by Bryant Reil
Kyla sat frozen, her knuckles white as she gripped the arm-rests. She pushed against the back of the chair in a vain effort to push away. She wanted to scream, and run from the room, and find King Oberon and Queen Titania, but her body refused to obey her commands, and all she could do was eke out a single squeaky word.
“Nyx!”
“Yes. I spent years reading the minds of the sour and often cruel soldiers along the boundary of the Oort cloud. The kind and the wise aren’t sent to those isolated stations. They were easy prey for Erebus’ conversions, for they hated their own world. I read their minds and thought all material beings were the same. Wicked, vile creatures, who had killed my siblings and taken my home. When you came to Sulafat Station to replace the broken filament, I saw into your mind, and you were different. I wanted to learn more, but to do so I had to delay Erebus’ plans to reclaim this world. I saw that you collected stones and revealed the one in which you would be most interested. The black stone, a fragment of the spell that put my father to sleep. It would slow Erebus’ plans, if you took it. I followed you to earth and took material form. This body. I loved my new form, and the world that was created. Yet you were still the villains. You wronged my family, yet I didn’t want to see you destroyed. I now saw that for all the wickedness and selfishness among you, there was much good as well. I changed my name to Sophrosyne, for it means Balance and Moderation. I now seek a way for my family to co-exist with the world of Order. While my father must not be awakened, I believe there is a way for my brother and I, and our other siblings who remain lost in exile, to live among you in peace. Yet Erebus needs to be contained until I become strong enough to control him. With his armies in disarray, and myself coming to understand the rules of Order, I shall soon be able to force a negotiation. There is room on Earth for his darkness, and we can all live in peace.”
Kyla opened her mouth, but no words fell out. She became dizzy before realizing she was holding her breath. Her eyes turned to the door, and she pushed herself up in her seat. She wanted to run, but her legs shook so violently that she had to sit back down. What would escape matter? Sophrosyne could wipe her mind before Kyla reached the portal.
“Why tell me now?” she said in a half-sob. “Why not wait until I collected all the stones for you?”
Sophrosyne - Nyx?- smiled. “It’s a show of faith.”
“No, it isn’t!” Kyla shouted back. “You can just erase my mind if I don’t go along. That isn’t faith!”
“I know you have no reason to trust me. I’m a monster in your stories. I have manipulated you. And I’ve lied. But you must understand why. I needed time to gain your trust. I have always planned to come clean, when I thought you were ready. And you are not ready, but the world is in turmoil, and it needs us. I chose you, Kyla Nim, because of all the minds I’ve read, you are the most willing to work, and to sacrifice, and not just for your own gain. I’m not doing this for me.”
The scent of moonflowers that always followed Sophrosyne struck Kyla’s nostrils. A wave of memories flooded in. Sulafat Station. The Halloween party in Whitehall. She smelled moonflowers at Equinox during Erebus’ assault, and at grandma’s house.
“You’ve been following me? Controlling me?”
“Not controlling. Leading. When you sought to create a trap for Erebus, you never would have found the aurichalcum or a smith to fashion the device had I not guided you.”
Kyla’s stomach churned. “You…no! Those were my ideas. You’re trying to take credit for my work.”
“Don’t be petty. You think that’s the real issue here? In many ways you are still a child, Kyla Nim. Yet that was part of the reason I chose you. You are still humble, and teachable.”
Kyla sat still for a long time. As far as she could tell, she had all her memories. Sophrosyne waited with a stolid face until Kyla mustered the courage to speak.
“I wondered how I knew where to find Exa and Inda.”
“Yes. I told you, but I wasn’t ready to reveal myself, so I erased the memories of our meetings. Only you and Marik know my identity.”
“Marik knows?”
“Yes. I sent him to find you, in Whitehall, when Dunkin was after you. He was a follower of Erebus, but I gave him a better offer, and he chose to work for me. Like me, he saw a chance for a better future.”
“Carmin. You brought Carmin back.”
“Yes.”
“We should tell Oberon. He’d want to have a peace talk.”
“Would he? The World of Order is collapsing. Under his guidance the world governments have fractured. Fear and uncertainty are causing friction, and Oberon struggles to put out the fires. He has lied about the fate of Erebus. It would be a terrible shame, in these fragile times, for everyone to learn that a little elf girl from an unknown village saved the world, and yet he knows nothing. Besides, would the people accept a peace with myself and Erebus? We are the source of their nightmares. My identity as Nyx must remain a secret. Yet as Sophrosyne, I might be able to influence the world in the right way.”
“I have to speak to him,” Kyla insisted, though her words were little more than puffs of air. “I can’t work for you. But now you’re just gonna make me forget all this. And I’ll keep working for you, without knowing.”
Sophrosyne smiled and placed a hand on Kyla’s cheek. “I’m not going to wipe your memory. Not now. I want you to think on it. Only promise me that you will give it some time. Two weeks. Until then, I only ask you keep this between us. Do not even tell Marik that you know.”
Kyla stood, her legs shaking and body numb, as she headed out for the door. Before she was out, Sophrosyne called after her.
“Oh, and Kyla? Don’t forget you are Chief of the Digans. You might consider talking to the King and Queen about opening the aurichalcum trade.”
Kyla didn’t bother to respond. Trade seemed a petty thing to worry about.
Chapter Seventeen
A Pig among Peacocks
“Professor Ciana? I need to take the portal to High Haven.”
Elial smiled, which to Kyla seemed designed to mask his displeasure.
“Your patron is sending you to the capital?”
Kyla understood his displeasure and wondered if he suspected Sophrosyne’s true nature. If he did, of course, the goddess of night would only wipe it from his mind.
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean, she recommended I go, but I should go anyway. I’m trying to re-open trade between King Oberon and the Digans.”
Elial blinked and sat quietly for few seconds before speaking. “You what now?”
Kyla could tell this was going to turn into a bit of a discussion, so she took a seat. “A few hundred years ago the Digans cut off communication with High Haven. I’m going to negotiate a new relationship.”
“Um…this would normally be a job for a diplomat or ambassador. I know your patron likes to keep secrets, but I really need to know what’s going on. I am not to be left in the dark about any messages going through the portals. Especially not to High Haven.”
Kyla squirmed. She was going to burst from all the secrets inside but didn’t dare tell Elial for fear Sophrosyne – or rather, Nyx – would keep erasing his memories. For now, until Kyla could come up with a plan, she needed to keep everything to herself.
There were a few things she could mention, however. “I—I became the Chief of the Digans on my first assignment. Can’t remember if I told you about that.”
“You did not. How did this happen, exactly?”
She couldn’t mention the stone, but she could mention her search for Lug. “One of the Digans kidnapped Lug on our last visit, so I went back to look for him. Heff, the minotaur you saw with me when I left, was Lug’s boss. He agreed to come with me to rescue him. I have this ring that negates elemental magic so when I touched the Digan chief he fell apart. Well, turns out the other Digans weren’t too fond of him, and since I defeated him they made me the new Chief. Anyway, I’ve decided to set trade up with High Haven. Digans have a lot of aur
ichalcum.”
“Sophrosyne sent you on a rescue mission to a group of hostile elementals.”
“You make it sound worse than it was. You see—”
“I can’t let this continue.”
“Okay but I really need to set up this trade agreement. It’s a chance for the Digans to reconnect with High Haven.”
Elial took several slow, deep breaths. “Do you have an appointment?”
“Oh, I didn’t know I needed to make one, but I guess that makes sense. The King is probably pretty busy.”
“Queen Titania is responsible for trade.”
“Oh. Well, the Queen, then. Whoever’s in charge.”
Elial leaned back in his chair, his hands pressed together and index fingers against his chin. Kyla wondered what she would do if he refused to let her through the portal. Sophrosyne would probably interfere, and this made Kyla nervous. She wanted as little contact with her as possible.
“Kyla, I’m not a fan of your patron. The secrecy is unsettling, and frankly, she’s putting you into danger well beyond your training.”
“Definitely. I’m starting to see why so many people settle for boring jobs. Anyway, you can talk to Heff or Denzig if you don’t believe me. They both know what happened.”
“I believe you, Kyla. I’m just not happy with it. I’ll let you go to High Haven. I can’t guarantee you’ll get an audience with Queen Titania, but I’d rather see you there than wherever else in the name of Kinsel King she might send you. And I’m really going to have a discussion with Director Anh-Bul about releasing you from Sophrosyne’s service.”
Kyla sighed. He would try, but probably just get some of his brain cells snuffed out on the way.
Kyla struggled to put together a presentable outfit for a royal meeting. It seemed silly to dress up just to talk, but Aura insisted her character would be judged in part by her clothes. Kyla didn’t think the Queen would be so petty, but Aura told her there would likely be advisors present, and they would have an influence on her word. Though once Kyla was dressed in her favorite blue dress, she had to admit she felt pretty sharp. Still, she was jealous when Lug arrived with the Digan, both completely happy in the nude.
The Digan’s proper name was Lhmkhr, though despite an hour of practice Kyla’s throat still lacked the gravelly quality to pronounce it.
“Tell Lumpy to follow my lead,” she instructed Lug, who had to serve as translator. “He shouldn’t speak unless we ask him a question.”
Lug relayed the directive, and Lumpy nodded. There were more protocols Aura had explained during Kyla’s makeover, but she could hardly be bothered to remember the rest, as they all sounded like nonsense. She did feel it was important, however, to maintain control of the dialogue.
Kyla and her entourage came out of the portal into a busy corridor bustling with creatures of all sorts. Most eyes ignored Kyla, though Lumpy garnered a few looks and whispers. Most hadn’t seen a Digan before.
She had nowhere to go, so she waved down a passing man with blue skin.
“Pardon!” she said. “I need to make an appointment with the Queen. Which way is the throne room?”
“An appointment with the Queen!” the man exclaimed. “And you’ve brought a Digan. I hope this means we’ll be seeing the aurichalcum trade open. Straight down the hall, through those double doors. See Madam Okk at the front desk. She’ll direct you.”
Kyla, being much shorter than most others in the room, couldn’t see the double doors but followed the direction her guide had pointed. The crowd was moving too quickly and pushing too hard for her to make much progress. Lumpy, who appeared flustered, stood in place with his stony eyes wide as he gawked at the many strange creatures. Lug grabbed him by the arm and shoved ahead. Though he was short – not much taller than Kyla – his great weight proved an advantage as he pressed his way through the crowd. Kyla followed close behind, trying to keep in his swath before it closed.
Pressing through the double doors, they found themselves in a long corridor. It was busy, but not so crowded as the portal chamber. A snake-woman slithered by in colorful feathers reminiscent of the denizens of Laenith, and an ogre wearing a fur top, but no pants, lumbered through the crowd. A procession of fairies in scintillating gowns flew overhead. At a desk and grumbling loudly at the many questions being tossed her way stood a troll sow wearing a crimson cloth wrapped over her shoulder.
Kyla stepped ahead of Lug and Lumpy and approached the desk. “I need to see the Queen, please.”
The troll looked around before looking down at Kyla standing between the two stone creatures. She lifted a parchment from her desk. “Oh, welcome, Ambassador Hagard. I see you brought your…um…it says these are your daughters?”
“What? No. I’m Kyla Nim. I’m here to re-open trade with the Digans in Alfheim.”
“I see. I don’t have you booked.”
“No. It’s a last-minute thing. Meeting. Last minute meeting. But very important.”
“Perhaps. But not on my list. Take care.”
The troll turned away to bark at someone to take a different corridor and seemed surprised when she looked back to see Kyla still standing in front of her desk.
“Do you need something else?” she grunted. “The bathrooms are down the hall and to the right.”
Kyla twirled her sleeve with her index finger. “No…I need a meeting. Can I make an appointment?”
Madam Okk groaned and picked a pen off the desk. “Fine. Who are you again?”
“I’m Kyla Nim.”
“Representing which country?”
“It’s not a country, really. I’m Chief of the Digans. The ones in Alfheim.”
The troll sow leaned close and squinted her eyes. She then drew her hand up slowly, and flicked Kyla in the head with her finger. There was a painful thud as Kyla’s head jolted to the side. The troll leaned back and gave Lug and Lumpy a look.
“You aren’t made of stone. You claim to be their chief?”
“Not my chief!” Lug shouted. He pointed at Lumpy. “His chief.”
Lumpy, who didn’t seem to be following the conversation, gave a friendly wave.
The troll sighed. “Well, you can’t just march in and see the Queen. Probably one of the Ministers. What’s your order of business?”
“I’m trying to re-open the aurichalcum trade.”
Madam Okk raised an eyebrow. “Ah. Minister Terra, then. I can track him down for you. He may be at lunch. I’ll take you to the waiting room and he’ll send for you when he’s ready.”
The waiting room was a dull beige and contained no pictures or reading literature. Eight chairs lined the walls, and Kyla took one near the door. They were wooden, and not sturdy enough for creatures of stone, as Lug discovered as he sat and fell back into the wall, leaving a sizable dent. He and Lumpy ended up sitting on the floor, and Kyla discovered Lug’s legs were exactly the right thickness to make a foot-rest. She rolled her palms over her clothes to try and press out the wrinkles, as she wanted to look crisp and professional for her meeting with the Minister. But the longer the wait, the less she cared as she slumped in her seat and reviewed old songs and stories in her head. Her two stone escorts seemed pleased enough to sit in silence.
Kyla was jarred awake as the door opened and Madam Okk waved her into the hall. “Follow me,” she grunted, and led Kyla down the corridor to a great white room with a wide curved staircase. Each step was trimmed with gold, and a great chandelier hung from the ceiling. Kyla stopped a moment to breathe it in. It was certainly the most opulent room she had ever seen. Even the tiles in the floor were patterned in ornate designs.
The stairs were a mite large for Kyla’s legs, so she hopped up. Fairies flew up the center of the spiral column of steps, most wearing the blue uniforms of royal messengers.
Madam Okk led them to the third floor. “See that room with the open double doors? Go in and have a seat. The Minister will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.” Kyla nodded, and as she did she n
oticed all the messengers and dignitaries in their uniforms and lavish robes. Even in her best attire she felt very much like a pig among peacocks. She sighed and headed for the room. The door was tall. Not as big as the one into Haven Hall, though this one was more ornate. The room was trimmed in mahogany and at the far end of the room was a window covered in green drapes, so the color scheme made her think of Aspen. In the center of the room was a long table, with rounded ends and six chairs on each side and one on each end. Kyla, supposing the Minister would sit at the head of the table, sat at the far end. Lug tested one of the seats next to her and finding it more durable than the ones in the waiting room, slowly rested his weight on it. He sat at Kyla’s right, and once satisfied the chair wouldn’t break under Lug, Lumpy sat on her left.