Mika stopped at the right side of the platform.
Nora Duchin, Lathil’s surviving Servant of Power, stood on the opposite side of the stage in Volant armor.
Emoris’s Volant stood near the walls of the arena, their swords upright in front of their faces. Relan, Lathil’s Blessed, stood several yards in front of the platform, facing the crowd with the deities’ banner in hand, the tassels of the flag flapping in the wind.
Faust continued his confident stride and stopped in front of the platform. He needed to bear this humiliation and bear it well.
He kneeled.
Gasps rippled throughout the crowd, and a hush fell over the arena.
“People of Alios,” Lathil said. “Konrad Kingsley was an unfortunate casualty in the rise of Windilum forces at our borders. They kidnapped Prince Faust and attempted to sway him into betraying his people, and our king died trying to save him.”
Faust gritted his teeth. Lies. All of it was lies.
“One thing has been made clear,” Lathil bellowed. “We need a king that can do what Konrad did and more. The unfortunate events have led us to a remarkable discovery.” Lathil extended his arm to Faust. “Another four-stone user was close to us all this time. Behold our new king.”
Faust rose and turned dramatically, throwing out the magic stones in front of him. The sky, earth, fire, and water stones glittered with his magic, and he made them dance.
Wind swept through the arena, the ground shifted, the outer lanterns flared, and water danced from small saucers along the walls.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Faust sifted through the magic of the arena quickly. Few were stone users, but the faces he saw gave him hope. They were here for him, and few held Emoris’s or Lathil’s auras among his people.
“Faust will lead us to victory against the Kingdom of Windilum and avenge our late king and queen,” Lathil said.
Faust let the stones fall silent, and they clattered to the ground, the disturbances ceasing with them. He turned to Lathil.
Lathil offered a hand to Faust.
Faust ascended the stairs with Lathil, each step heavier than the last. He could not escape this no matter how hard he wished.
Emoris rose from his throne and stood in front of Faust.
Nora knelt at Emoris’s side and presented a beautiful circlet with twisted vines and dazzling emeralds and diamonds on a plush cushion. Lathil’s deity marking sat in gem formation in the middle of the forehead and would fall over the bridge of the wearer’s nose.
Faust kneeled once more, his head bowed.
Emoris picked up the crown circlet and placed it on Faust’s head.
Lathil moved his hand up and out as Emoris took his throne again. Vines burst through the ground and flowers budded and opened, petals gliding about in a gentle breeze. “I present the new King of Alios, Faust Kingsley!”
The crowd held their breaths.
Faust rose and turned to his people. There was only so much he could say without fear of retribution, but his people were smart. He had faith that this display would only drive them to help him and not Lathil or Emoris.
Faust bowed his head in respect. “My people, I stand before you, heartbroken. My brother was stolen from me, and I ask for your help to avenge him. Send me your hopes and dreams for the Kingdom of Alios and any grievances you have.” He paused. “Together, we will be victorious!”
The crowd kneeled in waves.
Faust stepped back and sat on his throne, crossing his legs, his forearms resting on the armrests. He felt all-powerful here even though he was powerless. His short speech would be the first sign to his people, and he would trust them like Konrad did.
Lathil moved his arms out. “It is time to welcome our new king and show him our loyalty in his time of need.” The petals floated by the people, and the Volant sheathed their swords. The gates of the arena opened, and the people poured in, gathering to meet their new king.
Part II
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Faust trailed behind Relan, down the cold hallways of the southern side of the castle. A light green tinted the walls the farther he walked. This section belonged to Lathil, and Faust had rarely set foot in it, but now he was brought here almost every day.
Relan stopped in front of a giant wooden door and knocked.
“Bring him in,” Lathil said from inside.
The Blessed pushed the iron handle in and ushered Faust into the room.
Faust gazed at the occupants. Lathil stood near a large table in the middle of the room. Maps lined the walls, and Nora stood not too far off, to the left side, ready to be of use. Mika, however, stood opposite of Lathil, taking part with a small war marker in his hand.
A young man with dirty blond hair glared at Faust with fiery blue eyes. He hadn’t seen Mihail, Lathil’s consort, up close in quite some time. Mihail wore a short tunic and pants with boots that wrapped up his legs in belts. Jewelry adorned his ears, neck, hair, and wrists. Today, he wore a set of daggers at his hips as well.
Faust bowed. Lathil feared he would step out of line, but he had no such intention. Mihail was a formidable warrior in battle. Lathil didn’t keep a simple consort at his side.
“Rise,” Lathil said and placed another war piece close to Elyon. “Today, you will help plan the attack at the Windilum border. I expect a swift victory.”
Faust’s heart sank. That meant his opponents would be Ignas and the Guild of Smithery. He took a steady breath and surveyed the map. The pieces were in good places, but there were better ones. He glanced up at Lathil.
Lathil nodded.
Faust began slow, rearranging the war pieces in three groups on the outskirts of the Hokvine Forest below Elyon. He added another closer to the Kingdom of Roltan that would pass through the Corville Mountains to get to Arkney.
“Ah, a distraction,” Lathil said. “I had thought you would attack small to prolong the battle. I am pleased you are obeying.”
Faust kept his eyes down and finished plotting out the attack, his hands shaking. He had to trust Ignas would survive this.
“We will implement this immediately,” Lathil said. “Commander Frei, inform the knights of their newest assignment, and Nora, inform the Volant.” Lathil dismissed them with a wave of his hand and gazed at Faust. “You will continue to plan until we win.”
Faust nodded, a heavy weight settling in his chest. By Alimphis, he hoped this ended before countless people died.
The war didn’t end quickly.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months before the war with Windilum ended. He spent his days signing documents, studying war strategies, and implementing new attack plans at Lathil’s beck and call. Emoris was the only one permitted to make laws for the people, and it pained him to know he could still do nothing to help his people while his battle strategies were used to slaughter the innocent people of Windilum. Lathil held his strings tightly with the constant reminder that Nik’s life was in his hands.
Lathil finally broke Faust’s routine when a reigning Blood Duke of Windilum was brought to the castle to formally surrender. Faust sat at a long negotiation table on the left side of Emoris in his ceremonial outfit from the crowning. Lathil sat on the right side with Mihail, while Commander Frei and Nora flanked the edges of the table. Volant guarded the door, and from what Faust could sense, more lined the outside wall.