Utilizing Stellon’s Exalting glamour as we’d planned, I caused every weapon in the room to go airborne, each flying away from its owner to clatter against the walls.
Then I gave each lord a vision of the battle prowess I’d inherited from my mother followed by a graphic vision of his own respectiveverypainful death.
I let the mass illusion end abruptly.
“If you’d also like to experience my Compeller glamour, do step right up,” I announced to the wide-eyed crowd.
“Though, I shouldn’t think you’d wish for a repeat of what you experienced at my father’s whims,” I said. “I have no desire to claim absolute rule over the Sixlands, but be assured, I have every glamour I need toendyou should you be fool enough to targetanymember of my family.”
The lords—now kings—vowed their ready agreement one by one.
When Lord Aydun Elardis took his turn to speak, he announced that he and his family and subjects would retreat toAltum, the hidden underground realm that housed his castle, and eschew all contact with humans and the rest of the outside world.
“I advise you all to do the same,” he said to the other lords. “If this curse bears out and the humans grow to outnumber us, we’ll need to protect the children we already have and the few we’ll be able to have in the future.”
“Furthermore, if we want to survive as a people, I think we should begin destroying evidence of our existence. Destroy our history books and any mention of the Fae from human texts. We need to vanish from their consciousness,” he said.
“Hide if you want to,” I said to him and the rest of the assembly. “But my opinion is that we should do the opposite. I believe it’s better that Elves and humans continue to spend time around one another, lest the rift grow so wide our races become mortal enemies. Coexisting peacefully with them is our best chance of survival as our population dwindles. We should continue communicating with them and try to seek understanding with each other.”
The newly anointed kings seemed to be split in their opinions, and there was plenty of arguing for either side, as there tended to be about any political decision ever.
As promised, I would leave it to them to work it out for themselves.
The kings, lords, and their ladies all filed out of the throne room, leaving only Stellon, Mareth, and me.
“Well,” she said. “That was interesting. Would have been nice to have a bit of a heads up that you were planning to shatter the Kingdom tonight.”
“Sorry. We worked it out in the lift on the way down,” Stellon joked, but it wasn’t far from the truth.
“Are you disappointed toonlybe Princess Mareth of Marinus instead of Princess Mareth of all Avrandar and the Sixlands?” I asked.
“Hardly,” she said. “Perhaps now people will stay out of my business.”
“Little chance of that. You’re still the most eligible woman in the region,” I pointed out.
“Yes, but now you’ve just terrorized all her potential suitors with your massive display of power,” Stellon quipped.
“Notallof them,” Mareth said, grinning. “I know of a man or two who wouldn’t be intimidated by you.”
“When are you finally going to reveal this mysterious suitor of yours?” Stellon asked.
“A suitor?” My head jerked back. “I haven’t heard about this.”
“And you won’t—not until I’m ready to talk about it,” Mareth said. “You may be King of Marinus now, brother, but you’re not the boss of me.”
We all laughed.
“Well, I have my hands full trying to wrap up my own love story. If you two will excuse me,” I said.
“You don’t have to ask for permission to be excused, you know,” Stellon said. “You’re King now, Pharis… with every privilege—and headache—that entails.”
“Have some important ‘royal business’ to attend to?” Mareth teased.
“Themostimportant,” I said.
Pulling a scroll from my jacket, I handed it to my sister. She unfurled it, and Stellon stepped close to read over her shoulder.
Golden ink glinted in the torchlight as Mareth shifted the parchment, reading aloud.
