Page 12 of The Divine Shallows
The table before them was laden with Eriden’s finest delicacies. Plates adorned with sweet berries, dried apricots, and sugared pears mingled with dishes of broiled potatoes, seasoned squash, and sauced turnips. Silver serving trays held an array of meats that tantalized the senses. Despite the opulent spread, Elowyn and her older sister appeareddisinterested, appearing as if they would rather be anywhere else at the moment.
Any occasion where the royal Fangwright family gathered never turned out well.
The king of Eriden broke the silence, his voice domineering. “Elyria, you are to begin your Trial in a week’s time,” he declared, then turned his gaze to Elowyn. “And Elowyn, you are to be named as a divine candidate for the next season’s Trial.”
He spoke in statements rather than questions and both of the sisters elected not to speak.
The king helped himself to the food, filling his plate with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and meats. He signaled for a servant to pour him wine, then rolled up the tunic of his cream-colored sleeves and began to eat. Meanwhile, the queen, Elyria, and Elowyn sat in silence and the only sounds in the hall were the clinking of silver against porcelain.
“Eriden’s reputation has waned since Elyria’s birth,” King Eamon remarked, seemingly oblivious to Elyria’s presence. “The Moon Goddess has granted Elyria another chance to redeem her faults, and furthermore, she has chosen to bless Elowyn with the first Mark.” He continued eating. “Among the seven houses of Neramyr, House Fangwright has always stood as a behemoth in comparison to the others. In this lifetime, I will not allow the debasement of the Fangwright name and bloodline.”
Taking a sip of his wine and draining the glass, King Eamon continued, “Elowyn, you will one day bear the weight of the Fangwright crown. It is no trivial matter. You were chosen as the next heir of Eriden in your sister’s stead—A fate was decided by the Goddess’ hand.” He wiped his mouth with a cloth. “With the uncertainty surrounding Elyria’s completion of the Trial of Caena and return from the Bridge Between Worlds, it is you who must bear the responsibility of ruling this kingdom when I am no longer in this realm.”
Elowyn had no idea what possessed her to speak. Her usual inclinationwas to remain silent when her father spoke, yet she found herself compelled to ask, “What if the Goddess does not choose me on the Seventh Day?”
In Neramyr, as the Seventh Day of the Ceremony of Caena drew to a close, the High Priestess would announce the next seven candidates chosen by Caena to partake in her Trial.
Elowyn understood that her name might not be called on the Seventh Day simply by virtue of her royal blood and first Mark. Elyria served as living proof that the Goddess determined all fates, but if tradition held this season, Elowyn’s candidacy was certain.
“You are of royal blood and bear the first Mark—the Moon Goddesswillselect you as a candidate in the upcoming Trial of Caena. This divine alignment will prove as an opportunity for the Fangwright lineage to assert its reputation among the seven realms,” King Eamon avowed.
Elowyn acquiesced her father with a stiff nod.
The king’s demeanor darkened. “In Neramyr’s history, never has a royal child been deemed as unworthy by the Moon Goddess as Elyria. Her unblessed status continues to tarnish the Fangwright name and brings disgrace upon the seven realms. Hence, these upcoming years are crucial for restoring Eriden’s eminence.”
Turning to Elyria, he continued, “From the moment you emerged unmarked from the Divine Shallows, you have been a disappointment. If it were up to me, I would have ordered your execution as an infant to spare the agony our kingdom has endured at the hands of your existence.”
Elyria’s gaze fell to the table, her expression empty.
The king opened his mouth to speak once more but was cut off.
“Enough,” Queen Eddra intervened. “Elyria is a princess of Eriden, and I will not have her name marred by the mouth of a scorned king.”
King Eamon stared at his wife, his tone devoid of emotion. “Eddra, you must have forgotten that it was I who granted you your title asqueen. If it were not for me, you would be nothing but another lowborn sorceress. It would be wise to remember your place. It is because of you that our kingdom’s reputation is marred. Your cursed womb caused the downfall of Eriden.”
With that, the king rose from the table and left the dining hall, his departure marked by the fading echoes of his boots. Three pairs of eyes filled with hatred followed his silhouette until he vanished from sight.
Afterward, Queen Eddra remained silent as she briefly brushed a moon-inked palm against Elyria’s hand. Her gaze seemed distant, almost absent, as she rose from the dining table with a dignified step. The queen departed the dining hall, leaving the two sisters alone.
Elowyn cast a worried glance at her sister, trying to discern her emotions. “Are you all right?”
Elyria stayed silent for a while before finally whispering, “No.”
Elowyn observed as Elyria quietly stood up, pushing her chair back into place, and without another word, left the dining hall.
Left alonewith her troubling thoughts, Elowyn sat in silence, her face buried in her palms, and her stomach tied in knots from the unsettling interaction that had just unfolded.
Once, Elowyn had believed in her parents’ love for each other, convinced that they shared a genuine bond. As a feyling, she had been captivated by the story of their romance. Their love was a tale that had been passed down through fables and song for centuries leading up to Elyria’s birth. Despite being born to the very heart of these legendary tales, Elowyn never found these retellings to be true.
The stories of the Fanged King and his beloved maiden had been regaled to Elowyn countless times during her childhood. According to legend, the Moon Goddess had chosen a lowborn sorceress, Eddra, over the Fangwright king’s own brother, the prince, during the Seventh Day—the day of divine selection. Eddra had gone on to excel in her Trial, becoming theprimisof her cohort and earning the final Mark of the Moon Goddess. Her extraordinary magical abilities had captivated King Eamon Fangwright, leading to their union and her eventual ascension to the throne as queen of Eriden.
For centuries, the Fanged King and his maiden, the Clever Queen, lived in bliss, ruling Eriden side by side.
Unbeknownst to the fey of Eriden, an era of humiliation would befall their kingdom as two of the strongest rulers in Eriden’s history welcomed their firstborn child. Hours after the folk of Eriden celebrated their heir’s birth, the feasting and reveling turned into mourning and mania. Whispers spread like wildfire, claiming that the princess of Eriden had been born without the blessing of the Moon Goddess—the Fanged King and the Clever Queen produced an Heir of Nothing. Throughout the seven realms, speculations ran wild as the fey sought to comprehend the inexplicable absence of the divine blessing. Chaotic theories ran rampant to justify the calamity.
Some blamed the lowborn queen, accusing her of being cursed for outmaneuvering the royal-blooded prince, the brother of the Fanged King, during her season’s Seventh Day. Others alleged it was because the lowborn queen became manic with greed and stole the magic from the infant for herself. Elowyn knew that these acts of defamation and libel disparaged her father greatly. Over the years, her father’s contempt for the reputation of his kingdom and his first true-born daughter boiled over until he became bitter and rancorous through and through.
Elowyn was born seven years after Elyria. She often pondered the circumstances of her conception, wondering if it had been an act of passionate hatred or merely a duty-bound obligation. To the astonishment of her parents, Elowyn emerged from the ceremonial waters bearing the first Mark, setting her apart from her sister. Consequently, her father always favored her over Elyria.
