by Tristan Vick
“She attacked me first,” I say in my defense, holding up my bandaged forearm as proof.
Zarine shoots me an irritated look.
“What?” the queen asks. She turns to Zarine. “What is she talking about?”
“It’s um…It’s…” Zarine stammers. “Why am I the guilty one here?”
“Nobody said you’re guilty of anything,” Sabine says. “Just tell me what’s going on here.”
“Yes, do tell.” I grin at Zarine who scowls back at me.
“Fine,” she sneers. “I needed her blood for casting a powerful spell.”
“All right.” Queen Sabine seems to believe her story, but then she turns to me. “And did she ask your permission before taking a sample from you?”
“No,” I reply. “She abducted me and strapped me to the table and then cut into me like some kind of mad-person.”
At this juncture Zarine starts sobbing uncontrollably. Her tears come streaming down, and I will say this much, her little performance is quite convincing.
Unexpectedly, I start laughing. Zarine’s story is just so wild, so ridiculous, that I can’t help myself. I laugh till the tears start leaking from the corners of my eyes and then I take a deep breath.
“Does her anguish amuse you, sister?” the queen asks crossly.
“Yes,” I say wiping my eyes. “I really wish we could let Zarine continue on with her little act. It’s…so very entertaining.”
Unable to hold back a second fit of giggles, I burst out laughing even more. Obviously, my inebriation hasn’t completely worn off, for I’m sure under normal circumstances I’d be fuming. But for some reason the absurdity of it all, Zarine’s ludicrous act, the fact that she has pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes including the queen’s, it all just hits me in such a way that I can’t stop laughing.
Queen Sabine looks at me as though I’ve lost my mind and even Zarine begins to look worried when I can barely contain myself.
Sabine says, “Alright then, what’s your account of the story, Arianna?”
“I had too much to drink and I sort of, well, came on to Zarine,” I begin. I wink at Zarine who simply bats her eyes and turns her face away. “And,” I add guiltily, “we kissed.”
“You two kissed?” Sabine responds in a surprised tone. “Is this true, Zarine?”
“Yes,” she replies in a remorseful tone.
“Is that all?” Sabine asks, her hardened gaze drilling into Zarine reprovingly.
“I swear by the Goddess of the night sky that’s all we did! Nothing more.” Zarine cries, squeezing out a few more tears out for good measure.
“I pretty sure my drink was drugged,” I add. “The next thing I knew I was tied up, Zarine hovering over me with a knife. As you can imagine, I wasn’t about to wait around to see what happened next, so I took action.”
Queen Sabine glances at Zarine accusingly.
“These are the delusions of an inebriated, emotionally unstable girl,” Zarine sneers.
“Maybe so,” Queen Sabine snaps. “But that gives you no right to assault an innocent girl.” Then she turns and walks back toward the palace. As she leaves, she says, “Guards, arrest her!”
Suddenly all the spears are trained Zarine.
“What?!” Zarine gasps in total dismay. “You’re seriously going to arrest me?”
Sabine stops in her tracks and, without turning around, clears up any confusion. “I’m afraid an attack on a Sister of Bellera is the same as an attack on the queen. And as much as it pains me to do this, I have no choice in the matter. The law is quite clear. Zarine Xakandi, you are under arrest for the assault of Arianna De Amato.”
“And as much as it pains me,” Zarine fires back, “I have more important things to do than sit around rotting in a prison cell.” Zarine locks her hands together, extends both pointer fingers upward, and brings them to her lips. “Enchantium, expedium, etractus, el Koroth!”
Suddenly a blast of green energy surges out of Zarine, knocking down all the guards and Queen Sabine. I’m the only one left unaffected by the blast of radiant energy. Zarine looks at me and shares with me her most devilish grin.
At the same time, her eyes light up like green flames and a ball of purple energy wraps itself around her. There is a crackling sound, like electricity, followed by a thunderous boom and in the next instant, she’s gone. All that’s left is a smoldering crater about a foot deep where she was last standing.
Queen Sabine rises and I reach over to help her back onto her feet. Once she’s up, she dusts herself off, takes in a deep breath, and then looks at me with remorseful eyes. “I owe you a well-deserved apology.”
“I’m not sure I deserve it,” I reply. “After all, I did hit on your girlfriend. I think, maybe, I’m the one who owes you an apology.”
Sabine looks away. “Zarine is an enchantress. In more ways than one. I guess I’ve been under her spell for so long that I didn’t see what was going on right under my nose.”
“So you don’t hate me?” I ask.
“Not at all. I know Zarine well enough,” Sabine says shooting me a wry grin. “If you hadn’t made the first move, I’m certain she would have. She took advantage of you when you were vulnerable and laid out a cunning trap to seduce and abduct you. That’s not your fault.”
I smile. I don’t know what to say. It’s not every day the Queen of Bellera forgives you for hitting on her girlfriend.
I take Queen Sabine’s hand in mine and kiss the back of it gently and pay my thanks with a bow. Looking back up at Sabine’s majestic face, I try to guess what she might be thinking as she stares back at me with her crystal blue eyes, but she’s hard to get a read on. She definitely knows how to mask her emotions.
I take my place beside my queen and accompany Sabine up the street. We walk toward the palace, our sisters, the royal guard, shuffling silently behind us.
“Zarine was going on about some kind of imminent evil,” I inform my queen.
“I know,” Sabine responds. “She has been talking non-stop about some ancient prophecy regarding the coming of the Dark One for weeks now. I never expected her to abduct and assault anyone though.”
“She said my blood was special somehow,” I say, rubbing my thumb gently across the bandage.
The queen pauses in her tracks and looks directly at me. “Does it hurt much?”
“It itches a bit,” I respond. “Nothing to worry about.” After a few moments’ pause, I ask, “Were you really going to throw your love in prison?”
“Would you prefer I bend her over my knee and spank her?”
We look at each other and then laugh.
“I don’t know,” I tease. “Somehow I get the feeling she might like that.”
“The law is the law,” the queen replies. “And the law demands Zarine either spend six months in jail or receive fifty lashes and one week in the prison. But if you desire leniency, I have no objections.”
“I guess,” I say. “Maybe just give her ten lashes and confine her to her room for a month.”
“Agreed,” Sabine says. “And thank you,” she adds, to my surprise.
“For what?”
“For considering my feelings in this matter.”
We begin walking up the narrow street again, and head past some shops. One of them is a flower shop and the sweet scent of fresh flowers fills the air. Some passersby bow reverently as we pass them on the street.
“So what now?” I ask, breaking the lingering silence with what seems to be an unavoidable question.
By the contemplative expression on Sabine’s face, she’s grappling with the very same question.
After a moment’s thought, Sabine says in all sincerity, “I need you to do me a favor.”
7
My head feels groggy and my feet leaden. I have hardly slept a wink and my entire body aches. It feels as though I’ve been through a wringer. All I want to do is lie down to rest, but the queen awaits my reply, so I take a reverent bow and give her my answer. “Anything you ask, Mi
stress. As a Knight of Bellera, I am yours to command.”
The queen waves off her troop of guards, all but for the two imperial guards who trail us from a safe distance. Just out of earshot, but still close enough to rush to the queen’s defense if need be.
As we head down the somber city streets, we turn away from the palace and take a detour. Suddenly we’re heading toward the front gates of the city. Walking side by side with Queen Sabine, I notice that many windows are aglow with lanterns of the farmers and bakers rising early to get an eager head start on today’s labors.
Along the road are a series of oil lamps meant to increase the warmth of the city as well as help to ensure a traveler’s safety. Queen Sabine issued the decree two years ago that Bellera would have the safest streets in all of Valandra, and she’s been true to her word.
Not only do oil lamps line the streets every several meters, but all night after the gloaming hour armed patrols walk regular rounds through every part of the city. The fact that the Queen’s guard are all women makes it feel all the safer, somehow. A woman soldier, after all, won’t likely drag you into an ally to have her way with you while the others stand by and watch. In fact, the sheer loyalty, fierceness, and willpower of the queen’s guard is legendary throughout all of Valandra.
“A month ago,” the queen begins, breaking the silence that has settled all around us, “Master Kel received a message from one Rikkard Durante, of Algoroth. He requested his daughter, Lisette, be taken on as Master Kel’s new pupil.”
“I hadn’t heard anything of this,” I say. I’m genuine surprised, especially since it wasn’t like Master Kel to keep secrets. Not from me.
Stopping in the middle of the road, Sabine turns to me and places both hands on my shoulders. Looking directly into my eyes, she adds, “Kel Oren thought of you as the daughter he never had. I’ve never seen him prouder of anyone than he was of you.”
A sudden wave of latent sorrow ripples through me and a tear drips down my cheek. I wipe the tear away and then clear the frog out of my throat. “What is it you’d have me do, Mistress Sabine?”
“Take Lisette on as your pupil,” she tells me. I nod, as it is agreeable. After all, once one becomes a sword Master, unless it’s a time of war, one is expected to take on a pupil. “In light of Master Kel’s unfortunate death, it only seems right,” she says.
“As you wish, my queen.”
“It’s settled, then.” Sabine smiles affectionately at me, then continues issuing her instructions. “Make haste to Igthia. Three days from now you are to meet with Lisette at the port. She’ll be arriving on one of her father’s trading vessels from Darksmane. Once you’ve located her, the both of you are to head to the sea-side brothel and find a woman there. A courtesan by the name of Bethriel. She’s one of my top spies. But her communications ceased a fortnight ago. I need you to locate her and secure the information she has. Information vital to the security of the twelve realms. Once you obtain that, she’ll tell you what to do next.”
“I’ll do my best,” I answer, timidly. I’m still a bit uncertain about all of this. A few days ago I was just a knight in training. Now, suddenly, I’m being sent on a mission vital to the safety of the realm. It’s all a little overwhelming. But what else could I have said? The queen obviously trusts me to fulfill this task, and I feel I owe her at least this much.
By the time we finish talking, we’re already at the city gates. I look out at the smoldering funeral pyres. The monks are already beginning to collect the ashes and gather them into urns. The urns will be placed in the sacred mausoleum that sits upon Bellera’s northernmost bluff, the white cliffs of Sangorine, which overlook the northern sea. Looking past the pyres, I see the bluing of the sky. Although it’s still dark, the sun will be up any minute now.
One of the Queen’s guards leads a tan horse to me by its reins. When the horse arrives, Sabine pats its side and says, “This was Master Kel’s horse, Merrium. Never was there a more loyal steed than this one. She belongs to you now.”
I raise my hand and let Merrium sniff and nibble at me. It’s our usual way of greeting one another. “We’re well acquainted,” I tell the queen as I stroke Merrium’s neck. “Isn’t that right, girl?”
Sabine reaches into the v-cut opening of her armor. Squeezing her hand between her breasts, she fishes out a satchel of coins. Looking back up she catches the utter look of shock on my face. That a queen would stash a personal supply of coins in such a place is downright scandalous.
“Well, there’s not really anyplace else to keep it,” she informs me in a slightly defensive tone.
Throwing up my hands in a defensive posture, I laugh. “I’m not judging.”
She squints at me suspiciously, a half-smile curled onto her lips, and hands me the satchel. I gladly accept it and try to find a place for it. First I fiddle with my belt strap, then, when that doesn’t work, I search for a pocket, but, alas, there’s only one place to put it. Letting out a loud sigh, I tug at my shirt collar and then push the satchel down between my own breasts.
Amused, Queen Sabine chortles and, with one eyebrow raised, gives me a look that says See, I told you so.
I shrug, as if to say it can’t be helped, and take Merrium’s reins from the guard. Just then the first rays of light pierce the horizon and bathe us in golden hues. Sabine looks quite stunning, with her golden hair and armor glowing in the dawn’s early morning light.
When I turn to leave, Sabine calls out to me. “Be safe, Mistress Arianna.”
I smile at her from over my shoulder, then, returning to my mission, I lead Merrium toward the road which will take us to Valandra.
Once I’m safely over the draw bridge, I climb onto Merrium and swing my leg across her back. Settling into the saddle, I fit my feet into the stirrups, and then, giving Merrium a swift kick in her side, I holler, “Hee’yah!”
Merrium jolts forward and, her hoofs finding traction, she kicks up a plume of dust as we set off for Igthia.
8
The sun is glowing white hot above the port town of Igthia when I arrive on the back of my Merrium. As we pass through the city gates, I find a town paddock near the entrance with a watering spot for horses and place Merrium inside the fenced-off area. There are fresh bales of hay for her and water enough for her to drink to her heart’s content. “Stay here,” I say, petting her side. Merrium nickers and huffs air, as if she’s understood and given me her reply. I smile and then head toward the town square.
When I enter the market at the center of Igthia, there is a chatter and bustle I am not accustomed to. Unlike the rolling hills and rustic villages of Bellera, Igthia is a sprawling port town which sponsors all kinds of trade and industry. Actually, in the days of old, while the city of Valandra grew great in prominence, Igthia grew rich from trade. Proving to be mutually beneficial to one another, the two cities thrived off one another for a hundred years, both expanding beyond their original borders and eventually meeting in the lush valley in between.
Here, in the great valley, a new great city formed from the smaller two and became what most people now refer to as Valandra’s Eden, or in the tongue of the locals, Valandra Edorium. Of course, Valandra Edorium is broken into three districts called Valandra Prime, Valandra Arcane, and Valandra Ightium.
Even as Valandra Igthium is the new name for Igthia now, I, like most people, still refer to the port town by its old name while we are here. As Master Kel once taught me, we tell the stories of our ancestors because it is, in the act of remembering itself, how we show respect and honor the heritage of our peoples. I suppose the same can be said for using old names. As long as we can at least remember the old ways, the new ways won’t be such a threat. The new world only becomes dangerous when you forget your past, forget where you came from, and walk blindly—recklessly—into the unknown without the experiences of your ancestors to help guide you.
I turn toward the north and look up at the gentle gradient of stucco houses and red tile rooftops that stretch all the
way to the twin spires of the palace. Even from this far away the distant gleaming towers of the palace inspire hope.
“Look out, miss! Look out!” a man cries out.
I barely have time to step out of the way of a fisherman who’s in so much of a rush that we almost collide.
I narrowly duck under one of the two crab baskets he’s carrying across his back as he heads up the road. The middle of the street is no place for sightseeing, I tell myself.
Once the coast is clear again, I turn back head back to the marketplace and toward the fountain at the town center.
Standing atop the fountain is a statue of the Goddess Eleth of Yulandra and Prince Thavian of Igthia in a romantic embrace.
As legend has it, Prince Thavian was betrothed to the Goddess of the Evening Sky by the Arch Goddess El Lunaria. Lunaria, in a bid to bring peace to the world of men, decided to wed her first daughter, El Novette, to a mortal, Prince Thavian. After marrying her prince, El Novette took the mortal name Eleth.
Although I believe in the Seven Goddesses, I do not believe that this particular story has any merit. But in Igthia, it is one of their most cherished beliefs. Even so, I put my hands together and pay my respects to the goddess, and then continue on my way to meet Lisette down by the pier.
On my way, I peruse the shops nearest to the fountain, I can hear the seagulls calls from all the way down by the docks and clear across the marketplace. The sellers seem to have anything a person could ever want. Everything from beaded jewelry, to spices, to medicinal herbs, to cloth and clothing, to foods of all kinds. There are even crunchy, fried mini-crabs to snack on. A popular delicacy among the locals.
Scanning the crowd, I look for a young girl wearing a white shawl and a blue orchid brooch. But no such girl exists among the many faces of the bustling marketplace. She’s late. I can’t help but worry for her safety, so I decide to head down to the docks and ask around. Maybe someone has seen her, or knows when her ship will be coming in.
Making haste, I head down to the docks and ask a couple of sailors if they know of any ships arriving from Darksmane. They inform me that the only scheduled ship arrived two hours ago, and there’s not to be another one till next week.