#Excerpt 1 - From Across the Sea

PROLOGUE

FREED KINGDOM OF TOMMEL

DEEF DESERT

HOT SEASON, 287

The world had been waiting for this day.

It was time.

The heat of the Deef Desert bore down on us. Inside the tent, where I sat in great splendor, the air around me was stiff and the pretty clothes itched badly. The audience outside audibly mumbled their curious observations and shuffled nervously. Like us, they were waiting for the rest of the delegates to gather.

And for what purpose was it for, these people have asked me. The world war had been long and arduous and should have ended by now. We should have capitulated to Mother Church. But we refused year after year, and we were going to sign the last agreement between the freed nations of the world Enos – the evolution of the United Front to the League of Peace.

Louder murmurs were heard behind the cloth; the line of delegates was starting to wind its way to us. It would be another few minutes before they reached the tent and began the great ceremony, they said. Then, the tone of the conversations changed. I discerned something about certain fashions, from the Parchens to the Swans of Stepnick, and wondered why they speculated about clothing.

At least it’s better than nitpicking the finer details of the charter.

Beside me, Harold snickered.

I eyed him carefully. He was supposed to be guarding me before I was escorted to the tables outside. I wondered what he was thinking of that made him snort. Constantine called him a fucking stupid fool and always told me to ignore him. I thought he was sweet.

Then, Harold broke protocol and peeked through the flap in the tent. His broad shoulders shook. I thought he was going to collapse, but he was only laughing into the inside of his arms. He turned to me and motioned his head to the onlookers. I joined him.

Everyone was fighting.

Most of it was verbal with finger wagging. Monarchs, leaders and courtiers alike wanted to be loud and be the only voice heard. I knew that many of them had been vying for power for decades and this was their only chance. I wondered if they would be this true to my face.

No. They’d rather coddle next to power and then take it.    

“Do you think they would stop when it’s time?” I asked anxiously.

Harold shrugged. “Maybe when my brother shows.”

Luckily, Constantine arrived a few minutes later.

“It’s time to leave, Leader Victoria.” He offered his arm.

I took the proffered support and faced the blinding sunshine with him.

The unbearable oppression of the Tommel hot season bore down hard on me. The world was surreal, shimmering blurs of figures until my vision focused. Immediately, I felt my face burn and sweat pour down my body as we took our seats nearby. Harold’s reassuring presence loomed heavily behind me.

Soon, the arguing ceased. Everyone’s eyes were largely focused on me. While waiting for my speech, they whispered only to each other about how capable I was. I honestly could not blame them. Behind my smile, I tried to see how this impossible mission became reality and shook my head with a smile. None of them believed in me to begin with.

As I began my speech, my mind wandered to the past. My home of Cennix was a faraway concept. Hiding with the United Front was another. My initial days in Cherls even seemed like another lifetime ago. When I closed my eyes and told a joke to the delegates, I saw Poppa’s weary head bouncing into a basket…

I opened my eyes to the new developing world order and started again.