Chapter 54

Viraq’ hadn’t lied when she said the city was expecting our arrival. Uruk had told me that the armies of the southern Kingdoms had gathered here, preparing themselves to march North, but nothing could have readied me for the size of it. All around us were camps, bustling with soldiers running to and fro, and everywhere I saw banners from the different Kingdoms flutter in the wind.

I stared at them. They had all gathered because they believed in me… I had almost forgotten about Veena after all the time on the road, but seeing all the armies gathered here made it all come back. We wouldn’t win if I didn’t believe I was Goddess… What if I didn’t manage? But I had to… I stared at them, waving and singing. How could I believe something that wasn’t true?

I tried to smile as we rode through the gates of the city. People had gathered on top of the wall, and everywhere I saw soldiers cheering as we passed. They would risk their lives because of me. But I wasn’t her… But I had to believe…

We slowly made our way up the streets, accompanied by the cheers of the people, and when we finally arrived at the castle, I forced myself to wave at the crowd who had followed us. Someone helped me dismount. Officials in red robes stood waiting for us, and they bowed their heads and brought their clenched fists to their chests as I walked over to them. It was a relief when the doors finally closed behind us and the silence of the castle stretched out.

The guards led us through the well-lit hallways, and endless officials in red robes rushed passed us, preparing for what would come. I tried to focus on the cold stone floor against my bare feet until we halted by my room, and I was finally alone. I slumped down against the closed door. We were really preparing for war. Karim had told me that we would leave for Tarnis when we returned to Zarion. For so long, it had been a distant thing in the future, but now, it had come…

I struggled up and washed the dust off my face. What if I didn’t manage to believe? They would have risked their lives for nothing. I couldn’t… But I had to… I stumbled over to my bag and found a change of clothes. I had just changed when a servant knocked on the door.

“Dinner is ready, my lady”

He bowed, and I forced myself to smile and followed him out. He led me through the hallway and into a large hall. It was already crowded, and I could see the others sitting by the table in the middle. I followed the servant and took my seat at the top, looking out over the room. People were bustling and chatting around me, but all I could see were people who had decided to go to war for me. What if I didn’t manage?

At least Aki seemed to enjoy the attention and had the time of her life being treated like a celebrity. I couldn’t say the same about Chaya, who was just as overwhelmed by the constant stares as I had been in the beginning. She clung to me, and I almost expected she would hide in my tunic. I put my arms around her, and she took hold of my hand and buried her cheek in my shoulder.

I just hoped it would be over soon, and I could go back to my room. One of the consuls who had led me to my room sat next to me, and he leaned over, asking if I had tried the cake. I suspected he might start to tell me about the preparations being made, and I quickly took the chance to change the subject, asking him why their priests wore blue and carried swords. It was a mistake, but I realised it too late, and I spent the next hour listening to an explanation that I soon lost track of. I understood that Goddess fought the Darkness in the sky, but what the Hegemony of Axium was and how that was related to the story, I had no idea.

When he finally finished, Chaya was fast asleep in my arms, and I used it as an excuse to leave, saying I had to put her to bed.

I took her to my room, too tired to try to find hers, and collapsed on the bed next to her. They all believed in me. How could I believe something that wasn’t true? But I had to... They relied on me. There was a knock on the door, and Selene stepped inside. She came over and sat down at the corner of the bed.

“How do you feel?”

I stared up at the ceiling. I didn’t want to mess things up today, and those questions never led anywhere good.

“Tired..”, I murmured.

It wasn’t a lie, and she took hold of my feet and began to rub them.

“Thank you..”, I whispered and closed my eyes.