You Can't Make A Mistake

Mirelah;

Ethari kaen d'rehsa, viath morvath ai'noshara. Thal'ven kaih varan, korthas ai'vetha.

I tilt my head as I stare at the words scribbled in perfect cursive I suspect to be Queen Velnara's handwriting, and her voice makes me look back at her.

"It's old Blood Crescent tongue. It means With blood, I forge my fate, bound in blood and fire. My heart is yours, my soul is this land's. It's the vow you must say tomorrow as you offer blood to the sacred fire. "She explains, and suddenly an avalanche of questions descends in my mind.

"Offer blood? "I question, and she takes a deep breath before turning to face me on the bench. She takes my palm and draws a small line across it while I watch in confusion.

"Your palm would be slit like that. "She says, and my eyebrows shoot up...

"Wh…what!? That's gonna hurt! "I exclaim, and she smiles.

"Yes, it will dear, but only for a few seconds. Kealith will heal you after you take the vow. It will be as if it never even happened. "She says, and my eyes stay wide as I blink at her. 

"It's a blood oath, dear. Your blood and the vow are needed to show your loyalty to Blood Crescent. You're going to become one with Kealith soon. You need to understand that once that happens, you are first Blood Crescent's queen before Velmoria's princess. "She says, and I swallow as I look down at my palm in her hand.

"First a Blood Crescent queen? "

"Yes, sunbeam. Once you marry Kealith, your loyalty rests with us. We would never ask you to betray your people, but when you marry Kealith, you have become more of us by vows and blood. You're attached to them by birth… Do you understand the gravity of things? "She questions, and I release a shaky breath.

I hadn't realised or thought of things this way.

"You're not a blood crescent girl. Proving your loyalty would be paramount to the council. Also… Your kingdom is the second most powerful in the realm. We have our reasons for this marriage, but your father might have his own agendas. We need to be sure that you're on our side. "She says, and I look up at her as my grip on the paper tightens.

So I have to choose between home and here? Father wouldn't try to use me as a tool… would he? Am I going to be stuck in some messy political draw? I don't…

"We would never ask you to betray your people… At least, no one will while I'm here. "Queen Velnara says, pulling me out of my head as she raises my chin, and I stare into her pretty blue eyes.

"All you need to do is to pass the tests given to you. Every ritual has its meaning. That vow in your hand binds you to us… To our land. It marks you as one of us and compels us to trust you. "She explains, and I look back down at the paper.

"Do you think you can do it? "She asks me, and I look back at her. She obviously knows I can't say no. I have to do it. There's no way around it. It would just be a little cut. I'll be healed right after. 

I take a deep breath before nodding, and a smile explodes on her face. 

"Good. Now, you need to learn the vow word for word. No word must be mispronounced or misplaced. You have to say exactly what is on the paper. "She says as she scoots closer to me and points at the paper in my hand, and I look back down at it.

"Repeat after me… Ethari kaen d'rehsa, viath morvath ai'noshara. Thal'ven kaih varan, korthas ai'vetha… "She says, and I bite my lips at how COMPLICATED it sounds. 

I'm to memorise this before tomorrow!? It took me MONTHS to learn how to pronounce some kingdom names properly, and I have to learn a whole ass old tongue vow perfectly before tomorrow morning!??

"Come on, dear. Just try. It's not that hard… "Queen Velnara says, and I pull my head back to get a proper look at her.

It is that hard! Sounds like a spell to conjure some demon!

"Mirelah… "She calls, and I shut my eyes before letting out a long breath through my mouth.

"Ethan… "

"Ethan!? "Queen Velnara exclaims, and I stop.

"Mirelah, please pay attention. You can not afford to make a mistake. The slightest mistake is fatal. "She says, and I hold my breath.

"What would happen if I make a mistake? "I question, and she sighs. 

"Let's not think about that. Because you will not make a mistake. You can not. "She says, and I feel a wicked shiver run down my spine. 

Why do I feel like this is more important than this morning's test? She is so particular about me not making a mistake. Making one must have disastrous consequences.

"Don't worry. We have all day. I will make sure to burn these words into your mind before tomorrow morning. "She says as she gives my hand a light squeeze, and I let out a relived breath as I relax.

"Now, listen. It's Ethari. Not Ethan, Nathan… or any other Sun Kingdom name that might come to that mind of yours. "She says, and I can't help the chuckle that escapes me, and her jaw drops.

"You're laughing? I'm serious! Next thing I know, you'd turn the vow into a list of absurd names. "She replies, and I can't stop my chuckle from growing into laughter.

"I won't… I have you to guide me. "I say amidst laughs, and she stares at me for a second, before she also starts laughing.

"Thankfully… "She laughs, and from the corner of my eyes, I see a man in iron armour running up to us. My laughter dies down, and Queen Velnara follows my gaze. When she sees him, her smile drops, and the mood immediately shifts.

"Your Highness. There's trouble. "He says as he goes on one knee in front of Queen Velnara, and she pulls her hand away from mine.

"What happened? "She questions, and I watch in apprehension. Is Kealith having another attack?

"There's a plague spreading at Veldagoth. The physicians tried to contain it, but it's getting worse. People are dying. "He informs, and she shoots to her feet.

"What!? How many casualties? "

"Five women and six children. "He says, and my jaw drops.

"What!? When did this start? "She demands with worry evident in her voice, and I watch in fear. What type of plague is that?

"Three days ago- "He begins, and Queen Velnara cuts him off.

"And you're just coming to me, now!? "She yells with so much anger, it shakes me to my bones. Causing me to stare at her with wide eyes.

"The physicians didn't… "He begins, but she turns to me.

"I'm sorry Mirelah. I have to attend to this. You have to manage on your own. Can you do that? "She questions, and my jaw drops.

Manage on my own?