The Forged King

Ivy cried in her room. She’d cried any time she was alone. Garret couldn’t stay, and there was no guarantee she’d see him again outside of diplomatic visits, and even then their interactions would be few and fleeting.

“I’m surprised you haven’t tried to take up all his time,” Oak said as he sat next to her on the bed.

Ivy leaned enough to cry into his chest.

“I shouldn’t cry,” she managed to say, “This is for the best.”

Oak stroked her head gently.

“I think the fact you’re willing to suffer tears for your kingdom’s sake is a good sign.”

“I don’t care.”

“Princess Ivy,” rumbled the walls, “Queen Oleander summons you.”

Ivy took a few deep breaths, trying to center her tears away. She watched in the mirror. She couldn’t do much for the redness, but she could apply some moisturizer to hopefully help her cheeks feel better. She blew her nose, then applied a light amount of moisturizer to it as well.

“Who knew tears could make your skin so soft?”

Ivy grabbed the pillow off her chair and threw it at Oak, grateful for the laughter that helped her return to normal.

She walked to the top level, waiting until she saw sunlight to dash into her mother’s office.

“Are they leaving today?” Ivy asked.

Oleander handed Ivy the paper she was holding. Ivy read aloud.

“Oleander, I have been informed that you have been hiding my wife and child from me. Moreover that you have officially considered it asylum.

“I have recognized my error in not declaring them fugitives before now, but that error has been corrected. Return them to me at once, or I will treat you as is my right toward those who have broken the Treaty of Oberon.

“King Solam Phoenix.”

It had his seal.

“He didn’t use your title,” Ivy noted.

“I have already sent a message in the affirmative. I need you to gather Garret and Ariana for transport to Phoenix.”

“Why do I have to do it?”

“Because if we are to arrange a marriage between you and Garret, then Solam should see that you love each other.”

Ivy nodded.

“I—”

The wall behind Oleander disappeared in flame, revealing the forest behind was in a similar state. Where was the army?

King Solam took Oleander by the collar and threw her to the ground next to Ivy. Ivy couldn’t move.

Solam was a lot like Garret when angry.

“Where are they?” Solam asked.

“If you hadn’t ignored my message, they would have been with you by the end of the day.”

Solam didn’t budge. He aimed one hand at Oleander and the other at Ivy. If she ran, she would be burned alive.

“Ivy—” Oleander started.

The hand near Ivy started to burn.

“Can bring them here if you let her go,” Oleander continued to insist through gritted teeth, “I was already setting her to the task.”

“You take me for a fool,” Solam said, “I understand wanting your daughter to escape, but you should know better.”

Ivy had never spent much time with Solam before, but something was off.

“I will vow to you,” Ivy said, “Harm us no more, and I will bring Garret and Ariana to you. Otherwise, you may kill me.”

She ignored her mother’s expression.

“Since when have Sylvans been bound to their vows?” he asked.

“We have been true to our word—”

She felt the heat on her legs before she saw the flame. He’d started with the protective runes on her pants, before burning her alive.

She kept screaming until she realized it stopped. Her legs were burned black. The only reason they weren’t in pain anymore was because she couldn’t feel them.

“So you have chosen war,” Queen Oleander said.

Ivy couldn’t be the cause for a war. She—

“I didn’t break the treaty,” Solam said, “Consider it mercy that I haven’t taken your wife and child from you for vengeance.”

That was it. Solam didn’t want Ariana and Garret. He wanted revenge. Ivy just happened to be the nearest loved one.

If there was one comfort, it was knowing that Garret wouldn’t forgive Solam for harming her.

Oleander made words appear in the ground behind her back, where Solam couldn’t see.

“I love you.”

Why was that—

“Keep them safe.”

“This is a choice,” she said aloud, “You can have your family, or you can have vengeance. If you heal my daughter, we will take you to Garret and Ariana.”

“I will raze this kingdom to the ground if I have to.”

Ivy fell before the fire could hit her. She landed in the family quarters.

“We’re under attack!” she shouted, “Use the escape tunnel!”

Her siblings started running, and Oak came to her side.

“What happened to your legs?”

“Solam chose vengeance,” Ivy explained, “We need to sound the alarm, evacuate everyone.”

“Where are Garret and Ariana?”

“We’ll go the dwarven strongholds. He’ll have a harder time burning stone.”

“Where’s mom?”

Ivy managed to hold back tears. If Solam couldn’t kill her, then there was only one available target for his wrath. She would have to honor her mother’s choice instead of dwelling on it.

“Take me to a mirror. I need to contact the general.”

Oak lifted her in his arms. Everything stung where he touched her, except her legs, which still felt nothing. He ran to the nearest room, and Ivy focused her attention on the mirror.

“Mistletoe Iornan!”

Mama was already defending herself. She knew where to go if she survived. The troops would be rallied. Ivy closed the mirror, hoping she could keep one mother today.

“Garret Kitaba.”

“Right,” Oak said, “That’s the only way—”

“Solam chose vengeance,” Ivy repeated, “He has no intention of stopping.”

Garret appeared. He was still packing.

“Garret!” Her throat was already hoarse. How was she supposed to give commands like this?

“Ivy!” His smile dropped when he saw them, “What happened?”

“There is a path you can access under the table. It will take you to Fort Montaigne, the oldest Dwarven stronghold. We’ll meet you there and explain.”

“Why aren’t we going directly to Phoenix?” Ariana asked.

“Because you aren’t going at all. Solam has come to us, and he has no intentions of peace, whether he can have you or not.”

“Wouldn’t it be safer—”

“I’ll need you with me,” Ivy said, “Please.”

Garret nodded, ending the call.

Ivy searched for runes in the room, but there were none.

“Take me to our mothers’ room.”

Oak stopped questioning her.

Ivy did her best to ignore the furniture, especially the unmade bed, as she scanned, finding the rune for Warning. She focused her limited intention on it until it started to glow, and the whole room rang.

Crocus started crying.

“I’ll hold them,” Ivy said, “We need to get out of here.”

“What is this?” Lord Afeyin, the Dwarven leader, asked as Ivy and Oak finally passed the threshold, “Your highness.”

“Your Majesty,” Oak corrected.

“Of course,” he bowed, “King Oak.”

“No,” Oak said, adjusting his hold so Ivy’s back was straighter.

“Queen Ivy, please forgive my impertinence,” he watched her more closely, “You must have medical attention—”

“In time,” she said, her legs didn’t hurt enough to overtake all other tasks, “Are your leaders already gathered?”

Afeyin turned around, gesturing for them to follow. He was a good leader and a very typical dwarf—short but muscular build, long, well-braided hair and beard, and glints of fine metals on his clothes. It was cruel of her to foist such a throng upon he and his people, but hopefully he would understand.

They came to a small chamber where several others were seated. Oak placed her in the chair Afeyin indicated, standing behind her to provide a greater silhouette.

“Queen Ivy has come to explain the situation,” Afeyin informed the others.

“What has happened to Oleander?” Queline, a darker-skinned dwarf with hair and beard pulled into tight, singular ponytails, asked.

“King Solam of Phoenix attacked Sylvan palace. All who have come are those who have evacuated after the alarm was sounded. I have no idea how much of it still stands.

“We will relocate as many as can leave the city, but we ask that the seat of governance be moved here for the time being.”

“Why?” Erraine, a dwarf of near white coloration in all parts, though still seemingly young, asked.

“There is no safer—”

“Why must we accept your elven refugees, or your elven family? The Sylvans are allegedly an alliance of both, but there hasn’t been Dwarven blood in the royal line for centuries. Why should we respect those who have not respected us?”

Ivy didn’t like where this was leading.

“It is only fair that you are compensated. Our resources are less abundant at this time, but we—”

“The resource of your hand.”

“Erraine,” Afeyin said.

“You are not of age yet, my queen, but there are many of our kin close to your age, able to solidify your reign and satisfy our need for respect.”

If it weren’t for Garret, she would make the deal in a heartbeat. If it weren’t for Garret, she wouldn’t have to make the deal in the first place.

She needed to tread carefully.

“You are correct,” she admitted, “We have not shown enough respect, nor intermarried with dwarves for a long time, but I fear my consort has already been selected.”

“I’m sure the dragon lord will understand.”

“Not him,” Ivy said, “And I didn’t finish.”

She waited for everyone to fully quiet down, leveling a glare at any who so much as breathed too loud.

“When my heir is determined, I will send them with regularity to whatever Dwarven stronghold you see fit. Among company of dwarves, they should find a worthy companion.”

She didn’t speak as if there was negotiation to be had. If they found it unsatisfactory, they would speak up.

No one said a word.

“In the future,” she added, “If you want a seat at the table, you should send someone willing to sit down.”

She gestured behind her, and Oak understood to lift her up.

“Where are your healers?”

Ivy sat uncomfortably as the healer looked over her.

“We cannot make your legs work again,” they revealed, “They will likely be infected if we don’t amputate them.”

Ivy kept expecting to cry. After all, she’d cried when all she had to worry about was losing Garret for a little while. Why have no tears now?

“Do what you must.”

They left to prepare.

What a miserable start to a reign, but what else could she do? The last thing they needed was to lose another life.

“Ivy!”

Garret rushed to grab the chair next to her bed, staring at her charred legs.

“He did this?”

Now she cried. She was going to lose her legs, she’d lost her mother. All because she couldn’t lose Garret, but she had to keep him with her because then everything would still burn. It would have burned if she’d left them in Armath, but Ilva would have had time to prepare.

This was why she shouldn’t be queen, but they had no choice now.

Garret held her tightly, and she felt the air move to cool her down, not that her legs could feel it. She cried for less time than she expected, but eventually gulped in some air. She had a headache on top of everything too.

“How does your mother feel being stuck in a dwarven stronghold?” she asked.

“She hasn’t complained yet,” Garret revealed, “But it might just be the shock.”

“How do you feel?”

“Influenced or not, I’m glad you’re not sending us to him. I can’t forgive what he’s done.”

Ivy shook her head.

“Me neither.”

She clung tighter to him.

“My mother’s dead.”

Possibly both of them. Mistletoe still wasn’t confirmed to be alive, but Oleander was definitely gone. Ivy’s best hope was that Solam chose to keep her as a prisoner, but she wouldn’t expect so.

Garret kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“You wouldn’t have come here if I hadn’t told you to.”

“Then Armath would have been destroyed.”

“Air mages have better chances against fire.”

“Not a Phoenix,” he said, “Wherever we hid, it would burn. I shouldn’t have tried to meet Reuben.”

“I said your name when I met him. He asked me about you first.”

“But if we hadn’t met—”

“No one’s to blame!” Ivy pushed him away, “Everyone’s to blame! If I try to convict someone—” That was it.

“I’m queen,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean—”

She put a finger to his lips to shut him up.

“I can summon the sovereign council for a trial.”

“What?”

“If we can convict your father, it will force him to stand down. Even a Phoenix would cower at the might of Avalon, at the pressure of all kingdoms.”

This was the solution. She didn’t have the power to stand against Phoenix, but she didn’t have to stand alone.

The healers came in.

“We are prepared for the operation.”

“Of course.”

She kissed Garret before they could take her away.

“We have much to discuss.”