Land of Shadows

by Jeff Gunzel

  * * *

  The three companions marched along the glistening white tile floor. The guards surrounded them in a tight diamond formation, almost touching them. Even though the soldiers were armed, at least their weapons were not drawn.

  They were led up a flight of bright red stairs wide enough for twenty men to walk side by side. Across the top of the steps was another long wide hallway, garnished with large, thick, stained-glass windows of green, blue and yellow on each side. Each set of windows displayed elaborate red curtains, held wide open with gold-colored ropes made of silk.

  The carpeted red hallway led to a set of thick golden doors ornately decorated with black and green grapevines painted along the borders.

  When two soldiers stepped out from their tight formation to push open the heavy doors, it was like opening a doorway into a fairytale. The Queen’s throne room’s floor was covered in lush, thick, red and green carpets. Wide golden pillars with white bases stretched high into the air to support the deep red ceiling. The same stained-glass windows from the hall lined each side of the room.

  The queen, sitting high on her throne, could be seen up ahead. The walk to her was only fifty feet or so but felt like hundreds, for her noble presence seemed to fill the room. A massive banner in the likeness of the Taron flag hung directly behind her golden throne.

  The queen smoothly rose to her feet as the young companions and their escort approached. Her green eyes burned with an intensity that matched her flaming red hair. The potent aura of leadership that radiated from her made it hard to tell if she was a fearsome warrior or a commanding queen. Maybe she was both.

  “Leave us!” Ilirra commanded.

  The soldiers immediately broke rank and scurried from the room.

  Jade was the first to drop into a low, elegant bow, followed quickly by the boys, who managed awkward bows of their own.

  “Rise, all of you,” Ilirra said in a far softer tone now that the soldiers were gone. “I’m sorry for the harsh reception, but I couldn’t allow for any error.” She marched back and forth with her hands clasped behind her back while her head remained high and level. “The hour is late. I have rooms for you.” She paused a moment to look each one in the eye as she scanned the three of them. She smiled as each met her gaze easily without shying away. “We will discuss no more business tonight.”

  She snapped her fingers, and two serving maids came to lead the companions to their rooms. The three youngsters followed along unemotionally, having a hard time believing all this was real.

  Eric and Jacob shared a room, while Jade was taken to her own private quarters. The boys’ eyes nearly fell out of their heads when they saw theirs. The enormous room held two lush beds with thick red blankets and matching sheets. The beds were surrounded by dark, lacquered wooden furniture that had clearly been handcrafted with supreme care. The nightstand, table and chairs were all the same deep rich color, probably all fabricated by the same craftsman. There was also a fireplace with little wooden trinkets on the platform above it.

  Jacob couldn’t stop touching the figurines, or anything else for that matter. Lifting a porcelain vase that was on the table, he looked underneath it for who knows what.

  “Would you stop messing around with everything? Put that down,” Eric said, slightly entertained at how aggressive Jacob was being with all the stuff in the room. He wouldn’t earn enough in a lifetime to replace any one of these items.

  “I can hardly believe we are here!” Jacob said excitedly as he finally put down the wooden figurines he had been juggling a moment earlier. “And remember, she sent for us. She knew we were here!”

  That was true enough. The Queen had indeed sent for them, which in turn made them wonder how much she knew.

  “You know something?” Eric said in a slow, considering voice. “I think she knows more about this than we do. I thought we would be here trying to sell her some crazy fairytale story, one I’m not sure I believe myself.” He paced back and forth as he rubbed the back of his neck, fondling the necklace. “Now I’m starting to think we are going to be doing a lot more listening than talking.”

  Jacob said nothing, but certainly found logic in Eric’s statement.

  Jade’s room was similar to the boys’, with only a few minimal differences. For one, there was one big bed instead of two. It was so large and soft, she thought she might sink in and never get out. But the other difference was far more welcome. A tub filled with soapy hot water had been drawn just before she arrived. She eagerly stripped down and sank in all the way up to the back of her neck. The warm water felt so wonderful, she thought she might just sleep in the tub tonight.

  After soaking for only a few minutes, a light knock came at the door. Jade rose a few inches and looked over her shoulder, not knowing exactly what to do. She couldn’t exactly stand up and get the door right now. She gasped as the door slowly creaked open and Queen Ilirra peeked into the room. Jade sank deep into the water, suddenly feeling very small and insignificant.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you, child,” said Ilirra, not bothering to avert her eyes. “I hope you found the accommodations adequate, Jade.”

  “Oh. They are more than adequate! You should never have gone through all the trouble,” Jade babbled nervously as she sank so deep into the bubbles she resembled a frog hiding in a pond with only its eyes exposed.

  “Nonsense, Jade. You three are my honored guests.” The queen’s voice was soft and comforting, yet authoritative at the same time. She walked over to the dark oak nightstand and picked up the ivory brush that lay there. “I’m so glad you’ve come back to us,” she said, waving the brush in the air with every word as if conducting a band. “I know we were going to talk in the morning, but—”

  “Oh no, it’s fine. I’m wide awake,” Jade said in a shaky voice. But it was certainly true; she was definitely wide awake...and in the presence of the queen.

  Ilirra smiled as she stepped towards the tub. “May I?” she said, giving the brush a slight shake in the air.

  She wants to brush my hair?

  Ilirra didn’t wait for a response. She knelt down behind the tub and began applying long, smooth strokes through the girl’s jet-black hair. “You know, Jade, I can still remember when you were just a baby,” she practically whispered in her ear.

  Jade twitched a little at the conversation becoming so personal so quickly.

  “I knew way back then you were destined for great things. It was hard waiting all these years to learn of your safety. When Tamera and Grimton never returned from Brinton, I thought—”

  “They never came back?” asked Jade, starting to sit up, but for some reason splashing back down deep into the water, again with only her head exposed, and just barely at that.

  “No, dear, they didn’t,” the Queen’s voice rang deep with concern. “That’s why we lost contact for so long. We weren’t sure where you were at that point. But you’ve come home now, and I see you’ve accomplished the task you were burdened with.” There was a long pause; silence hung in the air. “Are you sure it’s him?”

  “Yes,” Jade replied without hesitation. “He is in possession of the necklace, for one thing.” But then she quickly changed the subject all of a sudden. “And just so you know, I don’t care what happened to Tamera and Grimton. They were cruel.”

  The Queen paused only for a moment before she continued brushing in long, slow strokes.

  “Please tell me about my parents!” Jade blurted. She had obviously been holding that in for some time now.

  This time the Queen stopped brushing in mid stroke. There was an awkward moment before she carried on. “I’m afraid there isn’t a whole lot I can tell you, my dear,” she said in a sad voice. “I can tell you one thing for sure. They loved you very much and were devastated to see you go.” Her voice cracked a bit as she forced out the words. “But it was for the greater good. You were born into destiny, Jade.” She slowly wrapped an arm around Jade and placed her cheek against the back of he
r head. She held the embrace for a long moment. “If you aren’t too tired, I would love to hear as much as you’re willing to tell me tonight.”

  “I would be honored. But first, could you turn around so I can get my robe on?” Jade said, turning red with embarrassment.

  Ilirra smiled at the pure innocence of this girl—this warrior—who held so many social insecurities. She complied with the innocent request before turning back around.

  Then they sat on the large bed together and talked well into the night. Jade told her everything that had led her to this very moment. She even told the queen about the warrior who was fighting here in the arena and the part she played in his current situation. Jade asked if there was any way Ilirra could have him pardoned. She regretfully told her that she didn’t have the authority, for the slavers were their own entity and had full authority over their contract, but added that she would send a messenger to the head slaver and have him name his price. There was always a chance she could buy his freedom. Ilirra hated the games anyway. It was nothing but a barbaric form of crowd control. If she could release one soul from their grip, all the better.