The Catalyst

Chapter 53

Seeing Tomas Clay across the meeting room stirred emotions that were strangely subdued, like they were another person's feelings and she, a spectator. Affection proved the strongest as she took in his deep-set blue eyes, curling light brown hair, unshaven jaw, and his black and gold uniform. His sword was unbuckled, leaning against the wall behind him. He appeared conflicted as he returned her stare. Why had he come here? How much did he know?

Tessa addressed the emperor, "Even though I'm no longer your son's wife, I am still Fellera's queen. Why was I not made aware of this meeting?"

Shezenos sat in front of a map, flanked by two red-clad men. Facing his father, Amary distastefully examined Tessa's outfit.

"But you are not queen anymore," Shezenos replied. "Your brother is king."

"A temporary situation," she said.

Tomas rose from his seat. "My queen, I feared for you. I'm glad to see you well."

"What did he say?" Shezenos asked the man beside him.

"He, um, he fears the queen . . . might fall in a well."

The Dragon chuckled. Tessa repressed the urge to roll her eyes.

"I believe this meeting could do with a better translator," she said first in Azurian, then in Felleran for Tomas' sake.

His relief was evident. "Yes, thank you. I don't think they understood a single word of what I said. And they wouldn't tell me where you were. Do they speak Felleran?"

"No." She took the free seat next to Dylani, ignoring Shezenos when he asked his parody of a translator what was being said.

Tomas sat down as well. "I came as soon as I heard about the coup. I took one hundred of my best men with me. We set up camp a few miles east."

"What did he say?" Shezenos snapped, his translator sputtering out illogical sentences.

"Father," Amary said tiredly, "you should fire this imbecile."

Tessa kept her focus on Tomas. "How did you know I'd come to Blue Heron?"

"It just made sense. I figured you'd want an army to back you for your return. And I heard Myzian and Bellissa escaped with you. Myzian would want to come here, and I know Bellissa is Etreoni."

"So, you came after me right away? You didn't stop by Veicira first?" He shook his head. "Did you know your son was part of the coup?"

Tomas went pale. "Yes. A messenger came to the barracks with news of what had transpired. Tessa, I . . ." He cursed under his breath. "My queen, I cannot find the words to say how mortified I am by what my son did."

"What the fuck are they saying?" Shezenos shouted. Amary sighed wearily.

"Enough," Tessa said in Azurian. "This is ridiculous. I demand to speak with my captain privately."

"No!" Shezenos slammed the table with his fists, reminding her of an angry toddler.

"Then we will leave." Tessa stepped away from the table. "Tomas, come."

Tomas picked up his sword and strapped it on with.

But Shezenos wasn't having it. "You do not have authority here, Tessa Nightvale! Arrest her!" His men scrambled up and made to grab her. Tomas' sword hissed out of its scabbard.

Then suddenly bright orange flames licked up the men's uniforms from trousers to breastplates, and they let forth terrified screams. Tessa closed her fists and the flames disappeared. Except for a few tears in their blackened uniforms, the men seemed unharmed.