The sour air was intensifying daily, as now so often passing Erdonal Military warships were making their way across the North Sea, sailing into the mouth of the Glacial River before reaching Husemid Kingdom. It glided through water, like a hot knife over butter. Two eagles of blood red color on the black sail, would be unmistakably recognised by any passerby. Instantly, the dark clouds formed from the smoke coming out of the warships blanketing the sky. Creating a sense of dread and unease. The noise followed the sighting. It was not comparable with anything in nature, nor any instruments – deep monotone vibrations resonated through the air, rhythmically repeating itself. It was the same sound I heard ten years ago, when that morning Erdonal descended their ships onto the shore of Midswick. The sound grew louder, while the humming seamlessly transformed into a human voice.
The rhythmic chanting echoed, while the flotilla of ships was emerging from behind the horizon. Occasional clamorous collision of luminite barrels would interrupt the chant briefly, before it would restart again in the native Erdonal tongue - khatubi. Now, they knew better than to set their foot in Rasfalia, but each time their ship passed it would send shivers down my spine, wondering if this time, they might have changed their minds. Descending would mean an open invitation for a battle. And ever since Erdonal took over the northern luminite mines from Rasfalia, they had no more interest in these lands, they were already taking everything from us.
Dressed in the proper, now also dry, military attire, I stood back in my room, staring outside of the window at the warships. After Daniel led me back to my room, he gave me that look again. Full of pity and sympathy. Before closing the door and telling me I had ten minutes to get ready. There were no words exchanged between us. Just emptiness and regret of what we just did. The passing warships didn't terrify me as much as the arrival of Roe. There was nothing to be afraid of, at least that's what it seemed like at first. It was almost too coincidental for him to show up today. On the day of my birthday. As a King of Rasfalia, he was not expected to ever visit the military camp of course, but I secretly hoped, especially those first years, that he'd come to take me back to the Summer Palace. That one day, he'll show up unannounced, offering me a place in the battle with Erdonal, a place where I'll meet eye to eye with King Aslan. Hope died years ago. There was a stack of letters laying on the shelf, all written by Roe's personal writer. None by him, but one, announcing the death of Lady Mari. It was his brother Lord Commander Vogan, who would visit and even teach me a trick or two. He would always come bearing a letter from Roe, and a small sweet treat from the royal pastry chef. It felt like a solstice celebration, each time he would visit. Offering stories of what he's seen while traveling, of the animals he had encountered, and small gossip of the Summer Palace that he would always emphasize I had to keep a secret. I could only assume both of them were here. So suddenly. Unexpectedly, just a couple of hours before I was about to run away to Tolun Dei and just at the time when I was about to commit a treason and kill a guard.
The pace of my heart quickened. I took one long inhale, before grounding myself and telling myself that there was nothing to be afraid of. Yet, my palms covered with cold sweat, as my foot tapped on the wooden floor, betraying me and my nerves. They haven't found the guard. It's not why they want to see you. I kept repeating to myself. There must've been other reasons why he arrived now. And the fact that he wanted to see me, suggested it was something to do with me not wanting to go to Xaleon.
I marched out of the house, baring myself for the consequences I might face. The sirens were blasting non-stop, announcing the assembly. This has only happened one other time, when the commander of Isildra was visiting for the both Kingdom's military alliance training. Yet, even then the crowd did not seem as nervous and eager as now. The chaos of all the trainees rushing forward and pushing each other out of the way to take the best front row spot, flooded the valley. Like thousands of ants in blue uniforms they ran back and forth, feet stomping hard on the wet ground of the camp.
The Commandership looked flustered and nervous, King Roe's arrival was as much surprise for me as for them. They stood in the small circle passionately discussing something, but the second one of the Senior Officers caught my glare, and they stopped. The whole camp felt uneasy. Passing me by General Varley just offered a small nod, before rushing towards officer Baro and whispering something to her ear.
"The Commandership looks tense," I said to Daniel, who caught up with me. "Like we have another war starting, all so serious and nervous. Do you know anything about it?" He looked forward, offering me a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Or any information from your father, why would Roe want to see me?" Besides his overbearing presence, Daniel offered nothing. And now I guessed, he was given a task to bring me to Roe.
The silence and Daniel's stare forward, only made my anxiety worse. "Did you…" I didn't really want to think about it. "Have you told them anything about–"
"Of course not. Do you think I'm mad?" Daniel shot me a cold stare. Dreadful coil tightened in my chest.
I had enough. I moved fast, blocking his way. "Then why would he want to see me now? Why now out of all days?"
"Lyra, I have no idea. Nobody has told me anything." His eyes fell quickly.
The crowd buckled around us, as we both tried forcing our way through to the Ceremonial Hall. The large dome building made out purely from copper with barely no window, was surrounded by royal envoys from all sides, as they stood tall with their swords in their hands, ready to strike. There would have been no way of escaping out of there.
When we approached the arched entrance, a Commander in the polished dark navy uniform and proud insignia, furrowed his eyebrows. The metal armour wrapped around his chest and a helmet that no sword or arrow could pierce, implied that they were not here for a peace mission. My shoulders collided with someone before I realised Daniel wasn't next to me anymore.
"His Royal Highness is awaiting you." The Commander said in a low voice, looking at me from up. I turned to find Daniel with my eyes. He just shook his head. I had to face this alone, whatever it was.
The royal envoys pushed the arched door open. Just as I was about to step inside, they shoved me quickly through the doorway and closed it shut. Silence, utter and complete silence. It was so odd being here for the first time in years. Usually, the Ceremonial Hall was used for large ceremonies, graduations, celebrations, always buzzing with noise and trainees filling every side of the corner. But now I was met with stillness in the air. Not a single thing stirred. And the radiating coldness of the walls wrapped around my body. My steps echoed across the hallway. The marble flooring so polished that it is squequed under my boots. Whenever I was here, it was always too crowded to pay any attention to the paintings on the wall. But now the walls so tightly covered with historical depictions of war, Lord Commanders, hunting trips and some long time ago extinct animals, stared back at me, as if judging me as not worthy to even stand here.
The two guards stood alertly by the front of the door which I assumed would lead me to see Roe. Posture straight and looking forward without a single muscle movement in their faces. While I couldn't tell if I should've been more or less afraid to finally, after so many years meet my saviour. I adjusted the jacket pressing it down with my shaking hand, giving it a sharp pat on an already very well ironed uniform. This is what was expected of us, of the youth raised here, I reminded myself. Get the best military education Rasfalia can provide, graduate and serve your Kingdom no matter where you're stationed. If you're lucky, you'll remain in-land. But that was not part of my plan. My powers were not part of the Rasfalian plan either.
"I'm here to see His Royal Highness." I said firmly, but the slight shake in my voice gave away how nervous I was. And from the way the guard's eyes lingered on mine, confirmed, he saw it too.
When they pushed the final door separating me and Roe, the sheer size of the hall unfolded before me. Heartbeat thundered in my ears, too fast then too shallow, like I had forgotten how to breathe. The heavy round table was deep in the discussion. Voices clashing against each other, one of them stopped mid-sentence, when the door slammed behind me and every single head turned, but one. No one spoke. I slowly stepped deeper into the Hall. Luminite – the azure blue transparent stone sparking with metal humes, was everywhere. On the silver chandelier hanging from the height ceiling, a wine cup, a portrait frame, and fireplace was embellished with more than a thousand. It was beyond rare to see one this close, yet alone find a whole room filled with it. Rasfalia had almost none of it, at least not since Erdonal took over the North. I was not only taking in the sheer abundance of luminite in the room, but the power that the men sitting behind the table had. And none of them smiled. Vogan sitting right opposite me offered the faintest nod. The men were all Lords of Rasfalia. Instantly, I recognised Lord Lochstar and Lord Bayelin, sitting respectively on both sides of Vogan. The rest, I knew only by their names and reputations.
"Come sit down Lyra." Vogan said and gestured to the empty seat right next to one person who hadn't turned to look at me.
I walked with deliberate moves, as my gaze slipped to the map of the Continent. It wasn't current. Nor did it show the past. I traced the borders of Isildra, freezing mid-thought. My breath caught again. It couldn't be. The border was gone. There was no Isildra. Somewhere between mountains and rivers, it hit me… this was the future.
Vogan spotted my curiosity of the map and immediately spoke up. "Lyra. Please sit with us. All of us are so happy to see you." My head snapped away from the map. I bowed ceremonially to all of them, hoping that my jaw didn't drop and I kept my face neutral. Like I did not just see something I wasn't supposed to.
Vogan's purple and green eyes softened when I stepped closer to the chair. After all these years he remained unchanged. The same radiant and sharp gaze, the same squared tall posture, and even the royal military uniform of a Lord Commander weighted down with medals and ranks, seemed to have stayed in the same spots, looking exactly as it had. Next to him sat Lord Bayelin. A short man with a heavy moustache and pompous stance. Daniel would always make fun of him and his grandiose ambitions of occupying the Husemid Kingdom, under the pretext of uniting the South. If given an army, the following day he would march into the Husemid Kingdom, which had bordered his land, and slaughter those barbarians and savages for raiding his summer chalets. A vile little man was what Daniel would always call him.
With one more step closer to the chair, my gaze turned to the royal burgundy cape draped like cloth over a skeleton. A clothing suitable for a King. Yet, when my feet finally settled under the chair and my hand lay still on the table, my stomach flipped in nervousness, but only then I looked at him.