Tavo’s army.My guards, now aware of the situation, remained loyal. They moved towards me, to protect me.
“I knew you’d put up a fight,” Tavo said. “So I’m going to give you a choice, Ezra. Stand down and bow to me as your king, or get locked up with Cressida–once we find her.”
Aulani looked around, at the windows.Don’t bow to him,she said softly, though her mind seemed to be elsewhere, searching for something…
“Don’t do it,” Ho‘ohuli said from the side.
I stood taller. “I am the king of this island, Tavo, and I am pushing for peace–both for our islanders and for the foreigners. You want to eradicate our forests and put our native people on the bottom of the pedestal. I can’t do that.”
“Then that is your choice.” Tavo laughed and stood, nodding to his men. “Take him!” And, just like that, chaos ensued. All the banquet-goers scattered like ants while my guards rushed to me. Tavo’s men came running too, and screaming, shouting, and swords clashing filled the air.
This was not right. This was not how things should be done. I’d always been about the pen over the sword, but could words help me now?
A foreigner grabbed my arm, and I had no way to defend myself that night because I was unarmed. It was a stupid move on my part, but I figured we were honoring our father, the late king, and there would be no need for weapons.
If father saw what was happening now…
Tavo's troops overwhelmed my guards. There were too many of Tavo’s troops flooding in, filling the whole room with their screams and shouts.
And then…
Music… It wasn’t the music of instruments, but of nature. A wind gushed open the side doors, and, with it, a trail of colorful birds came flying in, Pili at the head.
It was a rainbow of colors and chaos.
The birds began attacking the foreigners, and it didn’t take me long to realize that Aulani had summoned them.
“Stop!” I yelled, and the entire room went silent. The birds flew to the corners and Tavo and his men fled towards the door. “Stop!” I exclaimed again, chasing after my brother. “We can work together!” I was breathless. “You’re my brother–” I began to say, but Tavo just laughed as he wiped sweat from his forehead.
“You were always too soft to rule.” His expression hardened. “I will be king one day, Ezra, and you will see that gentleness does not win battles or kingdoms.”
My stomach tightened.
“Come on!” Tavo and his men ran out. My guards were about to chase them when I raised my hand, halting them.
Why not?Aulani sounded amazed, and even Ho‘ohuli let out a huff.
“This is treason–” he began, but I shook my head and he went silent.
The birds slowly trickled out of the room.
Finally, with Tavo and the foreigners gone, cheers rang out. But it wasn’t for me. It was for Aulani. People rushed around her, showering her with kisses and hugs. They were so grateful, knowing thatshehad summoned the birds to protect me. To protect the throne.
And that was when I realized…I have to let her go.She had given everything–everything–to help me. And I could not keep her here any moment longer. She deserved to go home, to be with her kind, and to fall in love with the other prince.
I swallowed hard as I watched her, that radiant smile lighting up her face like the sun dancing over the Kaiora cliffs. And for the first time, I realized how painfully human my heart felt… how much it wanted something I could barely reach.
Not just for her. For us. For the life we might have had if the tides had been different.
I was not enough for her—not yet. But I would be… by taking her to the sea and letting her go.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AULANI
Ezra’s strong arms held the reins as we rode to the beach together. After the scenario with the foreigners and the birds had died down, he spared no time preparing the open carriage and bringing me to the sea. I told him he had better stay to make sure Tavo was found and didn’t wreak any more havoc, but Ezra was determined.
We rode for a long while before the water sparkled before our eyes.
