Chapter 14: The Queen's Lie
"What happened to our northern sister tribe?" the Queen asked.
She sat on a throne carved from pale wood so perfectly it looked grown, not cut. Her posture was relaxed, but the room around her wasn't. Too many eyes. Too much quiet.
I sat at their long table eating fruit like I'd never see food again.
Some of it I didn't recognize. Some of it I didn't care recognize. It was sweet, bright, and my mouth didn't want to stop.
"There was a war between elves and humans," I said between bites. "Years of slaughter. Half-elves dying on both sides. Eventually, a peace treaty."
The Queen watched me closely.
"The elves stayed isolated in their forests," I continued. "No sea access."
"So they're still alive," the Queen said.
"The last time I was in Rovena was four years ago, your grace," I said. "Slavers came and took me away."
A girl leaned in and whispered to the Queen.
The Queen's face cooled.
"You lie," she said. "My people checked you. You have no slaver's mark."
I swallowed and pointed with my fruit like it was a lecture.
"That's because there's no slaver's mark for blacksmith slaves," I said. "Rowanda enslaved me. She'll confirm it."
I took another bite of a red-orange-green fruit and practically moaned.
"Mmh. Nice. What do you call this again?"
"It's a mango," the Queen said, not amused. "So this woman is your slaver… and also your companion?"
I turned to Rowanda. "Hey. The Queen wants to know if I'm still your slave or not."
Rowanda didn't look up from her drink.
"You were never a slave," she said. "You have no idea what a real slave is put through in Ilana. No slave owns an armoury and a house. And no slave gets paid."
I stopped chewing.
Stared at her.
"So you made me believe I'm your slave for four years?" I asked slowly. "I could've left anytime?"
Rowanda's eyes slid to me, bored and sharp.
"I never said you were my slave," she replied. "I said you were my armourer. You worked for me."
I didn't know whether to be angry or relieved.
I didn't know which emotion was more embarrassing.
In the end, I got over it because the truth was ugly either way.
Even if I could've left… where would I go?
I looked back at the Queen blankly.
"She says I was never a slave," I said. "I just thought I was one."
The Queen's fingers tightened on the armrest.
"Enough," she said. "What happened to the King who led the elves fifty years ago? King Ca'Eleva."
"Oh," I said. "He died. Now his son rules. Ca'Preva."
The Queen's face went still.
"Ca'Preva?" she repeated.
"Yes," I said, now chewing an oval fruit that seemed to be growing hair. "How do you eat this thing?"
The Queen didn't blink.
"My son is still alive," she said quietly.
I paused.
"But the elders told me he died fifty years ago."
Her voice hardened like winter.
"Are you lying to me, human?"
Before I could answer, three old elves entered the room.
One spoke, voice like dry leaves.
"The boy is not lying, your grace."
The Queen's head turned slowly.
"We have been lying to you for fifty years," the elder continued. "Your son has been alive all this time."
My head started to spin.