At least, for now. There would soon come a time when he would get tired of the monotony of it all. But in the meantime, there were adventures to be had. Journeys unrealized. To the Tarasen Isles where he still wanted to explore Master Palarian’s old palace and library and discover what remained of the sorcerer’s legacy. Were there still dragons there? And what about the Ruins of Elmarr? Was there anything to be found deep in the bowels of that place? Talis worried whether the prison that housed the Nameless for so many years might be used as a portal to gain access to this world. He thought to destroy the place and ensure nothing from the Origin World ever made its way here.
Especially the Nameless.
Though Talis had a feeling that Caisa had other more pressing things to deal with than to worry about them. Besides, the line was broken. She had no claims over them. Aurellia was no longer bound to her, and Talis and Mara were no longer bound to the dark lord. For the first time in many years Talis felt truly free. Except perhaps he still had to deal with the minor inconveniences of living under his parents’ roof, which wasn’t so bad at all.
The coronation ceremony would take place outside at the Temple of the Goddess Nestria. Contrary to tradition, Mara had insisted on the change to protocol. The royals were gathered outside the temple within sight of the grand expanse of the Nalgoran Desert. The view was breathtaking. Talis spotted Nikulo sitting with his wife near the front. His friend gave him a knowing grin. Everyone was whispering amongst themselves, craning their necks around to spy where Mara would make her appearance and take her place upon the grand dais.
Talis had helped Mara plan for a bit of a theatrical performance. While the purple carpet had been set and royals streamed in from across the city to sit in their assigned seats, no formal announcement had been made as to when or where Mara would arrive.
The new leader of the Order of the Dawn was a middle-aged wizard by the name of Finneas Trant, one of the few surviving wizards of the Order. He stood fidgeting atop the dais with various leaders and government officials milling about with worried faces.
Talis chuckled to himself. Mara hadn’t told them a thing. The high priest of Nestria was there as well to bless and certify the coronation. It was quite the controversy as usually this was performed by the head of the Order of the Dawn. Again, Mara had insisted on the change, despite breaking protocol.
A low droning sound came from everywhere all at once. Heads turned, looking for the source of the sound.
And there it was. A shadow portal erupted in the center of the dais.
Gasps and shouts of horror cascaded across the audience. Finneas Trant nearly leapt out of his skin at the sudden display of black magic. The portal churned and gave a low roar like a dog growling at an intruder. The Council of Elders backed away from the portal, taking two steps at a time to gain space between themselves and the powerful display of magic.
Many eyes turned to Talis as if hoping and praying he would help. Fear gripped their faces as they tripped over each other in their attempt to flee. Talis raised a hand to still the crowd.
“Be not afraid,” he said, keeping his voice steady. “I will allow no harm to come to this city again.”
He cast a spell of light. Particles of gold and silver sprang from his fingertips and blanketed the shadow portal in soothing colors. The light battled against the dark and soon the portal transformed into a swirling mass of gold and silver light.
Three luminous doves shot out of the portal and flew over the city, leaving a trail of golden light. The crowd gasped in surprise and delight. Many returned to their seats and began whispering and clapping, clearly relieved at the change in events.
He had worked out this part for weeks, mixing light magic with shadow magic and binding the runes together for just the right blend. Ultimately, he found it was imagination at work, and he could bend the magic to the power of his will. A bit of a ruse to remind the people that he was still a force to deal with. And that he deserved their respect.
Walking up to the dais, he summoned a giant winged creature of fire above his upraised hands. The wings flapped and spewed flames as the bird took flight. The magical fabrication dove into the portal and disappeared.
“Where is our queen?” Talis said, raising his voice and twirling around to look at the crowd. “Has the light conquered the darkness and made ready her journey here? For she will be coronated today, a queen over these lands and a vision for the whole world. Let the nations bow to her in fear. Let rulers pay homage to her strength and power. Let her people worship her as their benevolent queen. Behold.”
Talis spun back to face the still-churning portal. “Your queen is here.”
The winged fire creature stormed out of the portal. It flapped its massive wings of flame, but this time, Mara rode atop the creature. She was dressed in the finest green silk dress. A large ruby necklace hung from her neck. Her twin daggers were at her side, a reminder of her dark power.
This had been the most difficult part of the illusion, since it was not really Mara riding the winged beast but a fabrication made of light, crafted from his memory of her.
In a flash of golden light, the beast rose higher into the air, spinning in wide, lazy circles until it hung high above the dais. It flapped its luminous wings while Mara surveyed the city. The creature descended slowly, its eyes casting back and forth across the crowd of regally dressed royals.
The beginnings of an orange fire flamed from within the creature. It grew stronger at each beat of its wings. Closer to the dais now, the light poured forth from Mara and the creature. It was so bright that the people needed to shield their eyes to withstand the glow.
Now, Talis thought. Now was precisely the right moment. Mara stepped through the portal and into the brilliant illusion. The ruse was perfect. At that exact moment the light illusion exploded into fingerlings of floating flames, rising above Mara’s hands extended toward the sky.
A sharp gasp sounded along with squeals of delight. The crowd erupted in ecstatic applause, rising to their feet. Faces everywhere were beaming and wild with enthusiasm for their new queen.
Mara’s expression remained calm and regal, her eyes fixed ahead at the far horizon. In that moment, Talis wondered whether he really knew her at all. She was utterly transformed into a deity: a queen far above mere mortals.
Her reign had begun. Talis was certain it would be a reign more magnificent and powerful than any other.
36. Left of Eternity
Almost a year had passed since Mara’s coronation. It had been a good year, filled with plans of expansion for Naru and her trading empire. It had also been a chance for Mara to solidify her hold over the monarchy and exert her strength as queen.
There had been no time for adventure. Every moment of every day was filled with royal duties, academic pursuits, and various business functions, though she did manage to squeeze in time to train with her daggers. There was no way she would ever let that go. It was part of her core essence.
She didn’t mind all the obligations of her life as queen, though often she dreamed of the freedom she’d enjoyed while off adventuring with Talis, Nikulo, and Rikar. But things were different now. Where she had once been haunted by her dark experiences with Elder Relech, now her life had settled. The nightmares had faded away, though they still came, occasionally, when she least expected them.
Flashes of her old master’s maniacal face. The bodies slain by her daggers. And all the blood. She wished she could wash those memories clean from her mind.
But she couldn’t. They were still etched in the pathways of her brain. The nightmares came suddenly and with little warning. Sometimes they were triggered by a look from a strange old man, or a slain animal, or even the red color of a sauce poured over roasted meat. Different things would set her off and she’d excuse herself and escape to her room and lock the door.
Inevitably Talis would hear about it and come to her. He always knew how to make her feel better and release the bad memories. Often he would just l
isten to her, nodding in sympathetic understanding. He was the only one who truly understood her.
It was still there, though, troubling her. Nothing could erase the core of what she had become. In many ways, her daggers defined her. Her time training with Elder Relech defined her. She craved to change back into that simple girl she’d once been before her time with Elder Relech and the daggers. But she admitted it to herself: that day would never come. She was no longer that simple girl.
And despite all the duties and the functions she’d crammed into her world, she was growing tired of life in Naru. The limited scope of her daily existence. The blank stares from the ladies of the court when she’d tell a story from her adventures. The misunderstandings and the silent recriminations.
Over the last few weeks she’d stolen away from her duties as queen. But it didn’t stop her from feeling guilty about it. She was constantly making lame excuses. In her absences, she was off with Talis on quick escapades beyond the realm of Naru. Mostly they just retraced their steps on previous adventures, but now they had the benefit of magical portals. And they were only away for a few hours at a time. That was all she could manage without raising suspicions.
They’d headed north to the ice-packed Akesian Mountains and the untamed Elbegurian forests filled with the heady scent of pine and storm. On another trip, they traveled east to Khael and farther past the sea to Lorello. They even went to Ishur and found the city fractured by rival groups of sorcerers and necromancers. It seemed the power of the Jiserian Empire was confined to Carvina, for now. They had spent time in Ursula and Onair where she caught Talis staring north, certainly thinking of taking an extended journey to the Isles of Tarasen.
But Mara knew she couldn’t do that. It was impossible for her to be away from her people for so long. Their trips were limited to places they’d been and could easily travel, exploring the places they’d missed before. This allowed her to return to Naru for important functions and preserve the integrity of her throne. But she was torn between her role as queen and her desire for adventure. She could feel the tug of the unknown, pulling her toward a life of discovery.
“You’ll never get anywhere by staring at the horizon.” Talis’ soft voice interrupted her reverie. She’d been resting on the rail near the Temple of Nestria, gazing north at the Nalgoran Desert. Twilight had fallen over the land, turning the sky into a wash of velvety purples and pinks.
She turned and gave him an impish smile, leaning back against the railing as he pressed himself against her and gave her a long, satisfying kiss. Lately, they’d been very close, and she found herself amused by his keen interest in being so close to her. And all the time.
“Have you missed me that much?” Mara gave a playful laugh and pinched his nose. “It’s only been a few hours. Really, Talis.”
He grinned and gave her a quick kiss. “I’ve missed you, with all your royal functions and affairs of state. And lately you’ve been sneaking around by yourself?”
“Oh, I enjoy being alone sometimes. And you know I love it up here. It’s so quiet. Away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s like a whole other world.”
“Indeed it is…” He turned and stared at the northern desert, going quiet.
“What is it?” She joined him in gazing northward.
“It’s nothing, really. Just a faraway feeling. Lately, my dreams seem to draw my attention north.”
“You’re always attracted to the north. That damn Palarian planted a bug in your mind. But it’s hard, you know that.” She flipped a lock of hair away from his eyes and stole a kiss, inviting him closer. “If you went off on an expedition north to the Isles, I would miss you terribly.”
“You wouldn’t come?” He had a surprised expression on his face. “I’d always imagined you there with me.”
“You know I’d love to go. But I have duties. What would happen if I left? I couldn’t do that.”
“How about if we made it an official expedition? If we categorize it under the guise of expanding our trading routes, I’m sure the Council of Elders and our families will be far more understanding.”
She gave a disbelieving laugh. “My, aren’t you becoming the politician? I’m impressed. But I still don’t think that would change things much. I can’t go off on any old adventure like we did when we were younger. My people need me.”
“But what about us? Our chance for adventure—”
“It’s not that I don’t want go with you, because I do. But the more I spend time with my people I realize how much they rely on me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind escaping from time to time with you. But I need to come back. It’s different than before.”
He sighed, confusion in his eyes. “I was hoping that maybe one day we could escape all this and live a different life.”
“A different life? I thought this is exactly what we’ve been fighting for? To preserve and protect this. To return to our home and live our lives. What was it all for if not this?”
“I’ve been stung by the Zacrane Dagger, Mara. Don’t you remember?”
“Of course I do,” she whispered. Why did he have to remind her? She hated thinking about it.
“That means I’m immortal while you’re mortal. I can’t bear to see that happen to you, not when I know there’s an option.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Starwalkers. When I was in the storehouse I had a conversation with Jared about our situation. About us one day becoming Starwalkers. They know how to make you immortal.”
“You’re really serious about this, aren’t you? What if I don’t want to become immortal? Have you ever considered that?”
“Really?” He scoffed. “You can truthfully say that you don’t want to live forever? That the life of the Starwalkers isn’t tempting to you? How can you go back to living a regular life when you’ve tasted that?”
He was right. Spending a year away from the Starwalkers had been difficult. The promise of endless adventure and discovery. And the power. Gods, how she missed the expression of her power. Being a queen in a small desert kingdom wasn’t enough. But even so, she felt obliged to fulfill her duty to her people.
“I’m sorry for pushing you.” Talis lifted her chin. “And please, don’t look all concerned. It’s nothing to worry about right now. Jared won’t return for another nine years.”
Mara felt a weight release from her shoulders. “Nine years? That’s an eternity. Why didn’t you say so before?”
“It didn’t seem like the right time. Until now.” He smiled at her. “Does that make you feel better?
“A bit. I’ll need time to process it all. It’s a lot to take in. Naru is my home. My people are here.”
“I know.” He paused for a while as if considering his next words carefully. “But if we’re ever to find freedom, the kind of true freedom one can only find in the stars, we’ll have to slowly wean away from our old life. Is that something you might want one day?”
“Maybe. Maybe I do…” She shrugged, refusing to admit she believed he was right. “But I don’t know. You know how I feel. I’m conflicted between duty and my desire to be with you and explore the world… to explore even the stars. If I didn’t have to worry about anything, it would be different. Right now though, I can’t give you an answer. I hope you understand.”
“Yes, I understand. And we do have time, right?”
“You should go to Tarasen.” Mara stretched back against the railing and studied him. She hated the idea of leaving him alone on the expedition, but she knew how important it was for him to go. “I mean it. Organize a party and sail north from Ursula. I think you should do it. You’ve been talking about it forever and I can tell that it’s always there in the back of your mind. Besides, I have a feeling it’s important for you to go there. Something is waiting for you there.”
“Go there without you?” His face was contorted up in disbelief. “But all our adventures have been together… since we were young.”
“You�
�ll be fine. Enjoy the journey you’ve been dreaming about. I’ll be here when you return. And come to think about it, as soon as you reach the islands you can return here through a magical portal. We can discover it together, at least for short stretches at a time. It will be a long trip there for the both of us, but that won’t be so bad, will it?”
“It will be torture. It will take a long time—perhaps months.” Talis sulked, his forehead crinkling up in concern. “I’ve never been away from you that long.”
“I have an idea,” whispered Mara, nuzzling up close to him. “Whenever you reach a new port along your journey, travel back by portal and take me there. That way we won’t have to be apart for so long. And we’ll get to experience everything new together. Won’t that be wonderful?”
A smile returned to his face and he pulled her into a tight embrace. “I will still miss you on those long days and nights at sea. But you’ve made an excellent suggestion.”
“That’s what I’m here for, to offer the most excellent suggestions.”
By now twilight had faded to darkness and the sky was twinkling with stars. She cast her eyes up and studied them. “I wonder what adventures Jared and the other Starwalkers are on? They’ve probably forgotten all about us. The stars look so small and so far away. Up there, on the Starwalker sanctuary, everything looked bigger.”
She exhaled and arched her back over the railing, stretching her arms out wide. If only she could hug the sky, she thought.
“I’d like to know which star Aurellia landed on. Or were we so far away that we couldn’t even see it if we wanted to? From the way Jared described it, the Origin World was unfathomably far away.”
“As long as they stay the hell away from our world.” She parted her lips and inhaled sharply. “I’ve had enough of Aurellia and the Nameless for several lifetimes.”
“Somehow, this time, I believe they’ll never return.” Talis’ face softened in way that seemed to release the tension from all the difficulties they’d experienced. “We’ve found the night and the night has left us. All I can see now is the light from the stars.”
Origin Mage Page 24