Greeting him in the customary Gyorian way, fist over heart, but with a bow to my head to denote his status, I wasn’t surprised that the king didn’t return the gesture. Not one for pretense, he wouldn’t hide his hatred of me, or my people.
Give grace not because it’s returned but because it’s who you are.
My mother, one of the greatest emissaries in Aetherian history, offered sage advice. Some, like that particular one, were harder to execute than others. Especially when dealing with one such as King Balthor, who had caused much misery and pain for Elydorians these past years.
“You requested an audience. Be quick about it, Lady Lyra. There are few here who welcome an Aetherian in these walls.”
A not-so-thinly veiled threat.
“There have been concerns, my lord, over elemental disturbances that could affect all of Elydor. I serve as an emissary from King Galfrid to open discussions on such matters.”
“Disturbances? I know of no such disturbances.”
While keeping my eyes trained on the king, I felt for any shift in air currents around Terran. As I suspected, an intake of breath told me what Kael had already said. Their father kept from both princes that he had hidden the Wind Crystal in the Maelstrom Depths. Likely Terran also did not know the crystal Balthor “returned” after he stole it to close the portal was a fake.
Exposing him as a liar to his son was my only goal this day.
“You’ve not suspected… anything might be amiss? That Elydor’s magic may perhaps be shifting in some way? Or that the Maelstrom Depths have been acting… strangely?”
Denying it would outright brand him a liar. The very same celestial event that created our realm imbued it with an energy that gave Elydorians immortality and the ability to wield elemental magic, but that also demanded a balance which had been shifting since the humans came into Elydor from their own realm, and even more so since they were locked out.
But never more had the subtle signs of disturbance been evident than with Mev’s appearance from a “locked” Gate. And of course, the manufactured one Marek’s retrieval of an artifact that belonged in another clan had initiated.
My question angered him, of course.
“Do not play me for a fool. The princess.” He said the word as if it was a slur. “Came through a closed portal. Is that the disturbance you refer to?”
He knew it wasn’t and wielded unspoken words as weapons, just as I did.
“One of many,” I responded, evading him and taking a more direct tactic. “I don’t remember seeing you without your crown before, your liege.”
His nostrils flared. King Balthor wanted me tossed from his throne room, or worse. Would have done so already if he courted full-fledged, open war. Most telling, his eyes darted to his son.
“You play dangerous games, Lady Lyra,” the king said.
Would Balthor let me leave this hall with Terran? I would ensure it.
“Executing me will not serve the same purpose as doing so with Seryn.”
I glanced at Terran, whose eyes widened.
“Your king would do the same, were a Gyorian spy found in your midst.”
It was time to stir the sleeping storm.
“We would not be so reckless as to allow one in Aetheria.”
The ground rumbled beneath my feet. Impressive, as I’d not seen his fingers move. Drawing a slow breath as this was advanced magic, I focused on the charged space between earth and sky. With a flick of my wrist and the tightening of will, I thinned the air at my feet, lifting the pressure just enough to still the quake beneath me.
The rumble dissipated, as if exhaling through stone.
Both the king and his son were duly impressed, as they should be. It was a tricky bit of magic my king perfected and shared with us.
“Do you mean to cause a war? Is that why Galfrid sent you here?”
“KingGalfrid sent me here to remind you that you’ve already begun this war, though not with soldiers but secrets. The borders have become so unstable, few will pass. We are more separated than ever before. Your own son recognizes,” I said quickly, and boldly, knowing he would stop me soon, “Princess Mevlida’s appearance, coming through a closed Gate, means that she belongs here. Just as the humans who?—”
“Enough,” he bellowed. His cheeks red, eyes glaring, the king’s fingers flexed. Terran had taken a step toward me, though Zephra and the other Gods alone knew his purpose. “If you wish to leave this hall unharmed?—”
