The Spirit of the Realm by Rachel L Brown

Author:Rachel L Brown [Brown, Rachel L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rachel L Brown
Published: 2021-02-26T22:00:00+00:00

13

Whispers of Peace

“THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!”

Emira was glaring at a griffin piece Olric had knocked over with his knight. Olric grinned and motioned for her to give up a coin, which she did with great annoyance. They were sitting in the High Vestral’s drawing room, deep inside the temple. The room was twice the size of Emira’s current quarters. Intricate columns held up a glass dome ceiling that allowed one to look at the sky above. Dozens of tables and chairs were scattered about and fires roared in three separate hearths.

“Ah ha! I finally have an opponent who is worse at this game than me!” Olric crowed as he counted his small stack of gold coins. Out of the corner of her eye, Emira could see Lady Janel and Lady Ethelbright whispering to each other while they worked on some embroidery. The entire Royal Council was present. The Dowager Queen was near a window sipping tea with her ladies-in-waiting and Ambassador Hemsmark. Lord Greensdale and Dovesbane were walking up around the room, locked in a heated discussion about Emira’s recent order to open the food stores scattered across the country.

To Emira’s surprise, the High Vestral hadn’t fought her on that one, instead offering to let the Vestrals distribute the supplies. Though now Emira thought back on it, it was probably because King Olric was in the room; Emira speculated she wanted to display a show of unity. Whatever her reasons, the High Vestral was late for this meeting.

They were waiting for her to come out of the room where she conversed with the Spirit of the Realm. The runes on the door glowed a soft silver, showing she was still talking with it.

“I wonder how it works,” Olric said. A serving boy took away the game pieces. “Does it just poof out of thin air or something?”

“I don’t know; have you ever asked your High Vestral?”

“Yes, and he always laughs at me and tells me to go worry about something else,” Olric said, tapping his fingers on the table. The sound was grating to Emira’s ears, but she kept a smile spread across her face.

“Tell me, what do you think of this whole charade?” Olric asked after a moment. “Don’t you think it’s rather ridiculous to have the Spirit of the Realm choose your next ruler? In my kingdom we would never dream of such a thing. Our crowns are handed down to the firstborn. Our Spirit does its job and lets me know when it thinks I’m being an idiot. Otherwise, I’m free to rule as I please.”

“I beg your pardon?” Emira asked. She tried to get Lady Ethelbright’s attention. She was not ready to have these types of discussions. Olric leaned over the table and poked her forehead.

“I’m not asking them,” he said with a bit of venom in his voice. “I am asking you.”

“It can be... restricting,” Emira said carefully, “especially when I don’t have any wish to harm the people.”

“By the Gods, it also makes you run every decision by it?” Olric asked.

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