“My queen, rumor destroyed your brother, and the kina myth darkens his memory, if you are associated with those creatures…” Elmyra started.
Queen Menina glared at her.
“I am…” She started to say then stopped, grinding her teeth, “Is this why you are here? To insult me?”
“No, my queen,” Elmyra took a knee, “As I said, Prince Renic awaits with a stranger.”
“Get up. Bring them to me, then leave me until I call for you.” Elmyra wasted no time, she all but fled from her presence. She knew Queen Menina was a vicious and powerful woman.
“Your highness,” Prince Renic said, bowing his head, the golden warrior at his side took a knee, bowing his head as well.
“Your grace, I thank you for your hospitality.” Brother Kane said.
Elmyra did not linger and did as she was told, leaving the garden immediately. Queen Menina looked at the bowing Brother Kane with a slight smirk, then looked at her brother, who matched her smirk with one of his own.
“I fear your tale of a dark lord, resonates with my family, Brother Kane, please, rise.” She said.
“I have heard tales, your highness,” Brother Kane said as he stood, “Your brother the king.”
“He was never king!” Queen Menina said, “I alone have ruled these lands after the death of my mother!” Brother Kane was taken aback by her outburst and offense with his words.
“I beg your pardon, your highness, I was misinformed.” He said with a slight bow.
“Our brother-” Prince Renic started but Queen Menina cut him off.
“Our brother, Dracon,” She said, “He is why you are here?” she asked. Brother Kane nodded yes, “The tales are true, I’m sure they are muddled, but they are based in fact. He returned from beyond the outer region with a Vordalyn at his side, infected by her. She was the source of the evil that took our brother from us, the reason he set monstrous creatures loose upon his own people, in an effort to usurp the crown. We drove them from these lands and live with the fear that they may return. Your arrival is both heartening and frightening. We do not wish to revisit those horrors upon our lands again. The Kina’s Kiss, however, is a part of the tale that is not true.”
“How so, if I may ask?” Brother Kane asked.
“The Kina and the Vordalyn are two different creatures, the kina is not evil like the Vordalyn. It is they who turn men to evil dark lords.” Queen Menina explained.
“You say this Vordalyn was the cause of your brothers turn to evil?” Brother Kane asked.
“It is said that her kind twists a man’s mind, pushing him to rule the world or destroy it. They are powerful and feed upon the man they make their champion. That power transfers, making their chosen a terrifying and brutal killer. They are the source of the evil that turns a man to a dark lord. We watched it first-hand, Brother Kane. If you wish to stop the dark lord and any like him from rising, it is the Vordalyn you seek. The most powerful among them calls herself Venalina. It was she who turned my brother. Created her champion with what was once my brother but is no more.”
“We have often wondered what turns a man so. It is of great interest to see this for ourselves. If this is indeed the cause of many dark lords we have hunted, it would truly be a revelation. I thank you for your assistance.” Brother Kane bowed again.
“Now, some assistance from you, in return.” Queen Menina said folding her hands in one another at her waist, “We are new to the world around us, having been encircled by the outer region for lifetimes.”
“How may I be of assistance?” Brother Kane asked.
“Tell us of the world that lay beyond our borders, draw me a map.”
“It would be an honor to enlighten you to the world beyond your borders.” Brother Kane bowed, “I have to say, and I do not say this lightly, your kingdom is the most advanced I have ever laid eyes upon, your architectural designs are incredible. The world outside your doorstep will awe in wonder at the sight of your city.” His proclamation made both Queen Menina and Prince Renic smile.
“Tell us more, Brother Kane.” Queen Menina pleaded with a proud smile.
“We have maps, I will gladly leave with you, let me also say, if you indeed have fifty legions at your disposal, you have very little to fear from any kingdom known to us, save for favorable trade terms, for that is all any one will attempt with an army of that size at your back.” Brother Kane smiled.
“King Harold?” she asked.
“He rules a small kingdom south of your lands, the entirety of which could fit within your city walls. I imagine he will not be the last to try and claim your lands by title, or heritage. I encourage you to treat them without violence, they are no threat to you. Once they have seen what lies within your borders, their claims will fade, and alliances can be forged. Withstand the initial claims with grace, your highness. The world does not need war. Don’t give anyone a reason to rally against you.” Brother Kane advised.
Chapter Four
Surrounded by clouds and blue sky for as far as their eyes could see, the Preswynn Sisters floated in place. Their wings flapped, lifting them several feet with each flap only to dip back down after each thrust. Alyndra, Saida, and Kaylin, glanced at each other then back out into the sky around them. Their wings, each mighty and strong, reflected the color of their hair. Alyndra and Saida both had white wings to match their white blonde hair and white horns curled like a ram, while Kaylin’s wings and horns were brown. Their eyes all black, no white within, or any color save for black.
Kaylin floated between her sisters, while Saida was on her right and Alyndra floated to her left. Kaylin glanced at Alyndra who smiled back at her and raised her eyebrows, excited at what was to come. Kaylin could see, and they could all hear the swoosh around them, another creature, same as them, suddenly appeared behind Alyndra flying with her feet up like an eagle diving at its prey. She appeared already at full speed giving Alyndra precious little time to react to her sister’s sudden alarm reflected in Kaylin’s face. Alyndra spun to see but suffered the blow that sent her and her attacker flying off out of sight into a cloud several hundred feet below them. Kaylin spun to Saida to see that she had disappeared suddenly, taken by a similar attack. Kaylin, in her fear, stopped flapping her wings, pulling them close to her body, letting herself fall fast, not a second too soon before she would have fell to a similar fate. Swoosh, the sound felt as if it came from within her ear it was so close to her. She glanced up to see the black-winged woman shoot passed her and arc, quickly, spreading her wings out wide to catch the wind, one wing out further than the other, allowing her to slow and turn around at the same time.
Kaylin spread out her wings slowing her own descent and flew at the woman as fast as she could, arcing her own path to match her adversaries’ path. Kaylin remained at her back as the other Vordalyn warrior sought her out. She circled a cloud she thought Kaylin fell into, as she prepared to enter Kaylin surprised her, diving horns first into the woman’s beating wings with such force she screeched from the pain. The wings made a cracking sound, and twitched, no longer able to flap. She fell fast, twirling all the while, her one wing could not keep her from falling. Kaylin arced upward and floated a moment watching her fall, then shot after her, aiding her wings with magical speed to catch up within the blink of an eye. She caught the woman by her one good wing that tried to flap and stop her descent. Kaylin halted both their fall and crawled down to grab the woman’s hands. They floated momentarily and Kaylin wasted no time healing the black broken wing. The woman smiled at her and nodded her thanks then stabbed at Kaylin with an open hand. As her hand came close to Kaylin and invisible blade pierced her stomach, it felt like it went all the way through her.
“You’re a fool!” The woman yelled in the Vordalyn tongue and watched as Kaylin fell backwards, with both hands on her wounded stomach, her wings, unable to keep her in flight. She fell fast, disappearing into a misty sky below, littered with clouds.
Kaylin landed with a thud on a hard, cold, mar
ble floor. She rolled to her side still grabbing her stomach. She immediately saw Alyndra sitting on her butt, also on the floor, her wings wrapped around her protectively. Alyndra sat shaking her head angrily.
“You outlasted your sisters, but your empathy killed you.” Kalla said, “You tried to save her from a fate that did not exist. The plane of air has no ground on which to fall, she was never in danger.”
The pain in her stomach was gone and Kaylin quickly flipped herself to a standing position with her wings acting as arms against the floor.
Kalla smiled at Kaylin’s use of her wings to help her to her feet. She appreciated the young Vordalyn taking so quickly to her new form. Kalla walked before the sisters, her brown wings folded neatly behind her back. She wore a golden breast plate with a white dress and golden bracers on her forearms. There was a handle to a sword, but no blade could be seen with the naked eye. Saida and Alyndra joined their sister standing before Kalla.
“I don’t see the need to fight against our own kind, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s a waste of time when we could be learning how to hone our magic!” Alyndra said.
Kalla walked over to Alyndra, looking at her with a blank stare for a long moment, then said.
“Do not speak to me in that tongue again or I will snap your wings from your back and feed them to you.”
“I really hurt her, how is it wrong to help one of our own? Did you tell her to stab me?” Kaylin asked.
Kalla did not respond to Kaylin right away and continued to stare at Alyndra, daring her to speak common tongue again. Alyndra looked down, only then did Kalla walk over to Kaylin and smile.
“You are not hurt. She was not hurt. Never would we allow one of ours to be hurt. The pain you felt was not real, it was the same for her. The exercise is meant to sharpen your body and mind alike. This form is new to you, you must learn to wield it, you are children learning to run, fly, use magic, all the things that are Vordalyn. You will train to uncover those gifts bestowed upon each of you. It was the same for us all. Through these exercises we find your role among us. Does that make sense?” Kalla asked.
“I suppose.” Saida answered.
Alyndra continued looking down at the marble floor. The room had no walls and all around them was blue sky mixed with clouds. There was nothing holding them up beneath the floor that floated in the plane of air. There was no land, only sky, forever, in all directions, nothing but sky.
Kalla smiled at Saida then looked at Kaylin cocking her head, awaiting an answer that she too, understood. Kaylin considered her a moment, then nodded, yes. Kalla walked over to Alyndra and stood once again, in front of her, still smiling a warm smile. She waited. Alyndra glanced at her then back at the marble floor several times. Kalla was patient, the sisters thought for sure Alyndra was testing that patience, but it was not tested, not even close. Kalla was lifetimes older than the three young, newly formed, Vordalyn. It would take much more than a pouting girl to try her patience. She remained patient and loving, like a mother with an angry, scolded child.
“Do you understand?” Kalla asked.
“I…” Alyndra started in common tongue, which made Kalla raise her eyebrows, “I understand.” Alyndra said in the Vordalyn tongue.
“Good.” Kalla said after staring at Alyndra a few moments.
“You should watch how you talk to me. Venalina-” Kalla slapped Alyndra before she could get the whole sentence out of her mouth. Saida and Kaylin gasped, surprised at the sudden, and lightning quick, reaction from Kalla. It was so hard it sent Alyndra to the marble floor.
“It is you, who should watch how you speak to your elders, young princess. I am your teacher. Beyond that, you can consider me your mother from now on. You will show me that respect! Daughter!” Kalla knelt next to Alyndra who sat looking up at her, nursing her cheek.
Venalina appeared behind Kalla near the center of the marble floor. The girls all perked up, Alyndra almost leapt to her feet. She was going to tell Venalina everything! Kalla stood up, turning around as she did, then took a few steps forward. She bowed her head then touched her right hand to her chest then her forehead, before returning it to her side.
“My queen.” Kalla said.
Alyndra and Saida rushed to Venalina.
“She slapped me!” Alyndra exclaimed.
“She made another woman stab Kaylin in the stomach, and they hit us when we were supposed to be practicing how to fly in place for as long as we could without having to land!” Saida added pointing back at Kaylin while she spoke.
Venalina laughed and put her arms around the two angry sisters, looking at Kalla and Kaylin, amused. Kaylin remained standing behind Kalla. She was not angry like her sisters. She recognized they were in training, it was as Venalina had told them, Kalla would be teaching them.
“I told you this was coming, Kalla is your mother now. She will teach you our ways. All of them. You will respect and honor her.” Venalina looked at Kalla, “I’m taking them for a short time, Alyndra will not be back. We’ll discuss it later.” Venalina pushed the two women back, “Now, go kiss your mother and thank her for accepting you as her daughters.”
Alyndra’s face crinkled.
Kaylin walked up to Kalla from behind and kissed her cheek, “Thank you, mother, for accepting me as your daughter.” Kalla smiled, hearing the sincerity in her voice, she doubted would come from Alyndra and Saida.
Venalina looked from Saida to Alyndra with an expectant look on her face.
Saida walked over to Kalla, looking down at her feet as she walked, “Thank you for accepting us, Kalla… mother.” Saida leaned in and kissed Kalla’s cheek.
“Alyndra. I will not be disobeyed, and you will not disrespect her!” Venalina growled.
Alyndra straightened up immediately and walked over to Kalla. She kissed her on the cheek then said, “Thank you mother, for accepting me as your daughter.”
“I am the one who is honored,” Kalla smiled at the sisters, “You are the first born of a new age, that I have the honor to mold and teach you our ways, is a reward I can’t thank you enough for.” She finished, looking at Venalina.
A white-winged, white-horned Vordalyn, flew in from the sky surrounding the floating marble floor and immediately took a knee before Venalina, performing the same hand to chest, forehead, sign of respect as Kalla performed.
“Please, Diama, I told you, never kneel before anyone again.” Venalina rushed to Diama and lifted her by her arms. Diama’s wings ruffled nervously as she returned to her feet.
“Yes, my queen.” Diama said.
“Are you training here as well?” Venalina asked Diama then looked over at Kalla.
“My wings have been hidden so long; my stamina is not what it used to be.” Diama answered.
“Return to Taranath soon, I wish to speak with the both of you.” Venalina said to Kalla and Diama, “Come, girls.” She said to the sisters, then opened her palm and wiped the air in front of her like she was shining a mirror. The world ripped open before her and the sisters in a circular whirlpool, tearing reality, creating a portal to Taranath. She ushered Kaylin, Saida, and Alyndra into the portal, then followed. It swirled shut behind them.
They were transported to an area within Taranath where the Priests of O’on were allowed to roam. Janouc, the leader of the priests and a battlemage was there with several other priests pouring over books they were given permission to read. Venalina kept a tight leash on the Priests of O’on, she knew the Vordalyn had a violent history with the order and did not want to force the returned Vordalyn to have to accept them within their midst unnecessarily. For the most part, the Vordalyn who returned did not object to Venalina ruling the order and the Vordalyn alike. They accepted everything she did and said without hesitation, or question. They were very loving to Venalina, their queen, and the sisters, the first born Vordalyn in centuries.
“Your highness!” Janouc stepped away from the table he and the other priests were standing at and knelt, bowing his head. The other pri
ests rushed to follow suit.
“Get up, Janouc, the girls need to feed, fetch us an elf.” Venalina commanded.
Janouc rushed about the room snapping his fingers at priests who hurried away to comply with Venalina’s orders. One priest prepared the portal device to open a passageway to the underground city the priests called home and where they kept captured elves for Venalina and the sisters. The elves were a delicacy to her and even though Venalina did not need to feed on them, she had developed a taste for them. She had, after all, the mightiest of mates who granted her great power when she fed on him, power she in turn gave to him, augmenting each other after every feeding. The elves were more like candy, they weren’t better for her, but their magical essence was a sweetness beyond any other creature. Decadence. Venalina shared Dracon with the sisters, he was their husband, the five of them, Venalina, Alyndra, Kaylin, Saida and Talila.
“My queen,” Janouc started to speak.
“Not now, Janouc, see to my request, leave us.” Venalina ordered.
“As you wish.” Janouc followed the other priests into the portal.
“Why are we here, why didn’t you take us to our room?” Alyndra asked.
“Alyndra, you shouldn’t be so disrespectful to Kalla, she has lived a long time and seen much. You can and will learn a lot from her.” Venalina said, “When we are here, speak the tongue of the Vordalyn.”
“How do you know how old she is? Did she tell you?” Kaylin asked.
“No, I did not ask, I don’t need to. The way she moves, so carefully, no wasted movement whatsoever. Complete mental control over every action every breath, with purpose. Her self-awareness does not come without years of life. When she is still, she is like a statue. Not even the slightest sway. Complete control. If she is young, then you should embrace her training all the more.” Venalina said.
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