#throneroom queries

[thesweetbellsofsummerchronicles]

Epilogue

We executed Ronald on the edge of the river the next morning. One quick slice across his throat was all it took for his blood to stain the grass beneath him as he slumped to the ground. His death was quiet, the silence broken only by the sound of Ronald choking on his own blood and the quiet crying of Marta and Katlyn. Marta, because Ronald had been her friend for so many years before this, and Katlyn because for her, the death of another was painful no matter who they were.

I froze Ronald’s body in a block of ice, to preserve him until we arrived back in Coraje. Before leaving we had to construct a wagon to carry it, but just a few days later we had Ronald on the wagon covered in sawdust and a tarp. Marta and Kaila’s horses were fastened to the front, with my lady and I following behind in case something should happen to the body. If it were to melt, I would need to be able to refreeze it before he could decompose.

Yan was sorry to see us go, likely she was going to miss the excitement not present in day to day life, and so in a fit of compassion I promised to visit someday. I felt a flutter in my chest when she smiled, which was quickly followed by a yelp of surprise when the locks of Mona’s hair I carried with me suddenly heated up. I blushed when I realized why, and Yan chuckled in amusement. I waved goodbye to her as we left the valley, feeling...good, for the first time in far too long.

The journey to did not take nearly as long as the trip to the mountain had. This time we knew exactly where we were going and how to get there from the start. When we passed by the half rebuilt village we were even able to let them know that they should not have any more trouble, being able to assure them of their safety was wonderful. The Kowe were next; they extended their gracious hospitality to us once more, and were glad that I had made a full recovery. We made it out of their forest without any ghostly beast on our trail, well fed and in good spirits. We completely bypassed the town we had dropped those bandits off in so long ago, something about Marta wanting to avoid someone she had met there. Personally, I thought the person was that sheriff she had disappeared with, and frankly I could not blame her.

Finally, finally we reached the gleaming gates of Coraje. They parted for us before we had to ask, and we so easily slipped into the city’s veil of protection. It was too bad that with our good news of victory, we were also bringing the body of a man the Queen had long thought of as a trusted friend. I hoped that she would believe us when we told her, even a wise and sensible woman such as she could become lost in a fog of emotion and act without thinking it through.

We were asked to report to her throne room immediately by one of the castle’s servants, and because we could not (and were a bit afraid) to try and bring the entire wagon inside we instead had to push Ronald’s ice block down the hallways and to Jaya ourselves. I tried to keep the block slick enough that it would be easy to push, but solid enough that it would not melt and make a mess on the floors. Those that passed us looked on in curiosity and sometimes annoyance, as while a group of people pushing a large ice block through the castle was a unique sight, it was difficult for others to get around it in the sometimes narrow passageways.

Jaya was very surprised when we entered the throne room like that, especially because since the ice had frosted over hiding Ronald’s body, it looked to outsiders like just a large ice cube. The look on her face when she saw us was almost enough to make me burst out into laughter, but remembering the grave circumstances of our meeting I held myself in.

“Kaila! I mean, my friends! How good it is to see all of you after these many, trying, months. The reports of attacks have ceased, I hope that means you have slain the beast, yes?” Jaya asked, excitedly.

“In a way…” Kaila answered.

“And, whatever this is,” Jaya queried, motioning at Ronald’s ice block.”

“That would be the beast.”

“Ah. It is...smaller, than I was expecting.”

“Tell me about it,” Marta muttered from behind the bard’s back.

“Well, sometimes small things can be more dangerous than big things, and are able to hurt us more because we weren’t expecting them to,” Kaila said. Katlyn squeezed her eyes shut in frustration, wanting someone to just tell the queen what had happened already instead of beating around the bush. She likely would have done it herself had she been as close to Jaya as our companions, or perhaps a little less frightened of confrontation.

“Perhaps we should all sit down for some tea and discuss it,” I suggested, wanting to get to the point, or at least end this awkward conversation, as soon as we could.

“Yes, of course!” Jaya clapped her hands together in realization. “You all are probably exhausted, I should have thought of that when you came in. I’ll go have something prepared.” She looked at Kaila. “My darling, would you be a dear and take them to my sitting room?” She asked.

“Right away,” Kaila answered. “Er...what should we do with this?” She asked, patting our ice block.

“Is it important?”

“Not to me, but it might be to you,” Kaila answered cryptically.

“Oh, well then…” Jaya paused for a moment in thought. “How about we just leave it where it is for now, will it stay frozen?” Kaila looked to me.

“It should, let me just-” I reinforced the ice, and dropped temperature of and around the block as low as I could, so it would take longer to unfreeze. I wanted to avoid making a mess on the queen’s nice floor. Kaila nodded in satisfaction, then took us out of the throne room, down a narrow hallway, and into a smaller, much more comfortable looking, room.

Plush couches were arranged around a grand fireplace, the floor was carpeted, the short table in the center crafted from oak and glass, and shelves full of actual books lining the walls. Kaila set about lighting a fire for us, while we all flopped down onto the seats in various states of exhaustion. After such a long journey it would be hard for anyone not to miss the comforts of everyday life. Once the fire was started Kaila sat down next to me on the couch I had claimed. I looked over at her and smile, and was delighted when she grinned back at me.

Jaya entered the room soon enough, some tiny servant scurrying after her with a large tray full of tea and sandwiches. As soon as the tray was set down and the door closed we all lunged for the food at once. I grabbed the two sandwiches nearest to me, cucumber and chicken respectively, and a cup of spiced tea; my friends did much the same. By the time Jaya had shut and locked the door and turned around the tray was mostly empty. She pointedly did not comment on it, and instead settled down on the couch next to Kaila and me, as close to the bard as she could be in mixed company.

“Now,” Jaya said softly, teacup in hand and expression grim, as if she already knew something was amiss from our meeting in the throneroom. “Tell me everything.”

                                                                                                                The End