Chained to old wounds

CH8

Morgan

Ael walked on the outside of the street like an escort. Soon, we reached a seemingly ordinary house on the outskirts of town. We entered, and I found the inside was carved with dark stone, like a replica of the palace.

“It’s lovely.”

He offered to take the wet clothes from me and got me a change of clean, dry clothing. After bathing and changing. I followed him into a large room filled with scrolls. The scent in the air reminded me of the palace.

“I can only guess that you are eager to return home and deal with your family’s situation, but could I ask that you return to the palace if only to let them know that you are fine? Your… escape caused quite the uproar.”

I frowned and stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“You say you’re trapped on this side, yet you seem to know a lot about what happened today.”

Ael smiled back at me and gestured ahead.

“We are trapped, but we have ways to communicate across the veil. I’ll show you.”

I followed him around the corner to a smaller room where a large crystal mirror stood against the wall. He approached it, and the surface changed. It started to glow like the gateway in the cave.

I could see people rushing through the foyer. The old man was fuming, and several people were gathered in front of the gateway through which I had escaped.

“We have to recover her! Send a message to those on the other side. Doctor Shang, what about my

son?”

I narrowed in on the man called Doctor Shang.

That was it. I needed to open the veil, but if I wanted Hiro to wake up, I needed to speak to him.

“Once upon a time, they were gateways.”

I glanced at him. He placed his hand against the surface, and it was solid. I hesitated and stuck my

hand out, hoping it worked because who the hell wanted to hike back to thetains? The

CH8

surface shimmered, but I passed my hand through it until I could feel the tingling air of the other realm on my skin.

1 yanked my hand back and turned to look at Ael. His eyes were glossy with tears. Someone let out a soft sob behind me, and I turned. I recognized the woman from the Trial, too.

“I’d never… let myself hope,” she whispered and bowed her head. “Your Majesty, it is an honor to meet you. If there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask.”

I winced at her words, but I nodded and looked at Ael.

“That man,

Doctor Shang, who is he?”

“He’s the youngest imperial doctor since the time of his father. He and the crown prince grew up

together.”

That meant he likely knew that Crown Prince Fake Sleeper was awake. I looked back at the mirror, listening to him tell the old man that his son was still asleep. The old man looked down, his shoulders slumped, and the man beside him, the younger one who had hit on me, looked pissed off.

“Who is that man?”

“Prince Keiji,” Ael said, his voice stiff. “He’s been vying for the crown prince’s position since he

fell comatose.”

I could almost roll my eyes. Wasn’t it obvious that his brother was likely behind his poisoning? I glanced at the old man, then at the old men who were in procession around him. It was either Keiji or one of the Elders who was interested in keeping Fake Sleeper off the throne.

I shook my head. It hardly mattered to me. Once I figured out how to open the veil, I wasn’t going to stick around. My brother needed me, and I had a family to dig out of the hole. I would have been happy to let them fall to ruin, but I could hear my dad from so many years ago telling me that the Ryuyama legacy had withstood far darker times than now. He’d turn over in his grave if I

didn’t at least try to save the family business.

“Before I get lost in research,” I said. “Could you take me home? I’d like to speak to my uncle for at

moment.”

“I’ll ready a cart at once!” She was gone before I could stop her. I shook my head and looked at Ael.

“Once I open the veil… is there any chance this whole queen thing will go away?”

CHS

Ael’s eyes widened. “Ms. Ryuyama… you will be able to open the veil and keep it open precisely because you are queen.

I set my jaw. “Then, once everyone who has been trapped over her returns, then what?”

His eyes softened. “You misunderstand. There is no way to shed the position of queen except in death.”

“But he’s in a coma, and he’s not even king!”

He shook his head. “The crown prince was not formally coronated. That much is true, but his father is only acting as regent. He was chosen. His scales turned black and have remained so as far as the reports say. He is as much king as his father had once been.”

Making me queen.

“And if he dies?” I asked. “He’s been in a coma for centuries.”

He shook his head. “A new queen would have to be chosen… after your death or abdication.”

I clutched my fist. “You’re telling me that the Trial would happen again?”

“I am sorry, but-”

“You’re sorry?” I hissed. “I understand you’re just a vassal to this nonsense, but even you can see that it’s wrong, can’t you?”

He lowered his gaze and took a deep breath. “… once, the Trial did not result in death.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

“When the previous queen was chosen, many had gone through the Trial and had not died. She was not human, and there has never been a human in the position before.” He met my gaze. “It wasn’t until her murder that the Trial turned to fatal.”

I searched his face, looking for the lie, but there wasn’t one.

“No one knows why?”

He shook his head. “It would… likely be in the queen’s journals, but no one but another queen can read them.”

“The cart is ready for you.”

CH8

I looked over at her and then back to Ael. I lifted my chin and took a deep breath.

די

won’t be gone long, but in your opinion, what would it take for Doctor Shang to treat my brother?”

He blinked. “A copy of his medical records and payment, but honestly, he would do it just for the asking if you could open the veil.”

“I don’t believe in free labor, but tell me. He has a long–lost lover on this side or something?”

He smiled. “His twin sister, actually… And she is in failing health.”

I turned to the door, wracking my mind. “Get me a copy of her medical records, too. I’ll be back in an hour.”

“It will be done.”

ng sound

I headed out the door after the woman and followed her out to the cart. Then, a neighing caught my ear. She gasped as I turned to look at the horse from earlier.

I smiled, reaching up. “Here to give me another ride?”

Chapter Comments

Magna V Sixty–Five

love the mysterious magical horse!

Phyllis Neel

POST COMMENT

I really love this story and being an equestrian makes me love

it more! Brilliant

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