by Gene Rager
The king’s secret was out. “I have to appear to be in control at all times Nathan. What good is a king if he doesn’t know what is going on under his own nose?”
“Lela is your family King Mordenar, how could you do this to her?”
“I admit that I have made mistakes in the past, I did have the splintered and Sevol created, but Cravenwood was not my idea. The spell was supposed to wear off after a few years, not make a nightmare forest for all times.” The king said staring at his feet.
“Why did you let Lela take the blame? Why not punish Lex for Cravenwood?”
“Because he knew he had slipped the spell by me. He could have exposed the truth which could have jeopardized my rule. It isn’t the best answer, but it is the reason I kept silent.”
“Was it worth your relationship with Lela? She has tried so hard to get you to respect her, but when you look at her she feels like she is not good enough.” Nathan said.
“She makes me proud every day. She misreads my looks, I know she feels guilty. So I feel ashamed of letting her feel guilt that is not hers to feel.”
“The priestesses know what happened?”
“I have sworn them to secrecy, but yes they know. That cursed scythe mirror showed them what happened. They alerted me, and I kept it secret.”
Nathan closed his eyes. “How much longer are you willing to hurt your own daughter?”
The king looked down on the mage, and smiled, “You really do love my Lela don’t you?”
“Yes I do.” Was all Nathan could say.
The king thought about this for a few moments, “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to help the humans a little. Mage, can you excuse me for a moment I need to talk to my daughter.”
“You never need my permission your majesty.” Nathan replied.
“Maybe I do Nathan; you seem to have a better grasp on things than I do at times.”
Chapter 40
The king walked the grounds of the once great elven castle. The orcs had made a mess of the place. But the king barely noticed as he went to find Lela. He knew where his daughter could be found. It was only a few moments and he was outside. The high priestesses’ tower had taken little damage. The only room that had anything in it was the scythe mirror. Unfortunately a few orcs had tried to gaze into the water, only to have their souls torn from their still twitching corpses.
It was the gardens that the king was seeking out. Much like he thought he found his beautiful daughter sitting in the sunlight smelling the fragrant flowers that surrounded the bench. The king was nervous, how was he going to explain how he had let Lela suffer all these years?
Lela opened her eyes to the approaching footsteps. Her father stood before her. Lela stood up at attention. Her father had caught her relaxing when there was work to be done! Lela braced herself for the berating that didn’t come.
“Forgive me Lela, I have been a fool!”
If he had slapped her she would not have been in more shock! Her father was apologizing to…her?
“I have let you carry the burden of Santrose long enough! You didn’t mess up the spell, it was switched. Lex switched the spells, he thought the spell would only last a few years. No one knew that Santrose stock piled magic. You performed the spell flawlessly my dear. Please forgive me for letting you shoulder this burden.”
“I forgive you father, but why are you telling me this now?” Lela asked.
“Nathan, he loves you so much. He figured out my secret, and told me how it had hurt you so much. I have always been in awe of your ability to commit to the scouts. I am proud of you.” The king said smiling.
“I have waited so long to hear you say you are proud of me.” Lela hugged the king with tears trailing down her face.
“Lela I know you love the mage, perhaps you should spend some more time with him.” The king said.
“Is that an order father?” Lela asked smiling.
“More like a suggestion from your father.”
Lela was over joyed. Her father had said he was proud of her! Nathan loved her! And, and, and if you get tired of the young mage I can always take a turn with him! Meeka’s voice crept in. Lela’s joy was cut short by the specter’s voice. This would not work with Meeka always threatening to possess her at any time.
The elves and humans began to work together, each working on houses and things that the people would need. In a few months the people where in their new villages, the elven castle was donated to the leader of the human villages as a show of good will. Although Nathan had heard it was because the elves couldn’t get the stench of orc out of the castle. The elves disappeared on the last night during the celebration. The only elf that remained was Lela. She would be the councilman for the humans. Lela had decided this way she might be able to once again become an elder if she could lead the villages first. Meeka rarely bothered to take over Lela’s body, she preferred to fill her time gaining strength and reading whatever Lela would read. Nathan stayed with Lela in the home designated for her. The people loved their elven council member so much that her house was the biggest in the village. Nathan had a separate room in the house. The two seemed so much in love, and yet the spirit kept them at a distance.
“It feels weird Nathan to be the center of attention for so many.” Lela complained.
“You will get used to it Lela, besides they love you, and so do I!”
Lela’s cheeks turned red as Nathan stole a kiss from her. Her left eye turned green and a crooked grin smiled back, “What about me Nathan, don’t you want me too?” Meeka purred.
“You know I was talking to Lela, Meeka!” Nathan snapped.
“It seems a shame, you have the perfect opportunity to cheat on your girlfriend with your girlfriend and you won’t take it!” Meeka pouted.
“You are only temporary, and you know it!” Nathan raged.
“How can you say that, you just said you loved me?” Lela cried.
“It was Meeka, honey not you.” Nathan said as he held Lela.
He hated it when the ghost did that! She would switch back and forth so quickly sometimes Nathan felt outnumbered by only the princess. Meeka must be getting bored again. If only there were some clergy that knew exorcism rites, or he would just settle for someone else that had seen a movie about sending a ghost to the great beyond. Anything would be better than having to deal with the ghost popping in and out whenever she felt like it. The worst time had been when he had been kissing Lela. He was kissing her then her hand grabbed his butt, only it was the ghost doing it. This made going further than kissing out of the question as he would not know who was in charge of Lela’s body during the act!
Nathan still wanted to find a way home, but now that the Dark Queen was destroyed he wasn’t in such a hurry to leave. He had heard that the mages that had been trapped in the dungeons had taken up residence in a home they built up on the hill. He would go visit them some day and maybe they could help him go home. But for now he was with Lela. They loved each other and that was all that mattered!
In three months the human villages had sprung up, and the villagers had fallen into a regular routine. The woman came staggering out of the forest, her midnight blue cape was torn and wore from all the traveling she had done. Her red hair was crimson flame in the wind. One of the villagers spotted her staggering towards the village. She managed three more steps and fell to the ground. The three villagers ran out to see who had stumbled from the forest. They turned her limp body over to see dark red hair that framed a creamy white face. The eldest gently shook her, “Miss, miss are you okay?”
“Help me.” Was all she said.
They carried her back to the village and sent for Councilman Lela.
Lela was talking to Nathan trying to understand what had happened when the young man burst in. “I am sorry Councilman, but we need you. A young woman stumbled from the forest and she looks ill.”
Lela went to the house they had set up for fixing broken bones and people with illnesses. She kept a small sampling of potions
that could heal, as well as supplies for mending broken bones. The three that found her were gathered around the table. They parted for Lela, she was also the village doctor. The moment Lela saw her, Meeka began wrestling Lela for control of their shared body. Finally she could do it no more.
“What is it Meeka! Why are you fighting me so hard?”
“It’s her! I mean me! It’s my essence that I need to rejoin. Please Lela let me touch her! I need to touch her!”
“Stop Meeka, are you sure? Because if you are you are saying this woman is Tirana the Dark Queen! We would have to put her in prison!”
Meeka quieted down, “Would we have to really put her in prison?”
“Meeka she terrorized the entire world of Orlon! She enslaved and transformed all the villagers into her massive orc army! Not to mention enslaving all the mages and trying to kill Nathan. What do you think we should do? Just let her go?”
Meeka quietly said, “You are right, but I thought I was sure she was Tirana. Maybe I was mistaken. If she was a servant girl of Tirana then I might have gotten my signals crossed.”
Lela was returned control of her body, her leather clad left hand swept over the strange woman’s body. She found the problem. The silly woman had eaten a fronga fruit. They weren’t deadly, but they would cause unconsciousness. With a smile Lela relayed her findings to the three villagers that had found her.
“She can rest here until the fruit runs its course, then we can try to find out where she came from.” Lela said. “I must return home.
Lela left the makeshift medical building. The three left as well. The young woman was alone. When night fell Tirana’s eyes opened slowly, her little trick had worked. She ate the dreaded fruit, but she had only ingested enough to feign the symptoms for a short time. The mage was in this village, now all she had to do was figure out how to make him pay for all the misery he had brought down upon her! A noise outside the door alerted Tirana, quickly she hopped back on her bedding and closed her eyes enough to look asleep, but she was still able to see.
The princess walked in, Tirana noticed there was something strange about her, only one eye was open. The princess walked over to the bed Tirana was lying in.
“I know it is you Tirana.” She said coldly.
Tirana opened her eyes as if coming out of a deep sleep. “Who did you say I was?”
“Quit playing games Tirana, I know it is you. You might be wearing someone else’s body, but I know your essence. It is you Dark Queen.” Lela said, her open eye never left Tirana’s face.
That was when Tirana noticed the eye, it was green! A smile split her face, she wasn’t the only one who had stolen a body. The thought occurred to her that this might be how she could make the mage pay. All she had to do was hop into Lela’s body and she could destroy the insolent mage whenever she chose to, but she would have to eliminate the body she was in and whoever was in it after the transfer was complete.
“I see I am not the only one in the wrong body. You belong inside the elf princess as much as I belong inside this slave girl! So who are you?” Tirana whispered.
Lela smiled at Tirana, “Don’t you recognize me…Meeka?”
Tirana’s smile fell, it was the spirit! She had been so foolish! Of course the specter would take over the princess! The spirit knew that the princess would be a target for revenge! Tirana leapt out of the bed, only this time the specter moved with the grace and speed of the princess. Tirana barely saw the arm shoot out and close line her at the throat. Tirana hit the floor on her back and Lela was straddling her. Tirana tried to wiggle out from under the princess, but the princess slammed her legs into Tirana’s sides causing them to ache and her to stop moving. With a smile Meeka said, “It will be just as you always dreamed Tirana!” With that Tirana tried to scream as Lela’s lips closed around her mouth silencing her. The spirit jumped into Tirana’s stolen body, pushing Tirana down to keep her from taking over the princess. The princess awoke to find her lips still firmly planted on Tirana’s mouth. A warm blush crept into Lela’s face as she lifted up off the stranger.
“That was wonderful.” The stranger purred still lying on the floor.
Lela blushed even more. A thought crossed her mind, where was Meeka? She looked back down at the woman with the red hair and had a sick feeling she knew what had happened.
“Meeka, are you in there?” Lela asked.
“Of course, and I must say you are a very good kisser. Care to go again?” Meeka said as she winked at the princess.
“I uh, wait if you are in the stranger that means she has the Dark Queen inside her!” Lela’s answer was a fist to her face knocking her unconscious.
“Wow, how did you know where to hit her?” Tirana said clearly impressed.
“I am a healer, so I would know where all the vulnerable points are as well.”
“So we are in the same body now, what happens to me?” Tirana asked dreading the answer.
“Well, first we will leave the village, and then one of us will be absorbed by the other. What happens after that will depend on who wins our little contest. For now we need to work together and get out of here!”
The two worked together to escape the village, when they had traveled far enough they stopped to listen if anyone was following. When it seemed no one was, they found a cave to hide in. The duel between the two would start and end in the cave.
“How is this going to work, I control the right side and you control the left?” Tirana asked.
“That part is easy.” Meeka answered.
Tirana felt like she was being pulled into a whirlpool, when the spinning stopped she stood opposite the woman in white. Tirana was dressed in her fighting leathers, they hugged every curve of her body with a wide v that exposed the area between her breasts down to the belt that held a sword that she knew all too well. Meeka was dressed in a white robe which quickly fell to the ground revealing a copy of Tirana’s outfit only it was white, the same sword hung from her hip.
“The rules are simple enough, whoever lives after the battle controls the body, the loser will add their power to the winner and disappear. Agreed?” Meeka said in a loud voice.
“Agreed!” Tirana screamed as she ran towards Meeka with her blade already drawn.
If anyone could see the woman, they would have noticed the sweat that coated her body. Every muscle was set on edge as both spirits battled for this one body and the other’s power. The body flinched and her face would tick showing a partial battle face that would quickly disappear. Inside the battle raged on. Tirana would slash at Meeka, Meeka blocked the slash and would counter with a slash of her own. Both women knew how to handle the sword, the real contest was to see who weakened first.
The fighting area changed into a rocky area. Tirana backed up, “What trickery is this?”
“I thought it would keep the contest interesting if the fighting area changed” Meeka said smiling.
Tirana began her attack again only to pull back as a chasm opened up in front of her. Meeka was controlling the fighting area! Tirana would lose for certain if the is kept up! Meeka slammed into Tirana as she leapt over the chasm.
The woman that sat in the cave had wounds appear on her right hand, a grimace of pain reflected in the woman’s right eye. The cunning returned and a wound opened up on her left wrist. Slash marks began appearing on her legs, her thighs, two thin cuts slid down the woman’s cheeks on both sides nearly simultaneously. Inside the two spirits fought with the ferocity of survival. The sword blades had become silver blurs as each tried to gain an advantage. The fighting area changed again! Now they were on a fallen tree over a water fall. Meeka smiled devilishly, if she could trip up Tirana the match would be over! Vines snaked up and around Tirana’s legs. Tirana’s feet were pulled out from underneath her. Meeka closed the space ready to make the killing blow, when the fighting area changed. Meeka was surprised she hadn’t done that! The two were now standing on a slab of granite supported by two stones that jutted out of a fast moving river t
hat fell into darkness.
“I do not understand. I didn’t make this!” Meeka stammered.
“No, you didn’t Meeka I did! There will be no more changing fight areas, this is the final one!”
Meeka tried to change where they were. It didn’t work!
“A good try Meeka, but sadly this is the final battle ground!” Tirana said.
The two began their final battle.
The woman’s body dodged and weaved as the war raged with in her. The final blow was delivered the body sat still for one moment a small stream of crimson stained her shirt. The body fell backwards and bot eyes closed. For a brief instant the body died, and then the wounds began healing. The shallow cuts on the wrists were the first to vanish. The deeper slashes to her legs and thighs were next. The death blow filled with blood, and vanished. The victor had claimed her prize!
The woman quietly left the cave making her way to the waterfalls, nearby. She was dripping with sweat and her clothes were stained with blood. She was in much need of a bath. The clothes were removed and the creamy white skin drank in the afternoon sunlight. Easily she swam out to the middle and began going under, and resurfacing. Her breasts bounced in the cleansing water as she swam to a rock that was in the middle of the little pool. She hoisted herself out of the cool water and sat on the rocks letting the sun and breeze dry her off.
Tirana lay back, and began to think of how she would get revenge on the mage. The only problem was Lela knew that she was alive now and soon Nathan would too.
The wind blew a warm wind causing the water to evaporate from Tirana’s freshly won body. It was funny she was actually worried when the spirit had chosen her old sword to fight with, but when the king wants his queen to learn a skill the queen does it, even if it is fencing!
Tirana looked at her body. Her crimson hair would be the first thing that would have to go. She hated that thought. She loved being a red head! Pulling her hair through her fingers the hair went from bright red to golden blond. The eyes were next. Tirana looked in the pool and blinked her eyes were now light blue. Her control over this body was exquisite! Tirana ran her hands down her legs that lengthened to nearly five foot eight! She looked at her breasts, and with a wicked smile said, “They are fine.” To no one, and laughed.
