Page 20 of The Lost Nation

The crowd cheered in approval, even as part of me was disappointed it wasn't Zara. That is couldn't be Zara. Then again I was still furious of her and her jealous. She could so selfish sometimes. I stubbornly hoped she ate some bad fish.

Erik's voice dragged me back to the present. “I will fight for my queen and this kingdom as fiercely as I did in that ring. If anyone here protests my allegiance and worthiness, challenge menow.”

Not a single sound escaped the crowd. I blushed, not used to such open admiration.Then a loud, long boo broke the moment, and I whipped around in the direction of the sound.

"She's a witch! I'll die before I let a witch rule me!"

Whispers and mumbles broke out amongst those gathered, and the was decidedly not friendly. Harrow moved towards us, one hand on the pommel of his sword.

“I advise you to get her back to the palace,” he said to Zara, his eyes never leaving the crowd. A few more people started yelling, and then a dozen were shouting slurs. My jaw hit the floor, shocked at their boldness. “Arrest them! They can’t—”

Harrow shoved me into Erik's arms, and he pushed me towards the back of the platform.“Get her backnow.”Harrow ordered.

I struggled against them both.“No.NO!”

I broke free of her grip and raced towards the front of the stage, fury pounding through my blood as my hands fisted at my side. My own people sneered in my face and slurred my name, all because of something I was born with that they didn't understand. I wiped my hands on my dress as they grew damp and slick. Erik and Ulf shouted back in faces of the others, but to no avail.

“Burn the witch! Her unnaturalness will be the downfall of the kingdom!”

There were far too many shouts agreeing with this course of action, but I didn’t feel fear. I never had, even from a young age when I knew something wasn’t right with the cold, detached way my mother smiled at everyone. I stood my ground, water dripping freely from my fingers.

“SEE! The witch conjures!”

I closed my eyes, and tried to push it away. The magick raged back at me, angry at being denied. My hands flew to my crown, trying to drag it and the sea witch stone off of my head. In moments my hair and the top of my gown were drenched with water. Ulf backed away, his eyes wide.

“What is this?” He asked in shocked.

The stone glowed, refusing to budge from my crown. I gave another vicious shove to the magick, and it roared in response. The angry crowd started shouting as the ground underneath them turned to mud beneath their feet, despite the beating sun overhead.

I decided to stop fighting it, and embraced the power thrumming through me. I stepped in front of Erik who was still frozen in shock.“I am your queen.I demand your respect and allegiance!"

Yes.The magick answered.How dare they mock you.

I raised my hands in front of me, palms facing the sky. I pushedup, and the ground became a treacherous quagmire. Ulf and his friend climbed the platform next to me, swords out and ready to defend. I made a mental note to reward them greatly.

Water continued to seep up from the ground under the crowd, rising up past their ankles and quickly rising.“My queen, these areyour people. Please.”

Erik fell to his knees before me, and the burning wrath withdrew to a more manageable simmer. I blinked, and the water receded.

I almostmurderedmy own people.

“Get me out of here.”

The crowd was too busy trying to save themselves from the six inches of mud to notice us all disappear back towards the palace.

Chapter 10

Benedict

The flight with Ronan and Kieran had been incredible—we really needed to do it more often. I felt like I was a young drakling again as we'd dared each other to attempt impossible aerial moves, and took turns shoving each other out of the sky. I used to do such things with Bair.

No, I wouldn’t go down that line of thinking.

“I need a break! You two brutes will break me!”

Kieran laughed and dove at Ronan, driving him down towards the ocean as they both plunged into the water. Ronan came up coughing and swearing, and I allowed myself a true laugh. Kieran and Ronan each lifted an arm towards me, and I shifted us back to the top of the high cliffs overlooking our western shore.

“You’redead,” Ronan hissed as he attempted to shake off the last few water droplets from his wings. Kieran slicked back his wet hair, grinning from ear to ear.“Let me know when you’re done growing, and we shall see.”

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