The Fall of the Stars Book 1: Wheels of War

Susei Turner II

The guards of Left Tower had grown irritating to Susei. Their constant vying for her favor had become so plain and brazen, it was embarrassing to watch. Lady Antwater probably told them that I'm meant to marry one of them, she thought, though she had no intention of marrying any of them. Perhaps this is punishment for letting Sir Gerey lead me to the tourney.

That morning she had to suffer being escorted by Lyam, an Erian boy who thought, for some reason, that his golden curls were the key to Susei's heart. He always wanted her to touch it and ask how it felt and how it made her feel. Though all of the other guards were helmed, he always chose to go without. That morning he had asked if she would like to braid his hair.

I don't know why he thinks I would. "Maybe another time," she said. "You told me that Lady Antwater wanted me to meet her on Sweat Street."

"She did, my lady, but she also said that we could take our time."

"I'd like to meet with her now, Sir."

He must have gotten the hint after that. He still walked with no helm on, but he was silent and didn't ask again for Susei to touch his hair or braid it or play in it. The streets had returned to normal after lulling when Rynn was injured. When Rynn finally revealed himself to the public, everyone rejoiced, but Susei was saddened to see him wearing an eye patch. She called out to him, but he did not seem to notice she was there in the crowd. Perhaps she sounded like every other girl calling out his name. His father was there, she recalled. King Rickardo was very tall and strong looking. I wonder if Rynn will get that tall, she remembered thinking, forgetting though that he was already a man grown.

"Susei, my sweet," Lady Antwater called from a crowded table in an expensive looking diner. The crowd consisted of all her annoying guards. "Please, have a seat with me."

Susei sat next to her, between Lady Antwater and an Altarine guard. It was an especially humid day, and all the armored men loitering about did naught but make it feel much hotter.

"You are beautiful as ever, Susei." Lady Antwater stroked Susei's hair and caressed her face. "I'm afraid I have a dilemma, my child."

"What is it, my lady?"

"You see, there is an election coming up. Here in Mewood."

"An election?" Prior to Sir Rynn taking her, Susei had never been to Mewood. She only knew it was a domain of the Starfront Kingdom whose walls towered as tall as the trees. She had believed that maybe it was Sir Rynn's seat.

"Yes, love, the Lord Mayor is voted in among the landowners in this here wooded city," she said. "One must own land themselves to even be eligible to run, you see. Our Lady Mary has served as Lady Mayor for six years now - two terms!" Lady Antwater scoffed. "She only managed so because she is the bastard's favorite and the king goes to lengths to appease that baseborn Erian mongrel of his."

"Are you running in the next election, my lady?"

"But of course I do, child. To be sure, the lady Mary has been most agreeable to me, and she has yet to give me cause to fuss her, but I do not believe it right for one woman to rule for so long when another, such as I, could be more capable."

Capable in what way? Susei meant to ask. 

"Rynn seems to have a similar fascination with you that I perhaps could use to my advantage. I plan to have you play as a major force in my coming campaign."

"I do not believe Sir Rynn cares much about me, my lady. I haven't spoken to him since he brought me here... He has likely forgotten about me. Now if it was Sir Gerey or Richye..."