by Jeff Gunzel
“Indeed,” the woman answered, circling the room while snapping fasteners along the bottom of each drape. Cutting off the icy breeze made a dramatic difference. Already the warm fur was beginning to feel excessive. Bella loosened her grip, letting it slack down around her waist.
“And why am I here?”
Fastening the last snap, the woman glanced back over her shoulder, amused. “Why are you still alive? I would have though the alternative would have been a far bigger concern for you. Do you not value your own life?”
“I am no longer sure,” Bella answered honestly.
“I see,” said the woman, stepping back to the center of the room. “That is a shame indeed, Your Highness.” Bella opened her mouth to protest the assumed title, but changed her mind. What did it matter anyway?
“I am Rishima, mistress of the moon, guardian of the spiritists of the north. My people call me the Moon Mistress.”
Bella bowed her head respectfully. “Well met. I am—”
“Bella Gylbard, queen of Shadowfen, wife of King Milo Gylbard. We know exactly who you are.” Rishima bowed, low and gracious. Graceful and elegant, the flourishing movement almost seemed unnatural. “I welcome you to Lunaris Tower.”
Bella found the display of admiration to be both humbling and painful at the same time. “The woman you address with such reverence and respect...no longer exists,” said Bella, fighting back the tears. “I am truly sorry you have been deceived.”
“Deceived? No, I think not. If the spiritists have one strength, it is that we are not easily tricked. We speak directly with the spirits themselves, and the spirits see all. Information is abundant to us. We have made no mistake.”
“That’s not what I meant,” said Bella, wiping her moistening eyes. “The person who stands before you now is a shell of the woman you seek. I have no power, no authority, and no standing among the royal ranks. Rogue. Deserter. Call me what you want. My rank has been stripped and I now hold no more power than any common peasant. Less, even. A commoner has a home. I don’t even have that.”
“Intriguing,” the mistress replied, two fingers sliding down her chin. “Humans are fascinating indeed.” The mocking tone annoyed Bella. Here she was admitting her complete and total defeat to a stranger, and that same stranger was talking down to her like a child. “I am already aware of everything you have said. The betrayal of the man you gave your heart to, the physical suffering you’ve experienced since being banished from the keep, everything.” Bella winced at the painful memories. Was this woman trying to torment her?
“But in your darkest hour, you’ve somehow convinced yourself that you’ve lost everything when that is simply not true.” Rishima pointed down to Bella’s ankle. “Tell me, what is that mark you bear?”
Bella glanced down to the ink marked just above her ankle. The image was that of a three-pronged scepter with a golden crown hovering just above it. “The royal seal,” she said, her voice distant as if she were talking more to herself.
“And when a queen has fallen from grace, whether or not those reasons are just, is that symbol not removed from her skin? Burned, cut, or by whatever barbaric means are deemed necessary?”
“Yes, sometimes,” came her soft reply, unable to take her eyes off the mark while pivoting her foot to display it clearly. “But that is actually quite rare. Once a royal member has been deemed unfit to rule, the formal charge is almost always treason. After going through the motions of a mock trial, the farce ends in a public execution, usually by burning or hanging. I’m not sure if anyone has ever had the mark removed, then been allowed to live on in exile. It’s an option clearly stated in our laws, but in real-life practice, it’s a thing unheard of.”
“Just so I understand you completely. You still bear the mark that was never removed,” Rishima stepped closer, tracing her fingernails down the side of Bella’s cheek, “and you still seem very much alive to me. By your own irrefutable laws, does that not mean you’re still recognized as the queen of Shadowfen, no matter how much the king despises that fact?”
Bella went weak in the knees. Never once did it occur to her that she might still be in power, legally speaking. Their laws were old and outdated to be sure, but there was nothing to be done about it now. Even if the king were to revoke the old laws immediately, it would be too late. Any new laws would not apply to her situation. She had not been tried and sentenced to death, nor had the mark been removed. By law, she was still the queen.
Bella shook her head. “No. I mean yes, I am still the queen by law, but my authority is no longer recognized in Shadowfen. King Milo’s word will always outrank his queen’s, no matter who sits on the throne. My title means nothing. It is worthless.”
“It is worthless within Shadowfen’s city borders,” Rishima corrected. “Let me remind you that the world is a big place. Please, come with me. There is something you must see.” Taking Bella by the hand, she led her over to the far wall. With a gentle push, the thick stone slid back as if it were light as a feather. A frosty gust of wind blasted them momentarily, then died down as they stepped out onto a stone balcony. Bella readjusted the thick fur, wrapping it up to her neck. Despite the frozen atmosphere, the heavy fur did its job admirably, keeping her warm and comfortable.
She gasped, not from the biting cold but from the stunning view. White-capped peaks dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see. The nearest ones were crystal clear, while the rest grew hazy, swallowed up by mist the farther out she looked. Dark storms bombarded several nearby mountains, assaulting their peaks with driving snow. The occasional angry flash of lightning lit up the underbelly of blackened clouds, followed by a deep rolling rumble. Other peaks lay in peace, untouched, as if completely invisible to the wild forces of nature attacking their neighboring mountains.
“Beautiful, is it not?” asked Rishima, wearing an awed grin as if seeing it all for the very first time. Her breath stolen, all Bella could do was nod in response. “The spiritists of the north have ruled over this region for centuries. There is little record of our existence simply because we do not draw attention to ourselves. With little violence and no wars to speak of, it means most of your kind are unaware we are here. Warring nations go down in the history books as either conquering legends or victims of a tyrant leader. In the end, all are immortalized by the glory of bloodshed, yet no one remembers why those nations went to war in the first place. Peaceful nations are of no interest when it comes to recorded history. I hope to never leave my mark. If I am remembered, this only means that I have failed.”
“You said your people rule over this region? Rule what?” asked Bella, still gazing out over the barren mountains.
Placing a hand on her shoulder, Rishima led her to the edge of the balcony surrounded by a stone rail. “That town down there,” explained Rishima, pointing down into the valley below. Sure enough, Bella could see the tiled rooftops through the foggy haze. “That is the town of Langdale, a traders’ paradise where merchants come from miles around to trade for furs. Farther north,” she adjusted her finger, now pointing squarely into the fog at nothing visible, “lies a larger town called Haran. Their legendary blacksmiths forge some of the finest weapons in the land. Farther east lays Westwend, home to the largest library of ancient texts this side of Ayrith. These treasures hold many of the secrets of your long lost-ancestors. I can only imagine what Shadowfen would do to get their hands on such treasures.”
“And these towns are all settled by humans? They have no issue being ruled over by another race?”
“Precisely,” Rishima replied, answering both questions at once. “As I said, this arrangement has been the way of things for centuries. They are not cut off from the rest of Ayrith, I remind you. But they are aware of how other human rulers treat their own people. The extreme taxation, violence, greed. I assure you, the idea of a human ruler frightens them far more than I ever could.”
Everything Bella believed to be true about the north was obviously false. Not only did these froze
n lands contain a flourishing society, but a fair amount of heritage and history as well. What was more, this race of “spiritists” ruled over this region. The reality of that was both shocking and humbling all at the same time.
“But perhaps rule is too strong of a word,” Rishima continued. “Saying we watch over them is probably a more accurate term. The humans are free to trade, govern themselves for the most part, and celebrate their varied and confusing holidays, which I have never fully understood myself. I swear you humans will use any excuse to celebrate your own existence.” Bella laughed. She couldn’t help but appreciate the vast amounts of truth in what was meant to be a joke.
“Which brings me to why you are here.” The lighthearted humor dropped away from Rishima’s youthful face, her expression now deadly serious. “For centuries, we have lived side by side with the humans. The nearest independent city is fifty miles south from here. No has ever had the resources, nor had any reason to invade this far north. Until now, that is.”
“Your people have made enemies?” Bella asked. “Are you expecting an attack?”
“Not human,” Rishima was quick to point out. “But yes, there is a threat rising in these lands. And not just an enemy to the spiritists, but to all living things that inhabit this small world we share.”
“Those ash creatures,” Bella hissed.
“Yes, ghatins they’re called.” Rishima nodded. “Their anger and hatred knows no bounds, and I fear this is just the beginning. By now I’m sure you are aware of their siege ritual.”
“Leave one alive to tell the tale, kill the rest.” Bella sighed. Even here in a land no one had ever heard of, word of these sadistic beings had left its mark.
“Yes,” the mistress answered softly. A long silence lingered between them for a time. The heavy winds howled, whipping both their hair about like snapping flags. “Which is why I need you to join forces with me,” she said at length.
“I don’t understand,” Bella protested, already shaking her head at the idea. “Like I already told you, I have no power in Shadowfen.”
“You are no longer in Shadowfen!” Rishima retorted, more sharply than she had intended. Immediately she softened her tone. “Look around you. My people and I oversee a number of human colonies, each one trusting us for generations only because we offer peace and stability. Our relationship with the humans has never truly been tested before. But as you already know, that is about to change. What happens when these vile beasts find their way to the far north? These humans are not ready to face such a menace.”
“No one has been ready!” Bella snapped. “Even towns and cities with days of warning could do nothing to slow their assault. If all reports are true, and I have no reason to doubt them, given the carnage we’ve seen, they are all but invincible to normal steel. No blade can cut them. No arrow can pierce them. There is nothing anyone can do to stop them!”
Rishima sighed, throwing her hands up in the air. “Perhaps you are right. Maybe nothing can stop them. But what would you have me do, tell the people to just wait for their time to come? To have them just lie down and die? This is why I need you. Even here in the north, the name of Bella Gylbard, queen of Shadowfen, still carries influence. Yes,” she said, reading Bella’s shocked expression, “your name is known here. Your name, your wisdom, your authority,” she pointed down, “and that royal seal will unite the north. This, I cannot do alone.”
“You need another human, you mean,” Bella added, voicing her true suspicion. “No matter how kind and fair you have been, they still see a spiritist when they look to the authority of this tower. You fear that when that dark day comes and you’ll need to command with an iron fist, the humans will shun your authority.”
“That is true,” Rishima admitted. “But do not be so quick to discredit all I have said. I don’t need just any human, I need Bella Gylbard. Stay here with us, and your status as queen will hold true in these lands.”
Bella slumped, her body leaning heavily against the stone rail. It was hard for her to imagine going through all this a second time. She had been queen once before, then had it all taken away. What was more, she had already come to terms with her loss of power. She was lucky to even be alive. The mere thought of retaking her old position, no matter how noble the cause, made her weak in the knees. How could she possibly go through this a second time?
Bella pushed off the stone and stood up straight. “And if I refuse?” she asked plainly. Bella suddenly turned her head to the sound of flapping wings. Just over the edge of the balcony, a large raven the size of a horse rose into view. Saddled, it bore a female rider, her golden eyes glistening as she watched them curiously. When Rishima dismissed the rider with a wave of her hand, the black raven cawed once before sailing away on the wind. I didn’t dream that after all. I really had been flying!
Rishima stepped in front of the open-mouthed woman’s view to get her attention. It was obvious Bella had never seen such a creature before. “If you reject my offer, then our business is done. You are welcome to stay until your strength has returned, then one of my riders will take you wherever it is you wish to go.” Bella stared, a bit surprised by her answer. “What, you expected there to be some sort of punishment for defying my wishes? Remember, you are no longer in Shadowfen. Here, you are a free woman at the very least. I do not rule you. The queen is not subject to some invisible chain of command.” She turned towards the entrance, waving for Bella to follow. “Here, you are the chain of command.”
Chapter 6
Seeing that Bella was feeling a bit stronger, Rishima decided now was as good a time as any to give her a tour of the tower. Unlike the wide halls and spacious rooms Bella had grown accustomed to back in Shadowfen’s keep, the spiritists’ tower was practically a maze of crisscrossing halls, each barely wide enough for three people to walk side by side. The rooms were small and mostly bare with only the simplest sets of furniture.
The only exception to the vast chain of tiny rooms was the dining hall. Large and decorative, rows of long tables spread out across the white-carpeted floor. Oil paintings hung from all four walls. On display were scenes of nature wild and untamed, everything from furious lightning storms decimating the face of a mountain, to those of woodland creatures being chased down by fanged predators.
Four crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. They weren’t the usual soft white crystals normally seen in such halls. Each was adorned with multicolored jewels, scattering rainbows of light all around the room. Bella couldn’t help but wonder why the dining hall was so fancy compared to the rest of the tower.
“How are you feeling?” Rishima asked, assessing Bella’s look of fatigue.
“Don’t fret over me. I’m feeling fine,” Bella lied, wishing she could sit down somewhere. “Your home is beautiful. The spiritists appear to be well organized. I can see why you have remained in power for so long.”
“Any ruler in the realm can make the same claim until they are tested. Do not mistake a lack of hardships for being organized. Until now the spiritists have been lucky, nothing more.” Bella wobbled, her eyelids fluttering briefly before she slapped her hand to the wall to steady herself. “Come,” said Rishima, taking her by the other arm. “I think a warm bed shall be an appropriate end to our tour.”
Bella made a halfhearted effort to wave her off. Ignoring the woman’s wounded pride, Rishima still assisted her by draping her arm over her own shoulder. Together, they wandered from the dining hall. Bella couldn’t help but notice that every spiritist they passed offered a warm smile at the very least. But more often than not, they reached out to caress Rishima’s shoulder as they passed. Such bold displays of affection would have been considered awkward and inappropriate within any other society. It served as yet another reminder that Bella was no longer among humans.
After rounding another corner, Rishima led Bella down a narrow hall ending in a drawn curtain with no door. Snapping back the blue curtain, they entered a large bedroom with far more furniture than any other
room Bella had seen. The extra-large bed in the corner had silk-like curtains hanging down from a square overhead frame. The perfect sheets were stretched tight, making the bed look like something out of a girl’s toy dollhouse. The green carpet was thick, and there were three separate dressers along one wall. The entire north wall was nothing but a large mirror, giving the illusion that the already-large room was even bigger still.
“What are you doing?” Bella asked groggily as she was helped into the bed. “This is your room, isn’t it? Please, I don’t want to inconvenience you more than I already have.”
“Nonsense,” said Rishima, pulling the blankets up around Bella’s neck. “We need you to recover fully, and I see no better place to do that.” Snuggled into the warm blankets, Bella was once again reminded of how cold the tower actually was. Sinking down into the soft mattress, she promptly stopped her protesting. With sleepiness taking hold, it was clear to her she probably couldn’t leave the bed now even if she wanted to.
“Comfortable?” Rishima asked. Bella nodded, her heavy eyelids sinking. “Good.” But instead of leaving right away, Rishima stayed put. She seemed distracted somehow. “Uh, Bella, I have not yet told you everything you need to know. There is more.” Sleepy eyes rolled her way. Blinking, Bella sat up, propping herself on her elbows. Shaking her head, Rishima waved dismissively. “But you need your rest. I’m sorry for the additional distraction. Now is not the time.”
“Now is precisely the time,” Bella protested, sitting up all the way. Alert now with the spark of suspicion in her eyes, she gazed at Rishima.
“Please don’t misunderstand. Everything I’ve told you is true. I am not trying to deceive you in any way. It’s just that...there are other factors involved. Had I told you everything before, I’m just not certain you would have believed me. It’s a lot to take in at once.”