Page 23 of Warrior Princess
Now it was my turn to frown. “Six days? I wrote to you every day besides the last two!”
Ronan shook his head. “I never got a letter.” He looked at Mykal and then me.
Mykal sighed. “Did you give the letters to Diane?” I nodded. “Of course. She must be in my father’s pocket. I assume he intercepted each one.”
I chuckled and met Ronan’s eyes. “I’ve never been so relieved. If the king hadn’t intercepted them, you wouldn’t be here.”
“We don’t have much time,” Mykal interrupted. “Ronan, claim victory. The king is dead.”
Ronan’s eyes widened. “What?”
“The king is dead, andyoukilled him,” Mykal pushed. “Now claim victory and end this,” he gritted between his teeth.
“Claim thatIkilled him?” Ronan's voice was laced with disbelief, his gaze shifting between Mykal and me as the war carried on around us. “You know I didn't.”
Mykal's face was taut with urgency. “I know, but if I announce the king is dead, it will be viewed as an act of treason.”
“Was it?” Ronan questioned, but we both kept quiet. “I need to know the truth, Mykal. Especially if all I’m doing is saving your ass from your own people.”
“You wouldn’t just be saving my ass, but those of the Crimson Clan enslaved here as well,” Mykal whispered so others around us wouldn’t hear. “I give you my word, Ronan, that with the king gone, we can establish a new deal… one without tributes.”
I stepped closer to Ronan and placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Ronan, he saved me from the king. I owe him. Please,” I said softly, ensuring my voice carried enough conviction to dispel his doubts. “It's not just about ending the fight; it's aboutwhat comes after. Your claim of victory could help stabilize things quickly. We can sort out the details later, but right now, we need peace.”
Ronan looked down at me, searching my face for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, he took a deep breath. I saw the moment the mantle of leadership settled on his shoulders. He turned to face the churning battlefield.
“Warriors of Keldara and the Crimson Clan!” Ronan's voice boomed across the now-silent battlefield as all eyes were drawn to him. “King Eduard is dead, by my hand. The tyranny that has plagued this land ends today!”
A buzz rippled through the crowd, a mix of shock and murmured assents, as soldiers from both sides processed his announcement. Some looked relieved, others confused, but all were united in a sudden, palpable sense of conclusion.
Ronan continued, his voice growing stronger with each word. “Let this be the day we put down our weapons and find peace!”
As Ronan spoke, Mykal stood slightly behind him, the commander’s expression one of subtle approval. Though he could not make the claim himself, his presence lent silent support to Ronan's words.
The crowd began to respond, first with nods, then with vocal agreements. Swords were lowered and hostile expressions softened into ones of cautious hope.
After a moment, Ronan stepped back. His gaze met mine and Mykal's in turn, a silent question lingering in the air about the veracity of his statement and the future.
“We'll need to move quickly.” Mykal turned his thoughts toward addressing the practicalities. “We must secure the palace, ensure there are none loyal to the king who might cause trouble, and attend to the wounded.Andwe need to address the matter of the queen.”
Ronan raised a brow. “The queen?”
“Yes, she’s ill,” I answered and then turned to Mykal. “I can save her.”
“Thank you,” Mykal answered with relief. “What do you say, Ronan of the Crimson Clan?”
Ronan nodded, his initial reluctance replaced by a resolve born of necessity. “Let's start by securing the palace. We need to establish order and make sure everyone knows the fighting is truly over.”
As they began to coordinate their next steps, relief washed over me. The immediate crisis might have been averted, but the path ahead was fraught with challenges. Yet, with Ronan at the helm and Mykal by our side, there was a real chance for peace and a new beginning for Keldara and the Crimson Clan.
11
As Ronan and Mykal coordinated efforts to stabilize the situation in Keldara, the palace grounds transformed into a makeshift field hospital. The aftermath of the skirmish was grim, with many wounded soldiers and warriors. I hadn’t seen Shiro, but the toll of his ferocity was visible everywhere. Gardens that once bloomed with vibrant life were marred by the scars of battle, and the air was thick with the iron tang of blood.
In the wake of King Eduard's death, a peculiar silence descended. No one asked too many questions about his death, which I wasn’t sure was a blessing from the goddess or something that would haunt us later on. Either way, I tried not to think about it much. For the moment, I focused on our immediate needs and pushed deeper questions about the king's demise to the back of my mind.
Before I visited Queen Sariyah, Mykal insisted on removing the Aetherite bracelets that stifled my powers. As the last bracelet clinked to the floor, a rush of energy coursed through me, reigniting the strength I'd been forced to suppress. Feeling re-energized, I made my way to the queen’s wing of the palace, asection cloistered away from the world, shrouded in secrecy and sorrow.
Upon approaching her chambers, my path was barred by guards, their faces stern and wary. “By the order of Commander Mykal Kaiser, I’m here to see Queen Sariyah,” I stated clearly, presenting them with the written decree Mykal had provided. Their eyes scanned the document, skepticism etched into their brows. According to Mykal, no one had been permitted to visit the queen for nearly a year.
