Claiming The Remnant

Chapter 36

[ The King ]

Time.

A precious thing that we don’t notice day to day. Of late there did not seem enough and everything was testing my patience. The last three months had been very challenging.

Sami had been the first to test my patience. I had not anticipated such boldness or resistance at my attempts to reassure. Zach had done as I had requested and brought Sami to me early the next day.

She was 12 with jet black hair that should have contained a red streak, her eyes were a warm brown with a little red ring sitting tightly around the pupils, a little short for her age with pointed ears and rich skin; like wet sandstone. She would have looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth if it weren’t for the glaring scowl and clenched jaw. Sami was fierce, she lied continuously, attempted to use her magic on me and was entirely disrespectful but she was a child with nowhere to go in a Kingdom that I was responsible for and so I had persevered.

Everything had come to a head when I asked her to show me the part of her scalp that she had been pulling her hair from. She had outright refused. I had been heavy handed and had a guard hold her down and show me. Then I’d had Zach fetch a Healer, Tarrin.

From the moment Zach had put Sami in my presence I had noted an odd smell; seeing her scalp confirmed my suspicions. All her pulling had left a raw open wound that was infected.

Healed of her wound and given a salve for the infection the fierceness had dissipated and Sami had become a kneeling, crying, trembling mess. She begged me. The child begged me not to hurt her, not to cast her out, not to imprison her and it was painful to watch. Many assurances later along with a hot chocolate and some cake (for breakfast) the young girl was calm enough to tell me the truth.

Her parents wouldn’t keep her because of her shade, the orphanage wouldn’t take her because she had parents (and because of her shade) so her choices had been a trade guild or the street. Getting into a trade guild had been pure luck, well according to her. I suspected a little lying and magic had been involved but I said nothing. Once she was soothed, I called for Gracie and the section leader for the department Sami was working in and got everything straightened out. A balance needed to be struck here, I was not foolish; most people given an inch would take a mile.

Sami was one girl. I had a city, followed by a Kingdom full of men, women and children just like Sami and each of them deserved more. While I knew that I couldn't change hearts and minds overnight I had to start somewhere. So the moment the Sami situation was resolved I had letters sent to every guild in the city, every orphanage and every public establishment. We would meet, we would discuss, but ultimately I would lay down the law.

Most establishments responded favourably to my proposals. The proof would be in the pudding, as they say. I was giving them a little time to get themselves in order and then I would be sending out someone I trusted, most likely the Captain, to check that their words of affirmation were not just words. Few were forthright in their disagreement regarding the equal treatment of all citizens. In time they would be dealt with.

Asperonin had been next to test my patience. Not long after Sami had left Asperonin showed up. He came under the pretence of an update on Lady Esther’s condition and stayed to complain. Asperonin was, admittedly, informative in regard to Lady Esther but as I couldn’t help but point out that had he been more engaged with his son, instead of sidelining him, then Poflorin would have been able to do the same. My comment had clearly stung, a bitter pill that was accepted and then the truth of why he had sought me out bubbled to the surface.

Zach. Poflorin and Zach were together, they were in love and Asperonin didn’t know how to feel. His only child had hidden his first love. Shocked by the revelation that not only had Poflorin been unwilling to share such an important part of his life, but that his shock had been misinterpreted for dislike (well for hatred) he was upset and overwhelmed and seeking my counsel.

What had my patience frayed was not that he asked for my ear - it was that he only wanted my ear and not my advice. He was also lying to himself. He protested that Zach’s shade was a nonissue but I had heard him (on numerous occasions) refer to those without magic as ‘Plouc’ and be repeatedly derogatory about the shades that had been unkindly coined as ‘The Deceivers’. He had even previously accused Zach of stealing.

This became a saga, drama. Poflorin and Asperonin avoiding each other; the complete opposite of what I had hoped for them.

Another entirely stressful event was telling Lady Esther that her imaginary family were all dead. You would have thought it was an easy thing to do considering none of them existed but she cried and mourned because to her it was real. I had made it real for her. All the little drops of information I had collected had been utilised to craft a lie that would be indisputable. From the time taken for a messenger to arrive at the invented place she had named, to utilising her recently surfaced memory of drowning. It was all the perfect blend of her truth and my lies; filled out with speculation to feign ignorance for all the parts in between. This way she would not think to question further because it would appear as if there were no more answers.

I had hated myself for bringing such cruelty to her frail life but it was part of the plan and would alleviate problems in the future.

Then there was King Fendryn. A continuous stream of threatening letters, aggressive and demanding. His Kingdom was situated on the other side of the Cladyn river. The river was wide, it almost looked like an ocean, and there was only one bridge in the north. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason to his repeated declarations of war. Nor was there any substance to it.

Troop mobilisation was zero.

The claims that he had a Remnant… not so unfounded. There were rumours of chaos. Out of control magic.

While I did not take it lightly (the threats of war or the Remnant) I had ceased to worry after a note from Benton. I had tried reasoning. I had tried threatening. I had tried posturing. The letters kept coming, each one a deepening picture of insanity. Benton, with his sight, had given me a riddle as usual. My conclusion was to send a letter with nothing but my own bloody handprint. Finally the letters stopped.

The silence was almost more worrying.

Willis at least had stopped being a thorn in my side. They spent everyday keeping Lady Esther company, they brought activities and put in effort. My Daughter, Noémie, however - was causing a stir in the castle.

She had become quite the impetuous, gossiping, entitled Princess. I had made time for her, of course, she was my beloved daughter but her willfulness and holier than thou attitude seemed set in stone. No matter what I did she would not be curbed. If only her mother were still here or her age was closer to that of her siblings then perhaps she would be kinder, more rounded. Her yellow magic was bright and strong, encompassing all the traits of that shade - she could both create and manipulate sunlight, cause plants to grow, influence animals and manipulate earth and stone.

Noémie could use her magic to make beauty in this world but what she chose to do was shine a light on other peoples flaws and laugh at misfortune. I loved her but her behaviour, not so much.

Eagerly I awaited the return of Ethyn and Colette. They had been gone for eight months visiting the snow covered fortress city of Jkyln in the north. Soon they would return, wiser, hopefully with a wider cultural appreciation and understanding. There were no more trips planned in the next year or so for my eldest, Ethyn. He would be spending time in the city with the people and in the castle learning more about what it means to be King. Collette would be staying only briefly before heading south to visit the Queendom of Dnasyarn on the edge of the Red Sands. Perhaps Noémie should go along. Some time away from home might give her some perspective and perhaps the space to blossom, or at least be less self absorbed.

Additionally there were all my usual duties. The days rolled by, each one heavier than the last.

Today. Today was shaping up to be frustrating and worrisome. I had several notes from Benton already, a visit from Dr. Heathson and now my Head Healer.

“Healer Asperonin, to what do I owe this visit?” I forced a smile. At some point with all this business in regard to Lady Esther attending my study had become a bit of a free for all. He bowed deeply, long blond hair flowing over his shoulders.

“My King, I have just come from seeing Lady Esther.” My friend looked beyond tired. We all did. Yet her name still managed to be twisted in disdain. “Your Majesty, I am afraid things may have come to their conclusion. I do not pretend to understand what the plan regarding this woman was; for some time it has been clear that you have acquired information that has influenced the decisions regarding the girl.” Unusually for Asperonin it wasn’t a dig but simple a statement.

“But?” I prompted, waving him to sit.

“But…we need to stop. She isn’t going to make it - another day at the very most without further intervention. Perhaps three days if we keep going. Dr. Heathson has been increasing dosage drastically over the last week. I’m sure you are well informed that he cannot increase it anymore as the medicine itself will then be killing her. Not to mention that the medication only effectively prevented the vomiting for the first month, the strain on her heart is immense and as it is inflamed we have been unable to repair that damage. Poflorin is pouring over texts night and day looking for a solution on top of healing her. Ulcers opening up on almost every organ. He is exhausted. Short of setting her on fire there is no way to keep her at a viable body temperature. Her pain is about to become unmanageable. The imbued necklace that we are using for that purpose is depleting at an exponential rate. Initially I was only keeping it topped up but as the last three months have gone by the amount of magic left in it over each 24 hour period became less every time. These last few days have seen it go from a half to a quarter to almost nothing today. It will be impossible to keep up with as there isn’t adequate time to rest. There are no Healers in the Kingdom with the volume of magic my son and I possess, even if every Healer in the city tended to her we would all be burnt out by the end of the week.”

Healer Asperonin looks at me waiting for an answer, an answer that I didn’t have. There were bags under his lightly glowing eyes and his face looked drawn. Three months is a long time. The Remnant was killing her but we couldn’t work out why or how to stop it. After Zach had failed to be able to even touch it we tried sedating her and cutting her open. We could see it but Poflorin had been unable to touch it.

The situation was a puzzle that we didn’t have enough pieces for. Benton was certain that if we allowed her to die then it would spell our own end. From Benton’s sight the only way we had figured so far to stop her death was to take her to the forest but… we would still die apparently. Asperonin waited while I pondered. There was a knock at the door and Hector popped his head in.

“Zach is here… Your Majesty.” Hector quirked an eyebrow and I gave him a knowing smile.

“Send him in.” My eyes went to Asperonin as I spoke. He looked a little uncomfortable.

“E-eevening.” Zach stuttered, bowing. He was trying very hard to ‘behave’ in front of the Head Healer, father of his boyfriend. Ye Gods, I knew the display wasn’t for me; I required no such platitudes from Zach. I waved him over and he gave me a handful of notes from Benton. Four were almost the same and one (much to my surprise) was for Zach. I took the four that were identical, took out my notebook and skimmed it.

Zach was standing far too still. His bouncing was something I had previously queried on a quiet night, years ago when Zach was new here. Standing still was overwhelming and clouded the current surroundings, bounding around allowed him flashes of both and was comfortable.

“Zach… relax.” I said while looking for the previous note from Benton that I was sure matched these new ones. “Healer Asperonin, do you not have something you would like to say to Zach…” I was meddling but, perks of being King, no?

"Zachary." Asperonin did a little cough and tried again. "Zach, it was not my intention to cause upset, I have nothing against you…"

"Lie…" Despite the fact I was looking down I knew Zach had rolled his eyes. The aggravation in his voice told me as much.

"It's not -" Asperonin started.

"It is." I finished, while turning the page.

"Still… it wasn't my intention to upset my son and I wasn't going to say the things that Poflorin thought I was." Asperonin sighed. "I was just shocked."

"What then?" Zach demanded.

A very uncomfortable silence ensued.

"He wants to know what you were going to say instead." I prompted, trying to push things along.

"It was a while ago, I don't recall. I just know that wasn't my intention." Asperonin said, attempting to wiggle his way out.

"Lie." Zach called him on his bullshit.

"Fine - i***t, imbecile; something of that nature." Asperonin conceded.

"Better." Zach sighed.

"That is better?" I could practically hear Asperonin’s eyebrows rising.

"It honest." Zach shrugged, his initial aggravation alleviated by the conversation.

"It is your honest opinion: that is what Zach means. However Zach is far from being an idiot." My words were true but they had a distracted sound to them. The entry I was looking for was on my current page. Every note Benton sent me was carefully copied into here. "Zach, do you remember this one?

'In her truth she spies a lie but still is blind to how she hides. To meet her end will leave you to die, Ye Gods will call her back by which way they do not care. ‘THE’ chosen can be un-chosen; there is many another heir.'

Benton has sent it four more times."

"Three."

"No four, just one of them has extra at the end but the first bit is the same. 'Black. BLACK. BLACK.' Is the addition."

Hum, this first note was when Poflorin exclaimed that we shouldn't bother keeping her alive. Four for today… Dr. Heathson and Asperonin had both told me her time was up and I had, in the last few minutes, come to that same conclusion. Had Zach thought the same? And was that before or after me? I had an inkling that the addition to the foreshadowing was for the person who came to the realisation that Lady Esther was done for last.

"Zach, when did you realise that the girl can't be saved?"

"Early this afternoon." Asperonin supplied. "He brought her a last meal as it were. Shockingly she has kept it down and I hear he went to Temple for her and lit every candle in the place."

Zach looked a little sheepish as though he had been caught doing something wrong. The last note was for me then.

"Something nice, I hope." I told him absent mindedly. He nodded softly.

"So… what is this? If…"

"Soon Healer, Zach did Benton tell you there was one for you?"

"U-huh."

"I'll read it for you - 'Under the moon heed the call, don't stop or we all shall fall'." I repeated it to make sure he had it. "Please get Dr. Heathson and Healer Poflorin, now."