The Turquoise Queen

by Pedro Urvi

  Dive a little well.

  Very well or a little well? It can’t be both.

  A little well.

  Yeah, you swim little and badly.

  Not bad. Little and well.

  Oh dear … Lasgol gave a snort and let the matter rest. Neither Ona nor Camu were made for diving or excelling in this environment of crystalline water. Nor were they themselves, in fact. Although it was true that they had swum and dived in the Camp lakes while they were training as Rangers, and they were all strong swimmers, he feared that in comparison with these turquoise savages, they were very much inferior. It was logical, since they were not used to this environment and had not been able to adjust to it. They probably never could, not having been born here.

  The canoes emerged from the tunnel, following the dolphins, and a new surprise awaited them. They were approaching the center of the island, and Astrid and Lasgol were now able to confirm their theory. It was indeed the crater of an ancient volcano. From inside they could get a better sense of it. A second, interior beach, now surrounded them completely in a circle. Beyond the beach of pure white sand, inside the crater, a great expanse of jungle stretched in every direction. Near the beach could be seen a number of huts which had been built in different places, forming both settled and wild areas, as if this were some great circular city or realm. They could see the clear blue sky shining in all its splendor aloft and the earth beneath the crystal-clear water. Although they had the impression that they were in a calm lake, they were actually in salt water, and in the interior of an island.

  Lasgol was utterly absorbed by the beauty and exotic quality of the landscape around him, almost impossible to have imagined, still less as the home of a tribal queendom. The canoes moved as far as the center of the salt lake, then stopped. The turquoise savages bowed deeply in a reverent gesture, Arrain included. Eicewald, by his side, bent over in his turn, and when they saw this Lasgol and the others followed their example. They all bowed with their heads down, but went on watching everything that was going on, because they did not understand it.

  Suddenly, in the middle of the lake, in front of the canoes, the dolphins formed themselves into a circle. From within it there issued a beam of light of that same intense sea-blue they had seen before. A moment later a head rose from the water, slowly, followed by a turquoise feminine torso, and finally a pair of legs of the same color. The female figure remained above the surface of the water in the center of the beam of light which rose to the heavens.

  “Welcome to my realm,” she announced. “I am Uragh, the Turquoise Queen of Life and Water.”

  Chapter 26

  Lasgol stared at the Queen, his eyes like saucers, finding it hard to keep his jaw from dropping. She was incredibly beautiful and exotic. Her long hair was a very light blond, and as with that of her people, it seemed to be made of seaweed. Her face was that of a sea-goddess, and in her dark eyes could be seen a blue radiance which came from within her. All her skin was a beautiful turquoise-blue. She wore no clothes, but had covered her intimate parts and breasts with large sea stars.

  An aura of power emanated from her body, and it was strongly magical. Lasgol had an intense feeling of water. He could feel it all over his skin, as if the Queen’s mere presence was making his body cover itself in moisture. At the same time, he felt like he was being filled with a rejuvenating power, one of energy, of pure life. He had not the slightest doubt that this woman was a very special being, unique and marvelous.

  “My Queen of Life and Water,” Arrain said with great respect.

  “I see we have foreign visitors, my Shaman of Life and Sea,” said Uragh, who was looking at all of them one by one. Her eyes were dark, but showed flashes of blue as intense as the magic she wielded. Her gaze was held by Eicewald for rather longer.

  “One of them is an old acquaintance,” she said.

  “My lady Queen of the Turquoise Seas,” Eicewald said with enormous respect, without raising his head, barely glancing at her for a moment.

  “Follow me to my home and we’ll talk there,” she said, and to their great surprise, she began to walk on the surface of the water, as though she were a goddess. The blue light moved with her, and it was as if it were keeping her above the water in some magical way.

  Uragh, lot of power, came Camu’s fresh warning.

  I can see that. She can walk on water. That’s something that’s reserved for the gods.

  Also, underwater.

  She can walk underwater?

  She can breathe underwater.

  Like a fish?

  Not like fish. With Powerful Magic.

  Oh, you mean she transforms the water into air?

  Yes, she can.

  Can you feel what kind of Magic she uses? They call her the Turquoise Queen of Life and Water. It would be good to know whether she can only use those two kinds of magic, or if there are more.

  I try. When I know, I tell.

  Great. Tell me if you manage to. Be careful not to be spotted. She might be able to feel your power too, and your attempts to sense her type of magic.

  I careful.

  The savages began to use their oars, and the canoes followed the Queen as she made her way to the southern shore. The dolphins surrounded her, appearing to be her personal escort. Viggo gestured toward the Queen, impressed, while Ingrid glared at her distrustfully. Gerd was so pale, that he looked as though he would faint at any moment. Nilsa was clutching her weapons tightly, her jaw clenched. She did not like the Queen’s powerful magic one little bit. When Uragh reached the beach and stepped on to the sand, the blue light vanished. She walked across the sand, and they could see her footprints on it.

  “It looks as though her power works in the sea and not on land,” Astrid murmured to Lasgol.

  “Or else she may not want us to see.”

  Astrid shrugged. Lasgol signaled her to stay observant, just in case.

  The Queen stopped, and at once twenty turquoise warriors came to surround her. Lasgol saw that instead of bows they carried those curious tridents, and in some cases a kind of short javelin, together with the strange shields, and armor of seashells. They must know nothing of archery. He found it strange, although looking around, he realized that living off the sea, as most probably these turquoise people did, it made little sense to develop that particular art.

  When they landed, they were able to better appreciate the natives who were staring at them with great curiosity, as if they had never seen anybody like them before. These were not warriors or explorers, like those who had come to meet them, but the inhabitants: women, children and elders. The men wore something like a very short skirt of dried seaweed, which covered their genitals. On their feet they wore strange shoes, large green soles with cords in the form of two loops, one at the front and the other behind the heel, with their feet inserted in between.

  “What d’you think they wear such strange, oversized shoes for?” Gerd whispered to Nilsa.

  “Not a clue. But they’re ugly and primitive, and I’d imagine they’re quite uncomfortable for walking or running.”

  Astrid spoke into Lasgol’s ear: “They look a little like our snowshoes. I think they must use them for the same thing, but since there’s no snow here, they must use them to help when they’re diving.”

  Lasgol nodded. “That makes sense. But why would they wear them on dry land?”

  “I get the impression that these people spend most of their time in the water. They probably live off it.” She pointed to several natives with containers hanging from their waists, who were getting into the water.

  “They must have adapted their shoes so they work in both environments.”

  Astrid watched them diving with great thrusts of their feet. “I guess so.”

  “That’s what it is,” Lasgol agreed as he watched them vanish into the depths and not reappear again.

  Viggo was staring at the native women with great enthusiasm. They had an exotic beauty, with their turquoise skin and their intense
green and blue eyes. Their hair, like that of the men, was green, with a texture that resembled long strands of seaweed, but unlike the men, they wore theirs in braids. They wore striking coronets of coral on their heads, no two of them alike. They wore skirts like those of the men, but in vivid colors: green, orange, blue, yellow and white. They also wore pendants in the form of shells of all kinds: cockles, clams, conches and other kinds of marine mollusks. But what was most surprising was that instead of wearing tunics or jerkins, they covered their breasts and navels with three shells, and these magically, and without any kind of support, stayed in place without falling off.

  “What on earth are you looking at with that goofy expression?” Ingrid whispered in Viggo’s ear. She sounded annoyed.

  “What d’you think? Don’t you see these marvelous creatures?”

  “You mean those girls in skimpy clothes?”

  “How much more clothes would they need with this scorching sun and these crystal-clear waters all around?”

  “Don’t get started on that! I know you!”

  “They’re a real bunch of exotic beauties.”

  “And you’re an idiot. Close your mouth, you’re drooling.”

  “I don’t know why it bothers you so much that I should admire such delightful creatures,” Viggo said, and made a slight bow to three girls who were staring back at him. The turquoise savages laughed at the gesture, sweetly and melodiously.

  “We’re not here so that you can flirt with the first savages you see!”

  “I’m trying to look friendly,” he replied, ignoring Ingrid and smiling from ear to ear at the three savages, who were whispering to each other and giggling under their breath.

  “Stop trying to look anything!”

  Viggo went on bowing and making friendly gestures to all the girls he saw, which infuriated Ingrid to the point where she was barely able to contain herself.

  The Queen, accompanied by her warriors, now went among the huts of what seemed to be the center of this city-realm. At Eicewald’s gesture, they followed her. The city was made up of what must have been thousands of huts, stretching around the entire circular beach. There must have been several thousand turquoise savages living there.

  As they went on from the beach to the jungle, more and more natives came closer to see them. Gerd and Nilsa stared in astonishment at the strange clothes and ornaments they wore. Viggo went on smiling at all the girls he saw, and spoke a word or two to them here and there. Ingrid, beside him, was red with rage as she walked. Lasgol and Astrid, who brought up the rear, gazed at this people and their world, so strange and at the same time so beautiful and exotic.

  Keep close to me and tread carefully, Lasgol transmitted to Camu and Ona.

  I close, Camu confirmed, and Ona chirped beside him.

  They came to a huge cave, which to their surprise, turned out to be the Queen’s dwelling. The walls were covered in moss, and moisture spattered their faces and bodies at every step. On the floor they could see openings which looked like puddles, but once they were beside them they could see the water beneath the island, with its corals and schools of fish.

  “This is a strange palace,” Astrid said to Lasgol.

  “Really strange …”

  Through several openings in the roof in the center of the cave, the sun shone in and lit up the whole space. The Queen’s guard was posted against the walls. The Turquoise Queen’s throne was as curious as her home itself. It used a giant shell as a back, and a seat which was not really a seat at all but crystalline water. She sat down slowly on it, introducing her body into the water on to what looked like live coral and seaweed, and rested her hands on two large pearls which seemed to be floating on the water. When she emitted a blue light, the corals and seaweed kept her seated as if guided by her will. Under her feet they could see the crystalline water and the sea-bed. Arrain took his place on her right.

  Lasgol now saw that there were other shamans in the hall, dressed like Arrain. It seemed that he was the highest-ranking one, because the others stayed behind the throne. All around the hall, the Queen’s guards watched the new arrivals with alert eyes.

  The Queen waved her hand. “You can rest assured that no harm will come to you in this hall.”

  “We offer our heartfelt gratitude for the Turquoise Queen’s benevolence,” Eicewald said. He gave a deep bow.

  “Don’t misunderstand me, Ice Mage. I haven’t said that you will leave my realm alive. Only that nothing will happen to you in here.”

  Lasgol and Astrid exchanged a warning glance, as did Gerd and Nilsa. Ona was now as tense as Ingrid and Viggo, who were ready to leap into action.

  “To try anything against me would be a great mistake,” the Queen warned them. “My Shamans and warriors would put an end to you. But in fact, there is very little you could do to harm me.”

  “We wouldn’t dare –” Eicewald began, but the Queen interrupted him.

  “Who is your best warrior?”

  The six exchanged glances. Viggo was about to speak, but Ingrid was quicker off the mark.

  “I’m the best warrior, and the leader of this group,” she said firmly.

  “Good. I see you carry three bows at your back. My people don’t know that type of weapon. I want you to try to hit me with them.”

  Ingrid looked at her in surprise. “With my bows? At this distance?” she asked. She knew it would be impossible for her to fail.

  The Queen nodded. “That’s right.” She gestured to her to try.

  “Your Majesty, it’s not necessary –” Eicewald began, but the Queen raised her hand to interrupt him.

  Ingrid took her compound bow and nocked an arrow. “Your Majesty?” she said, hoping to receive a countermanding order.

  “Go ahead,” the Queen said, and with a wave of her hand she caused part of the water in which she was half-submerged to rise and create a barrier around her.

  Ingrid sighed and released. At this distance the arrow would transfix the Queen, water barrier or no.

  She was wrong. The arrow hit the water it was supposed to go through, and as it did so the crystalline liquid turned black. Instead of piercing it, the arrow broke apart and fell to the ground.

  “What –?” Ingrid said, taken aback.

  “Try again with your other two bows, and use those elemental arrows I know you have with you.”

  Ingrid obeyed, and as had happened with her first attempt, the elemental arrows broke apart in the same way, without either exploding or producing the elemental effect.

  “They’re useless,” Ingrid said, sounding annoyed.

  The Queen waved her arm again and murmured something. The barrier of water vanished, then reappeared around Ingrid, who started in surprise.

  “Don’t touch the water!” Eicewald warned her. “It breaks down everything it touches, including humans.”

  Immediately Ingrid froze still as a statue.

  Viggo reached for his knives. Lasgol glared at him to dissuade him from doing anything. Viggo held back, but grasped the handles of his knives, ready to leap on to the Queen if necessary. Lasgol knew that his friend would do that without a second thought, whatever the consequences.

  “Quite right. If you touch it, warrior, you’ll lose the limb you touch it with.”

  Ingrid, still motionless, glowered at the Queen. Astrid and Nilsa tensed, anxious to help Ingrid.

  “No, no, my guests …” murmured the Queen, and waved both arms. From the water around her there emerged five new barriers which rose around the rest of the team and imprisoned them. Eicewald alone remained free of the spell.

  They were all aware that they could not move, but the situation of danger almost forced them to do so. Ona, on whom the Queen had not cast the spell, stared at the barriers of water fearfully.

  “Everyone keep calm,” Lasgol said to his companions. Don’t do anything. Ona, stay. Camu, don’t interfere.

  I can with magic.

  I know, but this isn’t the moment. Don’t do anything.
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  Sure?

  Yes, sure. If I need you, I’ll let you know.

  “Everybody stay absolutely still. If you don’t, there’s going to be a tragic accident,” Eicewald warned them.

  “You’ll be wondering about the reason for this little demonstration,” Uragh said calmly. “In fact, it isn’t to show you how powerful my magic is, or how easy it would be for me to kill you all – including my dear Eicewald – but in order that you understand that the magic of water may be used either for life or for death. That is usually the case with nearly all kinds of magic, and although I practice that of life, I can also use that of death when it is necessary.”

  “Our Queen makes her people prosper with Magic of Life,” Arrain said, “and protects them with Magic of Death.” The other shamans in the chamber nodded in agreement.

  “Your Majesty, if you let me explain –” Eicewald began, but the Turquoise Queen raised her hand to stop him.

  “Visits from the great continent do not please me – as you know well, Ice Mage. The realms of Tremia are all different, but at the same time they have one thing in common: they seek wealth and power. Ships from many of those realms have come to my lands, bringing men with vain promises, with hostile intentions. I protect my people from those realms and their greedy leaders. I protect them with tooth and claw, as would that beautiful panther if anybody were to try to harm the young man beside her.”

  Lasgol was surprised to be mentioned, and also that the Queen had noticed that Ona was with him. He had the feeling that she saw further than she seemed to. She was very beautiful, even when her expression was one of animosity, as was the case at the moment. He could understand her reasons, even the thinking behind them, because he himself knew the rulers of Norghana, and they were exactly as she had described them. He also knew that kings like those of Zangria or the Nocean Empire were scarcely better.

  Arrain nodded. “Our Queen watches over the wellbeing of her people,” he said, and the other Shamans nodded too, amid murmurs of conviction.

  “You taught me that yourself when you came to these lands many years ago. When you were young and your face showed no marks of the passage of time. When you taught me your language, when you told me about Tremia, her realms and her peoples. I learnt much with you and from your books, and I have learnt a great deal more in all these years before your return, since many are the ships which have reached my coasts.”