19. En’zal

Khi'Zal enters the throne room. He needs only a single look at my face to know what I am feeling.

"I take it that didn't go as planned?"

I shake my head. "I thought the Council was wise. I thought wrong."

My brother chuckles. "A bunch of useless old fucks, the lot of them. Half of them have been in power for so long they forgot what it means to lead."

"Make sure that never happens to me, Khi"Zal."

"That's why you keep me around, isn't it? To keep you on the right path."

"Then right now I need you to keep me on the right path, brother. Every road I see leads to a global war."

"What does the Council want?"

"King Zho'Ron said that if I do not return Stella to King Ro'Kal immediately, they will join Kalnia in the war against us."

Khi"Zal utters a string of dark and vicious curses.

"I say let them! We can take them all on!" Khi"Zal bristles. "Bring it!"

"No, we cannot," I say. "And you know that. The combined might of the Council will smash us to bits."

"Fuck! I do know that. Fuck!"

Khi"Zal sits down on the marble steps in front of my throne. He looks down at the floor and we stay silent for a moment as we ruminate.

"Stella… what does she mean to you, brother?" Khi"Zal asks.

"Everything," I say. "When I'm with her, I am free. I am happy. She brightens up every room she is in. I want to have her here with me, by my side. On my throne next to me. As my Queen."

This is the first time I've said those words out loud, but as I speak them, I know in my heart that they are true. This is where she belongs: Ruling this beautiful country with me.

Khi"Zal nods. "Then we'll make it so. The Council be damned."

I suck in a breath. "I wish that was possible, but the combined weight of their forces…"

"Their forces will shatter on our defenses like water on stone. Besides, the Council is not unanimous. I have a network of spies, brother. I know what goes in throne rooms all across Erullia, and the Council is divided."

"You speak of war," I say as I take a deep breath. "A Great War that consumes all the Erullian Houses."

Our planet has known relative peace for four centuries. The last Great War decimated our population, and now our technology is much more advanced. A war of all against all is something I have always tried to avoid as king, but now, it's on my doorstep regardless.

Khi"Zal nods gravely. "Yes, my king. I know what you're thinking. You do not wish to start a Great War. Unfortunately, it is not up to you. Giving up Stella — which is not an option, to be clear — would only temporarily appease Kalnia. And then what? They would keep pushing and escalating, no matter what. Things have been set in motion. All that we can do is play our parts, and emerge victorious — for the good of Erullians everywhere."

My brother is right.

Giving up Stella is not an option.

Defeat is not an option.

I will protect my home, my people, and my mate, at all costs.

"You are correct, brother. Thank you for your guidance."

"No, thank you, En'Zal," Khi"Zal says. "Our people are blessed to have you as their leader."

"I need to see Stella," I say. "Now."