CHAPTER NINE
Selene
Selene stayed in Phaelenx’s arms for a long time, until the cheers and cries of the crowd had faded. Her heart was thudding in fear and she couldn’t remember ever having felt more frightened in her life.
I must be strong, Selene urged herself. I must not break down and cry.
But the urge to grab Phaelenx and run far away from the shores of Zheka was strong.
“I am afraid,” Selene whispered.
Phaelenx nodded. “I know,” he said. He seemed stronger and tougher than ever before, but Selene her friend was deeply frightened.
“I must talk with my parents,” Selene said, her mind churning and racing. “Perhaps they can make heads of this.”
Phaelenx looked grim
“What?” Selene asked, pulling away. There was a trace of her old haughtiness in her voice. “You think I will not be able to reach them?”
Phaelenx sighed. “I do not know,” he said. “I am weary, Selene.”
Selene nodded. She, too, was tired – her face was wan and puffy and she could practically feel the dark circles forming beneath her eyes.
“I must try,” Selene said.
“Will you find me later?”
Selene nodded. She stretched up on the tips of her toes and planted a kiss on Phaelenx’s cheek.
“Be well,” she said softly. I love you, she added silently. As much as she wished to say the words, they would not come. Instead, she gazed meaningfully into Phaelenx’s eyes.
Phaelenx nodded. “And you, Selene,” he said.
The way he said Selene’s name made her shiver. She could barely tear her eyes from his, but she forced herself to turn on her heel and flee. Selene pushed her way through the crowds, keeping her cloak clutched tightly around her body. There was a chill in the air and Selene shivered, but it was more from fright than the outside temperature.
When she reached the royal compound, Selene slowed down and touched her hair, making sure everything was in order. She stood straight and tall and walked quickly towards her family’s rooms.
When Selene pushed open the door to her home, she was dismayed to see Arsinoe and Baelan seated with Taryn. Taryn had a harp settled on her lap and she was singing in a soft voice.
Arsinoe looked up at Selene and scowled. The annoyance on her face was obvious.
“Mother, I need to speak with you,” Selene said. She forced a smile. “Baelan, you as well.”
Baelan frowned. “What you have to say to me, you may say in front of the lady Taryn,” he said.
“Brother, this is a family matter,” Selene said sweetly.
“Taryn is my wife,” Baelan replied. “Which makes her your sister. Does that not count as family?”
Selene’s heart sank and she bit the inside of her lips to keep from frowning. “Aye,” she said, keeping her voice light and cheerful. “Mother, may I have a word?”
Selene walked into the kitchen and sat down at the stone table. The cooks were hard at work, preparing the evening meal, and Selene dismissed them with a wave of her hand.
When Arsinoe entered the room, Selene breathed a sigh of relief – thankfully, her mother was alone.
“Now, daughter, what is this about,” Arsinoe asked. “You may tell me.”
Selene nodded. “I assume you have heard the news,” she said. “I have just come from court. Queen Zornaya made an announcement – we are going to war, with Nasenia.”
To Selene’s dismay, Arsinoe nodded. “Aye,” she said. “And I think it is a long time coming.”
“Mother,” Selene said, biting her lip. “Do you…do you not think this a bad idea for our country, do you not think it could damage us, or hurt us in some way?”
Arsinoe didn’t reply.
“I do not mean to question the judgment of the queen,” Selene said hurriedly, for in the royal compound there were spies everywhere. “But it seems to me that this is a poor decision.”
Arsinoe frowned. “You should hold your tongue, Selene,” she said disapprovingly. “You know better than to speak ill of Zhekan policy.”
“But that’s just it,” Selene said, unable to stop herself. “Zheka is not a warring country! We are a peaceful people, a people of habits and routine!”
“Perhaps it is time for that routine to change,” Arsinoe said, crossing her arms over her bony chest and frowning at her daughter. “After all, if Queen Zornaya has made the decision, I trust her with my entire being.”
Selene bit her lip.
“And the lady Taryn speaks often of Nasenia,” Arsinoe continued. “She says it is a poor nation – a nation of nothing, a wasted land!”
“So, then why are we invading?” Selene asked crossly. “If we have nothing to gain from Nasenia, why even bother?”
“Daughter, your insolence!” Arsinoe snapped. “You shut your mouth this instant!”
Selene narrowed her eyes and glared.
“And do not think I haven’t noticed the cold manner in which you treat your new sister,” Arsinoe continued. “Lady Taryn is a member of this family now. Your brother is absolutely besotted with her!”
“I know,” Selene said crossly. “That’s part of the problem, isn’t it?”
“Selene!” Arsinoe narrowed her eyes. “What is the matter with you?”
Selene gave her mother a sulky look. “Nothing,” she said. “Other than my family ignoring everything I say.”
Arsinoe tutted and shook her head. “You could stand to learn a lesson or two from Baelan,” she said. “He found a mate, he’s happy now. He’ll have children, be a family man – why haven’t you considered marriage more seriously?”
Just as Selene was about to spit back an insult at her mother, Baelan and Taryn walked into the room, arm in arm.
“Mother, what’s all this,” Taryn asked innocently. “I heard shouting.”
Arsinoe’s nostrils flared.
“Nothing,” Selene said. “As a matter of fact, I was just leaving.”
“Your new sister is being quite obstinate,” Arsinoe said to Taryn and Baelan. “I was telling her of your newfound happiness – and how she should work harder to obtain what you have.”
Baelan laughed. “Oh, she’s found someone,” he said, raising his eyebrow at Selene. “A dumb warrior, really. No one fit for our family.”
“Shut your mouth,” Selene hissed.
“Selene? What’s this?” Arsinoe asked, frowning. “Have you been carrying on in secret with someone unsuitable?”
Selene was seething with rage as she pushed past her mother, brother, and sister-in-law. She stormed out of the room, her face red with anger. I hate them, she thought angrily as she stalked through the royal compound.
When Selene reached Aya’s door, she pounded against the wood with her fist. It was only a matter of seconds before Aya opened the door, looking terrified.
“Selene!” Aya gasped. “What’s the matter? I nearly thought the gods themselves were trying to break down my door!”
“It’s my mother,” Selene said angrily. “And that wench, Taryn!”
Aya gasped again, flushing brightly as she grabbed Selene by the arm and pulled her inside before closing the door.
“Selene, you cannot say such things,” Aya chided her best friend. “She is your sister now! She is your brother’s wife, you will be an aunt to their children!”
“Curse their children,” Selene muttered angrily. “I’m sick of them all. I want to leave, Aya. I want to go far away from this place and pretend it never existed.”
Aya frowned. “Selene, you cannot be serious,” she said softly.
“I am quite serious,” Selene said. She sniffed the air indignantly. “Perhaps I shall stow away on the ships to Nasenia, maybe they could use someone like me.”
Aya sighed. “I am sure this will all pass,” she said softly, reaching out and putting a hand on Selene’s shoulder. “Come, let us take a walk.”
Selene sighed, but she reluctantly allowed Aya to lend her a cloak. They stepped out of royal compound together, their silk slippers growing damp with dew on the evening grass.
“I never want to go home,” Selene said bitterly. “You should have heard them talking of Phaelenx, like he’s some kind of wild beast!”
Aya bit her lip. “They do not know him as you do,” she said slowly. “But you cannot fault them for saying such things. It is unheard of, a friendship between a royal lady and a warrior!”
Selene glared. “You know nothing,” she said. She flopped down in the grass and lay back, not caring that her hair and cloak were now wet. “No one understands how I feel.”
Aya frowned. “Selene, I care for you,” she said in a gentle voice. “Just as your family cares for you. You need to realize that.”
Gods, she’s so ignorant, Selene thought angrily. Instead of replying, she got to her feet and stalked off. Selene walked down the sloping grass at a fast pace, breaking into a sweat as the docks came into view.
“Selene!” Aya yelled. “You’re going too fast!”
Beads of perspiration appeared on Selene’s forehead and soon her heart was pounding with the effort, but it felt good. It almost felt like somehow working off her frustrations, the way she felt, her anger with her family and her newfound frustration with Aya.
“Selene!” Aya shrieked.
Selene quickened her pace. Her skirts and cloak swirled around her narrow thighs as she pushed on, stomping into the wet grass. Her feet sank into the damp ground – somehow, it felt satisfying to make a mark on the ground. I am here, Selene thought, narrowing her eyes as she broke into a run. I am here, and they cannot erase me – or my will!
Selene kept running until the docks came into view. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon and the Zhekan harbor sky was streaked with pink and orange and lavender, beautiful hues that filled the whole panorama. Normally, this was Selene’s favorite time of day – evening signaled the beginning of her own time, away from her family.
But right now, she just felt hopeless. Selene sighed and halted in place, wiping her sweaty hands on the folds of her cloak. She unfastened the clasp from her throat and pulled it loose, shaking her hair free and breathing hard from the effort of her run.
It seemed to take Aya forever to catch up. By the time Aya arrived at Selene’s side, the sun was sinking low in the sky.
“Selene!” Aya panted wearily. She looked tired, but her color was high and her cheeks were bright pink.
“I do not want to hear it,” Selene said, holding her hand in the air. “Aya, what am I to do? What is my purpose in this life?”
Aya frowned.
“Yes,” Selene said curtly at her friend’s silence. “That is what I thought.”
Aya sighed. “I do not mean to be so rigid,” she said softly. “But you have to understand, Selene, I am familiar with your willful ways. And…well, sometimes I think you would be happier if you could learn to conform, perhaps even just a little bit.”
“I am only happy when I am with—“ Selene bit her tongue.
Aya frowned. “With whom?”
“It does not matter,” Selene said quietly.
The sun sunk lower and lower in the sky, and soon the horizon was filled with glowing, pale stars. To Selene, the world seemed so vast and large that it was almost unfathomable. She clasped her hands in front of her and bit her lip.
“Selene?”
“Hush,” Selene said. She frowned. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of movement down at the docks.
“What is it?”
“I told you, hush!” Selene whispered loudly. She reached for Aya’s hand and knelt down, pulling Aya down. “Lie flat!”
“Selene, what’s going—“
“For the last time, shut your mouth!” Selene hissed. “There’s someone down there!”
Aya was silent. Selene could feel her friend’s rapid pulse and she realized she was squeezing Aya’s hand so tightly that her own fingers were numb. She took a deep breath and released Aya’s hand, narrowing her eyes and squinting down at the docks.
Selene’s heart leaped into her throat. There, faint but unmistakable, was the slender figure of Taryn. She was wearing a fur-lined cloak trimmed in ermine – with a hint of disgust, Selene recognized it as one of Arsinoe’s – and she seemed to be floating above the ground by a few inches. There was a faint greenish glow emanating from her body.
“Why it’s Taryn,” Aya whispered. “What could she be doing down there?”
Selene rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny that she felt a hint of fear. It tasted like iron in her mouth, and she licked her lips nervously as she focused on Taryn’s distant figure.
Taryn walked out on the main pier until she was surrounded by the newly-built Zhekan warships. Selene watched nervously as Taryn spread her arms high into the air. Green dust glimmered and shimmered in the night air and Selene felt a cold chill of dread as the dust spread through the harbor, coating the ships in a translucent, eerie coat of green.
That was when Selene heard the sound – ghastly chanting, coming from Taryn. Taryn was speaking in a low growl that didn’t even sound like it could be human, and Selene could see that her eyes were closed. The green glow about her figure was stronger than ever, and Selene watched in dread as the ships began to levitate above the surface of the water.
“We have to do something,” Selene whispered to Aya. “That witch, she’s doing something evil!”
Aya didn’t respond. Selene felt frozen to the ground, rooted stiff with fear. Then her instincts kicked him, and she scrambled to her feet. Grabbing Aya roughly by the elbow, Selene dragged her friend away, down the hill, towards the village.
Selene ran until she was sweating and breathing hard. She narrowly darted through alleys and streets until she made her way to Phaelenx’s house. Pounding on the door, Selene prayed that he was home.
“Is Phaelenx home? I need to speak with him,” Selene said quickly as soon as the door swung open. “It’s very urgent!”
Brenna, Phaelenx’s maid, and housekeeper, stood in the doorway with a soiled apron tied around her stout frame.
“We were just sitting down to dinner, lady,” Brenna said. “Care to join us?” She eyed Aya with approval. “Room for two more!”
“No,” Selene said. Then, remembering her manners, she smiled a forced smile and bowed her head. “I mean, no, thank you. I just need to speak to Phaelenx. Please, send him out.”
Brenna smiled mischievously, then shut the door. When it opened again, Phaelenx stood there clad in casual leather leggings and a roughly spun tunic.
“Come with us,” Selene said, reaching for Phaelenx’s hand and pulling him away from the door. “Quickly, now,” she added, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Phaelenx was following close behind. “Before she’s gone!”
“Selene, what’s going on,” Phaelenx asked, but Selene noticed that he didn’t slow. If anything, she had to run all the faster to keep pace with the large man.
Selene, Aya, and Phaelenx ran back towards the docks. But when they approached the hill that led down to the water, Selene sighed with dismay. The ships were dark and gloomy, and there was no sign of Taryn or her mystical green glow.
“She’s gone,” Selene said in dismay. “I cannot believe it!”
“What happened?” Phaelenx asked. He narrowed his eyes. “What is this, Selene?”
“I saw Taryn,” Selene said breathlessly. “She walked to the center of the pier and said some kind of spell, oh, I don’t know! I couldn’t understand her, it was in a foreign tongue!”
“It was frightening,” Aya added in a small voice. She looked shyly up at Phaelenx.
“The ships started glowing, bright green, and they lifted out of the water at the hull,” Selene added. She sighed heavily. “I wanted to catch her in the act, but she’s gone!”
Phaelenx frowned. “That reminds me of a tale I heard, weeks ago,” he said, narrowing his eyes and glancing out over the horizon.
Phaelenx’s words sent a chill down Selene’s spine.
“What did you hear?” Selene asked softly.
“Twas a bard, down at the arena, who told me,” Phaelenx said, avoiding Selene’s curious blue eyes. “A country, a foreign land from here – tricked into attacking another country.”
Selene’s stomach twisted with anxiety. “What happened?”
“The country was ambushed, by a powerful navy, of another land. The navy decimated the country’s ships and depleted all available resources.”
“Do you think that’s what will happen to Zheka,” Selene asked in a hushed voice. “Tell me the truth, Phaelenx.”
Phaelenx didn’t answer.
“I am going back to the compound,” Aya said, her voice trembling with fear. “It is too late and far too dangerous to be out of doors!”
Selene didn’t reply, she only watched as her friend turned heel and fled.
“She is frightened,” Phaelenx said softly as Aya’s slim figure disappeared into the darkness. “You cannot blame her, Selene. Not everyone has your will and your strength.”
Selene furrowed her brow. “I don’t know what it could be,” she said, brushing past Phaelenx and walking down to the docks. Instead of turning and walking onto the pier, she kept going until her silk slippers touched the wet sand at the shoreline. Her feet were freezing cold, but she kept going.
“I wonder what will become of us,” Selene muttered softly, glancing up at the stars gleaming in the sky. They seemed brighter than ever before. The moon was a white beacon of hope, but Selene couldn’t rid herself of the dread she felt deep inside.
Phaelenx put his hand on her shoulder. The silence between them was heavy, almost unbearable.
“I do not know,” Phaelenx replied.
Selene turned to him and bit her lip. In the light of the moon, the rough scars on his face seemed to shimmer, like silver.
“I’m afraid,” Selene said.
Phaelenx pulled her into a close embrace. He didn’t speak as he held her close and stroked her hair. For a brief moment, Selene closed her eyes and rested her head against Phaelenx’s broad chest.
She wondered if she would ever feel the same peaceful calm again.