Page 11 of Lightningborn

“Council is dismissed.”

They were not happy. Lips thinned, backs straightened, and nostrils flared, but one by one they turned and filed out of the council chamber. Gem watched until the final member left, the door swinging shut behind them, then turned to look at her father.

He sat in his chair with his fingers laced together and pressed into his forehead. “That went about as well as expected,” he grumbled, not looking up. “Still, I suppose I cannot blame them. Their entire lives are tied up in politics and kingdom affairs, commerce and industry, trade, making money. They cannot fathom what a true disaster would be like.”

He glanced up, and a tired smile crossed his face as his gaze settled on his daughter. “Gemillia,” he greeted her. “I am happy to see you, though this is probably not the welcome home you were expecting.” He sighed again and rose, grimacing as he stretched. “I am sorry I had to call you back, daughter,” he said. “But the princess and future queen should know the state of the kingdom, even the frightening parts, and you have always been pragmatic. I trust you will not mention any of what was discussed to those outside this room.”

“I understand.” Gem swallowed and pushed back her chair. Her hands were shaking, but she clenched her fists to hide it. Her father would not want to see any fear. He had always insisted that she act as a princess should. With wisdom and logic and sensibility, the traits of a leader and future queen. She had never known her mother; the queen had died shortly after she was born, and the king never spoke of her. Gem had heard from several people that she looked just like her mother. Perhaps that was the reason her father kept her at a distance. Perhaps remembering the queen was painful for him.

Gem knew her father was grooming her to become the queen; as heir to the throne, she knew it was expected of her. But there were times when she wished he would stop being the king, if only for a moment, and just be a father.

But today was not that day.

“If the college has to be shut down,” she said, trying to keep her voice from trembling, “then the situation is worse than you and the archmage are letting on.”

The king raised an eyebrow. “And what makes you say that?”

“There are hundreds of students who attend the college,” Gem went on, “most of them from noble and wealthy families. They will have to be sent home, with an explanation that their families will not only accept, but also believe. Shutting down the college will have a severe impact on the kingdom as a whole. People will wonder why. Nobles will demand answers. It is not a decision that could be made lightly. So, for the college to be shut down, the situation must be very dire.”

King Gallus shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if I have taught you too well,” he murmured.

“Are we really in that much danger?” Gem asked, ignoring the previous statement. Her father wouldn’t meet her gaze, and she swallowed. “How long do we actually have before the crystals fail?”

“We don’t know exactly,” King Gallus said. “But not long. In fact…” He paused, as if debating whether or not to say anything, then sighed. “Aetrius believes we might start to see the crystals fail completely within a year or two.”

“A year?” Gem felt sick. One year until the kingdom could literally fall out of the sky, dooming everyone who lived there. One year until the islands and every living creature on them was consumed by the Maelstrom. “Why is this happening?” she whispered. “The storm crystals have existed for centuries. Why are they failing now?”

“I wish I knew.” For just a moment, the king’s impenetrable stoicism seemed to waver, but then he shook his head and returned to his usual confidence. “Regardless, you will say nothing of this to anyone, Gemillia. I don’t need to explain what would happen if word of this situation became public. You may discuss it with Archmage Aetrius and with me. No one else, do you understand?”

Gem nodded. Not that she would be talking to Aetrius about anything. The archmage thought she was a spoiled child whose father told her too much, but the king had always listened to her. And there was one part of the council meeting that she didn’t understand.

“I read something about the Ancients today,” she said, watching her father closely for his reaction. One brow arched, but that was it. He could be no more than slightly annoyed or absolutely furious with her, and she’d never know. “Father, Councilor Beatrice made a good point. If there is a chance that the Ancients could know something about the crystals, wouldn’t it be worth seeking them out?”

“I see someone has been reading things she is not supposed to,” King Gallus said with a wry smile. “But you don’t know everything about the Ancients, or their history with the kingdom. There are complications surrounding the Ancient Ones that only a few people are aware of. When you become queen, you will understand. But seeking help from the Ancients is out of the question.”

“But if it could save the kingdom…”

“I said no,” King Gallus said shortly. “That is my decision, and I will not be changing it. Put them out of your mind, Gemillia.”

Gem knew that when her father switched to that tone of voice, there was no use in pressing him any further.

But she did not put them out of her mind.

CHAPTER

FIVE

The Salty Barrel was crowded tonight. Passing the airship docks on his way in, Remy saw several sky ships tethered to the piers. Many of their sails were in tatters, and a few had gaping holes taken out of their sides. Apparently, the spell storm from the night before had done some damage.

Remy ducked into the tavern and searched for Crusty Bart, finding him in his usual corner. Tonight, however, he was surrounded by sailors, and his usually thin, reedy voice rose above the crowd, his hands moving as he enacted a fierce battle between the sky knights and a cabal of rogue mages who had stolen a warship. This was one of his more popular stories because, although most pirates hated the sky knights and the authority they represented, this particular tale had lots of fighting and death and explosions, which pirates enjoyed. Bart’s mug sat on the edge of the table, but it was still half-full, which meant Remy had a little time before Bart started asking for money to continue.

Slipping into the crowd, Remy made his way to the front.

“The leader of the mages stood atop the deck, lightning flashing from his hands as he tried to shoot down the swooping dragons. But Sir Hector soared over the railings on his fierce dragon Fury, and Fury ignored the streaking lightning as he pounced upon the rogue mage with a roar—”

“Did it eat him?” Remy asked loudly.

“I…What?” Blinking, Bart’s hands faltered in mid swoop, and he glanced over at Remy with a frown.

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