That helped.
Okay, sometimes it wasn’t so bad having someone reading all my thoughts.
“Thanks, guys.”
I drew a steadying breath and continued across the floor of the great hall to the raised area in the middle. The Great Hall was laid out a lot like Clifftop Arena, only slightly smaller and fully enclosed, inside. Three levels of raked seating circled nearly all the way around the massive room, except for a slice of perhaps one eighth of the space. There, on a raised area, was the podium where I’d make my speech.Behind that were special box seats below a massive magical screen, on which my face would be splashed.
I climbed the stairs up to the stage and tried not to freak out.
I’d heard someone once say most people feared public speaking more than death. I embodied that sentiment as I looked around at the filling stands. Fighting was easy. You didn’t have to think too much, just focus on your opponent and your next move. I’d been scared going into the dominion match against Saldrea and even more worried going into my one-on-one fight with her, but it was nothing compared to the elephant sized butterflies bombarding my stomach as I approached that podium and gazed out over a sea of people.
It had been a lot easier yesterday, in a smaller room, with lights blinding me. Being able to see the tens of thousands of people filling the stands was… daunting to say the least.
You can do this.Rook sent to me.
Vyns’ feeling of summer’s heat gently buffeted my spirit and encouraged me.
When I looked over at Koar he gave me a wink and a nod. He trusted me.
Okay… sure… I could do this. Time to tell the world how I was going to turn it on its head and shake everything up.
No biggie.
IZZY
This time,since we were appealing to all races, it had been decided that Safir would introduce me, not Lhorine. The elf wasn’t even on stage, we wanted to minimize elven presence for this speech.
I couldn’t decide which was worse, having to speak, or waiting here, doing nothing while more and more people filled in. I really wished Myel was here, so his mere presence could soothe me, but Rook, Vyns, and Koar were doing a pretty good job of filling in. Small touches, whispered words, encouraging thoughts, bolstering spirit, it all went a long way toward helping me calm myself… a little.
Then, finally, the massive hall was filled and Safir spoke, the lights out over the thousands of spectators dimming.
“Assembled peoples of the three fae realms.” Safir’s voice boomed out through some sort of magical sound system. “Those of you here today have chosen to stay and fight or at least remain neutral in the fight to come. If you are in the latter group, thank you for coming. I don’t know if our words today might sway you, but your willingness to listen is heartening.”
I’d never heard or seen Safir like this. The tiger shifter was usually so… shifty. I couldn’t help a tiny smile at my own pun. But this Safir wasn’t the behind-the-scenes mastermind, but an orator of force and persuasion.
I had to admit, the man really was a boon, despite how much we’d butted heads in the beginning. Perhaps I hadn’t given him enough credit. He had been an ass, but he was doing it all for the right reasons at least. He’d been fighting for my family when I’d been in diapers.
“For many thousands of years, so many of us have lived under some form of oppression or suppression. Whether you be dwarves, once elves but shunned by your own kind, or hobgoblins, created as servants, never knowing any other life. Perhaps you’re dragons, proud and strong, fighting someone else’s wars, or seraphim and salmaeri, forced into combat against forces in your realms. For all the nymphs and dryads, who lived in peace, but dreamed of more, and for all the pixies who’ve served, and the shifters who’ve died, it is time to take a stand, time to rise up and face our oppressors!”
A deafening cheer rose and persisted.
A shiver ran through me. Wow. Safir really knew how to inspire a crowd.
“And,” Safir continued as the cheer began to die down, “here, to lead you into that new future, to stand with you and fight beside you, is a woman of two worlds, a half breed royal, someone who can,and will, finally change our fates and the fate of this very world!”
Another cheer as Safir motioned to me and I stepped forward.
Okay… I had no idea how I was going to compete with that, but Zora and I had spent hours on my speech and I had to hope it would speak to everyone here.
I laid the papers out before me on the lectern, taking several deep breaths and studying the first line as the cheer slowly died.
“My people,” I began, voice cracking with nervousness. I cleared my throat and began again. “My people… and I can say that, because I have lived among you. I may be an elf, but I am not of their world.”
Silence had fallen. The cheer faded. As I paused — yes even that pause was written into my speech — I looked out over the thousands arrayed before me.
“We have a chance, here and now, to change this world. I say we, because it will take all of us. I do not plan to rule alone. It has already been decided that when I become queen—” I’d really wanted to say “if” but Zora had insisted on “when,” best to assume we’d win the fight to come, “—a ruling council shall be formed, composed ofallpeople. Everyone shall have an equal voice. My own voice shall be one of many. I will be more of a figurehead, than a true ruling monarch.”
I gave a nervous little laugh, feeling a teensy bit better as I worked through the speech. This next bit I’d insisted on putting in, even though Zora had thought it might minimize my potential.
