Page 34 of Knight's End
The people of Marscha cheered. And not the way they’d cheered my coronation—polite duty.
The shopkeepers raised their fists with rousing calls of “Hoo-ra!”
A butcher held his cleaver in the air and shouted, “Long live Queen Bloss!”
“Destroy those djinn!” a woman cried.
Two little girls ran up to me with homemade crowns. I stopped the procession and had my gargoyle kneel so that I could climb down and speak to them. One placed her crown of woven blue leaves over my tiara. The other one refused and said, “This one’s for your pony.” So, I’d lifted her and allowed her to crown my gargoyle, who I decided deserved a name.
When I mounted, I leaned forward and said, “Come on, Pony.” And Pony rose and continued along through town, as if he’d been trained for years and knew exactly what to do.
When we reached the drawbridge, I turned back to face the town one last time. And a massive cheer rose up—a call to action for me. I had to do better. I had to do more. These people had survived because of Donaloo. Not me. Not their queen. I needed to do whatever was required to save them. I fingered my leaf crown. Those giggling little girls were a reminder of everything that was at stake.
As we crossed the relatively empty moat, I asked, “Have we had any soldiers or messengers from Sedara?"
Ryan didn't respond immediately, but from the very fact that he was quiet, I knew. My heart fell. The most powerful kingdom had not sent help. Declan’s mother had not sent help.
Behind me I could hear Declan say bitterly, "Bastard sons don't matter. She won’t lift a finger to help us."
"Have we sent a messenger?" I asked.
Ryan did respond to that. "Yes. I sent one out on one of the gargoyles just after the sultan left. He should be back sometime tonight with her reply.”
“We could certainly use at least some Elven weapons. I’ve heard they cleave through wish magic.”
I turned to look up at him. Ryan was eyeing our gargoyles rather than crossing the moat. I walked a few steps back toward him. “My gargoyle has become more complacent. Has yours?"
Ryan shook his head. “Not at all. I cursed the bugger halfway here. Did you do something specific?”
I shrugged and shook my head. “No.”
“Can you make them sit?”
“Maybe Pony. But I don’t know about the rest of them,” I responded.
“Pony?”
“That’s what the little girl who gave him the crown called him. My pony. Thought it was cute.” I leaned around Ryan and said. “Pony, sit.”
Pony sat. And so did each of the remaining gargoyles.
Ryan came and scooped me up. He didn’t kiss me, but he dipped me so that my head nearly swept the ground. “Whatever you did, it’s brilliant. Hopefully, when Jace gets back with the rest of them, they’ll follow Pony’s lead.”
I tapped his arm. “About to pass out from head rush here.”
“Sorry,” he set me back on my feet and scooped up my tiara and leaf crown. He set both back onto my head. “I need to research formations.”
I nodded. “Yes. That sounds good. We also need to go through our royal documents for strategies regarding ancient sea sprites. Weaknesses, etcetera.” I turned to Declan. “Do you think you might be able to look into that?"
Declan gave a quick nod. “Of course.” He stepped around a massive crater in the courtyard, left from the attack yesterday. Ryan strode after him, calling out, "There are still people frozen in some of the rooms!” Declan nodded but I couldn’t hear his response, they were too far. The pair of them disappeared up a stairwell.
Unbidden, a yawn rose on my lips as we entered the great hall. We wove around frozen citizens who stood like statues. They still had two days left until they unfroze and went on their way. A small part of me envied them. But envy wouldn’t win any wars. I couldn’t rest. Speaking of … I turned to Donaloo, where he and Dini were having a whispered argument.
“Is there anything you can do to ward off exhaustion?" I asked.
"Magic is a start but true solutions lie within the heart. When done with love, a sacrifice can turn the tide and end the strife," the mage winked at me.
Dini growled. “Stop the rhyming! It’s obnoxious.”
