Read The Crystals of Tlalli: Awakened Affinities Page 25

laughed. The guards’ eyes were open wide and their breathing fast at Nab’s sudden appearance. They recovered quickly, straightening up and scowling.

  “We were told to find you your highness, we are only doing what Her Majesty set us to do.”

  “Well then we mustn’t keep my mother waiting.”

  When they arrived at the Palace the guards went off on their duties and Nab went to the drawing room to meet his mother. He hated these little meetings. She stood looking out the window at the city below still and cold as the marble of the walls. Nab shook his head at the thought. He cleared his throat and shifted from one foot to the other. She made him feel inadequate somehow. She turned and looked at him. Nab bowed to his mother and waited for her to speak. She took her time.

  “Where have you been?”

  “I needed to think so I went out.”

  “You went out of the City to that place you always go. Nabarun you are a Prince you can’t go off like this unprotected.”

  “Unprotected. What do I need protection from mother? You?”

  She slapped his face, the blow splitting his lip. For a moment Nab thought he saw fear in her eyes but it was gone when he turned back to her, his face stinging from the force of her blow.

  “You will be respectful.” His mother was almost out of control. She was shaking in her rage.

  “Mother I am not going to stand here while you attack me. What is it you needed?” Nab tried to keep his voice level, to keep his mounting anger under control. His father had never lost control as long as Nab had known him. He had to keep control or this would end like all the other confrontations he had had lately with his mother.

  “The High Reagent Consort Selenta Morigan is here with her daughter Devina. I want you to take the girl and show her around. Be nice. I plan to make a match with her for you.”

  “A match? As in marriage?” Nab was stunned. This was the first he had heard of this.

  “Mother, I am not the heir. Coriraun is. You need to have this conversation with him.”

  “This is not up to discussion Nabarun. Your brother is sick and can not be considered for the throne so it falls to you.”

  “Sick! He is a drunk!”

  “Lower your voice! Times are not as they once were Nab. We need these people.”

  “ Since when do we need the Onur?”

  “Since your father died and left me to run this god forsaken nation that’s when.”

  “You can hit me all you want mother but you will NOT speak of my father like this.” Nab’s eyes narrowed and his voice was a growl. He had never spoken this way to his mother. He was barely keeping control of the rage that threatened to over come him. His mother gasped and glared at him. Silence like an unpleasant guest stood between them for a few heartbeats. Then his mother sighed, a tear slid down her cheek like a rare jewel. Nab was stunned. He had not seen his mother cry. Ever.

  “I’m sorry I slapped you. Please Nab.” She took a shaky breath and straightened her shoulders. Nab frowned, was she putting this show of timidity on for some hidden agenda.

  “Please come with me. Its time I showed you something.” She turned and started toward the door. When it was clear Nab was not following she turned around to look at him.

  “Nab. Please!” Nab had never heard that tone in her voice before. Pleading. Always she had been the ice queen, unemotional and absolutely in control. Nab sighed. What would it hurt to see what it was she wanted to show him?

  She led him to the palace vaults, and instructed the guards to wait outside. Then Nab and his mother went into the vault. She led him down the steps to the huge doors protected by ancient runes and unlocked them with a word and a pressed her hand on the right panel. The door slowly opened. The lights came on. And inside the once overflowing vault there stood one lone bag on the far shelf. Nab’s heart raced at what he saw. They were out of money. He knew there was a recession but this was unbelievable.

  “Mother! How did this happen.” There just were no words.

  “It wasn’t a sudden thing it just … I don’t know. I was never trained to run a palace let alone a nation. The Taxes were collected but I don’t think they were being deposited. I was so depressed after your father died. I loved him.” She wept. Nab was not sure what to do. He put his arms around her and patted her back. She sobbed on his shoulder. She was so vulnerable.

  “The Cacher took all the money. When I found out it was almost all gone. I banished him. I didn’t know what to do. I should have had him jailed. Should have done so many things different.” She pushed away from him and wiped her tears from her face with the back of her hand. She looked up at him. The lost look in her eyes and the utter panic there raw. It hurt him to see her this way. Was this an act?

  “Mother, I-”

  “Don’t!” She snapped, her control returning in a rush.

  “I don’t need or want your pity. I need your cooperation.”

  “Cooperation with what Mother?” This was more like the conniving person he knew his mother to be.

  “The Reagent of the Onur Nation, Marko and his Consort Selenta Morigan has wealth. If we are allied with them they will see us though this.”

  “Mother! NO! You would hand the Opia nation over to the first person to knock on the door? I think not. We can find another way. Send that Northern Mage you have been entertaining back home and the High Reagent Consort Selenta. This is not the answer to our problems. We are and always will be a strong people and we need to be now.”

  “Don’t you speak to me as if I were a child! I am your Queen and your mother. I decide what this nation does or doesn’t do.” She turned and then walked to the door. She turned to face him. Her eyes bore into his in fierce determination.

  “Your bother is unfit to lead this nation anywhere. He is a disgrace to this family and the Opia people. You will take his place when he is dead. And mark my words Nabarun you will be crowned King. This nation will be strong again. I am not nor do I intend to hand this nation to anyone. I do however intend to take what we need. And what we need right now is alliance with the Onur. They will increase the Opia Nation nicely. We need more soldiers. After all we don’t want our people dying.” She laughed and it wasn’t a pleasant laugh, it was cruel and calculating.

  “You will marry this little twit. They are royalty. They want an alliance with us. The children you will have together will unite us as one nation. So we continue to be the strong nation you so passionately proclaimed us to be.” Her smile was manic.

  “What are you planning mother?” Nab’s feeling of dread was growing, this could only be the tip of the ice berg.

  “Never you mind my son. You do as you are told and all will be revealed in good time. Come let us meet our guests.” With that she turned and walked up the steps. Nab followed thoughtfully.

  Later that night after the feast his mother had put on for the guests. He wandered about the palace aimlessly, trying as he might he could not see a way out of this mess his mother was getting him into. He felt like a prisoner in his own home. She didn’t care if he loved her or not just that there would be a pliable pawn to control in her schemes. He was nothing more then a way to her goal. She cared nothing about how he felt toward this girl he didn’t even know. He had always known royalty could not be so cavalier to choose just anyone to marry. They had to have intelligence and a certain amount of cunning. He wondered in to the staging room where wars in the past had been planned and was stunned to see the staging board placed and maps coving the long tables. He went over and looked at them. The maps were of the Kahsha Nation. The Kahsha were a peaceful people, merchants and healers. This was much bigger then just marrying a young girl and allying with the Onur people this was much, much worse.

  Footsteps echoed in the hall and voices were heard in an involved discussion. Nab ducked behind a screen in the far corner of the room as his mother and that little weasel of mage Magi Zeorun from the northern nation of Semlor walked into the room. The mage was going on
about a vision his leader had had about some girl who was the key to the power of the crystals. His mother laughed and said she would send a trusted Knight to fetch her. There was a trip planned to Denham anyway for materials. When they had left, Nab went up to his room. He had heard enough. A knock sounded on the door, Nab froze a second in panic. Then relaxed, his mother could not know so soon what he planned to do. He had just had the idea after all.

  Nab put the clothes he held in his hand into the bag and shut it. His service in the military had trained him to be always prepared to leave at a moments notice. He slid the bag out of sight behind the ornate chair. He turned and walked to the door and opened it. Surprises seemed to be the order of the day. His tutor from his youth, Master Longmark, stood before him. He looked nervous and glanced down the hall as though not wanting to be seen. Nab made a decision and gestured for the old man to enter his room. Closing the door when he was in.

  That night Nab learned about the Resistance, a group of concerned citizens in high places, who were trying to organize an army to overthrow the Queen. So far what they had was no more that a mob of angry citizens of all social classes, loosely calling themselves an army, causing havoc to their own people and not doing anything to accomplish their goals. The old man before Nab now had come to him as a last resort, not knowing if he would live to see the dawn, not knowing if Nab was