Empress's Endgame (Book 5 and final of the Death Incanate Saga)

by Jr H. Lee Morgan

  “You mean you want to… with our daughter…” the prince stammered. “But you are so…”

  “My daughter is what my man calls promiscuous.” Brooke said while riding double with Tohka’s arms wrapped around from behind. “She is skilled in lovemaking with other females. Your daughter will have no better companion in the bed furs than my child… Rena are you also considering binging others?”

  “Yes, Mother. If her parents allow, I will bring six more sisters in my room tonight, if you can watch Ananna for me. She needs to learn and I cannot care for my baby sister with what needs to be done.” Brooke smiled her consent.

  “Then you have my consent.” King Skylar spoke from his large horse. “If you can do as you claim, Priestess, I’ll be grateful. And if she has not changed her behavior after the beatings you and your father gave, I’ll be forced to decree her mentality unfit to one day wear the crown.” He pointed to his still whimpering grandchild. “You do everything Rena says, Young Lady, or so help me I’ll do it.”

  “Yes, Grandfather.” She replied and looked down in shame.

  Rena took her over and said “This is my horse.” She stroked the soft muzzle and giggled as the whiskers tickled her palms.

  “Princess, allow me to heal you.” The royal mage knelt in front of her.

  “No, allow nature to heal her.” Rena said without turning around. “I gave her pain so she could understand pleasure. I went easy. I could have done much worse, but didn’t. I’ll take care of her and see she sees the error of her ways.”

  “It’s alright, but we best heed her.” The young princess whispered.

  “You’ve sure raised a mature young woman.” The queen of Emroc said, masterfully guiding her offered mare beside the mothers.

  Brooke and Tohka smiled. The proud mother watched as Rena helped her charge up onto the cloth throw before effortlessly climbing the juvenile colt.

  As soon as everyone mounted, Moril guided the party down the trail between the elder’s and adult home trees. The warm sun lost strength as clouds began coming in, but held no future signs of rain. The breeze remained smooth and cooling, bringing rich scents of salt, earth and forest full of life.

  Brooke turned her head and slowly maneuvered her horse over, near enough to talk, but not so close to trample walking guards. Tohka happily laid her head against her back without smearing the body paint. “Princess Amy, we haven’t had a chance to speak in many months. How did all become after the announcement?”

  The princess beamed at first to her soon-to-be husband, then to the protectors. “Lady Brooke, it was one of the happiest days in my entire life. Father had just returned home to tell me what happened and had me witness what he planned. He called for Katelyn, one of our servants I called friend, and I listened to him express his love to her and proposed. I hit him upside the head after their kiss ended and said ‘About time.’ and hugged my new stepmother.

  “The next day he called for the city to hear the announcement of his intention to marry Katelyn and mine to Sek. I was amazingly surprised to find all my people eager to hear this. The entire day was a festival my father paid for for the entire city. The orphanage I visit almost every day threw a bridal party and I couldn’t be happier. Many ladies wished to make me a dress for my wedding… until some fainted when I told them my plans to do a water ceremony. It was my dream ever since Sek told me about the ritual all kings and queens have done ever since his ancestors allowed the plains to be run by the tribal peoples…

  “And what was by far the most amazing is all the spirits found over a hundred separately working spies and several planned assignations on me, Father and Katelyn to prevent it from happening. And before they had time to do anything, Jormon told the guard and all were either killed or imprisoned for information. Never in Vin’re’s history has the city been so secure. The spirits have done a great service.”

  “But it seems that Empress Vika has learned of the alliance, from my spies in Laqura Castle.” King Tate announced. “But amazingly we’ve kept the bonding secret. Our alliance is still stronger than theirs.”

  “That is what mine say too.” The other king said. “And my own city has never been so secure thanks to the spirits. I feel much safer leaving my people for a few days… without all those discovered in the walls. But we had close to four hundred brought to attention and lost several good men, but their sacrifice saved many more.”

  “I’m just glad our people can now be one united force.” Prince Sek said. “Our marriage, My Love, will see an end to our oppressors who threaten our people. I get a wife today and can spurn any further attempts at a threat to all I love.”

  “I’m glad you feel as I. We always did work better together when we lived in Twilight.” The loving princess smiled as he reached over and took her hand.

  “What is that music?” Queen Jeanne strained he heightened hearing. “What instrument is it? It’s like a flute, but more enchanting.”

  “I do not hear anything.” General Corbin said.

  Tiffa tucked some loose golden strands behind hr pointed ear and smiled “It is Cage’s ocarina. I think this is the start of the welcome we are all expecting. Isn’t it a lovely sound?”

  “I must have one for myself. Something so beautiful must be heard by all. My heart is fluttering. The melody is so… beautiful cannot express this feeling enough.” The regal queen kept a hand over her heart.

  Tohka said “Cage isn’t a brute. He makes life worth living. Even simply playing his ocarina can turn the angriest people into tame and relaxed babies with a full belly.”

  The closer they got, the clearer the music coming to them could be heard, mixed with the constant harmony of a waterfall. It was an evolving tune that changed as the user saw fit, never allowing a moment to seem dull or repeated. The floral smell of thousands of flowers in full bloom mixed with wood smoke and food, made their approach slowly pick up pace from complete and utter drawing and need to see for the fulfilling experience. All was silent aside from a single woodwind instrument being played. Silence surrounded the island’s guests and the Utala barely restrained a laugh at the array of expressions, none being hesitant or upset.

  Chapter 9

  “By the Gods!” some whispered as they entered the island’s paradise. Others were too stunned to even think of a response.

  Cage looked up and winked to those beside them. Beneath the cloudy noon day and cool breeze created by wind and mist from the waterfall, all was perfect and ready. Sean and Ollai lifted their much larger ocarina’s to their lips and began to play. Smoke rose from the holes as their fingers lifted and dropped. A touch of magic enhanced the sound for all to hear over the waterfall. Drummers beside them began to strike the stretched leather with their hands. Behind the row of musicians sat Ulon, Poli, Theresa and Xamii, on a flat section of ground they began to stomp their hands, matching the rhythm of the instruments while vibrating the ground for all to feel.

  But far up in front of the players stood Meeka and the five best singers, all female. Each one knew spells to enhance their voices over great distances without straining. Meeka led the singers as they stood in the middle of the lake. Her voice started an ancient Vlaran song of requited love finally able to be realized, specifically for Princess Amy and her true love’s benefit. She fought pausing as she saw her parents among those coming from the road. The fifteen dancers sliding around them helped get her mind back on task and made it so she didn’t stumble. Each singer had her hands clasped at their lower abdomen, truly singing with passion of this song while having a different style of paint that let all know who they were while easily drawling the eye by simply standing while others moved about.

  Male and female dancers swam or skated over the water. The men moved through the choreographed moves with the women they loved in reality, making their moves only work in favor of the music. Enhancing it.

  But around the dancers and singers upon the water, magic was at work, manipulating the water all around them in streams that twiste
d and turned, blasting from the surface, arching through the air and disappearing back to where it came. Lights, sparks and streaks of brilliant color wove in an among the water.

  Around the water’s edge jumped and flipped men, using their abilities to skillfully kick around a variety of beach ball size orbs that changed color with each strike. Walking around the flipping and jumping men were many women flinging their arms out, shooting sparks from their fingertips.

  Many thousands of flowers in full bloom covered the ground except on strict pathways so they weren’t trampled to death or were the butterflies disturbed as they fluttered. The smell alone made all the women sigh and their frail colors warmed the heart.

  Around the spacious tree line hung brightly colored rope as decoration, each holding paper lanterns and reflective bits of metal.

  Off to the north side waited a long picnic table loaded with food of every variety, enough to fill everyone’s belly twice over and enough after that to feed a small army. Behind the table stood two dozen ready and waiting women, ready to go and do as needed. And behind them burned five separate fires cooking meat and roasting certain vegetables. Two smaller fires were used for the deep fryers, bubbling and ready for the next battered food.

  After two minutes the first song dropped to a close. Moril came forward along with all that escorted them, and looked to all those that had ridden, had been unable to so much as blink. “You may now enjoy the celebration until the time is right for the ceremony to begin.”

  Her words seemed to break the trance the guests were under. “You did this for us?” Prince Sek spoke, breathless. Even his snake’s jaw hung. He quickly dismounted and helped his bride off hers.

  “And for us. We enjoy feasts and celebrating almost as much as warring.” Moril answered. As soon as all the horses were relieved of their burden, Rena whistled and all the hoses followed her colt as she rode up the stone steps to disappear for a short time and leave them over beside her house where a stable and fence would allow them all to graze. She quickly ran to the cliff and jumped as hard as she could. She plummeted over two hundred feet and was surrounded by blackness before safely landing.

  While she was gone Meeka and the musicians started another song, one of faithfulness despite odds beyond understanding. Her voice was the center of attention, despite the tantalizing draw of food not far away. But for this song all the able children ran around the guests, seemingly erratic, but it soon became clear that it was also part of the event as not one child ran into another. Each child had magic draped over them like strands of rope, made by their many mothers. As they ran, the string left them and laid down on the ground. They royals were concerned till they peeked at their sorcerer’s who simply smiled, not sensing any threats from the show. As the song ended the light strings the children laid during their run began to lift off the ground and gravitate to the nearest person in the net and weave complex patterns that made each man more striking and each woman more alluring.

  Every man looked at himself, much the same as women did. Even their weapons had the strings of light, but just on the leather as magic-breakers wouldn’t allow any foreign magic to touch them. Edges and angles made the men seem larger, more virile while women had curves and swirls to enhance the appearance of fertility. The complexity of the spells eluded all the mages who came.

  “Amazing.” King Tate whispered and turned to his side to find it impossible to not shut his mouth. Katelyn stared back just as appreciatively as she too was exotic in the multicolored strings.

  By the third song Brooke was out on the water dancing together with Elder Shania, another long legged dancer of flowing grace. Tohka moved to the tables and followed Moril’s directions. Each person not of the performance lifted a heavy tray stacked masterfully with food, mostly made from Cage’s birthworld. Tohka lifted a quadruple leveled plate of pizza. Men followed the women, carrying drums of alcohol, fruit drinks for children, and large blankets. The covers were quickly spread out beneath huge shade trees nearest the waterfall for the cooling mist, but not so close so as to be deafened by its roar, especially those having extraordinary hearing.

  All soldiers remained standing, but at Moril’s gesture, the others came over and sat down. The only soldier that was ordered to sit was the one about to be married. His general insisted, especially beside their king, who kept a close eye, making the one his daughter loved, squirm. “My King,” Jormon said for the group’s benefit. “not a drop of poison is in any food or drink. In fact, I do not sense any poisons within a tenth of a mile except up above us.” He pointed to the massive tree. “There are only experimental quantities though and my detection spell is telling me that it is under heavy wards not even I can break.”

  Fredrick knelt between two soldiers and whispered so as to not ruin the song that had fire clashing with water above the singers’ heads and the steam moved through the air like a snake. “My King and Queen,” he gestured to the two barrels he brought over. “What would you like to drink? I’ve brought my personal brew of honeyed mead and a spiced beer that has a lemony aftertaste.”

  “It has been many years since I’ve had any of your brews, Captain Fredrick.” Queen Jeanne smiled and he looked away. “You are still a captain, Fredrick, even though you are on a different path. I may still refer to you this way can I not?”

  “Of course, My Queen, of course.” He hastily replied.

  “Then I will have the mead, please. How long has it aged?”

  “Same for me.” King Skylar threw in quickly as the man turned the tap and the frothy drink poured almost gold in large wooden mugs. It didn’t seem to matter they weren’t served in gold or silver goblets, plates or utensils.

  “Each drink has aged close to five months. I tasted it just this morning, saving it for just this day.” He admitted and handed each of them the hearty mug. He was patient as they each took a sip and grinned as their eyes widened and they took a deep gulp. He stood back up and turned to the soldiers. “We also have drinks Cage calls nonalcoholic. The taste is about the same, but without the effects we adults enjoy.”

  “Bring it over then.” General Corbin responded and didn’t wait long as Luke carried over a huge barrel, likely weighing a good eight hundred pounds, as if it weighed no more than ten.

  “Is this what they call pizza?!” Princess Amy gushed.

  “Yes. I made it this morning.” Tohka said.

  “Where is a fork and a knife?”

  Tohka giggled. “Pizza is eaten with your hands. What kind would you like?”

  “Kind? Hmm…” The princess wrinkled her nose. “Are those mushrooms?”

  “They are.”

  “Forgive me, but I do not fungus for food.”

  “Me either, but I’ll eat them any day cooked like this. Just try a piece.” Tohka used her powers to cut a small sample and floated it over.

  Princess Amy gave a dubious look aside from her grimace as she held it, but slammed her eyes shut and popped the morsel in her mouth and began to chew. As soon as all the flavors danced on her tongue, her eyes opened and looked down at the leveled tray. “I stand corrected. That was… delicious!”

  “Thought you might say that. Try one slice of each. My favorite is venison strips chopped up with garlic, cloves and the crust filled with cheese. Save that one for last, and I’ve found eating the crust first on that one is the best way.” Tohka personally grabbed four slices and put the still hot food on her plate. “And you, Prince?”

  “Same, but double it.” Prince Sek grinned. “When my duties were complete I stumbled upon a man in Kote known as Big Tim, and saw him making these. I copied the recipe Lady Tiffa here gave him and I cannot get enough. My entire family loves pizza.”

  “Were you spying on me, Prince?” Tiffa turned and looked closely upon the young sorcerer.

  “I’m not ashamed to say I was. Ever since Lord Cage passed by me I’ve made it my personal duty to follow his exploits and those who closely associate with him. I gave you privacy, but I’ve followed y
ou and your husband close, especially after learning your son-in-law is from another world. After the recipe of Pizza, I also sent spells of any other foods you’ve got written and many in Emroc are enjoying what I found thanks to you.”

  “You mean stole.” She raised an eyebrow only.

  “No, I’ve paid you, but without your knowledge. I could not touch Vlaran soil at that time without being discovered so I did something else. Do you remember lifting a bag of fifteen gold pieces off your front porch with a note that read ‘You deserve this.’?”

  “That was you?!” She showed genuine surprise and he nodded. “Well then I cannot be mad. Thank you for the gift. Next time, just ask.” He again inclined his head and was given some of Fredrick’s spiced beer.

  “So that is your daughter?” Katelyn asked Tiffa as she sat almost thigh to thigh while Cillian stood with the other soldiers sipping the nonalcoholic beverages.

  Tiffa beamed and overflowed with pride. “She is wonderful no? I do not know where her voice came from, but if the gods were real, I’d thank them again and again for allowing me to hear something so wonderful.”

  Meeka glanced to her mother and winked, easily hearing it from so far away, all while singing a slow song this time. Tiffa winked right back.

  Many were eating and enjoying the show, feeling it too as the mature dragons kept beating the ground in perfect timing with the other instruments. Some songs incorporated the waterfall, but no longer was there a hole at the base that led to the island’s heart.

  Stone sealed it deeply, further than any could now reach. It was a tough decision, but Cage didn’t want anyone to know about it anymore. Only the dome remains intact, that and the control diamond and its backups. In time it would be forgotten by most.