Author's quick note- In the interest of preserving the nature of this story as a means of experimentation and development as an author, the following chapter will be written in the style of third person. The change will allow for some diversity in naming the actions of characters and will also allow for simplicity in other regards as well. If this chapter fails to achieve either of those goals, I will be reverting back to the same style as before, content with the knowledge that I will have to experiment more. But I have spoken enough on the matter, thus I present the third-person chapter of Assassins and Witchcraft.
Aliendra opened her eyes, and blinding light assaulted her. She blinked quickly, and placed an arm under her to rise into a sitting position. Jack was the first to notice her newfound vitality, and threw himself over to her. The rest of the observers that had no dead of their own to look after, gathered around. Jack, deep lines of concern etched into his prematurely aged face, pressed his hands into Aliendra's shoulders, and attempted to guide her back down.
"No, you need to rest. You scared the hell out of us." He whispered as the first tears began to fall.
Don't you ever do that to me again. He thought, I'm so glad you're back.
Aliendra rose again and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, but broke quickly and stood to greet her people. The citizens of Spera were lost, all found in some sorrow or another. Despite the victory there were still losses, and few cared about anything but. Jack rested on his knees content to see his twin of mind returned.
"People of Spera." The queen spoke. She did raise her voice into anything above normal conversation, but all around her grew silent. None were aware, but they had been waiting for this moment for nine years. Aliendra looked down for a moment and swayed on her feet, with the entirety of Spera looking upon her. She took a steadying breath, and addressed her people. "People of Spera. Today is the best day we have had in nearly a decade, but it is also the worst. Your family members lie dead around you, as I had merely moments ago. They sacrificed themselves for a future I never believed that we could have, but now I see how we truly have no choice. Our good leader Emperor Ternac burned our libraries and pillaged our cities. He walked calmly into our castle and murdered our royal family. Then he asked for what? Our loyalty? That we die for him against kingdoms that never had a choice?
"Today we did something that the other kingdoms did not have to, we fought the full might of the Imperial Legion and defeated them. You, my brothers and sisters have stood against trained soldiers and emerged victorious. This is no longer a rebellion, Spera is free and the blood spilled to earn that right will never be forgotten. Tonight, bury your loved ones and mourn their loss. Tomorrow we will march to Vellhaven and break down Ternac's door." Aliendra stood watching her people, as their cries of mourning morphed and grew into cries of triumph.
I don't understand Jack thought to Aliendra What happened?
I saw how much I need to be who I am. These people need a queen, and we need eachother. Aliendra responded.
Then let them know that their queen has returned.
"I must admit, that I have not been entirely honest with all of you. I left spera when I was a young girl, and have been doing everything since to forget it. I adopted the name Alice because it meant that I no longer had to account for what I failed to save. My name before, and my name now, is Aliendra. I once was the princess of Spera, and if you'll have me, I wish to be your queen."
Sudden deafening silence. Then a single cheer erupted from the crowd, and a little boy with chainmail far too large for him rushed forward and threw his arms around his queen's waist. She placed a gentle hand on his head, and the rest of Spera roared. Captain Xavier surfaced from the crowd and found his place at his Queen's side.
"I believe that is a yes, your majesty." Xavier laughed. "We must return to the citadel and tell the others of our glorious victory against the imperial dogs. I believe it should be you that makes the announcement." Xavier bowed low, and then placed a guiding hand on her shoulder and started moving her to the castle. People were still cheering when the grand doors shut them inside.
The children and those unable to fight were notified of the victory, and allowed outside to revel with the soldiers, and the court of Spera met around the table occasionally casting sad glances at the empty chairs. Once everyone was settled, Xavier rose and spoke with pure mirth in his voice.
"Aliendra has decided to become our queen." This declaration was met with mixed responses. An elderly woman jumped up from her chair and ran over to Aliendra shouting "I knew she would." An entire section of the table was loudly listing off reasons why she was unqualified and should not become queen until she was trained. Xavier just stood with a shocked expression at how badly everything was going. Aliendra rose with a calm face, as if this was all expected.
"Everyone, we will not reach any sort of agreeable conclusion if we continue to shout over each other. First, I suggest those who are against me becoming Queen explain why."
A balding man rose to address the table. "Are we to put the faith of an entire nation in the hands of a girl who only now just 'decided' that now was a good time to lead her people? Where was she when the ivy was burning and people were being executed?"
An older woman rose to address him "She was nine Vhar, could you carry the weight of a country when you were just half a man? She managed to keep herself alive on her own, I believe that shows resourcefulness and determination."
Vhar responded. "Determination? She decided to become queen half an hour ago. Who's to say that tomorrow she won't run gallivanting off calling herself Betty? I also must point out the lack of experience. She has lived the life of an outlaw, not a monarch. And the company she keeps is frightening indeed."
Xavier threw his hands on the table and the sound made everyone leap a little into the air. "That outlaw is the flesh and blood of the royal family! You best watch your tongue in her company before I decide that you would do better without it! Your majesty, shall I remove this coward and fool?"
Aliendra looked shocked at the question. "Of course not Captain, and I asked for dissent. I will never cut a man down because of his beliefs. Anything else?"
Vhar didn't even pause for a moment. "Yes, I also receive reports that you nearly died in battle today? And that your death was your own doing?" Aliendra touched her chest where her wound once was. "How can we trust a nation to someone who wishes their own death? She will run Spera into the ground in a week."
Captain Xavier growled, but didn't move to grab his weapon. Although her never looked away from Vhar.
The youngest man at the table, a dark skinned man with hair just beginning to show patches of grey, rose to Vhar's comment. "Yes dear about that, are you alright?"
"I am fine." Aliendra responded. "Better than fine, nearly dying was the best thing to ever happen to me. I see now what my responsibilities are, and what I must do to save Spera."
"Save Spera? She can't even save her boyfriend." A mocking tone sounded from the other side of the hall. A man in a green combat suit, with far too many chains and hooiks, leaned against a pillar near the entrance. Even from the table the signature mark on his clothes was evident. A snake with teeth emphasized, and poison dripping from each fang. The insignia was lost upon everyone at the table, except for Aliendra.
In a borrowed memory, he looked very familiar. A mentor, harsh and cruel, that taught the ways of death and shadow. A teacher that punished the students for failure, and took a specific interest in a certain Jonathan Ternac, freshly plucked from the streets of some border city, and ready to be turned into the most powerful weapon ever seen.
The table carried shock and confusion, while Aliendra paled and strode over to reach the notoriously invisible assassin.
"The Serpent." She identified him. He laughed a cold heartless tone and retrieved a dagger from within his tunic and started sharpening his nails.
"I see lover boy has been telling you stories. Did he tell you about when I sent him to pick off a dignitary in the southern kingdom when his dad was around. You know about the whole Emperor Jack situation? Good. Well I sent him down and he had to hide in a cupboard for two days before he was finally free to take out his targets. Oh that is a good story, but you have to hear him tell it, far more dramatic."
Aliendra took a steady breath and asked with a Queens command "Tell me what you mean, of Jonathan being unsafe."
"Ah yes, that is a good story too. A real crowd pleaser… nowhere really. People are for some reason really fond of the little brat, despite the fact that he has no personality. He's a bit clever and he knows how to hold a dagger but that's about it. He's always so boring. Well I wanted to talk to you, but I never go anywhere without all of the cards in my hand, so I had him picked up after the battle with a little bit of paralysis poison. I wanted to extend an invitation your majesty, to join me in my chambers for a cup of tea, while your boyfriend rots in a safehouse that only I know the location of. We will have a civil conversation where I fill you in on the more minor details of my involvement that past few years. Don't worry nothing painful will happen to your dear Jack whilst he is in my care, unless he makes me mad. And I've heard the reports of what you did in your cell with Ternac, and I am glad that I picked up him rather than you. Gods talk about a handful.
"Anyway we can leave right now. But first do you need a drink or snack for the road? Does our queen need to relieve herself or take a quick nap? You died earlier it's okay to take a rest, I'll wait. "
Aliendra hardened her appearance and returned to the table. "Mobilize our armies and start the movements to Vellhaven I will rejoin as soon as I can, and we can continue this debate." She turned to face The Serpent. "I am ready, let us go."
Author's note- We have a new bundle of Joy, crying, and dirty diapers in the house. My sister gave birth a few days ago and we are still trying to recover for that, so I apologize if updates have been a little slow. Let me know how the third person test turned out. It made it a little easier on me, but if you found it difficult to follow please tell me, so that I may practice more in private. Anyway the story is rapidly drawing to a close, the final battle with Ternac looms closer, and Aliendra is in no way powerful enough to face him.