Chapter 221 Alive
Chapter 221 Alive
LIRA
"I am alive," I said. "I am here."
She pulled back, her eyes searching my face.
"Lira, what happened? What is going on? I saw you arrive on that dragon, I saw Cassian, I’ve been hearing the news that he was dead, I saw…”
"Cassian is alive," I said. "He is only badly injured, but he is alive. Sargon is dead. The war is over."
Elora's face went pale.
"Sargon is dead?"
"Yes. Cassian killed him in combat.”
"Then Prince Evander…”
She stopped.
I saw the fear flash across her face.
"Evander," I said. "What has he done?"
\-—————————
Elora took a breath.
Then she told me everything.
"I came to the palace to look for you," she said. "After I heard about the execution. I came as fast as I could but when I arrived everywhere was in chaos. I was confused, I did not understand what was happening. I thought you were Lady Lira of the Vale. I thought…”
"I know," I said. "I am sorry I did not tell you the truth. I should have. I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of losing you." I took her hands. "Afraid of what you would think of me."
Elora squeezed my hands.
"I would never have turned away from you," she said. "I do not care who you are. I care about you. I have always cared about you."
I felt tears prick at my eyes.
"Thank you," I whispered.
She nodded.
Then she continued.
"When I arrived, the Queen had sent the guards looking for you to kill you. My father and I requested an audience with her so she could pardon you, but before we could see her, Prince Evander arrived from the northern passes on dragon back. He was injured sobadly. His dragon had been burned. He told everyone that Cassian was dead after fighting Sargon. He said his body had been lost to the ocean."
"What?!”
"He also insisted on being crowned that evening," Elora continued. "He said the kingdom needed a leader. He said the war with Norwyn had to continue because Norwyn wouldn’t relent and their army was approaching the capital. The advisors were hesitant, they wanted to wait, to search for Cassian's body, but Evander would not listen."
"Of course he would not." My voice was bitter. "He wanted the throne. He has always wanted the throne. How could I have missed it?”
Elora nodded.
"With all the commotion, Calista had the nerve to ask what would happen to her," she said. "If Cassian was gone, what would become of her? Evander told her to leave the palace as he would not have her as his Queen. The Queen agreed."
I felt my eyes widen.
"Calista…”
"She tried to suggest marriage," Elora said. "She said she could marry Evander. Her father supported the idea. But Evander refused. He said he would rather hold another Dragon Queen Selection than marry her."
I shook my head.
"He truly does hate her. She didn’t take it well did she?”
"Oh no she didn’t. Lira, there is more." Elora's voice dropped. "Calista was furious. For the first time ever the Queen was not on her side. She angrily lashed out with her powers. The fire caught the Queen. It spread so fast, no one could stop it. The Queen was gravely injured."
I stared at her, my jaw drooping.
"The Queen…”
"She is still alive, barely. The healers are with her now. But Calista was arrested. Evander ordered it."
"And Evander?"
"He still insisted on being crowned today despite everything that has happened." Elora's voice was grim. "He is in the great hall now. The ceremony is about to begin."
\-——————-
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"The coronation," I said. "He is going to be crowned."
"Lira…”
"But Cassian is alive," I said. "He is injured, but he is alive. And Evander, Evander betrayed him. He led Cassian into a trap. He let him fall from that cliff when he could have helped. He…”
"Lira…”
"He cannot be crowned. He cannot."
I started walking.
"Lira, wait…”
I did not wait.
\-——————————
I ran through the corridors.
The palace was in chaos. Servants rushed past me, their faces pale, their voices urgent. Guards stood at every corner, their hands on their swords. I pushed through them, my heart pounding, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
I reached the great hall.
The doors were closed.
I pushed them open.
The hall was filled with nobles. They stood in clusters, their faces pale, their voices hushed. At the front of the hall, on the dais, stood Evander.
He was wearing the crown.
It was happening. He was being crowned.
"How could you do this when your King is still alive?!” I said. "Cassian is alive."
The hall went silent.
All eyes turned to me.
Evander's face went pale.
"Lira," he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I am here to stop you."
He laughed, a hollow, bitter sound.
"Stop me? You think you can stop me? I am the king now. I am…”
"Your brother is alive. Your plan to end him failed. He is in the physician’s ward. Go now and see for yourself.”
The words hung in the air.
"Evander," I said. "Cassian is alive. He is injured, but he is alive. He killed Sargon. The war is over. And you…”
I stepped forward.
"You let him fall. You let him die. You betrayed your own brother."
"Lira…”
"You did nothing when he was about to fall off that cliff. Nothing!”
Evander's face went pale.
"Lira, I can explain…”
"There is nothing to explain."
The doors behind me burst open.
Cassian walked into the hall with the help of Rennick and another guard.
He was pale, his body still bandaged, his face drawn with pain. But he was walking. He was alive. He was here.
The nobles gasped.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Cassian," Evander choked. "You, you are alive."
"Yes." Cassian's voice was cold. "And you are in a lot of trouble.”