by Linda Jordan
Mira looked over at Amanda and the man who woke her up. They talked animatedly. She recognized him from Roderick’s hunting party. The man’s hair was blond and curled around his shoulders. He had an open, handsome face. No demons haunted him, his life was easy and carefree.
He looked over at Mira and asked, “Is everything well with you?”
“I think I’m okay,” she said, not really feeling okay.
“We’ll be just fine, thanks to your help,” said Amanda, giggling. “We obviously picked the wrong place to stop and give our horses a rest.”
“We needed to do the same,” said the man.
“Who are you?” asked Amanda, ogling him.
Mira realized Amanda was flirting with him. Was she channeling all that anger into lust now? She had certainly found more energy as they closed in on the City.
“My name is Ewan DiAntok. Prince Roderick is my father.”
“So Ronan is your brother?” asked Mira.
“Yes, I see you have met him,” he laughed, a clear bell like laughter that made her want to hear more of it. “But obviously you did not fall in love with him. Most women do. A put down would do him good.” As he said this, he glanced at Edward, who ignored him.
“You were with the hunters. Hunting unicorns,” Mira said, angrily. The intensity grew out of her fury with Edward. Her mind felt all jumbled up, something was wrong, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Was it an after effect from the plants?
“I rode with the party. My brother Ronan and I went as trackers, but to hinder the others, not help.”
“Hinder?” asked Amanda.
“We do not believe in killing unicorns. We scout ahead, make false trails while covering up the real ones. So far our father has not caught on,” he said to both of them. His blue eyes carried a smile in them. Ewan turned to Amanda, obviously returning her stare, but not in a challenging way, “Who are you?”
“I’m Amanda Sullivan. This is my sister Miranda. We’re on our way to the City in search of our parents. Edward here has adopted us and become our tour guide.”
“Amanda,” what a beautiful name. We are also on our way back to the City. My father has called us home. He says the dragons are out and there is talk of a war. I think he is imagining things. There has never been war between us and the dragons. They are such sensible beings. But I go home all the same. And tomorrow is Midsummer! I missed the festivities last turn and am looking forward to enjoying them. Would you like to ride with us or do you have other plans?”
“We’d love to ride with you,” gushed Amanda.
Mira still felt something was wrong or missing. Edward stayed silent, withdrawn. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, but paced along the river bank. She got up, staggering at first, then found her balance. Walking over to Edward she touched his shoulder. He turned to her and said, “I have failed you.”
“What,” she said, confused, then understanding, “Oh my god, where’s Dylan?”
“He has been taken,” said Edward, his voice hoarse.
“By whom? When?” She felt like a volcano just erupted in her belly and was spreading to her entire body. Everything turned red.
“I would guess the Queen. Alanos do not normally approach humans and they certainly do not let people ride them. A boat under enchantment I would guess. I could not see it. I tried, but the enchanter held more powerful magic than I.” Edward’s face twisted up, but she couldn’t tell which bothered him more, losing Dylan or meeting someone with more power. She didn’t ask. Mira looked over to Amanda flirting with Ewan. She clearly didn’t realize Dylan had been kidnapped.
“I remember, I stood inside the flower and saw him leaving. I tried to call out, but couldn’t,” she said.
“I should never have let us stop near the sweet death. I forgot you would not know what they were.” He looked at her with such sad eyes.
“It’s not your fault,” said Mira in a small voice, unsure whether she believed it herself.
She stood looking at the river, her nails making bruises on the palms of her hands. She wanted to hurt someone and settled for herself. How could she have left him standing there by the river with no one watching him? Now the Queen had Amanda’s soul and Dylan.
“What does she want with Dylan?” she asked, rubbing her aching forehead. How would they be able to rescue Dylan and find Amanda’s soul?
“I do not know,” said Edward. “Perhaps she wants more power over you. Maybe she wants Dylan’s soul or his power? If her spies followed us then she must know that he and Barinthus are joined. Although it is not completed, this would give her some leverage over the dragons. I simply do not know.”
Chapter 20 - Nakia
Queen Nakia sat in her garden eating breakfast. Eggs fried with vegetables and cheese, ham, a sweet roll, fruit juices from the far south, and tea. She watched Dylan, who chased butterflies, attended by one of her ladies.
Earlier, she had politely asked the boy to do magic for her. He refused and she slapped him. After another refusal she hit him again. The child stared defiantly at her, tears in his eyes. Through those tears she saw dragon’s eyes and heard a deep voice within her mind say, “We are coming for you,” Nakia shuddered. No, it had simply been the child, finally using his magic. Still, she left him alone with her ladies.
The Sorcerer entered behind her and stood waiting, clearing his throat.
“What?” she asked impatiently.
“I wonder what you intend to do now,” he asked.
“Wait.”
“For the girl?”
“Yes. It is her turn to make a move.” She sipped her tea, pretending to a calm that was not there.
“What about the dragons?”
She sighed. “If it is true that they are joined, which I doubt, it would be very exciting. Think of the possibilities,” she said, rising from her chair and walking further into the garden. “We now have what the dragons want most. There has not been a joining since the unicorns were thinned. And this one, although incomplete, involves a young boy from another world and the High Dragon. We have power over them,” she smiled in the way reserved for those who were clenched within her fist. Sweet, but with poison behind it.
“What if they attack?” he asked.
“Attack, why would they attack?”
“They are dragons. Who understands why they do anything? And they will fight once they realize you will not give up the boy alive.”
“Well, if they fight, the child dies and I take his soul. After that I will have the soul and the High Dragon will be joined to me. However as I will then have two other souls in my body, I will be the more powerful partner and will rule the dragons as well.”
She watched him as he walked silently by her side. His face twitched as emotion moved across his cheeks and eyebrows. He was probably trying to find a way out.
“You must see,” she said,”there is no other way. This will help us contain our world and move out into the others.
“What if something does not work? This plan is based on too many small pieces all flowing together smoothly. What if one does not?”
“We will improvise. If things do not work perfectly, it only makes things more exciting. How can you not understand that?”
“Yes,” he said, “I understand that is your view, I am not as courageous as you, my Queen. And, since my neck is at stake if things go wrong, I like to see plans made ahead of time.” He smiled at her.
“Fine. All you need is arrange for the child, the girl, the captured soul and the two of us to be in the Opal Tower on the deep night of High Summer. Then you may take the other two souls and insert all three in my body. How we make that happen does not matter.”
“What if the Opal will not allow it?” the Sorcerer asked quietly.
“How could the Opal not want this?” The look on his face said everything. He clearly thought she was mad. She waved his reply off. “I am Queen, it will make me stronger, thus making the land stronger. That the Opal should object is impossible,” sh
e said. The thought of the potency which three more souls would bring made her body tingle with excitement. Nakia wanted it all now.
She would absorb all three souls, be joined with the High Dragon and rule with more power than even her father. After she crushed her enemies in this world she would move on to take control over other realms. Nakia wondered if there was any limit to the number of souls she could consume. Time enough to consider that later.
She sat watching Dylan run, jump and fall. She wondered whether to gather in the World of the Enigmatic Pearl or the World of the Flaming Ruby first. One existed in stability and perfection, the other unstable.
She would attack the Pearl first. Let the Ruby fall on its own and she would pick up the easy pieces. She needed to consider how to bring instability to the Pearl Realm.
A servant knelt before her, interrupting her thoughts.
“What?”
“Your highness, Councilor Gareth is here to discuss the Festival,” he said.
She sighed and walked back into the castle towards the council chambers. Nakia said to the Sorcerer who followed her, “Go. You must have things to plan. This will be trivial. Food, music, decorations. Why he thinks I must be involved in these petty things is beyond my understanding. But I will humor him. He is useful.”
A pair of pooka stood guarding the door leading to the more public parts of the castle. One moved and opened the door for her. The other followed her to the council chamber.
Then again, the World of the Flaming Ruby was so ripe that once she had control of that, her power would be greater and there would be nothing the Enigmatic Pearl could do to stop her from controlling it as well.
The three Jeweled Worlds would be united once again, as her father had done. After that, she would decide what to do about the peculiar world of those wretched girls.
Chapter 21 - Mira
Mira stormed over to her sister, who stood flirting with Ewan. She grabbed Amanda’s elbow and pulled her away. “I need to talk to you.”
Amanda giggled. They both staggered, still dizzy from the sweet death.
When they were far enough away from the noise of the men laughing at Ewan’s jokes, the fire crackling and the splashing of the horses in the river, Mira asked, “What are you thinking? We can’t go with them. We don’t know who they are. That could be the Sorcerer for all you know!”
Amanda yanked her arm away and glared. “That’s not who stole my soul!” She turned her head to gaze at Ewan. “Although I’d gladly give it to him.”
Amanda couldn’t stop looking at him. Ewan met her glances while talking with Edward. Mira’s face flushed with rage. “Could you focus for one minute. Dylan’s gone!”
Amanda looked puzzled, then met Mira’s eyes. “Dylan, where’s Dylan?”
“He’s been taken.”
“Who would take Dylan?” She paused, then Mira saw the realization hit her, “That bitch.” Amanda began to pace back and forth.
Mira felt the same rage burning inside.
Amanda said, “You don’t really have a plan to get into the palace. I’m going with Ewan and we’ll get in, either that or I’ll walk in the front door alone. The Queen wants me or she wouldn’t have taken my son. She’ll let me in.”
“Amanda no!”
“Yes,” she yelled, pointing a finger at Mira, “You and Edward can follow your lame plan. I’ll go my way. One of us will succeed.”
“What good will it do if we get your soul, but you’re not around?”
“I’ll be around. I’ll find you.”
“I don’t think splitting up is such a good idea,” said Mira, grabbing her sister’s arm.
“Well, I do,” said Amanda, shoving her away. Mira nearly fell. “So give me that nasty medicine you’ve been slipping into my tea, so I can keep taking it.”
“How long have you known?”
“A few days,” said Amanda. “I understand why you did it, but I’m still pissed.” Amanda grabbed Mira’s hair.
“Oww. Let go.”
“Give me the medicine.”
“Let go of my hair.”
Amanda let go. Mira fished the medicine out of her pocket and tossed it to Amanda who caught it easily.
“I gotta go and get Dylan.”
“Amanda, let’s stick together.”
“No. I’m doing things my way now.”
Mira moved towards her.
“Don’t touch me. I don’t want any of your touchy-feely stuff right now. I just want to kill somebody or screw that guy. Those are the only emotions that monster left me.”
Amanda strode away, then snatched, the reins to her horse. She said to Ewan, “I’ll ride with you. My sister will go with the pooka.”
The men mounted their horses to follow. Ewan had a worried look as he met Mira’s eyes. “I’ll take care of her,” he said, just before their horses raced down the road, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
Mira felt like someone punched her in the belly. She knew Amanda was doing the best she could, but that didn’t stop the pain. Aste gone. Dylan kidnapped. Now Amanda deserted her. Mira felt afraid and alone. She would have to do this all herself. Find Dylan, Amanda’s soul and now Amanda, get out of the City before the dragons attacked and in the middle of everything, locate Aste to return Amanda’s soul to her body. Her mind reeled.
Shadow nudged her. The mare’s muzzle dripped with river water. “Come, get up, we must go.”
Mira looked at Edward, who waited patiently, but seemed lost in guilt about Dylan. She sighed and mounted. Amanda, Ewan and the others were lost in the dust cloud ahead.
“You did the right thing to let her go,” he said.
“How can you be so sure?”
He shrugged, “Some things I just know. You are the key to getting her soul back. Ewan will take care of her.”
They trotted in silence for miles.
When they slowed to a walk, he asked “What will you do when you have your sister’s soul back?”
“I don’t know. Go back home, I suppose.”
“You do not wish to explore this land?”
“Yes, of course I do. This is an amazing, mystical place. I would love to see more of it, but I don’t know what will happen with the Queen and I have to get Dylan and Amanda back home.”
“You miss your home?”
“Not really. I just feel bad for Dylan. Amanda hasn’t really been able to be his mom since her soul was taken. His whole world is shaken up and I feel for my mom and step dad. We left without leaving a note, just ran after Amanda. I know they’re worried.”
“But now Dylan has Barinthus. He is exploring his own magic. He would not have those if he stayed in your world.”
“I suppose so,” she said. “I wish I could say I was getting something as useful or as wonderful out of this ordeal.” She stood in the stirrups, stretching her legs, the leather of the saddle creaking with the movement.
“Are you not?”
“I’m seeing beautiful, wonderful things. But there’s nothing tangible I can take home with me. My magic is clearer now, but who’s to stay that won’t end when I leave here? I wish I had a deep and profound connection with another being, like Dylan and Barinthus. I still have no idea what happened with the unicorn. I don’t feel complete, just more unsettled. And I have a headache.” She felt shrunk in on herself, feeling very small and helpless.
“Be careful what you wish for,” said Edward. “You may receive it in unexpected ways.”
People always said that. What did it really mean? Nothing, she thought.
They traveled in silence for a while. Through the throbbing of her headache and the flashes of light that accompanied the pain, she watched the countryside slide past. The rolling grasslands seemed uninhabited by large animals. A few, small creatures darting furtively about reminded her of rabbits or gophers. A large hawk or maybe an eagle circled overhead. Edward told her these plains once lay rich with forest and living creatures. Before people settled there and stripped them.
She wondered where Aste might be. Was she recovered from her wounds enough to do whatever business on the coast had been so urgent? Aste had brought along infusions and rare herbs to sell, but Mira knew there had been another purpose which Aste didn’t confide to her. She hoped Aste was on her way to the City tonight. Otherwise what would she do with Amanda’s soul when she got it back?
The wind began to pick up and it seemed to push them closer to whatever awaited them in the City. The Tower of the Black Opal loomed larger.
Faeries swirling in and out of the wind, almost as if they body surfed on the currents. These were the first she’d seen since Dylan was taken. Had they followed him? It comforted her to think they kept him safe.
The pooka watched them also and smiled as he trotted along side. There were five faeries, two very small, one medium sized with a goat’s head and two larger than Edward. None of the faeries she saw previously were nine feet tall or even close. The large ones wore black and looked very serious. Hoods covered most of their heads, but they had beautiful male faces with dark hair and goatees.
They spoke simultaneously to her, their voices vibrating and sounding almost like a recording, “The Queen is having a party tomorrow night, a feast to celebrate midsummer’s eve. She will announce her choice of a consort, something she has never done before, so the feast will be well attended. You must get into the castle by then if you are to stop her.”
The two large ones stopped speaking and immediately vanished. The three who didn’t speak slowly spun backward into the force of the wind.
Mira looked at Edward to see if he heard the message.
“We can do this,” he said, nodding.
“I got tricked and captured by a plant. How am I going to take on an evil Sorcerer and a mad Queen?” Finding three people and a disembodied soul sounded easier than confronting the Queen. But how would they get into the castle?
Behind them massive storm clouds welled. Shadow grew skittish. She flinched at the debris that blew past them.
An enormous clap of thunder crashed through the clouds. Lightening flashed behind them. Mira wrapped her cloak tight and put the hood up, tying the strings. She felt as if the wind chased them. The earth beneath them seemed to rumble in response.