Page 50 of Chaos and Destiny
“I must go, Tolero. Send Asha my love. Remember what I said, look at her and think of me. You must let loose the beast.”
“What do you mean? I look at the simple sun and think of you. I look at the halls and think of you. I always do. How can you not know that?” I took a step toward her.
“Tolero.” She slowly faded away. “Tolero.”
Her voice melted into that of a male’s, and I was abruptly woken from my dream.
“King Tolero,” the masculine voice called again.
I sat up, disorientated from the vivid dream, and took a moment to remember where I was. She was so real. She was right here with me, and then she was gone.
“King Tolero,” Inok called again. He stood in a boat beside mine along the shoreline.
“I could kill you right now for waking me,” I scolded.
“Forgive me, my king.” He bent at the waist, rocking his boat with the gesture. “You must come now. There’s been a fire.”
“Where?” I barked, lifting myself from the grass and hustling down the hill to the small beach and into my boat.
“It’s Trig’s farm. They said no one made it out alive.”
“No one?” I asked.
“I believe there are ten dead. The barn and the house were set aflame.”
“Do we know who did it?” I asked, grabbing my oar.
“There is talk there were guards seen leaving the property.” Inok pushed offshore just behind me with his own oar.
“Which kingdom’s guards?” I asked, moving through the water.
“Ours,” he said gravely.
My hands froze in place. I met his eyes for only a moment before he looked away in sorrow. “My guards killed ten of my own people? Do we know which ones? Who saw them?”
“We don’t know which guards. Witnesses saw them from a distance riding away from the farm. That’s all we know.”
“Hurry, Inok. We have to get back right away.”
“The welcome may not be warm,” he warned.
“Call an open council meeting immediately.”
“But sir, wouldn’t you rather have a private meeting first?”
“No. Call everyone who wants to come to the throne room. Let us hear what the people have to say. I’ve always been good to them, Inok. They will not believe the lies.”
“Can you be so sure that they are lies?”
“Why would my guards do that? Of course they are lies.”
Hours later, I sat upon my throne with my staff in hand, letting my long robes drape to the floor as I stared straight ahead and waited for the room to fill with the fae of the Flame Court.
The traditional flames were lit along the walls as thousands of people entered the cavernous room, silent and wary. My council filled the first row, and only Inok and I remained on the dais. My son’s seat beside my own was noticeably the only vacant one in the room. My dream from earlier held me on edge as I looked to Inok and dipped my chin.
He stepped forward, and I felt more than saw the gathered fae take in a breath as they waited for an answer. One I could not give.
“It is with the deepest sorrow that I confirm the fire and tragic deaths at Trig’s farm. The king was just as surprised as you were to learn of this news today. We have no explanations for you, but we would like to hear from you. First, we will call forward the witness. Amil, if you will step to the front.” He gestured for Amil to move to the base of the steps before me.
