The Thorn Queen

by Elise Holland

  Meylyne slid off the chair and sat next to Blue. Reaching for a cinnamon donut with white sprinkles, she nibbled on it and slid him a sidelong glance. He was deep in thought. She’d never seen him so serious before.

  “You know Meylyne, we may not be the only ones after that feather.”

  The donut in her mouth suddenly tasted like clay. She swallowed it with difficulty.

  “What?”

  “Yeah. I bet Queen Emery’s after it too. Think about it. She imprisoned your mother—Glendoch’s most powerful sorceress. With that eagle’s feather, who could stop her?”

  Before Meylyne could reply, the door opened and in padded Hope. He had spent the night outside and his coat gleamed with dew. He wasted no time in coming to the point.

  “Been thinking. Maybe others after feather too. Better I stay here while you go Palace of Lions. Watch more in Diamond Chariot. Find clues.”

  “No! I want you to come with us!” Meylyne exclaimed.

  “Hope is right,” Blue argued. “We were just saying the same thing about others wanting the feather too. I bet if Hope studied the Glendoch Castle, he’d find some answers!”

  “But the Palace of Lions sounds scary—I want Hope with us. He knows lions better than we do!”

  “Actually I know the lions best of all,” Grimorex boomed as he strolled into the room. He looked very different. Gone were the satin clothes and thigh-high boots and in their place a simple gray suit. “I grew up there. And there’s no danger to be had at the Palace of Lions.”

  Meylyne eyed him.

  “No danger? Then why are you dressed like that?”

  “One just never knows with Queen Scarlet. She is the Lion Queen and she is subject to moods. She detests finery.” He gave Meylyne and Blue a sweeping glance. “She’ll have no problem with you two, that’s for sure.”

  Slinging a hat around his neck, he strapped a pouch to his chest.

  “Are you ready to go?”

  Meylyne dropped her uneaten donut back onto the plate. She did not feel ready. So much felt wrong about what they were about to do. Not wrong exactly, but not right either.

  “Something’s bothering me. If this eagle exists, how come I’ve never heard of it? I mean, I know we don’t hear much about stuff outside of Glendoch, but something with Trisdyan’s powers? I’m sure we’d have heard of that!”

  “Bet royals do know of it,” Hope cut in, “but they fear alchemy. Do much to suppress knowledge of it.”

  “Agreed. I’d wager my life that Glendoch’s royals are sitting on bigger secrets than this,” Grimorex replied darkly.

  “Exactly! That why I want watch Diamond Chariot—see if can find more secrets,” Hope said. “Lions no dangerous Meylyne—we have treaty, remember?”

  Meylyne scowled. She desperately wanted Hope with them, even if what he said was true.

  “What makes you so sure the lions will know where this eagle is if it’s such a secret?” she asked Grimorex.

  “Oh the secret is safe with them. Lions and eagles are kindred spirits—both value freedom above all else. They care nothing for the burden of power,” Grimorex explained. “Now if you’ve quite finished with all the questions, it’s time to go!”

  Grimorex picked Meylyne up and stuffed her into his pouch. He tried to do the same with Blue, but Blue immediately scrambled out and climbed up onto Grimorex’s shoulder.

  “Suit yourself but we’ll be moving quickly so you’d better hold tightly!” He glanced down at Meylyne. “Is that settled then? Hope will stay here while we go to the Palace of Lions?”

  Meylyne sighed. Deep down she knew it made sense.

  “I suppose so.”

  “Excellent.”

  Strolling outside, Grimorex called over his shoulder, “Bye Hope! If you need anything, just ask one of the fairies. They know how to operate the Diamond Chariot too. We’ll see you in two days!”

  Meylyne was dangerously close to tears as they strode off. She felt dejected and bone-achingly tired. Up above, she heard Blue telling Grimorex about how he had come here. His voice faded to a drone as she got lost in her thoughts so she was startled when Grimorex warned, “Don’t eat those. They’re poisonous.”

  Meylyne popped her head up. Grimorex’s loping strides had already brought them deep into his forest to a thicket bursting with thorns and bright red berries.

  Blue chucked the berry away.

  “I have a question. If it’s so hard for Queen Emery to rule Glendoch all by herself, why doesn’t she just appoint the Rose House another monarch?”

  “She can’t just appoint someone else—the Roses would have to agree on someone and they can’t seem to do that. They fight about it all the time,” Meylyne replied, yawning.

  “Not to mention that the Roses have had bad luck with that role,” Grimorex added. “Princess Amber had an older sister who died at birth, you see, so deep down, the Roses fear the role is cursed. Long ago, the Rose line was magical but they forsook their alchemical roots. There are some that believe they are being punished for that.”

  Meylyne mulled this over as the scenery continued to whiz by. Before long they reached the outskirts of the forest, emerging to find themselves at the edge of an enormous crater, strewn with Spanish Feather-Coils, some standing, some felled. Grimorex crossed it in two steps, and then wound his way through a valley littered with glittering black boulders.

  Around noon they stopped for a quick lunch of crusty rolls, cheese and peaches. It started to rain—a warm, soft rain that smelled like pine. Grimorex put on his hat, underneath which Meylyne and Blue stayed perfectly dry. As they set out again, the black boulders shrank down to pebbles and slowly petered out, leaving nothing but rolling hills on either side. Eventually Meylyne was lulled to sleep by the pitter-patter of raindrops above her head.

  It was just approaching twilight when she awoke. Now they were near the edge of a cliff, carpeted in tiny blue flowers. The rain had stopped, leaving the air fresh and clean.

  “Almost there!” Grimorex announced. “This cliff overlooks the Lions’ Palace. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

  Within five minutes they had reached the cliff edge. Grimorex knelt amidst the blue flowers and they all peered down below.

  “Wow,” Meylyne breathed. “So that’s the Palace of Lions.”

  Slabs of jade spiraled out of the ground, glowing softly in the setting sun. From above, it looked like a labyrinth. Some slabs were upright, others were on their side and some rested at diagonals upon each other. Trees and plants of all shapes and sizes grew throughout the palace, including a sprawling leafy plant with violet blooms that lined the floor like a purple and green carpet.

  “It’s really cool!” Blue said.

  “Yes it is. The tusked lions are quite well-known for their prowess in architecture and building. Now. When the lions see us coming, they will send two sentinels to ascertain our intentions. Please let me do all the talking and say nothing unless directly addressed,” Grimorex said.

  Meylyne and Blue nodded. They were perfectly happy to do as little talking as possible.

  Grimorex began the steep descent down a path that was so narrow he had to side-step. They had almost made it to the bottom when he stumbled on a loose boulder and slid clumsily down the last twenty feet. The boulder landed on his toe, causing him to hop up and down, swearing, while Meylyne and Blue bounced around like rag dolls. Meylyne thought she she saw something fly past her nose but she forgot about it almost immediately as two golden lions emerged from the dusk, their tusks gleaming silver in the dimming light. One of them threw back his head and roared.

  “Please speak in English, brother,” Grimorex requested, instantly ignoring his toe. “Regrettably, my two friends here do not understand your tongue.”

  The lion narrowed his eyes. “Why do you call me brother?” he growled.

  “Because I used to live here many years ago and consider all tusked lions my brothers. You must be quite young not to know me!”

  The se
cond lion came forward. He was smaller than the other. “I know you, although I was a cub when you were here. That was a long time ago, Grimorex. What brings you back?”

  “I come to pay a visit to my old friend, Queen Scarlet and to offer her a gift.”

  Meylyne gave Grimorex a sharp look. What gift?

  “A gift?” the lion growled.

  “Indeed, a gift, and please forgive me for keeping its details a secret, for I wish it to be a surprise for the queen. Would you be so kind as to escort us to her?”

  “Who are your friends?”

  “Meylyne and Blue. They are on a quest and require the queen’s considerable knowledge if they are to succeed.”

  Apparently satisfied with all this, the lions nodded and stalked off toward the castle.

  “Now we must follow at exactly five paces behind them,” Grimorex explained in a low tone. “You see the lions are a noble breed. It would never do to say, ‘we are here to ask the queen for something and have a gift for her in return.’ Everything must seem to be bestowed as a favor and anyone who breaches this basic rule gets eaten.”

  “What gift did you bring?” Meylyne whispered.

  “I didn’t. We left so hastily that I forgot all about it but not to worry. I’ll figure something out. Now be quiet. Whispering is considered bad manners.”

  Meylyne felt a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead as they followed the lions through two pillars into the palace. She vowed not to speak at all if possible.

  “Wait here,” the bigger lion growled before both lions disappeared through a thick curtain of violet and green vines hanging from an arch.

  Meylyne and Blue looked around. The jade slabs were far bigger than they had looked from up on the cliff. They spiraled up and around them with lots of passageways leading this way and that.

  “Easy to get lost in here,” Blue whispered.

  “Shhh!” Meylyne wiped her clammy hands on her tunic, which, she noticed in dismay, was smeared with dirt and full of wrinkles. “No whispering!” She turned to Grimorex and, in a low voice that she hoped would not be counted as whispering, said, “Have you thought of a gift for the queen?”

  “Yes. No time to explain but just go with it. The most important thing you can both remember now is not to show fear. It makes the lions hungry . . .” He broke off, his eyes fixed on a spot behind Meylyne, saying,

  “Queen Scarlet!”

  Whirling around, Meylyne held her breath as the queen of the tusked lions padded into the room. She wore no crown on her head but there was no doubting that she was the queen. Although flecked with gray, her fur was the color of finely-spun gold and her eyes looked like two suns setting. At the end of each tusk a single diamond shone.

  Grimorex knelt at the lion queen’s paws, beaming from ear to ear.

  “Thank you so much for receiving us on such short notice. Words cannot begin to describe how lovely it is to see you again.”

  Queen Scarlet regarded him as he kissed her front paws.

  “It is a pleasure to see you also Grimorex, although it has been too long.” Her tone held a hint of steel. “Please, be seated. Would you like something to drink?”

  “That would be wonderful, thank you,” replied Grimorex, motioning to Meylyne and Blue to sit on the floor.

  A sleek, silver lion with a white mane trotted in. On his head, he carried a large shell full of a sparkling liquid. Grimorex took this and the lion moved soundlessly to the vine curtain where he sat, watching.

  “Thank you, Corkk.” Queen Scarlet turned back to Grimorex. “Who are your friends?”

  “Ah yes. This is Meylyne of Glendoch and that is Blue of . . . we’re not quite sure where.”

  Queen Scarlet bowed her head at each of them, her gaze lingering on Meylyne and then she turned back to Grimorex with an expectant air. He smiled at her.

  “You’re probably wondering what brings us here but first, please let us offer you a gift.”

  Queen Scarlet stifled a yawn. When Grimorex did not say anything else, she added impatiently, “Of course. Offer away.”

  Grimorex took a sip of the water and then handed the bowl to Meylyne. He gave her an odd smile and a warning bell went off in her head. From the look in his face, it was almost as if he intended to make a gift of her!

  “Enough with the theatrics, Grimorex! What is this gift of yours? I wish to get on with things!” Queen Scarlet ordered.

  “Well,” Grimorex replied, dabbing his mouth. “That, your Grace is your choice. Meylyne here is an alchemist and can conjure up anything you desire!”

  14

  The Bargain

  MEYLYNE’S INSIDES TURNED TO ICE AND SHE GAPED AT Grimorex. What was he playing at? Part of her wanted to snort with laughter but she was painfully aware that the queen was staring at her. Blood rushed to her face making her skin prickle as she forced herself to smile.

  “You are an alchemist?” Queen Scarlet growled, her eyes narrowed.

  Not trusting herself to speak, Meylyne just nodded. But not a very good one, she wanted to add.

  There was a pause while Queen Scarlet regarded her. Now she seemed anything but bored.

  “You must forgive me if I seem surprised. Long have I wanted to meet someone from our frozen neighbor to the east—shrouded in secrecy as you are—and now I find myself in the presence of one of its alchemists, no less. I thought your sort had all died, but one.”

  “No, not quite,” Meylyne murmured, blushing.

  “Not quite,” Queen Scarlet echoed. “And are you fully fledged or still an apprentice?”

  “Oh I’m—”

  “Of course she is fully fledged!” Grimorex interrupted. “Trust me—I would never bring an amateur into your home.”

  Meylyne cringed. Amateur was the perfect description for her. This was going from bad to worse.

  “I do trust you Grimorex, although you suffer from misplaced optimism at times.”

  Queen Scarlet rose to her feet and stretched. Strolling over to Corkk, she exchanged a few words and then returned to the center of the room.

  “You must forgive my bluntness but I need to ask what it is you want in return for such a gift. This sort of generosity rarely comes without strings attached.”

  Grimorex blinked. He had clearly not been expecting this. Meylyne guessed it was a huge breach of the lions’ code to ask such a thing. An uncomfortable silence settled upon the room as Queen Scarlet waited for him to answer. When he remained quiet, her gaze shifted to Meylyne, and then Blue.

  “We need a feather from the oldest eagle alive—the one descended from Trisdyan. Grimorex said you’d know where he was. Do you?” Blue asked.

  He obviously felt no need to ask forgiveness for his bluntness. Meylyne held her breath, wondering what the queen would say. Part of her was scared but another part was relieved to have everything out in the open.

  “I see.” Queen Scarlet did not seem surprised by the question. She gave Meylyne a calculated look. “You must be a mighty sorceress indeed if you believe you can handle an instrument of such power.”

  Meylyne groaned inwardly. Not everything was out in the open yet.

  “Oh she is!” Grimorex said brightly. “You must excuse her modesty. As you know, in Glendoch’s New Order, the alchemical profession is no longer held in high esteem. She has learned to downplay her talents.”

  “Hmmmm.” Queen Scarlet exchanged a look with Corkk. “Well in that case I thank you for your offer and gladly accept your gift now that I know the terms that come with it. Please, follow me.”

  Rising to her feet, Queen Scarlet padded from the room with Corkk at her heels. As soon as she was no longer in sight, Meylyne turned to Grimorex and mouthed, This was your plan? I can’t do this!

  You’ll be fine, Grimorex mouthed back. Go!

  Meylyne looked to Blue for support but he just grinned and gave her a thumbs-up. Fighting the urge to turn them both into toads, Meylyne followed the lions up some steps to a stone balcony. She would never pull this off—
never. She would mess up the incantation, like always, and then the lions would eat her. Perhaps she could complain of a headache—say she had to do it later. Then they could escape in the night—

  “For my gift, I would like a ceiling to protect us from the rain.”

  Meylyne’s thoughts screeched to a halt. Looking around, she realized they had climbed to the top of the palace. Night was falling, filling the sky with stars and the palace jade glowed ghostly green in the moonlight.

  A ceiling wasn’t actually all that hard. A one-part incantation if she remembered correctly.

  “And it needs to be invisible.”

  “Pardon?” Meylyne stared at the queen. “Why?”

  Apparently that was wrong thing to say. Meylyne shrank back as the queen’s eyes hardened; the sunsets within them flaming into fire.

  “I’m not saying that’s a problem!” she added quickly. “I’ve just never seen an invisible ceiling before. Why would you want that?”

  “I see no reason why I should explain myself but if you must know it is because nothing can interfere with the natural beauty of our palace. I wish to see the stars above me as I sleep at night but no longer do I wish for the rain to seep into my crumbling bones. Does that help?”

  The queen’s icy tone did anything but help. Reddening, Meylyne nodded.

  “Of course. I’m just a bit rusty on my invisiblizing incantation. I’ll just, um, find it in my book.”

  Turning her back on the queen, Meylyne shook her book out of her rucksack. She didn’t want her to see how badly she was shaking as she flipped through the pages.

  “There we are—an incantation to make something appear as though it isn’t there at all,” she said, trying to sound like it was no big deal as she skimmed over the spell.

  Oh no. It’s three parts and that middle part makes no sense at all.

  “Delightful. Shall we get started then?” Queen Scarlet asked.

  Meylyne licked her lips. If she said no, they would all suffer for it. If she said yes and failed, they would suffer for it just the same. But if she said yes and succeeded—