CHAPTER FOUR

Seven months later…

It was pouring outside. Zan was staring out of the window, watching the rain splash against the rough gravel and the mucky green grass on the ground. It had been seven months since he had kissed Ava at the party; seven months since the two of them had started courting. Four months ago Rath returned from training. He and Zan had gotten closer. One was rarely seen without the other. Vilandra and Rath were courting, though it wasn't anything too serious. Sir Kivar, Sir Nicholai and Lady Jennifer had almost completely disappeared from court.

He thought about Ava; and thought about how far away their next sitting was. Four days. It would be four, long, mournful days until he saw her again. Four days without her touch, without her laugh, without her voice.

"Your highness?"

Zan looked up. There was a servant a few feet away from him, his eyes wide. "Your mother sent me," he said. "She wishes to see you immediately downstairs in the sitting room."

Zan nodded, standing up. In the last seven months, the economy had been booming, the scientists were close to a breakthrough, a new technology. Antar was high above the others, for once, no civil war, no rumors of civil war. Zan walked into the sitting room. "Mother?" he asked.

His mother stood in the middle of the room, a blank look on her face. "Mother?" Zan asked, walking over to the bureau. Sabina's reflected face was stained with tears, her cheek cut, her hair messy. Her dress and her shaking hands had streaks of blood on them. "Mother, what happened?" He took his mother's hands in his own. He felt the thick blood on his fingers. "Whose blood is this?"

"Your father's, and Thalia's," Sabina said in a hollow voice.

Vilandra ran into the room, dripping wet. "Mother, John said that they were dead, that someone murdered them," she said, her eyes wide, tears streaming down her face. "Mother, tell me it's not true! How did this happen? What were the guards doing?"

"It was a force unlike anything I've ever felt," Sabina said. "They overturned the carriage, the power was everywhere. There was ringing in my ears. . ."

"Where is father?" Vilandra asked. "Where's Thalia?"

John walked into the room, carrying Thalia's body in his arms. Vilandra ran over to the two of them. Zan felt his grip tighten on his mother's hands and his heart skipped a beat. John had an empty look on his face, tears streaming down his face. Vilandra started screaming, clawing at Thalia's corpse. "No, no, Uncle John, no!" she screamed. Guards walked into the palace, carrying a mat. On the mat. . .

Vilandra screamed louder. Guards held her back from the king's body. The king. . .the king. Zan ran to his father's body, pushed guards over, put his hand on his father's chest – no, no connection, no pulse, no heartbeat, no life, nothing. He was dead. He had been murdered. Guards were pulling him away. Vilandra was on the floor, sobbing. Sabina was crouching over her, crying.

Everything became very distant as he stared at his father's face. Guards were trying to keep servants and nobles out. Rath came in, he was saying something. He was touching Zan's shoulders, shaking him, yelling something. Everybody was asking questions. John was trying to answer them. His voice was shaking.

Zan ran out of the palace. He heard Rath yelling behind him. He ran through the rain as it pounded down on his royal clothes. He grabbed his horse, which was mounted for him, and started galloping. He knew where he was going; he had to see her. He knew Rath was behind him, that he – he, Zan – was king now. He needed to do something. But he needed Ava by his side.

He got to Duke Canlier's manor and dismounted his horse, panting. His legs gave out and he fell to the ground, dirtying his fine pants. Rath was behind him, pulling him up. "Zan!" he said. "Zan, what are you doing?"

Zan pushed him away and walked to the door of the manor. He lifted the knockers up even though his arms were almost too weak to do so. He let them drop on the bronze. Rath steadied him from behind. The doors opened a moment later and Ava stood in front of them, wearing a light purple dress. She looked completely shocked to see them, her mouth falling open and her eyes widening.

"Ava," Zan breathed.

"What are the two of you doing here?" Ava asked. "Oh, my god, come in." She stepped back and the two of them walked in. "What are you doing? Where are the carriages, the fanfare? Wh-what happened?"

"Ava," Zan repeated.

Ava walked forward and hugged Zan without another thought. Zan wrapped his arms around her. His eyes started to sting as he saw his father's lifeless face in his mind again. He hugged Ava tighter, getting her dress wet, water dripping unto her from his hair.

"King Tristan and Lady Thalia were murdered," Rath said.

"What?" Ava gasped. She put her hand in Zan's hair, hugging him tighter. "Oh, my god."

Duchess Beatrice was in the room in a second, staring. "Your highness," she gasped. Zan pulled away from Ava, turning away from the Duchess, wiping his face.

"Get a carriage," Rath told Beatrice. She nodded and left the room.

Ava touched Zan's arm, walking closer to him. "Zan, are you all right?" she asked.

"Yeah," Zan said while shaking his head. "I'm just – he's dead, he was murdered – murdered. I'm king now." He looked at Ava and their eyes met. He knew that the two of them had been thinking about it in the last few months, when they both started to think that maybe their courtship was serious and King Tristan was nearing sickness and age. He had never asked her and they never talked about it, no matter how many nobles around them did. "Vilandra and I have to be married. We need a new Royal Four. My mother will decide, with our consent." He reached out and took Ava's hand. "I know this isn't very romantic, Ava. . ."

"I don't care," Ava said, shaking her head a little bit.

Zan leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. Then he whispered in her ear, "Will you marry me?"

Beatrice walked back into the room, escorted by her husband. "Your highness," she said. "If you don't mind me asking –"

"I'm sorry, Duchess, but I do," Zan said. "You will find out all in good time. Is our carriage ready?"

"Yes," the duke said.

"Thank you for your kindness," Zan replied. "Lady Ava will be accompanying me." He led the way, holding Ava's hand. Rath followed them. The three of them got into the carriage and they started on their way back to the palace.

They rode quickly, and inside of the carriage it was silent. Ava was holding Zan's hand tightly, and Rath was watching the two of them intensely.

At the palace, Vilandra ran to Zan. "Zan!" she yelled, throwing her arms around him. "Oh, my god, Zan, don't ever do that again. I had no idea where you were, even though I could guess. I was so scared. Zan, he's dead. He's really dead, and they're calling for the hour of mourning now." She pulled away and looked at Rath and Ava. She wore a simple black dress, mandatory for a mourning daughter. "John and mother are talking."

"About what?" Rath asked.

"About the Royal Four and the murderer and the funerals and telling the public," Vilandra said. She crossed her arms and Rath walked over to her. "The three of you need to get re-dressed, you're all soaked." She squeezed Rath's hand, and gave Ava a small smile. "You two wouldn't mind getting separated for a while, would you?"

"Yes," Zan said before Ava could speak. "Vilandra, we don't know what we're doing right now. The best we can do is stay here and wait."

"Stay here and wait?" Vilandra repeated. "Wait for what? You're king, Zan."

"I know that," Zan said.

"You're king, even if you're not crowned or you don't have a Royal Four yet," Vilandra said. "You don't have to wait for anything."

"That's not how it works," Zan stated. "They need to discuss things, and then after we find a Royal Four, we need to bind the four of us –"

The door opened and John and Sabina walked into the sitting room. "Here we are," Sabina said. "Our new Royal Four."

The four of them looked at each other. "Any objections?" John asked. None of them spoke. Zan held unto Ava's hand tighter.

"Go change into proper mourning clothes," Sabina said. "Vilandra, take Lady Ava." Vilandra nodded, taking Ava's hand. They started to walk out as Ava and Zan watched each other. "Lady Ava, thank you for coming." She touched the girl's shoulder, then followed the two girls out.

Zan watched the two of them going out. "You need to change into mourning clothes," John said. "I know this is all happening so fast, but it's mandatory." He left the room and servants entered.

Rath put his hand on Zan's shoulder. "Come on," he said. The two of them walked into a different room in silence.

The hour of mourning was the longest hour Rath had ever experienced. Doctors had cleaned up the two bodies, so there wasn't blood or mutilated hands on the sacred bodies of two of the Royal Four. Knights and generals carried their open caskets down the main strip of the Royal City. Following them was Queen Sabina and Lord John. Behind them, Zan and Vilandra; then Rath and Ava. Next walked the family members of the royals.

Rain poured down on the walkers and the crowds throwing flowers unto the mud-soaked road. Sabina, Vilandra and Ava had simple black dresses and bare feet, as was customary with tradition. Vilandra winced with each step as they treaded through puddles, mud and hard rocks. Her shoulders were shaking, but she kept her chin high and her body erect.

Peasants, nobles, courtiers, children, soldiers all gathered around the main street of the Royal City to watch the precession. Women cried, children threw flowers unto the street, men tore at their clothes, other men stood still, praying or merely watching.

Once the walk was over, the line walked into the church in silence, trudging in mud and rocks and water. They set down the caskets and the knights stood to the sides of the church. Sabina approached the bodies first. With a stony face, she touched both of their faces and kissed their foreheads. John went next, his shoulders erect. Rath saw his hands shaking as he reached out to touch Thalia's hair for the last time. Vilandra and Zan went at the same time. They were cool and composed, despite the silent tears running down both of their faces. They dripped of royalty. Ava and Rath glanced at each other, then walked to the corpses. As they got closer, Rath could feel the dark power used on these bodies and it chilled him to the bone. Ava shivered across from him as she touched their hands, whispering a blessing.

They went to opposite sides of the room. Ava moved to stand next to Zan and Rath to stand next to Vilandra. She had her eyes were closed and Rath knew she was fighting hard to keep it together. He stood next to her, like a stone wall, ready to protect her, be there for her, always.

After the priest's blessing, there was ten minutes of silence. The bell rang through the church and the royal city in mournful tones and then the hour was over. The line left the church the same way it entered and walked back into the palace.

Vilandra left the sitting room immediately, followed by servants. Ava looked at Zan, at Rath, then followed her.

"You okay?" Rath asked Zan. Zan didn't reply. "You need to change, you're filthy."

Zan left the room and servants followed him. Sabina escorted Rath to a room and servants started changing him. "The coronation is in a month," Sabina told Rath. "The four of you will be linked in two weeks. You will undergo extensive classes and training over the next four weeks." She paused, putting her hand on Rath's face. "There isn't anyone else I could trust more being Zan's right-hand man." She leaned in and kissed Rath on the forehead. "Thank you, Rath."

Rath just nodded, giving her a small bow. "I'm deeply sorry about King Tristan and Lady Thalia," he said. "We'll find the murderer."

Sabina smiled a little bit, bringing her hand away from Rath's face. She turned and walked out.

Ava stared into the mirror. Her heart was pounding. Was this really happening? Servants changed her and she numbly moved for them, thinking of everything that had happened – which wasn't actually that much, but they were huge things. She was short of breath and it was getting very hot in this room.

Sabina walked in and Ava swore she was going to faint. "Please, stop," she said, pushing hands away. She sat down in a chair in front of a bureau. She was in a guest room, but soon, she would be in Sabina's quarters – the quarters for the queen. "Your majesty," Ava said breathlessly, bowing her head to Sabina.

Sabina pulled up a chair next to Ava's in silence. "I understand this all may be a little overwhelming," she said.

"That's an understatement," Ava said, nodding.

Sabina took Ava's hands in her own. "I want you to know that I trust you," Sabina said. "You haven't been in court for over ten months and I haven't gotten the time to know you. But Zan tells me you're an exceptional young lady. I trust my son and I would not have chosen you if I did not believe you had the true potential to be a queen."

Ava nodded a little bit again, swallowing. "So, you didn't choose me just because I'm courting Zan?" she asked.

"No," Sabina said. She shook her head, her blonde hair moving around her face. "No, there were other choices. But John and I both saw that you would be great." She gave Ava a small smile. Ava tried to return the smile, but it turned out as a grimace.

"I'm sorry about your husband," Ava told her. "I'm sorry about Lady Thalia, as well."

Sabina nodded. "It's been a long day," she said. She stood up. "You will take extensive classes and training over the next month, be linked in two weeks and then the coronation is in a month." She smiled again, then elegantly swept out of the room.

Ava looked at herself in the mirror on the vanity. What made the queen think she had so much potential? She put a hand on her forehead, fearing her future. She closed her eyes, leaning unto the vanity. She tried to clear her mind, assuring herself, but had no idea what was going to happen. None of them did.

"Mother!" Vilandra exclaimed. She ran away from the serving maids and dressing maids to her mother. She embraced her and the two of them hugged, as mother and daughter. "Oh, mother. . ."

"It's all right, darling," said Sabina, rubbing Vilandra's back. "It's all right."

Vilandra pulled away from Sabina, tears running down her cheeks. This had been one of the worst days of her life. She had been meeting with Kivar over the past few months. He had always hinted at her being the rightful throne, but he had never acted upon it. The two of them had not kissed or engaged together since there first kiss, but there was always tension and flirting between them. Had he done this? Had he killed her father and the woman that was like a sister to her? She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to, but she was almost sure of it. Her head been spinning the entire mourning hour, but she kept her head up, she stayed cool and composed, because that's what a princess was.

Vilandra walked over to her bed and sat down. Sabina followed her, standing before her. She reached out and started to play with Vilandra's blonde hair, her thick hair that had fallen over her shoulders after she had been bathed. Tears streamed down Vilandra's face and she wanted to hide in shame. She never should have led Kivar on. . .never given him the opportunity to become closer to her. . .

"The coronation is in a month," Sabina said, running her fingers through Vilandra's hair. "In two weeks, the four of you will be linked. Of course you'll have to undergo many classes and much training over the next four weeks. Everything will be all right."

Vilandra closed her eyes. Why would Kivar kill her father if he knew Zan would be his predecessor, too? Why not kill Zan first? Her heart clenched, hoping against all hope her brother was safe.

After a few minutes of comforting, her mother left her, after planting a sweet kiss on Vilandra's cheek. She watched numbly as the doors to her quarters closed. She would see Kivar tonight, and she would make sure he paid for this. The thought of exposing him flickered through her mind, but no. . .she would work him silently and secretly, so that he wouldn't see it coming.

Sabina eased into her son's room. Unlike in the ladies' rooms, no servants were dressing Zan. He sat silently on his bed, wearing his same black clothes, his hair still dripping water down his tan face. He looked up at his mother, a look of helplessness on his face. Sabina felt her heart clench as she watched her son bow his head, holding back tears.

She walked over to the bed, sitting next to Zan. "Zan, please don't cry," Sabina said, putting a hand on her son's shoulder. "Your father died an honorable death."

"He didn't die, he was murdered!" Zan said, jumping up off the bed, away from Sabina's hand. He started pacing around angrily in silence.

"That doesn't matter right now," Sabina said, trying to stay calm. He needed a mother's touch right now, her assurance. He couldn't think of anger, just grief.

"How can you say that?" Zan yelled. Sabina winced, against her will. She did not want to think of this. There would be better times. She had responsibilities, to her family and to her planet. "Of course it matters! How do we know he won't try to kill you or John or Vilandra?" He stared at his mother with wide eyes. "How do we know anything?"

Sabina forced her voice into a calm tone. "We don't," she said. "We don't know who or when or why-"

"Mother, we should be out there, trying to find him-" Zan began.

"No," Sabina said firmly. She got to her feet. "No, Zan. We all have responsibilities-"

"It's my responsibility to find out who killed him!" Zan yelled.

"Stop it!" Sabina yelled. "This is not how a king acts. Today, we mourn your father. Today is a day of grief. Tomorrow will come the anger, will come the vengeance, will come the action. You are King Zan. You must reserve yourself. The murderer will be avenged. Whether it is today or tomorrow or the next day-"

"One more day that he is breathing is one more day that we suffer," Zan said, his voice harsh, but not directed towards Sabina.

"Do you think his death will relieve the pain in your heart?" Sabina asked. She choked back tears, letting a moment of silence settle. "Do you think it will all be gone when the murderer is murdered? Because you are wrong if you think so." She touched Zan's shoulder again. "This is your first lesson. Reserve, patience, restraint. You must do things with time, Zan. You cannot trust your heart or your emotions, but your mind and reason."

Zan looked at Sabina with his golden brown eyes, identical to his father's. "Stop this, mother," he said. "I do not want a lesson. I will have enough during the next month, yes?"

"Extensive," Sabina said, using the word for the fourth time that day. "Coronation is a month and you will be linked in two weeks."

There was a moment of silence. "When will we be married?" Zan asked, staring at a point on the wall across the room.

"In between your connection and coronation," Sabina replied. "I would suggest a double wedding, but Lonnie would not have it. . ."

A smirk came unto Zan's face. "That is true," he said. "Three weeks, then. I'll talk to Ava about it." His eyes and face were clouded.

"Don't worry, Zan," Sabina said, stepping closer to her son. "I know you will be great."

Zan didn't smile at her, and no friendly look passed over his expression. "I'm sorry I yelled at you," he said. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Sabina wrapped her arms around him. Zan hugged her back warmly and when he pulled away, he was choking back tears. "Zan, please –"

"Just go, mother, I. . ." Zan trailed off, turning away.

"Zan, are you sure-" Sabina began, her hand and heart reaching out to him.

"I'm sure," Zan said in a strangled voice.

Sabina nodded, then started to leave the room. She looked back at Zan as he started to lean against the wall. "I'll be back to check on you," she said when she was at the door. She left the room, closing the grand doors behind her. She felt tears fill her eyes as she thought of her husband, and finally let the tears to flow freely.

More to come soon. In the next chapter, Vilandra takes action, a new character is introduced and the future Royal Four started to begin their preparation.