“Are you also a hunter, sir?” She giggled, “Or just feet inspector? Maybe both?” She asked then sat on the edge of the fountain with her feet dangling, “If your intention is to clean my feet, or hunt me, both will only find success over here, near the water.” She reached down into the fountain with her hand and splashed the water out over its edge.
“Is it your desire to have your feet washed, my lady? Or to be hunted?” He asked walking to the sidewalk near the bench. Talila giggled.
“Can you imagine if I climbed into bed with my lord with dirty feet?” She asked, “He would hardly let me ride him like I was breaking a pony, now would he?” Talila batted her eyes at him, still smiling innocently. Alkwin was taken aback by her comment. He wondered briefly if she even knew what she was saying to him, and what it meant. A curious scowl replaced his smile.
“You’re a flirty one, aren’t you?” Alkwin questioned of her provocative talk, then left the sidewalk, walking over to her, still seated on the fountains edge. She was no longer like a child to him, but a woman. A flirtatious nymph, that made him desire her all the more. The image she gave him of riding a man like she was breaking a pony, aroused him. Her game had changed.
“Whatever do you mean?” She asked, putting her wet hand to her chest. As soon as her fingers touched her ruby, she grabbed it again and smiled, reminded of the power in it. Alkwin eyed her curiously, as he approached. He watched the water drip down the front of her gown, between her breast. She was intoxicating to watch. Like some type of nymph, toying with him. He wondered if it was just her nature, or if she truly desired him? He was intrigued and very attracted to her. He wanted to know more about her, who she belonged to, if anyone.
“What king do you speak of, fair lady?” He asked, “Who is it that has your heart?”
“Am I just fair?” She asked, suddenly scowling with a pouty lip, “I thought I was more prettier than just fair?” She glanced away as if she could no longer bear to look at him, she was so insulted, “Holding back vomit at the sight of me, are you?”
“I meant no insult, my lady,” Alkwin said as he reached her. She sat with one leg on the edge of the fountain and the other on the ground, her arms folded over her chest, her back to him in a very exaggerated pout, once again, like a child. Alkwin admired her bare leg, so smooth and tan, it made him long to touch her and stirred his desire for the playful young nymph, stronger than before. He re-imagined her provocative words come true in his mind. He sat just beside her and said in a whisper over her shoulder, “I wouldn’t want the king to know how truly beautiful I thought you were, he might have my head?” His words made Talila giggle and spin away from the fountain placing both feet on the ground, hands folded in her lap, once again with an ear to ear smile, fully engaged with him.
“What would he say if he saw how close you are sitting to me, just now?” Talila asked, “Your hot breath on my cheek, so close to my young, soft, body?” She finished in a seductive whisper. She had him on the very edge of losing control, she aroused him with her words. Their faces were so close he could have kissed her, she was intoxicating. He leaned closer inhaling her scented aroma.
“Who are you?” He whispered. Talila moved her lips up to his, just shy of kissing him then spun away before their lips touched, placing both her feet in the fountain and splashing them around. “Wash my feet, inspector.” She commanded. It was all Alkwin could do to get a hold of himself, his desire for her had reached a dizziness, she aroused him beyond reason.
“Tell me who you are. I know you are not the lady Venalina you pretend to be, for she is the Queen to King Dracon, not you!” Alkwin grabbed her by her shoulders and turned her to face him, roughly, then grabbed her jaw with one hand, “Tell me your name that I might whisper it softly, before I kiss your lips.” Alkwin was so overcome, he gave in to his desire to touch her. Talila looked back at him, her eyes smiling as wide as her lips. She was ecstatic she drove him to lose control of himself. But she would not be taken by any man. Alkwin whispered, “Tell me!” Then tried to kiss her.
“Fíeda!” She whispered just before their lips touched. Alkwin felt a searing pain in his hands that held her. He pushed her back with a growl, almost falling into the fountain. He stood up holding both his hands before him. They were burnt, sure as if he had grabbed a handful of coal from a fire. “You dare take liberties with the second wife of King Dracon!” She snarled at him, then fixed her hair and walked away. “It is your great fortune that I do not know your name, sir.” She said giggling, still the playful nymph, toying with him. Alkwin was left standing by the fountain stunned, looking at his hands, then at her, walking away. He heard a giggle from above him that made him look up. There were three women looking at him from a balcony’s ledge. Two quickly disappeared while the third continued to look at him with a wide smile on her face. After a second, someone pulled her back from the ledge as well. Alkwin looked back to where Talila had gone and wondered to himself if what she whispered was her name? He looked down at his hands again then stuck them in the cool waters of the fountain. Talila returned to her room where she found her sisters hovering near the door out to the balcony.
“What’s he doing now?” Kaylin asked Alyndra, who was peeking over the balconies railing.
“He’s washing his hands in the fountain.” She answered. Talila laughed. Saida rushed over to Talila as she entered the room.
“Who is he, Tali?” She asked.
“Oh, just one of many suitor’s a princess has, when she is the most desirable woman in all the lands.” Talila said spinning in place and making Saida laugh.
“You mean to have a lover then?” Alyndra asked, “Even though you are to be King Dracon’s wife?”
“We are all to be King Dracon’s wives,” Talila corrected her, “Of course I won’t take a lover. King Dracon will be the only man to touch my body.” She rubbed her hands on her hips up to her ribs, lifting her gown slightly and making her sisters laugh.
“You should be careful, Tali.” Kaylin warned, “Toying with a man will get him to take you by force. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, men don’t care how smart you are.”
“I know what I’m doing, besides, this isn’t Qinkas, Kaylin. If a man dared to touch me it would mean his head. He tried to paw me in fact, and I made his own desire for me, punish him! I choose to toy with him, with any man, and Venalina promised us a life of choices. No repercussions.” Talila spun in a circle, “And, I want to practice seducing for when I go to King Dracon’s bed.”
“I don’t think Venalina meant it like that, Tali?” Alyndra laughed walking in from the balcony, “You don’t need any practice either.”
“Yes,” Kaylin added with a giggle, “All you have to do is sneak into his room and drop your dress, he’ll take one look at your naked backside and latch onto your leg like a dog!” Kaylin grabbed Talila around her waist, acting like she was a dog on her leg, making the girls laugh. Talila squirmed away from Kaylin, laughing.
“It won’t be like that! My Dracon is not like other men! It will be beautiful!” Talila exclaimed.
“You just like to toy with a man’s desires. It will get you in trouble someday. You’re too stupid to understand men, or what they will do if you toy with them too long.” Alyndra whipped her hand at the balcony and the doors closed, aided by a cold breeze. Talila’s smile left and her face was an angry scowl, reminded that Alyndra learned much magic after simply touching a book, something the rest of them could not do.
“It’s not fair!” She growled, glaring at Alyndra.
“Stop it Tali,” Saida admonished her, “You have that Fire Ruby and she has the book. We’re the ones who should be angry, we can barely do anything!”
“Yeah!” Kaylin added.
“How come she could absorb the book, but we can’t?” Talila asked, “If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t be able to do anything either?” She pointed out grabbing the ruby at her neck. Talila glared over at Alyndra again, “First, you get to make love to K
ing Dracon, and now you get all the magic? It’s not fair Venalina favors you so!” She snarled.
“Well, I get to make love to my king and learn powerful magic because I am not as stupid as you! My king does not find stupidity attractive in his women. I didn’t have to seduce him, it was beautiful when we made love.” Alyndra said sticking her chin arrogantly high, taunting her sister. Talila’s face twisted.
“Fíeda!” she screamed in anger, an orange glow emanated from Talila then took on a life of its own, turning to flames that shot across the room at Alyndra. Her eyes lit up with fear of the flames approach. Alyndra raised her hands and snapped her fingers while yelling out a spell. Her body changed instantly, she was covered in a diamond like substance that protected her like armor. A cold mist emanated from her that exploded outward. It snuffed out the flame and threw Talila, Kaylin, and Saida backwards. Alyndra stuck her hand out like a claw and her sisters froze in mid-air, inches from slamming into the wall. They hovered in silence for a moment then Talila started a giggle that infected her sisters to giggle along with her, even Alyndra. She released her sisters dropping them to the floor with a thud. She returned to normal, no longer armored in diamond skin. Her sisters writhed on the floor rubbing themselves where they had landed. Saida laughed as she rolled over to her knees and stood. They all laughed uncontrollably for a long time, so hard they were grabbing their own ribs and telling each other to stop, only to re-erupt in laughter again. Venalina appeared and smiled seeing the girls in such a state, it made her giggle and wonder what was so funny. Talila finally stopped and took a deep breath.
“How come Alyndra can learn the books by just touching them?” She asked Venalina walking over to her.
“Yes,” Kaylin giggled looking at Talila, “Some of us can’t read and need that advantage.” Venalina looked at her with her head cocked slightly, pondering the question. She glanced at Alyndra, then around at the sisters. Venalina smiled and snapped her fingers. They instantly disappeared from the room and reappeared in the city of the Priests of O’on. Venalina walked away from the sisters without a word. Saida followed her quickly spurring the others to do the same. Venalina led them down a hall to a very large round room. The walls were scarred and scorched, there was a podium at its center.
“Gather round, my sisters,” Venalina commanded. On the podium was the very book Alyndra had absorbed. The women eagerly gathered around the podium looking at the book and Venalina, wondering what she was going to do. Venalina opened the book then placed her hand on the open pages. A flash of white blinded them as the book reacted to Venalina as it did when Alyndra touched it. The light faded, and Venalina exhaled a mist then smiled. Talila’s eyes went wide and she slammed her hand down on the open book, but nothing happened. Venalina watched on, also wondering why it did not react to Talila.
“It’s not fair!” Talila yelled and slapped the open book repeatedly. Talila turned away and began to cry. Kaylin stuck her hand out over the book, tentatively, looking at Venalina for permission all the while. Venalina nodded for her to continue. Kaylin put her hand on the open book and like Talila, nothing happened. As soon as Kaylin lifted her hand, Saida quickly placed hers in the same spot, her eyes too, were wide, ready for something to happen. Nothing. Talila turned back with her arms folded over her chest and a scowl on her face. Venalina laughed at her pouting face. It made the sisters giggle, even Talila. Venalina stepped over to Talila and put her hands on her face. It made Talila pout again and look down.
“I promise you, it will be yours. All of it!” She whispered, “All of you will share in this.” She said looking around at the others. “You,” She said to Alyndra, “Why you alone? I wonder?”
“Because you favor her over us!” Talila said angrily, “Fíe-” She started to say but Venalina snapped her fingers and the amulet was no longer around Talila’s neck, “-da!” Venalina shook her head no at Talila.
“You’re acting like a child, Talila.” Venalina scolded her, “I promised you power, but you are impatient. You want to use the gift I gave you to attack us?” She shook her head again. Talila’s whole face scrunched up. “You are not satisfied, you wish to return to Qinkas?” Talila’s face changed, instantly terrified.
“No mistress,” She said then dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Venalina’s legs as tight as she could, “I never want to leave your side! Please don’t send me away.”
“Please don’t send her away, mistress.” Alyndra rushed to Venalina’s side, “She is simple, she doesn’t understand what she is doing sometimes. Have mercy on her, we will watch her and make sure she doesn’t act out again, I promise. Her mind is like a child, she does not think, that is all, please? We’ll watch her better?” The desperation in Alyndra’s voice touched Venalina.
“She is not simple.” Venalina said scowling, unsure why Alyndra would speak about Talila like that.
“It’s true, my lady, Talila has always been feeble of mind, please don’t send her away!” Saida pleaded, rushing over to Talila and Venalina. Kaylin followed displaying the same look of desperation on her face.
“Never say that again. She is not feebleminded.” Venalina scowled at the three sisters then crouched down and lifted Talila back to a standing position. “I will not send you away, my sweet Talila, unless you ask me to.” Venalina said looking her in her eyes, “I promised you a life of choice. You promised to love me and my king as your own. You promised to love me, not hurt me in your anger and frustration.”
“I will never do it again, I promise you my lady!” Talila said desperately. Venalina smiled and fixed Talila’s hair.
“Shh, let’s solve this mystery together,” Venalina said stroking Talila’s cheek while turning her attention to Alyndra, “Come here.” She said. Alyndra walked over to where Talila and Venalina were standing. “Don’t be alarmed at what I’m about to do.” Before they could respond or even blink, Venalina grabbed Alyndra with a speed that made her a blur to the sisters. She latched on to her neck and began to feed. Black wings sprouted from her back. They vibrated, stretched out and rigid. The sisters stepped back with a fear that they might be next.
Chapter Nine
Queen Menina’s scream was loud and long. Her head was tilted back, and her differently colored eyes were open, staring aimlessly up to the sky. In her mind she had spent years with her mother all within a blink of an eye. Her scream died, turning to a wail of grief as her return to reality signaled a final goodbye to her mother, for good. She fell forward over the dead body of what was once her advisor, Ohmbryn. Her tears flowed heavily as she mourned her mother’s loss yet again. She did not want to return to reality and begged her mother for more time, but she had consumed all that she had left for her and the inevitable return could not be prolonged. Her white and gray wings twitched and slowly curled around her, protectively as Queen Menina, who had transformed into a horned creature, slowly curled up in a fetal position, partially on top of the dead elf. She cried for a long time. She learned all about herself and her history from her mother, in that lost moment of time.
“Aynisa,” The blonde woman appeared again and crouched down putting her hand on Queen Menina’s head. Queen Menina crawled up to the woman she now knew as her aunt, Tamina. They embraced, both mourning the loss, for Tamina knew exactly why she was suffering and cried with her, her own heart as broken as her nieces’. She caressed her horns and held her tightly, and after a while, Queen Menina began to stir and push away from Tamina.
“I missed you, Ina.” She said to her aunt. It made her smile that she called her Ina, just as she had when she was a little girl. Tamina stroked Queen Menina’s cheek then they both stood up from the ground. Tamina said nothing and just stared into Queen Menina’s eyes lovingly.
“You understand now, we have much to do.” Tamina said finally.
“Yes.” Queen Menina answered straightening her posture.
“You have to change first, Aynisa.” Tamina said. Queen Menina looked at her confused. Tamina smirked bac
k at her, then put her hand to Queen Menina’s cheek. Instantly Queen Menina could see herself through her aunt’s eyes. In a flash she saw the horned, white and gray winged creature she had become, after feeding on Ohmbryn, her vessel. Tamina withdrew her hand. Queen Menina’s mouth was opened in shock and she panted terrified at what she saw. She began to recoil from her aunt with her hands to her own face, feeling her head and twisted horns. She screamed in horror at what she looked like. She was not a beautiful creature, did not resemble an angel of any sort, more a goat-eyed, horned, monster. Her eyes were different colors and her horns were twisted, not symmetrical. One was straight, and the other was bent and twisted. She was hideous. Tamina rushed to her and grabbed her hands away from her head. “Aynisa, calm yourself, it’s the power of the vessel in a delicacy, that has made you change to your true form.” Her true form? Those words terrified her, she was a hideous creature. If anyone saw her the way she appeared they would surely try to kill her. “Shh, Aynisa. Focus. Do not lose yourself. Remember what you were, breathe, Aynisa.” She said trying to calm Queen Menina, “Breathe and remember.” Queen Menina started to calm. “Now become what you see, who you were.” She whispered. Queen Menina transformed back to her human form. Her eyes returned to normal, her wings and horns disappeared, she was herself again. The self she knew, at least. Tamina turned and looked down at Ohmbryn, then snapped her fingers and he began to break apart like old dirt then became absorbed into the garden. Tamina knelt to where the body once was and picked up a gold ring then examined it. “Do you want it? A keepsake from your vessel?” Queen Menina shook her head no vigorously.
“Is this abomination what I truly am?” Queen Menina asked in horror. Tamina marched over to her and slapped her face.
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