Kaylin’s head lurched back, and she was lifted several feet from the ground. Her arms and legs hung limp, her head back and her chest raised up, like she was being lifted with a hook through her sternum. Kaylin’s mouth was open in an inaudible gasp. She could see everything. She could see Talila and Alyndra in the fantasy, playing out in Alyndra’s mind. She could see every Vordalyn squirming on the floor. Then, suddenly, she could see through the eyes of each Vordalyn, hear their thoughts, know their minds. She realized she could also see through the eyes of the Mind Flayer, who watched on with confusion, not comprehending what was happening to her. Talila came into focus, lying on the floor in Taranath, a snarl on her lips. She seemed to be the origin of the confusion and unity of minds, that overwhelmed Kaylin.
“Kaylin!” Talila growled, she put her hands on the floor and crawled to her feet, taking two wobbly steps. Their minds became one.
Kaylin was in a field of daisies; the sun was bright, and the wind blew warm air on her face. She could see Alyndra walking hand in hand with Talila, toward some trees in the distance. She could still see through the eyes of every Vordalyn, could even see through her own eyes, still looking at the Mind Flayer. Talila was by her side and touched her shoulder. Kaylin spun, surprised to see her ahead of her, and yet by her side, at the same time.
“Talila, what’s going on? Are you doing this?” Kaylin cried with joy; she was suddenly filled with the knowledge that Alyndra was with child. She put her hands to her mouth, “But that thing! It’s going to-”
Talila put a finger to Kaylin’s lips.
“No.” She said speaking common tongue, “I am in control. In this confusion of minds, I am not confused, I am going to kill it. Watch me.”
Kaylin dropped to her feet, once again, returning to reality. She marched across the room to the Mind Flayer. She couldn’t hear any other minds except her own, and Talila’s. Kaylin was no longer in control of her body; she was a passenger, Talila was in control. The world was quiet, even her footsteps made no sound, marching toward the Mind Flayer who recoiled from her in fear. He could no longer sense her mind. Kaylin stuck her hand out in a claw, lifting the creature from the ground, immobilizing it. Then, in Talila’s voice, she said one word.
“Fíeda!”
Chapter Nineteen
Venalina was the first to her feet when the telepathic connection was severed. She saw her Vordalyn sisters scattered on the floor around her. Some slowly stirring, sitting on their knees feeling around as if blind, yet others flailed on the ground, trying to put out a fire that did not exist. The last thing any of them saw was Talila marching toward them as they collectively saw through the eyes of the Mind Flayer, who was immolated shortly before the link was broken.
Venalina knelt and helped Kalla to her feet, she was panting heavily and looked at her like she wanted to say something but could not catch her breath.
“Talila…” Saida said from her knees, looking up at her sister, who stood beside her.
Talila was calm, staring off, watching, still seeing through Kaylin’s eyes. Then, she blinked a few times and turned her attention to those around her, and Saida at her feet. Talila didn’t know what to say and made eye contact with Venalina, who stared back at her like she didn’t recognize her. Kalla looked at Talila with fear in her eyes.
“Calm your minds, sisters,” Talila said to the flailing Vordalyn around her, “You are safe, you are home.”
Talila used their telepathic connection to calm every panicked Vordalyn. She didn’t know how she was doing it, just that she could. She understood immediately they were all connected. The Mind Flayer’s assault taught her that, what she discovered on her own, was that she could move from one mind to the other, through that same connection. What else could she do? Only time would tell.
After a long silence among them and when all the Vordalyn had recovered and returned to their feet, Venalina took a step toward Talila. She was about to speak, but another Vordalyn spoke first.
“Mother.” She said and knelt, performing the hand gesture of respect.
The other Vordalyn followed suit, bringing all of them to their knees, heads bowed, except of course, Venalina.
“Mother, mother, mother.” They chanted.
Saida stood next to Talila watching the others for a brief moment, then nudged Talila, who glanced at her and instantly knew what her sisters nudge meant.
“Get up!” Talila said, her voice was like Venalina’s, echoing in minds and ears alike.
They silenced themselves and stopped chanting. They slowly returned to their feet, as they did, Talila walked across the floor to Venalina. When she reached her, she awkwardly performed the gesture of respect, not quite sure if she was doing it right. She fell to her knees and grabbed Venalina’s hand with both of hers, pulling it to her lips and kissing it. She kept Venalina’s hand pressed tightly against her lips and face.
“All that I am, is you, all that I have, is you, all that I love, is you.” Her words made Venalina’s eyes tear with pride and a smile stretched across her lips.
“Rise, my fiery little Chamaeleon.” Venalina whispered and tugged her hand up gently, making Talila look up at her.
“How touching,” a voice spoke high above them, it was Junia, the Golden Queen. Kalla jumped into flight, putting herself between Venalina and the Golden Queen, Diama appeared next to Kalla in the blink of an eye, both ready to defend Venalina. The other Vordalyn took to flight as well, filling the air around Junia. Every one of them ready to fight.
“Stay close to me.” Venalina whispered to Talila, then slowly flew up, her wings beating slow and strong, fearlessly rising above Kalla and Diama, eye level with the Golden Queen.
“You are banished, Junia!” Kalla exclaimed, “Leave here now!”
“Or what?” Junia asked in return, “You’ll kill me?” she looked from Kalla to Venalina, “I suppose that is something you could do, isn’t it? For it is you who don the horns of gold? But you are not going to kill me, are you? You are like your mother. You see the value in each one of us who remain, to dwindle us any further, would be foolish. Besides, aren’t we all banished from this world?” Junia forced a smile.
“Have you come to answer my call, to give the sign, to drop your wings, and kneel?” Venalina asked.
“I have come to see the daughter of Ashavera with my own eyes. Maybe, I could be welcomed home as well?” Junia performed the gesture of respect and bowed her head, not once taking her eyes off Venalina, “No? Then I have also come to ask why you have allowed this to happen to us? Your mate travels the realm of war and death, flirting with it, exposing us to it. Is it your wish to put us in such danger? Risk our entire society, that hangs on a single strand from a spider’s web, held together only by we few who are left? I may be exiled and unloved by my sisters, but we are still connected, every one of us. I am still Vordalyn.” The Golden Queen addressed all the Vordalyn as she spoke, making eye contact with many, who quickly averted their eyes from the once reigning queen.
“There is no danger, it was eliminated, we eliminated it. Quickly and decisively.” Venalina announced, as if two politicians trying to win the crowd, both queens scanned their audience for a reaction to their words.
“Did we?” Junia asked then looked at Talila long enough to make everyone look over at her, “A queen who is not a mother, a mother who is not queen, and now two mothers?” Junia asked, “Maybe four, maybe five, if you ever choose to become a mother yourself?”
“We are a new generation.” Venalina answered, “We will rebuild our world, our society, we will never again be driven from our home, or forced to hide who we are, because of the foolish actions of our elders!”
“It’s an abomination!” Junia snarled, her whole being pulsed with magic, making the Vordalyn uneasy, some even drifted back, further away from her.
Venalina too, pulsed magically, both women prepared for a fight. Venalina’s horns glowed more brightly than the rest of her, even brighter than the Golden Queen, a
brightness that calmed Junia quickly. She no longer pulsed, realizing a fight with Venalina would be her demise.
“You come seeking refuge, or death?” Venalina asked.
“I only come with questions, I’m sure I’m not the only one with them?” Junia scanned the others again, “Never has there been more than one mother, in all our existence it has not occurred once. But you, your sister-mates, are all mothers. Two of you, already with child? Why is your mate not here, by your side? Why is he out there?” Junia pointed off, “Allowed to bring us to danger? Allowed to put a mother in danger, from a creature who meant to absorb her power, a mothers power!” Junia again spoke louder, wanting to make sure every one of them could hear her words, “We all saw it, you all saw it!” Junia pointed an accusing finger at the other Vordalyn, “All you hoped to accomplish was almost extinguished, like that!” Junia snapped her fingers.
Talila floated up, between the two women levitating in the air.
“The power of a mother is absolute, we all know this, in our weakened and depleted state, we have five, is that an abomination? Or a blessing?” Talila asked.
Every Vordalyn descended, to be lower than Talila, they all performed the hand gesture of respect, then chanted.
“Mother, mother, mother, mother…”
The Golden Queen glared at Talila while the others chanted.
“Abomination!” she snarled, “You speak of mistakes of the elders and cast an accusing eye at me, your highness, but was it not Dhysevera, your aunt, who led us on the path that cost us everything? Your mother by her side all the way? Think on that, you ignorant sheep!” Junia growled at the still chanting women, then vanished.
Kaylin appeared suddenly, carrying Alyndra in her arms. Women flew to her and took Alyndra from Kaylin’s resistant grip.
“Let us carry her, mother, let us help,” one of the women pleaded with Kaylin, who reluctantly handed Alyndra over. They immediately fawned over Alyndra.
“Take her to the Pools of Pythia, follow me!” Diama commanded and led the way ahead of the flying women.
Kaylin flew to Venalina.
“It was trying…”
“I know,” Venalina said, stopping Kaylin from explaining, “You did well, my warrior, go with your sister, all of you, go with your sister, see to her, I’ll be along directly.”
Talila, Saida, and Kaylin, followed after the others to the Pools of Pythia. Venalina motioned for Kalla to remain behind.
“Venalina?” Kalla asked once they were alone.
“I was caught off guard by her appearance, I guess I assumed her dead. Much has happened in such a brief moment in time, I would hear your council before I act hastily. I need you to tell me everything you can of her and her intentions.”
Kalla flew off a few yards so she could turn and fully face Venalina.
“I did not mean to mislead you, my queen.”
“You did not, I remember the conversation clearly. You spoke of her as though she was alive. The fault is my own. I assumed that since she was queen before Dhysevera, she too was dead from an age long since passed.”
“She is right, in that we have never had more than one mother alive at one time, the rise of a mother means the fall of another, it is worrisome to consider that so many alive at the same time, means death for all but one of you?”
“But does it, Kalla?”
“I cannot say, I am not well learned, I am a fighter, a warrior.”
“We can all give birth, but it doesn’t mean we are all mothers?”
“True, my queen, but only a mother can produce Vordalyn, the rest of us can only produce Kina. We give birth and only you can ascend our children. If we give birth with your blessing.” Kalla pointed out, “Talila is a Vordalyn mother, Alyndra… we will have to go see for ourselves to know for sure. We cannot take Junia, or her words, lightly, she points out truths to distract us from her real agenda, she did not come here for the reason’s that poured from her lips. She wants something from you, my queen.”
Venalina cocked her head considering Kalla’s words, she studied Kalla’s horns and face, studying every detail, as she pondered her words.
“Who knows the most about our history, beyond their own long life?”
“As I said, I am a warrior, my queen, I am not a scholar. Diama could have answers for you?”
In the Pools of Pythia, the Vordalyn sung songs, while Diama tended to Alyndra, they stripped her naked and bathed her body. Diama had to scold and shoo away many Vordalyn, who wanted to come and touch the new mother. Alyndra’s eyes were open but she saw nothing, her mouth was slack-jawed, her tongue hung out, seemingly mindless and frightening for the sisters to see. Saida started crying.
“You’ll serve no one with your tears, watch and learn, or begone until I am done!” Diama scolded Saida.
Talila grabbed Saida’s hand to comfort her.
“She’ll be fine,” Kaylin added, “She’s a mother now.”
“Does Um’Vec still live?” Talila asked Kaylin after a few moments watching Diama tend to Alyndra.
“Is that the dwarf?”
“No, he is a massive creature, muscled and tall, with bracers! A mighty beast who…” Talila stopped talking when Kaylin started laughing at her description.
“I didn’t see anyone like that?” Kaylin laughed, “Satana didn’t recognize me and attacked me.”
“She did?” Talila’s face turned to a snarl.
“I think I surprised her with my skills.”
“What skills?”
“My fighting skills.” Kaylin smiled.
“What fighting skills?”
“You’ve missed out on a lot of training, little sister.”
Talila stared at Kaylin, confused and a little jealous.
“Our husband?” Saida asked, “Did you see him?”
Kaylin shook her head no.
“I saw Satana, with a dwarf and two elves. I did not see our husband anywhere. They were fighting Deep Dwellers and another man.”
“What’s a Deep Dweller?” Talila asked, Saida and Kaylin chuckled quietly, “It doesn’t matter,” Talila announced, “You should know, I have no intentions of staying here. When I’m sure Alyndra is ok, I’m returning to his side.”
“You... you can’t, you’ve missed so much training, Talila!” Saida stuttered, “Venalina won’t allow you to leave!”
Alyndra moaned.
“Alyndra is with child now, Venalina will just have to dote on her, instead of me.” Talila pointed out.
“It’s more than just being with child, Talila!” Kaylin growled.
“I am obliged to inform her of your intentions, should you try to deceive her, daughters.” Diama said while holding both sides of Alyndra’s head and staring into her eyes. Saida lowered her head.
“Of course, mother,” Saida agreed, “We have no intentions of trying to hide anything from Venalina, do we Talila?”
“Have I ever?”
“Have you ever what, Talila?” Venalina asked approaching the women around Alyndra and Diama, “How is she, Diama?”
“A mess,” Diama answered looking away from Alyndra to Venalina, “She will be fine, she is strong, they’re all strong,” Diama added, looking at the Preswynn sisters, “In will, as well as body.”
“I’m leaving, Venalina.” Talila announced.
“Yes, let’s go, let Diama work. Kalla, take them to the plane of air, the flight will be calming for them after such an ordeal. I’ll meet you there shortly.” Venalina ordered.
“No, Venalina, I mean, I’m leaving Taranath. I’m returning to Dracon’s side; I’m not coming back to Taranath.” Talila said standing defiantly.
Venalina looked at Talila expressionless.
“I have gifted you with power beyond your understanding, power you have yet to fully realize, that power does not flow freely, it’s price is obedience.” Venalina said looking at each of the sisters, one at a time, “You made a promise.”
“What of Dracon? Don’t you care wh
at’s happening to him right now?” Talila asked, “Look at her, her magic is stronger than any of ours, and this is how she is returned to us, aren’t you the least bit curious, or concerned, for our husband’s safety?”
“How dare you, question my love for him!”
“How dare you!” Talila yelled, stepping forward, aggressive enough to make Saida grab her arm, “You’re too busy to care about him! Too busy rebuilding Taranath to look in on him, even now, with what happened to her!” she pointed at Alyndra, “You won’t go check on him?”
Talila was full of rage and panted in her anger. Venalina looked at Alyndra, then at Diama, who was staring back at her with a wide-eyed surprise at how Talila was talking to Venalina.
“Diama, Dracon is my mate, what happens to a Vordalyn when their mate dies?” Venalina asked.
“We die too, very shortly after.” Diama answered looking at the sisters.
There was a long silence. Talila stared at Venalina, contemplating what she just heard. Her angry face softened, she looked down, embarrassed, but still angry.
“Dracon doesn’t even know the protection I have given him, the power that resides within him, that comes from me, from our bond. His sword and armor are there to guide and protect him, through my will alone. He is steel against any enemy; I will not let him die. You are ill prepared to conjure the magic that I have weaved upon my mate, our husband. The very notion that you think I would leave him in harm’s way, shows me how little you think of me, when I dared to think, that all along, you loved me.” Venalina’s eyes were locked on Talila, her fiery little Chamaeleon, who doubted her.
Dracon and the Edge of the World Page 33
