Yusuf’s eyes widen and I have to bite back a smirk. I raise an eyebrow, curious about what might be his last words.
“Remove it please, Your Majesty.”
We take narrow alleys and bustling streets to the crowded city square. The temperature climbs as we walk through the cobblestoned lanes, and I’m immensely grateful for the flowing, feminine attire. The clay buildings look much larger in the morning light, and the dry air is leaden with the aroma of dried flowers and cardamom. Birds chatter as they fly overhead, but I’m too focused on my thoughts to see what kind they are.
A small group of leaders from each community trail after us as we follow Ashur to the moonstone. But the conversation at breakfast lingers in my mind, leaving me feeling perturbed.
Did they really think that I was wrong? Or lying?
A wicked creature fooled them and yet, I, the rightful born heir, have to work to convince them. I scoff out loud at the lunacy of it.
Lachlan leans towards me and whispers, “What is it?”
I shake my head, glaring straight ahead. “They don’t believewhat I’ve told them. Not even after seeing the asphidra corpse. There’s no trust here, and it’s frustrating. What more must I do?”
A small chuckle makes its way through his closed lips. “It’s not that they don’t trust ye. It’s just easier to fool someone than to convince them they’ve been fooled.”
Sighing through my nose, I squint as we step from the shaded alley and into the glaring sunlight in the square. He’s right, of course. But still—it’s annoying.
An enormous oval moonstone is suspended between two pillars by a thick chain. Each link is the size of my arm and is polished to a mirrored shine. It looks more like a locket necklace for a giant than what I was picturing.
Rage simmers in my veins at the spectacle of it all, and the heat that blooms within me rivals the temperature of the square. The chains, and the ornate carvings on the pillars, are all lies to keep my people weak and powerless. The foresight this must have taken to cause the amount of damage it has is confounding. Just knowing Julius orchestrated it to inflict unspeakable harm upon my people, the very people who raised him, leaves me feeling breathless.
Our world and traditions withered away year by year. People were murdered, and for what? So they could enslave a weaker species? I clench my hands into fists, gouging small crescent moons into my flesh.
When I see him again, it will be my blade that ends his life—his reign of terror.
Ashur clears his throat, pulling me from my wrathful plans as I glare at the moonstone. He gestures to the small raised wooden platform on the north side of the square, in front of where the crowd is gathering. The platform is crudely made, probably thrown together last night after our arrival. “I’m so sorry this is the best we could do on such short notice,” he apologizes.
“It will serve its purpose.”
Lachlan stands like a statue beside me, his own head tilted up to observe the offensively large stone. I graze his arm as I pass, pulling his attention to me so that we can walk together to the platform. We cut a straight path through the crowd.
Men, women, and children all wear brightly colored linen clothing. Such finely crafted clothes, with golden embroidery on cuffs, and necklines. No one says a thing to us as we walk past like I’m not their queen, and I can’t decide if I’m relieved or offended.
My sandals slap against the two small uneven steps before I turn to face the crowd. My face is still twisted with disgust, but I do my best to smile and breathe through the anger still swirling within me. Maybe that’s why no one said anything to us. We look positively murderous. Murmurs swell in waves throughout the crowd.
I need to get it together. The quickest way to do this would be to rally their support, not incite a riot.
Clearing my throat, I raise my palms, silencing the murmuring crowd. “I’m sure you are all wondering why we have gathered you here on such short notice. But it is for wonderful news.” I do my best to bestow my most queenly smile upon the crowd. “We have restored magic!”
The crowd breaks into loud cheers and applause. A bell tolls above the cheers, and I glance sidelong at Lachlan, a smile budding on his face. A true smile stretches across mine as my anger recedes. This is a good sign. I bounce my hands in front of me so that the cheers quiet down.
“Yes, we have restored magic to the capital island and to Scota. And now I am here to do the same for you.”
The crowd is silent as they wait for my next words.
“Unfortunately, to restore magic.” I turn and point to the moonstone. “I have to take down the moonstone that was giftedto you—by our enemy,” I add on that last part loudly, but it makes no difference.
Immediately, there is discord. Men shout, hands gesture wildly, and women plead.
“Enough!” Lachlan yells. The veins on his neck bulge and his nostrils flare as he heaves a breath.
The men who have been conscripted to help us stand between us and the crowd. They shift on their feet and hold out their arms, urging the crowd to listen. But the people shove against the guards, and my throat tightens. This could go from bad to worse quicker than I imagined.
How can I get them to listen? To trust me the way the other islands have?
They don’t know me or what I’ve gone through to help them. They heard my words in the capital, but they didn’t believe them. Believe what I had gone through for them.
