Malaki Mayhem

by Malaki Mayhem

  Though tradition required formality around the public, in his home, Phoenix always treated Maddox as a friend rather than a soldier.

  When Maddox walked through his door, Phoenix grinned and stood.

  “Maddox! Great to see you! Welcome home!” he said.

  Phoenix rounded the desk to embrace Maddox, thumping his back with friendly affection.

  “I trust you journeyed safely. The dragons treated you well?” he asked.

  “Yes, my King.” Maddox nodded. “Our mission was successful.”

  “Excellent.” Phoenix clapped his hands together and went back around the desk to sit down again. “We’ll go over the details later. Please have a seat. You’re back just in time. There’s much to do. Plus, I have a new potion from our sorcerers to show you; it makes travelling much easier. You’re going to love it.”

  Maddox detached his chakram from his belt and sat in one of the chairs, leaning the weapon on the floor against the side of the chair. His chakram was a circular, bladed throwing disc ideal for long-range combat which also had an inner division in its middle that he could pull apart for use in hand-to-hand combat. Ara created it for him as his first weapon in his youth. The chakram was magically enchanted to always return to him in battle, and it rarely left his side.

  “How is the queen?” Maddox inquired cautiously.

  “Ara is well.” Phoenix smiled. “She’ll be pleased to see you. In fact, you have great timing. We’re hosting a celebration soon.”

  “Ara does love a good party,” Maddox said. “The occasion?”

  A grin spread across Phoenix’s face and his eyes twinkled.

  Maddox’s stomach sank. That smile could only mean one thing…

  “Our first baby is on the way!”

  Maddox forced a smile that he hoped looked convincing. “Congratulations, my king.”

  Phoenix beamed then moved on to outlining notable events that happened during Maddox’s absence.

  Maddox only half listened, dwelling on the terrible news he just received.

  The king’s first heir grew in the womb of an impostor. Nothing could fix that. Queen Ara would be devastated.

  A few minutes later, someone knocked at the door. Phoenix and Maddox both stood when Impostor Ara walked into the room.

  “Oh, I didn’t know you had company,” she said, eyeing Maddox suspiciously.

  Maddox studied her for a minute. She wore a beautiful purple floor-length gown that hugged her curves closely; it featured lace and delicate black pearls along the neckline, and had split, flowing sleeves. The outfit was a flashier than what the real Ara would wear during a regular day. But other than that, this creature was physically a mirror image of Ara, from her indigo-blue hair to her bright blue eyes.

  Maddox noted the gown emphasized a flat stomach, so this pregnancy must be somewhat recent.

  He also noted the aura. Where the Queen’s aura was light and beautiful--mainly green, tinted with blue and edged in white and silver--the impostor’s aura was visibly dark and confused--red and orange, edged in black. It indicated stress, anger, and uncertainty over a prolonged period; he had never seen an aura so altered from its natural state. For a moment, Maddox could only stare.

  The Impostor stepped forward and extended her hand toward Maddox so he could kiss it. “I’m Queen Ara. And you are…?”

  Maddox chuckled. He lightly took her hand in his and patted it faux-affectionately instead of kissing it, much to her surprise. He refused to bow before or kiss the hand of the creature before him.

  “Awww, come on now. I haven’t been gone that long.” Maddox laughed, glancing toward Phoenix then back to her. “You know you missed me terribly. No one else ever spars with you properly.”

  Maddox released her hand and winked at her.

  “Maddox has excellent news from The Dragon Lands, love,” Phoenix said, and gestured for her to come to him. “Of course, there will be no sparring for several more months until the baby arrives. But after that, she’ll be right back to knocking you on your ass, Maddox.” Phoenix laughed.

  Impostor Ara glanced once more at Maddox, a flash of recognition crossing her face as though she finally connected the face to the name. She rounded the desk and reached Phoenix, who hugged her tightly for a few moments before taking a small step back and affectionately caressing her stomach.

  “We’ll feast tonight to celebrate Maddox’s return. I’ll make the arrangements.” She rose up on her tiptoes to lightly kiss Phoenix, then turned to Maddox. “Welcome back, Maddox,” she said with a smile, then she left the room.

  Maddox noted the firm click of the door closing behind her and turned his attention back to Phoenix.

  Originally, Maddox was on the fence about how to best handle the impostor situation. Now, after seeing that chaotic aura so close to his king’s peaceful one, he couldn’t allow the deception to continue.

  Though the companions hadn’t discussed this option, Maddox felt that, under the circumstances, directly telling the king everything was the right move.

  He said, “Phoenix, you won’t like what I have to say, but I must tell you something. Please humor me.”

  With the abrupt mood change, the smile vanished from Phoenix’s face and his brow furrowed, but he sat down and folded his hands on the desk, giving Maddox his full attention. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”

  “Whoever was just in here...” Maddox struggled for the right words. “I don’t know who that really is, but she is not Queen Ara.”

  A flash of anger momentarily crossed Phoenix’s face and he opened his mouth to respond, but then he shut it and stayed silent. His jaw muscle ticked fiercely as he reigned in his anger, but after a few moments he nodded for Maddox to continue. He knew Maddox wouldn’t approach him with something like this without good reason.

  Maddox said, “As you know, I read auras; an aura is like a fingerprint, specific to each individual. The aura just here definitely does not belong to our queen.”

  “Are you sure the appearance hasn’t just changed due to the baby?”

  Maddox nodded solemnly. “I’m sure. In my experience, a child doesn’t have their own aura until after leaving the womb, and, typically, pregnancy just makes the mother’s aura brighter as she gets further along. That is not happening here. Plus, I know that is not Ara because I discovered the real queen in the forest on my return home.”

  Phoenix froze. “Discovered? What do you mean ‘discovered’?”

  Maddox relayed recent events, his luck in stumbling upon Ara, and the analysis from Valé.

  Phoenix listened intently. Toward the end, Phoenix leaned his elbows on the desk and covered his face with his hands.

  “How could I have been so blind? An entire year...” Phoenix mumbled from behind his hands.

  He sat like that for a few minutes, absorbing the news in silence. Finally, he looked up at Maddox with sadness, but also resolve, in his eyes.

  He said, “You’re right, Maddox. That isn’t Ara. I should’ve noticed. Small things were different, but I never thought anything strange about it... The difference is obvious now. I’ve failed Ara... I must fix this. Somehow.”

  “Valé said that the spell the shifter used gave her access to some of Ara’s memories. It was probably enough to be convincing,” Maddox offered.

  Phoenix shook his head. “I have no excuse. I should’ve known. It just never crossed my mind that anything like this could happen.”

  Phoenix sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, then locked eyes with Maddox. “First, I have an impostor to incarcerate. After that, will you please take me to my Ara?”

  “Absolutely, my king.” Maddox nodded.

  Chapter 6

  Ela startled at the loud knock on the front door, but the foxes didn't seem surprised.

  Chrysantha sniffed the air on her way to the door and told Ela, “Maddox is back. He brought someone with him...whoever it is smells familiar, but I can’t place him.”

  Before Ela could even wonder who Madd
ox would trust enough to bring there, the door opened and Chrysantha bowed to one knee in front of the open doorway. From her position across the room, Ela couldn’t see who the guest was, but she had a good guess.

  “Please stand,” an unfamiliar voice said, its owner stepping through the door.

  Phoenix’s blue eyes zeroed in on Ela, and he quickly crossed the room to wrap her in his warm embrace. He kissed the top of her head and murmured “I’m so sorry, my love” against her hair.

  Though initially startled by his directness, Ela found herself hugging him back.

  He was warm... His body heat reminded her of being wrapped in a blanket beside a cozy fire.

  He smelled good... She couldn’t place the scent, though; it was unlike anything she’d experienced in Tarakin Forest.

  Phoenix brushed her hair from her face and his eyes quickly skimmed over her body, as if he had to see for himself that she was okay.

  Ela took the opportunity to absorb the details of the tall, dark-haired fairy in front of her. His hair was short on the sides, but the top was long enough to be elegantly messy; his eyes were vibrant, cerulean blue like hers, though where hers were highlighted in silver, his were highlighted in gold. He had a strong jawline, and his nose was a little crooked, as though it had been broken a time or two.

  Something felt intensely familiar about him, almost as though she had seen him in her dreams.

  He wore a gray, long-sleeved, button-up shirt with its sleeves rolled halfway up his forearms; it was tucked into dark slacks held up by a belt with simple silver buckle. Business-casual attire wasn’t at all what she pictured from stories of the legendary king, but the style favored him.

  Ela could see the edge of a tattoo on his inner forearm peeking out from under his right sleeve but couldn’t see the design.

  He also wore an elaborately woven silver band with green electric current flowing through it on his left ring finger.

  He looked strong. Powerful. Debonair.

  Ela immediately felt--strangely enough--like she’d arrived home.

  “Maddox told me what happened. Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.

  “Yes. I’m fine,” she said.

  Phoenix nodded slightly, then kissed her forehead. “I’m not surprised. You’re remarkably resilient.”

  He hugged her tight again before reluctantly releasing her.

  He immediately took her hand in his, as though he required physical reassurance that she was there, then he turned to face the others.

  His thumb gently traced her empty ring finger.

  He nodded to the foxes. “Thank you for bringing Ara home. You are always welcome in our kingdom, and if you ever require anything, do not hesitate to ask.

  “I want to apologize and offer a small explanation. I know you don’t trust me at this point, but I hope to earn back your trust. Unfortunately, a terrible deception occurred. Someone impersonated Ara. This impersonator falsified records and convinced me that the non-fairy inhabitants of our kingdom conspired to commit a mass uprising that would irreparably harm the kingdom and its citizens. Now, it’s obvious I was provided false information; however, in anticipation of an uprising, I was convinced to issue a proclamation that all non-fairies located in and surrounding the kingdom accept banishment or face jail time or execution.”

  Phoenix bowed his head for a moment, the regret of his actions apparent in his face. He drew a breath and continued.

  “Of course, I will rescind the proclamation and welcome everyone back to the kingdom who wishes to return.

  “In the meantime, before coming here, I personally detained the impostor in the drunk room at the villa--the magic-restricted one that keeps over-imbibers from hurting themselves during festivities. She won’t be able to cast any additional spells or shapeshift while in there, and I magically sealed the door to prevent anyone except myself from opening it. She can’t escape before I can interrogate her.” Phoenix looked at Ela. “And, more importantly, until we get your memories back.”

  Lynx spoke up, “You’re just taking our word on all this? Don’t you want some proof? This all sounds too good to be true.”

  Phoenix nodded. “Understandable. Few know this, but Maddox can read auras. He is my most trusted knight and long-time friend. I trust him implicitly. When Maddox tells me he discovered Ara afflicted with an amnesia curse and someone with the wrong aura in her place, as absurd as the story sounds, I believe him. What I can’t believe is how oblivious I was.”

  Phoenix sighed and squeezed Ela’s hand.

  “Let’s all go to the villa for the night. We’ll get Ara’s memory back, have dinner, and get a good night’s rest. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.”

  Phoenix wrapped his arm around Ela’s shoulders and gestured for the foxes to come forward with his free hand. “Come closer and form a circle,” he instructed.

  Maddox stepped forward without hesitation, but Chrysantha and Lynx moved a little reluctantly.

  “It’s okay. I promise this is safe,” Phoenix reassured them.

  When everyone was in a tight circle, Phoenix reached into his pocket and pulled out a small sphere, which he held in front of him between his index finger and thumb. Its center swirled in a whirlpool of bright pink and purple. Phoenix spoke a few words and blew lightly on the sphere, making the swirls increase their intensity.

  Without warning, Phoenix dropped the sphere to the floor. It shattered.

  And before Ela could even blink, they were all standing in the foyer of the villa, Phoenix’s arm still wrapped around her.

  Ela looked at Phoenix in shock.

  He just grinned and said, “It’s a new potion our witches created. Instant travel to any destination. Just picture where you want to be, tell it to take you there, and you’re there. Bet you wish we had these years ago, don’t you, Maddox?”

  “They definitely would’ve made my life easier,” Maddox agreed.

  Phoenix smiled at him. “We’ve got an unlimited supply. From now on, whatever you need, my friend.”

  Phoenix squeezed Ela’s shoulder gently. “All right, Lynx, Chrysantha. Please make yourselves comfortable. Our home is your home. Maddox will show you around, and our chef will have dinner ready shortly. In the meantime, the Queen and I must attend to some important matters. We will return shortly.”

  Phoenix took Ela’s hand and led her up the stairs, into his office. He shut the door behind them and pulled her over to sit on the bench that lined the stone walls of his elaborately carved office. The entire room was immaculate. The wall behind his desk overlooked a gorgeous lake with birds swooping the water catching fish. It was beautiful; Ela was impressed.

  He sat with one leg tucked under the other so he could face her and took her left hand in his. His eyes met hers. “I know you don’t remember right now, but I am now--and always have been--wholly yours. I love you with all my heart. This symbol of my devotion has been off your hand for far too long... And look, even with your temporary memory loss, the power of our love still glows strong.”

  He slid something onto her finger. Ela looked down at her hand to see a silver ring that matched his swirl for swirl, a stunning design with electric green current visibly flowing through the metal. These must be their wedding bands...and the current must be powered by their bond...

  Tears rose to her eyes.

  These rings triggered deep emotions for her. She could feel the intensity of their relationship, the love they had. While she still could not remember the details, she remembered the emotions. Hundreds of years of devotion to each other flooded her senses.

  She was both sad and angry that someone took even a little time together from them.

  “Don’t cry, love. It’s okay. You’re home now.”

  Phoenix wiped a tear from her cheek and cupped her face with his hand. He smiled at her, then kissed her softly.

  When they parted, he smiled gently at her and tucked her hair behind her ear with his other hand, still cupping her cheek wit
h one hand. He asked, “The woodland fairies treated you well?”

  Ela nodded gently into his hand, wrapping her hand around his. “They treated me as family.”

  “Good. They are a peaceful race. This should never have happened, but, under the circumstances, I’m happy they helped you.” He stroked her cheek softly with his thumb. “Let’s get your memories back.”

  Chapter 7

  Ela and Phoenix stood in front of the sealed door for a moment.

  “Your brooch is glowing,” Phoenix observed, as he began the process of unsealing the door, running his hands along the edges, a magical golden glow remaining where his hands touched. He hummed as he worked.

  Ela looked down at the emerald brooch on her cloak, which she had not yet removed. It was pulsing green light.

  “Grandmother Aspen gave it to me for protection. Danger must wait on the other side of this door.”

  Ela thought about the dagger in the cloak pocket and pulled it out; the dagger’s peridot didn't flash, but instead glowed a solid green.

  “Those woodland fairies did take good care of you, didn’t they? That dagger is ancient magic,” Phoenix commented as he finished unsealing the door. “Extremely powerful. It’s called the ‘Fortuitous Blade.’ Its bearer is guaranteed safety and luck so long as it is in their possession.” He put his hand on the doorknob and turned to her. “You ready?”

  Ela nodded and tucked the dagger back into her cloak. Phoenix pushed the door inward, taking her hand and pulling her through the opening behind him, quickly shutting it once they were inside.

  Phoenix explained to her that the two of them magically restricted this location so that no one’s magic except his or hers worked inside. For convenience, the drunk room was located on the first floor, midway between the dining hall and the kitchen. It was mainly used for over-imbibers during festivals who could not control their impulses, but sometimes was also used as a holding cell for prisoners with exceptional magical powers until they could be transferred to more appropriate facilities, such as the high-security prison at Corasintha. In this case, it would keep the shapeshifter from changing forms and escaping.