"Okay. Now create one hovering over the endless streams. Remember to focus on the banks and the blooms of midnight flowers that grow along them," Dara said, sitting behind Layla, who had been attempting to open portals all morning. One to the frozen peaks, one to the salt lands of Freshna in the southern valley of Auloris, and another to the gardens that run along the paths of the Sovereign Spire.
"I'm trying," Layla said, her eyes closed as she concentrated on visualizing the flowers. She could see the colors of white and blue mirrored in the stream as the morning sun beamed overhead. She could see them in her mind, smell them in the wind. She lifted her hands, swirling energy in front of her. The energy spiraled around in patterned colors of green and purple until it opened into what looked like a crystal pond. Beyond its threshold lay the Endless Streams, with rows of blue and white flowers swaying in the breeze.
"See? You did it," Dara said, taking a bite of a small purple fruit she had pulled off a tree on the way to this open area behind the Auloris wing of Nexus Sanctum. "Now just remember to keep focused. It's only going to be a few hundred spectators this evening. No big deal." Dara laughed.
"Thanks for that," Layla said, throwing a handful of sand at Dara.
"You'll be fine. Like I told you, you are a gifted Thresh wielder. Everyone will love your display," Dara said, trying to lighten the mood.
"It's not the display I'm worried about so much as the challenges," Layla sighed, thinking of what lay ahead for her and the other rulers.
"Lay, look—there hasn't even been a hint that anyone has a wish to challenge you. You are beloved by so much of the kingdom, just like your mom. She was never challenged on a Long Night either. Besides, no one can challenge without a voice to speak it." Dara raised her eyebrows, flipping a dagger in her hand.
"What, you're going to silence anyone who dares speak of challenging me?" Layla asked, knowing the answer to her question.
"Maybe. I mean, who knows what can happen? People trip and fall all the time. Some just happen to land on steel when they fall." A devilish grin spread across Dara's face. Layla knew she was joking, lightening the mood as always, but she also knew Dara would kill someone for trying to harm her. She just didn't know how far Dara would actually be willing to go, and as good as that made Layla feel, it was also a scary thought.
"All I'm saying is let's take one thing at a time. Today we focus on the display. Then we can worry about defending your crown. You have what—four days until someone is even allowed to challenge you? Take a breath and let's go get some food. You're going to need your strength." She said, pulling Layla across the clearing and into the wing where a large table of food was waiting for them.
"Did you ever think that maybe I wasn't meant to be queen?" Layla asked, right as Dara was shoveling a large helping of mashed potatoes into her mouth. She stopped, her mouth hanging wide open, and paused.
"There were a few years there where I thought maybe I would make a better queen," Dara said, finishing the spoon's path right into her mouth.
"Come on, I'm serious. Has it ever occurred to you that I'm not cut out for this?" Layla said, cutting a small piece of pork. She hadn't been hungry since she woke up knowing what she had to do today.
"Lay, who else would it be? You're your mother's daughter. You have her grace, her skill, and most importantly, the loyalty of the people that she held for so many years. Who else would rule Auloris? Lord Vermillion?" Layla paused before they both burst out laughing.
"I'm sure he would love the politics of it," Layla said. "But I suppose you're right. They really did love my mother."
"I know I am. And that's why I know you're going to kill it today. Speaking of which, it's about time to get ready. Vermillion has been staring at you for the past thirty minutes, waiting for you to finish." Dara nodded at the slender man making his way to the table.
"Majesty, you only have a couple hours before your arrival at the coliseum. Perhaps it's a good idea to get bathed and ready for your evening," Lord Vermillion said with a slight bow, his eyes narrowing on Dara, who was still shoveling food into her mouth.
"What?" Dara said, spittle flying across the table. Layla laughed and nodded to him. "I'll be up in a minute. Please have a bath drawn."
"Perhaps you can find your manners, Ms. Elderleaf," Lord Vermillion shot back at her.
"Manners are for kings and queens. I'm just a lowly servant who happens to be very adept with a knife," Dara said, a large smile smeared across her face as she patted the blade at her side.
"No matter your position, you represent the queen when you are in her presence and, as such, should show a little respect in the form of manners," Vermillion started, but was cut off by Layla.
"Enough, Lord Vermillion. Dara is fine. We are in the comfort of our own quarters. I will speak with her later about the proper etiquette for social gatherings." Her words were low but firm enough for him to get the hint.
"As you wish, Your Majesty," he said, giving her a bow and walking back toward the stairs while snapping at another maid to start the bath.
Dara watched him go, then leaned closer to Layla, lowering her voice. "He's harmless, Lay. I mean, we don't get along most of the time, but it's just his way. No big deal."
"I know he has good intentions, but sometimes I feel like he thinks he's king and I'm just the stand-in for my mother," Layla said, still watching him disappear up the stairs. "Don't let him get under your skin either. Anyway, I need to go take a bath. I'm starting to smell like you." She laughed as she moved toward the stairs.
"You could only be so lucky," Dara said, lifting up her arms and sniffing. The smell hit her like a brick. "Maybe I should get cleaned up too."
As Layla lay in the bath, alone for the few minutes she got every day, she couldn't help but think of her parents. How would they think of her now? How would they feel about the queen she had become? Would they be proud of her? Would they regret not teaching her more? The thoughts swirled around in her mind and then left as soon as they came, replaced by a set of golden amber eyes that stared at her from the shadows.
She hadn't had much time to think of anything other than the Long Night, but in this brief moment of pause, it was the soldier that filled her mind. She thought of his voice and the way he spoke to her, the way he flexed his jaw when he smiled, egging her on as he prowled around her. Her pulse quickened as liquid fire ran down her body, meeting her fingers beneath the water, pulsing, moving across her. His wicked smile grew closer to her in her mind.
A knock came at the door. Her eyes flew open to see a maid walking in with a robe. Her cheeks flushed, and she moved slowly out of the tub, wrapping herself quickly before walking across the hall. She looked at the dress laid out on the bed and ran her fingers over it. His eyes still lingered in her mind, his touch on her skin, but she had to focus. Today was about a display of power, not about the mystery man she couldn't shake—the one she would hopefully see again.