Chapter 73 The Shrine of Truths II
Mara turned. Ran to the exit. The seal opened. She burst through. Found Zevran with his fist raised. About to punch the door.
"I am okay! I am alive!"
"Mara!" He grabbed her. Held her. "You were in there for an hour and a half! We thought…"
"I know. I am sorry. But I have good news. The goddess gave me a blessing. Suppressed the fragment. I have a year before it becomes a problem again."
"A year? That is all?"
"It is enough. Enough to choose a successor. Train them. Then step down."
"Step down? You mean…"
"I am not going to be queen anymore. After this year. After I make sure the kingdom is stable. I am leaving. Disappearing. Going somewhere the fragment cannot hurt anyone."
"And where do I fit in this plan?"
"You come with me. If you want. We find somewhere quiet. Somewhere safe. We live the rest of our lives in peace."
"What about Isla?"
"She stays. Takes over. She is strong enough. Smart enough. She will be a better queen than I ever was."
"Does she know about this?"
"Not yet. I will tell her when we get back. Give her time to prepare. To accept it."
"She will not accept it. She will fight. Say we are abandoning her."
"Maybe. But it is the right choice. The only choice. I cannot risk the fragment escaping. Cannot risk becoming what the Shadow King became."
Zevran pulled her close. "Then we have one year. One year to fix everything. One year to make sure the kingdom is safe. One year to say goodbye."
"One year. That is all we get."
They stood there. Holding each other. While the others watched silently.
A year. Twelve months. Three hundred sixty-five days.
It sounded like a lot. But Mara knew it would pass quickly. Too quickly.
And then she would have to leave. Leave Isla. Leave the kingdom. Leave everything she had built.
But it was necessary. It was right. It was the only way to keep everyone safe.
Even if it broke her heart to do it.
"Come on," she said finally. "We need to get back. Demetrius is still coming. We still have a war to prepare for. And I still have a kingdom to protect. For one more year."
They started the long journey home. Toward the city. Toward the future. Toward the year that would change everything.
Above them, storm clouds gathered. Thunder rolled. And somewhere far away, Demetrius smiled. His army was ready. His plans were in motion. And the Moon Wolf was weaker than ever before.
Demetrius stood on a hilltop. His army spread behind him. Three thousand soldiers. All loyal. All deadly.
"My lord," his general approached. "The scouts report the Moon Wolf has been to the shrine. She met with the goddess."
"And?"
"The goddess blessed her. Suppressed the fragment. Gave her one year before it becomes a problem again."
Demetrius smiled. "One year. How generous. The goddess thinks that will be enough time for Mara to step down. To disappear. To stop being a threat."
"Will it be enough time?"
"No. Because I am not waiting one year. I am attacking now. While she is weak. While the blessing limits her power. While she thinks she has time to prepare."
"The men are ready. We can march within the hour."
"Good. Send word to the front lines. We move at dawn. Fast and hard. Give them no time to prepare proper defenses."
"What about King Darius? The reports say he is at the Moon Wolf's city. Offering alliance."
"Let him. It changes nothing. Darius is old. Weak. His armies are scattered. He cannot help them. Cannot save them. They will fall. All of them."
The general bowed and left. Demetrius looked at the distant city. So small from here. So vulnerable.
"One year," he whispered. "The goddess gave you one year. But I am giving you one week. Enjoy your peace while it lasts. It ends soon."