“Where?” Queen Menina asked.
Tamina walked down the small embankment to the creek bed, then jumped, easily leaping the fifteen feet over the water to the far side of the creek. It was as if the creek were only a foot wide, how easily she skipped across. Queen Menina refused to walk and teleported, vanishing and reappearing next to Tamina.
“Drink this.” Tamina handed Queen Menina a vial. They took turns drinking from the vial and were no longer invisible.
“If she is like us, she would be able to see us, even so, so why drink the potion now?” The roots along the cliff face started to move, quieting Queen Menina, the dirt and rock that made up the cliff face moved along with it. When it stopped moving it was an open doorway, bordered by roots and rock. Tamina grabbed Queen Menina’s wrist as she started to walk.
“It would be rude to appear like we are trying to hide from her. Aynisa, be warned, do not look her in her eyes. If you are anything less than respectful, she will devour your soul.” Tamina gave Queen Menina a serious look, “If she denies you, then be grateful and leave. Do not press her! We risk much coming here!”
Queen Menina nodded, then both women walked to the newly formed opening in the cliffs face. Once inside, the opening behind them vanished leaving them in an empty expanse. They could see nothing in all direction.
“Tamina Physia,” A voice spoke, booming in their ears, dropping them to their knees. Tamina transformed back to her true nature, violently. They held their hands over their ears and screamed in pain and fear the voice caused in both of them. If Queen Menina was not already in her true form, she would have been forced to transform in the presence of the voice, “I sleep for centuries, sleep for eternity, a second time you have sought me out and disturb my sleep. You were warned.”
The darkness subsided, revealing a cave so immense, no end could be seen. The ground was covered in still waters that reflected a light, slowly growing brighter before them, there on their knees. The pain subsided when the voice no longer spoke. The water bubbled before them, creating a path of the most ornate gold that led to the ever-brightening light ahead of them. Tamina stood first, then assisted her niece.
“I don’t come for myself; I am only a guide.” Tamina shouted toward the light.
Behind them, a loud rush of air approached. Before either of them could turn to look, a golden haired, golden horned woman, with golden wings, snatched Tamina from behind, flying her up and away from Queen Menina. Tamina’s wings struggled for freedom but they remained bent and twisted, awkwardly, trapped by the golden woman.
“My warning came without conditions!” She snarled in Tamina’s ear, then opened her mouth and drained Tamina’s essence without putting her lips to Tamina’s neck. Tamina’s eyes rolled back in her head, her wings struggled feverishly. Moments later, the golden-haired woman landed on the ornate golden path, several feet ahead of Queen Menina. She landed with such force, the ground shook. She held Tamina in her arms sucking the life from her, still. The woman stopped suddenly, then dropped Tamina, letting her fall, unceremoniously to the path, where she bounced into the water with a splash. She held her hand out at Queen Menina who was then violently pulled the short distance between the two women, sliding on her knees until she was within arm’s reach of the golden woman. She grabbed Queen Menina’s chin and turned it side to side, while Queen Menina tried desperately not to look at her. “You look like her.” The golden-haired woman said, still turning Queen Menina’s face side to side, examining her even more closely. Her grip was so strong, Queen Menina felt like a helpless child.
Queen Menina could see Tamina lying face down in the water and burst out crying, she was so scared. Tamina appeared dead, face down in the water. The woman let go of Queen Menina, roughly, shoving her chin away from her, making her fall to her butt on the path. She turned and walked down the golden path several yards. Queen Menina crawled to Tamina’s lifeless body in the water and turned her over. She grabbed Tamina’s cheeks shaking her head, looking for signs of life.
“Tamina!” Queen Menina yelled, still shaking Tamina’s head. Queen Menina vanished, teleported by the golden-haired woman, reappearing on her knees before her. Queen Menina fell forward and prostrated herself before the woman, she recognized she was a Vordalyn, not a Kina. “Don’t kill me!” she begged; she had never felt true fear as she felt for her life just then.
The woman laughed, then whipped her hand and Tamina’s lifeless body appeared on the ground next to Queen Menina. It made her cry even harder.
“Pathetic creature. You call yourself a queen?” The woman asked, “I was once the queen of the whole world, never would I fall to my knees, even if death threatened my life.” She walked over to Queen Menina and grabbed her by the hair on the top of her head, then jerked her head up, pulling her whole body from lying on the ground before her, to her knees, “Get up! Your mother would be disgusted!”
Queen Menina slowly stood, still cowering.
“Who are you?” She stammered asking the question, she dared not fix her hair, fearful it would anger the Vordalyn woman.
“I am Junia, once queen of the Vordalyn. Minister of magic, mentor of a generation of the most powerful age the Vordalyn ever enjoyed! I am the Golden Queen!” She said standing tall and proud, her black eyes were full of intensity, her wings and horns were as golden as her hair. “Why do you wake me? I am at peace, sleeping my years to pass the time. Studying within my own mind, honing my skills in the solitude of the greatest company, my own!”
“I,” Queen Menina started to say then looked at Tamina, “I-”
Before she could speak again, Junia spoke, “Leave my presence, you quivering coward!” She spun away from Queen Menina in her disgust, spreading out her golden wings to shield herself from the pitiful display by the terrified Kina.
Queen Menina straightened up and took a second to think and fix her hair. Her anger was building and burning away her fear. As if she could sense it, Junia spun back to face her, defiantly.
“Have you found your tongue? Maybe your nerve?”
“I came for information. Information only you could give… so I was told.” Queen Menina glanced at Tamina on the floor at her feet.
Junia chuckled, “She should have warned you I’d be famished after sleeping for so long.” Queen Menina started to tear, “Don’t crumble now, spawn of Ayana, you are almost there.”
“I want to know if there’s a way to hide my true nature?” Queen Menina asked.
“You cannot transform?” Junia asked.
“I can, but there are a people, a people who warred with us that can recognize us even in our human…”
“Sumian’s of Qinkas.” Junia said interrupting her, “Are you at war?”
“No, I don’t want them to recognize me. The world is at peace, they don’t know I am a Kina.” Queen Menina explained.
Junia cocked her head at her, then, before Queen Menina knew it, Junia had her in her arms, her lips on Queen Menina’s neck. Pleasure filled her, like a spider’s venom, paralyzing her with such pleasure her body refused to fight back. Her eyes rolled back in her head as her own memories flooded her, reliving her life in a matter of moments. Junia released her, dropping her to the ground. Junia tilted her head back with her hands out and swayed while turning in a circle, humming a tune, “What a delicious tale of woe,” Junia sang to the same tune she was humming, “The princess who would not be denied her Horns of Gold.” Queen Menina lolled her head, her eyelids fluttered on the verge of unconsciousness. “The world has changed, little Aynisa, such a darling name. A queen of elves and humans alike, fairy folk as well. My, my, the world certainly has changed. Your mother did well for herself. But what a sordid affair, turning on your human brother to maintain your grip on your Horns of Gold. Trade with foreign lands? Even the Sumian’s, very ambitious, child of light, who performs the darkest of acts.” Junia smiled looking down at Queen Menina, she raised her hand lifting Queen Menina’s limp body from the floor then slapped her, “Get yourse
lf together, child!”
Queen Menina’s vision returned with her lucidity. Junia dropped Queen Menina once she had her wits about her. She caught herself, using her wings on the golden path to steady herself.
“I see why they betrayed you, you are cruel creatures.” Queen Menina snarled.
Junia burst out a laugh.
“Akin to your own nature! You could have had peace with the Vordalyn, but instead you made war, with a child queen, who could have been your ally. Her mind is soft and full of love for your brother, you had it within your power to truly be at peace, but you chose to try and threaten and dominate her like some peasant girl, then attacked her very life! In doing so, you caused her to unite and call home all the Vordalyn who were spread out and broken, alone. Each, thinking they were the last one. Now, you, have given her purpose! Given birth to a new generation of Vordalyn! You dare judge me to be cruel, I say I am a mirror to your own selfish cruelty. I am not a mirror to your stupidity! For I am not so foolish as to think I could battle a reigning Vordalyn queen.” Queen Menina looked down embarrassed at Junia’s knowledge of her life and what had transpired, “What will you do if I help you? How will it save you when she comes for you? You will not be able to fool her, for any creature before her will immediately show its true nature. It is the power of Vordalyn queens.”
“I will make peace with her.” Queen Menina said.
“With her? Should this, Order of Light, fail? You’ll apologize for sending them? You think she will accept?” Junia asked, there was a moan from Tamina then a whimper.
Queen Menina’s eyes lit up, she turned and was about to kneel.
“Do not show me your back or it will be your last act! She lives, but that can change very quickly!”
Queen Menina stopped cold, then turned back to face Junia.
“You haven’t decided to kill us yet?”
“I’m trying to determine if you are food, or a true queen? You have sacrificed everyone close to you for your Horns of Gold, I find it curious, your care for her. She, who would trade you for the price of ascension?” Junia pondered.
“How do you know so much?” Queen Menina asked.
“I tasted your life, a clear understanding of you and who you are was necessary.” Junia explained.
“Now that my life has been laid bare before you, what is your answer?” Queen Menina asked.
“It is in my power to ascend you.” Junia informed her.
“I don’t want that. I simply ask one thing; I want no one to look upon me and know my true nature.” Queen Menina still averted her eyes from Junia.
Junia smiled and walked slowly to Queen Menina, less than a foot away. Junia looked her over closely.
“That is nobility,” she said and put her hand to Queen Menina’s chin, lifting her face to look at her, “Look upon my face, child, proud child, a rare child, a self-loving Kina. I’ve never met a Kina who did not wish ascension?”
Queen Menina was reluctant to meet the Golden Queens gaze.
“My mother never once wished to be anything more than what she was, I would never dishonor her, or think myself more than her. If I could only be a fraction of what she was, I would die content.”
Junia smiled and nodded her head, pleased with Queen Menina’s words.
“I have no doubt your mother’s breast would swell with pride. Come, child, taste the answers you seek.”
Junia held her hands and wings out, waiting for an embrace from Queen Menina. She tilted her head back exposing her neck. Queen Menina snarled and flew as fast as she could, ready to suck the life out of Junia, with every intention of killing the Golden Queen for exposing her neck to her. Queen Menina expected to snatch Junia up and drive her to the ground, where she would feed to her fill. But, Junia was iron, rooted in place and did not move, didn’t budge at all. Queen Menina would have had an easier time snatching up one of the massive oak trees in the forest outside, than to move Junia, strong and powerful as she was, a strength of eons.
“Feed and learn how to live, Aynisa, proud Kina.” Junia moaned a chuckle of pleasure.
Queen Menina lost her mind feeding on the Golden Queen, becoming a growling feral creature overwhelmed with the power that flowed within the once ruling Vordalyn queen. She clung to her like a cat with a mouse in its jaws. Clinging with all her might, not willing to relinquish her claim over her prize. Her mind left her, Queen Menina was mindless and oblivious to what was around her. Then, she blinked, blinded by the sun in the morning light. She was lying in tall green grass by a creek. She sat up slowly and looked for the root covered cliff, with the lone tree atop it. It was nowhere to be seen. She was in another part of the forest, or the cliff was the one that left the forest, she could not be sure which.
“If you ever seek me out again, Aynisa, it will cost you your mates life. Make sure it is worth your while.” The voice of the Golden Queen whispered in her ear. It made Queen Menina glance around looking for her. Instead, she saw Tamina on the banks of the creek, half in the water.
“Tamina!” she called, no longer speaking her native tongue. She crawled at first but needed to stand to make it to her aunt, she was farther away than a crawl. She was disoriented and didn’t once consider teleporting to her aunt. She stumbled to her, hardly able to make it under her own power, then fell beside her. She grabbed Tamina and pulled her from the water, laying her head in her lap. Queen Menina wiped Tamina’s face and cleaned it with her palm, “What have we done, Tamina?” she asked, pulling her aunt’s head up to her breast, then rocked her like a child.
Tamina let out a long moan, it sounded like her mind was gone and her body was reacting involuntarily. It was sickening to hear and made Queen Menina cry, she was sure Tamina was going to die. She rocked her more and tightened her grip on her. After a while, the moaning stopped and Tamina raised her hand, grabbing Queen Menina’s arms that held her head so tenderly. It made Queen Menina whimper tears of joy her aunt moved on her own. She turned Tamina’s face toward hers looking for signs of life. Tamina’s eye’s opened slowly, then she smiled up at her niece.
“We survived.” She said squeezing Queen Menina’s forearm.
“Barely, Ina, barely.” Queen Menina chuckled, shaking her head at her aunt, “Let’s go home, daylight has already come.”
Tamina did not move.
“Let me lie here a moment more, splash some water on my face, Aynisa.” Queen Menina nodded her assent, then reach her hand into the cold running water of the creek and cupped up some water, pouring it on Tamina’s forehead, most of it disappeared behind her horns into her hair. Queen Menina used her wet palm to cool Tamina’s cheeks. After some time like that, Tamina was able to sit on her own, then made her way to her knees, then sometime later to her unsteady feet. She stretched out her wings and they cracked, the sound was horrific, the bones in her wings straightening up and returning to their original position. It was extremely painful, making her cry out and grab Queen Menina for support, her screams with each pop and crack of her wings, echoed throughout the forest, frightening birds from the trees.
“They’re broken, Ina.” Queen Menina said looking at Tamina’s shivering wings.
“They will heal, now that they are straight again.” She said through labored breaths, “I’m more concerned about what she took from me.”
“What do you mean?” Asked Queen Menina.
“She fed on me. She took something, it might be a little thing, I’ll never remember, it will be as though I never could do it.” Tamina explained, “It was the price I had to pay if I ever woke her again, I imagine she gave you a similar warning?”
“She fed on me too, Ina?” Queen Menina was instantly concerned, “She knew my whole life?”
Tamina touched her hand to Queen Menina’s cheek.
“What was her answer?”
Queen Menina looked down.
“We can never come back here, Ina, it would mean death, more than I am willing to lose.”
“What was her answer?”
> Queen Menina looked at her aunt, then nodded yes. Tamina straightened, proud, then winced and grit her teeth, one of her wings spasmed.
“Let’s go, I need to stretch my wings to help the pain leave me.” Tamina said then flapped her wings tentatively.
They flew high, well beyond the clouds, no longer able to see the earth below. Tamina gave Queen Menina the invisibility potion once again, then spiraled down away from her, plummeting toward the earth. Again, Queen Menina was on her heels, but she steeled her eyes, keeping them open, no tree would need avoiding a second time. As before, the magic sparkled around them, with a pop, and a rush of air, they were once again at the northern border of Ganlin. An hour after that, they landed on the spire, high above Urixis. Tamina drank from the potion and became visible again, then handed it to Queen Menina, who drank it quickly.
“Where have you been?” Glyna’s melodic high-pitched voice asked, fluttering at the top of the stairs.
Queen Menina was shocked to see her, glancing quickly at Tamina whose face reflected the same surprise.
“Go wait for me in my suite!” Queen Menina snapped at her angrily.
Glyna stared from one to the other a moment then flittered away.
“Be cautious, Ayn-”
“I don’t need your help with her, Tamina. Let her be.” Queen Menina snarled at Tamina, then transformed back to her human form. Tamina did the same shortly after.
“From Ina, to Tamina? How fleeting, the love you bear me, my sweet Aynisa?” Tamina wondered aloud. It made Queen Menina scoff.
“I almost lost you today, we are home now. You are my advisor, not my aunt.”
“I will always be your family, regardless the title you reward me with.” Tamina smiled warmly.
Queen Menina started to walk away, then stopped.
“What did she mean, Golden Horns, or Horns of Gold, rather?”
Tamina looked at her curiously.
“Who said that to you? Junia? It is what the Vordalyn call the crown. When one becomes the rightful queen, their horns change. Gold, in some fashion or another.”
Dracon and the Edge of the World Page 16
