How Journeys End Chapter Nineteen: The Truth Part Two

How Journeys End by Pineapple | Content Warnings

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Day sat up, rubbing at his neck, his eyes sharp. “You have her sight,” Day said, his voice rough and gravelly.

Edel excused himself quietly to make tea for the rebel leader, and Chrysan watched him go without saying anything, without acknowledging that he’d even heard Day.

“I… after a while, I started to consider Queen Ann a friend,” Day began. “She mentioned her disowned first-born son once.”

Chrysan turned and went to pick up the knives from the floor, where they’d fallen out of whatever it was that had tried to kill Day. His brows were furrowed like he was thinking hard.

Day continued. “She said that her son had a power that was passed down in her family, different from his sister. He could see what others couldn’t, see better than they could. His name was Mile. Mile Sorrel.”

“Did she mention why her son was disowned?” Chrysan asked.

“No.”

“Rumor has it that King William never wanted a son,” Chrysan explained. “He didn’t want any children at all. He believed the throne was his and would remain his forever. Queen Ann begged him to keep the child and so the king allowed it, so long as he wouldn’t ascend to the throne. General Narsi helped to raise him as a castle soldier.”

Camellia felt her head reeling as all the pieces tried to slot together. Day was still a weight in her arms—a comfort and a foreign danger all at once. “Chrysan, you…?” she began.

Edel reentered the room and set a tea pot on the table Day had crawled out from underneath. It was steaming as he poured it out and mixed honey into it, but he waved a hand over the cup, and it was cooled.

Day pushed himself up and into the chair. He took the drink gratefully, taking large gulps until Edel could fix him another one.

“Will the crown prince be joining us for tea as well?” Edel asked with a smirk.

Chrysan chuckled derisively. “You had me pegged as soon as you saw me, didn’t you? That’s why you assumed I was a knight when you greeted me.” Chrysan tossed his head to get his bangs out of his eyes. “Was that why you decided to approach me?”

“Cori didn’t know,” Day said. “But I had my own suspicions after seeing you. She just thought you would be a good person to aid us.”

“Better than your contact who attempted to kill you just now?”

Day nodded, staring into his cup of tea. “I have a bad feeling,” he said. “They don’t want you to know who they are.”

There was a piece in Camellia’s head trying to fit into whatever puzzle this was. “Who is it?” she asked.

“I don’t know. We’ve only communicated through letters. They reached out to me first, after the General was killed by… well, Cam.”

Camellia shrunk into herself, regret surging through her stronger than it normally did. There wasn’t a moment that passed that she wished she hadn’t needed to do that.

“They sign their letters similarly to General Helianthus,” he explained. “They… I’m not sure what their goals are. They’ve been the one advising us to hold off on attacking the castle for now.”

“Is there a but coming?” Chrysan asked.

“I knew Cam was recovering,” Day said. “Princess Siana would have been vulnerable.”

Camellia felt panic rise up in her like bile.

“It was never in my mind to attack her or to use her as leverage against King William,” Day said, tilting his head to Camellia. “But… My contact seems intent on it, yet they said to wait.”

“She was not unguarded,” Camellia offered weakly. She was still sitting on the floor, where she had caught Day and held him. Now she was looking up at him, too stunned to move. Her legs felt weak, her head heavy. “Cera was with her.”

“Camellia, we both know you are the stronger fighter between the two of you.” Chrysan scoffed, crossing his arms. “He is good, but he’s no match for you at full strength.”

“It doesn’t make sense,” Day mumbled. “I knew her goals didn’t align with ours, but… I never knew what they were. I can’t understand them still.”

“Either way, they must know that we’ve met here today. They must have their ways of hearing the conversation,” Chrysan said. His brow furrowed as he thought. He rubbed his chin. “They must be… a very powerful magician. Perhaps the most powerful in combat.”

The piece clicked into place.

“You think Lady Via has aligned with the Gladiolus rebels?” Camellia scoffed, rolling her eyes. “First, I find that you’re not only royalty, but you’re related to Her Highness Siana? And now you think that Lady Via, who hates my people, has aligned with Day Bellis, our best known advocate?”

Chrysan nodded. “She wouldn’t be suspected,” he said slowly. “Lady Via Aster… her family name is similar enough to General Helianthus—it would fit the signature without being suspicious. One might think that she was simply signing the same thing, but…”

Day leaned forward in his chair. “But?”

“Does she know Queen Ann was assassinated by the king?” he asked, his voice teetering on emotional. He was losing control of the carefully constructed mask he usually wore, and Camellia could hear it. When she turned to look at him, his eyes were trembling, searching for something. “She loved her, I don’t…”

Another piece clicked in Camellia’s brain. “Day—” she shouted, jumping up. “Does she have any other contact in your group?”

“A few, yes. Why?”

Camellia looked over to Chrysan. “We should return to the castle, quickly.”

“What are you thinking?” Chrysan stowed the knives away in his boot and then stood upright again, ready to go at her word.

“We may have been set up. If they believe we’ve attacked their leader, then…” Camellia turned back to Day, her face searching his. “I… I have to go back, Day.”

“I don’t understand,” he answered, his voice soft. He reached up, his hands falling to her arms. “You’d really return to them? After everything they’ve done—are doing to us?”

“I trust Her Highness,” Camellia declared. “I don’t believe she knew or could stop her father’s plans—”

“I don’t either, Cam, listen—”

“—but she’s in danger now and I won’t leave her alone. I vowed to protect her and I will uphold that promise to my death.”

Day took a heavy breath, his hands falling. “I… I hope my men would not leave without me, but I don’t control them. They’re free to do as they believe is right, and…”

“I understand.”

“I’m sorry, Camellia,” Day said. “I will stop those who will listen.”

She nodded, closing her eyes. She knocked her head against his. “Thank you.”

She didn’t open her eyes again until she’d turned away. She bowed her head at Edel, who nodded back at her. “I’ll make sure Day Bellis is safe here for the time being,” Edel said. “I hope our forces align in the future.”

“I hope we’re wrong about a set up,” Chrysan quipped. “Maybe we’re rushing out for nothing.”

Edel cracked a sad smile. Chrysan and Camellia left into the coming morning, hopping onto their horses and galloping back towards the castle.

–

The sun was rising by the time they’d gotten back to castle grounds, and they were met with a light from the barracks. It lit up the sky with a fiery blaze, overtaking the peace dawn would have offered.

Camellia saw Chrysan stall his horse as his face dropped with horror, heard him swear under his breath. She could tell from his expression that he was trying to see anything he could. The shouts of fighting, the screams of staff and noncombatants gave more away than his magic ever could.

They continued until they were in range to catch someone fleeing.

Camellia hopped off Leif. “Lily!” she shouted, landing in front of the maidservant. She was just a girl. She had tears in her eyes. Camellia hoped the rebels had chosen to let her go—had been more merciful than Nastur had. She hoped… she hoped.

“Lady Camellia!” Lily’s voice was relieved, close to a sob.

“Cam, I’m going on ahead,” Chrysan said.

Camellia nodded to him without taking her eyes off the girl. She heard his horse gallop away, towards the fires—the battlefield.

“Lily, can you tell me what’s going on?”

“I…” She sniffed. “I was waiting on Her Highness when we heard the barrack alarm sound… Sir Cera came soon to check on us and was helping to evacuate us, but…”

“Her Highness?”

Lily shook her head. “She was worried about you—and she said she wouldn’t leave her people behind. There are royal guests and other staff inside, but the rebels have already gotten inside the castle—and—”

“I understand, Lily,” Camellia said. “She sent you out?”

Lily nodded, fresh tears pouring from her eyes.

“Good girl.” Camellia lifted her easily onto her horse. “You’re certain it’s rebel forces?”

“Who else would attack us, Lady Camellia?”

She wondered.

“Will you go back?” Lily asked next.

“I must aid Her Highness. Go with Leif. He will protect you,” she said, handing the reigns to Lily. “Leif, be good.”

“Lady Camellia, please be careful…”

“I…” Camellia paused. She took a deep breath. “Of course, Lily,” she said with a smile. “You as well.”

Before Lily could say anything else, Camellia nudged Leif to go. He started slowly at first, and Camellia waited until he’d broken into a steady gallop to make sure Lily would be alright. Then she turned back to the castle—the battlefield.

She started running.

There were a few skirmishes, here and there. Uniformed castle guards and soldiers she recognized seemed to have it under control. The barracks were on fire—a smart move, to attack the army first. It probably prevented a good strategy from being made.

The main battle would be at the castle. She knew this. As Camellia approached, there were more bodies. Alive and dead. Wounded and fighting. She weaved through the crowd, defending herself where necessary. Moving forward. Closer to the castle, but…

There was a tingle on the back of her neck.

She spun around, barely catching the sword on her own to block.

The sound of metal on metal resounded as Camellia looked at the woman in front of her. Her posture impeccable—her hair tousled but no less beautiful—her skin tanned from the afternoon sun spent on the training grounds with her soldiers. “My Lady,” Camellia breathed out.

Siana smiled at her, her eyes crinkling, and she lowered her sword. “My Knight,” she greeted.

Camellia surged forward to hug her, press a kiss to the side of her face. “Are you unharmed?”

“I am,” she said with a relieved sigh. Siana hugged her with one arm, her sword held tight in the other. “What about you, Lady Camellia? Are you alright?”

Camellia nodded. “I’m sorry I left you. Shouldn’t Cera be with you? Where…?”

“I ordered him to get Denia out,” she said. She held Camellia at arm’s length, looking her up and down for injuries. “I would aid the others who are unable to fight as well.”

“You are the princess royal, you should escape.”

But Siana shook her head. “I will fight for my people,” she said. “Haven’t we discussed this? I won’t stand idly by.”

Camellia’s hand took Siana’s that was on her shoulder, and she held it gently in her fingers. “Then neither will I.”