The Queen's Curse

by Hellenthal, Natasja

  Artride nodded pensively. ‘And I had thought a counter spell; to undo magic, would be so much harder to create. But Sempervirens makes it sound so easy. It doesn’t feel right somehow.’ And she stared at the books. ‘To find such a powerful spell amongst these cooking and poetry books?’ Tirsa agreed with her, but they searched on for they had no other option.

  The rest of the books were either poetry or cookery books.

  They both sighed, beaten. Artride began looking around after a while to study the strange objects on the tables, while Tirsa still leafed through the books, searching. Glittering earrings, which when you picked them up or when they moved slightly, shot falling stars gently. ‘How lovely!’ and she had an urge to keep them, but put them back wisely. The tables were spread about with candles on top in pretty odd looking chandeliers, the green candles did not seem to burn up, but remained the same size all the time with a steady bright flame. ‘Well, that’s handy!’ and she suppressed the feeling of picking one of these up too.

  She walked along the tables looking for another clue while Tirsa remained seated trying to concentrate and clear her head, hoping an answer would come. Doing so, she darted her eyes around the room and upwards so that her eyes fell on a small corner of a book which they had not seen yet. She jumped to her feet and craned her neck to see it lay lonely on the top shelf in the far corner of the room. She called out for Artride.

  When Tirsa had climbed the wooden ladder she reached out for the big black book; but her arms weren’t long enough to grab it. Artride held on to the ladder while the blonde woman stepped on the highest step. The ladder was a little wobbly now, even though Artride did her best to hold it steady. But still she could not reach the book. She looked down and stepped a few steps lower and searched the room for a tool.

  ‘There!’ she pointed out happily. Artride saw the iron pole Tirsa was pointing at in one of the corners and walked away to get it. Carefully, Artride picked the cold, long metal pole up and found it surprisingly heavy to lift. ‘It weighs tons!’ and with a lot of effort she dragged it along the stone floor. The metal made a high scraping sound against the stone.

  ‘Would it be a weapon of sorts?’ Artride asked and checked its blunt point at both sides.

  ‘If that’s a weapon, I am a sorceress!’ she laughed and helped her lift it.

  Together they managed to lift the heavy rod a few steps up the ladder with Tirsa climbing it.

  But now came the most difficult part, lifting it up to hit the book so it would fall.

  Artride had an idea and went to get another ladder and placed it beside that of her partner. Now she could help her lift it. ‘Now push!’ she ordered and together they pushed the pole to the left side of the book. The book moved a little.

  ‘Again!’ Artride instructed. And once more they pushed the book and again it shoved a little more to the side of the wooden shelf.

  Three times more they had to push it before it finally lost its balance and dropped to the floor; however, not only the book; but Artride’s ladder lost its balance as well! Her ladder fell to the right and she held on to it, but shouted a warning. She hit Tirsa’s ladder and both saw the floor coming towards them rapidly.

  With a thud and a crack of the wooden ladders they landed on the floor. Tirsa took most of the blow, but landed surprisingly well on her thigh. Artride landed half on top of her ladder with a cry.

  They gathered themselves, rearranging their veils, rubbing their limbs.

  ‘More bruises and cuts,’ Tirsa said briskly, rubbing her thigh. She looked at the queen whose hands were bloody, cut on the broken ladder.

  ‘Let me have a look at them.’

  ‘I’ll be fine, no splinters, I think.’ And Artride licked the cuts to stop the bleeding. Her bodyguard ripped off a piece of her green veil and dressed Artride’s hands as best she could, trying no to look at the queen’s nearly exposed full breasts.

  Looking down at Tirsa’s thigh where Tirsa had fallen a reddish mark was forming, Artride noticed for the first time a long, white vertical scar.

  ‘A nasty scar you got there. How did you get that?’

  She made a knot in the bandage and looked down at her own thigh, rubbing it in an attempt to cover it, shrugging her shoulders.

  ‘Some years ago. I just started out as a soldier. You take the first few blows and learn. A reminder of my foolish days.’ And she locked her eyes on the big black book lying silently on the floor, so she wouldn’t have to look into Artride’s examining eyes on her.

  Curiously she kneeled down by it and brushed away the dust on its cover. There once more a golden image of a snake biting its own tail showed itself, painted on the black velvet cover. The book looked ancient, but somehow the symbol did not. It looked as if it was younger than the book.

  Brushing away more dust from the symbol itself; they spotted tiny golden letters beneath the snake. Tirsa bent over closer, piercing her eyes sharp to read the words, while Artride discovered a golden lock on the side of the thick book. Its leaves that were visible there, were yellow brown, marked by time.

  ‘As if this room and all in it is affected by time and the rest of the cave isn’t,’ Artride muttered and touched the lock, examining it.

  ‘Can you understand it?’ she asked Tirsa who was still focused on the small strange letters.

  ‘It’s the same language; the official tongue of the Silent Folk or TalamhClann in their speech. Some even believe humans spoke this language ages ago and others even go further and state we are related to one another, that we have in fact the same origin.’

  Artride stared with big eyes at her. ‘Really? Like we are related to animals?’

  ‘Yes, we are all spirit and body; but we and the Silent Folk are mammals, humanoid. Apart from Windchildren who are just spirit and have, as you have seen, an illusion of a body. It even feels like one.’

  How would she know? Artride thought curiously, but commented, ‘Well, you wouldn’t let me touch him, so I wouldn’t know,’ she remarked slightly irritably, but soon she smiled warmly at her again; making clear she didn’t really hold it against her.

  Tirsa smirked back and then turned the book over and to the front again.

  ‘I’ve read stories about a great war between the species, magic against steel.’

  ‘The Great War.’ Artride commended.

  ‘You know it?’

  ‘My father had me read a lot of ancient folklore, and at the time I took it for a fairy tale, like I did with the Silent Folk, but now I begin to wonder. But I always saw it as a warning, though, made up or not.’ And suddenly she locked onto Tirsa’s eyes, who felt warm and cold at the same time.

  ‘Did the Silent People never mention this to you?’ Artride asked.

  ‘I am afraid not. They always seem to live more in the present than in the past, unlike humans.’

  ‘Hmm, well what can you make out of this? Is it the spell book we need, do you think?’

  Tirsa studied the words. ‘It says something about waking someone up.’

  ‘What? What exactly does it say?’ the queen asked her.

  ‘Wake me up. I’m inside. Call … my name and save me … from the dark. And then this last sentence beneath says: bring me back … to life.’

  ‘Who would that be? Sempervirens? Do we have to save her? She is after all lost,’ said Artride pondering.

  ‘No, I do not think this refers to her! Why would these lines be in this book? Wake me up, I’m inside? Inside, someone’s soul, spirit or inside this … book? And who?’

  ‘It sounds like we have to resurrect someone from the dead or something.’ Artride said.

  It was silent for a long moment.

  ‘Do you remember Roalda and Kasching mentioning this god who disappeared?’ Artride suddenly said excited. ‘I just had a vision. We have not seen him or heard any clue yet, but this here … this could be something! Perhaps he is trapped and all we have to do is say his name ...’

  ‘And he will wake up …’ Tirsa con
cluded and both women smiled happily at each other.

  Artride placed her hand above the cover too and waited. Yes, she definitely could feel a hint of power radiating from the book.

  ‘It feels a bit like when I am stepping inside the sacred room where the Law Book is held,’ she said with a hint of fear in her eyes. It was the presence of magic. ‘Something very powerful indeed is inside this book,’ the queen whispered. ‘What I don’t understand is, if it is; why has it been put away to lie forgotten under a layer of dust? It is like it was left there for a reason. To be forgotten.’

  ‘Hmm. Now, what was his name again?’ Tirsa pondered aloud. ‘Elias?’ and she stared at Artride for help.

  ‘Something like that. Roalda made us remember his name. I think it was … Eolas.’

  Tirsa nodded with a flare of recognition on her face. With her hand on the book she opened her mouth. ‘Wait.’ Artride interrupted, putting her hand over hers. ‘What if we make things worse by waking him up? What if this god has turned to evil as well or is even worse?’

  ‘I believe it was you who said “Life is about taking risks?” ’

  She withdrew her hand reluctantly and held still while Tirsa spoke the name of the god and they waited …

  CHAPTER 19

  EOLAS

  My spirit sleeping somewhere cold until you find it there and lead it back home

  Wake me up inside

  I can’t wake up

  Call my name and save me from the dark

  Bid my blood to run before I come undone

  Save me from the nothing I’ve become

  Now that I know what I’m without

  You can’t just leave me

  Breathe into me and make me real

  Bring me to life

  Frozen inside without your touch without your love

  Darling only you are the life among the dead

  All this time I can’t believe I couldn’t see

  Kept in the dark but you were right in front of me

  I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems

  Got to open my eyes to everything

  Without a thought without a voice without a soul

  Don’t let me die there must be something more

  Evanescence

  A loud clinking sound was to be heard and the golden lock sprang open in countless small pieces. They both stiffened as Artride tried to turn the cover. Slowly as she lifted the heavy black cover she felt it being raised from under her hand by a heavy, warm gust of wind.

  The breeze grew stronger and now, as the book lay open, it rushed along the pages wildly back and forth. A soft green light emerged from the pages. Artride, who had been sitting on her knees by the book, backed off instinctively.

  After several minutes the book finally became calm. The only difference was that it lay open in the middle, completely still. There was a certain tension in the air; like someone was holding their breath or … began to breath.

  A whispering started and some sort of soft moaning and sighing, but soon they recognized it as yawning. Someone was waking up; after a long deep sleep it seemed.

  Both moved closer to the book again to read its ancient ink words on the brown worn paper.

  ‘It’s the same language,’ Tirsa whispered to Artride, reading the words on the opened two pages.

  ‘And these are definitely spells!’ she happily concluded.

  ‘This must be the spell book Sempervirens wants us to bring to her,’ she whispered back.

  ‘Who are you?’ a voice sounded suddenly; deep and rich. It had come from the book! It had sounded surprised, but not unfriendly.

  They backed away again with open mouths, too startled to speak.

  The male voice repeated his question when he did not hear a reply.

  ‘Don’t be afraid. I cannot hurt you, not that I desire to. All I wish to know is who woke me up.’ And they heard him yawn again.

  ‘Artride Cumhachd and Tirsa Lahabris,’ Artride answered him plainly.

  ‘Hmm, Cumhachd you said? Royalty? Tell me whose daughter you are.’

  ‘Well, I am daughter to Macdin Cumhachd of Ceartas.’

  ‘Macdin? And who are his parents?’

  ‘Look, I do not have time to describe my family tree. Why are you asking me this anyway?’

  ‘Because I want to know how long I’ve been away for.’

  Artride, who felt strange talking to a book, looked at Tirsa, who reminded her it was the god Eolas she was talking to.

  ‘According to Roalda you were seen last about two centuries ago,’ she answered.

  ‘Ah, you have met Roalda, then you must be more than simple mortals. Surely you are witches?’ and he sighed regretfully. ‘Has it been that long?’

  ‘Sorry, this is Tirsa here. I thought time did not matter for immortals,’ Tirsa interpreted.

  ‘Greetings Tirsa. No, usually it does not. However, now precious time has been wasted while I’ve been sleeping too long within this book where she trapped me; unable to get out, or do my work. I am Eolas, god of insight, but of course you know that.’

  ‘Hmm, yes. We suspected as much when we read those words on the cover. Please to meet you, Eolas. Can you see us?’ Artride asked, and examined the book closer.

  ‘I’m afraid not. I’m as blind as a worm.’

  ‘What a cruel thing to do! How can we help you?’ the queen asked.

  ‘You do not wish to know how she did this clever thing?’ Eolas wondered.

  ‘Of course we are curious, but we have very little time. Lives are at stake and –’

  ‘Just tell me where I am and where Sempervirens is and what’s happened in the time I have been … away.’

  Briefly they told him about what had happened with Dochas and the inhabitants; the protected dangerous spells and wards Sempervirens had cast, and the dreadful things she had done to them. And that the Silent Folk called her ‘The Dominator’ and that she wanted to be called queen. They also told him why they needed the powerful woman and that she promised them a counter spell on one last condition; that they had to find it themselves.

  ‘That’s how we found the book and … you.’ Artride said.

  ‘Hmm, well I’m glad you did. However, I had hoped it would have been her who woke me up. So … she has not changed like I wished she would. In fact she has gotten worse and quite … self-indulgent.’

  ‘You are too mild,’ Tirsa grumbled.

  ‘At least she promised to give us the spell,’ Artride stated. ‘But I am certain that it is not something she will do out of kindness. From what I can tell, she only cares for herself and her vanity. So, you knew her well, back then?’

  ‘Indeed I did; the only one who really got close to her, but I let myself be fooled by her and –’

  ‘Don’t tell me … by her appearance?’ Tirsa asked and rolled her eyes.

  He sighed mournfully, and with longing, like he still cared much for her.

  ‘When I met her, I was instantly struck by her natural grace and beauty. You’ve seen her so you must understand, and for me as a man … I know as a god I cannot let any mortal get close enough to come between me and my work. However, it was not only her looks that had got me enchanted. I am utterly honest when I say I’d never met anyone quite like her in my entire long life of more than a thousand years. She had so much potential; she was truly gifted with great powers, even at such a young age. With it she could not only do splendid things, but really mean something in the wheel of life itself. Yes, the power to change the world. Even to become a goddess herself. I thought I met my counter half, well I still do. It’s a shame that she turned over to – let’s say … the dark side.’

  ‘So you are probably the only one who could have stopped her?’ Tirsa asked.

  ‘I have tried. I have tried so hard to change her mind, train her and guide her and not to use her precious powers to go against nature, but to work with it.’ His deep voice turned soft again. ‘It is much harder you see to go against it and very dangerou
s. She always liked a challenge.’

  ‘How is it possible that she became so cruel?’ Artride asked shaking her head.

  ‘I can only say she was full of anger and bitterness when I first met her. Great pain and betrayal befell her. She used these fierce mind-blowing emotions to do magic. She already had mastered it a great deal, but she had no control whatsoever. I taught her to control her gift. She looked up to me and was really eager to learn more. I thought … hoped she loved me.’ There was sadness in his voice.

  ‘But you must have seen it coming that she wanted to use her magic to do evil?’ Tirsa asked.

  She just used you!

  ‘In the beginning yes, but I thought I had tamed her. She was a good student and soon learnt to do good things with her ability. She did for the time we were together. She made things grow, she healed, she gave life and love around her.’ And he sighed again.

  ‘Together we were a great team.’

  Artride stared at Tirsa for a short moment. She knew how he felt, really well.

  ‘I was so blinded by my love for her that I did not see it coming. Ironic, huh, for me as the god of insight?’

  ‘How come she is immortal if she is human, did you grant that to her?’ Tirsa asked.

  ‘She is not. I taught her a way to fool nature. I was self-absorbed too; for I wanted to keep her the way I met her; fresh and pure, healthy and stunning; young. To stay perfect by nature. She crossed that line between life and death, but it was me who gave her the instructions.’