Chapter 26: Piece of Wood
.png)
Finally, Morgan reached the massive balcony
where her new King and friend sat. In his short time as ruler, Leo had made
many changes, his laid-back approach already popular amid the masses, among
those changes the configuration of such proceedings. Leo had stipulated that the
public be able to see its saviour, it did her no favours however, to ponder
upon the fact that beneath her were thousands of faces, all peering at her. Morgan
stared straight ahead, homing in on Piper’s welcoming smile. The royal family
that stood before her had an undeniable familiarity with one another, a fact
that brought bittersweetness. She had paid a price, to be everyone’s hero, a
price that came with a few scars. Morgan’s heart ached, suddenly the urge to
run overcame all else. Thankfully, Sha’s ascending smile sent the inconsequential
far faraway. His gaze tethering her to calm as she left her crew behind and
mounted the stairs. The Royal Steward had made it clear what was expected of
her, and so she knelt then waited patiently for the King to adorn her with a
title. Leo pinned a cumbersome brooch upon her, then struck the ground with a strange
staff, a simple, smooth, piece of wood. Morgan closed her hands around the
ashen staff, an inaudible hum played across her senses as if it was welcoming
her with a song. Leo pulled her to the present once again, his declaration
alarming, “I dub thee, Baroness of
Crewtown, Protector of the Realm.” He leaned in whispering reassuring
words, “This staff marks you as the first protector of the realm in over a thousand
years.” Morgan breathed forcing calm, her eyes capturing the strangely familiar
scrawl etched upon the staff. She had seen the words before; they were
imprinted upon Meena and Kurja’s weapons. Stranger still, she could read them
even though they were written in an ancient language that she had never learnt.
One word stood out ‘hupernikao’ she
knew it meant victory above and beyond. She rested in silence, kneeling in that
vast space, her eyes upon a stark white piece of ornamental wood. It was inescapable, and so in that moment she chose to
accept Amare’s presence in her life, and with it the certainty of many more
surprises to come. Morgan’s legs shook as she used the staff to stand, then she
turned to leave, “The protector of the
realm will now address the room,” Leo announced, before she could escape
any further.
Morgan took in the faces before her, she
saw hope dashed, dejection and sadness. And so, she spoke, her words heartfelt
and delivered from a place of understanding, “So much has been taken away from
us recently, the people we mourn the highest on that list. I have heard
whispers of late, whispers that we should change the colour that our armies are
clothed in, red seems to be another reminder of our woes. The late Lord of Rollston, the realms enemy would have told you that red symbolises triumph after a bloody
battle.” She noted all eyes were fixated upon her, some shifting in their seats,
“He was wrong, the colour represents courage and sacrifice, more importantly
the need to fight for something greater than yourself such as peace, honour, or
freedom. We need to keep the red, we need to be anchored to reason, because we
can’t be divided.” The room was eerily quiet, “But, our enemy has made a dire
mistake, Tornbaer has been misjudged. Together we will get back all that was
stolen from us, and we will make them pay for every single loss. Because the
people of Tornbaer deserve to live in the peace, honour, and freedom that Amare
gifted us.” Her last words rang clear as a bell through the cavernous room and
for a pain staking second the only sound was an echo bouncing off the walls.
The cheer started with her crew; it grew increasing in volume until the whole
area was reverberating with deafening refrain. It seemed although the crowd was
varied in background, everyone had lost someone, everyone could relate to her
words. Feeling thoroughly out of her
element, she took a step towards the stairs. Leo grasped her shoulder and lead
her towards the balcony, where she was welcomed by the sight of thousands of
voices and bobbing candles. The people of Bastien were chanting her name, “Why?”
She asked to no one in particular.
Leo responded, “If you don’t know, then
that is another example of why.” Leo kept a firm grasp of her elbow until she gave
a shy wave. As soon as he released, she turned tail, and fighting the urge to
run walked back down the aisle.
The celebration
proceeding Morgans’s title adornment was for the gentry and her close friends, the
hall mostly full of people she preferred to avoid, suffice it to say she was
putting up with the pomp for Leo’s sake. Morgan would have added Sha to the mix,
but despite a rigid upbringing and expensive education he wasn’t the sort to
stand for formality of any sort.
Before long Morgan heard the call of duty,
moving to the beat in her head, a plan already formed was starting to click
into place. She glanced at Tornbaer’s newly crowned king, he sat at one end of
the hall, overlooking the proceedings upon a raised dais. She turned to Sha her
question pointed, “Aren’t you worried someone will notice that you are spending
all your time on me?”
“Let them notice, I’m yours.” Sha affirmed,
placing a possessive hand around her waist.
“You are going to have to release me. I
need to speak to your brother.” Sha acquiesced, frowning as he did so.
Morgan headed in Leo’s direction, her face
impassive despite the sight of Marlo, Bob and Gary undertaking to drink the
castle dry. A slight indication of her head as she walked past Meena was enough
to send her friend off on a pre-assigned task. Leo attention was upon his
prized hunting hound, Luthor sat beside his master happily snatching up the
scraps that came his way. “You are not still mad at me, are you?” Leo asked,
when he noticed her presence.
She smiled, “I should have known that you
were going to try something like that, so no. Although it will cost you. There
are a few things we need to discuss before I leave, you know Protector of the
realm matters.”
Leo raised an eyebrow, “Feel free to
discuss anything you choose.”
“Do you have any idea of the motive for
your uncle’s treachery, or why on earth he would want to kill Piper,” she
faltered, “I mean Jaiera?”
Leo ignored her mistake, his response laced
in sadness, “The only answer I can give you is no. I have no idea. We have questioned
the soldiers who survived the massacre, especially the ones that Nia gave her
cure to.” Morgan frowned, disheartened by Leo’s words, “That’s why I sent Castain
and Aiden back out. We have no idea when or if another attack will come, or
where it may come from. As Protector you have full access to all the resources
at my disposal until the threat has been dealt with.”
Feeling let down by a lack of information
Morgan started making plans for worst case scenarios, her words inadvertently
harsh, “There’s no easy way to say this, Leo, your soldiers and guards are a
pack of undisciplined horses’ behinds.”
“Don’t be gentle about it there. Are you
calling my soldiers lazy?” Leo responded dryly.
“I’m saying they have not had a hard day in
their whole lives. Who would you rather have at your back, someone proven under
pressure or a well-trained pampered princess?”
“I see your point,” Leo said resigned, “Seeing
your crew in action was a sobering sight, if you have a suggestion out with
it.”
“You need to get rid of the right of
parenthood,” Morgan held.
Leo lost his compose, blurting incredulous
words, “You are referring to the law that stipulates only someone of noble
parentage can serve in the army or guard, a law that has been in effect since
the birth of our country.”
Morgan responded in calm, “Our enemy will
not be stopped by using antiquated rules. They will use every tool in their
arsenal to take us down. Besides Leo, there is not many left to fight.”
Leo sighed resigned, “So, be it, what else
did you need to change after centuries of perfect harmony, oh Protector of the Realm?”
There was a slight uplift in the corner of his mouth.
“You need to increase Bloody Mary’s
bounty.”
“Done, I won’t ask, Anything else?”
“I need you to look after Jaiera and,” She
handed Leo a package, “Can you give this to Sha for me?”
Leo stared at the package before losing
composure once again, “You are leaving right this moment! Don’t you ever just
stop!”
“I can’t stop Leo, not until everyone is
safe,” she asserted.
Leo frowned, “Please make time for those
who are important.” He sighed resigned, “I won’t change your mind. I know you
well enough. I also know that as soon as you are home, you will be plotting, so
please keep me updated. Before you escape, I need to say thank you, not just
for rescuing me, but for what you have done for my brother. He is irreversibly
changed and happy.”
“Oh, I have plans for him,” she replied
mischievously.
Leo scoffed, “Goddess, protect him.” Morgan
bowed at the proper height and turned to exit, “Can I ask a favour?” Leo asserted,
stopping her once again.
Morgan smiled, “There is no need, Bella is
in the library; good luck getting her out of there. You could say that I have
lent her to you because she on an assignment for me. She’s going to train a
division of archers—oh and by the way, they will need decent armour. I’m
thinking green, light-leather please, none of that plate crap.” Leaving Leo
stunned, she sent purpose filled legs in the direction of the royal docks.
Morgan leaned
against the railing; her attention captured by the sight of the rudder slicing
through the glassy surface of the harbour. Bastien was at slumber, twilight had
long since found its end, her ship’s agonizingly slow departure further adding
to the air of lethargy. The Tempest’s crawl was due to a serious lack of sailcloth,
the requirement for such reduced on a ship powered by heat and gas. Done with
contemplation and feeling a serious need to be doing she turned around, only to
find herself confronted by a strange sight, her entire crew staring at her with
anticipation upon their expectant faces. Understanding arrived in the form of a
memory, a memory of a promise that she had made in a dark cell. Executing an
exaggerated sigh, she gathered a fair amount of silk in her hands, the act
giving her access to a concealed dagger. Making careful but skilled cuts Morgan
used the dagger to slice through layers of delicately expensive silk. The
destructive act leaving her to ponder upon the sort of extensive apology that
she would need to give to Denza. Before long she was standing in her under
garments, previously stunning dress held in her raised hand. “Happy?” she said,
feigning frustration as she hurled the offending dress overboard. Her crew’s
response was quick, merry at their work they reciprocated, sending layers of brightly
coloured silk overboard. Morgan laughed at the carefree display, she
breathed in the sights, as they provided her with it a blend of uplifting
emotions. She happily searched the mix of faces before her, all the while
wondering how much longer she would be graced with such devoted company.
The celebrations continued until Sha
dropped, his entry by grapple as they crept under the Southern Bridge. He
strode towards her, exuding confidence as he did so. “About time, you got here,”
she affirmed. Instead of responding Sha knelt, the act plunging the ship into
silence.
Sha locked on to her gaze, his words
coupled with a look of pure determination, “I’m a prince and I have to marry,”
He coughed uncomfortably, “No that’s not right.” Many among the crew started to
chuckle. Morgan did her best to keep a straight face, but then he continued,
“When we are grey and old, wrinkly and—ahhh, that’s not right either.” The chuckling increased
in intensity and a smile slipped onto her face, “I want to give you better
things—Ah, this isn’t going to plan!”
Coming to the rescue Morgan spoke fondly as
she grabbed his hand and helped him to his feet, “Oh Sha, you are perfectly
imperfect, and that’s what I love about you the most.” The hollering got much
louder as they kissed, not that it mattered because she was oblivious to all, but her prince.
Sha was looking at her expectantly when
they came up for air, “So that’s a, yes?” He asked.
“Only if you do a better job of the
proposal next time,” she countered indignantly.
“Any pointers?”
Morgan raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, come on, just one.”
She offered helpful words, “You know how
they say just wing it.” Sha nodded enthusiastically, “Well. I would say for you,
practise, like, A WHOLE LOT!” Her crew’s laughter followed them all the way to the
stern rail. Morgan rested her head upon Sha’s shoulder, her gaze upon the
ribbons of colour that were still floating on the harbour, as she watched, some
of the silk decided to sink colourfully twisting, sometimes plunging towards
the depths. The image reminding her that Amare had warned of troubles to come.
“WILL YOU #$@&%*N Get this ship into the air! YOU #$@&%*S,”
Marlo bellowed behind them.
THE END
Not to worry, a
beginning can be found in every ending.
.png)
.png)
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment