The Flower Crown Princess

Part 28

Asdagh found a way for my ladies and I to leave the city. We've been on a boat for the past few days with a trusted crew and the hills are in sight. Nobody except Finen, Arkhil, and this crew knows we have left Larch Island and nobody except them know we're going to Amrach.

"Nivh!" I hear my brother's voice as we reach the docks that cloudy night. A bitter winds blows, whipping my uncovered hair into my face and my black lake- style skirt around my legs. "Nivh, are you alright?"

I stand as the boat docks and take my brother's hand. "I'm fine, Finen, but we need to talk. Immediately. It's incredibly crucial."

I step out of the boat and mount the horse my brother leads me to. 

"Go to the council room. I believe Maridi is waiting there."

A stab of fear jolts me. "No- Maridi can't know of this, at all."

"Why?"

"These are state secrets, Finen, she can't know." I bite my lip.

"She is the queen, whether she likes it or not. She needs to know."

"Trust me. She cannot know and you will not tell her."

I try to be as forceful as I possibly can and it seems to work.

"To the council room, then, and I'll make sure that she is somewhere else." He sounds wary but he listened. He'll be glad he did, I hope.

We clop up the streets quickly and I wince at the noise, but nobody is about, not a single candle burns in the city. Perhaps my anxiety makes the hooves louder than they are.

After an infinitely long ride, we dismount at the stables and I almost run to the doors. The council room is a large and echoing stone room, with a table in the middle and one tall, red- haired woman sitting there. "Finen," she says as she stands upon our entrance. "Nivh! You're certainly in a hurry- what's wrong?"

"I hate to say this, but you must leave the room," replies my brother coolly. "Nivh and I have a very crucial meeting."

Her face tightens in defiance and even the red, uncovered hair seems to curl more indignantly. Maridi folds her arms her chest. "I am queen of the hills, am I not? In name, at the very least?" 

"This matter does not concern you."

"Are you making me leave because I'm just a woman?"

"And what is Nivh?!" He is getting increasingly angry. "Just go, Maridi, and I will tell you the permitted information later if I see fit to do so."

She shoots him a death glare as she leaves, pulling on a hood as she walks. The door closes angrily behind the swish of her emerald skirt. 

Immediately I turn to Finen. "I need you to listen very, very carefully to me. Don't question me until I'm done."

He gestures with his hands. "I've never seen you so worked up. Go ahead."

"King Arkhil did not send the summons for me."

"What?"

"The rebels did. I know why now, but I'll get to that later. I arrived in Tuanc- the port city, you know- and the castle there was ill prepared to receive me. Oh, they were very gracious, but unprepared nonetheless. And when I arrived at Larch Island, and met with the king, it became very clear. I brought up that it might have been the traitors, rebels- whatever you want to call them, and he believed me. King Arkhil asked for any names or faces I may have and I didn't give them- I still wanted to protect the lives that I could. Besides, I didn't want to see my own sister- in law killed. Yes," I rush on, seeing his brown eyes widen and hearing the intake of breath. "Maridi has been an insider for the rebels for years. I sincerely hope nothing truly important has occurred in court since you were wed to her.

"The rebels, Finen, they are prevalent everywhere," I say in a whisper. I doubt that Maridi will be trying to listen at the door, but I can't take the chance. "I have been scared out of my wits. They're creepy- truly, truly creepy. To the point that I went and told King Arkhil what I knew. We came up with a plan. Currently the only people I know that are aware of this plan are the king, Prince Asdagh, and myself. I don't even know if King Arkhil told his wife."

"So what is this plan?"

"Hush, didn't I tell you not to interrupt? The plan was that I use a fake indignation at my arranged marriage to 'rebel' against those that put me in that position. The people I had given the king had been captured and I met with them, including the leader, who is, for absolute certain, our disowned and disgraced uncle."

"WHAT?!"

"I know how mad I sound, Finen, but it's true, every word! See -listen, I'll explain- the plan was that I 'join' their cause because I was 'indignant' about my marriage being planned without my consent. They believed me and the rebels count me as one of them. I've convinced our uncle."

"So... what do you plan to do with the information?"

"King Arkhil and I plan to have them all arrested when I knew they were all together. Those guilty would be killed for treason, of course, before blood could be spilt."

"When is that?"

I shake my head. "I don't know. I've not been one of them for very long. But here- if you don't let a word of this reach Maridi, I can continue on and get that information!"

There's a pause as Finen thinks and I look expectantly at him. 

"Finen?"

He looks up. "Yes?"

"Don't let this delay anything at all. I need to keep this a secret from the court and seem like a normal princess, um, as normal as I can be under the circumstances, anyways."

"Are you sure? Your wedding might need to be delayed a while, until the situation can be properly assessed." 

I walk over and shake my head. "No, Finen, it works perfectly! They're all going to be there- all the rebels. If anything it's an excellent way to watch them." 

Understanding spreads across his face. "Of course. Not a word of this will escape this room, Nivh, the secret is safe with me. But," he adds as an afterthought, "Maridi will be awfully upset if there isn't something that I tell her."  

"Tell her we went over wedding preparations. It's not completely a lie." 

"I'll do that. Now go to your rooms. There's a long few days ahead."  

*****

I go to dinner the next day to a very sullen Maridi next to an uncomfortable Finen. I assume she's upset that Finen didn't tell her everything he and I spoke of- but how could he? 

The door to the dining hall opens almost as soon as the meal is over and Asdagh walks in. With a smile and a bow, he greets the three of us warmly, though it is quite clear that he's completely drained. 

I hope nothing's wrong. It would be an awful shame if something were, but gladly I do not think anything will. The rebels are still under control. The plan is still intact. Nothing possibly could.