Chapter 10: Diplomatic Matters
Despite the explosion of light Astralux and I experienced, I recover much faster this time around. Feeling about the same as prior to the incident, I head out of Lord Ithel’s Manor with Thorn, who volunteered to walk me to a meeting.
“What is this meeting about anyway?” I ask. I close my eyes as we step into the warm sunlight, the light still painful to my vision. “All Veremund said was that there was an important meeting and that I should be present.”
“King Mahlir summoned all of the Wards,” Thorn says. “They want to discuss the Vladykars’ appearance, and the light of the Star.”
“They saw that?”
Thorn chuckles. “Estelle, I think most of Drakonia saw that light.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize it was that bright.”
I grow quiet as I hear more and more voices all around us. We’re headed toward Astralux, but I’m confused as to why I hear so many people. Is the meeting in Brixton’s town square? That doesn’t make sense to me. Yet perhaps there are just that many people that need to be in attendance. Then my boots hit grass and I’m even more confused. Unless we’re headed into the middle of the army? That seems like a strange place to have a meeting, but I’m also unfamiliar with military procedures.
“Honor to you, Wards,” people begin to say around us. “Honor to you.”
“Is that Ward Estelle?” someone whispers from farther back. “The Bearer of Ariadna’s Star!”
I press against Thorn as the whispers follow us, more and more people murmuring “Honor to you, Wards,” as we pass.
“Estelle!” Astralux calls. The whispers distance, people falling back, as Astralux nears with heavy thuds on the grass. “It’s good to see you!”
Smiling, I hug Astralux tight. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“I have the mark of Ariadna’s Star on me now!” Astralux says.
I reach up, feeling along the top of her chest, just below her neck. Sure enough, I feel a mark in the shape of an eight-point star, just like what I have, overtop her scales. “Do you feel the Star in you?” I ask.
“Yes and no,” Astralux says. “I’m not sure I feel it in me so much as now I feel it through you.”
“You feel it through me?” I rub my forehead. “This is getting so strange.”
Astralux chuckles, but then she nuzzles me. “That was amazing though! We drove the Vladykars off with Ariadna’s Star!”
Hearing more laughter, I turn, sensing Veremund’s aura of goodness. “Good morning, Estelle.” Veremund takes my hands into his and gives them a gentle squeeze. “It’s good to see you up and about again. Why don’t you come this way? The soldiers set up a tent to help block some light for you.”
“That was very kind of them.” I follow Veremund and Thorn to a shaded area. While I miss the sunrays, I’m able to squint my eyes open. It’s a bit bright but doable in here. Then I start, because while I see Mortimer beaming nearby, having returned from Adytol, standing beside him is a tall woman, her blonde hair braided, her arms crossed while she observes me. “Lyssa?!”
Lyssa strides up, tears filling her small, light gray eyes, and she hugs me tightly, burying her face in my shoulder. She gives a little sob. “Darn it, Estelle. Stop accidentally being a hero and getting yourself into so much trouble.”
I laugh, still surprised that she’s here, and hug her tight. “I didn’t realize you were coming! Is Voxebellum here?”
“I’m here!” a clear voice says from behind the tent. Voxebellum’s bright silver head peeks down, the light off his scales so bright I have to squint, but I do spot one of his copper eyes looking at me. “Estelle! It’s good to see you. We’ll talk more later.”
At his comment, Lyssa steps away from me, and I turn to see King Mahlir, Prince Philander, and their four generals approaching. Veremund steps up, bowing his head to King Mahlir, who does the same. “Ward Veremund, are all your Wards present?” King Mahlir asks.
“And one in-training,” Veremund says, gesturing to Lyssa.
“A trainee! Very good.” To my surprise, King Mahlir looks at me. His furrowed brow softens a little, and his gray eyes gain a misty glaze. “First and foremost, I wish to thank you, Ward Estelle, and your dragon Astralux, for driving the Vladykars back with Ariadna’s Star. Now having seen their members, having seen their leader Vladykar Malyncor and Noxmalum….” King Mahlir shudders. “I know now that we are truly in desperate need of your alliance. I thank you for your protection, and your diligence in wielding the Star, Ward Estelle.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I say. “But it was Ariadna’s Star alone that did all of that.”
“Be that as it may,” King Mahlir says, “you have my thanks. As a token of my gratitude, I present this piece from my own treasury.” He gestures to a servant in attendance, who steps forward.
I gasp as the servant presents a gilded, gem-encrusted plate with an emblem of Ariadna holding a star up. Diamonds make up the majority of the image, onyx stones used to separate out some outlines, while sapphires and amethysts creating a beautiful night sky background, and topazes are used in parts of the star, Ariadna’s white gown, and small pieces in the night sky. I take the plate with trembling hands, staring into its picturesque, glittering image.
“This is beautiful,” I say. “Thank you, your majesty.” I hear Astralux’s tail thump at my wonder and joy. Or maybe she can see the plate—she told me before that dragons really like things that sparkle.
“Furthermore,” King Mahlir says, “I have sent out a declaration that not only are the Wards our allies, but that you are the Bearer of Ariadna’s Star, Ward Estelle, and as such you are granted the same honor as a Lady, though your own titles remain.”
“Thank you,” I repeat, stunned. “You are very generous, your majesty.”
“I would grant you more, Star Ward Estelle,” King Mahlir says, “but unfortunately this war is not over yet, and it will mean little to shower you with gifts if we do not survive.” He now looks at Veremund. “Great Ward Veremund, I asked that all your Wards be in attendance not just for continued battle strategy, but because I fear what the Vladykars will do next, especially against the Bearer of Ariadna’s Star.”
“We have feared the same,” Veremund says. “While we will do what we can, oftentimes our members need to be ready for battle. I was wondering if you would be willing to assign bodyguards to Estelle at all times? My intent is not that they would stand and fight against the Vladykars, but that they can alert us if there’s trouble.”
King Mahlir looks to his four generals. General Norman nods. “We will see to it,” he says.
Bodyguards? Me? I glance at where Astralux sits, though she’s outside of my view beyond the tent. I wish I could speak with her.
“I also wanted to inform you that we have received notice that both Falaz and Dasos send their soldiers to aid us,” King Mahlir says. “Your requests to stand together against Klevor and against the Vladykars were well received by our neighboring countries. Thank you, Wards.”
“Very good,” Veremund says. “Do you know when they will arrive?”
“Both should be here within another two weeks,” King Mahlir said.
“Two whole weeks?!” Volkan asks incredulously. He freezes as the generals look at him. “I’m sorry,” he says in the awkward pause. “I’m accustomed to traveling by dragon.”
Prince Philander chuckles. “It is rather convenient, is it not?”
“Two weeks from Falaz and Dasos either means that they bring fewer soldiers, or that they are pushing to reach here quickly,” General Norman says.
“Let’s hope it’s the latter,” General Easton adds.
“In the meantime,” Veremund says, “we should continue our own strategy. While we can now count on more soldiers, let’s not assume too many.”
A table that was set to one side is now brought forward, and I stare as servants lay out an array of sketches of the Amenylian countryside, while painted wooden figurines are set out. There aren’t anywhere near enough figurines to substantiate an army, and I guess that each one must represent some amount of soldiers.
“Here, I’ll put that in your saddle bag,” Thorn offers. I hand him the plate and he steps out of the tent. There’s an “Oooh” from Vitegadium that cuts off abruptly, perhaps catching himself, and then Thorn returns.
“Your majesty?” An advisor with a yellow and purple cord hanging around his neck, the tassels almost touching the grass under our feet, steps forward. “The priest?”
King Mahlir gives the advisor a stern look, but then he turns to Veremund. “Great Ward Veremund, I apologize for delaying to mention this, but the Priest of Ariadna here in Brixton did ask if the Bearer of Ariadna’s Star would speak with him?”
Veremund blinks once and then looks to me, his expression perplexed. “If Estelle is well enough.”
“Um, sure,” I say. Why would the priest want to talk with me? I can’t show them Ariadna’s Star, I’ve already tried that.
“Wonderful,” the advisor says.
Thorn reaches for my arm. “Why don’t you stay?” I say. “If they’re going to discuss strategy, you should be here.”
Hesitating, Thorn slowly drops his arm. “Alright.”
“You two.” General Norman points at two soldiers nearby, and the poor men jump in their armor. “You will protect Star Ward Estelle with your lives.”
“Yes, General!” one of them says. The two men hurry to my sides, towering over me, and I give Astralux, who’s peering at me under the tent, a wide-eyed look. She grins.
“If you would step this way, Bearer of Ariadna’s Star,” the advisor says. He takes my elbow delicately and guides me out of the tent, my eyes forced to close without the shade anymore. “Have you been to a Temple of Ariadna?”
“Many years ago,” I say. “Inizion didn’t have a temple, just a shrine.”
“You’re from Inizion?” the advisor asks. “I didn’t realize you were an Amenylian! I’m so sorry about your hometown.”
“Thanks,” I say, my sorrow catching my voice in my throat.
I thought it was busy before, but now we step straight into what must be the bustling city of Brixton. I might have my eyes closed, but between my ears and my nose I can detect everything from baking pies to dogs chasing children to horse manure to shopkeepers selling wares and more. It’s overwhelming.
But then it gets worse.
“Make way for the Bearer of Ariadna’s Star!” the advisor shouts. “Make way!”
A hush falls over everything going on around me. “Honor to the Bearer of Ariadna’s Star!” people begin to cheer.
Oh my gosh, this is too much.
“Make way, make way!” the advisor shouts. “Can one of you two help?”
“Step aside!” one of the bodyguards besides me shouts, his voice booming over the area.
We move forward again, but people all around me are cheering. At last, we walk up several steps, and the sound both lessens and now echoes around me. It darkens a bit and I squint an eye open. No longer blinded, I open both my eyes, looking about with awe.
I’m standing in an actual Temple of Ariadna!
It’s about the same size as the one in Adytol. This temple has long banners hanging down pillars space about three meters apart. There’s a large shrine of Ariadna against the far wall, a beautiful statue of Ariadna holding the star up, while candles are lit all around her at the base. People kneel before the statue, while others sit at the sparse stone benches set to the sides, praying.
The advisor peers toward the back of the temple. “Priest Cohen?”
A priest in the white, blue, and purple robes of Ariadna, standing by her shrine, walks our way. “Advisor Rhett! Did you speak with—wait, is that?” He stops, putting two ruddy hands to his chest, staring at me. “The Bearer of Ariadna’s Star?!”
Everyone who was praying now stops. Those that were kneeling or sitting rise to their feet, whispers running around the temple. People from the outside are still cheering.
“It’s the Bearer of Ariadna’s Star!” someone exclaims.
Oh dear.
