by Katie Macey
Niamh nudged his shoulder with hers and faced the palace. Glowing blue orbs shrouded the cages, and the soldiers dropped their weapons. They left a mess of blades in the dust, as they ran for their ships, docked out of view behind the Island Palace.
✽✽✽
Blue smoke surged around them, and all of the knowledge hidden from Niamh, and even more, opened within her mind. Her history, the kingdoms' history, the lies, the truths…it all unravelled.
Her eyes glowed blue, and she called over the din, "Tatyana, Ariana, join me!"
Metal groaned and clanked. The cage doors swung open, still swathed in smoke, and Niamh touched her hand to her chest. Never in all her life, had she seen such glory. Was this what her own transformation had been like? No wonder the others had looked so shocked. It was incredible! The blue smoke laced with silver sparkles melted into suspended liquid, before spilling to the ground and vanishing altogether.
The Silver Fates emerged, floating and brilliant in a glowing light. Silver hair, and silver gowns, radiant skin, and glossy faces. Gliding down an invisible staircase, they descended, flashing ice crystals at anyone who stood too close.
"You have returned." They spoke as one.
Face to face, Niamh saw the resemblance of her sisters in their faces, but they were regal and straight out of the kingdom's history.
“Niamh! Look at us!” said Tatyana. Niamh grinned. There was the little sister she knew.
“I feel like we made grievous errors in the past,” said Ariana, her face the picture of concern.
“Yes,” said Tatyana, more subdued. “The past is unfurling in my mind, even now. We have much to heal…”
“I’m so glad you’re safe!” said Niamh. “But we have to stop him."
Ariana and Tatyana took one of Niamh's hands each, and as a trio, they faced the Island Palace.
Tatyana glanced sideways at Niamh and whispered, "One thing at a time, Niamh. You've been well prepared for this moment I see."
Niamh stood amazed, still poised to deal with Lord Gleriledd.
"I have my friends to thank for that."
Tatyana nodded. Then as one, they stepped forward.
"Stand back!" Niamh called over her shoulder to Iilen. He joined Aarin and Caeednce who stood freely at the bridge’s edge. Niamh didn't know what would happen next, but she knew their kingdom and her own life would never be the same again.
They strode forward and lifted their hands. Together they swung their arms down, throwing a tremoring shock across the earth, the bridge, and even the palace. Niamh watched in horror as she initiated a rumble that rocked the bridge. The palace vibrated before her eyes, roof tiles sliding and falling, towers toppling. The bridge groaned and sections of it collapsed into the icy sea.
Lord Gleriledd’s hiding place crumbled around him. Lifting one hand, Niamh moved the wind to lift him, holding him tight with ribbons of air from afar, and flung him in the empty cage. Tatyana and Arian pointed two fingers at the cage. Its door locked shut, and defeat finally came to Lord Gleriledd.
With the flick of her hand, Niamh swept the confetti of weapons into the sea. The reflective glint of metal sank into the icy depths. Guthaecia found peace once more.
"We must guide the people,” said Aryana. “Change is inevitable. History will be re-written with the truth."
Niamh nodded. The throne sat empty. They strode forward, passing by the hanging cage. Gleriledd rocked it and yelled with spewing rage through its bars.
Behind them, a cheer rose up. Clouds of dust mingled with shouts of gratitude. Niamh and her sisters looked back across the crumbling bridge to see thousands of faces, smiling with arms raised. With the danger over, the people had returned! The cheer sounded like heavy rain, and Niamh felt the love of it to the bottom of her soul. For the first time in one thousand years, the three Fates led Gutheacia.
CHAPTER 20
Six ships fled north with their sails shrinking in the distance. Niamh squeezed Ariana and Tatyana’s hands. A shiver ran up Niamh’s arms and she sucked in a breath.
“But I was bruised,” said Niamh, running a hand along her arm.
“Your power grows,” said Tatyana and Ariana, in unison.
“But my injuries, even the blue marks…they’re fading,” said Niamh as she spun. Dust fell away and her grazed elbows healed.
“Am I doing this?” said Niamh.
“Yes, Niamh,” said Tatyana.
“I wonder…” said Niamh, reaching her hands out, surveying the destruction around her. The Royal Bridge bore gaping cracks, and the Island Palace lay in crumbled ruins. Reassured by the calm beating of her heart, Niamh began. Bending her knees, Niamh wove her hands in a new motion, in a way she’d never done before. Light blossomed from her and she lifted into the air, floating above her sisters. Heat radiated from her heart and she sent her goodwill to the bridge, the palace, and the people. By a strength she didn’t know she had, Niamh lifted boulders back into place and rejoined broken stones from afar. Roof tiles flew through the air, resettling in place on instantly rebuilt walls. Smiling, Niamh let go. Freedom at last! Power rushed from her, and she flung ribbons of sparkling light, letting its radiance cascade over the Island Palace. Gliding down, Niamh grinned at Aarin, Caeednce, and Iilen.
“I didn’t think that was possible!” said Aarin.
“I did,” said Caeednce.
“I should have listened to the old tales more,” said Iilen, abandoning his jacket. Without it, he bore no markings of Lord Gleriledd anymore. Aarin hugged his friend tight, then laughed.
Niamh glanced over the restored palace. Its structure had been completely reformed, and its finishes were sculpted in white and gold. But as she crossed the bridge, repaired and safe, she was happiest with the flowering arch that grew over the bridge, its vines hanging like a beautiful colored canopy.
The crowds split and Niamh led Tatyana and Ariana, with Aarin, Caeednce, and Iilen following behind. Men cheered, women wiped away tears, children danced. And all the while, yellow rose petals swirled in the winter air around them.
“Let’s go home,” said Niamh.
When Aarin closed the door behind them, Iilen immediately set to work building a fire. Niamh wept as she pulled her sisters close. They were home. Together at last.
“Did you know?” said Niamh, between sobs.
“No.” Tatyana leant back and cocked her head. “But now the histories have been revealed to us once more, surely your own mind holds the answer to that.”
“You mean,” said Niamh, “that the arts of the Silver Fates are more easily disguised than Gold?”
“Exactly,” said Tatyana, squeezing Niamh tight.
“We probably shouldn’t be calling the old arts ‘old’ anymore,” said Iilen.
“Even with our histories revealed to us, by the breaking of these,” said Niamh, as she lifted her decrepit bracelet, “there are some questions I don’t have answers to yet.”
“Aunty isn’t the enemy, Niamh,” said Ariana, grimacing at the dust on the fireplace’s mantel.
Aarin and Iilen muttered something about the kitchen and left the room. Niamh looked longingly at her favorite sofa but felt compelled to stand.
“No amount of historical information can make me understand how the woman who professed to love me and raise me,” said Niamh, “could lie to me about this.”
Niamh lifted her skirts. More flowers dropped across the hearth rug.
Ariana creased her eyebrows and said, “You’re going to need to do something about all those flowers.”
“The knowledge of our histories and powers grows in me by the minute, but I haven’t had a spare second to consider any of it,” said Niamh. “And it’s not my fault I knew nothing until I transformed.”
Niamh fumed, gripping her hands so tight her knuckles turned white.
“You are right to be angry, Niamh.”
Niamh spun at the familiar voice.
“Aunty!”
Niamh blushed, caught by surprise. Ca
eednce blinked, then joined Aarin and Iilen in the kitchen. Aunty watched her leave, staring at her blue hair, as she leaned heavily on her walking stick.
“You learned more on your journey than I expected,” said Aunty.
“You expected me to blindly take my vows. You tried to prevent me from becoming the Golden Fate!”
“But to meet the royal midwife’s daughter,” said Aunty. “That is a remarkable coincidence.”
Niamh sunk into the sofa and leaned forward, elbows to knees.
“But Aunty, you lied to me. So many secrets, so many lies. At every turn, I knew less than my peers. How can I be their leader now?”
“Niamh-“
“No! You didn’t even tell me your name!” said Niamh, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I didn’t question your reasons for insisting I become a priestess. I never questioned your simplistic story about where you found us.” Niamh stared at the crackling fire. “I couldn’t answer any questions without feeling lost, Aunty.”
“My name is Aranza,” said Aunty. “But when you and your sisters were small, you found that too tricky to say, so we left it.”
“We’re long past baby-talk, Aranza,” said Niamh, standing to her full height.
The old woman drooped her shoulders.
“I can’t feel sorry for you now,” said Niamh, letting her blue markings flash. “I need answers.”
The fire snuffed out, leaving only a small tendril of smoke curling out of the fireplace.
Aranza took a breath, and said, “Niamh. Your mother was dying. And the Silver Fates’ plan had failed. The royal baby lived, but only for a few hours. Just long enough to give the High King false hope. “
“So Caeednce was right,” said Niamh. “The heir did die.”
“There aren’t many secrets one can hide from a midwife,” said Aranza.
“But it’s more than that,” said Tatyana. “We took the form of babies, to start again.”
“We knew we had failed, Niamh,” said Ariana. “The royal line had ended, and Lords and outsiders circled our kingdom. We were afraid.”
“So you hid?” said Niamh.
“The old arts used to be respected. But the people became doubtful…” said Tatyana.
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing,” said Niamh. “Is this why you tried to prevent my transformation?”
Her hair glowed and though there was no wind in the room, it moved as though windswept.
“You were just waiting for Gutheacia to fall to our enemies?”
“I had helped a disgraced priestess,” said Aranza, “and agreed to take on her child. Your mother gave you the silver bracelet, and I thought nothing of it.”
Tatyana and Ariana moved closer together.
Aranza said, “Until our plan to hide the Silver Fates revealed that their memories would be hidden in silver bracelets…”
“But they’re all silver, and if your story is true, shouldn’t my bracelet be gold?”
“I wasn’t sure what your power would be, Niamh.”
“The old stories will return to you,” said Tatyana.
Niamh narrowed her eyes at her little sisters. Their powers were returning, as did her own. But were they for Gutheacia? Or against it?
“Please don’t look at us like that Niamh,” said Ariana. “We aren’t the same as we were. Our previous lives are like someone else’s memories to us now.”
“Yes, we are truly made new,” said Tatyana. “And this time, we will not fail at guiding the kingdom. We have the guidance of the Golden Fate. We’ll be guided by you, Niamh.”
Niamh wished the room wasn’t so small. Her chest felt tight, and she longed to fling herself into the wind and open sky. Anything to get away from these women, her family…their lies!
“No!”
Niamh stared at each of them in turn. Aranza blanched.
“Me and my friends, we talked about Gutheacia and its problems,” said Niamh. “I will not be making any decisions right now, and certainly not in collaboration with any of you. I have been given power. But I was deprived of an education. And one thing I learnt in my travels: I am not alone, and I don’t have to figure this out on my own.”
Niamh marched into the kitchen and found Aarin, Caeednce, and Iilen standing awkwardly there.
“Aarin,” said Niamh, “I will need your help. We will set up a council, and we will find the kindest Gutheacian’s with the best ideas. And Caeednce, I want to convert the Island Palace into a library and a place of learning.”
“Sounds amazing,” said Caeednce breaking into a full smile.
“Iilen-“
“Pardon me.” A new voice interrupted. “The Lords of the Court are asking for the Golden Fate.”
Niamh strode past the guard, glaring at his presence in her home, and led him back out into the street. A small group of over-dressed men hovered by the doorway.
“We, uh,” stammered one.
“Consider your court disbanded,” said Niamh. “Decisions about Gutheacia will not be rushed. Tomorrow we will begin our work.”
They turned away, looking very confused.
Niamh returned inside. Aarin and Iilen were speaking quietly to each other away from the others. Aranza had taken a seat. Tears streamed down her face.
“Aunty,” said Niamh. “Aranza.”
“I’m so sorry Niamh, I didn’t know. I didn’t know. I was afraid. But it’s true, I did everything I could to stop you becoming this. Your mother was so afraid. But I was wrong. Please, please forgive me!” Aranza broke into a sob, and Niamh looked down at the old woman.
All eyes were on Niamh, and she felt the scrutiny of each one. Niamh wondered what she should do. She wasn’t powerless and without knowledge, not anymore. She was the most powerful person in all of Gutheacia. And Aranza was a weak old woman.
“I never knew what an honor it would be to be in the presence of the Golden Fate,” said Aranza, chastened.
“You’ve caused me so much trouble, Aranza,” said Niamh. “And I cannot ignore that. But when I make decisions tomorrow, I will remember the kindness you showed me,” Niamh looked around their tiny home, “as you raised me here.”
“Niamh.”
“Niamh.”
Aarin and Iilen ventured to interrupt. Niamh felt flustered. So much new information flooded her mind from her transformation, and her whole upbringing had been turned on its head by Aranza’s confessions.
“We must return home,” said Aarin.
“As soon as possible,” added Iilen.
Niamh nodded, her mind racing.
“I understand,” said Niamh. “I do. But I wish I could keep you with me.”
Aarin rested a hand on Niamh’s shoulder.
“If you need us Niamh, we’ll answer.”
“And don’t forget,” said Iilen, “you promised to return to Oplijah.”
Niamh’s eyes filled with tears. Reaching out, she grasped Aarin and Iilen’s hands.
“On the summer solstice, I will meet you there.”
Caeednce cleared her throat.
“Jomen will be remembered then,” said Caeednce. “But tonight is also for remembering. Niamh, tomorrow you can begin rebuilding Gutheacia, and Aarin and Iilen will return home. But we have had many adventures, and it will do us all good to rest, eat, and share our stories with your sisters.”
Niamh squared her shoulders, but she hesitated.
“I don’t know what to do about Aunty, I mean, Aranza.”
Caeednce’s eyes softened.
“As with everything, don’t rush, and you will find the answer within yourself.”
Niamh took another breath and said, “Hey, I’ve stopped dropping flowers!”
“See, you’re mastering yourself already,” said Caeednce.
Aranza, Ariana, and Tatyana watched Niamh, waiting for her decision.
“The bonds of trust are difficult to mend,” said Niamh. “I’m not sure it’s even possible. You cannot stay here, Aranza. You’re deceit, it’s too much.”
“What will you do?” Aranza looked on the Golden Fate with fear in her eyes.
“Tonight, I will eat and rest with my friends. And tomorrow you will pack your things. Now please, though I am unwilling to throw you out into the cold night, I don’t want your company.”
Aranza’s eyes shifted, and she left the room.
Niamh hugged her little sisters close, and Aarin and Iilen sunk into cushions before the roaring fire. Caeednce caught Niamh’s eye and smiled. Though the icy wind howled outside, warmth filled the room and their hearts. Her sisters were safe. Staring into the crackling fire and enjoying the retelling of their adventure, Niamh smiled at a thought- that she’d never have to search for a hiding spot to practice the old-arts ever again.
THE END.
About The Author
Katie Macey
YA/kids writer, reader, INFJ & creative freelance writer
https://katiermacey.wixsite.com/website
