by Alison Pensy
Leo looked up at his niece with questioning eyes, as did the rest of the group in the room.
"Did what?" Rowan asked.
"The delivery system we need. There's your answer."
The eyes around the room still shone with confusion.
"Think about it," Faedra said. "Who can manipulate water?"
Slowly, face by face, realization replaced the look of confusion around the table. Rowan's lips quirked to one side. "Very clever, young lady."
Faedra smiled at his acknowledgment. All of a sudden, she didn't feel so useless anymore. Rubbing her hands together, she looked at Rowan and asked. "So, how are we going to play this?"
Rowan gestured, palm up, at the floor in front of where she and Faen were standing. "The floor is all yours, My Queen." He inclined his head.
Expectant eyes zoned in on Faedra as she took a step forward. She pulled in a deep, calming breath and let it out just as slowly. "Right," she whispered, looking around the room. This was it. She was queen and she was going to prove, power or no power, she had what it took to lead her people. She glanced over at her dad.
"Dad. Sorry, but it doesn't look like we'll be needing Odin at the moment. You'll have to go and visit the 'pussycat' some other time. We need the emerald staff."
Henry's face fell.
"Jocelyn, I know you took an oath to protect me, but I am queen now, and I release you from that oath so you can help me in a bigger role. I'm sure Faen remembers how that whole Guardian thing still works."
Jocelyn didn't look happy about Faedra's request, but nodded, nonetheless. She was at the beck and call of the ruler of Azran, that now happened to be her best friend.
"I need you to go with Etyran to Drofoz," Faedra continued. "Take the emerald staff and fetch Todmus; make sure he brings the cypher wheel with him. We could probably use Lady Allora, too, if she is willing to leave so close to giving birth." Jocelyn and Etyran nodded their acceptance of their mission.
"When you return, hand the emerald staff off to Draconis." She turned to the lord of the dragons. "Draconis, please, will you go and rally as many dragons as you can spare, and have them at the ready."
Draconis inclined his head.
"Faen and I will take the ruby staff and go to Umor. King Derian is our only hope of being able to win this war, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he is on board with my idea."
"And what exactly is your idea, My Lady?" Rowan asked.
Faedra sent him a look of deflection. "When I have everyone convened back here, I'll explain it all." She didn't want to admit to everyone that her grand scheme relied almost entirely upon Todmus and a few discs of wood. She hoped and prayed he could tweak it to do what she wanted. It was a pretty crazy plan, but if it worked, Azran would be hers again.
Faen wandered over to where the ruby staff was leaning against the wall. Draconis had already passed the emerald staff to Etyran. The two couples stood together at the end of the room.
"Good luck," Jocelyn said to Faedra.
"You, too," Faedra replied, then turned to her husband. "Okay, let's do this." She looked at the people staring at them from around the dining table. "We'll be back soon."
Red lights started to encircle them and Faedra looked beside her to see green lights were now whizzing around Jocelyn and Etyran. In the next instant, she was submerged and sucking in lungfuls of water.
***
Panic flooded Faedra's veins as she scrabbled around in the water, feeling for Faen. She looked around her, but it was dark. How far under was she, and where was her husband? Faedra cursed herself for not taking in a lungful of air before they left. They were entering the water realm, for goodness sakes, there was every possibility they would land in water. The tiny amount of air that she did have in her lungs was quickly being replaced by liquid. It was cold and suffocating. Faedra felt her eyes grow heavy, she couldn't fight them to stay open for much longer. As her lungs filled, her legs started to feel like lead weights. Her arms floated out to her sides as the heaviness in her chest pushed her deeper. Despite her best efforts, she could feel herself slipping away.
As Faedra's eyes closed, she was marginally aware that someone was grabbing at her. A hand slipped under each arm, and she felt the sensation of being hauled upwards, like she was in an elevator. Her barely functioning consciousness cheered. Faen had found her.
She was dragged through the surface, cool air hitting her face. Strong arms scooped her up, and she lay limp within them Faedra tried to open her eyes, but they wouldn't co-operate.
"She is not breathing," a deep voice resonated above her face. Not Faen.
"She is human," another deep voice stated, unable to hide the surprise in his tone. "Her lungs will be full. You need to empty them," he continued with some urgency.
Faedra felt cool fingers part her lips, and then a moist sensation covered her mouth. A second later, she could feel her lungs being drained. Whoever held her in their arms was now sucking all the liquid out of her lungs like a vacuum cleaner. It was the strangest sensation she'd ever experienced, and it wasn't particularly pleasant. As the liquid drained and consciousness returned, Faedra felt her eyes scrunch up at the feeling.
The moist sensation left her lips as Faedra shuddered from its touch. She dragged in a breath, ragged and desperate at first, until every alveolus was filled with life sustaining air.
Her eyes opened and were greeted by the concerned translucent gaze of a handsome Umorian. He cocked his head, considering the unusual package he was holding in his arms.
"Um...You can put me down now," Faedra said.
"I do not believe that would be wise," the man responded.
Faedra's brow pinched at his words, then she looked around to take in her surroundings and promptly flung her arms around the man's neck and held on tight.
He smiled. They were standing on water, no land to be seen. Faedra rolled her eyes at her stupidity. Of course, there wasn't. This was the water realm.
As full awareness slammed into her, panic filled her heart. "Faen!" she called, looking around her as best she could without letting go of the man holding her. "Faen!"
"You are not alone?" the man asked.
"No. My husband is with me. Faen!" she called again.
They heard barking to their left.
The man turned towards the sound. Faedra could see Faen in his dog form swimming towards them, the ruby staff held firmly in his mouth. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Oh, thank God," Faedra whispered.
The other man leaned over and held his palms flat over the surface of the water. A small area stopped rippling and took on the appearance of glass. As Faen approached, he was grabbed by his front legs and pulled out of the water.
He let the ruby staff roll out from his opened jaw and lay still for a moment, panting. Then he hauled his shaggy white form to standing and shook, spraying them all with water. Not that it mattered, the two men were made of the stuff, and Faedra was already soaked, anyway. In the next second, Faen shifted to his fae form, which caused the second man to take a step back. Faen gave his wings a flutter to shake off any excess moisture.
"Much obliged," Faen said, inclining his head.
"Guardian?" the man said in surprise.
"Correct."
The man holding Faedra looked down at her. "That must mean you are the Princess of Azran."
Faedra sighed. "I wish that were still true," she replied, heavyhearted. "Unfortunately, I am now queen. We need to speak to your king with a matter of urgency."
The man's features scrunched in obvious confusion.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Much to Faedra's relief, a city loomed up on the horizon. The two men who found them had formed a boat to travel in. Faedra ran her fingers over the smooth, cool surface of the boat. How did they do that? It was almost as though they could turn the water to glass to form a solid structure. Then with the flick of a hand, turn the glass to liquid, like someone popping a balloon full of water.
"It is pretty, is it not?" Faen leaned over and whispered into Faedra's ear.
Faedra drew her attention back to the tall columns of the glass-like buildings that towered into the clear blue sky. The sun reflected off the various surfaces, making the whole city shimmer and twinkle.
"Yes, it is," Faedra responded. "How do they make water solid without freezing it though?"
"That, my dearest wife, is something I cannot answer."
The boat pulled up to a dock, and both of the men hopped out. Keeping one hand on the boat, they each held out their other hand for Faedra and Faen. Faedra accepted the steadying grip that was offered her and stepped from the boat onto the dock. When Faen was also safely standing on the dock the two men let go of the boat. With a flick of one man's hand, the boat turned to water and made a splash as it hit the surface surrounding it.
That was just beyond weird, Faedra thought. Freezing water to form solid structures, she could comprehend. They made ice hotels back in the World of Men, so there wasn't anything mysterious about that, but she just couldn't get her mind around how this realm functioned.
"This way," one of the men announced, gesturing down a lane that led away from the dock.
Faedra took hold of Faen's hand and gave the man a small smile before striding along beside him.
As they walked through the streets, they received lots of attention from the water people. Children pointed. Adults regarded them with a mixture of curiosity, sometimes fear. Faedra smiled at anyone who would make eye contact with her. She didn't feel threatened by these people, but she wasn't about to let her guard down, especially that now she was powerless. Subconsciously, her grip tightened around Faen's hand, prompting him to look down at her. He offered her a reassuring smile and gave her hand a squeeze in return. They were still caught in each others eyes as they rounded a corner. A loud whoosh of water distracted them. They looked up to see a waterfall cascading down the entire length of the tallest building in the city, tumbling into a deep pool where they eventually came to a stop.
Faedra stared up at the imposing building and supposed that one could call it a castle, albeit a very modern, clean cut castle. It was devoid of turrets and battlements but there was no mistaking that this regal building would be where the king and queen resided.
She cast her eyes along the wall of the building. There was one thing missing, though. Faedra could see no way of gaining entry to the impressive structure. She didn't have to wonder about it for long. One of the men crouched down and laid his palm against the water splashing in the pool. Before Faedra's eyes, a bridge formed, rising out of the pool creating a walkway above the water. The wall of water then parted like a pair of curtains to reveal an archway that was hidden behind it. The man stood and gestured for them to continue forward.
Faedra put a tentative foot on the bridge and tested her weight on it. Though, why would she worry that the bridge would carry her weight after everything else she had seen in this realm so far? Deciding that the water bridge was strong enough, she accepted Faen's encouragement to continue across. Once they were safely on the other side, one of the men touched the bridge and it dissolved into liquid and splashed into the pool. As they continued on, Faedra looked over her shoulder as the curtains of water closed behind them, sealing off the entrance to the castle once more.
***
Derian was leaning over the end of the long table in his great hall talking with one of his guards as Faedra and Faen were escorted into the room and announced.
He pulled his attention from what he was studying on the table and looked up. The flicker of annoyance that shone in his eyes was quickly replaced by surprise and confusion.
"Princess?" he said, as he stood and rounded the table to make his way towards his new guests. As he reached them, he took hold of Faedra's hand and brushed a kiss to her knuckles. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
The touch of Derian's hand on her skin prompted the memory of when he had cooled the fire within her not more than a couple of weeks before. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and drew in a breath in an attempt to steady her nerves and give her the strength to explain her predicament in a controlled manner. Something she wasn't sure she would be able to hold onto when she thought about telling the water king what had happened.
"Zaven has killed my father and taken over Azran," Faedra blurted, trying to get it out in the most succinct way possible. "And we have come here because we need your help."
Derian took a step back, his expression stunned. He turned it on Faen who nodded as he released a deep sigh. The water king turned his gaze back to Faedra. "What happened? We were there just a few days ago." He kept hold of Faedra's hand and led her to a chair towards the top of the immense table that ran the length of the room, and pulled it out for her. He gestured for Faen to take a chair on the opposite side while he seated himself at the end. When all three were seated, Derian rested his forearms on the table and looked at Faedra. She had her eyes focused on Faen's feet that she could see through the water making up the table, it may as well have been glass. After getting her thoughts together, she looked up into the concerned eyes of the king.
"It looks like he was plotting this for a long time. Apparently, he kept making excuses as to why his contingent for the tournament was being delayed in leaving. He was, in fact, waiting for everyone to go so that he could attack." Faedra looked down at her hands that were clasped loosely on her lap. She twiddled her thumbs around themselves.
"But, why...?" Derian started to ask.
Faedra looked up again. "He wants the World of Men. Azran was the only thing standing in his way."
Derian locked his fingers together and brought his hands up to rest his chin on them. "Hmm," he murmured. "I knew he was up to something, but I thought it was our realm he was going to attack. I never dreamed he would go after the World of Men."
"Father!" a voice shouted from along the corridor. "One of the guards said Princess Faedra had entered the..." as Eadlin rounded the corner into the hall, her eyes grew wide and she stopped mid-sentence.
Faedra gave the princess a small smile.
Eadlin curtsied and bowed her head. If the young woman could flush, Faedra knew her cheeks would be crimson. "Forgive me," she said, looking up again. "I did not realize you were already in the castle."
Faedra's smile widened, and she couldn't help but let out a giggle at the girl's awkward apology. "No forgiveness needed," Faedra said.
"Eadlin," the king interjected. "Run and fetch your mother, will you?"
Eadlin curtsied once more. "Yes, father." She turned and scooted out of the hall.
Derian turned his attention back to Faedra and rested his chin on his clasped hands once more, his eyes shining with interest. "So, Your Highness. How may I be of assistance?"
Faedra felt her shoulders relax. This was her first official duty as queen, she mustn't mess it up. She briefly glanced across the table at Faen, who responded with a warm smile that said 'you've got this'. Faedra steadied her nerves and proceeded to tell Derian her plan.
***
"Faedra?" Jalia's soft caressing voice interrupted the three plotters. They all turned to see Derian's wife sweep into the hall alongside her daughter, a concerned expression clouding her features. "Eadlin told me you were here. Is everything well?"
"Kenreth was slaughtered by Zaven," Derian explained as Jalia continued towards them. "He has overthrown Azran and has plans to take the World of Men." He paused a moment, considering his words. "He also disabled her powers."
His news stopped Jalia for a second. She brought her hand to her mouth. Her eyes sought Faedra's. "Oh, my dear child," she whispered. The sadness in her eyes mirrored the tone in her voice. She reached the Custodian in another few strides and pulled Faedra up from her chair, tugging her into a loving embrace. An embrace that emulated the hug Janessa had given the day before. All protocol was, again, thrown out of the window, but Faedra didn't mind. Jalia pulled back a little and placed her hands on Faedra's shoulder
s, searching her eyes. "Are you hurt?" she asked, quickly scanning Faedra's body before bringing her gaze back to the stunned Custodian's.
Faedra swallowed. "Not physically, no."
Jalia considered Faedra's uttered words for another heartbeat before pulling her back into a loving embrace.
Derian cleared his throat. "Jalia, my dear. This is hardly good etiquette. You are hugging the new queen of Azran."
Jalia looked at her husband over Faedra's shoulder. "Oh, pish," she said.
Derian raised his brows at his wife's retort.
"She's also a young girl who's just lost her father," Jalia continued, unperturbed by her husband's discomfiture. "Would you not wish the same for your daughter if she found herself in Faedra's position?"
Derian conceded his wife's point with a quick incline of his head.
Jalia pulled away from Faedra, releasing her to take her seat anew. "Whatever you need, my dear, you just tell my husband. We will help however we can." Jalia threw her husband a pointed look, daring him to say otherwise.
"We were just finishing up some of the finer details, my dear. Faedra has a good idea how we can defeat Zaven, but it does rather hinge on the abilities of the dwarf lord, Todmus."
Jalia turned her attention back to Faedra. "Do you think Todmus has the ability to achieve what you require of him?"
Now that was the question, wasn't it? Faedra had no clue if Todmus could engineer such a feat as she was going to be asking of him. But, she knew without a doubt, he would do everything within his power to try. "I hope so," she answered, trying hard to hide the uncertainty in her voice, and failing miserably.
Jalia took hold of Faedra's wrist and turned it over and back again, examining the ice diamond cuff with studious attention. "I don't understand why Tiernan and Ena would sanction such a strike,"
Jalia looked up from the bracelet. "I know we have our differences, but they have never made any threats to another realm before." She turned to Derian. "Something is very wrong, Husband."
Derian huffed out a breath. "I agree. I will make sure to get to the bottom of this, but first we must assist Faedra and take back Azran. Tiernan and Ena will have to wait a while longer."
