Knights of Riona Read online

  Delia. A beautiful name for a beautiful young woman. I gently squeezed her hand in reassurance. When Commander Paloni sent me to the castle, I was secretly giddy at the thought of seeing her again. There was a time when I would have given anything to run away with her, escaping the castle and live on our own. No rules. No obligations. Of course, I would do as the queen commanded and protect her until my last living moment. I could hear the murmurs ahead of us as her parents discussed something they weren’t keen to share with us. Delia fell into step with me and did her best not to require too much attention. I was certain she was straining to make out the hushed conversation taking place just a few feet in front of us. In my experience, it was better to wait for information to be shared rather than to obtain it without permission.

  “Your Highness, do you know where this tunnel ends?” I whispered to the princess.

  “No. I’ve never used it before. I thought I knew all the secrets of this castle. I never thought to look behind the thrones.”

  If Princess Delia hadn’t discovered our escape route, I had to believe there was hope for us to get away undetected. The sounds of metal meeting metal faded the further we traveled down the sloping hallway. Before I knew it, we were seeing daylight break through the darkness. The Queen stopped abruptly and turned to face her daughter. I released Delia’s hand, hoping silently that her mother hadn’t noticed.

  “This passage opens into a cave just south of the palace. We’re almost there. It would be ideal to wait for the cover of night before we try to leave, but we don’t have the luxury.” She turned her attention to me. “King Theophilus and I will go first. You will wait until we reach the forest, then wait another twenty minutes before following us.”

  “Mother, no!”

  The King stepped forward and took his daughter’s face between his hands. “It’s the only way we can be sure you will be safe, sweetheart.”

  “Should we all make it out safely, we will meet at Godfrey Tower. Do you know it, Taeren?” The Queen asked.

  I nodded quickly. “Yes, it’s a day’s journey eastward from the southern point of the castle.”

  “Exactly. Now, they’ll be looking for me, but more importantly, they’ll be looking for this,” Queen Isadora said, removing the amulet from her neck.

  I had never seen it up close; the swirls of pink and orange were accented by a deep purple that remained along the edges of the stone. Without another word, the Queen placed the precious relic in my hand and closed my fingers around it. I opened my hand and stared; the specks of light moved within it like fireflies dancing in the summer sky.

  “You must not let this fall into the hands of the Sideon. If you do, all will be lost. The power held within this stone is tied to every living thing in Riona. If our enemies get their hands on this, the world as we know it will come to an end.”

  Her grave tone caused shivers to run down my spine. In that moment, I knew that protecting the Bloodstone was more important than anything else, even Princess Delia. I deftly tucked it into the pouch I wore around my neck. My mother had given me the velvet bag when I announced my intention to join the Royal Guard. Its contents were a mystery to me, but the alchemist who made it had the chosen the contents for protection and strength. I knew those elements would protect the amulet too.

  “Mother, why does it feel like I will never see you again?”

  Isadora gently touched the soft cheek of her only child. “My beautiful daughter, the idea of being torn from you is almost more than I can bear. This is my duty as Queen. One day it will be your duty and you will understand that protecting Riona and our people is more important than anything else.”

  The two embraced for a moment before King Theophilus wrapped them both in his arms. I felt like an intruder in what might be the last time this family sees one another. A lump began to form at the back of my throat as I thought about what I would give to have this final moment with my parents; but they were gone now. Without any further conversation, the King and Queen led us down to the cave and disappeared through the entrance.

  Every fiber of my being stood at attention as I waited for any sign of attack. I heard nothing for what seemed like an eternity. I told Delia to stay where she was while I went to the mouth of the cave to check the progress of her parents. The late afternoon sun was setting when I peered out from behind a large boulder that obstructed the cave entrance from the outside world. I scanned the terrain for any sign of life, but only caught a glimpse of Isadora and Theophilus as they disappeared among the trees.

  I returned to Delia to share the news. “Your parents just entered the forest. Now we must wait twenty minutes before we set off. The sun should be fully set soon, so we will have the cover of darkness for our journey across the open fields.”

  “Thank you, Taeren.”

  “Princess, I can’t promise everything will work out the way we hope, but I can promise I will do whatever I can to protect you.”

  “I know that. I truly appreciate it, but can you please dispense with the formalities? We’ve known each other for years. Call me Delia. I’m worried for my parents. They left without a guard. Who will protect them, should they be caught?”

  “Your father, of course. He was once a highly-decorated Commander of the Royal Guard. He trained Commander Paloni. Didn’t you know?”

  She shook her head. Her father had won the heart of the Queen during the first invasion of the Gorum. Under his command, the Royal Guard fought their enemies and sent them back to their land, licking their wounds. At the time, we hadn’t known where they had come from; they were so unlike any creature in Riona. It was then that we discovered the existence of portals, and subsequently, other worlds. The Gorum had somehow opened a portal from the wastelands of Goru; a desolate world, devoid of magic and new life.

  Commander Theophilus had worked tirelessly to identify each portal, and enlisted alchemists to ward them against unwanted travel. When he returned, he was a celebrated war hero. Everyone loved him, but Queen Isadora found her match. They were married before the next snow fall.

  “It’s time,” I told her before taking her hand once more.

  Under the cover of darkness, we crossed the open field and broke through the tree line, carefully picking our way through the thick undergrowth. I led Delia towards the path; we would make less noise if we weren’t trudging through the fallen branches.

  “Do you know where you’re going?”

  I rolled my eyes before turning to face her. “Yes, Your Highness. I have a keen sense of direction and have been trained for situations such as this.”

  I tried not to show my frustration when she narrowed her eyes at me, as though my words were unbelievable. Instead, I strode forward confidently and gestured for her to follow. She waited until I had gone at least five paces before falling in step behind me. I began to wonder if my earlier assessment of her was wrong. She was no child; had become a high-spirited young woman. She may be infuriating, but she was the future Queen of Riona and it was my duty to keep her safe.

  While we continued silently along the path, I began to feel a hum vibrating through my body; it resonated from the pouch around my neck. I placed a hand upon the leather bag holding the amulet given to me by the Queen. I wondered if this was how Queen Isadora felt every day with the necklace touching her skin. I heard a commotion up ahead and grasped the sword at my side with one hand, while shielding Delia the other hand.

  “What is it?” she hissed.

  I gestured for her to be quiet and strained to pick out the sounds. I had no idea what was going on, but it didn’t sound pleasant. I pulled Delia off the path again just before one of the Gorum rounded the bend. It was the first time I’d really examined one of them outside of the heat of battle.

  He was massive, taller than the fully-grown Rionian trees of the surrounding forest. His umber skin was covered in dark gray splotches that might have resembled freckles had they been smaller. Tusk-like teeth jutted out from behind a thick bottom lip, covered in sl
obber.

  “You won’t find what you’re looking for here.”

  A sharp intake of breath next to me told me my initial assessment was correct; the Gorum had the Queen. I winced as ten fingernails dug into my flesh. Delia was doing her best not to make a sound, but her fear was written all over her face.

  “Give us amulet. No amulet, no live.” The Gorum had never been very intelligent.

  “Are you not listening, I do not have the amulet. Unhand me this instant.”

  Another of the Gorum joined them, holding a limp figure in his massive hands. The crown was missing and the velvety robe was torn and muddy, but there was no mistaking King Theophilus. He was clearly unconscious, if not dead. I glanced at Delia, certain she would be a crying mess. Instead, she looked fierce. Her eyes were glued on her father and she was breathing deeply through her nose like a bull about to charge. I couldn’t let that happen; we had to protect the Bloodstone.

  “Kill him.”

  “No!” The scream ripped from Queen Isadora, but it was too late.

  As soon as the order was given, the other Gorum squeezed King Theophilus until blood oozed from between his fingers, accompanied by a sickening squish. Delia stifled a cry and intertwined her fingers with mine.

  “You monsters! Have you no mercy? We do not have the item you’re searching for, I’ve proven it to you. And yet you murder my husband as though he were a bug underfoot.”

  “You not have necklace, you die too.”

  We couldn’t have stopped them. Delia grabbed my arm and pulled me back; she didn’t want to see her mother’s fate. We walked away, careful not to make any noise. I hoped we were far enough away to spare Delia the sound of the Gorum taking Queen Isadora’s life, but we both heard the deafening snap of bones and knew it was over.

  It was as if the floor had dropped from beneath me without warning. There was nothing I could have done to help my parents. Their fate was sealed from the moment the Sideon sent the Gorum into our world. Watching my father die had been hard enough, but the idea of having to witness my mother’s demise was too much to bear. She had always been the strongest person I’d ever encountered.

  As princess, I knew that one day I would have to lead Riona, but I never thought it would be so soon. We were in the middle of a gruesome invasion and the only woman who could instill calm in our people was gone.

  I followed Taeren in a daze. He probably thought I was in shock, and to a certain extent, I was. But the main thought that raced through my mind was protecting the amulet that would ensure the survival of Riona. No one could know the secret carried within that stone. As long as the stone was safe, I knew we had hope.

  I was lost in my own thoughts as I fought to maintain my composure. I couldn’t quite pin down my feelings; devastated came close, but it didn’t seem to communicate the depths of my emotions. Taeren stayed a few paces ahead of me, undoubtedly to give me some privacy to grieve my parents. What he didn’t know was that the storm rising within me would get me through anything. At the moment of Queen Isadora’s death, I became the reigning queen of Riona. I was beyond grief; I was angry. The Gorum had taken so much from our people, they’d killed so many, now they had taken the lives of the only two people who could lead our world with grace and humility.

  Worse than the brutal acts of the Gorum were the intentions of the Sideon. They wanted to drain the life from my home. They were going to absorb the power from the source of life and then move on like it meant nothing. Worse, if they wanted the power to last forever, they would keep me alive, force me to bear children, and feed off Riona for all eternity.

  If my parents were there, they’d have reassured me and told me that I would be the greatest queen Riona had ever seen. They would insist that I square my shoulders and take my place on the throne in our castle at Almandine. They couldn’t have known that I had always hoped my mother would reign until I had a daughter old enough to rule.

  I loved Riona, it was my home. I just never wanted to be the one to rule it. Taeren glanced at me over his shoulder. I could tell he didn’t know what to say, and I was perfectly fine with being left alone. The vibrant sky above was slowly fading as the streaks of deep purple began to creep across the pink and yellow. It would be night soon, and I had no idea what we were going to do next.

  My thoughts wandered as we went. Selenite Roses grew wild along the edge of the path we walked. I stooped down and plucked one from the cluttered patches that peppered the ground. My father used to bring me these roses from the castle garden. At first, they had been our secret, but my mother was delighted to discover a vase filled with the opalescent flowers in my room. She told me the Selenite Roses got their name from the alchemical element used to help create them. Their petals were white, but as the millions of pinpoints of light from the sky reflected off them, they displayed hues of pink, purple and a pale green. I was five, and it was the first lesson I had on what made Riona so special.

  The stories she told me at bedtime turned out to be tales of our history. According to legends handed down from queen to queen, there was an alchemist who found a blank void in the cosmos and decided to create the perfect world. She became the first queen of Riona. When I was a little girl I’d thought those stories were just that, but when I started my formal studies with Chancellor Tilda, I discovered there was more truth to them than I’d ever imagined.

  The Great Alchemist, Sophronia, brought life to an empty place. Little was known about her aside from her deep connection to Riona. No one knew where she came from, no one knew how she created such a vast and beautiful world. No one that is, except for the Order of Alchemy, and the reigning queen. Sophronia was the first Queen of Riona, followed by her daughter and granddaughter and so on. I was the most recent in a long line of future queens descended directly from the Great Alchemist.

  I inhaled the scent that clung to the flower in my hand. It brought back so many memories. Exploring the secret passages in the castle, attending parties on the castle grounds, playing with my dolls. None of that would ever happen again. Whether I wanted to or not, I now had to be the queen. It was time to put aside childish things and lead my people.

  “Delia?” Taeren’s voice was softer than it had been since we’d left the castle. He’d slowed to match my pace and was now walking along beside me.

  “What is it, Taeren?”

  “I know it won’t make it any better, but, I lost my parents today too.” He paused and glanced at me before continuing. “They ran the bakery just up the road from the castle. I’m not sure if you ever went there, it was next door to the apothecary.”

  “Of course, I remember your parents and their bakery. Your mother baked every birthday cake I’ve ever had. She made the most amazing icing.”

  He smiled. “It was my grandmother’s recipe.”

  “I’m sorry they died.”

  “The Gorum blocked the door and burned the whole place to the ground. They never stood a chance.” He ran a hand through his chestnut hair.

  “How old are you now, Taeren?”

  I tried not to laugh as he drew himself up in an effort to make himself taller. “I just turned sixteen last month. I’m the first in my family to serve in the Royal Guard.”

  “Well, as your reigning monarch, I thank you for your sacrifice.”

  He was momentarily taken aback, “Oh, I guess you are the Queen now.”

  I shrugged. “I will be. There are quite a few ceremonies and formalities that must be done before I officially hold the title. Trust me, it’s the last thing on my list of priorities.”

  Taeren seemed to understand as he fell silent next to me. We were both just children. We shouldn’t have to be doing things like protecting the future queen or preparing to rule an entire world. I looked at him sadly, it wasn’t fair. This walk didn’t seem much different than the last time we wandered the castle garden together. It was my eleventh birthday, and he was nearly fifteen. He’d told me of his intention to join the Royal Guard and I had felt betrayed.
/>   We’d always talked about going on grand adventures and leaving the world of Almandine behind. We talked about living with the Outliers and someday having children of our own. We both loved our families dearly, but neither of us was suited for what was expected of us in the future. It was that night that Taeren told me he loved me. It was that night that we shared our first kiss. And it was that night that I held onto every time I missed him. I shook my head, unwilling to go back down that road, not then, not ever.

  My heart was heavy as I turned my thoughts back to the history lessons I had from Chancellor Tilda. She’d told me about how Sophronia hadn’t been taken seriously where she came from which was why she created Riona. She wanted a place where women could be powerful and no one would question their authority. As things were now, I couldn’t imagine living in a world where women weren’t taken seriously; we didn’t treat men poorly and some men maintained positions of power, but we were a Queendom.

  I remembered something I’d learned from Tilda about how we came to live here and how we continued to live here. The amulet that rested in Taeren’s pouch was powerful. It held the blood of Sophronia, my blood, and some of the alchemical elements she’d used to create the sky. One thing I’d always wondered was how the Great Alchemist had created an entire world with precious stones and herbs. Did she create people and animals too? Were we just products of a scientific magic? If she didn’t create the people of Riona, how did they come to be here, where did they come from? Those were not questions Tilda could answer for me. She told me time and again that I would understand “one day”. Now that I would be ascending the throne, I couldn’t think of a better time to learn the things I had yet to comprehend.