A Castle of Ashes (The Fifth Kingdom Book 2) (5 page)

“With your permission, I would like to travel to the East Kingdom and report what I saw to King Hamlyn.”

“A letter has already been sent to the East with your account.”

Matthew knew that there were several claims of sightings of Lucinda throughout the years.  The East Kingdom received hundreds of letters and reports from those who claim to have seen the
Green Eyed Witch. 
“It would mean more if I went to the East.  I believe my account should be taken into greater consideration given—“

“—our history with the Princess?” John finished. “Yes, perhaps.  The truth is King Hamlyn has grown quite numb to the tales of sightings of his daughter.  Your visit might not be welcomed.”

“I have to try John.  Perhaps they will recognize the necklace.  Please, allow me to make the journey to the East and I promise you I will quit my search for the Princess.  This will be it.”

His brother gave him a sad smile. “You are a liar.  Her disappearance has become your obsession.  I fear you can’t give her up.”

“I swear I will, and,” Matthew hesitated. “Upon my return to the West I will choose a wife.”

John’s face dropped. “I would never ask that of you.”

“I know, but it is time.” He said. “Because of my incessant search for the Princess there are some who believe I am under her sorcery. I need to put an end to those rumors and,” Matthew paused and started again cautiously.  “We both know as long as I remain unwed, there are some who would believe it is because I hold affection for Gwendolyn, and she for me.”  Many amongst the kingdom were aware of Matthew and Gwendolyn’s childhood affections.  As the years went on where he remained unwed and Gwendolyn went without bearing children, the rumors thickened.   Though, his search for Lucinda had lessened some of it.  “I don’t want her reputation to be hurt any longer on my account.”

“I don’t care about these senseless rumors. Do you truly desire to marry?  Will you honestly be able to leave the Princess in the past?” John said in a low voice.

“This one journey and I will speak of her no more. I will choose a wife.”

His brother studied him. “I will send word to King Hamlyn ahead of you.” He turned back to the balcony. “Why do I continue to indulge you?”

“In spite of what you tell your Queen, we know who you truly love the most in the kingdom.” Matthew smiled as John shook his head.  “I love you brother. Thank you.”

Matthew withdrew to his own quarters. His brother was right.  He may not be welcomed by King Hamlyn.  The Eastern Guard had stopped their search for Lucinda years ago, but Matthew still commanded the Western Guard to continue the search at the anniversary of her disappearance every year.  It was time for it to end.  Perhaps, she had made herself known to him so he would stop searching for her, and leave her in peace.  He went to sleep, praying for a dreamless night.

Wake up Matthew. Danger lurks in the darkness.

Matthew woke up with a start.  In the darkness of his chambers he saw two shadowed figures standing by each side of his bed. He went to grab for his dagger by his bedside, but one of the figures climbed on top of him holding down his arms and weighing down his body.  The other covered his mouth before he could make a noise.  He held a blade by Matthew’s throat.

“We find no joy in this, dear Prince” a voice he did not recognize started.  “You have brought our Queen into power, but we know you will be her weakness once again.  As long as you are alive, she is in danger.”  Matthew didn’t understand. He could not recognize the men or their voices.  He struggled to move.  “We will not lose the Queen again.”

“Stop talking and be done with it!” The man on top of Matthew whispered. He was heavier than Matthew, but he had the sloppy grip of an untrained knight.  “What if she can see us?  What if she knows?”

“Don’t be a fool. She is in the sea.” 

“You don’t know that for certain.” The man started to tremble slightly and loosened his grip.  “She is stronger than she was before. What if she is watching over him as well—“ Matthew freed his left hand and went for the dagger by his bed. He lunged it into the forearm of the man holding the blade and retracted it.

The man gave a painful cry and dropped the blade upon the bed.  Matthew pushed forward, planting the dagger then into the shoulder of the man on top of him and threw him off the bed.  He went for the other man before he could retrieve his blade.  He pushed him against the wall and continued to slam him against the stone until he lost consciousness.

The other tackled Matthew to the floor and held a hand at his throat. He held Matthew’s dagger with his other hand.  Matthew raised one hand around the stranger’s throat and the other he used to ward off the dagger.  He was losing air.

“What do you want of me?” Matthew struggled to yell.  “I’ve done nothing to you!”

“I'm sorry.” The man responded. “But we need to protect our Queen and her Kingdom.  You will bring her downfall!” Matthew tightened his grip around the man’s throat but they were both struggling. Matthew twisted the man’s wrist to free him of the dagger to no avail.  The point inched closer and closer to Matthew’s neck.

Suddenly, the man’s eyes became wide. He made a gasping sound and released his grip from Matthew’s throat. He placed his hand at his stomach where the end of a sharp sword was visible.  The sword disappeared and the man was pushed aside to the floor.  Matthew coughed for air and looked up to see his brother with a bloodied sword in his right hand.  He pointed the sword at the dying stranger.

“Who are you?”

“Forgive me, this was never what I wanted.  We just wanted to protect her.”

“Who?” John demanded. “Who sent you?”

“We just wanted to protect the Queen,” The man was fading. “We just wanted to protect her.”

“Which Queen?  What is her name?”

Suddenly the man’s body started to convulse.  The unconscious body of the other man did the same.  Matthew and John watched in terror as two dark shadows pulled out of the men’s bodies, flew out the chamber window and into the night sky.

Chapter 4

You shouldn’t be here.  If someone sees you, if my father sees you—

Your father cannot hurt me. I do not fear him. Though the kings want me to, I do not fear any of them.  You are the only one who matters.

Why are you here? I told you I will get my father’s blessing.  I just need time to make him understand.  I want to do this the proper way.  Nycilla, why do you look at me like that? What’s wrong?

You will have much time, my love.  I need to leave you.  Don’t ask me why.  Soon you will know.  Be patient and wait for me, and I will return to you.  I promise I will return to you.

Lucinda woke in the morning after a sleepless night. She had told Geenessa about the events in Narka that night the memories returned.  Geenessa considered each word carefully.  “For so many years you did not allow yourself to think of your past, and when you did the sea responded to your grief.”

“Why did Matthew have to suffer? He was halfway to death when I found him.”  The thought angered her.  She did not punish the Narka islanders enough for their treatment of him.

“Perhaps the sea wanted you to save him. Perhaps it wanted you to be reunited with him so…” Geenessa’s voice faded as if she was deep in thought. She shook her head and started again. “For years he persistently searched for you even when all the other searches stopped.  Now he has hope that you are alive. Maybe that will give him peace.”  Lucinda looked at her governess curiously.  It was clear that Geenessa was keeping her own accounts of the other kingdoms.  They spoke of it no more as the days went on, but Lucinda would see the governess studying her from a distance. 

The dreams persisted. Each day she saw more into the life of Nycilla.  Though the memories had returned, the Ancient Queen had not tried to take over her body again.  Lucinda knew she was getting stronger every year, and hoped that now she was too strong for the Queen’s spirit to overtake her and put those around her in danger.

Restless, Lucinda got out of bed and went to the balcony of her throne room, overlooking her kingdom. Her thoughts continued to trouble her. She had her castle, her loyal subjects, her powers in control, yet she knew something was missing to make her kingdom truly feel like her home. 
I promise I will return to you. 
Nycilla had said to Thomas, but why did she delay?

“My lady,” Zekiel appeared behind her.  “Something’s been troubling you. Tell me.”  He placed her hand into his.

He looked down at her with thin, dark eyes.  His gaze made her uncomfortable.  She pulled her hand away from his. “It is nothing more than the usual burdens of a queen.  I have so many dependent on me, Zekiel.  I do not want to disappoint them. The way for the Ancient Queen was paved for her by many queens before her. She had every reason to succeed as queen, yet she failed.  How many lives were lost under her rule?  How many lives will be lost under mine if I don’t succeed?”

“Nycilla was the first Queen born a sorceress.  Her journey was troubled from the beginning.  Yet, her kingdom prospered under her for years.  She made the kingdom greater than it ever was before her.” Zekiel leaned forward closer to her. “But, she gave it all up by loving the wrong man.  She put her own desires above the needs of her people and her kingdom paid the price.” Zekiel put his fingers through his hair.  “It is a shame what happened to her, but you have no need to fear becoming her.  You are quite the opposite of her. You always put your people’s needs above your own.  To a fault some may say.”

She stepped away from him slightly. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t allow yourself any joys.  So few smiles have left your face since you rose as queen. It’s a pity.  Your people rejoice in your happiness. How much I would love to be the cause of a smile on your lips.”  Zekiel lifted her chin toward him and to her surprise, pressed his lips against hers. She allowed few people close to her, fearing who she could truly trust. Yet, she could not fight the feelings of loneliness that crept up on her as the years went on. The kingdom wanted her married. She knew it. They desired a king, second in command next to her.  She had many eligible men brought before her through the years, but she refused them all.

She raised her palms to his face and pushed Zekiel away from her. “Enough.” She said gently as she turned away from him. A feeling of guilt started to wash over her.

“My lady,” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward him again.  “Please forgive me for my boldness, but I have loved you for so long.  Ever since I saw you upon the rubble of what is now our kingdom, I was yours.  I have been waiting for years for the confidence to come to you and tell you how I truly feel.  Words fail me when I am near you.”

She retracted her hand from his. “Zekiel, please—“

He grabbed her shoulders. “I desire to be your husband.  If you stopped and considered, you would know that I am the right match for you. I am the most loyal to you.”

“Zekiel, enough—”  She tried to gently move away from him but his grip was strong.

“I believe you are the true Queen.  I am loyal to the new regime that you have put in place. Please consider me.  Be my wife.”  He pulled her closer to him. “I love you Lucinda!”

“Enough!” Lucinda commanded. Placing a hand upon his chest, she sent the man flying backwards cowering to the floor. The waters started to crash against the shore. The winds picked up around them.

“Do you consider me some maiden for you to court?”

“Lucinda—“ Zekiel started with a hand upon his chest where she had brought pain to him.

“I am
your Queen
.  Never address me without courtesy.” She said sternly as the ground started to rumble around them. “You will not place your lips or your hands upon me again. You will not so much as look at me in a way that displeases me. You will approach me with the caution and respect that is befitting for my presence.”

“Your Grace, please understand—“

“Any proclamation of love and loyalty you feel to express to me should be appropriate for your position in comparison to mine.  Do you understand my words?” A line of fire appeared before them separating Zekiel from Lucinda.  The man backed away in panic, and Lucinda could see the familiar look of fear spread across his face.  The same look that those in the West Kingdom wore when the flames ignited the castle courtyard, seven years ago. 

Two of her guards had approached the balcony with caution.  “Your Majesty, is everything alright?”

She raised her hand to put out the flame she had caused and tried to breathe deeply. “Please escort the Commander out of the castle.  He has surpassed his welcome.”  The man looked up at her with wide, remorseful eyes still clutching his chest as the guards pulled him to his feet.  She turned away from him, not wanting to see his pain any longer. 

She stormed to her bedchamber and collapsed to the floor.  She dug her fingers into the hard stone, trying to calm herself.  Geenessa appeared beside her.

“What happened?” 

“He kissed me! He told me he loved me! He asked me to be his wife!”  She felt angry tears rolling down her face and cursed herself for crying. A feeling of shame and betrayal swept over her.
How could I let him kiss me?
She wondered. She thought of the last kiss she had so many years ago.  She breathed deeply as the rumbling ceased around her.  “If I am to choose a husband, I will be the one to ask. How dare he be so bold?”

“Zekiel?”

“Yes, Zekiel.  Who else would dare?”

To Lucinda’s surprise, Geenessa wore a slight smile across her face. “Yes, how dare he fall in love with a young, beautiful and powerful Queen.”

“Geenessa, be serious.”

“If I may be so bold my lady, perhaps you treated the man unfairly?”

“Geenessa—“

“Zekiel is a fair match for you, as I have told you so many times. The people love him and respect him, and he has done everything to ease you into power.  He would do anything for you. Yet, you were never honest with him or to anyone.”

“Tell your meaning straight, Geenessa.”

“Why did you let the Prince go?  Why did you not even bring him one night in our kingdom to recover after Narka?”

Lucinda looked at the governess in confusion.  “Because he does not belong here with me.  You know that.”

“Perhaps, you should have allowed him to make that decision.”

“Don’t you understand? I could lose everything we have built these years.”

“Why? Because Nycilla did?”

“Yes!” She said exasperated. “She let Thomas’ death break her and bring down everything the queens before her worked for! Her selfishness brought destruction on her entire kingdom,” She fought the tears that continued to roll down her face, “and ruined the life of an innocent man.”

“Some would disagree that it was selfishness.  She worked for the good of her kingdom and she took a chance on happiness for herself.  Thomas knew the risk he took in loving her, but the choice was his.  Although, I do not understand how this is pertinent to you. My lady, you are not Nycilla and Matthew is not Thomas.”

“Nycilla has had no power over me since I separated from him. I have the advantage.  Yet, I fear she will gain it if I allow him in my life again.  He ignites her spirit in me! Her memories have already returned!” 

“How are you to be the one true Queen if you continue to fear shadows?  You need to face her if you want to truly come to power.  You are giving her the advantage by allowing her to take away your happiness!”

“My
happiness
is tied to the prosperity of my kingdom.”

“Yes,” Geenessa said bitterly. “
Your kingdom…
which after all these years is hidden from all the rest.  No, it’s no true kingdom at all.  You cower in the darkness with your kingdom, and all your people with you.  You think you have gained control over your powers these past years, but you have never been challenged.  The true test of your abilities is yet to come.  Perhaps, it is already starting.”  She looked to the ground, where Lucinda’s fingers were bloodied from clawing into the hard stone floor. 

She looked at Geenessa in disbelief. “What do you suggest I do then?”

“It is time to return to the land, my lady.  No more hiding. Face your fears outside of this kingdom and rise as Queen of the Fifth kingdom of the Green Sea.”  She extended her hand to Lucinda and looked her directly in the eyes.  “Return to your prince. The time has come.”