Arrival

  It was, in the end, a matter of change. She had grown up, as had Accolon, and she no longer knew him.

  Satine closed her eyes, because by then, there was something else inside her too. A knowledge of what she had to do.

  She gave Accolon a smile, which she hoped would not seem false, and she turned her face up slowly to kiss him gently on the lips. A goodbye.

  “You must do this,” she whispered, knowing he needed to feel that he was doing the right thing.

  “You must know this,” he replied. “Until time ends I will love you, and when this is all over, maybe we can finally be together. Surely nothing could keep us apart forever.”

  A single tear slid down her face, and she hid it from him. She thought for a moment of their child, and was suddenly glad beyond telling that he’d never known.

  Satine paused at the door to say one last thing. “We might have been kindred once, Accolon. But no more. We walk different paths. The sooner you realise that, the better it will be for all of us.”

  She didn’t turn to look at his expression, nor wait for a reply. There was nothing he could say that she wanted to hear just then. She was walking away from a man she thought she’d known, and the disillusionment broke her heart. But she did it, and shut the door behind her. There was a new path reaching out before her now. And a broken heart was not new for her.

  ***

  Fern was the last to leave the room to prepare for the coronation, and Jane hung back from her friends so that she might have a moment alone with him.

  “I’m sorry I did that,” she said, remembering how quickly Fern had pulled his arm away from her touch. “I was just trying to give you a bit of support, I knew you must have been upset because Accolon was ignoring your sister. I won’t do it again.”

  Fern’s face softened. “No, I’m sorry. I thought ... Oh, never mind.”

  “What, what did you think?”

  “Well, I thought the touch might have held more in it than concern,” he said and added with a grin, “which wouldn’t be so hard to believe.”

  “That wasn’t it,” she assured him quickly, trying to hide her discomfort.

  “I mean, I shouldn’t have thought that you were capable of hurting somebody in such a way,” he said.

  “What do you mean? Hurt someone? Athena?”

  “No, that would be my own fault. You would be hurting Luca.”

  “What?”

  “You are courting him?” he said, frowning.

  Jane sighed and remembered how Luca had been holding her hand. “I’m not, Fern.”

  He snorted with disbelief. “He certainly wanted me to get that impression.”

  “Is that my fault?” she snapped. “He just missed me—we’re friends. Friends are allowed to be affectionate towards each other. And it’s not your business anyway, Fern. Stop trying to control me.”

  He groaned and turned away, shaking his head. “I cannot believe you. I’ve been trying to help you! And if you weren’t so hopeless, maybe I wouldn’t have to try so hard!”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh? Fern, just ... shut up,” she said and he turned back to her, a smile on his face.

  “Shut up? Goodness, that was a cutting retort. How do I proceed?”

  “You can start by getting over yourself.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought this whole thing happened because you find me irresistible,” he grinned.

  “That’s exactly my point. You think that.”

  “But it isn’t true?”

  “No.”

  “Good. Because when you touched me, I had a horrible moment thinking my lunch was going to make its way back up.”

  “Oh, Fern, you’re disgusting!” Jane laughed and pushed him into the wall. “And excruciatingly cruel.”

  Fern simply flashed her a grin and winked.

  ***

  After much bustling and preparation, the people were seated in readiness for the ceremony. The great hall was bedecked with summer flowers and beautiful white satin, and the dais where Accolon and Elixia stood was wreathed in wild purple heather and gold cloth.

  Jane and Ria had been dressed by two of Columba’s ladies-in-waiting. Ria looked at Jane beside her and then smoothed the fabric of her own dress. Ria had never really been concerned with her looks. Why should now be any different?

  She knew why. It was because there was a man sitting on her other side, who, for some strange reason, kept looking at her. Luca’s stare was unabashed and kept making her blush.

  Elixia and Accolon were dressed in white with purple and gold trim. Under the guidance of the high priest, gold-laurel leaf crowns were placed on their brows.

  Then they stood, hands clasped, in front of the gathering of noblemen and women, and recited the vows of loyalty to their country and to each other.

  They looked beautiful, but as Ria looked more closely, she saw that Elixia seemed taut and drawn, and there was no warmth in Accolon’s eyes.

  Once it was over, they were shepherded into the huge dining hall for the feast.

  Ria sat between Jane and Luca, but since Jane was arguing with Fern across the table, Ria turned and spoke to Luca, who was looking at her intently from under his long dark lashes.

  “Who are you?” he asked. Obviously he was not one for pointless chatter.

  “What do you mean, who am I?”

  “Tell me about yourself. I want to know who you really are.”

  “My name is Ria—”

  “I know your name. Tell me about you,” he said and rested his arm alongside hers. A shiver ran through her at the warmth of his skin, and she decided not to bother with the indignation she knew she should feel.

  “I grew up in a small village called Torr,” she began, and ended up telling him her story. “I grew up as an only child, and left my village so that I could try and make some money for my family. Now my mother is dead, and my father can barely survive on his own.” She shrugged briefly. “Hard times have fallen on a lot of the villages in my country. There is a lot of sorrow and most struggle to leave it behind.”

  “Do you?” he asked.

  Ria looked down at the table and hesitated for a long time. “I don’t think I’ll ever leave it behind,” she said eventually. “What of you, Luca? Who are you?”

  “Sometimes I don’t know who I am. I think I’ve changed a lot since coming here. Last year I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking that question of anyone. But I feel a little like I know you.” His colour deepened, and she wondered what he had been thinking. “This world has opened up a whole set of new emotions for me. You’ve no idea what it’s like. It sort of feels like everything on Earth was muted in comparison to this world. I mean, the worst thing I had to deal with there was detention.”

  “What’s detention?”

  Luca laughed. “Punishment for not doing my homework. Don’t worry—it isn’t as bad as it sounds. Here there isn’t even school, let alone homework.”

  Ria listened, trying to understand what he was talking about.

  “It seems so ridiculous that I would have worried about that stuff when there is so much bigger stuff going on. Also in my world we have pretty advanced technology. There’s this thing called electricity that makes everything a lot easier. But when you bring everything back to basics—like using fire for light, and horses for transport; it feels nice. It simplifies everything.” Luca paused and smiled ruefully. “I think Anna would disagree with me there. She hates not having her hair straightener, and I think Harry misses his fast food.” Ria stared at him blankly and he frowned. “Sorry. You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you?”

  She shook her head apologetically. “Tell me though. You spoke of new emotions?” she asked, genuinely interested.

  He hesitated and she saw his eyes flash behind her, and she remembered who was sitting on her other side. She should have known. How could anyone not be in love with Jane?

  He turned back to her after a moment and said, “I feel as though my life back on Earth
is just an unimportant, insignificant thing in the face of what I’ve seen here.”

  “But I sort of feel the same, Luca. Court life is very different to life as a grape-grower’s daughter. Don’t think you are alone in that,” she reassured him.

  He smiled and drank some of his wine. “I play music too,” he murmured.

  “What instrument?” she asked.

  “A guitar,” he said, and Ria frowned. “It’s a stringed instrument, but not like your harp. Here.” He stood up and walked over to the corner where he had placed his guitar. She wondered at his dedication, having managed to bring the instrument all the way with him.

  He sat back down and plucked a few strings. She had never heard such music. But what caught her eye, and clutched at her heart, was the sudden realisation of the beauty of his hands. Large, and square, and perfect. A musician’s hands.

  He smiled at the astonished look on her face, misreading her wonderment.

  “It’s nice isn’t it?” he asked quietly, looking fondly at the instrument. “Would you like to try it?” He handed her the guitar, and she looked at it carefully before plucking the strings gently.

  “Sometimes, when I play ... it feels as though I’m not really a part of the living world. Like everything else stops. Do you know what I mean?” he asked.

  She did. And she had never met anyone who had ever understood.

  “It’s an escape, I suppose,” she said thoughtfully and he nodded.

  “Ria,” Accolon called from the end of the table, “would you sing for us? Your reputation precedes you.”

  Ria handed the guitar back to Luca and picked up her own harp.

  “It would be an honour, my lord. This is a song that I have always loved, so I shall sing it as best I can on your wedding day. Please don’t take offence at my poor attempt.”

  She played the first few notes of the beautiful song that had been written many years ago by Accolon himself. Everyone had heard that song. It had been written so long ago, by a boy who happened to be royal, and it was so ridiculously simple, that no one gave it much thought anymore. But the simplicity was what made it beautiful.

  She raised her voice high above everybody and felt herself float away.

  “Only the sea can hear my love, floating on the wave,

  Unheard of by the one that holds my heart, the one whom I crave.

  She walks on the roadways of my heart,

  And swims in the river of my blood,

  But there are too many things which forever keep us apart.”

  She paused before the chorus briefly to note that Luca had joined in with his guitar, adding flawless harmony. He then lifted his voice with her to hum quietly, supporting her in every note, and she realised how good a musician he really was.

  “Please don’t cry, oh lady,

  Oh lady, who plays my heart like it were a harp.

  Your eyes are my light,

  Oh lady, lady, lady.”

  Together they soared through the song, a song of pure, innocent love. And when it ended, the audience cheered, for they had never heard a more beautiful rendition.

  Looking at Luca, Ria was unable to keep the smile from her lips. But their moment was interrupted by a quiet voice.

  “You have sung my song as it has never been sung before. You pay tribute to me, and make my poor attempt at writing into a thing of beauty. Thank you.” But for all his appreciative words, Accolon’s face was not pleased. It was tired. And that was when Ria realised. It was a song that had broken hearts, and would do so many times again. It had not, of course, been written for his new bride.

  Looking at Satine, who was sitting a little way down the table, she saw that her face was empty of any emotion. Ria decided quickly to play another song with Luca.

  Then she let him play one by himself, so that she might enjoy it. After the meal, there was a much larger company of musicians and dancers to perform for them, and the crowd of guests stood to dance and mingle and drink ice wine. The festivities went on for hours, well into the wee hours of the morning until everyone there had celebrated the new marriage in their kingdom and could no longer keep from their beds.

  Chapter 20

  The next morning came all too soon for the revellers, but with the sun came the reality of what must happen, and so they all filed into one of Accolon’s studies ready for the council of war, bright and early. There was a very large round table in the centre so that they could all sit facing each other and have equal say in the discussion.

  The Strangers were there, as were all members of royalty who were in Amalia, and the people of importance in Accolon’s court.

  Harry sat in between Luca and Jane. She was looking even more lovely than usual. It was the presence of danger that had made her stronger, and she appeared almost regal in her hard resolution. Plus, something that only her friends from Earth could have noticed, there was a light in her eyes and a flush to her cheeks that made her look breathless with excitement, something none of them had ever seen in her before. Harry had absolutely no idea what was causing it, but he definitely wanted to find out.

  Anna sat with her hawk eyes peering intently around the table, trying to pick up even the tiniest details. She’s intelligent, that one, Harry thought with pride, but she looked very pale. Vezzet was staring at her longingly, and Harry had to hold back a smirk. Tomasso, Vezzet’s superior, watched the two of them, a dark expression on his face. Harry had never once seen the man smile, and had noticed that he was always watching everyone with a darkly calculating expression that gave Harry the creeps.

  Fern was talking animatedly to Jane, across Anna and the two chancellors. Eventually Tomasso suggested that he swap seats with Jane, so that they could continue their conversation properly. Harry couldn’t help but stare at the Elf prince.

  Entering the city, Harry and Satine had spent a few hours in a busy tavern and he’d been surprised to notice that the talk within was about three things: the assassination of Gaddemar; the woman who was to be the new queen; and for no reason at all except the fact that he was always talked about, her brother, the prince from Cynis Witron, who was half Elf, and bright as the morning star. What Harry had not expected from the prince, having heard how brave and noble he was, was his sense of humour, and ability to lighten any mood. Harry knew that Jack, if he were here, would be practically drooling over the way Fern could make a joke from anything.

  Harry, for his part, could barely look the man in the eye, he was so intimidated by his roguish gallantry. The problem, though, was that Harry was starting to get the feeling they were going to need people who could take things seriously, and he tried to quell a rising doubt about Fern’s ability to do just that. He never stopped laughing.

  Accolon sat silently next to his new bride. He must have been thinking hard because, although Elixia was trying to talk to him, he seemed oblivious.

  Harry looked over at the second king in the room. Cornelius was talking to the Emperor Liam who was calmly telling him about the torture methods in Tirana. The old king looked as though he might be sick, and the picture would have been comical, had Harry not heard what Liam was saying and turned pale himself.

  “Do you ever have a hard time putting it together?” Harry asked Luca softly and his friend looked at him questioningly. “All the magic and adventure and the people who are so amazing you’d expect them only to exist in books—and the brutality that seems to hide around every corner.”

  Luca nodded. “I know what you mean. There are so many extremes here. Cruelty and injustice walk hand in hand with beauty and courage.”

  Harry wasn’t surprised to hear his friend say something so thoughtful. Luca had always been rather poetic.

  “There has to be something for the good guys to conquer in the end though doesn’t there?” Luca added, shrugging.

  Harry nodded, catching onto Luca’s point. All this light and shade was what made it exciting. “Without evil for us to face, we wouldn’t be part of this,” he said. “This really impor
tant stuff. Do you think its true that we really have a role in everything?”

  Luca clasped his big hands together on the table and frowned. “I don’t know. I never thought I’d believe in a prophecy, but everyone here seems to be so sure ... ”

  Harry could hardly contain his excitement. “But imagine if it is!” he grinned, his voice squeaking.

  Luca looked at him and gave a gentle smile. “Don’t get too carried away. It could all turn out to be rubbish.”

  Harry shook his head, unwilling to accept the idea. Just imagine—him, Harry, always so clumsy, so inadequate at everything, so boring, now a world’s saviour!

  He swallowed loudly and forced his attention back to the room. He wanted to try and get the feel of each person there.

  Ria sat next to Luca. She was pretty, Harry thought, but there was so much awkwardness in her. Luca’s attraction to the older girl surprised Harry. He’d always thought that Luca would only ever have eyes for Jane. But now, here he was, leaning attentively towards Ria in a way that was unmistakably interested, and completely unwilling to take his attention away from her.

  Harry decided to keep his nose out of it—none of his friends ever came to him for romantic advice anyway, since it wasn’t like he knew anything about love.

  He wondered what the kids back at school would say if he tried to tell them about all of this. If he could show them a picture of this room, and what was going on. Imagine if they knew he was sitting around a table with men who had real swords at their waists!

  And his parents! His mother and father who had never thought he’d amount to anything, and who’d practically already told him not to bother applying for any universities next year since he’d couldn’t even come close to getting the marks his older brothers had recieved. Harry would give anything for them to see him here. Would they recognise him? Did he already look cooler? More like he’d accomplished something, meant something? More like a hero? He certainly felt different.