The Queen

by Suzanna Lynn

  She took another step and jumped when she heard the sound of movement coming from inside the shop. “Hello? Is anyone there?” Her heart seized in her chest. It could be scouts from Mirstone. What have I done?

  Luana turned on her heel as the door flew open behind her. She had already broken into a run when she heard heavy boots hit the steps. I can make it. She urged her muscles to keep moving, even as they screamed at her to stop. Even if I make it to the horse, I won’t have time to untie it. Her eyes searched the area. She spotted a hammer leaned up against the side of the blacksmith’s shop. She headed straight for it.

  Luana was a few quick paces from the hammer when rough hands grabbed her arm and spun her around. All she could make out was that it was a man wearing a tattered hooded cloak. Her terrified scream echoed through the air. She brought her knee up into the man’s stomach, pulling him toward her so she could use the momentum to knock him to the ground. He let out a groan as his body hit the dirt.

  She turned, running toward the horse when she heard her name. “Luana!”

  She skidded to a stop and turned. The man in a heap was still struggling to get up, and her mother and sister were running down the road toward her.

  “Mother? Lesta?” Luana called. She looked back at the man and saw he was to his feet. He pulled back the hood. “Father?”

  Fersa ran to Hal-john, but Lesta ran straight into Luana’s arms, nearly knocking her to the ground. “Oh Luana! I thought I would never see you again.”

  Luana held her sister tightly as tears fought to escape her eyes. “Oh Lesta! I’ve missed you so much.” She pulled away. “But why are you here? Why did you stay?”

  “Father didn’t want to lose the shop,” Lesta said. Her tear-stained face looked worn, tired and much too troubled for someone so young.

  Luana looked up as her mother walked over and embraced her. “Oh my Luana. How beautiful you are.”

  “I see you’re still strong as a mule,” Hal-john said, brushing dust off his cloak. “Why are you here? Did you escape?”

  “Why am I here? Why are you here?” Luana snapped, pulling her little sister back into her arms. “Don’t you even care enough about the safety of Lesta to send her to the castle?”

  “Oh, there’s nothing to be worried about,” Hal-john said. “Grasmere troops are just up the way at Fagin Forest. They’ll keep us sa—”

  “Nothing to worry about?” Luana spat. “Is that why you were all holed up in your shop with boards over your windows? Lesta, you’re coming with me.”

  Fersa reached out. “Luana, no, you ca—”

  The sound of several horses’ whinnies cut through the air. It was followed by the sound of metal against metal. Luana turned her gaze up the road toward the sound. “I believe those are your Grasmere soldiers! Quick, inside!”

  Luana grabbed her sister’s hand and ran for the shop. The sound of a man’s painful scream tore through the air. “Hurry, they’re getting closer!”

  Her sister tripped and fell in the dirt. “My ankle!”

  Luana knelt next to her. “You must get up, Lesta, there is no time.” She pulled her sister to her feet and let her lean against her as they hobbled up the steps of the shop.

  “Hurry!” Fersa said, ushering them inside as Hal-John pulled the door shut behind them, placing a beam across the back of the door to seal it.

  With the door closed, the shop was near black. There was no fire in the hearth, no candles or lanterns to light their way. The only light was the dim paleness that seeped from the window at the top of the door.

  Luana slowly led Lesta toward the back stairs of the shop and lowered her down into a worn chair. She pulled a little table up to her and placed her sister’s foot on it. “Rest now.” She petted her sister’s head before walking over to the door.

  The sounds of fighting that had been so far away now sounded as though they were right outside the door. Shadows danced around the room from the torchlight moving outside with the Grasmere guards.

  “Don’t you worry now,” Hal-john whispered. “They’ll move on.”

  Luana glared at her father through the dark. There would be nothing to worry about had he cared enough to get his family out of here when he should have. She opened her mouth to retort the thought when a roar shook the walls of the little shop.

  Everyone, including Luana, took in a gasping breath.

  “Trolls,” Lesta whispered.

  Luana felt around in the dark for a chair. She picked it up and quietly placed it next to the door. She climbed on top of it and peered out the little window. She was thankful the glass was dirty so she could avoid being seen.

  As her eye adjusted to the darkness and the dank condition of the window, Luana could see that the road was overrun with Grasmere soldiers and trolls. There were already bodies littering the street, though it appeared they were all that of trolls. However, the troll numbers were at least double that of the soldiers.

  “They’re outnumbered,” Luana whispered.

  “Please come down!” pleaded Fersa. “What if they see you?”

  “Shh,” Luana scolded. She watched as several more trolls came running from up the road. Oh no! They’re trying to surround them!

  Outside, the horses whinnied and nervously stamped their hooves as the troll horde formed around them.

  “They’ll be slaughtered,” Luana said, forgetting to whisper.

  Lesta whimpered. “Momma, I’m scared!”

  “Shh, child,” Fersa soothed, smoothing her daughter’s hair back from her face. “Luana, come away from the door!”

  Luana brought her attention back outside.

  One of the men was shouting commands, though she couldn’t make out the words over the clamor of armor movement and the horses’ whinnies. The soldiers were tightening their formation. What few horses had not already fled fought their masters urgings, biting at their bits for control.

  The trolls remained nearly shoulder to shoulder around the group of soldiers. Though the ugly creatures paced in place and shifted their weight from one fat leg or the other, they remained unmoving. It’s as though they are waiting for something. But what?

  It seemed, too, that the general in charge of the group of men was wondering the same thing. The inactivity of the trolls made the men all the more nervous.

  Suddenly, both man and beast went still. Their attention turned west toward Fagin Forest. Luana, caught up in the moment, rubbed her hands against the dingy window pane, trying to clean a spot to see.

  A figure cloaked in a black hood that dragged on the ground emerged from the darkness. The torchlight flickered, as though a cold breeze blew through the village.

  Though she could not tell if any words were said, Luana felt the pull of darkness in the air. Even from inside the shop, she could tell the being outside possessed dark magic. “We must do something to help them.”

  “What can we do other than get ourselves killed?” whispered Hal-john. “These are Grasmere men. If they cannot defeat the troll scum, there is little we can do to help.”

  “Perhaps you can’t,” Luana said. “But I can.” She jumped down from the chair and knelt on the floor a few steps from the door. “When I tell you, open the door.”

  “No!” squealed Lesta.

  “Have you lost your wits?” Hal-john asked, trying to grab Luana by the arm.

  She slapped his hand away. “Listen, we can discuss why you didn’t feel it was necessary to tell me my lineage another day, but you both know what I am. I can help them!”

  “What you are?” murmured Lesta. “What do you mean?”

  “Hush, child,” Fersa said. “Hal-john, open the door when she is ready.”

  “But,” Hal-john protested.

  “Do it!” Fersa commanded.

  Luana settled herself down on one knee on the floor. She pressed her hands to her heart, then to her temples, then hovered one above the other in front of her stomach. “Máthair na hoíche dorcha, líon mé le do solas bheannaigh. Mo shúile a
r oscailt do radharc, líon mé le draíocht íon agus bán. [Mother of the dark night, fill me with your blessed light. Open my eyes to your sight, fill me with magic pure and white.] She chanted the incantation again and again as she pulled on the power of the moon.

  Luana felt the cool tingling of white magic flowing through her nerves; it surged over her body and came to rest in her hands. Her fingertips hummed with power; the room began to grow bright as the magic enveloped her.

  She slowly rose to her feet, not daring to move her hands. She was still new to this venture and feared the slightest loss of concentration could cause her to lose control. “Open it now.”

  Hal-john removed the heavy board that kept the door tightly sealed, pushing it to the side. He took a deep breath, then yanked hard on the door.

  Luana slowly walked out into the darkness, drawing the attention of all who were there. The trolls began to shy away as she took steps toward them, the light causing them to recoil. However, the hooded figure turned toward Luana and hissed. It raised its hands toward the sky and murmured something indiscernible. A purple hue began to envelop it.

  “Leave this place!” called out Luana. Her light grew brighter, pushing the trolls away from the men.

  The mysterious figure took several steps toward her. Hands raised, Luana could feel the weight of the magic bearing down on her. Instead of the soothing cool white magic the moon provided her, she felt the burning of something foul and dark.

  She called on the power of the moon again. “Máthair na hoíche dorcha, líon mé le do solas bheannaigh. Mo shúile ar oscailt do radharc, líon mé le draíocht íon agus bán!” The white power pushed back against the darkness.

  The dark sorceress cackled, her voice like breaking glass. “Daughter of the moon, you think you and your goddess can defeat me? I have known the power of magic since before your mother drew her first breath!”

  “My mother?” Luana began to lose her concentration. Which mother? Her light began to wane.

  “You see?” the hooded sorceress provoked. “You canno—”

  The sound of a horn cut through the night sky, followed by shouts and the stamping of horses’ hooves. Reinforcements from the castle were coming.

  Chaos began to ensue as the trolls barreled down the dirt road toward the forest; the stampede causing the ground to shake beneath Luana’s feet.

  The dark sorceress hissed. “This is only the beginning!” With a swing of her cape, she seemed to disappear into a dark purple mist.

  Luana’s heart raced. She turned and saw dozens of men on horseback filing into the village.

  “Make the area safe!” shouted Ferric’s firm voice.

  Luana’s stomach tightened with guilt when she saw Ferric dismount his horse and walk toward her. She gave him an apologetic look. “I’m so—”

  “She’s over here, Your Grace,” Ferric called.

  The crowd of men parted and Luana saw Baylin dismounting his horse. His face was covered in dust and sweat; the fine lines of his face seemed more prominent than usual.

  He ran straight toward her. She stretched out her hands to hug him, but instead he grabbed her by her shoulders. “You were given strict orders to stay in the castle!”

  His gruff tone shocked her. “I… But my parents… they…”

  His nostrils flared and he clenched his teeth. He pulled her by the arm toward the shop where her parents and sister stood in the door.

  “Your Grace!” Hal-john said. “We’re ever so grateful to—”

  “If you will please wait outside, I need to speak to Luana alone,” Baylin growled.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Baylin and Luana stood in silence after her family left the dimly lit shop.

  The Prince felt a mix of emotions running through him—relief to know Luana was safe, fear she was still in danger, anger that she had left on her own.

  “Baylin, I…” Luana murmured. “I’m sorry. My family… they…”

  “How could you run off like that?” Baylin boomed. “You were told to stay in the castle.”

  “My family was in danger,” Luana explained. “I couldn’t just—”

  “Yes, you could!” Baylin scolded. “Ferric was going to get your family to safety, but you didn’t allow him the chance. You thought you knew better.”

  “He was going to wait until morning,” Luana said. “It would have been too late.”

  “Too late or not, the whole Kingdom knows you left the castle against the King’s order,” Baylin snapped. “I have been working so hard to get the Kingdom to see you as more than a bed wife. Someone they could respect, trust. Even my father was coming around. All that is lost now.”

  Luana’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “Baylin, I’m sorry.”

  He wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her he forgave her. To kiss her and declare his love. “I know you are. The damage has been done and there’s no undoing it.” He opened the door. “We need to get back to the castle.”

  Luana walked out the door, her head hung low. It broke Baylin’s heart to know he had caused her sadness, but it was a lesson they both needed.

  Baylin placed a hand in the small of Luana’s back, guiding her through the crowd of soldiers and horses.

  Ferric sauntered up. “Baylin, the men say a horde of trolls was being led by some sort of hooded man.”

  “She was a woman,” Luana burst out.

  Baylin and Ferric both turned to her. “A woman?”

  Luana blushed. “Yes, she spoke to me.”

  “What did she say?” Ferric asked.

  Baylin placed a hand on Luana’s shoulder. “What did she want?”

  “She didn’t say,” Luana murmured. “She seemed to be in league with the trolls, or controlling them somehow. And she said she knew my mother.”

  Ferric cocked an eyebrow, wrinkles spreading across his forehead. “Your mother?” He pointed toward Fersa, who was standing with her arms around Lesta. “Did you ask her who she might be?”

  Luana looked up at Baylin, her eyes pleading with him. Her parentage had been kept a secret throughout the Kingdom to protect her. Even Mother only learned of the gift when Luana saved Father’s life. But how do we keep something like this a secret? Baylin wondered.

  “I’m sure we will get to the bottom of this,” Baylin said. “But our first move is to get everyone back to the safety of the castle. With a troll horde on the loose, it is too dangerous to leave anyone behind.”

  “Let’s prepare to move out!” called Ferric.

  Baylin walked Luana over to her family. “Hal-john, it is time to bring your family to the castle.”

  “But our shop,” Hal-john pleaded.

  “Shops can be rebuilt,” Baylin said. “As your Prince I am telling you, you must come with us.”

  Hal-john looked as though he wanted to argue, but he didn’t say a word.

  “I will take Luana on my horse,” Baylin instructed. “Hal-john, you can ride with Fersa on the mare Luana rode here on. Lesta can ride with Ferric.”

  Lesta blushed as she looked up at Ferric on his horse. She reached up to his outstretched hand and he pulled her onto the horse behind him. He gave Baylin the slightest smirk as he trotted up the road, leading the soldiers back home.

  *****

  After the group arrived safely back at the castle, Baylin made sure Luana’s family was placed in a protected bedchamber, not far from his, so Luana could visit them. He spent the rest of the night going over defensive plans and discussing the possibility of a new enemy—the dark sorceress.

  It was early the next morning when Baylin made his way back to his bedchamber. The sun had not risen yet, so the room was dimly lit by the few candles flickering shadows across the walls.

  He walked through the darkness to the bed. Luana was not there. The bed appeared to have been unslept in. Where is she? He walked to the cradle at the foot of the bed. His son lay sleeping, quite oblivious to the world around him.

  He heard movement out on the balcony and
went to investigate. Outside, Luana was wrapped in a fur. Though winter was not upon them, the nights were growing cooler.

  “Luana,” Baylin asked. “Why are you not in bed?”

  “I have a lot on my mind.” She turned to face him. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen. Salty tears still lay heavy on her cheeks.

  “You’ve been crying?” Baylin asked, crossing the balcony.

  “Baylin, I’m so sorry I let you down,” Luana whimpered. “I should have trusted you and Ferric. But I was so scared for them, especially Lesta. And to think, what if I hadn’t come and…”

  “Shh,” Baylin soothed, pulling her into his arms and stroking her hair. “It’s over now. They’re safe now. Have you spoken to them since we left Black Hallows?”

  “No,” she sighed. “What am I supposed to say? Up until last night, I’m pretty certain Lesta was unaware of my real origins. I mean, how could she know? This isn’t something she would keep from me. Would she?” Luana put her face in her hands and began to cry again, her body shaking as she took deep breaths to try and quiet her sobs.

  Baylin held her in his arms. “Of course she didn’t know. And your parents, no matter what, love you. Perhaps they didn’t tell you because they didn’t want you to feel you didn’t belong.”

  “But you didn’t see their faces,” Luana argued. “The way everyone looked at me. I might as well have been traveling with the trolls and the sorceress.”

  Baylin gripped her shoulders, straightening her so she was looking at him. “You listen to me carefully. You are nothing like that sorceress and you’re not even like King Rydel. You have a good heart, a beautiful heart. You care so deeply that you would risk your life for those you love.”

  Luana averted her eyes from his gaze. “But what if—”

  “I won’t hear of it, Luana,” he said. “You risked your life for my men. Men you didn’t even know other than that they were Grasmere soldiers. You are the very essence of goodness.” He pulled Luana into his arms, embracing her.