Chapter 38 | The Tale of Two Kingdoms

Emmae cast about for a weapon and found a long carving knife in the ruins of the head table. Now she only had to figure out how to stop Hildin in time. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the mirror nearest the dais begin to flicker and shimmer. The image of a forest appeared, and then a figure in black; the Teacher stepped through. Hildin let the light arrow fly, but the Teacher gestured contemptuously and it flew into the Teacher's hand before it hit its mark. "Shooting someone in the back is hardly a kingly habit, Hildin," the Teacher said, lips curling as the arrow dissolved into light again.

"I suppose no one taught me any better," said Hildin. "Am I to fight you, then?"

"No," said Emmae, unnoticed beside him, "you are to fight me!" She took the great carving knife, aimed it as best she could, and with all her strength shoved it between his ribs and up before he even completely realized she was there. She sank the knife in to the hilt and pulled it out with difficulty, his blood pouring out after the blade; he backhanded her to the floor with fading strength.

"You bitch!" Hildin screamed. "You've killed me!"

"Warin taught me to butcher a rabbit," she cried, "you're no different!" He towered over her, covering her with blood as she scrambled back away from him as best she could. He drew his dagger, staggered toward her, then slipped in his own gore and fell. He did not get up.

A dark silver smoke rose from Emmae's body and spiraled away harmlessly into the air. She gasped suddenly, as if coming up for air after a deep dive, and got shakily to her feet.

"Hildin!" howled Gill in despair, and he threw himself at Warin, hacking away heedlessly. Warin waited for his opening, which came quickly. He struck a killing blow; the page fell at his feet, twitching. Warin wiped his sword on Gill's tunic and spat in his sightless eyes.

Warin mounted the dais, sheathed his sword and took Emmae's bloody hands in his. "Are you all right? Did he hurt you?" he said, wiping her hands clean as best he could on her already-ruined gown. He cradled her face. "Emmae?"

"You came for me!" she said dazedly.

Warin pulled her close, heedless of the blood. "Of course I came for you! Gods, nothing could have stopped me!"

She looked past him to Hildin's corpse. "Did I kill him? Is he dead?"

"Yes. It should have been me, but you certainly had the right. If I could, I'd kill him a second time for taking you from me--I'd kill him every day for a year!" He held her tight, eyes closed, his nose filled with the scent of her hair mixed with his brother's fresh blood.

"Warin," she said, pulling away from him. "I remember. I remember who I am. They told me I was Princess Edmerka of Leutefloss, but now I remember it. Warin, I remember everything!" Her face sobered. "I remember everything."

He leaned in to kiss her, and she backed away. "No. The spell is broken."

The Teacher suddenly doubled over in pain. "Your majesty," the Teacher gasped. "I have to go, she's too close, I'm sorry, I have to--" The Teacher stumbled to the nearest mirror, writhing in agony; the furthest parapet of the castle appeared and the figure in black stepped through.

From the back of the hall the Traveler Queen's voice rang out. "I'm sorry, but I had to come! I was here at the beginning, I had to be here for the end." She was bent in pain, but straightened in relief as the Teacher dove through the mirror. She looked up at the dais, and began to recite:

"Hildin's blood has ended Emmae's enchantment. He was the crowned king, after all. Nowhere did it ever say you were to kill your father. Now, Warin, you have both crown and love."

The crowd of nobles cheered wildly. "Warin! King Warin!"

The high priest plucked the crown from Hildin's head, straightened, and approached Warin. "Your highness, you must." Warin looked out over the raucous assembly, closed his eyes in pain and nodded. He knelt before the high priest and the crowd instantly fell silent again. The high priest lifted the crown to the heavens, spoke the blessing, and placed it on Warin's bowed head. Instantly the hall erupted in shouts of "Long live King Warin!"

He quieted the throng. "I invite you to feast, in memory of my father and in celebration of my impending marriage to my brother's widow, the Princess of Leutefloss."

"Marriage?" said the princess before the cheers could start again. "I have agreed to no such thing, your majesty." He turned to face her in surprise and reached for her hands, but she would not take his. Her back was straight and proud, and her face was somber.

"But you did," Warin said, his voice breaking. "I still have the ring I got for you, here, next to my heart. We were promised to each other! I love you, Emmae, I would never have come here otherwise. It was prophesized--we always thought I would murder my father if I remained here. I have stayed away from my home for ten years for fear that might come to pass. Only you could have brought me here." Tears came to his eyes. "Don't you love me? I know that you did, once."

"I was Emmae then."

"And who are you now?"

Her face crumpled. "I don't know, I don't know!" she sobbed. "I just know that I can't go back to either life. I am neither Emmae nor Edmerka! No, Warin, please!" She held up her hands as he moved to embrace her.

"Can you ever love me again?" said Warin, voice shaking with tears.

The princess studied him with watery eyes. "I can't be sure that it was my heart and not the spell. All I can offer is to let you woo me properly. I can't promise more than that." She ran from the hall, unsure where to go but knowing she had to get as far away as she could, leaving Warin in the spreading pool of his brother's blood.

"You there!" cried a voice, cutting above the hubbub of the feasters. "What's this about you and my daughter!" King Fredrik was standing before Warin, red-faced and angry.

Warin sighed and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'll thank you to remember, Fredrik, that you're standing in my hall, not outside your daughter's balcony window."

King Fredrik deflated. "My apologies, your majesty, but you must admit this has been a very trying day for a father." Warin glared at him. "Ah. I must ask. What are your intentions towards my daughter? What is her place here in this court?"

Warin regarded the older man coldly. "My intentions toward your daughter, however we started out, are honorable. I love her, and when I say I would never have come back but for her I am in deadly earnest. I took this crown for her sake and hers alone. I will marry the princess the minute she agrees, but only if she agrees." He turned to a nearby page. "Boy, bring me wine, and see to my Traveler friends. They are to be given the best of everything, whatever they want." Turning back to Fredrik, Warin added, "We will talk more tomorrow. I am in no mood at present. For now, know that her place in my court is one of the highest honor as my brother's widow if nothing else. No one shall speak against her."

Warin dismissed the other king with a nod and walked to his father's throne, running his fingers over the ornate carvings. Though he was bloody, dusty and in rough clothes, he took his seat. A shout went up from the hall as the young page brought him a cup of wine. He toasted his nobles, and sighed deeply. This was not the life he'd wanted, but he would do his best to live it. If only he could win back Emmae's heart. It was the one battle he hadn't been ready to fight.