Wizard's Tower - Arc 3 - Chapter 53

Atop the pillar of stone I had created, with the wind whipping at our backs, I wrapped Lilly in a big hug. It was good to see her again, even if the circumstances were a little unusual. She brought me an army? Why? It made little sense, but now that I had found her there was no urgency for an immediate answer.

“Come child, let me get a look at you,” I smiled and held her back. She wore a thin dark green dress that seemed to be made of some kind of soft leafy fabric. Behind her, where she had just stood, the wolf companion lay curled, its eyes focused only on its master. I had thought it part of her gown when I first saw her—and I couldn’t help but have a smattering of fearful thoughts. Without hesitation, I cast [Analyze] on my adopted daughter.

Name: Lilly Sena

Species: Human

Classes: 4th Tier Natural Queen level 17

Sena?! She was already at the 4th Tier? A [Natural Queen]?! I felt bewildered by the information.

I knew nothing about the royal classes, as they were a more carefully guarded secret than even the mage ones. Information on Mage classes could possibly be obtained with sufficient monies or connections. Holding information on Royal classes was grounds for execution. Perhaps the Dukes and Duchess’s had it, though. It might be how Duchess Eiston rebelled.

The 4th Tier was surprising as well, but not so much as the change in her name. Sena. Lilly had not only married, but she had married the current King of the country. Knowing what I did about the Asrid Flower Tea, and how the last king comported himself, I immediately began to search for spells or skills to make sure that Lilly wasn’t under some strange form of slave or control magics.

Yet, what I found was more disturbing. There were vast amounts of charm and loyalty magic at play here, a subversive mixture of the two that was as insidious as it was powerful. But it didn’t come from the king at all. It came from Lilly. Through the use of some skill she had obtained, the small yellow flowers growing amidst the ivy on her wolf were throwing tiny specks of pollen into the air—specs smaller than I had seen even in dust.

That pollen was flowing all through the encampment, carried on the wind and the breathe of the soldiers. Once it landed, it then grew, much like the compounding effect of continuing to drink the tea. The difference was that it also grew into a complex charming rune—one that had the new king of Sena staring at my daughter with the eyes of some love-struck fool.

Despite the ostentatious velvet robe flapping in the wind, and the gleaming golden armor with elaborate etchings and inlaid gems, he seemed to disregard standing in a way befitting royalty. No, his shoulder hunched forward slightly, and his posture looked more like a commoner begging boon from a temple’s altar.

I quickly checked my own protections and wards, and bit back a sigh of relief when I found that the pollen couldn’t break them. The newest additions I had made to protect myself against Pyl had proven to block this as well.

“Dad, is there something the matter? Aren’t you happy?” Lilly asked with a tilt of her head.

The look in her eye was almost threatening, I felt. Though that might have just been because I had seen the extent of her new class in action. Even if that was only one skill—who knew if she had others? If she controlled the new king to this extent, I doubt there were many royal secrets she hadn’t uncovered. I used [Earth Manipulation] to form several stone benches from the ground and carefully answered, “Lilly, I just need to sit down for a moment. I’ve been flying about all day just to find you.”

“Oh! Before you sit down, there is something I want you to hear. Dearest?”

“My love?” the King answered.

“How did my brother die again?”

“My father, fearful of the mad wizard, sought to kill his apprentices to weaken him. While it was his decision to send your brother to the battle of Sandy Brook, I gave the order. All those that followed it have already been put to the noose, and I am filled with infinite sadness at my actions.” The prince said and bowed, even shedding tears. He looked as though he felt sad about it, but I couldn’t tell where his emotions began and where Lilly’s control took over.

I frowned at the king as he spoke, the truth of the matter uncovered like this was an ugly, ugly thing.

“You aren’t surprised,” Lilly whispered. “You knew…?”

“I suspected.”

“Suspected? Suspected!? Why didn’t you tell me?!” Lilly threw her hands into the air, and the pain was clear to see on her face.

“I had no proof.”

“I have made myself such a fool, such a fool. I went to Sena City with the dreams and hopes of a child and came away with my brother’s killer as my husband.”

The new king tried to speak with her, “My love, I—”

“Silence!  Just—just jump off a cliff.”

“At once.” Without any hesitation, the man dropped his spear—a thing that let a harmonious clang out as it hit the ground--and casually stepped off the side of the pillar. The king didn’t die from the fall, though his leg broke in what could only be a painful expression. His golden armor crumpled around it, piercing the skin in places and torn open in others. His cloak was caught on some parts and ripped open in others.

I looked in surprise at Lilly, as she covered her mouth in shock. It seemed that she hadn’t expected such obedience. The former first prince, though, stood up on one shaking leg and began to hobble forward. His broken leg trailed behind him, leaving a thick line of bright red blood in the dirt.

“My king!” A soldier reached for him.

“Your majesty!”A knight ran forward, his armor clanking with each step.

The newest King of Sena raised his hands in the air, and began shouting. It was clear by his voice that he was used to commanding. “My brothers! I have committed a grievance wrong and must atone. I ask out of your love for me and my queen that you allow me to do so! In my absence, I task unto you the duty of serving the Queen as you would me! Now, move aside.”

Those around him made space, a small but dense circle, the worry and concern apparent on their faces. Lilly knelt at the edge of the pillar and reached for him with one hand. Her other clasped at her heart. “…no…” she whispered.

A circle of soldiers formed around the king as he made his way forward to the edge of the plateau.

“No,” Lilly said again more firmly, and I had to grab her shoulder to keep her from tumbling down the pillar as well.

The plateau had grown quite high by now, and the prince hobbled ever closer to the edge.

“No. No. No.” Lilly shook her head. Then she shouted “No!”

Yet the wind atop of our pillar took away her words, and her husband stepped off the ledge to his death. As he fell, Lilly cried out in an agonized scream, and I held her tight against me. I held no love or loyalty for the prince. His fall, even as tragic as it was, meant little to me. Less so that even a stranger after he’d spoken of his part in Walker’s death.

My heart hurt, though, just imagining Lilly’s pain. I rarely find myself without words to say, but, at that moment, I could do nothing but hold my grieving daughter. From the wails and cries below, I could tell she wasn’t the only one who grieved.