The tent in which Mattis led me was dark and inadequately lit by dozens of oil lamps, which lined the sides of the enormous interior. The entire complex stunk of burning oil and a putrid incense that tried to mask the oil smell but ended up joining the stench to create one that was all together new and unpleasant. I wrinkled my nose and tried my best to keep myself from covering my face. Behind me, I heard Lady Ellena inhale sharply before walking through the tent flaps, as if hoping the breath she gathered in the fresh air would last her through the entire meeting. I wished I had thought of that as well. Only Mattis seemed unaffected by the nauseating fragrance that hung heavily in the dim tent.
“Welcome,” a voice boomed from the shadows in the back.
Commander Mattis clasped my wrist and tugged me forward, and I stumblingly followed him. The floor of the tent was carpeted, and couches and chair lined the walls between the oil lanterns. There were people seated on them, muscular and silent, most of them holding weapons. They watched me silently as I was dragged to the massive throne at the end of the carpet trail. Mattis stepped aside, pulling me forward and releasing my wrist so I almost had to fall to one knee to stop myself. Hesitantly, I glanced up at the King of the Huryl.
He was a massively fat man. I had to bite my tongue to keep from gasping out loud. He was not as I had pictured him at all. A man who didn’t seem capable of rising from his chair unaided led a country that prided itself on its warriors? He wore no shirt, and dozens of golden chains were spread across his ample chest. There were bracelets half hidden by the folds of fat on his arms, and massive rings on his chubby fingers. His face was very wide, and reminded me of a toad with a long thin mouth. His eyes were small and pointy and, in spite of the cool mountain air, he was sweating profusely. His own body odour added a final spice to the overpowering stench already in the air. He had greasy black hair that hung to his shoulders and a tiny gold crown perched on the top of his massive head. I bowed my head to hide my gagging reflex.
“Welcome,” the toad king said again, his enormous mouth curling into a broad smile. “I am Cedrik, King of the Huryl.”
I forced a polite smile on my face. “Greetings, Your Majesty. I am – “
“Leila Sinclair, yes,” Cedrik replied. “I had you brought to the Tower so I might meet you.”
I stifled my growing anger. “I am here, Your Majesty.”
The king seemed to be ignoring me as he reached out with one massive hand to grab a chicken off a servant’s tray. Without a moment’s hesitation, he bit into it. I grimaced and tried to avert my eyes as flecks of chicken sprayed through the air as he spoke.
“Leila, you are here to fulfill the prophecy given to us by the Prophet. You are the warrior we have been waiting for, and you will give me the greatest power in the world. That’s why I brought you here. I need that power to win this foolish war.”
I blinked in surprise. King Cedrik looked at me expectantly with his frog-like eyes and I found my gaze wandering to anything by him. My eyes came to rest on a tiny pedestal that sat near the king’s throne. On it was a small silver sphere, protected by a glass covering. It was the size of a quarter from my world, and hardly looked important to me. My eyes continued their journey until I spotted several of the armed men I had passed were staring at me expectantly.
“Give me the power, Leila Sinclair, and I will give you your freedom,” Cedrik said more insistently. “Deny me, and you will not leave this tent alive.”
I swallowed hard. How did I tell this king that I had no idea what he was talking about? I had no power to give him, anymore than I had to give the Dyrel or the spirits. Everyone who was searching for me was asking me for something I didn’t have. I put on my most pleasant smile and bowed my head to the King.
“Your Majesty, I cannot bestow the power on you until I have see your worth. How can I proclaim you the mightiest if you have not even won a simple war? Hardly a difficult task for the greatest person in Huryl.”
I heard Mattis inhale his breath sharply as if in warning. Cedrik’s eyes were starting to bug out of his head at my insolence, and I thought belatedly that perhaps I had gone a bit too far. His toad mouth opened and closed, making him look even more amphibious, as he tried to articulate his outrage.
“Forgive her, Majesty,” Ellena’s voice came from beside me. “She is a foreigner and can hardly be expected to recognize your power in such humble conditions.”
I glanced over at the woman, but she kept her gaze firmly on the king. I once again noticed the delicateness of her features, as if she would break if struck. The King seemed to deflate at the sorceress’ appeasements and nodded his enormous head.
“And how can we be certain this is the girl of the prophecy,” Ellena continued. “She had done nothing to show us that she possesses the power you deserve, Majesty.”
My mouth dropped open. One minute she was saving me, the next condemning me? I could not prove to the King or anyone else that I was the warrior of the Huryl. What had the prophecy said? Earth in hand, water under foot, air in breath, fire in eyes? I didn’t have any of those things.
“You speak wisely, Sorceress Ellena,” Cedrik agreed. “We will arrange a test for the Warrior of the Huryl, to see if she is who she claims to be. Mattis, make the arrangements, and in the meantime, take her from my sight.”
Ellena and Mattis bowed to King Cedrik. Ellena took me firmly by the arm and led me back down the carpeted corridor and into the fresh air outside. I coughed, my lungs rejoicing in the breathable air, and I realized how pale Ellena looked. Mattis appeared beside her and nodded once before vanishing from my sight.
“Now, Leila,” Ellena said almost cheerfully, “how can we make you what the King wants you to be?”
“I don’t want to be what the King wants me to be,” I stammered. “I’m no warrior.”
Ellena smiled and motioned with her head to the mountain pass. The strange stone-looking humans were still huddled there, watching us.
“You can see them, can’t you?” she whispered.
I nodded. There was no sense in denying it. I wondered how she could see them.
“Then perhaps you are the one Cedrik is looking for,” she finished. “So many people are looking to you for guidance, Leila. Who will you serve?”