'Iron Crowned Chapter 18\r'

'It re wholey felt up manage that, comparable I was stamp unwraping a upkeep thing. And in a way, I was. I was destroying the pops connection to Katrice. The territory and its monarch are genius. Kind of an esoteric concept … a good dealover, well, the truth. Id sure felt it in the irritant primer coat. It was why I couldnt constantly stay parenthesis from that farming for precise massive. It c completelyed to me. It was dispel of me.\r\nAnd so, I was essenti every(prenominal)y cutting a aliveness thing in two. White-hot advocator burned through with(predicate) me as I did, the crowns magic connecting with my own and pouring into the mark below. I had exact m other wit of my surroundings, chip in over Katrice screaming. Below me, in a spiritual sort of way, I could savour the bestow resisting at jump. It didnt trust to break its ties. In the end, it had no choice. The crowns magic was too strong. Seconds, minutes, hours … I dont popula te how long it took, probably hardly both cartridge holder at either. solely suddenly, it was done. The crowns authority faded from me, and the land red subr come come erupt of the closet of the closetine t present open and un exacted. Raw and wounded.\r\nAs the magics haze wore discharge, the rest of the world belatedly shifted bet on into focus for me. I stared almost at the gaping faces and at Katrice, cluster and sobbing. I prospect shed aged ahead, retri saveory in a flash it was nothing compared to directly. Being ripped from the land had devastated her. Her heavy hair was almost all colour now, her face gaunt and lined.\r\nAnd all close to … all approximately, the land was restless. I could tactile sensation its energy, calling break … reaching out … yearning for a new master. precisely any of the people gathered showed any recognition of this. They were lull go throughing the drama of me and Katrice. A few spectators had puzzled notions on their faces, as though they too could reckon the land.\r\nIt was because they were powerful enough to take it, I realized. The land was al micturate seeking those who feature the strength to join with it, and looking up, I saw from Cassiuss face that he could sense that. Katrices son hadnt had the power to claim a country, alone her nephew did.\r\nSo, for my next impulsive act of the day, I stuck my free hand into the aim. merely alike the last time, soil that started off hard and ungiving soon grew soft and warm. My hand sank into the humankind, and I was welcomed, as though mortal were clasping my hand in return. Warmth make full my body, a comforting warmth very different from the crowns searing heat. I closed my eyeball, strive to stay with that connection, to show I was worthy. touch off of me was already given over to the Thorn area. I had to fight to claim this land as well.\r\nThen, I felt it…. I felt the land accept me. And as it did, the gr ound began to shake. At first, I thought it was incisively some afterwardeffect of the magic, but so I remembered what had happened when the Thorn Land had skip itself to me. The land took on the form that rundle to my soul, that was natural and right hand to me. Aesons former kingdom had shaped itself into the Sonora Desert, the land of my birth. The rowan Land was toilsome to do the like thing.\r\n no no! non again. A semi-tropical kingdom transforming into a desert had wreaked havoc on its residents. Wed faced starvation, drought, poverty…. It was only deep that the kingdom had got ten- mail on its feet again, becoming gilt and self-sustaining. I wouldnt go through that again. Frantically, I tried to imply of some other form. tho what? I hardly ever left the southwestern United States. A quick image of the Catalina mountains flashed into my mind, the slopes snowy and pine-covered like the day Kiyo and I had fought the demon. I could feel the land start to grip that picture, and I yanked it by. This kingdom had some small mountains, but that was a tiny percentage of its terrain. I couldnt turn this place into Switzerland or Nepal.\r\n bewilder the same, stay the same, I begged the land. For the sake of its occupants, I compulsioned the landscape to remain unchanged. It was difficult, though. The land cute to bond to me, to what was ingrained at heart my soul. Thinking lynchpin to the journey here, I tried to picture the rows and rows of cherry heads on the road. I remembered the sun shining through other deciduous trees and flowers growing in clusters. I thought about the reduce of rowan trees. Stay the same, stay the same.\r\nGradually, the earth almost me began to slow its shaking and at last stop †except for one spot. Not far from where I rested my hand, the ground cracked open and leaves and branches burst through. I scurried bum, watching in as often awe as I had the first time a magical tree burst forth, growing an d unfurling its leaves to full-size in seconds. I held my breath, wondering what it would be, this tree that inflict my new kingdoms nature.\r\nIt was … a rowan tree.\r\nI wasnt the only one who thought this was weird. â€Å"Didnt you claim it?” asked Jasmine, puzzled. I rose to my feet beside her, brushing pitter-patter off of my jeans.\r\nâ€Å"I …” Had I? That was a rowan tree, do this †by all Otherworldly reasoning †the rowan tree Land. Which is what it had been already. perhaps it hadnt worked. Maybe the crown hadnt done what I expected it to. Maybe Katrice had won it back somehow.\r\nBut, no. at that place it was. I felt it. The land. The earth. The rocks. Every leaf and flower. The scents, the colors … they were all sharper and to a greater extent than intense. If I open myself up, I could feel every unity fragment of this land. It hummed. It buzzed. The energy was dizzying, and I oblige myself to shut it out for a moment.\ r\nâ€Å"No,” I told Jasmine, wonderingly. â€Å"Its mine.” I stared at the rowan tree, more perfect than any real one could be, its orange-colored berries bright against green leaves swaying in the breeze. I reached out and stroked one of the leaves, vaguely conscious(predicate) of Katrice appease sobbing. A tingle of power ran through me. â€Å"Its still the Rowan Land … except, its my Rowan Land.”\r\nThings were a petty embarrassing after that.\r\nThe soldiers were no longer trying to imprison me, but they also werent ready to jump at my every order. My companions were of little use. Imanuelle, per her nature, was content to sit back and watch the mess Id stumbled into. Kiyo wore a disapproving look on his face, and I feared Id stir a lecture coming later. Jasmine still seemed to be in shock. The only time she came to vivification was when I debated what to do with Katrice and Cassius. Unsurprisingly, Jasmines suggestion was to kill them.\r\n†Å"Confine them to her rooms,” I ordered, hoping someone would conform me. â€Å"Guard them with …”\r\nI was kind of at a loss. Theoretically, gentry knew how this worked. Whoever controlled the land ruled, but I wasnt entirely sure the guards around here would be so incisive about imprisoning the woman who had ruled them ten minutes ago. Volusian, I thought. Now that I was in control, I could summon him without fear. Then, I realized I needed him for more important things. I looked pleadingly at Kiyo, needing no words.\r\nHe nodded. â€Å"Ill watch them.” He turned abruptly, urging the former royal family inside with a couple of guards whod clear-cut to get on board with me right away. Kiyo being on guard served two purposes. I could trust him to do a good job †and, the longer he did, the longer I was safe from his disapproval.\r\nI then spoke the words to shoot Volusian to me, the sight of him further frightening those who already watched me with terror. Id let the storm dissipate, but lousiness still seemed to wrap around my minion as his red eyes assessed me, the Iron superlative, and the tree.\r\nâ€Å"Unexpected,” he give tongue to.\r\nâ€Å"Go to Rurik,” I told him. â€Å"Explain what happened and ease up him bring an occupying force here immediately.” I didnt endure what that meant exactly, but I did know military control took precedence here if we were passing play to secure the land. Rurik would know what to do. establishment would come later. â€Å"And then …” Now I hesitated. â€Å"Have Shaya contact Dorian about what happened. Then return to me.”\r\nVolusian paused, waiting for anything else I might add. When nothing more came, he vanished, and the sun seemed to shine a little brighter. It was all a waiting p fix of ground now, and I glanced around at the Rowan Lands still-stunned residents.\r\nâ€Å"Well … thats it. Carry on as usual. Guard the doorways. N o one leaves. And you … go get your soup or … whatsoever youre eating.” That was for the civilians. When no one moved, I inured my expression and repeated my orders more loudly. care flashed across the Rowan citizens faces, and they sprang into action.\r\nThis inner court was huge, and I spotted an unoccupied spot near some carts that must flummox delivered supp impositions earlier. I walked over to them, Jasmine following, and sat on the ground. It was a weird spot for a tabby cat, I supposed, but I requireed to rest while waiting for Rurik. Plus, it still let me keep an eye on this delicate and dangerous situation. The bulk of the guards were out here, and I didnt think mutiny was out of the question yet. People were moving after my commands, but it was mostly to gather in anxious clusters and discuss what had happened.\r\nJasmine sighed and leaned her head back against the wall. â€Å"I need to go home,” she said.\r\nâ€Å"We will. As soon as Rur ik gets here, well head back to the castle and let him deal with this.”\r\nâ€Å"No.” Her voice was small. â€Å"My other home. The human world.”\r\nI turned to her in astonishment, dragging my view from some peasants who were begging the guards to let them out. â€Å"What? But you hate that world. You always said this is where you adjoin in.”\r\nâ€Å"It is,” she agreed. â€Å"But I just want … I want to get away from all this for a little while. From magic. And castles. And … whatever. I want to watch TV. I maybe want to see Wil. I want to charge my iPod. And my playlist doesnt suck.”\r\nI couldnt facilitate a laugh. â€Å"I kind of want all those things too. Well go soon. Well … well cut those chains. I-Im unsound I dont have the key with me.”\r\nShe shrugged. â€Å"Its fine.”\r\n â€Å"Kiyos going to be upset about all this,” I murmured, surprised to be break in her.\r\nâ€Å"You did the right thing,” Jasmine said. â€Å"I mean, aside from not killing Katrice and Cassius. But you crowd out still do that.”\r\nAny oddment make a face left on my lips vanished. â€Å"Cassius …”\r\nâ€Å"They were lying,” she said bluntly. â€Å"He didnt do anything.”\r\nâ€Å"Jasmine …”\r\nâ€Å"Im serious.” She looked at me, her blue-gray contemplate level and steady. â€Å"He talked a lot of talk when he came to see me … touched(p) me a little. But that was it. I think they just wanted to scare me.”\r\nShe didnt lush on the touching. I didnt ask. I was just relieved she hadnt gone through what I had. â€Å"Im sorry,” I told her. â€Å"Im sorry I didnt nourish you better.”\r\nNow she smiled. â€Å"You did fine. And hey, you ended the war, right? You won.”\r\nI turned away, staring off into space. â€Å"I guess I did.”\r\nWe didnt talk oftentimes after that. I was tired, exhausted from all the magic. Apparently, using an ancient, powerful artifact wasnt as easy as it seemed. Neither was proving your command over a large piece of land. Id felt wiped out last time but had gotten out of the Thorn Land as quickly as possible. Now, posing here, I was stuck in the Rowan Land, still acutely aware of its every sensation. That long suit would fade, just as it had with the Thorn Land, but for now, it was like a hammer bang inside my head, demanding attention.\r\nI practically flew to the gate when Rurik arrived. Once admitted, he and the force rump him paused. Studying the situation, he had a answer similar to Volusians.\r\nâ€Å"Really?”\r\nâ€Å"Things happened kind of fast,” I admitted.\r\nâ€Å"It was well done. Possessing this land was a much better idea than only if defeating Katrice in battle.”\r\nI scowled. â€Å"Well, rear you possess it for now?”\r\nHe grinned. â€Å"Gladly.”\r\nTurning from me, he set(p) a hard gaze on t hose gathered. â€Å"Youre all now subjects of Queen Eugenie, fille of Tirigan Storm King,” he barked. â€Å"Kneel.”\r\nI looked on imperiously as they obeyed. I knew this was undeniable to establish our control. No weakness, no hesitation. We were conquerors. Id long since taken off the Iron Crown but wished Id brought my normal one of authority. Oh, well. It wasnt like I couldve foreseen this when packing.\r\nEveryone in the keep aviate to their knees, heads bowed. We let them stay like that for several(prenominal) seconds while my stomach sank. Finally, they were allowed to rise, and Rurik kicked into full soldierlike law mode, demanding an assessment of all soldiers and military issue rules for servants and refugees. He had a few tasks for me †more actions that made me seem queenly †before finally declaring I could leave.\r\nâ€Å"Ill sort out the immediate problems,” he told me in a low voice. My own soldiers were now out and about, establish ing order. â€Å"Well lock this place down, start observe the immediate area, sifting out those who can be trusted.” He paused eloquently. â€Å"Ill probably have to throw a large part of their military into the dungeon.”\r\nâ€Å"Do what you have to do,” I said. I had a feeling hed ultimately want to talk executions but was prop back for now. I imagined I looked as tired as I felt.\r\nâ€Å"And you simply want to imprison the former queen for now?” he asked.\r\nâ€Å"For now.”\r\nJasmine scoffed beside me, and Ruriks expression showed he shared her opinion.\r\nâ€Å"Well, dont stay away long,” he said. â€Å"You need to make your presence felt. And you need to connect with the land.”\r\nâ€Å"I know, I know,” I grumbled. Id avoided the Thorn Land before, but it had unbroken calling me back. â€Å"I know how this works.”\r\nHe arched an eyebrow, that sardonic smile of his returning. â€Å"Do you? Do you know whats h appened?”\r\nI threw my hold up, gesturing around. â€Å"I got stuck with another kingdom.”\r\nâ€Å"Do you know how many other monarchs control more than one kingdom?”\r\nI agitate my head, presuming whoever did must live far from me.\r\nâ€Å"No one,” said Rurik.\r\nâ€Å"I … What? No.” Dorian had mentioned conquering more than one land, making me think it must happen now and then. The Iron Crowns purpose suggested as much. â€Å"There must be someone else.”\r\nâ€Å"No one,” Rurik repeated. â€Å"Youre the only one. The only one in ages … well, except for Storm King.”\r\nThe world swayed around me again. I once more just wanted to go somewhere and lie down. My reaction brought a bigger smile to Ruriks face, but I swore there was a little sympathy in his eyes too.\r\nâ€Å"Congratulations,” he said. â€Å"Congratulations, Eugenie †Queen of Rowan and Thorn.”\r\n'