by A. J. Medina
He made me ignore her. He made me leave her waiting on the balcony that night. King Remi cost me her love. The love I’d finally worked up the courage to pursue after so many years.
“We are not his servants!” Lucah heard Silas shout to the trainees.
The trainees lifted their training swords into the air and cheered in agreement.
“Now I leave you in the hands of your instructor, Captain Lucah.”
Lucah lifted the blue vial to his mouth and bit down on the cork. Pulling it free with his teeth, he spit it out and drank the potion. Lucah aimed his hand down and soared through the air, landing right in the center of all the trainees. His fury roared to the surface.
“Defend yourselves!” Lucah shouted to the trainees, and then unleashed his rage upon them.
Alora and the
Three Kingdoms
Book 3
A.J. Medina
Chapter 1
All she could think about was revenge...
Hating to fly, and unable to find a faster way across the river into Ly’vera, Ursala took the long way around to the drawbridge. When she reached it, the water appeared much calmer than she thought it would be and she decided to take her chances. Two guards were posted on the other side of the drawbridge, the Ly’vera side, and if she tried crossing in her human form, they might refuse to let her pass. At the very least they would stop and question her, and she didn’t want to tell them anything.
Ursala leapt into the water and doggie paddled across. The water was much colder than she had thought and the current was much stronger than it appeared. Her paws were furiously pulling and kicking while she held her nose high in the air, trying not to inhale any of the water.
She cursed Alora for making her go through this, but nothing... nothing would keep her from getting her revenge.
After a grueling swim, she finally reached the other side. Crawling out of the water she shook herself dry, or at least as dry as she could. She glanced back at the drawbridge guards, neither of them had moved from their post.
Success. Onward towards the castle.
After traveling to the castle city in her wolf form, Ursala drank her potion and turned back into a human. Next, she unwrapped her cold and wet shirt from around her neck and tossed it on.
Two more guards were posted at the gate entrance to the bridge that led up to the castle and when they noticed her approaching, one guard shouted, “Who goes there?”
“I am here to see Queen Rosaleen,” she answered.
“It is late. What business would someone like you have with the queen?”
Ursala looked down at her tattered shirt and her dirt covered legs and feet. “I am a queen. I must see her now.”
“A queen? What is your name?” the guard asked.
“I cannot tell you. If I do, you will lose your ability to hear.”
“Nonsense. And a queen?” the other guard asked. “You are a peasant. Be gone before I run you through with my sword.”
Ursala stepped forward and when she did, the guards drew their swords.
She stopped and tried to reason with them. “The queen will want to see me. When she finds out how I have been treated, she will be furious.”
The guards looked at each other and then they moved closer to one another. They whispered so Ursala couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they were obviously trying to figure out what to do.
Finally one of them spoke. “If what you say is true, then forgive us, but you must see it from our point of view.”
“I understand, but I must see the queen.”
“Then return again in the morning. We will not be disturbing the queen at this late hour.”
Ursala huffed. “Very well.”
She turned and trotted off back towards the woods and out of their sight. She lifted the second vial that hung from her necklace—drank it, and even though she hated it, took to the sky. She was now one of those birds that tweeted all the time, and so loudly. One of those colorful birds she hated so much.
Her wings carried her high over the bridge and over the castle city walls. She scanned the city for the palace, almost forgetting what it looked like and where it was—it had been so long since she had been there.
Just as she was going to descend and land on top of one of the palace’s turrets, she saw them. The two of them were standing at the edge of the turret. Water rose up to the edge and they stepped off and onto the wave right before it jutted forward and carried them off.
Ursala turned west and followed them at a safe distance. She would see where Alora and the other girl were off to and then report it to Queen Rosaleen.
And where were they going at such a late hour, she wondered. And why the secret escape? If Alora was betraying her king, it would make this even easier.
Ursala wanted her revenge for the murder of her husband, Draycko, the dragon wizard. And she would make sure it was received.
The wave that Alora and her female companion rode on moved at such great speed that Ursala was having a hard time keeping up with them. The falcon they were following was definitely no stranger to this type of travel, but Ursala was. She rarely took the form of a bird and only did so if it was absolutely necessary.
She fought to keep up. It was such a struggle. Her muscles burned as she flapped her wings. It felt as if acid flowed through her veins instead of blood, but she willed herself forward. For Draycko. For revenge. Just when she thought she was going to lose them, the two girls washed onto land.
How far had they traveled? Where exactly were they?
All Ursala knew was that they must’ve traveled very far from the castle city. Flying made it seem like such a short distance, Draycko used to tell her that, but she knew on foot, it would’ve been days.
Ursala landed and perched herself on a branch high out of anyone’s view. She watched and studied the girls as they walked deeper into the woods towards the castle.
This castle was further in from the water and had high walls surrounding it. It also had a moat and a drawbridge at its entrance. It was so much smaller than King Remi’s castle city.
“Where do we go from here?” the other girl asked Alora.
“I’m not sure,” Alora answered.
“I’m afraid,” the other girl said.
“We don’t need to be. Silas rules here.”
“Aye, but what if we’re seen as intruders. You are King Remi’s wizard.”
Alora studied the castle and didn’t know where to go. “Let’s walk around to the back,” she said.
After deciding not to go up to the main gate, the girls stayed close to the tree line and made their way to the rear of the castle. Ursala watched as the water from the moat rose and took them up to the turret their guiding falcon had landed on earlier.
After waiting for what felt like hours, but was really minutes, Alora lit up the night with fire causing screams from within the castle walls.
Was Alora killing those in the castle? Is that what King Remi sent her to do? Perhaps Alora wasn’t running away. Sadness filled Ursala’s heart since she thought she had a secret she could bargain with.
Ursala had rested her wings long enough. She took to the night sky again to get a better view of what was happening.
From high above, she witnessed Alora sending streams of fire down towards the people below. Citizens screamed and ran for cover until one boy emerged and extinguished the flames.
Alora held her arms out to her sides and held them there. Flames shot up into the sky from her upturned palms.
Ursala remembered how Alora had burned her pack. Cooked them all. The anger swelled inside of her.
“Revenge,” Ursala whispered.
She circled around the city again, now that all the fire and screaming had stopped, waiting to see what would happen next. Alora and the other girl stood on a turret waiting for something or someone.
The boy that had extinguished the flames in the city below appeared on the turret. He rushed over and embraced Alora
. He pulled her to him and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was one of passion—one of love.
When they pulled apart, they began to speak. Ursala couldn’t hear them and she had to know what they were saying. She swooped down and landed on the perch right next to the other falcon that had led them to this boy.
“I’m glad you came,” the boy said.
“I had to,” Alora replied.
“Couldn’t stay away from me?”
Alora rolled her eyes and pushed his shoulder.
That caused the boy to pull her in tightly and he kissed her once more. This time, when they pulled apart their faces, Alora gestured towards her companion.
“I had to save Neala.”
The boy waved the girl over.
“Neala, I’m happy to see you,” the boy said.
The girl, this Neala, she walked over to him with her hood still on and shielded much of her face from view.
“Hello, Silas,” Neala said.
He released his embrace of Alora and raised his arms to hug Neala, but she raised her hand to stop him and stepped back.
“I’m sorry,” Silas said.
“Nay,” Neala answered. “I am the one that is sorry.”
Neala turned to Alora and Alora nodded.
After returning her nod, Neala grabbed her hood with both hands and slid it down. It was dark so Ursala had a hard time seeing her face, but then Alora held up her hand and provided enough light for her to see.
Ursala gasped at the sight of her. The wounds were still fresh, just beginning to scab, and they were stitched with black thread. She resembled a doll Ursala once had. A doll her mother made for her when she was a young girl, except the stitches weren’t on the doll’s face. They were used to hold the doll’s limbs to her body.
“What happened?” Silas asked.
Neala didn’t answer so Alora spoke for her.
“The queen did this to her. Punishment for the king fancying her.”
Silas stayed silent, admiring Queen Rosaleen’s handy work.
“I tried to heal her,” Alora continued, “but I couldn’t. Remi was going to kill her. I couldn’t let that happen.”
“So you’ve betrayed your king?” Silas asked.
“I can no longer serve him.”
So she has betrayed Remi, and she has healing powers, Ursala thought. Alora had been blessed with great power so how would Ursala get her revenge? Alora was too powerful a wizard to face off with.
But there is love between Alora and this Silas. Maybe it would be best if Alora felt the same pain Ursala did. The excruciating pain of losing someone you love at someone else’s hand.
“So Silas, are you going to show us around?” Alora asked.
“It’s late, but after that spectacle, most people will be up. Let’s go, I’ll show you around my castle and if you like, it can be your castle too.”
“Are you asking what I think you’re asking?” Alora inquired.
“Aye. Will you marry me?”
Alora looked shocked by his question. Ursala hoped she’d agree to his proposal. Then her revenge would truly be equal. A husband for a husband.
“I... I need to think about it?” Alora said. “I need some time. That’s a big decision.”
“I understand. Marrying me, The Apprentice, and becoming my queen, is a big decision. Take all the time you need.”
Ursala couldn’t believe what she had just heard. This Silas. He was The Apprentice. He looked different than she remembered, but that didn’t matter. What did matter was Alora had betrayed her king after all. This was great news. She had heard enough.
Ursala spread her wings and flew back the way she had came. She would wait until morning like she was asked, but she would make sure she met with Queen Rosaleen. A plan was already taking shape as she flew.
Silas was his name and Alora loved him. She said she could no longer serve King Remi, so she was now a traitor. This information would be something she could use to exact her revenge.
Now with another reason to hate Alora, Ursala soared through the air. “You took my love, Alora. I shall return the favor.”
Patience Ursala, she told herself. Patience.
She waited until the morning just like the guards had instructed. She wrote down her name on a piece of paper so as not to say it herself. She didn’t want her first impression to be one of deafening Rosaleen’s guards.
They sent word to the palace and waited until they were either told to allow her entry or to send her away.
Pacing back and forth, trying to stay warm, she molded and structured her plan in her mind. It was a simple plan. Simple in its execution. She hoped the queen would help her.
The chamber maiden startled her from behind. “Queen Ursala. I am Genevee, the princess’ maiden.”
The girl was very pretty. Knowing how jealous Rosaleen was, Ursala was sure she would have this one executed soon.
Genevee held open a red winter cloak. “Queen Rosaleen awaits you.”
After Genevee buttoned the cloak, she knelt down and slid a pair of shoes onto Ursala’s dirty and cold feet.
After Ursala donned the cloak and shoes provided her by the maiden, she was led up the bridge, through the city, and into the palace.
She absorbed the palace, forgetting how lovely it was to have such accommodations. Her tiny cottage in the forest paled in comparison.
When they reached Queen Rosaleen’s chamber door, Genevee knocked twice.
Queen Rosaleen’s chamber maiden opened the door.
“Queen Ursala is here to see Queen Rosaleen,” Genevee announced.
The queen’s chamber maiden nodded and shifted out of the way while staring at the ground so that Ursala could enter the room.
“I leave you here, Your Majesty,” Genevee said while curtsying.
“Thank you, Genevee,” Ursala said, and then entered Rosaleen’s chambers.
Rosaleen’s chamber maiden shut the door behind them, said, “This way,” and led her past the empty room and towards the washroom.
Inside, the queen waited. She sat on a very comfortable looking chaise next to the bath while another maiden stood in the bath staring down at the water. The maiden held a wash cloth in one hand and a bar of soap in the other.
“My Queen, I present Queen Ursala,” the first chamber maiden announced.
Rosaleen turned at the sound of the girl’s voice. “Ursala, how long has it been?”
“Too long, Rosaleen. Far too long.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but when I heard that you appeared wearing rags and covered in dirt, I prepared a bath for you.” Rosaleen gestured with her hand for Ursala to enter the bath.
“I appreciate the offer, but I need to speak with you in private.”
“Trust me, Ursala. This is private. If any of my maidens repeat anything they hear, it will be the last thing they hear, ever.” Rosaleen looked at her maidens who never made eye contact with her. “Isn’t that right?”
Both maidens answered in unison. “Aye, My Queen.”
Rosaleen waved her hand. “Help her with her clothing,” she told the maiden that had announced Ursala.
The maiden slid Ursala’s winter cloak off her shoulders and Ursala pulled her arms out of the sleeves. Next, she removed her shoes and her tattered shirt and left the washroom.
Rosaleen stared at Ursala’s filthy and exposed body. “Oh my. Ursala how have you survived all this time? This is no way for a queen to live.”
“I’ve adapted. Done what I needed to.”
“I must say, you don’t look like you’ve aged since the last time we’ve met.”
“Neither do you,” Ursala responded.
The maiden in the bath moved over to the steps and helped Ursala in. Because of how dirty Ursala was the maiden made a request. “Please, Your Majesty, submerge yourself so that I can wash your hair.”
She did as she was asked and then sat in the bath while the maiden washed her hair. Rosaleen engaged her in more conversation. She told h
er all about the going ons in the castle city and when she mentioned The Apprentice and how he had been defeated by Alora and the Knightlys, Ursala interrupted her.
“Alora has left the city, Rosaleen.”
Rosaleen sat up and swung her bare feet over the chaise and stood. “What? How do you know this?”
“I came to see you earlier, but was turned away by your guards. Then I...” Ursala looked at the maiden washing her, wondering if she really should speak such things in her presence.
“Then you what?” Rosaleen asked.
“Then I flew towards the palace and saw her and that girl who’s face had been mutilated leave the palace on a wave of water.”
“Neala,” Rosaleen said under her breath.
“What was that?”
“She left with her chamber maiden, Neala.” Rosaleen said. “What else did you see?”
Ursala explained everything right down to the boy she kissed, Silas.
“Silas!” Rosaleen yelled. “The Apprentice.”
By this time the maiden had already asked Ursala to stand and was busy washing her arms. Rosaleen appeared deep in thought and Ursala wondered if it was the right time to ask what she came to ask.
“Why are you here?” Rosaleen asked her.
Ursala searched for the words and could feel the tears building up. “Alora killed Draycko. Did you know that?”
“Nay. She hadn’t told Remi of her journey and now it doesn’t seem like she ever will.”
“After she killed him, I went after her and her group and they killed my pack.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you. But I’m here because I want revenge and I have a plan. Will you help me?”
Rosaleen sat back down and stretched her legs out on her chaise. “Tell me of this plan.”
The queen listened intently as Ursala told her. Ursala’s idea was great, but her execution of the plan was not. So the queen sat and pondered until she came up with the perfect plan.
