The Vordalyn 2

by Michael T Payne

  “Tend to her!” He growled, Alyndra paused, shocked she understood what he just said. They all understood what he said. “Tend to her!” He said again. The sisters rushed to Venalina’s side.

  “There’s so much blood, I don’t know what to do!” Alyndra exclaimed, the sisters looked at each other. “I’ve never learned how to heal.” She whispered terrified. Talila leaned over and blew on Venalina’s neck, it did nothing. She thought she could heal her like she did Alkwin’s hands, but failed. None of them took time to learn anything other than deadly magic. Kaylin swallowed hard.

  “Get back.” She ordered her sisters then climbed on the bed with Venalina, folding her wings behind her. She held Venalina’s head in her hands examining her neck closely. The wire had cut deep, it looked hopeless. Kaylin thought Venalina was going to die, they all did.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  “The horde remains in the outer region, we can see their fires from the forests edge.” Raggrun said to the group assembled in the command tent.

  “What are they waiting for?” Prince Renic wondered aloud.

  “We have spotters along the regions edge, and along the back side of the city in case they try to enter through the pilot door at the palace base.” Raggrun said, Queen Menina stared down at the map of the area they all stood around, “A bigger concern is the loss of Vartan, and Captain Velen, the only man who has ever been privy to Lord Dracon’s ways.”

  “Yes, those women, those Vordalyn, they were powerful!” Prince Charnio said with a look of surprise on his face.

  “Vartan’s magic will be sorely missed against the likes of five such creatures.” Raggrun said somberly looking down at the map.

  “Has Zender breached the city yet?” Tamina asked changing the subject.

  “Who?” Prince Charnio asked.

  “Zender is an expert in espionage, he has taken a team into the city.” Raggrun explained, “They will attempt to kill the Vordalyn called Venalina. If they are successful, Dracon will lose his power.” Raggrun took a deep breath, “We hope. Maybe the other Vordalyn will flee?”

  “You sent assassins?” Queen Menina looked at Tamina, who circled the group and the table with the map on it, the others were hovering over.

  “If she is killed, will Dracon be himself again?” Prince Charnio asked hopeful.

  “He will never be the same again.” Tamina answered looking at Raggrun for support.

  “She is right, the Dracon you knew is gone forever.” He said. It wasn’t true, but their goal was to eliminate Dracon, not seek a way to save him. They raised the armies of Ganlin to support their choice of its ruler, it was never going to be Dracon.

  “I noticed that you seem to be forgetting the fact he is Terrax’s son, there is no coming back from that, regardless the fate of this thing on his arm, this, Venalina.” Raggrun almost spat her name.

  “Forgive us, Raggrun, we grew up with the man, you can hardly blame us?” Prince Darrin growled at Raggrun.

  “And I have known Vartan for generations, yet I remain clear headed at what lies ahead of us, still!” Raggrun growled right back, slamming his fist on the table.

  “Alright!” Prince Renic said, silencing both men, “How long into the night are we going to let that fire burn before we make our move?” Prince Renic asked.

  “Zender was not alone, he is with a team. We will wait for their signal. If he is unsuccessful, we breach at dawn.” Tamina informed the group.

  “How do you plan on breaching the city?” Prince Torak asked.

  “That is not your concern, brother. You lead the cavalry to the north and prevent that horde from attempting to join him, or out flank us. You trample those beasts with your horses and lances, give us time to make entry. You should move out now, get into position.” Queen Menina said. Prince Torak nodded then left. “Darrin, move your archers south of the city, cut down anyone who tries to flee it.” Prince Darrin also nodded before leaving the command tent. “You two stay with me. We will take him head on, battle him through the city, all the way up to his palace. Should he stand and fight. Prepare yourselves.” The remaining princes left with Raggrun. Tamina and Queen Menina were alone in the tent. Queen Menina waited several minutes staring at Tamina. She stared back at her, both women silent. Tamina turned to leave. “Wait.” Queen Menina said, making Tamina stop. She knew her niece was angry with her for acting without permission, or without consulting her first.

  “Aynisa,” She started to say, but Queen Menina held up her hand, silencing her. Queen Menina walked to the entrance to the tent, then looked out to see how private their conversation would be. When she saw her elven guards were the only ones within earshot, she shut the flap to the tent, turning back to Tamina.

  “Again, you defy me!” She said angrily, “You waste time with assassins? You said so yourself, she cannot die!”

  “You are naïve, Aynisa.” Tamina said, “There is no natural death for her, but she can be helped along. Everything dies Aynisa, or she wouldn’t be the last. The priests found a way to kill them. So shall we, it starts by making her flee us and become hunted once again.”

  “What priests?” Queen Menina asked.

  “When we fled Sumia, for Ganlin, it was the Priests of O’on who remained behind. They chose to stay and continue the fight. It was they who first discovered a way to kill a mother. We have one such priest among the council. He is leading that group in to the city as we speak. It is he who will tell us if the tale is true or myth. But take heart in knowing there is a reason she is the last, we are the last.” Tamina explained.

  “You’ve known this all along?” Queen Menina asked.

  “Everything dies, Aynisa, even gods.” She said, “You just have to find the right way. It may still be untrue, just a rumor, we will find out tonight if it is.”

  “And Dracon?” Queen Menina asked.

  “He is only a man, a strong-willed man, but a man, none the less.” Tamina said, “He may fall tonight as well. Without Venalina, he will be nothing.”

  “What of the hordes who wait at our borders? How do you propose we deal with that?” Queen Menina asked crossing her arms over her chest.

  “They are only for show, my dear Aynisa, a shadow army, that will disappear when I snap my fingers.” Tamina said with a smile, making Queen Menina give her a curious look.

  “I fear you underestimate my brother, and because you do, it gives me pause that you may also underestimate Venalina just as easily. My brother is more than just a man.” Queen Menina warned.

  “You persist in calling him brother, and here we are, on the eve of his destruction, and still, you cannot relinquish your familial bond to him.” Tamina said shaking her head, “I am your family, Aynisa, your only family. When he is dead, we will kill the others.”

  “I never said such a thing?” Queen Menina was alarmed, “You will not make any hasty decisions, Tamina, I make the decisions in my kingdom!” Tamina scowled at Queen Menina.

  “Why, Aynisa, tonight it ends, no more bonds with those humans! You are my family not theirs!” Tamina growled.

  “You are so sure it will end tonight.” Queen Menina said in disbelief, “As if you will snap your fingers and all will be well. We reign supreme, is that it? Aunt Tamina, from exile to savior?”

  “Hold your tongue, girl!” Tamina snapped, “You have no idea what is at stake here!” Tamina shook her head, baring her teeth at her niece, unable to control herself. She turned and stomped out of the tent.

  “She means to destroy you.” A high-pitched woman’s voice spoke from behind her. Queen Menina spun to see a nymph floating in the air, a few feet from her. She narrowed her eyes at the nymph, somewhat fearful, and somewhat angry, angry at her sneaking in and spying on her.

  “I am Glyna, I serve Ganlin on the council.” The nymph bowed still hovering, her wings buzzed like a hummingbird’s, “You have nothing to fear from me, daughter of light.”

  “Daughter of light.” Queen Menina repeated to herself. What did that mean
for her, who had done such horrible things to protect her reign? She fed on elves, her own people. What kind of creature of light would do that? The more she thought, the more she looked down, embarrassed that the nymph called her such a thing. It was more an insult than a compliment.

  “Don’t be frightened.” She said.

  “I’m not afraid!” Queen Menina snapped at Glyna, who flew in a quick circle then back to face Queen Menina. “Have you just come to insult me, or is there a purpose to your visit.”

  “I’ve come to see if you are your mother’s child.” Glyna said in her high-pitched whisper. Queen Menina’s face scrunched up, confused at what she meant. There was a sudden flutter, that sounded like more hummingbirds filling the area, but were in fact, three little pixies. They buzzed around Queen Menina, then over to Glyna. There was a sparkle all around the inside of the tent, like the dust in the air caught fire, then it began to swirl like a tornado. Queen Menina shielded her eyes. Instinctively, she transformed, wings sprouted from her back and horns grew rapidly from her head. Her wings folded around her to protect her from any attack, and she crouched. After a moment of nothing happening, the crouched queen, peeked out from behind her feathered shield, standing back up, seeing the sparkle was gone. She was no longer in the command tent. Once she straightened back up, she saw she was near a lake, in what appeared to be the remnants of a campfire. The sounds of crickets and the wind were all she could hear. She caught a glimpse of light out on the lake and could see the sparkle of the pixies skating along its surface, coming toward her, in a dance that was not deliberate, or direct, but was coming closer all the same. Queen Menina looked around the area for Glyna and spotted her, floating high above her, camouflaged by the forest behind her. She floated down slowly, to the opposite side of the dead camp. She pointed to the ground to the left of Queen Menina. When she looked, she could see what looked like a pile of sticks.

  “Why are we here?” She asked Glyna, the buzz of the pixies flying by her, made her turn her head quickly, back and forth, as they flew by her on either side, then circled Glyna.

  “See with your own eyes, the truth.” Glyna said. The pixies began to circle the camp and the sparkle began again, covering the entire camp. As the sparkles fell, the world around them changed, the fire was lit. There on the ground, was a man, it was Captain Velen, making love to his wife by the fire. Queen Menina stepped back alarmed, when she noticed that beside her stood a woman, a Vordalyn, watching Captain Velen make love to his wife. She looked like Venalina. It made Queen Menina angry and she looked around for Dracon, but instead, only found five monstrous creatures, who stood behind her, and who she thought was Venalina. She knew this was only a shadow of what happened there that night, she was not really there. She walked around, looking at Venalina closely, her face changed when she realized it wasn’t Venalina at all, it was Tamina! Queen Menina floated backwards through the campfire, unnerved at the discovery. The scene played out before her, in every gruesome detail, ending in the pile of bones that were the wife and children of Captain Velen, left before him to wake up to. Queen Menina turned away from the scene.

  “Stop! I cannot watch anymore!” She said covering her face with her hands and closing her eyes. She returned to her human form then dropped to her knees and threw up.

  “There is more to see.” Glyna said. The sound of Captain Velen’s voice screaming as he woke to discover his family was nothing more than a pile of chewed up bones before him. It made Queen Menina wince and curl up in a fetal position on the ground, covering her head and face, trying to block it all out. She began to weep as the lamenting screams continued until Captain Velen’s voice went hoarse from his anguish.

  “Rise,” Glyna said just as the screaming began to fade. Queen Menina panted for breath on the ground and sobbed, “Rise.” Glyna said again. Queen Menina rolled to her side slowly moving her hands from her face. Right away she could see she was back in the command tent. She crawled to her knees.

  “I didn’t know.” She said still sobbing, “I would never have approved of such a thing, I swear to you!” She pleaded for Glyna to believe her.

  “I can see it is not who you are, daughter of Ayana, daughter of light.” Glyna said.

  “Stop calling me that!” Queen Menina sobbed, “I am no better than those things that ate those poor children!” Glyna flittered over to Queen Menina and looked her over, then, flew right in her face and licked a tear from her cheek.

  “Your pain is real.” Glyna said after licking her lips. “Do you feel remorse for the elves you’ve fed upon?” Queen Menina dropped her head. Her body went limp and she began to sob again.

  “I don’t know how to live… how can I go on, feeding on my own people?” Queen Menina asked through spasmed sobs.

  “Tamina does not care for you,” Glyna whispered, again flying close to Queen Menina, “If she did, she would have shared the knowledge of balance your mother found with us… her people.”

  “Balance?” Queen Menina asked looking at Glyna desperately.

  “Yes, child.” Glyna said raising a hand to Queen Menina’s cheek but stopped just shy of touching her. “You have done well for us, you have learned how to care for your people, how to love us. Remember when you sat by your mother’s side, watching over us like we were your children? Think on those times, the love you had for your people. The truth of what you are should not cloud that love, for the people loved you, and still love you. You are not defined by what you are, but by how you loved us so. We had a balance with your mother, I can give you that balance, and the knowledge Tamina refuses to share. How you can live without feeding on your people.” Queen Menina stopped sobbing and looked at Glyna with her mouth open in wonder. Was it possible? Glyna nodded yes as if she could read her mind. “You are, and forever will be, our queen, but you must overcome two obstacles, Tamina, and Dracon. We are with you, but not if you embrace her darkness. Find mercy for your brother, his bride, if you can, but he cannot rule Ganlin with this Vordalyn Queen, their destiny lies beyond our lands. You are a good creature, Aynisa. Your name means daughter of light. Embrace that light.”

  “Am I not a Vordalyn?” Queen Menina asked, “You knew my mother’s nature, my nature?” Glyna flittered away from Queen Menina.

  “You are not a Vordalyn, Aynisa, you are known as a Kina. Same as your mother, same as Tamina.” Glyna explained.

  “But Tamina said?” Queen Menina started then stopped thoughtfully.

  “Tamina has always envied your cousins, the Vordalyn, their power, their beauty. She wishes more than anything to be ascended, to be one of them. Love who you are, Aynisa, embrace it, your mother had no such delusions, like Tamina, it is why she sent her away. Her constant search to become something she could never be.”

  “What does it mean, ascended?” Queen Menina asked.

  “A mother Vordalyn, the most powerful of all the Vordalyn, they alone are immortal. There is only one at any given time, and they are always the queen.” Glyna explained, “This Venalina is such a creature.”

  “Can we kill her?” Queen Menina asked, “Tamina says she can die?”

  “She can be defeated; a mother does not know death until an heir is born.” Glyna said.

  “You’re sure Venalina is such a thing, a mother?” Queen Menina asked.

  “After what we saw today, there can be no doubt. Those women, once human, have been ascended. They are now as pure a Vordalyn as if born from the blood itself.” Glyna said, “Only a mother could do such a thing. The power those women have displayed leave us no doubt.”

  “What are we to do?” Queen Menina asked as she stood back up from the ground.

  “You must trust your people, and not Tamina, she will keep this fight going as long as she can, until she has the mother trapped. I tell you this now, she will turn on us for the price of ascension. That, we believe, is Tamina’s true motivation, above all else.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Dracon wandered through his dark, empty city. He could s
ee the glow of the fire set at the city gates, so high and bright it’s glow could be seen from anywhere in the city. As the city was below the palace and the palace gates, built upon the cliff, any vantage point on the palace grounds would give, not only a clear view of the fire there, but the fires of the army that surrounded the city. Truly, it did not surround the city in its entirety, because it didn’t have to. The palace was built on the hill that rose high to a cliff, overlooking the outer region, opposite the outer region to the front and below the palace on the hill, lie the city. The Palace of Dracon’s Lair. Once, only a fortification, built up to a palace after he saved the nation of Ganlin from Terrax.

  Dracon wandered the grounds of his empty city, thinking of the parallels between himself and that man he fought all those years ago, Terrax. The man whose followers now followed him. What would his brothers and his sister think of him when they found out that little bit of information, or did they already know? What they knew or didn’t know mattered very little right then, they were at his very gates, as if he were the man himself. It made him wince and shake his head in disgust, how did he get there. Home at last, he should have stayed away, he thought. He thought of how the people of Sumia treated him, the people around Cold lake, after he freed them from the Gyona. Here at home, he was at a loss. Ruling, so tedious, always a fight you can’t see coming and none of it you can raise a sword to, not raise a sword and be a good leader. Maybe he could talk to Queen Menina without all the other distractions and accusations, tell her what has truly been going on, about Venalina and the sisters. Then again, how could he tell anyone about that without looking the fool, driven only by sex? He sure would look the fool alright. If only he could have remained in the wilds of Sumia, free of the burden of rule. Something wrapped around Dracon’s neck and tightened, then he felt it tug hard. It managed to tilt his head some, but little else. Dracon’s skin was impervious as armor and the wire around his neck hardly bothered him. He caught sight of the wire from his neck leading to a halfling, trying with all his might to jerk Dracon from his feet with a wire attached to a stick. It made Dracon chuckle at the futility in the halflings endeavor. Dracon grabbed the wire with his hand and began wrapping it around his forearm until he had a good, strong, hold of it. Then, he jerked hard. The halfling was no match and came flying to Dracon, like a small fish plucked from the water. Dracon punched the halfling as he flew at him, killing him instantly. The force of the blow and the speed of his flight toward Dracon, meant death for the small creature.