“Hi,” she crouched in front of the little girl, “You’re going to be okay. Run to the wagons and wait there for your mommy, can you do that?”
The little girl nodded yes, wiping her eyes. Kaylin urged her to run off with a gentle push and the little girl broke into a run. Two men spun, spotting the little girl in her run.
“Get her!” a man yelled.
Kaylin walked out of the darkness with her wings folded behind her.
“She’s just a little girl, not worth your time, unless your cock is little?” she said wiggling her pinky at the men, who were about to pursue the little girl.
“Where’d you come from, girl?” a man asked.
“She’s old,” Kaylin said pointing at the woman on the ground, “Wouldn’t you like a young lady, like me?”
One of the men walked forward, carrying a torch and a sword.
“Come out here, girl, and maybe we won’t kill the lot of ya! Just take our turn with ya, but we’ll let ya live.” The other men started to laugh, “We’ll even leave the little one alone, if ya treat us, right?”
“Oh, I’ll treat you right.” Kaylin said.
“Get around her, boys.”
Two men rushed to Kaylin, they had no fear of her and had no weapons drawn. They attempted to grab her, but Kaylin spun in place extending her wings, flinging the two men with such force, they smacked against trees and were crushed to death under their own weight. Kaylin took flight and in a blink of an eye, flew into the two men beating the father, sending them both into the group of men around the mother, who were either trying to rape her, or were watching. The woman saw her opportunity and sprung to her feet, running back to the wagons. Kaylin helped the beaten man to his feet.
“Get in your wagons and don’t look back.”
“Thank you,” the man said through labored breaths, then spit blood, “You’re an angel.”
“I am, a Vordalyn angel,” Kaylin said, “Tell everyone, a Vordalyn angel saved your life tonight.”
The man nodded, his eyes widened in fear of the horned, black-eyed savior, just as much as he feared the men ready to kill him then rape his wife and child. Kaylin could see his fear of her, it made her angry. Anger she turned on the bandits. The man fled to the wagons.
“Stop them!” a bandit yelled, only eight of them remained standing.
“I think you are going to need help?” Kaylin asked walking between the wagons that started to make their way down the road, away from her and the bandits.
“You’re going to pay for that, bitch!”
Kaylin extended her wings out and crouched.
“Come, collect!”
Two men had crossbows and were nocking bolts in them while another man rushed Kaylin with his longsword. He swung several times at her, each one she easily dodged. She was amazed at how fast she was compared to the men. She felt superhuman. It empowered her and exhilarated her at the same time. She used her wings as a shield, the sword had no effect against them and bounced away harmlessly. Another man joined the attack with his blade. Kaylin spun as the two men struck repeatedly, sparking off her wings, like they were hitting stone. She tucked her wings behind her and lurched forward, stabbing her open hand, like a knife into one man’s ribs. She could feel her fingers penetrate between the bones and touch his organs. Kaylin curled her fingers and grabbed his rib cage, then yanked, exploding her hand back out, tearing him open with the recoiling of her closed fist. He screamed and dropped his sword, falling to the ground. Kaylin whipped her wings, one caught the falling sword and deflected it back, driving through one of the men trying to notch a bolt in his crossbow. The remaining six men surrounded Kaylin; swords drawn.
“She’s one of them Kina!” A man yelled, they could all see her wings, “Kill It!”
There was a fury of blades swinging at Kaylin, at first, she felt fear, but then, with each blade she narrowly escaped, sidestepping faster than the swings of the swords, her confidence grew. She could fight! She didn’t need a weapon, she was a weapon, just as Kalla taught her. It was a fast three minutes of flashing blades and a fury of feathers and fists. She killed every man. Every single bandit was dead by her hands. She stood alone on the road barely breaking a sweat, looking down at her bloody hands, amazed at her skill in battle. Kaylin looked around at each man. Not so long ago, men of that type would have had their way with her. Fear would have had her a quivering mess, no better than that child she sent to the wagons.
“How did it feel?”
Kaylin looked up from her bloody hands at Kalla a few feet away from her on the road among the dead bandits.
“I don’t know.” Kaylin answered, standing up from her crouched fighting stance.
“You killed twelve men. Armed men.” Kalla declared, “You should have killed the others, but I see Ashavera’s influence is generational.”
“What does that mean?”
“Venalina’s mother, her influence.”
“Venalina’s mother? What has she to do with this?”
“Mercy.” Kalla said, “You are merciful, because your sister is merciful.”
Kaylin pondered Kalla’s words a moment.
“I know when to be deadly, Venalina taught me that too.”
“Did she?” Kalla asked, raising her eyebrows.
Kaylin looked around at all the dead men, she relaxed her posture. Her wings ruffled, then folded behind her.
“I guess you taught me how to do this.” She said looking at the dead men.
“You are a worthy student, Kaylin,” Kalla said, “A worthy daughter,” She stepped closer to Kaylin, “You are a warrior. A true Vordalyn warrior. I want you to help me usher in a new generation of warriors. Help me train them, be my right hand?”
“Me?”
“Yes!” Kalla stepped even closer to Kaylin and grabbed her cheeks, “You are a worthy daughter! You have made me proud; I’ve secured your training with me alone, Venalina approved it!”
“I can’t learn magic?” Kaylin stepped away from Kalla.
“You know enough, I can teach you everything you need to know, I can teach you to combine your magic and body as a weapon!” Kalla pled her case, “Diama can only teach you magic, I can teach you so much more, how to wield your body! You are gifted, Kaylin, we have always had two classes, the scholars, and the warriors. You are a natural warrior. Tell me you did not enjoy what you did here!”
“I did.” Kaylin looked around reliving every moment.
“The world is savage and brutal, these creatures’ prey on their own, imagine what hostility they have toward others?” Kalla looked at Kaylin and asked, “Should they be eradicated?”
Kaylin looked down pondering the question for a long time.
“No.” she finally said.
“And why not?”
“Should the birds be eradicated for their animal instinct, even bugs for that matter, life is cruel and hostile, but it is still life? Is it not?”
Kalla smiled proudly.
“Come, child, let’s find your sister.”
Saida and the two Vordalyn with her, landed on the road. They looked around tentatively.
“What’s going on?” Saida asked.
Kaylin suddenly dropped to her knees, Kalla joined her, grabbing her shoulders to keep her from falling completely over, then helped her stand.
“You’re hungry, we need to get back.” Kalla said concerned.
“Kaylin?” Saida said grabbing her sister and hugging her, “What happened to you?”
“Let us return home, quickly!” Kalla commanded.
“I’m fine!” Kaylin shook away from Saida’s embrace.
Kalla was proud Kaylin shook away the weakness. Saida stood dumbfounded, shocked to see her sister’s arms covered in blood all the way up to her elbows.
“Let’s get back.” Kalla said.
They flew back to Taranath, Kalla flew very close to Kaylin, giving her aid to keep her wits about her, and to keep her afloat. Kaylin and Saida both reunited with Venalina and
Talila, immediately the other two could see Kaylin needed to feed.
“What happened to her?” Venalina rushed to Kaylin grabbing her arms and getting blood on her hands.
“It was training.” Kalla said
Venalina tasted the blood on her hands.
“Human?”
Kaylin rushed to Venalina and latched on to her neck, feeding ravenously. Venalina’s eyes rolled back in her head. Saida and Talila caught her, with Kaylin on her neck, gently taking the two of them to the ground. Then they too joined in the feeding. Kalla watched a moment and smiled.
“I’ll give you some time, your highness’s.”
Chapter Thirteen
Glyna stared at Queen Menina for an uncomfortably long time. Queen Menina could feel her eyes on her, since early in the day. She knew Glyna could see a difference in her appearance, but she said nothing, just continued to stare at her in disapproval. Not once did Glyna look at Tamina, who also looked different, Glyna didn’t care about Tamina. Queen Menina sat on her throne with her two advisors on either side of her, conducting the business of the realm. Only Tamina spoke or offered any suggestions on the topics brought before Queen Menina. Glyna did not offer a single thought or suggestion, just stared at Queen Menina, expressionless.
A court attendant approached the throne from the side.
“The emissary and his envoy from the city of Qinkas have arrived,” he whispered up to Tamina.
Queen Menina could hear him. She glanced at Tamina then straightened her posture. It wasn’t long before the emissary was brought to the head of the line, at the very front of all those waiting for an audience with the queen.
“May I present Lord Castien Preswynn, Emissary of Queen Jenzenya, representative of the lands of Sumia and High-lord of Qinkas.” A herald announced.
Lord Preswynn was escorted by quite the entourage, it was clear he was a man of means and influence, unlike the other representatives Prince Renic met with up until then. When he reached twenty feet from the throne, Lord Preswynn bowed low, as did everyone that accompanied him. They remained that way until Queen Menina gave leave for them to rise.
“You honor us with your visit, Lord Preswynn, you are the most decorated representative to visit us thus far. Until now, I was given to understand that only the representatives of the merchant’s guild would ever grace our presence. Tell us, how fares your Queen Jenzenya, little of your court, or her wellbeing is ever mentioned in our negotiations with your trade delegates?”
“She is well, your grace, and she sends her deepest and most heartfelt apologies that she could not come on her own behalf. But as you well know, the kingdom will not run itself.” Lord Preswynn said after standing straight again.
“We understand this.” Queen Menina answered, her heart was in her throat, watching him and his people closely for any spark of recognition that she was a Kina. So far, they acted normal, “To what do we owe this auspicious visit?”
“I fear that we have yet to apologize formally, to your highness, for the events surrounding your brothers ill-fated return. As you know, we hosted Lord Dracon when he made his way to our lands. We did so with the hope that relations with Ganlin could become possible and that an alliance could be forged between our two great kingdoms. Alas, from what we are told, informally, of course, was that he was given to a sickness of the mind by way of the Kina at his side.”
“You are familiar with this creature?” Queen Menina asked, Lord Preswynn nodded his assent, “It is truly unfortunate that you were unable to warn him of the dangers involved with such a creature.”
“Oh, but we did, your grace!” Lord Preswynn’s face changed, “Every effort was made to enlighten him of the dangers involved with his coupling with such a creature. Still, Lord Dracon championed her and her kind. With his victory over Terrax, then his demolition of the Priests of O’on, we accepted his wishes. However reckless, he was not blind to the dangers. We merely did not defy his wishes.”
“Of course, we do not blame you, Lord Preswynn, or Queen Jenzenya, we knew our brother, and he was headstrong. He was merciful to a fault, from what I saw of this Venalina, she was a true beauty, another fault in my brother’s eye.” Queen Menina smiled as the crowd of lords and ladies chuckled. “Think no more on the matter, good relations with Sumia is all I desire, if you forged an alliance with my brother, I would honor it. In loving memory of the goodness that once filled him, before evil took his soul.”
Lord Preswynn bowed again.
“We thank you, your grace,” Lord Preswynn said, “My queen, bids me to come and personally give our condolences, she would not allow such a task be given to a herald. Your brother spoke of you often and your abilities to rule, he mentioned that you were more suited to it than he. I offer this, only as a reminder that he was still in possession of his senses when we knew him last. It is no consolation, but he did love his family here in Ganlin, and was desperate to return to you, before…”
“Thank you, Lord Preswynn, it does my heart well to know that you knew the same Dracon I knew in my youth.” Queen Menina smiled at him warmly, “Prince Renic will negotiate on my behalf any treaty or alliance we may forge, going forward. He will accompany you, in good faith, to meet your queen as you have come here to meet me. He will hear from her own mouth how we can be of assistance and what was promised to her by my brother.”
“Thank you, your grace.” Lord Preswynn bowed.
“Stay in our city, see our lands, to your fill. When you are ready to leave, return to us. Until that time, you will be a guest of the crown and honored as such.” Queen Menina waved her hand at an attendant who rushed to Lord Preswynn’s side as an escort.
“Another matter, your grace, one of a more personal nature, if I may?” Lord Preswynn queried.
“Please, go on.” Queen Menina motioned for him to continue.
“My daughters accompanied Lord Dracon, to serve as ladies by her highness’s… uh, to serve Lord Dracon’s wife to be, the Venalina… creature. I wonder, is it known… what has become of them?” Lord Preswynn asked.
“They still live, Lord Preswynn.” Queen Menina answered, she could see him visibly breathe a sigh of relief.
“If there is a ransom of some sort, I would gladly pay it, they were only with him to curry favor with Lord Dracon. Any part they may have had in what followed, I can’t imagine was anything but forced?” Lord Preswynn rushed to say.
“I do not have your daughters; they are not in my dungeons. They escaped, I can only imagine they escaped alongside Dracon, and your daughter, Talila, was that her name?” Queen Menina asked.
She instantly remembered the face of that girl setting her guards ablaze, then captain Velen, her words echoed in Queen Menina’s ears, Fieda!
“Yes, she is my daughter,” He said, “Though she was rather dimwitted, more of a beauty than any other attribute. Childlike of the mind, however. But she is truly a rare flower in her beauty.”
Queen Menina could hardly believe that he loved his daughters so much. After all, he willingly sent them with a Kina, a dreaded, and hated Kina. How much love could he truly have for them? She wondered why he was really asking after his daughters, possibly at the behest of his wife, if he had one?
“I feel for you, Lord Preswynn, but we have seen no sign of any of them since that day. Let me assure you, if they were here, I would quickly return them to you. But, alas, they are not.” She said, “They are with him, and her.”
“Her?” He asked, “You mean to say, Venalina lives?”
Queen Menina cocked her head and looked at Tamina.
“We believe she may have returned to Taranath, a once great city to the Kina.” Tamina informed him.
“Taranath?” Lord Preswynn panicked, “This is horrible news. I must leave at once!”
“Explain!” Queen Menina said standing up quickly.
“An expedition has been on the doorstep of Taranath… for months! We have people there, the villages around Cold lake are in danger!” Lord Preswynn and
his group were agitated, the men behind him murmured amongst themselves.
“She doesn’t want you.” Tamina laughed out.
“Silence!” Queen Menina hissed.
“We heard that Venalina was dead, and Dracon fled your lands, we did not know that she lived, or that she returned to Sumia!” Lord Preswynn said, “What does she want, if not to exact revenge upon we who tormented her kind? We hunted the Kina to near extinction!”
“Calm yourself, Lord Preswynn, you can’t very well turn right around and runoff now, you said so yourself, you’ve been there for months. If she is there, would she have acted by now?” Queen Menina offered.
“I suppose your grace is correct, maybe she did not go there, or maybe she still looks upon my queen with affection…” he finished in a low whisper to himself.
“What was that?” Queen Menina asked.
“Nothing, your grace, pondering aloud is all.” Lord Preswynn answered, “In any case, I am eager to return, we will wait a day, or two, for supplies and fresh horses, then I must return home to inform Queen Jenzenya of this most distressing news.”
“We may well be wrong about the whereabouts of Venalina and the Vordalyn, we did not follow them, it is only an assumption.” Queen Menina offered.
“What did you hear about the events that occurred here?” Glyna asked, flittering off the ground a few feet to ask her question.
Lord Preswynn looked at the wood nymph in shock, surprised to see such a creature by the queen’s side, he did not notice what she was, until she flittered up.
“Magnificent,” Lord Preswynn muttered, “Uh, we, we were told Venalina died in the battle, that Dracon was defeated and fled from execution. Rumors of the Kina, a great monster army, we’d even heard that he was the son of Terrax.” Lord Preswynn chuckled at that.
Dracon and the Edge of the World Page 27
