The Roses of Airon Read online

rolled her eyes. “You can’t read a book after you’ve died of starvation. No farms means no food and that means no knowledge and no crafting.”

  “That’s right,” Taeya said, stepping up beside the slender princess of Evergrowth. “You need farmers and hunters to survive.”

  “And you’re all going to live in grass huts now?” Rheeya snapped. “I think you’ll very quickly miss your stone walls.”

  An acolyte stuck his head through the doorway of the chapel. “Is everything all right?”

  Vonica smiled as sweetly as possible. “Yes, everything is fine. It was just a heated theological debate but I think it’s settled now. We’re on our way outside now.”

  The acolyte nodded and retreated. The girls exchanged hostile glances and followed Vonica out of the chapel.

  “The chapel and the main Temple Complex both open onto the main courtyard,” Vonica continued, gesturing to the oversized, ornate doors. “Those are used for festivals and processions. There’s a door here to the side that the pilgrims and acolytes use for their day-to-day comings and goings.”

  Now it was Betha’s turn to linger as her fingers traced the elaborate tree that had been carved into the dark wood.

  Vonica rolled her eyes. “Really, what is it with the two of you that you have to stop and finger every crack in the stone or wood?”

  Rheeya and Betha exchanged a look and Rheeya said, “They’re not ‘cracks’, they’re carvings. They’re art, and they were done by the great artists of our provinces.”

  Vonica snorted. “That’s not art; it’s just a poor attempt to pretty up a boring piece of stone or wood.”

  “Like the pictures in books are just poor attempts at prettying up a boring piece of paper?” Ashlyn said. “At least when the Metal Kin make art we aren’t prettying up something, we’re creating something beautiful that stands on its own.”

  “It takes a lot of effort to make a beautiful diamond into beautiful ‘art’,” Taeya said, rolling her eyes. “Not like making a plain piece of leather into something beautiful.” She carefully smoothed her cincher and skirt, drawing attention to the horses worked in the leather.

  Rheeya nodded. “She’s right, it doesn’t take any talent to make a pretty thing pretty. It takes real talent to make clay into something pretty.”

  “Let me know when they succeed in making clay into something pretty,” Ashlyn said with a false smile.

  Before the fight could gain any more volume a pageboy darted into the courtyard. He stopped just short of the princesses, quickly composed himself, and said, “Your Royal Highnesses, your presence is requested in the Temple of Airon.”

  “They must have come to a decision,” Vonica said.

  The girls straightened their skirts and smoothed their hair as they hurried across the courtyard to the temple doors.

  High Priest Aden stood before the kings and their families. As his eyes drifted from one family to the next he could see the differences in the five kingdoms that made up their island, differences of facial features, clothing, and body type, and yet every king wore the exact same expression of misery.

  Aden took a deep breath and began. “After much deliberation between us, and after much conversing with the gods, Airon, the God of the Sun, and the protector of our Island, with the help of the five clans of Spirit Guides, has agreed to move our Island without moving the island.”

  Everyone began talking at once, some to Aden, some amongst themselves. All the noise boiled down to a single question, How is that possible?

  Aden raised his hands and silence slowly returned to the room. “Our people are content to remain here on our Island, living a simple life. Here we are close to our Spirit Guides. Here we are safe. But beyond our Island, across the Narrow Waters, is another Island. And beyond that there are other lands, in every direction.”

  “But why do they come here? What do they want?” asked Queen Karnia. The Province of the Animal Clan was in the northern corner of the Island and furthest from the onslaught of the Strangers.

  King Florence of the Evergrowth frowned. “They come for wood and fish to take away with them across the waters.”

  King Adam nodded. “At first we thought they were Evergrowth, for some of them spoke of spirits in the trees. None of them knew what a Spirit Guide was. They believe in different gods, and in strange creatures they call faeries and in men who can perform magic. They are looking to settle here, to make a life here. They want to stay. They’ll spread north as more of them come and they’ll upset the balance.”

  “Let them come,” King Kenneth of the Metalkin asserted, not for the first time that day, his arms crossed over his broad chest. “We relish the chance to trade.”

  Florence shook his head. “They want to work the mines but they want to take the iron away with them. They do not understand that the iron belongs to the Iron Guilds. They have never heard of such a thing. They were very angry when the Iron Guild in our province would not let them take the ore away. Their anger will spread with them. They do not understand our way of life.”

  Kenneth gave an indignant snort but said nothing so Aden continued.

  “When Airon is done his magic there will still be an island in that place in the bigger world but everyone bound to the Spirit Guides, all their possessions, homes, and animals, will not be in that bigger world any longer. Our Island will float, alone, tethered to the big world but no longer able to communicate or trade with those off the island.”

  Now Kenneth did speak out. “No trade? How do you expect us to get the things we need?”

  “From each other,” Aden replied. “We will be completely dependent on each other from now on – if we choose to accept his offer and if his price is acceptable to us.”

  Aden watched the five royal families eye each other with suspicion and even contempt. How have we come to this? 200 years ago the five clans were as close as kin. Now we are haughty and hateful.

  “What does Airon ask of us?” Queen Orabel of Metalkin asked, her chin raised.

  “The Spirit Guides of every province must be tied to the pact or the people of that land will be left behind with the strangers. The pact must be upheld by a member of each province.”

  “Our husbands?” asked Queen Celyn of Evergrowth.

  “No,” Aden said, watching displeasure and misery turn to anger in the eyes of the other kings. He’d had trouble convincing them of this part of the pact and he didn’t think it would be any easier to convince the queens. “Your daughters. Their souls will be the keys to the pact. When they die they will be reborn so their souls will forever tie the magic to our land. They will have no heirs, but will be the eternal rulers of our Island.”

  The shouting erupted as everyone leapt to their feet. Fists were shaken and fingers pointed as the volume continued to climb.

  Gavin was arguing that he’d never even met one of these strangers so how could he know if they posed a big enough threat to sacrifice his daughter? Florence insisted that they were decimating the forest in the south of his province and hunting on his lands. Adam was arguing with his wife over suitors and bloodlines and the loss of support from the noble houses if they let their daughter be a part of the pact. Kenneth and his wife were storming on about the lack of trade opportunities and Aden stepped in, trying to explain that they could be self-sufficient, just as they had been before the strangers’ appearance.

  “We’re passing up a great opportunity!” Kenneth bellowed.

  “All you care about is money,” said Florence’s wife, Celyn, turning on Kenneth.

  “You don’t know anything about money and trade and the progress of commerce,” Kenneth retorted. “You’re no better than an uneducated peasant!”

  “Better an uneducated peasant than a puffed up wind-bag,” muttered Adam’s wife, Georgia.

  “What did you call my husband?”

  Soon the Metalkin queen, Orabel, and the Stoneclan queen, Georgia, were bickering as the other arguments raged on around them.

  “I’l
l do it.”

  Betha’s voice was almost lost in the din. The easily over-looked girl crossed to the altar and took her place on the seal of the Evergrowth. The five seals were arranged around the altar to correspond to the geographical positions of the provinces. Betha stood southeast of the great table. “I’ll do it, even if I have to do it alone.”

  Her mother turned away from Kenneth and said, “Betha! What do you think you’re doing!?”

  “What needs to be done.” Betha turned to Aden. “Start the ritual.”

  “I … I can’t. It won’t work with just one.”

  Princess Vonica stepped out from behind her mother, her head held high with pride. “Airon is my spirit guide, as well as my chief god, if he has asked this of me how can I say no?” She stepped onto the Sun Temple seal next to Betha, directly east of the altar.

  King Celio was spluttering and Queen Sera glared at Aden. “This is all your doing. We allowed you to educate our daughter and you’ve brainwashed her. What about her duties to her bloodline?”

  High Priest Aden was solemn as he said, “She understands her true duties.”

  While they were arguing Rheeya silently took her place on the Stone Clan seal on the other side of Betha, the Southwest corner. When her mother noticed her she said, “Rheeya! What are you doing? What about the suitors waiting for you at home? What about our family bloodlines?”

  “This is about the good of my people, not satisfying the noble houses and their quest for power.”

  “We’re leaving now,” King Gavin snarled and stormed towards the doors. Karnia looked bewildered but hurried after him.

  “I’m not,” Taeya said, standing her ground.

  Her father stomped back and grabbed her arm. “You’ll do as you’re told, young lady.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m doing,” she said, trying to pull her arm free. “This needs to be done.”

  “You’ve never met these strangers, you don’t know if they’re a threat. Why should we sacrifice you because these fools are afraid?”

  “Sacrifice? My soul will live forever.”

  “So they tell us.”

  “Do you not believe in the words of your high god?” Aden asked. “Your daughter shows more wisdom than you or your wife. Release her now so she can take her place around the altar or I will have to call the guards.”

  “You’ll do no such thing!” King Celio bellowed but Gavin had already released his daughter who moved to the Northwest corner.

  Everyone was staring at Ashlyn who was busy examining her nails. She glanced up, her eyes moving across the gathered faces and she shrugged. “I guess we’re doing this,” she said.

  “Ashlyn,” her father said, menacingly.

  She smiled sweetly at him. “We’re outnumbered, Father. Besides, I think I like the idea of being an eternal ruler.” She took her place between Taeya and Vonica.

  When all five girls were standing on the seal of their province Aden turned to the gathered monarchs. “I must ask all of you to step back. This pact is between Airon and your daughters. There is nothing for you to say or do as part of this ceremony except bear witness to the event.”

  Before any of them could argue further a large gong sounded and men began filing into the room. Acolytes, priests, scholars, and students, anyone who had been within the temple complex took their places in neat rows until the great room was nearly filled with bodies.

  Aden stood on the raised dais with the altar and raised his hands to the elaborate mosaic of the sun which had been carefully laid into the domed ceiling. “Airon!” he called. “Your chosen five stand before you, ready to take the oath and seal the pact that will save their people. Show your blessing and consent! Let your presence be known to us.”

  “Let your presence be known to us,” the hundreds of gathered men and women echoed, their voices filling the air.

  The mosaic began to glow with a radiant light that soon neared a blinding intensity.

  “Spirit Guides, your chosen five stand on the symbols of your ancient unity to the high god Airon, ready to take the oath that will bind all the people together. Show your blessings and consent. Let your presence be known to us.”

  “Let your presence be known to us,” came the resounding echo.

  The five seals began to glow, softer than the sun overhead, but enough to set each girl awash with light.

  “The chosen five, the princesses of the five provinces of the Island of Light, you stand here before your Spirit Guides and the High God, the God of the Sun. Are you ready to take your oaths?”

  “We are ready,” the girls responded, their voices almost in perfect unison.

  The light beneath Rheeya’s feet began to glow almost violently. A thought suddenly filled her, coming from nowhere and everywhere. This is for our people. You stand for our people. We are proud of you.

  And then the words began to form and she spoke them as though she had known them her whole life. “I, Princess Rheeya of the Stone Clan, daughter of King Adam and Queen Georgia, stand before Airon and my Spirit Guides, ready to place my soul in the hands of the Sun God that he may save our Island from the Strangers. I am ready to protect my people, our way of life, and our means of survival, by whatever means Airon deems worthy. I entrust my soul to Airon. I swear an oath to uphold this pact, to honour it all the days of my life, and all the days of my future lives.”

  Pride filled her momentarily and then faded like the light beneath her feet.

  Taeya could hardly stand still. The waiting was hard but just being a part of the ceremony had her heart racing. Doing things filled her with excitement, it always had, and this was the biggest thing she’d ever get to do in her life. The light at her feet flared and, like Rheeya, she found the words to the oath simply coming to her.

  “I, Princess Taeya of the Animal People, daughter of King Gavin and Queen Karnia, stand before Airon and my Spirit Guides, ready to place my soul in the hands of the Sun God that he may move our island to safety. I am ready to move, ready to do whatever I am asked to do. I entrust my soul to Airon. I swear an oath to uphold this pact, to honour it all the days of my life, and all the days of my future lives.”

  Though Betha had been the first to step up she now felt all her courage and conviction slipping away. She watched the lights grow and wane, she listened to the words of commitment, and she trembled. “I am insignificant,” she thought.

  So is a single grain of wheat, answered a voice inside her. So is an acorn. You feel bent in the winds of change but this will not break you. You are Evergrowth.

  “I, Princess Betha of the Evergrowth, daughter of King Florence and Queen Celyn, stand before Airon and my Spirit Guides, ready to place my soul in the hands of the Sun God that our lands may continue to prosper and flourish. I am ready to cultivate an age of peace and prosperity. I entrust my soul to Airon. I swear an oath to uphold this pact, to honour it all the days of my life, and all the days of my future lives.”

  Vonica stood staring in wonder at the lights around her. Never had she seen the temple looking like this. With eyes too wide she turned a full circle, slow and deliberate, taking in every possible detail as the other girls said their oaths. When she faced the altar again her own seal flared to life and she spoke, her voice carrying great dignity.

  “I, Princess Vonica of the Sun Temple, daughter of King Cecil and Queen Sera, stand before Airon and my Spirit Guides, ready to place my soul in the hands of the Sun God that he may bring light and wisdom to the people. I am ready to learn what is needed to aid in whatever way I can, to preserve the events of this day and to spread the knowledge of our people. I entrust my soul to Airon. I swear an oath to uphold this pact, to honour it all the days of my life, and all the days of my future lives.”

  Throughout the entire ordeal, from the time they had set foot in the temple complex that morning, until this very moment, Ashlyn had been bored almost to the point of tears. The fighting had been entertaining for a short while and defying her father in front of eve
ryone had been fun, but now she stood bored once more as the other girls droned on about duty, action, prosperity, and wisdom. As the last words left Princess Vonica’s mouth everyone turned to look at Ashlyn. She stared back, her face blank.

  Moments passed.

  King Kenneth cleared his throat audibly.

  Ashlyn sighed and in that half heartbeat that her body relaxed she felt something grip her. The light from her seal blazed and the words came unbidden to her mind and flowed unwanted from her lips.

  “I, Princess Ashlyn of the Metalkin, daughter of King Kenneth and Queen Orabel, stand before Airon and my Spirit Guides, ready to place my soul in the hands of the Sun God that wealth may bless our people. I am ready to stand as sword and shield. I entrust my soul to Airon. I swear an oath to uphold this pact, to honour it all the days of my life, and all the days of my future lives.”

  The room filled with light so heavy that every person there could feel it weighing on their bodies until it was harder to breathe than it was to see. A great wind howled around the room, but not one candle flickered out and though all five girls felt their skirts twisting around their ankles their hair stayed out of their faces. The entire room, and later they would learn the entire Island, shuddered, like the last heaving breath of a dying man. Twice – three times – the shuddering came and then all was still and quiet and the light faded away.

  Everyone had dropped to the floor, some kneeling in prayer, others clutching their neighbour or a bit of furniture, for fear of being blown or tossed away. Only the five princesses remained standing and as the light faded and everyone staggered to their feet they saw the first sign that Airon’s magic had worked.

  All five girls had hair the colour of roses.

  Aden looked at the reports on his desk and sighed. The meetings he’d had with ‘Queen’ Vonica these last few months had done nothing to ease his mind.

  “The strangers are gone, as promised, but what are these dark creatures? Where did they come from? What are they doing to my people?” wrote Gavin.

  Kenneth’s letter read, “No one on this island knows a damn thing about trade. Why did you drive away the other people? How am I ever going to turn a profit?”

  The other news was just as bad: fights between the Iron Guild and the farmers in Evergrowth; fights between healers and miners in Stone Clan Province; charges of fraudulent trading laid against a horse farmer in the Animal People’s territory; and always the reports of dark creatures, or spirits, no one knew what they were. They had appeared after the pact and were attacking people across the island.

  Aden sighed again. True the Strangers were gone. Fishermen were reporting that they could only go an hour out to sea before they hit riptides so strong it sent them spinning back to shore. The Big World was gone. “And our troubles are only beginning, it seems.”

  The older man pushed away from his desk and shuffled out of his study.