had to prepare us for that. I see more than her. Everyone has their own shades of colors and textures, and it’s much stronger. I can sense emotions and there’s something else I’ve started noticing that I just don’t know exactly. I also cansense when souls connect and know one another. And I see that here. It’s not anything that anyone told me. When I first saw you, your haze had changed. It flowed more like water than it did when you were in Vondalon, but I didn’t know why. I see today that your haze is influenced by Amyra now. Amyra is an ice-blue mountain stream, and you are a fiery, earthy soil, and the two of you are meant to work together to create something new and good.”

Amyra’s hand landed on my shoulder, and she squeezed it, using our hand language. I extended my hand up and across my chest to hold hers and squeeze back. I turned my head to look up at her and she looked down, smiling, with a tear threatening to leave her eye.

Spencer continued. “It’s love, isn’t it? You two love each other?”

“We do.” Amyra’s voice was resolute, proud to declare it.

Spencer nodded, pleased that he was right. I suspected he hasn’t tested his theories out on many people.

“I don’t know about Frederick, but you can’t trust Egan with that information. His haze is smoky, the type of smoke that burns in destruction. He acts smooth as butter, but he has something evil about him. His haze has a discomforting feel.”

My thoughts go back to how Lord Denenbaum pushed hard for Egan to be my choice. The mark on Mother’s shoulder crossed my mind too, though I couldn’t understand how the two could connect.

“Anyway, Lyla, I just wanted to let you know I’m on your side. Any way you need me. Mama thinks we are meant to change the world together. I don’t know how we’ll do that, but I know you’ve always desired a better life and resented the limitations placed upon you because you are a woman. Let me help you open those barriers. You and Amyra, I will happily take the settee every night to allow the two of you all the privacy you need or want. We can figure out heirs when you’re ready, if you ever are. I just wanted to offer my services, to shield you and give you the freedom to live your truth in any way you want.”

My emotions spilled over, tears flowing silently. I could feel his genuine compassion for me. I leaned in and hugged Spencer. “You’re a great friend, truly.”

After a few minutes, I pulled away to turn to the rest of the people in this room. I had made up my mind. “Ok, let’s say we throw this tournament and make sure Spencer wins. How can we do that? The diplomacy event is simple. I can share our notes once Father and I get that sorted. But how do we stack the deck for at least one of the other events to make this a straightforward choice?”

“Capture the flag was one of our favorite strategy games as kids. I think we can work with the team you get assigned to plan the best strategy and get a sabotage or two in place on the other flags. The crowd will love it, and you will surely win. Leave it to us.” Ethan stated, making eye contact with Spencer. They nodded their heads simultaneously.

“Ok then. And I will use this time to get to know the other two, and to figure out what Egan’s end goal might be.”

Spencer shook his head. “I don’t like you being with Egan. Can you try to avoid that?”

His protective nature caused some butterflies to flutter inside me. I paused for a moment, recalling the butterflies from when he first arrived. Was that just excitement because he’s my ally? Could it be more?

---