Dragonoak: Gall and Wormwood, page 37
“Ah… Nasrin. Did I fall asleep?” she asked.
“Not quite,” Queen Nasrin replied.
Kondo-Kana frowned, having too clear an idea of what that meant.
“They are only days. Only days…” she murmured, rolling her shoulders back. “See? I may fade, but like the moon, I always become myself once more.”
“The moon sticks to a schedule,” Queen Nasrin said, returning her attention to the window.
Like the moon, Kondo-Kana regained herself in slivers. Minutes passed before she realised I’d been there all along. If it was possible to surprise her, she might’ve started. Her eyes widened as she saw more than shadows in the far corner. She smiled crookedly at me, as though I’d burst into the moving carriage and disturbed her.
“Aejin,” she said softly, seeking my hands. “I’m glad to know we reached these distant shores.”
I squeezed her hands and leant towards her.
“I’m glad you came. I know how hard it must’ve been for you,” I told her.
Everything in my chest became light and warm.
“Oh, we’ve work to do here. Much work, Rowan, though you do not yet know how you are wrapped up in it all.”
Queen Nasrin turned from the passing landscape and sighed.
“You’ve much work to do?” she asked, pulling her arm free of Kondo-Kana’s. “You’re going to make a nuisance of yourself in front of yet another Queen and fall asleep in a whole new set of royal chambers.”
As we headed into Thule and towards the castle, I saw that preparations for our return had been made. It was difficult to absorb the moment: two Queens from a fragile, tenuous alliance were about to meet for the first time. It was nothing short of historical, yet all I could focus on was getting to see Claire again.
The letter Oak had carried reinforced Queen Nasrin’s contempt for extravagance or any unnecessary, wasteful measures being undertaken on her part. There wasn’t a single banner or marquee to be seen, and the citizens were wholly unaware of her arrival. Those within the castle worked as usual, though the guards at the gate were dressed in their finest armour, metal parts polished.
They greeted Queen Nasrin with strong salutes, and once the carriage reached the castle doors, an appointed guard rushed over to open the door for her.
Assuring them that it was alright through a series of hand gestures, that she could manage on her own, the guard straightened like a spear had been shot through their spine and said, “Her Majesty Queen Claire will meet you in the throne room, Your Majesty,” in near-perfect Canthian.
“What a wonderful castle! The doorways alone are more than any novel could’ve prepared me for,” Atalanta said, breathless. “I must say I’m terribly excited to be off the road and more than ready to get on with all of this.”
“Eh,” Varn said, sliding off the top of the carriage and landing heavily on her feet. “It’s too obvious. We get it! You’re rich!”
For the first time since arriving in Felheim, Varn stopped grumbling about the cold. Surrounded by a sea of foreign guards, she reached for her spear without taking her eyes off them, and stood to attention by Queen Nasrin’s side. Atalanta fell into stance on the other side of the Queen, and with Reis and Kondo-Kana behind us, I led the way to the throne room.
Much of the castle had been cordoned off, leaving us as the only ones filling the corridors. Kondo-Kana walked with her arm linked around Reis’, pointing to each painting and breathing a story to life about it, and Varn and Atalanta remained focused on the task at hand. Queen Nasrin paid no heed to the echoes of riches she’d sold off to collectors and pirates alike.
The throne room doors were heavier than they looked and I’d prepared myself to strain my shoulders. I tugged on both handles to no avail, and when Varn snickered behind me, I dug my heels in and wrenched them back. Once they’d budged an inch they moved easily and didn’t have the good sense to creak and announce our arrival.
“Ah. Perfect,” Queen Nasrin said upon stepping into the room and finding two sole figures stood in front of the thrones. “At least we know your Queen has the sense not to suffocate me.”
Claire stood beside Alex, crown pointedly absent. Had she been able to spend hours on her feet, waiting by the castle doors, I knew she would’ve. She smiled at the sight of me, and though she quickly smothered the expression, it was enough to make my heart leap.
When Queen Nasrin approached, Claire moved down the stairs leading to the throne, ensuring they were on the same level.
“Your Majesty,” Claire said, tilting her head politely. “Allow me to begin by apologising. I haven’t studied Canthian in close to a decade.”
“You’re more than passable, at a glance. I’m certain Rowan can get you up to speed, if needs be,” Queen Nasrin said, making no effort to measure her words. I hadn’t done more than mention Claire’s burns, but Queen Nasrin’s gaze did not linger unkindly. “Would it surprise you to learn that you are the first foreign royal I’ve met? I’m afraid I’m not overly familiar with the correct procedures.”
Claire allowed herself a brief smile.
“Felheim hasn’t met with foreign dignitaries in centuries, so I’m afraid I’m no better off. Introductions do seem the place to start, though,” Claire suggested. “I am Claire Ightham of Felheim, and this is my younger brother, Prince Alexander.”
“Nasrin Ranjha,” she said. “These are my personal guards, Varn Ironsi and Atalanta Neverfell. Reis Jones joins us as representative of Port Mahon, and this is—never mind her. I’d like to say she won’t cause you any problems, but I can’t promise that she won’t take a week-long nap in your study.”
Varn pretended to be a statue. Atalanta stepped forward and shook Claire’s hand firmly enough for the two of them.
“It’s an honour, Your Majesty. That dragon of yours made an awfully long journey almost bearable, and other than the slight chill, there isn’t a thing worthy of complaint,” she said, clasping her hat to her chest with her free hand. “We’re all rather eager to make a real go of this.”
“I’ve heard much about you all,” Claire said, unable to help but glance over at Kondo-Kana. Ever since Queen Nasrin had pointedly not mentioned her by name, Claire had been caught in the depths beyond her eyes. “… Excuse me. Is this your entire party?”
Hands clasped together, Kondo-Kana tilted her head back, mesmerised by the patterns painted on the arched ceiling.
“This is it,” Queen Nasrin said. “Canth does not have the resources to spare for much of a procession, I’m afraid.”
“Recently, Felheim has—” Claire began, cut off by something crashing against the doors.
Reis, who’d been waiting to introduce theirself properly once Queen Nasrin was done, turned on the spot and said, “The bloody hell was that?”
I didn’t have to guess.
Hurrying over to the doors, I pushed one open and found Haru-Taiki behind it. He was furious at having been denied the chance to greet our guests. He took a moment to be pleasantly surprised by my return before squawking, and saw to beating his wings and making his way to Claire. He didn’t care in the least that he was interrupting a historical meeting.
Frowning, Claire refused to set out an arm for him to perch on.
“I didn’t invite you for a good reason. I didn’t want it to seem as though I was showing off, or making some manner of spectacle.”
Deaf to all the parts he understood, Haru-Taiki flapped his wings and pushed himself higher. Queen Nasrin went to no lengths to mask any awe that slipped into her features and Varn’s composure came close to cracking when Atalanta gripped her arm and pointed up at the phoenix.
Kondo-Kana was the first to move. She rushed forward, no longer languidly letting time push her this way and that, and held a hand out to the sky she couldn’t see. For a moment, for a fraction of a second, there was colour in her eyes again. Blue swirled beneath the white, and with a smile echoing the past, she said, “Haru-Taiki!”
Haru-Taiki plummeted the few feet towards her, and Kondo-Kana placed a hand against her chest as she spoke so quickly that had we understood Myrosi, her words would’ve been lost to us.
Haru-Taiki didn’t blink, didn’t caw or chirp. Smile still plastered on her face, Kondo-Kana held out both hands and Haru-Taiki finally flinched. Beating his wings hard, he lifted his talons and tore them clean into her face, letting blood stain his feathers.
CHAPTER XX
Atalanta’s bow creaked as she notched an arrow, and Varn was set to throw her spear over her shoulder. Claire rushed forward, equipped with only her cane, but Queen Nasrin acted first.
She took hold of Kondo-Kana’s arm, pulled her close, and held out a hand to stop Atalanta and Varn from loosing their weapons. The look of dread and disappointment across Claire’s face was enough to return some sense to Haru-Taiki. She was utterly mortified and he understood that the blood splattered across the floor and dripping from his talons was the reason why. Beating his wings, he retreated to the ceiling and perched on one of the beams.
For a moment, Kondo-Kana didn’t know what she was. Blood gushed from the twin ruts driven into her face, skin split open, and it wasn’t until Queen Nasrin squeezed her shoulders tightly that she remembered how to heal. The wounds closed like tilled land smoothed over, but blood caught in the corners of her mouth, creating dark patches against her already red robes.
Nobody dared to move.
Varn and Atalanta didn’t blink as they assessed the situation. One of their own had been attacked, and though they hadn’t wandered into a trap, they were in a Felheimish castle. They were outnumbered, if not out-skilled, but the way Alex was on the verge of fainting did something to stop them from taking aim at anyone else.
“Queen Nasrin, I—”
Queen Nasrin held out a hand to silence Claire.
“Kana. What have you done this time?” she asked. She pressed her fingers to Kondo-Kana’s face and tilted her head this way and that. “The only phoenix left on Bosma wants to tear you in two, and I doubt you would’ve stopped him on your own.”
“I don’t…” Kondo-Kana mumbled, bringing her fingers to her face. Pulling them away, she started at the red smeared across her hands, awed by the sight of blood. There was enough of it to drip down her wrists. “Ah. Ah, I am still full of this, I… Hokra yora, isin sca, kanos cletar…”
“Hush, hush,” Queen Nasrin said, and turned to Atalanta and Varn. “Put those down.”
They liked the idea of putting their weapons down as much as they liked the idea of disobeying Queen Nasrin. Varn, confident she could tear anyone apart with her bare hands, slowly crouched and let her spear roll across the marble floor. Following Varn’s lead, Atalanta returned her arrow to its quiver and dropped her bow.
Neither of them took their eyes off Claire.
I might’ve been Felheimish, but I was as close to a neutral party as we were going to find.
“Okay. None of us were expecting that,” I said, holding my hands in front of me as I stepped between Claire and Queen Nasrin. “But I think it’s pretty clear that Kondo-Kana and Haru-Taiki have history, and that their issues have nothing to do with Felheim and Canth. Right?”
Reis had remained calm throughout the commotion. Their pistol rested against their hip, and they nodded to let me know I was nudging matters in the right direction.
“I can assure you, Your Majesty, that I had no idea Haru-Taiki would react in such a way,” Claire said. “We were aware that he at least knew who your… companion was, as most do, but we understood nothing of the nature of their relationship.”
Queen Nasrin glanced distastefully at her blood-covered hands. Atalanta produced a handkerchief from her shirt’s breast pocket, solving one problem.
“All anyone on this continent can talk about is the Bloodless Lands. Why should anyone who was present at its formation have a favourable opinion of Kondo-Kana?” Queen Nasrin asked as she wiped her fingers clean. “Rowan is correct. This matter has no bearing on what we have come to discuss. If anything, I am at fault for bringing such a person with me. These lands have suffered enough. I have no desire to rekindle painful memories.”
Everyone in the room let out a shaky breath of relief and Alex brought a hand to his forehead, thanking no one in particular.
“Still, this is hardly the best way to start official matters. Have no doubt that I will ensure Haru-Taiki does not—”
Tired of hearing his name thrown around in a conversation he didn’t fully understand, Haru-Taiki squawked to silence Claire and glided down. He landed in front of Kondo-Kana, so that no one had to fear what he’d do with his talons.
Forgetting the blood, Kondo-Kana held out her arms. When she spoke, her words were so heartfelt that I was on the cusp of understanding Myrosi in its entirety. She pleaded with Haru-Taiki, desperate to explain something she could only recall when her eyes were fixed on him, but none of it meant a thing to him. It was too late. Wings folded across his chest, he turned his head sharply to the side and walked away as words continued to gush from Kondo-Kana like a wound that had never been treated.
“I need no apology, nor do I wish for you to make amends for this,” Queen Nasrin said. “Show us to our chambers. This will all be easier to put behind us after a bath and a good night’s sleep.”
Claire ground her teeth together, crushing an apology between them.
“Of course. Prince Alexander will take you to your chambers,” Claire said, gesturing for him to step forward.
Despite knowing enough Canthian to follow the conversation, it took Alex a moment to respond to his name. Once he did, he almost tripped over his feet in his eagerness to help.
“Should you require anything more, you have the castle and its staff at your disposal.”
“Thank you,” Queen Nasrin said. She placed a hand on the small of Kondo-Kana’s back and guided her towards the door. “As much as I would love to discuss political matters and the failings of our respective fathers, I ought to tend to my wife. Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
Only Reis remained. Despite Alex’s best efforts to usher them out of the room, they stayed where they were, far from interested in turning in for the night. With the throne room doors closed, Reis shook off the evening’s events and leisurely made their way over to Claire.
“That was a hell of a first meeting,” Reis said, offering their hand. “Reckon that weren’t one for the history books.”
“Indeed,” Claire said, taking Reis’ hand. “But Queen Nasrin is sincere in her wish to put it behind us.”
“Expected a lot from Kondo-Kana, ever since Rowan here lemme know she was actually real,” Reis said, frowning at the bloodstains. “With all those stories, I thought we’d be dealing with someone terrifying and powerful. But I ain’t saying I’ve never been down to a tavern and heard the way rumours spread for myself, of course.”
“She might just be both of those things yet,” Claire mused.
Reis hummed, open to the idea.
The two of them stood together easily, feeling no need to rush into introductions or slip into forced, scripted conversation. I saw the stark similarities between them: they both rested heavily on their canes, both had the same fair skin – or Claire once had, underneath her burns – and their eyes shone with the same sort of intensity that appeared cold and jagged, if you didn’t know them better. They were natural leaders, people who made hard decisions each and every day, and I understood, for the first time, why I had felt so comfortable around Reis when I first arrived in Mahon.
After a thoughtful pause, Reis lifted their cane and tapped it against Claire’s failing leg.
“Lose it,” they said bluntly, and rested their weight back on the cane. “You ain’t fooling nobody, hobbling around on that thing.”
Reis didn’t give Claire the chance to furrow her brow, let alone move to anger. Claire knew about Reis’ injury, but it didn’t truly register until Reis leant over and rapped a fist against the wooden leg they’d finished carving on the journey. Waves rushed towards the knee joint and a map of stars was scored across the sky above.
“… Ah,” was all Claire could say.
Reis didn’t push the matter.
“Well, I guess I’ll be finding Kouris,” they said, dropping the subject as abruptly as they’d brought it up. “Time to go surprise the hell out of her. I ain’t up for pretending like I’m here for anything other than a holiday.”
And though I’d missed them since I’d left Canth and though I’d dragged them all the way to Thule, I was relieved when they dismissed theirself. Since I’d stepped into the room the only thing that could tear my attention from Claire was Kondo-Kana’s blood, and my fingers twitched uncomfortably with the way my arms weren’t wrapped around her.
We stood in silence. Not having seen each other in long weeks was overshadowed by Haru-Taiki, huddled behind the throne. He muttered away to himself, plucking feathers from his wings.
“Haru-Taiki,” Claire said sternly. She took a few, heavy steps up to the throne. “You cannot harm anyone like that. Do you understand?”
Haru-Taiki tore out another feather and retrieved his beak from beneath a wing. He stared up at Claire, aware, if nothing else, that he was being scolded.
“Kondo-Kana is my friend,” I told him.
He recognised one word.
Friend.
He drew away from us. Defensive, afraid.
Claire stepped towards him but he held out his wings to stop her from coming closer. Ashamed of how he’d acted in front of Claire and appalled by what we were claiming, he set off into the air. Fire formed around his talons and with a great beat of his wings, Haru-Taiki sent the flames rushing against the windows. He melted a perfect circle into the glass and tucked his wings in as he flew through it.
“I…” I began as the strange light faded. “He’s going to be alright, isn’t he?”
“It isn’t fair to be angry with him. Who can say what happened between him and Kondo-Kana? Or, indeed, what she truly did all those centuries ago. We need to explain the situation to him properly.”
“I’m not sure he’ll hear Kondo-Kana out, though,” I said.
