“I have this mad, crazy plan that I think just might work,” he continued. “I’ve talked to the other men about it, and they like it, and now it only needs your approval. I noticed down there that separately, our water and fire did a lot of damage to Amber’s normal schemes. But what if we combine?” He raised their hands – their left hands – their rings glittering in the failing light. “Fire and water together.”
Clara swallowed. “So, you mean like the stuff that’s inside the mountain? That’s the most dangerous liquid in all of Rizkaland.”
“Exactly! And I honestly doubt that Amber has any idea of its existence. She won’t be expecting this sort of counter-attack.”
“You really think we can do it?”
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “I know we can do it.”
“Good. Because if your plan works, I – I think I may kiss you.”
“And if it doesn’t?” He looked quite pleased with himself.
“We’ll be dead.”
“There is that.” He pulled away from her, turning towards Kiona. “I’m sure you’re worried about the fate of your king?”
“You know what happened to Stephan?” she cried, stepping forward.
He nodded. “Amber melted him, I mean, I tried to get to him in time, but she changed so fast. I’m very sorry.”
She closed her eyes, nodding distantly. “I thought that was what had happened. At least I didn’t lose him for good. I will see him again.” She began to wander away. Clara narrowed her eyes. She hadn’t known the woman very long, but this was not normal behavior for the normally very energetic queen.
“Jill Anna, follow her and make sure she doesn’t hurt herself,” Clara ordered. Jill Anna nodded and hurried after the queen. Clara turned back to the Fire Prince, gripping his hand tightly. “She needs to go back to Rizkaland, away from the scenes of battle, where she’ll be safe.”
The Fire Prince nodded. “King Tyrus was of the same opinion. Now, Amber.”
“Are we going to chase her out of Klarand tonight, or shall we wait until tomorrow?”
“We determined to leave the final decision to you,” the Fire Prince informed her. “Shall we use the element of surprise or should we try to get a good night’s rest?”
“I think I’ve seen too much today to get a good night’s rest,” she said, with a shake of her head. “Let’s go now.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Now just to find a hinequa willing to give the chase all night.”
The white hinequa that Jill Anna had ridden approached. “If I am not presumptuous,” he said, “may I offer my wings? I was kept in reserve, so I still have my strength, and the Bugslayer and I followed the dragon and her husband. I know where she hides.”
The Fire Prince turned and laid a gentle hand on the hinequa’s nose. “What’s your name?”
“Clouddancer, sir.”
“Well, then, Clouddancer, we’d be honored to ride you to victory.”
With the Water Princess in front of him, her left hand inside his, Andrew knew they were ready. They were quiet, each attending to their own thoughts, but it was good to have her so close to him, especially after the long war.
“We’re close,” Clouddancer announced, at length. “Be ready.” They hovered over the very village where Andrew and the Water Princess had spent two weeks.
She jerked to attention. “How are we going to get the Dragon’s attention? Should we?”
“We need to scare her out of wherever she’s hiding,” Andrew decided. “And Granite. I should not like for them to be separated.” Who knew what sort of trouble she could stir up without him to check her.
“I saw them enter this building,” Clouddancer informed them, flying up to the largest house in the village.
“So, how are we going to get them out?” the Water Princess asked. “I, personally, vote for not going in after them.”
“May I suggest smoking the Dragon from her hole?” Clouddancer spoke up.
“I like that idea,” said Andrew. He withdrew his hand from the Water Princess’s and let loose a volley of fire towards the building. Once it had sufficiently caught, they retreated back into the sky to wait for Amber.
It was only a few minutes before she appeared, in dragon form, Granite on her back.
“Do you come alone, Fire Prince and Water Princess?” he asked.
“We do,” Andrew answered. “But Alphego is on our side. We are not without strength.”
“Ah, to be on the side of that strength once more,” said Granite with a shake of his head. “Well, do what you must, but remember, this is not our day to die.”
“No, it is not,” Andrew took a deep breath. “By the power invested in me as the Fire Prince of Klarand, and under the authority of Rizkaland and through the strength of Alphego, I hereby banish you and Amber back to your island.”
“Very well,” said Granite. “I imagine you have a plan to enforce it?”
“We do.”
The Water Princess’s hand was back in Andrew’s and they raised their hands together, and, at the same moment, fire and water flew out of their rings, twisting together in a purple stream. Amber let out an inhuman shriek as it struck her, and she tried to counter it with her own fire, but it was only absorbed by the purple stream. She tried to dodge out of the way, but thanks to Clouddancer’s expert flying, she had no retreat but backward, towards her own island. With more terrible shrieks she started flying away from them.
“And now, we endure,” Andrew said, taking a deep breath. “This is going to be a long night.”
“Where did you get that banishment speech?” the Water Princess piped up.
“Um, I was paying attention when they taught us the laws,” Andrew answered. “That’s what you’re supposed to say when you banish someone to Amber’s Island, which is Rizkaland’s form of the capital punishment.”
“Okay. Sounds fair. I’ll puzzle it out once I’ve had some sleep.”
They kept up idle chatter while they flew – it was their weapon against the weariness that plagued them. Clouddancer was amazing. He always kept them in the direct line of the dragon, and somehow managed to keep up with her powerful wings. Twice the water faltered, and once, Andrew lost track of his fire, but each time, it was quickly recovered. Amber did not escape.
Andrew didn’t worry about anyone below. They were high enough up that by the time the liquid reached the ground, the fire would have been extinguished and the water evaporated. Between the moon and the purple light from the fire and water, they could see well enough.
Dawn was licking at the horizon by the time they reached RivRe.
“Drive her down into the water and then land!” the Water Princess ordered. “I’ve got an idea that’ll save us some time if it works.”
“What is it?” asked Andrew.
“I’ll manipulate a current. I’ve been practicing with my ring, and I think I can do it.”
“Sounds good to me.”
With that, they angled their fire and water towards the Riv below them. As soon as the Dragon was submerged, the Hinequa landed. The Water Princess immediately slid down from Clouddancer’s back and ran into the water, thrusting her fist into the bubbling orange liquid. “Tell me when they reach Amber Island!” she shouted back at Clouddancer.
Andrew slid to the ground, and the hinequa ascended again, alone. Granite and Amber soon disappeared over the horizon. Andrew stood at the edge of the Riv, the water licking at his boots as he watched the Water Princess, the sun rising higher and higher in the sky. He was absolutely exhausted, but he didn’t move until Clouddancer returned with the announcement that they had succeeded.
Relief washed over Andrew. The Water Princess sprang to her feet, and with a cry of, “We did it!” ran towards him. Before he could wonder where she’d gotten this burst of energy, she crashed into him, and he was too tired to stand anymore. They both fell to the ground, arms around each other.
She kissed him, as
she’d promised, and it was a wonderful kiss, but both were too tired for it to last very long. Soon, they just laid there, holding each other, letting the knowledge that they’d done it, that they’d won, wash over them.
“Did you, by any chance, tell them to look for us here on the beach?” she asked, after a few moments.
“Yeah, I did, actually,” he answered.
“Good, then I vote we just sleep here on the sand. They can find us. I’m exhausted.”
“Me too.”
A moment later, Clouddancer’s wing folded over them, blocking out the sunlight, and the moment after that, they were asleep.
Epilogue
For twenty-five years, they ruled Klarand, their love an example to all who knew them. Peace was theirs, and prosperity reigned in their land. But at last, the time came for them to return their own world,
25 Years Later
“And then the Wind Prince grabbed the snake – but it was only a stick!”
Clara smiled and shook her head at her redheaded, freckle-faced youngest daughter. “Just why do you ask me to tell you that story when you have it memorized.”
“But Momma!”
“Timothea, you know that story far too well. You can tell it to yourself.”
“But you tell it so much better,” Timothea protested. “Besides…”
“Then you should have let me tell it.” Clara tossed the girl a ball. “Now, story time’s over. Go play with your friends.”
Timothea stood a moment and then threw her arms around Clara’s neck. “I love you, Momma,” she muttered.
“I love you, too, sweetheart,” said Clara, returning the hug. “Don’t you ever, ever forget that.”
Timothea sighed and drew back. “Do you have to go?”
Clara smoothed a curl out of the girl’s face. “It’s time for me to go back to my world. I wish I could stay. I’d hoped for at least five more years, but Alphego says that it’s time for me to go back home.”
“I wish I could go with you,” the girl whispered.
“I wish you could, too. I wish I could take all of you with me,” Clara said, shaking her head. “But my world isn’t like this one, and I’m not sure you’d like it there. Besides, I’m going to be a child again myself. I don’t think it’ll work out.”
“You’re…” Timothea’s brow knit in confusion.
“That’s the funny thing about traveling between worlds.”
Clara turned to see Laura standing behind them, looking scarcely more than a child herself.
“You’re here,” she sighed. She turned back to her daughter. “Well, it seems like it’s time for me to go. You won’t give Klark too much trouble, now will you?”
Timothea bit her lip and shook her head. Her eyes were large and pleading, but she said nothing. Clara stood up and pulled her daughter into one last hug, whispered one last thing in her ear, then drew back.
“I have to go now, and I don’t think I’ll ever see you again. I’m so sorry. Go – go play.”
Timothea sighed and slipped away to join her friends, the youngest Li’Daughters and Lor’Sons of Upper Klarand.
Clara turned to Laura. “She insisted on coming here with me while I waited for you. I tried to say no … but I couldn’t.”
“I wish I could spare you the pain of leaving her,” said Laura, shaking her head. “But I cannot. However, there is another mother waiting for the return of her daughter. Her only daughter.”
Clara nodded slightly. “I miss my home, and I truly am glad to return, but I wish that Tnika’s Speaking didn’t come quite so soon. And I wish I could have said goodbye to Klark and Anita.” She gave a long sigh. “We are to be gone before they return from their secret mission.”
“Alphego will watch over them,” said Laura. “As will I. I’ll be here a full year this time.”
“Thank you.”
Laura turned towards the Waterfall and waved a hand. “The door’s open. It’s time for you to go home.”
Clara nodded, leveled her chin, and then marched into the water, under the Waterfall. Immediately, the water shoved her down, and it shot cold for an indeterminable moment. She tasted chlorine, and she swam upwards, breaking the surface in the swimming pool she had dived into over twenty-five years before. She tread water a moment as she took in her surroundings.
A shout of “Ten” and “Five” at the same moment caught her attention, and she swam over to where Kath and Rhoda stood waiting for her.
“Uh, so it was a good one?” That’s right, they’d been rating each other’s dives.
“It was a beautiful dive,” Kath informed her. “Best dive I’ve ever seen.”
“Flattery doesn’t get you anywhere,” Rhoda spoke up, shaking her head. “Knock it off, Kath.”
“Ignore her, she’s grumpy and doesn’t understand,” said Kath, as Clara hauled herself onto the side of the pool and Rhoda positioned herself for her dive. “You okay?”
“I think so,” said Clara. “Just disoriented, and … I had to say goodbye to a bunch of people that I’ll probably never see again.”
Kath’s arm went around Clara’s shoulder. “I know the feeling. But there is someone that you’re going to see again. In just a few hours.”
“I know, but it won’t be the same.” Clara sighed and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around her. “I’m going to go talk to my mom. Let Rhodes know.”
Her mother’s fencing classroom wasn’t far off, and it didn’t take long for Clara to reach it. As she hoped, her mother was still there, alone. She’d opened the glass case where she kept her sword collection and was examining one of the swords.
Clara’s sword. The one she’d received in Klarand.
“Where’d you get that?” Clara breathed.
Her mother turned and offered a smile. “It was in here when I opened the case a few moments ago,” she said. “It’s a fine sword.”
“Yes,” said Clara. “It is.”
“You know what else I found in here?”
“What?”
Her mother withdrew a flat, square case, set it on a table, and a gasp caught in Clara’s throat as she opened it to reveal the sapphire circlet and ring that Clara had worn for twenty-five years. Neither said anything as she removed the circlet and set it on Clara’s head. “It suits you, Water Princess.”
“You…”
“Kath and Rich have already told us the story – so far as they saw of it,” her mother explained. She sighed and shook her head. “Look at you. My baby, all grown up.”
“Twenty-five years older in a moment,” Clara agreed. “So … you are Princess Isabelle?”
“The one and only,” her mother agreed. “Now…” She took Clara’s hand and then slipped something into it. “There was something else left for you, as well as the ring, which is in the case.”
Clara opened her hand to find three lockets joined on a single clasp.
“All of us women have them,” her mother explained, “except Kath, but she didn’t marry. I haven’t opened this one yet. It’s yours, Clara, a comfort for your loss.”
Clara snapped open one of the lockets and her heart caught in her throat as she saw that it contained images of Timothea and Flynn, her two youngest children. The other two contained images of the older four.
“Now go get dressed,” said her mother, after allowing Clara her moment. “I’d like to see how good you are with this new sword of yours.”
“Are you ready, Fire Prince?”
Andrew glanced over to Laura, who’d accompanied him down to the Firefall. “I honestly don’t know. Can I stand to return to the boy I was? I know my brothers need me, but I’ve changed so much since then, and more than just physically.”
“I know,” said Laura. “I’ve had to live my life so many times, and it doesn’t stop being painful to go back and to have to start over, to pretend you know less than you do. No, I don’t suppose you are ready, but it is time.”
Andrew sighed. “I feel guil
ty for leaving, though. As much as I know that my dad and brothers need me, Klarand needs me too.”
“Perhaps so, but it’s time for them to learn to do without,” said Laura. “You and the Water Princess will never be forgotten. Your time ruling will be hailed as a golden age. But now, it is time for you to step aside, back into your own world. Your son will rule well in your stead. He’s a fine young man – a good head on his shoulders. He takes after his father.”
Andrew shook his head, though he couldn’t help smiling. “Still,” he said, “I would have preferred to be able to talk to him before we left, knowing that I’ll be leaving. But, as it is, the letter I left him will have to do.”
“The door is open,” Laura announced. “It’s not good to leave them open for long. Go now, and I’ll follow in a moment so that I might arrive a few minutes before and open the door so you can get here twenty-five years ago.”
Andrew turned to her. “Don’t confuse me.”
She giggled. “Just jump in, Fire Prince. I assure you that you won’t even be singed by the fire, no more than you were the first time.”
And, so, Andrew jumped. The fire surrounded him, and it was painful, but the pain died away by the time he hit solid ground, catching himself on his hands and knees. He felt strangely small.
“Ah, Andrew. You okay, son?”
Andrew looked up to see his dad staring down at him. He quickly scrambled to his feet. He was definitely shorter now. “I’m fine,” he muttered, wondering if he was.
“Ah, very good,” said his dad, turning and heading down a trail. “We should head back to camp then. I returned to find the tent still up, so was a bit worried about you.”
“You were worried about me?” Andrew repeated as he followed his dad.
“Of course. Contrary to what you may believe, I pay more attention to you than I let on. It’s just that you usually have things so well under control that I don’t need to interfere.”
“You mean…” Andrew began. At one time, he probably would have resented his dad for that revelation, but now, after having been gone for over twenty-five years, after having ruled a county and been a father himself, he found that he didn’t resent it quite as much.
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