The Forged King

Ivy took a deep breath as the procession walked through a newly formed tree in Phoenix and arrived through the old one just outside palace grounds in Ilva. She slumped the moment they could no longer be seem by the other kingdoms.

“You knew about him,” Oak immediately said, “You knew about Prince Reuben.”

Nightshade and her mothers were watching her.

“Just barely, and I only realized who he was because—” she stopped before breaking any vows. There was no telling who would bring knowledge of Garret’s existence to the Phoenician court.

Garret! He had to have figured it out by now. Would he guess Ivy knew before he did? Curse Ariana for making Ivy promise not to talk to him. They would be past so much confusion by now if she’d been allowed a conversation.

“Are you going to tell us?” Mom—General Mistletoe in this moment—asked.

“Not at the moment, no. It isn’t a secret of mine to tell.”

Both mothers nodded.

“Whose secret is it?” Nightshade asked.

“You will know when you need to,” Oak said, “In the meantime, I think Ivy needs to make an appointment.”

Ivy nodded.

“Tomorrow, Tomorrow I will determine the situation, and I will explain it the day after.”

Ivy barely had time to enjoy her entry to Kitaba before having a letter shoved in her face.

“Did you do this?” Garret asked. Ivy took the paper and skimmed over.

“You’ve been invited to Everin?” she asked, “That’s perfect!”

If Garret had an invitation to Everin, he and Ariana could move to Ilva, and Ivy could arrange protection for the two of them, possibly a hidden cabin.

“You weren’t involved?” Garret asked, tone calmer.

“Not that I know of. We don’t have any official influence on Everin beyond giving our blessing when a new head scribe is selected, though sometimes we have rejected them.”

Garret breathed a sigh of relief.

“Why did they send it then? My Forge piece is still sealed. I was told that wouldn’t get me into Everin.”

Ivy shrugged.

“I can ask around. Endra usually goes to a council to recruit someone. Was it you?”

Garret nodded.

“Impressive.”

Garret stood a little taller, then his eyes widened.

“I had more questions.”

“Right,” Ivy said, “Not here. I need to talk to you and your mother anyways.”

“Why did you avoid me?” Garret asked.

“Because your mother asked me to. She didn’t want you to have the scrutiny of being so close to a princess.”

“She knew you were a princess?” Garret asked.

“She recognized a piece of jewelry that belonged to one of my mothers before me.”

“Queen Oleander.” Garret identified.

Ivy nodded.

“All this time,” Garret watched the wall behind her, “You’ve been lying to me.”

“I never said I wasn’t a princess.” Ivy tried to give an apologizing smile.

“You and my mother.”

“Garret, I—”

“You’re lucky I have bigger problems right now.”

“I don’t feel lucky while you’re in danger,” Ivy replied.

Garret paid for a stone boat to take the two of them there. He hadn’t touched Ivy since she’d arrived. Her guilt kept her from trying to initiate contact.

“I’m sorry for the expense,” Ivy said, “I can—”

Garret leveled a glare that shut her up.

“You aren’t going to make it up to me, Ivy. Next time you find a fool to worry for you, maybe tell him the truth.”

“You worried for me?” Ivy asked.

Garret didn’t answer. Armath seemed less beautiful now.

Garret stepped out of the boat first upon arrival, then reluctantly offered a hand to Ivy. She watched it for a moment too long.

“It’s not an olive branch, I just don’t need your death causing more problems for me.”

Ivy took the hand, expecting Garret to release as soon as she was stably on land, but he just pulled her to his apartment. He finally let go to knock on the door. Ivy cradled her hand as he stared straight ahead.

Ariana opened the door, and Ivy barely held herself from cowering. One angry Forge was bad enough, but two…

Luckily Ariana seemed curious if anything. That wasn’t going to last long.

“A boy named Reuben appeared on the last meeting of the council,” Garret said, swiftly changing Ariana’s expression to one of fear, “He looked so familiar. Like staring at a distant mirror. I didn’t know Solam’s bride shared your name.”

“Come in.” Ariana ordered.

The home was no different than before, but it felt warmer. Ivy spotted a raging fire in the fireplace as the other two sat down. She took a seat further from the two of them.

“Garret—” his mother started.

“Is this why you never taught me anything about Phoenix, because you knew I’d figure it out? Why are you hiding from my father?”

Ariana watched him for a moment.

“Are you going to interrupt me with more questions, or do you actually want answers?”

Garret’s expression steeled, but he remained silent.

Ariana turned to Ivy.

“Would you leave us for a moment, please?”

“Ivy stays.”

“What?” Ivy and Ariana asked.

“You roped her into this secrecy, though she has plenty to answer for, herself. I want her to see it through.”

Ivy sat back, watching Ariana.

“Solam grew up near the Forge. His Magek was unstable, so we taught him, because that’s what the Forge does. When the authorities from the Phoenician court came looking for the Phoenix, it was clear who could be that powerful. He was my closest friend, and I was one of the few unafraid of him, so he asked me to marry him and become queen.”

“You didn’t love him?” Garret asked.

Ariana shook her head.

“I loved him, just not romantically. He understood that about me and didn’t care. He said he needed a partner, not affection, so we were partners. I went from the most talented furnace in the whole forge to Queen of Phoenix because Solam trusted me more than anyone else.”

Ivy nodded. She knew the pressures of taking a throne, and they must be even worse if you weren’t trained for them.

“Please understand, Garret, your father meant the world to me, and I was glad to have a child with him when the time came. Around the same time Clarisse announced her second pregnancy, we decided we should have an heir. We wanted a child, and it was continually advised.”

“At least you weren’t Ilvan,” Ivy said, “They demand at least three children as soon as possible.”

“That’s why we didn’t base our timeline off of your mothers.” Ariana was smiling now. She had Garret’s smile.

“So we got pregnant. It was celebrated, but I made the mistake of having conversations with a visiting Armath official around the same time. I just wanted to know about my family here. We hadn’t talked to any of them since leaving the Forge.”

“So you were accused of an affair when we were born,” Garret said, hanging his head. “I have a brother, and he doesn’t know I exist.”

Ivy touched Garret’s shoulder without thinking. He’d been stuck alone with these thoughts, and Ivy could do nothing but blame herself. He gave a weak smile.

“Yes,” Ariana continued, “I was accused of having an affair. Your eyes weren’t their color yet. That happens sometimes, and my mother’s from Armath.”

“So we looked enough like we could be another man’s kids to put us all in danger,” Garett concluded, “But Solam doesn’t seem that dangerous.”

“He’s a Phoenix King,” Ivy said, “Any sovereign chosen for their power is dangerous.”

“Exactly,” Ariana confirmed, “After witnessing his temper, I was afraid for the first time. I was abandoned for a few days, and I had my proof. Your eyes changed to the color of rubies and garnets, but I couldn’t trust that place anymore. Whoever convinced Solam of my betrayal clearly wanted me and the two of you gone.

“I left Reuben at the Forge with my parents. He had to remain in Phoenix as the elder child, but I couldn’t bear to part with both of you.” Ariana watched Garret with sorrow.

“Taking you with me to Armath was incredibly selfish, and I’m sorry for how much I hid from you, but I do not regret my actions. They kept you safe as long as you could bear.”

Garret finally removed Ivy’s hand. She moved back from him to offer space.

“I’m your consolation prize because you couldn’t keep him.”

“No!” Ivy said along with Ariana.

“You are my son, my Garret. You are no consolation.”

“You’re just trying to justify your anger,” Ivy said, which was clearly the wrong thing as Garret leveled his fury on her.

“Do they just teach royalty to lie to people like me?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, leaving for the door. Ivy followed immediately after him.

“Garret!”

“Nothing’s real, Ivy, is it? Not for me.”

She grabbed his hand and held tight.

“I am sorry for lying. I didn’t want you to know because I didn’t want you to change how you treated me. You deserved better than being a princess’ escape from her expectations.”

He tried to turn away from her but she grabbed his head to make him look at her.

“You’re allowed to hate me, and I will regret what I did to you for the rest of my life, but I have something I need to ask you and your mother before I leave.”

Garret’s eyes looked anywhere but her face.

“Please,” Ivy begged.

He pulled her hand off his face, bringing her back inside.

“Say your piece.”

Ivy took a deep breath.

“You two won’t be safe in Armath. People will realize Garret looks like Reuben very quickly, and if Caric sees an opportunity to ruin your life…”

Garret squeezed the hand he still hadn’t released.

“What are you offering?” Ariana asked.

“Asylum, in Ilva. I can arrange it.”

“Why would we be safer there?” Garret asked.

“Because we’ll find somewhere safe for you to stay, out of the way from larger populations, and with an offer from Everin, the scribes can be sworn to secrecy. None of them would be willing to risk their careers to hurt you.”

“You’ll arrange an offer from Everin?” Ariana crossed her arms.

“I already got an offer,” Garret said, “Which Ivy couldn’t have been involved in. The royal family doesn’t have that type of influence.”

Ivy nodded.

“What else is expected of us?” Ariana asked.

“Nothing. You just need to stay safe.”

“Please,” Ariana said, “I see the way you watch my son. You don’t want nothing from him.”

Ivy saw Garret’s fist clench at his side.

“Fine,” Ivy said, “It’s to assuage my guilt for lying to your son then pulling him into a dangerous situation. You can either stay in Armath, risking both of your safety, out of fear I intend to seduce your son, or accept my offer, stay safer than you ever were in Armath, and stay with your son, because I doubt Garret cares about your permission when it comes to Everin.”

She wouldn’t stay in this room of hostility any longer. She’d done what she’d set out to do.

“Let me know your answer when you have it.”

She exited out the door, searching for a stone boat she could call to take her to a Rune-center. Garret grabbed her hand.

“I understand I have a lot to pay for, but I really can’t endure your anger any—”

Garret pulled her into a tight embrace.

“I guess you worried for me too.”

Ivy nodded into his chest, just below the shoulder. Garret moved back, still holding her arms.

“Thank you, Ivy. I have a lot to think about.”

The documents were drafted, and Ivy stared at herself in the mirror, enough to notice Oak in her doorway.

“Drafting official documents?” Oak asked once they made eye-contact, stepping up to her dresser to look at them without asking to come in. “Asylum, for Queen Ariana, and her other son.”

“Oak, don’t—”

“Your little scribe is the Forge Prince’s brother?”

“Why are we calling him that?” Ivy asked.

“And you talked the Forge Queen into letting him come to the Sovereign Council, in Phoenix?” Oak’s expression was appreciably stunned. “I knew the ring chose you for a reason, but now I really believe it.”

“What does that mean?” Ivy asked. Oak had always been her primary supporter when it came to being the heir. She’d leaned on that support, and he’d lied?

Now she had an idea of what Garret was going through.

“Not like that, Ivy. You just care more about being alone and studying than what either of our mothers do. How did you even know how to draft a proposal?”

“I’m fifteen. I learned that seven years ago. We all follow the same education track.”

“But I’ve never heard of you paying attention during any lessons.”

She took her papers and smacked his arm.

“Obviously I was wrong,” he admitted, “So they petitioned you for asylum?”

“No,” Ivy admitted, “I told them it would be the best option, and I’m just waiting for confirmation from them.”

“What makes you so sure they’ll take it?”

“Because I’m right,” Ivy said, “And they know it. I’ll have a reply soon enough.”

“Your confidence amazes me,” Oak said, “Is he why you recognized the prince?”

Ivy nodded.

“They must be very similar.”

“Identical.”

Oak nodded.

“You know his face can’t be hidden at the wedding, right?”

She smacked him with her papers again.

“That isn’t a prospect anymore. He’s mad at me for lying to him.”

“Told you so,” Oak said.

“Go to bed.” Ivy ordered.

“Of course, your future majesty.”

Oak bowed with a cocky grin as he backed out of the room. Ivy shook her head as she started brushing her hair to ignore the documents. If she went to bed now, she’d be stuck thinking about them all night.

She watched the corner of the mirror as she counted the strokes.

Then she watched it ripple. She looked up at a stunned Garret. He seemed to be staring at her.

“Garret!” she said, “I didn’t realize you had a mirror.”

“I didn’t know your full name before,” Garret explained, shaking his head out of the initial stupor.

“Oh…” Ivy nodded.

Garret continued staring.

“Why did you call?” Ivy asked.

“Sorry, I—we—accept. Asylum.”

“Excellent.” Ivy revealed the documents. “We’ll start right away.”

Garret nodded. Ivy started to move her hand to end the call.

“Wait!” Garret said, “Why did you spend so much time with Lord Avery? At the Council?”

Ivy wasn’t going to hide another truth from Garret.

“We have an arrangement. If either of us reach a point of needing a partner before either of us find one, we will marry. It’s a typical Ilvan arrangement.”

If you were the heir, but that secret couldn’t be helped.

“Oh…” Garret’s expression looked disappointed.

“That time’s far away for both of us, and besides, I heard he was interested in someone else at the Wyrd sisters anyways. I really just see him as a friend, and hopefully ally should the time come.”

Garret’s expression was less afraid.

“I guess I’ll see you after all of this is arranged,” Garret said.

“Yes, now I just need to convince my mothers.”

“You didn’t get their approval already?”

“I didn’t want to just share your secret. I thought I’d have a few more days with how the two of you were stewing.”

Garret smiled.

“I’ll see you soon, Ivy.”