The Larimar Quest (Island Of Zarada Book 1)

by Michele Evans

  Dosha declared Miranda the next Sultana and an exhilarated Miranda faced the Zaradian community for the first time in full command of herself. She stood tall, her arms raised in victory, and smiled at the islanders – her islanders.

  Anaya skulked away to find her mother, but found Selexi’s chair in the royal box vacated – the box where neither of them would have the right to sit anymore. They would be crammed into a common cottage while Miranda and her family moved into the castle. She knew her mother would never succumb to that fate. So where would they go?

  Old Sultana’s Last Words

  Inside the castle, the dying matriarch was made as comfortable as possible. Her pillows were fluffed, she was read to, and warm drinks she barely tasted were brought regularly. They all knew their efforts were in vain; they were losing her.

  The room was dark. Fairies pulled the curtains back slightly, away from window frames cased in pewter filigree. The Sultana's eyes fluttered against the brittle light, then closed them again, tightly. “Mother?” she said weakly.

  Heggor examined the Sultana’s life force, her cheery face tinged by sadness. She shook her head at Raina, who went to the messenger waiting just outside the room. “Tell Selexi and Anaya to come quickly. She’s leaving us.”

  Selexi hadn’t planned well for the possibility of defeat, and was scrambling now to move all her possessions down to the laboratory. Naturally, she would boycott the coronation ceremony. She had more important undertakings to tend to.

  Once everything had been transported, she paced back and forth in front of her table, boiling inside as much as the bubbling specimens before her. She fumed over what had happened, and was ready to burst. What am I going to do? I must reach Idocra. I have to think fast and work quickly, while there is still time. to adjust the plan.

  Anaya was alone in her room, spending a last day in the only home she’d ever known. She was too scared to face her mother. She heard a knock.

  “Enter.”

  A messenger opened the door. “She’s going fast; you’d better come now.”

  “Of course. I’ll be right there.”

  “Selexi, too.”

  “Yes, I’ll get her.”

  She raced down the passageway to the laboratory, but found Selexi in too much of a rage to even let her in. “What do you want, you weak, pathetic excuse for a warrior?” she barked through the door.

  Her mother’s words slashed at her heart like a dagger. “Grandmother is dying. It’s time to say goodbye.”

  “I don’t need to say anything to that old fool! Especially now, when everything is falling apart. All because of you, child! You have ruined us!!”

  Anaya turned and ran before her mother could snare her with more insults. She ran all the way to her grandmother, hoping to have one more moment with her. When she arrived, she broke into a sob.

  Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she enfolded the Sultana’s limp hand into hers, listened to her labored breathing, and saw that her wizened face was infused with a translucent yellow pallor.

  She spoke softly, “Grandmother, I’ve let you down. I lost the challenge.” Tears overflowed, forming dark circles on the silk coverlet. “Mother will never forgive me.” She lay her forehead down and wept. Her grandmother had been the only person in her life she had ever received comfort from. Now she would have no one who loved her.

  Raina held a cup of medicinal tea to the Sultana’s lips, in a vain attempt to stave off the inevitable. “No,” mouthed the dying woman.

  “Please drink, Sultana,” Raina coaxed.

  The Sultana allowed some of the warm liquid to flow into her mouth, then fell weakly back into the pillow. Raina fought back tears as she placed the cup on the bedside table.

  The Sultana grimaced through her pain, but a small smile shone through as she opened her eyes to see Anaya for the last time. “Good. This is what I’ve been waiting for. Miranda is to be Sultana. That is what’s right. Now I can go in peace. You must follow her lead.”

  The Sultana took several labored breaths. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed and darkened. She was no more.

  Anaya stared in utter disbelief. Not even her own grandmother had wanted her to win. Her mother was the only one who had been rooting for her, and now even she had abandoned her. She was truly alone.

  Preparing for the Coronation

  After the rains had begun, the crops grew again, green and tender and the fruit trees promised to bear succulent harvests for canning and baking. The sea vegetables had returned to their lush state of plenty. Animals of every variety multiplied and thrived again, repopulating habitats that had been abandoned during the drought.

  Everyone was eating well, including the bondo, who rested comfortably in the moss after feasting on an abundance of worms. The mother tiger mouse observed her healthy, growing pups chasing butterflies just outside their nest. The hills and valleys were covered in flowers, the trees sprouted with greenery and tall lush grasses waved in the wind.

  As decreed by island law, Miranda resided in the castle during the twenty-eight days prior to the Coronation. Her time in seclusion had not been easy. She had never known solitude like this. She was by herself much of the time and the luxurious room with all its amenities didn’t make up for the loneliness. It only made the niceties seem even more foreign and hollow.

  She felt the constraint of her confinement, but understood it was an important phase of the transition. If she were going to be an effective leader, she had to develop her powers of contemplation and introspection – crucial skills in making the decisions that were going to confront her in the years to come.

  She had entered this room as a girl, but in a very short time had grown into a young lady. She hadn’t noticed it while it was happening, but a gradual readjustment of her attitude had taken place.

  She no longer fought against the restlessness she had felt so acutely when she first arrived. The urge to run to the barn, which had been overwhelming in the beginning, had faded into an affectation of the past. She now owned the space around her and moved in it with dignity and calm.

  With the guidance of tutors, she spent many of the days bolstering her understanding of Zarada.

  During the mornings she studied detailed maps of the island; memorizing the contours of the mountains, the complex system of tributaries and rivers, and the dimensions of stretches of land she had been unaware of. She learned about the rhythms of tides and eddies; she poured over images of the flora and fauna, and how living things were dependent upon one another in a balanced ecology.

  In the afternoons, she learned about the inner workings of planting and harvesting. She was enlightened about the trips the men took and how their stability hinged on these voyages. She was educated in many other subjects including history and politics. Realizing that she was going to have to forge relationships with the leaders of other islands, she drafted letters to them, introducing herself as the new Sultana and inviting them to visit once she was crowned.

  She was content enough with her books and maps. She enjoyed the fine clothes and sumptuous food, and her servants were kind. Although she missed her mother’s voice, her grandmother’s wisdom and even Freya’s pestering, she knew that life in the cottage was something she would never know again.

  She looked forward to having her mother, sister and grandmother, along with Grideon and Cavalo join her in the castle following the Coronation, to all live together.

  On the twenty-ninth day she awoke with the rising of the suns, and the first banging of the Coronation gong. It was time.

  Her attendants gently knocked, then entered. They quietly filed in and surrounded her, slipping on her gown and making last minute adjustments; a flurry of needles and thread, ribbons and lace; a brushing on of luminous makeup, an arranging of hair. Her nails were buffed and painted, ornately beaded shoes were slipped on her feet.

  Miranda gazed in the mirror as her hair was braided, pinned and decorated with flowers. The muffled cacophony of the crowd gathering outsi
de the castle seeped through the windows, and her attendants chattered in excitement; but she didn’t hear a thing.

  She was lost in her own thoughts. Who am I now? Not the carefree girl running through the woods with my camion. That was only weeks ago, yet I feel so different. What will my days look like from now on? Whatever they are, I will serve as best I can. This is my destiny.

  What About Anaya?

  Ancient chants intoned from the mouths of robed Priestesses as they put finishing touches around the coronation stage; bronze bowls were filled with sand and planted with burning incense, glass jars were filled with ceremonial pastes, and magik bells lined the edges of the table.

  Sacred materials were laid out – cloths, scepters, and bells. Tall stakes were planted around the perimeter of the stage with lengths of crimson and gold ribbons, tied to the stakes, shot out into the air, dancing in the wind.

  The inhabitants of Zarada assembled in full, dressed in vibrant silks and satins, a rainbow of colorful fabrics merging into the gathering crowd. Dancing, singing, laughter, and happy chatter wove through in the air. Vendors strode through the crowd shouting out food and drink for sale. Young ones played stone and string games and chased each other here and there. Amateur musicians strummed old folk songs on flutes, guitars and drums. Flowery head wreathes were sold and donned.

  The atmosphere was festive, yet the air was filled with ambivalence, and the bittersweet lingered. The community had revered the old Sultana, yet was looking forward to the promise of a youthful leader who surely must have new, innovative ideas.

  Anaya walked nervously through the jostling crowd, trying to ignore the sideways glances of the islanders. Now that she was no longer part of the Sultana’s rule, they didn’t have to keep up a façade, and she saw how they looked at her, how they really felt.

  It was just dawning on her how much she and her mother were despised, and she suddenly knew she didn’t belong here anymore. But there was only one place she might find shelter. Although her mother was furious with her, she would still take her in, wouldn’t she?

  She left the crowd and, out of habit, bolted toward the castle entrance. Then she felt a sting as she remembered – she didn’t live there anymore. She and her mother had been offered Miranda’s old cottage, but Selexi had refused it.

  Anaya didn’t want to live there either, especially on her own. She will let me sleep in a corner of the laboratory, next to the creatures. Angling her body to the left, she raced toward the forest, where the hidden laboratory entrance lay.

  Miranda Is Crowned and Wed

  The final gong rang and Miranda was led to the door. She paused for a moment at the threshold, and took a deep breath. Then she stepped forward to meet her fate – not as Miranda, the nonchalant girl who obviated her duties, but as a young woman who has proven her worth and has deftly earned the title of Sultana.

  Upon exiting the castle, she was astounded to see the multitude of people, in row after row. Every inhabitant of the island had come, including the infirm and aged. The Priestesses chanted louder now, summoning a higher source, drawing the incense sticks out of their sandy bases and painting words of blessing in the air with the burning tips. The High High Council sat solemnly behind the altar, in chairs that overlooked the crowd, their faces still and austere. Behind them, the mountains echoed the High Council – stern and immovable.

  Miranda heard a voice behind her say, “Now,” then felt a gentle hand push her forward. She walked slowly down the aisle, keeping her gaze forward as she was instructed, yet sensed thousands of eyes upon her and as many hearts beating with hope. Many sparkling fairies, including Astriella, lifted her train and fluttered around her, sending fairy dust sailing in her wake. Faces on all sides shined at her in admiration and encouragement. Fingertips reached out to graze her dress as she passed.

  Finally she arrived at the steps. One by one she climbed them and when she had reached the top, she stopped before the Elders. It was then that she saw him – Grideon, resplendent in a sapphire blue tunic and well oiled black boots, high and shining.

  The chanting continued for some time, until the Head Elder stood and held up a golden crown speckled with sparkling jewels. A hush fell over the crowd.

  Miranda turned to face the sea of people. The citizens of Zarada rose to their feet, murmurs of approval rippling across the air, while Dosha lowered the crown onto her head. Dosha stepped to the side and spoke, “This jeweled crown symbolizes your stewardship of Zarada. Do you accept?”

  Miranda nodded. “I accept.”

  Bajo approached and wrapped an amethyst velvet cape around her shoulders. “This is to remind you of your inner wisdom. Will you consult it and use it well?”

  “I will.”

  She felt a cool metal band being slipped onto her second finger as Raya said, “Wear this ring of the whispering wind that shows you the honorable way. Are you listening for it?”

  “I am.”

  Grideon was brought to stand beside her. His head was donned with a similar crown. The High Priestess stood in front of them, her back to the audience. “Miranda and Grideon – we are entrusting the care of this great island to you both. Do you accept the responsibility to be our leaders?”

  “We do,” they replied.

  “And do you agree to marry today in the good name of Zarada?”

  “Yes,” they replied.

  Rings were exchanged and a kiss sealed their destiny. The ritual was complete.

  The noise that erupted was deafening. The crowd broke into raucous cheering, hats flew into the air, and smiles spread like the wings of a doken. Flower petals were thrown in every direction as Miranda and Grideon made their way back up the isle, waving to the revelers. They were ushered into a carriage decorated with garlands and ribbons and brought back to the castle to begin their new life together.

  Idocra Arrives

  When Idocra received Selexi’s urgent message, she raced to Zarada, arriving at Selexi’s lab to find unimaginable chaos. In her haste to pack, she had toppled the towers of books, which lay in heaps. The experiments had been turned on their sides, and boxes were scattered everywhere, contents spilling out. “What is going on?” Idocra demanded.

  Selexi’s face was twisted into a furious knot. “Anaya lost,” she spat. “I cannot work here any longer. Our plan must be revised.”

  “I see,” said Idocra, the small wheels in her mind churning. She approached the kera’s cage, which was covered by a blanket. She pulled a corner of the blanket up and smiled with her crooked teeth. “This is good news, then. We can mass produce the keras on Vinda, away from snooping eyes. Then we will return to enslave the Zaradians,” she smirked. “Knowing how to make these creatures will save you from what is coming to the rest of your kind.”

  Selexi bristled at the idea that her fate was in Idocra’s hands. “The next step….”

  “You leave the next step to me.”

  “But only I know….”

  They were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Had she been discovered? Had Anaya given away her location? Relief overcame her when she heard Anaya’s special knock. Selexi quickly covered the kera and opened the door, but blocked Anaya from entering.

  Anaya was sobbing. “It’s all over, Mother.”

  Selexi frowned. “This isn’t the time for whimpering. I’m working. Run along.”

  Selexi made an attempt to shut the door, but Anaya pushed the door open. She fell into her mother’s arms, clinging to folds of her cloak. Selexi shoved her away. “Stop sniveling, you foolish girl.”

  Anaya wiped her eyes. “What are we going to do?”

  “We aren’t going to do anything. You ruined our chance to rule. Now I have to continue perfecting my masterpiece.”

  “You keep saying you have a ‘masterpiece,’ but you haven’t told me what it is. Show me now.”

  “No. You must leave. I can’t work properly with you here.”

  Selexi tried to force Anaya out, but she was no match for her
daughter’s strength. Anaya easily forced her way in and in a warrior quick move, she pulled the cover off the cage and exposed the kera. “What is this, Mother?”

  Selexi snatched the cover back and covered the cage. “You’d better go now.”

  “What is this thing for?”

  Anaya noticed her mother’s eyes were nervously darting around, as if looking for something. Out of the corner of her eye, Anaya detected movement. “Who’s there?!” Anaya shouted.

  Idocra emerged from the back corner. The inhabitants of Vinda were sworn enemies, and well known for their brutality. Idocra stared maniacally at Anaya.

  Idocra kept her eyes on Anaya, but spoke to Selexi. “Tell her what you’ve done.”

  Selexi didn’t like where this was going. Even in her cold heart, she still had a trace of maternal instinct, and would suffer to see her daughter hurt.

  “If you must know,” Selexi started, “it’s called a kera. In numbers, they will allow me to control the entire island.”

  “You mean ‘us’,” hissed Idocra. “Show her how it obeys.”

  Selexi addressed the kera. “This is Anaya. You will now obey Anaya.”

  Selexi whispered into Anaya’s ear. “Tell it to do something … anything.”

  “Lift your right arm,” Anaya tried.

  The creature obeyed. Anaya looked at her mother, who indicated she should continue.

  “Lift your left leg.”

  The kera obeyed again, keeping both limbs in the air.

  “Smile.”

  The creature mechanically lifted the corners of its mouth, revealing small, sharp teeth.

  Selexi said, “You will no longer obey Anaya. Go to sleep.”

  The creature closed its eyes.

  Anaya had many questions. “What did you mean when you said ‘control the entire island’? How many of these are you planning on making? And what can they do?”