Web of the Spider Queen

by John Grover

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  Sinnia wove her hand over the waters of her font and the scene shifted. She now gazed on Nix and Lianna. “You are in the den of the dead, my dear Nix. You are but a meal for my children.” She laughed quietly to herself as she watched the two talk. “Let them come. I will enjoy watching them die, if they make it out of castle Ure alive. The song will never be sung, so let them come.”

  Her eyes again glowed white as she wiggled her black fingers over the font. She turned and left, returning to her throne room. Against the wall, Salane remained prisoner of the disembodied arms. Her head hung limp. Her hair was matted to her face.

  Sinnia walked up to the fairy and lifted her head. Salane’s eyes fluttered and she woke.

  “They’re coming to make war on me. Have you heard? The leading races of your realm have sent their kings and queens. But you are here?” Sinnia giggled softly. “They know not of the odds against them. They are doubly wrong. Only the ancestors can sing the song of victory, thus spelling my doom. They are but ashes now. Long since perished. Without the true leader of the fairies, they can never defeat me. I only hope you live long enough to witness the fall of your world. It is a splendor only a few have seen.”

  Salane turned her head away. “I do not hear you, foul one.”

  Mad laughter erupted as Sinnia pulled back her hand and stepped to her throne. Behind her, in the dark, a shadow stirred. Salane pulled against her restraints, and muffled cries dwindled.

  Past and Present Collide

  Shrieks rose across the battlefield, as Edon watched more Ebon warriors and lizard men file onto the plains. Over the horizon more spider riders came, followed by spitters, shadow spiders, and widows. Foot soldiers marched alongside the lizard men, and gathered in the distance.

  Edon’s army drove the hordes back again for a third time, but it was still not enough. Between skirmishes the elves and amazons caught their breath. Cyan remained by Edon’s side. She gasped for air as her chest heaved. She tended to a gash in her left arm, but readied for more carnage.

  “Their numbers keeps increasing,” Edon said, drawing his sword against his shield.

  “The dark queen can create them at will,” Cyan said. “We are of this realm. Her magic is not.”

  “We cannot endure for much longer.”

  “I will fight until my last breath,” Cyan spat. “I will perish protecting our beloved lands. She will not get them easily.”

  She looked over the horizon at the increasing number of enemies--tens of thousands of them. Her brow furrowed and she sighed. “There is one thing, however, that I must do before I die.”

  “What is that?” asked Edon.

  She leaned over and kissed him, long and deep. A tingle shot up Edon’s spine while he basked in her essence. All sound seemed to dwindle. Everyone else vanished. They were the only two beings in the world at that moment, until the ground beneath their feet trembled. The edge of the forest buckled. A rumble filled their ears, and all manner of evil charged toward them.

  Juni lifted her head with great effort, glimpsing the battle through the great trees. She uttered one last spell and pointed to the first wave of hulking spiders as they reached Edon and his army.

  A wall of fire burst between the two armies, catching some of the arachnid nightmares and scorching their hides. Screeches filled the air. The spitters advanced on the fire quickly and spat their acid, attempting to douse the flames. Juni’s eyes fluttered. Unable to muster any more strength, she passed out, her magic weakened.

  Edon and Cyan brandished their swords and braced their shields, preparing for the final onslaught.