The Changeling

by Jennifer Lyndon

  “If we want you properly dressed for the solstice celebration, there’s no time to waste. You’ve left this to the last minute,” I reproached her, teasing.

  Lia gripped my hand more tightly as we walked down the front walk to the gate. Obviously, she was excited by the prospect of a trip into the village. It wasn’t often I allowed the girls off the palace grounds. Her head turned from side to side as she took in the colorful signs above the shops in the main square, not far from the palace gates. Happily, it was a quiet morning in Saranedam Village, and what attention we inevitably received was respectful and from a distance. I took her to the tailor first, leading her in, and allowing her to show me which of the fabrics she preferred. As for the tailor, he was clearly struck dumb by our sudden appearance. Finally, I had to address the man in order to have my daughter measured for a suit.

  “Are you Master Garron?” I asked, when he finally met my gaze.

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” he acknowledge.

  “Master Garron, I have a slightly pressing situation. One that I hope you can help me with,” I volunteered. “My daughter, Princess Aurelia, wishes to attend our solstice celebration dressed as a prince. I know it’s short notice, but is there any possibility you might be able to make a proper suit for her in time?” I asked in my sweetest voice. “I’d be willing to compensate for the rush,” I added.

  “I assure you, Queen Loredana, Princess Aurelia’s suit will be ready,” he promised, bowing low. “I will work on it exclusively until it’s complete.”

  “You are very good,” I said, smiling.

  After Master Garron measured Lia, I ordered several more suits for my daughter, to be delivered after the solstice celebration. I was tired of seeing her in sparring clothes. Lia was ecstatic about her new clothes, talking of nothing else, as we moved on to the cobbler for the appropriate shoes to match her suit. The solstice was to take place in less than a week, but both merchants promised delivery at the palace the day prior.

  Upon returning Lia to the nursery, I made my way out to the stables. As I looked around at the stonework, and the beautiful workmanship around the windows, I couldn’t hold back memories of M’Tek working on the structure. My eyes started to sting, as they aimlessly sought the shiny golden coat of my beloved Sabea, but found only her empty stall. I continued down the center aisle, and stopped in front of what had been Twyneth’s stall. The draft mare that carried my children and me to safety stood contentedly, eating her supper. Her white coat was smooth and shiny, and she’d transformed from an emaciated nag into an exceedingly robust and healthy mare in the past few years. In fact, Abri looked pregnant, I realized.

  “Good evening, Abri,” I spoke softly to the mare. She slowly lifted her head from her trough, but continued to chew her oats as she watched me with those solemn brown eyes. When I showed her the bright green apple in my hand, she came to her stall door and extended her head over the half-door, awaiting her treat.

  “My Queen,” Shiroane called as she approached. I held the apple, as Abri carefully bit into it, releasing copious amounts of sticky juice to drip between my fingers.

  “You summoned me,” I said, raising a single eyebrow in an imitation of M’Tek’s teasing manner. Abri took the rest of the apple from my hand and I turned to face Shiroane.

  “Good afternoon, Lore,” Shiroane replied, relaxing with me. “I wanted to talk to you about Ballick.”

  “I see you’ve bred Abri,” I observed, turning back to glance at the mare’s belly. “Have I been away from the stable so long?” I asked.

  “You have, my Queen,” Shiroane replied.

  “Why have you bred her? We don’t need workhorses at Saranedam,” I replied shaking my head. “And she’s not exactly young,” I pointed out. “She’s earned her retirement.”

  “That mare’s no more than eight years old, Lore,” Shiroane corrected mildly. “Regardless, your pet seems to be handling her gestation fine.”

  “I assumed she was older. She does look healthy,” I observed, my gaze trailing over the mare’s rounded belly as Abri’s large tongue licked the last of the apple from my hand. “What are your plans for her foal?” I asked, rubbing my hand against my breeches to get the sticky off.

  “I think she’ll give us a nice warhorse,” Shiroane explained. “She’s about nine months along.”

  “Did you breed her to M’Tek’s stallion?” I asked. Shiroane nodded, flinching slightly at the easy way I spoke the name no one dared utter in my hearing. “M’Tek’s such a snob about horses. She’d have a fit if she knew you bred her precious Ronin to a lowly workhorse,” I said, laughing before I realized the discomfort on Shiroane’s face. Not wanting the woman to feel awkward, I sobered quickly. “You believe Abri will have a nice foal?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “The mare’s confirmation is good, and she has long legs for a draft horse. She’s not pure Noge draft, but probably half, or less. She has a long sloping shoulder, good canon bone, and her neck is nice, not too thick. Ronin has such delicate lines. It should be a nice pairing,” Shiroane explained. She was quiet for a moment as I appraised Abri with different eyes. I’d never really considered the mare’s conformation before. She had simply been my children’s salvation, and then my pampered pet. “I know you’re taken with this mare. Maybe her foal will suit you. You need a horse.”

  “I have hundreds of horses, Shiroane, between this stable and Lareem,” I said.

  “I’m talking about a personal mount, my Queen, to replace…” she stopped, probably because she read my expression.

  “It would not be possible to replace Sabea. As you’re aware, she was a gift from M’Tek,” I said, my voice sounding flinty to my own ears. “It’s very kind of you to try, but unnecessary.”

  “You need a personal mount, Lore. That’s why I asked to talk to you. Will you allow me to offer you Ballick?” Shiroane said quietly. “You’ve always liked him. If you recall, it was because of your regard for the gelding that the Queen found him and returned him to me,” she said. “If you still insist we ride to the Rocky Coast in the fall, you’ll need a horse at least one of us knows and trusts. I want you to start riding him now, so you can become acquainted with him. I hoped we might plan an afternoon to circle around Sweet Lake.”

  “I’m not taking your horse from you, Shiroane,” I said, touched by the offer, and feeling slightly choked up in spite of my best efforts at stoicism.

  “Then borrow him, until we can settle on a suitable mount for you,” she replied. “Queen M’Tek gave me one of the finest horses from her stables several years ago. I rarely ride him. If you’ll accept my offer of Ballick, I’ll have the chance to ride Kronnak.” I knew it had taken an effort for Shiroane to speak M’Tek’s name, and that little exertion warmed me.

  “All right, my friend,” I said, giving in to her. Shiroane seemed to relax slightly, her shoulders becoming less squared, as the wariness left her eyes. “You know this trip is not to be discussed,” I said, suddenly cautious of the grooms nearby.

  “Your grooms don’t have Fae ears, Lore,” Shiroane reminded me. “Though you seem to hear as well as any Fae I’ve ever known. Maybe I should be more careful around you Noge,” Shiroane added, teasing me. I reached an arm across her shoulders, drawing her closer so I could speak in hardly more than a whisper.

  “We’re bringing the girls to Lareem after the solstice celebration. Poor Pet’s extremely homesick. The Princesses will witness their first Fae season this winter, even though they’re too young to actually attend,” I said, smiling. “You and I will stay at the palace until the season is in full swing. When we leave Lareem it will be in the middle of the night. I want only you traveling with me, and in plain clothes.”

  “You’ll need more protection than I can provide, my Queen,” she said firmly. “I can’t keep you safe on my own.”

  “There aren’t enough guards alive to protect me if this goes wrong. No, in this case they would only make me vulnerable. Their number would draw a dangerous leve
l of attention to my actions. No one must know I’ve left the palace. My protection is not the reason I want you with me,” I replied. “You must realize that you’re one of my closest friends, Shiroane. You made me promise not to send you from my side again,” I reminded her. “I’m keeping that promise, even though it means if I do meet my fate on this trip, which is somewhat likely, you’ll die with me.”

  “I can’t agree to this,” she said more firmly.

  “I understand your reluctance. It was not a command, only a request. I’ll go alone if…”

  “That’s not what I meant, Lore. I only want you to reconsider the number of guards,” she said, interrupting me rather abruptly. “There’s no question of my joining you.” I grinned at her. She’d never interrupted me before.

  “We’ll be safe for the coming months in Faeland,” I said, trying to reassure Shiroane. “The religious frenzy has died down since the war,” I explained. “And if, before we leave, I conceal my hair with dark henna dye, no one should even recognize me,” I added. “The Queen would not be expected to travel alone with only one companion.”

  “I have made my concerns known to you,” Shiroane said calmly. “I’ll not question your judgment further.”

  “I appreciate that,” I said. “And I think you’re right, about Abri that is. She’ll have a beautiful foal.” Abri had returned to her dinner just after finishing her apple, but her hindquarters were close enough to allow me to pat her big white rump before turning away from her stall.

  -CH 22-

  Shiroane and I were returning from our clandestine trip to the Rocky Coast. The meeting with the Sim’Sci had been difficult. Since Sim’Nu had been blocking my communication with them on their system for years, they were in a frenzy to learn what had happened to me. My own Sim’Sci was intent on understanding the situation, and questioned me at length. Still, I was uncertain of their support once the circumstances of my journey were made clear. I explained as well as I was able, speaking aloud with my Sim’Sci. I was unable to gage the responsiveness of the others, as communication with them was difficult.

  Once I finished explaining, my Sim’Sci seemed to withdraw from me slightly. She supplied the information on Sim’Nu she had offered me before, but made little comment about my current predicament, beyond making it clear that replacing M’Tek was well within their abilities, if I desired a replica of my much favored Fae. I refrained from responding to that assertion, beyond offering a polite nod.

  The file on Sim’Nu confirmed most of what I had observed about her role in maintaining the Noge royal line, and explained her determination to make me behave as my sisters before me. It also provided some information that could be helpful in a confrontation with the witch, though any physical skirmish would be extremely dangerous, and likely end with my death. My Sim’Sci was also helpful in pinpointing the only place Sim’Nu could possibly be holding M’Tek in, what she termed, a suspended state. It was an ancient Fae facility. The problem was gaining access to the sight, deep within the Abyss Canyon. Still, it was a relief, finally knowing where my mate was being held. My longing for her had steadily grown in intensity, as everyone around me insisted I should be moving on.

  Shiroane had no idea of the reason for my visit with the Sim’Sci, but it clearly frightened her. She saw the Rocky Coast as the witch Sim’Nu’s domain, even though she had met the Sim’Sci before. She feared I was in the witch’s thrall. In a sense I was, for as long as Sim’Nu held M’Tek, she had unfathomable power over me.

  As we rode, I mused over my current situation. My period of mourning would be at an end in two short months, at which time Sim’Nu expected me to take another consort. This meant I would have to recover M’Tek soon, or submit to the witch’s demands. Every time I considered the possibility, my skin felt cold, I began to sweat, and my breath came too fast as my heart started pounding in my chest. My entire body rejected the possibility of anyone other than M’Tek.

  “Shiroane, I’ll need you to accompany me on a voyage deep into Nogeland soon, to the Abyss Canyon,” I said, breaking a silence that had lasted most of the morning.

  “Will you allow a complete accompaniment of fourteen guards this time?” she asked.

  “No. This is another of my private endeavors. I want only you with me,” I said, offering a reassuring smile to the captain of my guard. “Again, this journey is to be kept quiet,” I reminded her. “I need to get in and out without being noticed if there is any hope of success.”

  “Will you tell me what we’re doing this time?” she asked. “What did you learn from the witch’s coven?”

  “They’re not her coven, Shiroane. And you’ll probably think me insane, but I’m going after M’Tek,” I replied, likely not reassuring her at all. “I have one small window in which to recover her. I’ll either succeed, or die trying.”

  “All of this has been an effort to bring the Queen home to rest in Faeland?” she asked.

  “I want her back,” I replied guardedly. I wasn’t ready to tell Shiroane that M’Tek was still living, not without proof.

  “It’s not insane to want her remains to be laid to rest in her crypt,” Shiroane assured me in a solemn voice. “Is this why you want to travel to the Abyss Canyon?”

  “She’s in a fortress within that canyon,” I replied, not lying exactly.

  “Then allow me to take a battalion to this place, instead of sneaking in hardly protected,” she suggested. “Queen M’Tek would not want you to risk yourself recovering her bones,” Shiroane said gently. “You have a responsibility to both the Fae and the Noge people. Stay safe. Let me handle this.”

  “I can’t,” I said firmly. “I caused this. I’ll finish it.”

  Shiroane fell quiet again. From a purely emotional perspective, she saw me as a beloved friend, but her position was not so simple. I was her Queen as well. She desperately wanted to argue with me, but her deeply embedded sense of duty held her tongue in check. I could see the two forces at war within her, and felt badly about causing such conflict in my friend.

  “We should reach the palace before dawn,” I said, wanting to distract her.

  “You take too much upon yourself, Lore,” Shiroane said, the war within her finally decided on the side of emotion. “You’ve called me your friend,” she observed. “It’s how I see myself as well. Will you allow me to speak plainly, as your friend, and not someone bound by the chain of command?” she asked.

  “Of course, Shiroane,” I replied. “You may always speak freely with me.”

  “Queen M’Tek chose her death,” Shiroane said calmly. “It was not your fault. I loved and admired the Queen, but she always risked too much in battle. She was arrogant, leading from the front when she should have been behind, attacking even when she had too few soldiers. Always she managed to draw luck to her side. This one time, fortune failed her. You were not the cause of her death. She wanted to take horses for your escape, but you managed to survive without them. You protected the Princesses, stole a horse, and you survived to defeat the Vilken traitors. The Fae Queen could have been at your side. It was not your blunder, but hers, that killed her.”

  “You’re right, Shiroane. M’Tek made the wrong choice that day,” I agreed. “But my actions, and my pride set everything in motion,” I explained. “I’ve thought a great deal about how I should have handled the Vilkerlings. M’Tek advised me more than once to abdicate, explaining that the Vilkerlings would never accept her. Each time an attempt was made on my life, she tried to persuade me. I can’t count the number of times she pointed out that I’m not Vilken, and they were not truly my people. I can’t undo my mistakes, but I will bring her home.”

  “The Fae are your people now,” Shiroane said. “We’ve mourned Queen M’Tek. Don’t make us mourn another Fae Queen so soon.”

  “I don’t plan to die, Shiroane,” I said, grinning at my friend. “No. If all goes as planned, I’ll give my Fae people something truly remarkable to celebrate.”

  “Of course, my Queen,” Sh
iroane replied, realizing it was useless trying to convince me. “Since I can’t persuade you to be wary, I’ll at least attempt to keep you safe.”

  ****

  The tail end of the Fae season passed slowly, as I waited for my opportunity to reclaim M’Tek. Finally, I received communication from Sim’Nu. My period of mourning was at an end, the witch noted. She wanted to discuss with me my potential consorts, as she expected me to keep our agreement and join as quickly as possible. She was traveling to Lareem Palace, and expected me to accompany her to the Rocky Coast, so that she could make the Sim’Sci dormant again.

  When I received Sim’Nu’s letter, I knew she would arrive within the next few days. Finally, I had my window. Sim’Nu would have left the Abyss Canyon, which meant the place they were holding M’Tek was less protected. If I was ever going to reclaim her, the time had come.

  Shiroane was not pleased when we left in the dead of that very night, but she held her tongue. She knew I’d go without her, rather than be dissuaded from my quest. She rode beside me in silence through the remains of the night and into the morning, hardly speaking to me the subsequent day. The following evening, we reached the edge of the Abyss Canyon. I stood at the precipice, and gazed down into the void below me, careful not to communicate my presence to M’Tek, though it was the closest I’d been to her in more than four years.

  I’d kept carefully out of her mind for over a month, hoping Sim’Nu wouldn’t notice when I finally freed her. I had a map in my head from the Sim’Sci, and I found the trail down with relative ease. The path was narrow, and treacherous in places. A third of the way down we had to abandon the horses, tying them to the only anchor we could find, a weak and rotted cedar tree that barely clung to the rocky precipice. We were aware the horses might easily pull loose, but desperately hoped they would not. We needed them if we were to make it out of there and across the arid terrain surrounding the canyon.

  Shiroane and I descended through the night. We were completely exhausted when we reached the cave opening in the wall of the canyon. There were no guards protecting it, a circumstance I found strange. Still, we approached cautiously. I saw the flat rock that should have controlled the opening of the cave, but it was destroyed, strands of fiber thin metal dangling from the back of it.