Dracon veered from the main street to a side street, alarming the soldiers who lined it. They all made way quickly. He led his group around the city to the main gates. There were soldiers blocking the way. Dracon stopped his group, facing off with the soldiers protecting the only way out. They did not know what to do, but held their ground. The commander in charge sent a runner to inform the queen and the princes that Dracon was at the gates.
“I know you.” Dracon announced loudly to the commander, who stood ahead of him with his battalion blocking the way.
“You do, Prince Dracon. I am Commander Ferrin Dey, I led the cavalry under your command in the last battle with Terrax. I was at your side when King Treska fell.” He answered. Satana nodded her recognition of the commander.
“And here we are, face to face. I don’t envy you, your task. It is a hard thing to fight a brother. But know this, I mean to walk through those gates. Your head may remain where it is, or not. That choice is yours to make.” Dracon said, the soldiers were instantly uneasy. There was a rush of people behind Dracon and his group, making them turn to see who it was that approached. It was the princes and Queen Menina, all on horseback.
“Hold there!” Queen Menina ordered Commander Ferrin. She stopped, giving herself plenty of room between her and Dracon. The warriors of Ganlin had him completely surrounded for no other reason than they simply had nowhere else to stand. So many filled the city yet were unable to kill him. Fear filled the area, it was tangible. People held their breath in anticipation of the fight that was about to resume once again, making it eerily quiet. “You said you wanted to bargain for your woman?” Queen Menina’s voice seemed supernaturally loud in the silence. Dracon chuckled.
“Is that what you heard, Menina? That I wished to bargain?” He looked over at Satana in disbelief. “I think you misheard me, Menina. I demand her brought to me, or else!” He said looking back at her.
“You’re trapped here with us, Dracon. It is in your best interest to talk to me.” She said.
“I think that last skirmish would disagree who it is who is trapped.” He laughed and walked around with his arms out, looking at the terrified soldiers around him. He flinched toward a group of men nearest to him, “Am I trapped?” He asked them, his eyes were crazed. The men moved away from him quickly, a younger soldier dropped his sword, mishandling it in his fear. Dracon laughed all the more. “Menina, you may have used my stone to seal us in, but I’m guessing you didn’t know there was a stone to release us?” Queen Menina’s face dropped. Satana pulled what appeared to be a small stone from a pouch at her waist. She took a few steps then whipped it as far as she could over the gates of the city. There was a bright flash when the stone hit the shield, then a sound of rushing air. A sudden breeze swept through the city. “I want to talk out in that field, there.” He pointed through the gates. “I don’t want all these dead bodies littering my streets.” He motioned at the men of Ganlin, then turned and walked toward the gates, Satana and the dwarves followed, with a new aggressive intent in their steps, ready for the fight if they did not get out of their way. Queen Menina waved Commander Ferrin away from the gates. He and his men stepped aside and let them through.
“What are you doing, Menina?” Prince Charnio asked.
“I don’t want any more people to die.” She said looking at him, “If he runs away, let him. We will have more time to prepare.” Prince Charnio looked over at the departing group.
“I don’t know what he is doing,” Prince Charnio said looking around at his brothers, “But he is not running away.” The princes nodded their agreement with his assessment.
“Menina, can you alter the air at all, are there any spells that can slow him, maybe make it harder for him to breathe?” Prince Renic asked.
“Yes?” Queen Menina looked at him with a curious look.
“If he will not talk. Try something with a little finesse, maybe heat, cold, I’m not sure what magic you can perform, but do you understand what I’m trying to say?” Prince Renic asked.
“I think I do.” She said thinking about what alternatives she could try that they hadn’t already. “Thank you, Renic. Stay inside, plan an escape if we are unsuccessful.” She said.
The group, that included the princes, Queen Menina, Tamina, Elmyra and a company of elven wielders, walked through the city gates to face Dracon. When they cleared the city, they stopped. Um’Vec drove his hordes back to the city when Talila did not return. He waited for Dracon, Satana, Grik and the dwarves, outside the city.
“I see now why he wanted to come out. That’s a lot more than the first bunch.” Prince Charnio said. Horns sounded from within the city to warn of the horde’s arrival. They could hear the soldiers readying themselves. Queen Menina turned around and looked back into the city at Prince Renic and the soldiers on the inside of the gates.
“Defend yourselves from within the city, don’t open these gates.” Queen Menina raised her hands and clapped them together making the gates slammed shut behind the group.
“What are we doing, Menina?” Prince Torak asked. Prince Charnio shook his head.
“Well, there’s no going back now, let’s go talk to our brother, see what’s left of him.” Prince Charnio said.
“There will be a fight, make no mistake. Prepare yourselves.” Tamina said, “I’ll do what I can to shield you, but if that horde attack’s, we may have to go on the offensive, possibly flee.”
Dracon waited several hundred yards away from the city. Queen Menina and those who were with her walked out to meet him. Queen Menina looked back at the city, and at the top of the city wall, lined with people watching, she spotted Glyna, the Wood Nymph. Even from where she stood, Queen Menina could see the concern and fear on her face. It gave her a warm feeling to see such concern for her, as she turned back to face Dracon, she couldn’t help but smile. Dracon’s armor materialized when they neared, he walked out to them alone.
“I came to talk, Dracon,” Queen Menina said coming to a stop. “There’s no need for that armor.”
“I see you don’t fear it.” Dracon responded, “I imagine you have some sort of counter magic?” He asked.
“I do.” Tamina answered, “You won’t be magically striking fear in any one of us, boy.” Dracon chuckled and took off his helmet.
“Who are you exactly?” He asked looking over his shoulder briefly, then back at each of his brothers, “Oh, yes, you are her aunt, a Kina, like her.”
“Kina?” Prince Torak asked, “What is a Kina?”
“They aren’t human.” Dracon answered.
“You want your girl?” Tamina asked changing the subject, and it certainly did. Dracon’s face changed.
“Bring her to me.” Dracon demanded.
“We want something too, nephew.” Tamina laughed.
“I’m no family to you.” Dracon was suddenly filled with recognition of her voice, he’d heard it before.
“Dracon, please.” Queen Menina walked closer, to talk to him face to face, leaving the security of her brothers at her side, “Let’s talk.” She said.
“Where is she, Menina?” He asked anxiously.
“She is safe, unharmed, well, no more than what the fall did to her, but she lives, and I have someone tending to her.” She said.
“If she dies…” He started.
“I know, gloom and doom upon us all, a blight upon the land, and so forth and so on.” Queen Menina said in a very condescending voice. “Remove your armor, relax, let’s not threaten one another. Negotiations should always be a relaxed affair, or no one will get what they want.” She stopped talking and looked behind Dracon, making him also look back. Um’Vec and a group of Bugbears were closing in on them. Dracon looked back at Queen Menina.
“Would you excuse me a moment?” He asked.
“Of course.” She nodded then returned to her brothers and Tamina. The elves were clearly nervous, Elmyra seemed ready to fight however, her eyes were extremely wide and alert.
“What’s that a
ll about I wonder?” Prince Torak asked.
“When his armor is gone, attack.” Queen Menina said to the group, “Be ready.” She said then turned around to walk back out to where she was talking with Dracon. Prince Charnio started to protest but she ignored him.
Dracon reached Grik and Um’Vec in mid-conversation. “What’s he want?”
“To fight, of course. He keeps asking after his mistress, that girl of yours, the one they have, I believe?” Grik answered.
“Tell him to return his horde to the outer region.” Dracon ordered.
“I’m afraid he’s pretty insistent on seeing the girl before he’ll do anything, my lord.” Grik informed him. Dracon looked at Um’Vec whose face was in a snarl. Dracon nodded to him.
“Ok, tell him he can stay with us, but the others have to go.” Grik translated for Dracon making Um’Vec stiffen slightly then look at his comrades. He growled at his followers, who looked back at him confused. Um’Vec barked at the others who scurried away quickly. Um’Vec looked back at Dracon through narrowed, skeptical eyes. Dracon returned to Queen Menina, who was smiling at him when he returned. Dracon was about to speak but Queen Menina stuck her hands up and froze time. She instantly crumbled to the ground, and wretched, throwing up. Every fiber of her being burned and vibrated. She felt sluggish and struggled to move, like she was moving through mud. She lay still for hours, before she could finally move freely. She got to her knees, then looked at the frozen world. Ayana’s spell worked. She struggled to her feet. She walked over to Dracon as quick as she could and cast a spell to help her understand the magic of the armor, it did not take her long to discover that it centered on the amulet Dracon wore. She reached in under the neck line of his armor and found the chain, then pulled the amulet free. When she raised it over his head and off his neck, his armor and sword disappeared.
“Thank you, mother.” She said, thankful her mother had taught her the spell before she died. It may well have just saved all Ganlin. She remembered it while she was waiting for Dracon to walk back to her. She teleported back to the city, to Prince Renic, then put the amulet in his pocket. After, she teleported to Glyna on the wall. She released her from the time spell to join her in the frozen moment. Glyna spun in a quick circle startled, then looked at Queen Menina, not recognizing her. She had aged, she was an old woman. Glyna looked out where Dracon and the others stood frozen in time, then back at Queen Menina. Tears began to fall from her delicate fairy face.
“What have you done?” She cried and grabbed Queen Menina’s face. “You used time magic! No, Aynisa!” Queen Menina was confused at her dismay. “It cost you your youth!” Glyna cried. Queen Menina grabbed her own face, then looked at her hands. It was true, she aged and was an old woman. She grabbed her own face again, afraid. “Feed on me, Aynisa.” Glyna pleaded, “Hurry!” Queen Menina pushed her back.
“What if I kill you? No one has ever lived from a feeding.” She said frightened.
“Not if you accept me as your mate.” Glyna said, “Feed, Aynisa.” Queen Menina took Glyna by her shoulders. Glyna stopped her beating wings and dropped to the floor with Queen Menina. She was much shorter than Queen Menina and it surprised her, she was always floating just above head high, giving the illusion of being much taller. Queen Menina never even considered her true height, should her feet touch the ground. She looked her in her eyes.
“I accept you, Glyna, please don’t die?” She asked, terrified at what she was about to do, but knew she needed to. She found someone who knew everything about her and accepted her. Not since Ohmbryn had she been able to be herself, she was scared she would lose that in Glyna just like she lost Ohmbryn, to her hunger, her need to feed, to keep herself young and powerful. Glyna tilted her head back. Queen Menina fed on her, her eyes turned black, her wings appeared, and her horns slowly grew from her head, crooked, bent horns. All the while, Queen Menina wept, fearful she was killing Glyna. For the first time, she fed, completely conscious of what was happening. She became her true form, and the longer she fed, the more she changed. Her grayish, speckled wings, turned pure white. Her horns flaked apart and fell from her head. New ones grew, curling like a ram’s, no longer bent and crooked. Glyna felt the pleasure of Queen Menina’s bite, the soothing intoxication her feeding was to its prey. They both felt the pleasure from the feeding. Queen Menina had chosen Glyna as her mate, and so it was. Both were filled with a power, augmented by the feeding. Queen Menina fed with a ravenous fervor, both reeled from the pleasure it gave them. They fell to the floor of top of the wall, wrapped around one another at the feet of the people around them, frozen in time. The feeding went on for hours in the space between time. When it was done, Queen Menina had changed, she was no longer an ugly creature, but a beautiful one. It was as Glyna had promised her. Her suspicions of Glyna evaporated with the truth come to light. Both could feel the benefit of the feeding immediately. It was so much more powerful than feeding on elves, this creature, this wood nymph, with so much magic in her being, was a source that gave Queen Menina more than just life, it made her more powerful.
“We can face him!” Glyna purred making Queen Menina smile at her. Glyna caressed her cheek, happy she was young again. “You are so beautiful, Aynisa. Promise me you will not use time magic again, it is far too dangerous.” Queen Menina took a deep breath through her nose then exhaled slowly. She walked to the edge of the wall, looking down to where her brothers stood. She stared at Dracon without his armor.
“His armor came from an amulet, I’ve removed it. His armor is no longer a factor. I’m not going to negotiate with him, when I start time I’m going to attack. Can you help me?” She asked.
“I heard it said that she is dead, do not believe it, remember what I told you, the queen can not die until another is born.” Glyna reminded her.
“I remember.” She said, “We will need to be wary of Tamina when Dracon is dealt with. I know it seems insurmountable, but should we succeed with him, she will make a move on me, I can feel it.”
“She has already begun.” Glyna said, “She asked the council to make her queen, and take your life.” The information made Queen Menina clench her jaw tight and start grinding her teeth, “The council refused.”
“We’ve been given weapons by Raggrun, do you know of them?” Queen Menina asked.
“I do, I suggested them to him.” Glyna said.
“Since we are between time, I wish to alter my plans, I did not think it was possible for me, but since I was successful, and I was successful in bringing you here with me. I wish to test the bounds of what I can do here.” Queen Menina said.
“It is dangerous Aynisa, you will be too weak to perform magic in this space between seconds.” Glyna shook her head with great concern.
“That is why I propose to bring Tamina here with us. To help.” Queen Menina said shocking Glyna.
“You wish to bring her into our confidence?” Glyna asked.
“I do, briefly, Glyna, please trust me?” She asked.
“I feel I know you so well, that I trust you with my life,” Glyna said, “But at the same time, I do not. The feeding has me at odds with myself. I struggle with my mind, the magic you gave me surpasses my own will to resist your request.” Her words made Queen Menina smile.
“Then do not resist me this request, bring me the girl, that I might destroy her before Dracon’s eyes, when he is on his knees before us.” Queen Menina requested.
“I cannot allow this request, Aynisa.” Glyna said and hung her head low.
“Why not! Why do you protect that thing!” Queen Menina shouted angrily at Glyna, making her flutter away, like a frightened little bird. Queen Menina quickly calmed down seeing her flee from her. She regretted frightening Glyna and scaring her away. “Come back, Glyna! I’m sorry!” Glyna didn’t fly far, and stopped, spinning back to face Queen Menina. “Please don’t leave me, Glyna.” Queen Menina raised her hand to Glyna, bidding her to return. Glyna returned in a blink of an eye, floating before her.
&nb
sp; “She is with child, Aynisa.” Glyna said, finally telling her the truth of her protection over the girl, “It must have happened before she was ascended, that it survived the ascension is incredible. It will be a girl, of course.” Queen Menina’s face twisted at the information. “I cannot allow you to kill such innocence.” She turned away from Glyna, she knew the nymph was right, she couldn’t stomach the idea of killing a woman with child. It angered her. Glyna flittered away, a few feet from her, sensing her anger.
“Bring her in chains, witch’s chains. I will not harm her, I promise you.” Queen Menina turned back to face Glyna, she was surprised Glyna backed away from her, she marveled at what a timid creature she was.
“I’m not sure witch’s chains will hold her.” Glyna said.
“She’s on death’s door, is she not?” Queen Menina asked, Glyna nodded, “Then it does not matter, does it? I will hold time until we are done.”
It was a strenuous thing to hold time still, and live, within the span of a blink of an eye. It was an impressive feat that Queen Ayana was able to keep her and her daughter there for weeks, mourning King Treska. During this time, Queen Menina released her brothers and a company of men to assist her. They slaughtered the horde, killing them one at a time as Queen Menina freed each creature from times grip. She found out quickly, that she could not kill anyone when time stood still. She had to release them to join her in the space between time. The creatures screamed and yelped, as the princes easily slaughtered them, one at a time. It was a lot of work and draining for Queen Menina. They bound and carried Satana away from field, a prisoner, as they did with Grik, and every one of his Derro dwarves. Um’Vec was chained and made to kneel beside Dracon. Both bound, arms and hands, behind their backs. Completely immobilized, leveraged so that no amount of strength could be used to free them. It was designed by Prince Renic and augmented by the combined efforts of Queen Menina, Glyna, and Tamina. There was no escape. Queen Menina reveled in her cleverness, she was smug and happy during the entire time she and her brothers spent in the space between time. She was pleased with Prince Renic and his ingenuity in the design of the chains that bound her mighty brother, and his monster. The brothers had a newfound respect for their sister, seeing what she had accomplished, the power she displayed. It was amazing that stopping time was even possible, each swore their allegiance to her. When it came time to deal with Dracon, they gathered back to their places on the battlefield, for when their sister started time again, it would be glorious. Dracon, suddenly on his knees in chains, with his monstrous creature at his side, alone. The hordes would appear to have been instantly vanquished by their queen. She would be worshipped, eclipsing Dracon’s own legacy. He would be turned from hero to demon, chained and imprisoned, until the end of time, or his death. As they took their places, Queen Menina could not help but to smile at all that had been accomplished, and to the people, it would be in the blink of an eye. And so, it was. Queen Menina started time again. She created a flash that blinded everyone. When they could see again the hordes were dead. Their enemies in chains. Queen Menina bent down to Dracon.
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