Crown of Ellova, Vol. 1 (Crown of Ellova Duology)

Chapter 27

CHAPTER 27

“ W hat is it?” Panic rises at the thought of another problem. Unable to stomach any additional calamities, I drop in a green velvet chair, suddenly exhausted once again. When Nueena doesn’t respond immediately, I guess. “Does this have anything to do with Camarra?” Court Guardians never show up in the middle of breakfast in the command room, but she is known for being quite the free spirit.

Nueena is quiet for a moment as she thinks about my question. Lips pursed together, she looks down, suddenly looking more tired than I have ever seen her.

“So it is the Court of Green? Is something wrong with their growing lands? Nueena, please say something.”

She finally looks at me. “Camarra has confirmed the rumors of soil not yielding as much as in previous years. She promised Nyvenah that she wanted to compare this year’s harvest with the last, and had to wait until the season was over to do so. She was quite apologetic and swears there was no ill intent in keeping the information from us until now.”

I left out a huff of frustration. “She should have immediately reported that to your mother. That is critical information for the Realm Keeper to know. ”

Nueena nods. “That’s what Camarra was told. Camarra has no idea what’s happening, but I have a theory and I think the crown is the reason. That’s why we’re here. We need to read everything written about it. The Ink Court has preserved the Forger’s Journal. I’ve asked Reyna to bring it to us, but we will take it back to the palace.”

I sit back in my chair, face twisted in confusion. “Nu, you know I can’t unlock it, nor could my mother. We both tried many times. You were present when I tried fifty years ago.”

“I know,” she says delicately, “but I am hoping with the crown it will open this time. We need to learn if there is a way to remove the crown, or even why the crown cannot be removed. It’s unwise to open it here, with how unpredictable the crown’s magic can be, so we will have to wait until after dinner.”

“You know I will try.” I look down at the pale blue carpet of the study, embarrassment warming my cheeks. “I should lie down when I try, in case I faint again like the last time.”

“I’m sorry, Del,” she says gingerly.

I scoff at her. “Do not apologize. I’m the one who made this mess. Well, I do blame Jedrick for not staying alive long enough for me to bring it to you. That was incredibly insensitive of him.”

Nueena’s eyes soften at my joke. “You stopped Kalvorn or whoever took him; it could have even been Versairen. They could be pretending to agree to go to war as an elaborate ploy to get the crown, who knows. Maybe the king of Versairen didn’t want his daughter to suffer anymore under Grayden. What matters is that it’s here, but it can’t stay with you, on you. You are half-mortal. We need to worry about the magic driving you into madness, too. I can funnel the magic out when you need, but Del, I can feel its fury when I touch it. The crown has had thousands of years to collect power, and it’s screaming for release. It will likely only accept me being a funnel through you for so long. If I’m being honest, I do not understand how you are all right now.”

“That’s not the word I would use. I feel lightheaded and drowning. The magic is a crushing weight within me while pushing me away.” Ignoring the sensation of the magic can only last for so long; it’s a building pressure. “Nu, we should discuss what will happen if it does take my life.” I loathe giving voice to my fear, but no matter how painful the thought is, it is a possibility.

Nueena looks taken aback. “We won’t let that happen.”

“But if it does, your mother and you are the only ones who may be able to control it or we must have a plan to destroy it. It has stopped siphoning magic, so if the crown is connected to the failing soil, we should see improvements, but who knows what else it is capable of. It’s a keyed item, wholly unpredictable.”

She gives a somber nod. “I understand what is at stake, but we will figure it out. Tavien will retrieve his family’s sword for us to study, we have the Forger’s Journal, and Reyna is seeking information with every library at her fingertips.”

“It might not be enough.”

“All we can do is hope it is enough.”

Reyna waits at the door with a box wrapped in silk in her hands. Nueena drops the wards, and I open the door for her. She passes it to me and I am only half-aware of the conversation they are having. I do not need to unwrap it; I have it memorized. It’s bound in leather so old it is soft to the touch. Part of one edge is burned, and wrapped around the whole book is a long leather cord and an enchanted gold lock that has always eluded me.

T avien and Leon return, Leon having found a book on fae plants and their medicinal purposes. He scribbles a note in a small leather-bound book he carries with him before looking up. “So this library is the capital?”

“Of the Ink Court,” Nueena answers without looking up from her scroll.

“So with there being no currency, how does one from the Ink Court buy things if nothing is sold here?” A scholar in pastel robes walks by the glass windows of the study, books piled high in her arms, and Leon points in her direction. “Say she saw a dress she liked. How would she get it? ”

“When she needs a new gown, she would simply be given it by someone like Hiliyah. Work robes are provided by the court.” Nueena writes something down.

Leon looks unconvinced by this. “But how?”

Putting his book down, Tavien patiently explains, “Ellova is a community. The Ink Court taught Hiliyah to read and write when she was in school. Every young dewling is educated by a member of the Ink Court. It all balances out in the end, but the transactions with the Ink Court have long-term value, rather than a short-term trade. Hiliyah herself may not be reimbursed for a single dress, but she benefited from the education she received, and if she has dewlings, they will also be educated at no cost to her. Members of the Ink Court are taken care of by the other courts, as their place in Ellova is to share, preserve, and pass on knowledge, and that has great value here.”

“Yes, but how does Hiliyah buy more fabric in that case?”

Tavien answers for me, “We all care for each other. Ellovians are not selfish like mortals and they have never known scarcity, so they have no fear of running out of necessities. Your society says, ‘If one dress is free, take them all,’ but here, you only take what you need.” Without looking up from his book, Tavien takes a folded cloth from his pocket and wordlessly hands it to Nueena, a moment before she sneezes.

“Thank you, my love,” she says.

“No one pays taxes to the crown like in Adreania,” I explain to Leon. “We share what we make and give what is needed. Courts create fast networks to ensure everyone has what they need.”

There are no windows to the outside, but the constant trickle of fae leaving the library lets us know dinner is soon. “Shall we pack up?” Nueena asks.

We leave the cozy study and head down towards the entrance. Tavien and Nueena stop to speak with many of the librarians.

Leon watches the busy library break for the evening meal as we leave. “It’s wonderful here. So peaceful and full of life.” He doesn’t have to say it; the wistfulness in his voice makes it clear what he is thinking. Ellova is a kingdom unlike Adreania in every way. Here everyone is cared for, none left to starve or suffer alone.

Leon and I are alone outside next to the dimly lit portal tree, waiting for Nueena and Tavien. “Hopefully Adreania will be a better place soon. They will see through Grayden’s lies. Once the cure is ready and all those you helped are healed, you can tell them of a different way to live. Adreania could learn much from Ellova, from my culture. You could be the one to show them.”

Leon nods. “Grayden will hold on to whatever power he has by whatever means necessary. If you come back with me, we could show Adreania a different way. I?—”

I cut him off. “Now is not the time.”

With my fae sight I can see his fist flex in frustration. “You deny something that is rightfully yours now. The crown sits on your head.”

“You act as if I can just walk in there and demand the throne. Grayden has an army who will still obey him. I was never meant to be a queen. I would probably hate it anyways. Lyrora would be a kind queen or they could elect new leaders.”

“Izadella, you would make a magnificent queen. Any kingdom would be extraordinarily lucky to have you lead them. You snuck into a dangerous realm where you would have been killed if you were discovered to bring food for those who needed it. Went to a castle cursed with hatred to get coins so those who didn’t have much could survive. Do you not see how much bravery, how much heart that took? The compassion, the fortitude. All beautiful, admirable qualities to have in a queen.” He whispers the last part, eyes shining with pride.

My knees shake at the way he is looking at me, with such reverence and admiration. The hope in his eyes is nearly blinding; it warms and terrifies every part of me.

“Let’s just focus on the elixir, all right? Then we can decide the next steps. I wish to help Adreania; I do. I don’t wish to see its citizens killed in a war over a crown that I have. My father was Adreanian, and my cousin and all she cares for are Adreanian, but for now—” I take his hand in mine .

He stares down at our intertwined fingers and squeezes.

“—this is all we can do. Hopefully it will be enough to convince them I do wish to help. I want to see a thriving kingdom ruled by someone who cares for them. This is the first step.”

“Adreania will be forever changed because of you, Izadella.”

I squeeze his hand back. “Because of all of us.”

Because of us.