A Shade of Vampire 39: A Rip of Realms(32)

“Contain the situation?” Tejus repeated incredulously. “No. There will be no trial. We cannot risk Queen Trina being victorious. Ash is our only option; you will anoint him emperor today.”

“How dare you make such demands of us!” one of the ministers blustered. “Who are you to change the ancient traditions, the sacred acts that were created long before your birth? The trials are a Nevertidian institution—we must preserve them.”

“Even if it means the death of all Nevertide’s people?” Ruby exploded. “You people are crazy! What is wrong with you? Are you so blind that you don’t see what’s happening here? Everyone’s going to die!”

“You are hysterical,” the old man shot back. “We will contain the entity, and Nevertide will resume as normal.”

I wanted to laugh. I couldn’t believe their complete and utter ignorance. It blew my mind that Nevertide had survived this long with such foolish men at its helm. I looked over at Tejus, who hadn’t reacted to the latest insanity. We all fell silent, and I realized that we were waiting for him to speak.

We didn’t have long to wait.

He leaned down toward the minister who had just spoken, and smiled at him.

“Old man,” he said, his voice low and caressing, “please believe me when I say that I am perfectly willing to end your existence—all of you, in fact—to get this done. Know that your life hangs in the balance.”

“What of Memenion?” asked the minister. “Where is he? He should have a chance to compete.”

Tejus let out a low growl, grabbing the minister by the robe. “He is dead,” he snarled. “He lies at the bottom of the crevice that has torn its way across this land. Dig him up and see for yourself if you wish.”

“I did not know,” the old man whispered, clearly shaken by the news. “He was a good king.”

“Yes, he was,” Tejus bit back.

The ministers looked at one another, their glances frightened. We had won. In theory. I still had huge reservations about this plan… Everything that I had been shown since I became king—the danger of my homeland, the gray areas between right and wrong, the true nature of Tejus, the underbelly of evil in the best of us, and most of all Ruby and my love for her—made me want to turn my back on this responsibility. The boy who had dreamed naively of ruling Nevertide, of righting wrongs, had died the day of the disk trial, and I was left with nothing but uncertainty and fear—nothing but self-doubt, and the knowledge that Tejus was the right sentry for the job, not I.

“Very well then,” the minister muttered. “Ash, we will anoint you emperor. Please understand this is a great undertaking. I hope you show more dignity than this…madman.” The minister directed his insult at Tejus. He rose slowly, painfully up from the floor, and then helped his friend to do the same.

“Move away from the basin,” the minister commanded, gesturing to the stone floor. We all backed up, giving the ministers some space.

“Shall I wake the others?” one said to the other.

“No, we will do it. Let them rest—let them arise in another time, a happier one than this, perhaps.”

I looked at Ruby, who shrugged.

How old are these sentries?

The ministers staggered toward us, stopping a few feet away. One of them bent down, placing his palm flat out on the stone. He closed his eyes, and as I watched, open-mouthed, his hand sank into the floor, disappearing from sight. A few moments later he pulled his arm back, holding the imperial staff, the crown, and a roll of parchment. He handed them to the second minister, who placed them carefully on the floor, the staff first.

“Are you ready, Ashbik of Hellswan, to do your duty for Nevertide?” the first minister asked.

“I am.” I swallowed.

I am not. I am not—not in a million years.

Ruby’s hand found mine, and our fingers entwined. I looked down at her and she gave me a reassuring smile. One of the ministers cleared his throat, and she let go of my hand, moving back to stand with Tejus and Hazel.

“This is the staff of Nevertide, a symbol of your leadership,” the minister intoned. “It represents the promise you are making today to protect each sentry, to protect each kingdom, to treat all as equal.”

I nodded, taking the staff in my hand. It was gold, and felt impossibly heavy — even more so than the replica scepters we had retrieved from the forest.

“This is the crown of Nevertide. It represents your position as head of all six kingdoms. You are responsible for their unity. You are their leader.”

The crown was placed on my head. It was heavy too…the staff and the crown felt like chains.