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‘Rise,’ said a warm, rich voice.
Thea straightened, her eyes locking with those of King Artos Fairmoore, the ruler of Harenth. Though she had never seen the king in the flesh before, she knew it was him from the tales of his bright green eyes and handsome face. To his right was a man with a rearing stallion embroidered on his doublet, marking him as King Leiko Stallard of Tver. On the other side was a beautiful woman who could only have been Queen Reyna Dufortof Aveum, a crown of frosted jewels atop her head. An attractive man with a matching crown stood behind her, resting his hand on her shoulder; King Elkan, then.
Thea couldn’t help but stare at the power gathered before her.
From her basic lessons, Thea knew that the Fairmoore family, King Artos’ line, was known for mind magic. Over the generations, they had produced mind whisperers, dream wielders and empaths; King Artos was the latter. The Stallard royals had been fire wielders for centuries, though it was rumoured that King Leiko possessed but a drop of his ancestors’ power, while the Dufort royals of Aveum were known for their seers of varying strengths —
‘Tell us, child of Thezmarr,’ King Artos said, bringing Thea out of her reverie with a start. ‘What brings you to our halls today?’
A wave of whispers washed over the crowd at Thea’s back.
A lump had formed in her throat and she struggled to swallow it, perhaps her thundering heart had lodged itself there. Thea bowed again, buying herself another moment. ‘Your Majesties,’ she said at last, her words croaky. ‘I seek a concession to the no-women-in-arms law.’
This time, the noise that burst from the crowd was not hushed behind fans and silk gloves. It was outright shock, not to be contained with low voices and subtle glances.
King Artos raised a finger on the arm of his throne and the nobles fell silent at once.
Thea met his green-eyed gaze. ‘I have a message from the Guild Master outlining the matter at hand, Your Grace.’
The King of Harenth nodded to a servant, who came forward and took the parchment from Thea, passing it to the king with a low bow.
Thea clasped her hands in front of her to hide the trembling and she watched as the king scanned Osiris’ message, his brow furrowed, before handing it to Queen Reyna.
‘Your Majesties, all my life I have wanted one thing: to wield a blade in the defence of the midrealms and its people,’ Thea began. ‘I was born to fight, to be trained by the best in our mighty guild, to join the warriors of Thezmarr and keep the looming darkness at bay. I come here today to ask you for that chance, for the opportunity to protect your kingdoms.’
Queen Reyna peered over the parchment. ‘You wish to train as a shieldbearer? To take the initiation test in the next season and become a Guardian of the midrealms, is that correct?’
Magic crackled through the throne room, but there was no telling to whom it belonged or what form it might take. The rest of the court seemed unfazed, but then again, they must be used to its casual display.
Thea bowed her head. ‘That is correct, Your Majesty. It would be a great honour to be a protector of the realm.’
The rulers of the three kingdoms exchanged looks and unspoken words. Her fate was in their hands. It was their ruling that would determine how she would spend the final years of her life… As a poor excuse for an alchemist, or as a warrior of Thezmarr.
King Artos cleared his throat, looking down at her with kindness. ‘I do not doubt your courage —’
Thea’s heart was already sinking, her knees buckled.
‘Or your honourable intentions,’ he continued. ‘However, the past has shown us the way forward. Twenty years ago, a dark day in history altered the course of all our paths. It was proven then that for a woman to hold a blade was to risk peace in our realms. The prophecy spoke, the law was changed. And thus it must remain so.’
Thea bit back a broken sob.
The king rested a hand on his heart. ‘I wish I could allow it, child. But to change the law now would be to endanger the midrealms. It has taken a long time to reforge our strength and power to hold the darkness at bay. Therefore the answer, I’m afraid, is no.’
Thea opened her mouth, but closed it at the widening eyes of the servants.
She was no longer in Thezmarr. There would be no arguing here.
Her fate, it seemed, was sealed.
CHAPTER TEN
King Artos was all sympathy and kindness, and Thea could hardly stand it. His apologies sounded sincere and the magic that surrounded her was warm and comforting, but apologies were not what she’d dreamt of all these years. Her vision blurred as her future crashed around her.
‘I do hope you stay for the feast after your long journey,’ the king was saying. ‘You are welcome at my table. Do not think your current role in Thezmarr is not one of honour as well.’
‘Thank you,’ she croaked out and with a final hurried bow, she rushed from the throne room.
For a moment, it was as though time had stopped and the king’s words spun over and over in Thea’s mind.
