by Linda Jordan
Eventually, Amanda’s energy shifted and went down a notch or two. If felt as if her heart slowed, relaxed and beat at a normal pace. She stirred and opened her eyes, then struggled to move, but they pinned her in place.
“Relax Amanda, you’re safe,” said Mira.
“What’s going on?”
“We’ve just returned your soul to you.”
“I had the strangest dream. There was this beautiful woman with white-blond hair. She cradled my soul and healed me.”
“You have absorbed the power of the World of the Enigmatic Pearl,” said Aste. “Mira brought a branch with her. The spirit of that land came into this room. She helped heal you and you will always carry a part of that land within you now.”
Amanda lay there, her mouth open in astonishment. Ewan stroked her hair. Amanda looked at him and smiled. It was the first genuine smile Mira had seen on her twin’s face in a very long time. She looked relaxed and almost glowed with vitality. “Can I sit up?”
“Yes, if you feel like it,” said Aste.
They helped her to sit. What remained of the branch fell to the floor, turning to dust which was picked up in the breeze.
Mira must have looked disappointed, she certainly felt that way.
Aste said to her, “That world is not for you. It is possible you may visit it, but you must realize it is this world to which you are connected.”
“What do you mean?”
Amanda hugged Ewan, then she screamed out “Dylan” and began sobbing.
She had seen him fall, then, thought Mira as a new wave of grief flooded through her. Her sadness doubled now that she could feel Amanda’s pain as well.
Aste took Mira’s arm and led her over to one of the now vacant windows. “You will find in time what Dylan did is not without reason. The Black Opal called him home just as clearly as she called you to her. She invited you to join with her and you accepted. That is an honor given to very few of us. This land has chosen you. You felt drawn to the Opal enough to want to join with her. It is tradition for the Opal to choose both King and Queen. You bear the horn of the Unicorn Queen. You belong to this world, but the choice to stay and serve is of course yours.”
“But I did exactly what the Sorcerer did, I stood between the pillars in the cavern and absorbed the Opal’s energy. So how am I different from him?”
“He did not merely stand there, he used magic to steal vitality from the Opal, uninvited. I take part of the blame for that,” Aste said, wrinkles tightening around her eyes. “When he was a child with no one else to look after him, I took him down there and he watched me commune with the Opal, asking for guidance. I think it awoke in him hungers he should not have had; his lust for power overruled his good sense.”
“If I decide to stay and be part of this world, can I ever go home?” Mira asked, brushing the hair out of her eyes.
“It is possible you may go, although you may find it is no longer your home. It is also possible that this is truly your world and the portals may not open for you. You carry the Opal’s power and the unicorn’s magic, as well as your own.”
“If I am able to leave, can I come back?”
“Certainly, this is not The Wizard of Oz. You may come back here and live if you want.”
“How do you know about The Wizard of Oz?”
“Can you keep a secret?” asked Aste deviously. She waited until Mira nodded yes. “I have Ethernet.”
“You what?”
“I pick up signals through one of the portals. So, I know a fair amount about what goes on in your world,” said Aste. “Although now my home has burned I will have to acquire a new system.
Mira shook her head in disbelief. “Do you have a treadmill? I had a dream while I was at your home. You wore gaudy workout clothes, had short cropped hair and worked out on a treadmill while watching TV.”
“Well, one must keep up one’s health and it gets awfully snowy where I live. Very difficult to keep in shape. Yes, this wig,” Aste said fingering the long, gray hair, “and those clothes are all for show. But what is a Witch or a Magician if not a good actor?”
“I have a lot to learn,” said Mira, looking at Aste in amazement.
“You have got time, my dear. Plenty of time. You have learned some of the most important lessons already,” said Aste.
“Like what?”
“You tell me.”
“To trust myself and my instincts. Have faith in myself. That those you love are more important than most anything.”
“Aah, those are the best of lessons.”
“I just realized, I haven’t seen Edward, although I heard him on the stairs earlier. Where is he?” asked Mira.
“Edward?” asked Aste, puzzled.
“Edward, the pooka, we met him on the road.”
“Oh, that Edward. If I wanted to find him I would ask Ronan.” said Aste.
“Ronan, why?”
Three blasts of wind buffeted the room. The golden dragon and two others landed in open windows of the Opal Tower.
The golden dragon bowed at Aste and said, “We have deposited them on the Isle of Lost Dreams and left two guard dragons on them. They await the human’s final judgment. We have no judgment left to pass. Their power has been removed and Nakia is Queen no more. The dragons are satisfied with this and will not declare war.”
“Thank you,” said Aste, bowing in return. “Your help is much valued. So is the peace between our nations.”
“Who will be your ruler now?” he asked.
“Roderick is next in line,” said Aste.
Roderick stepped forward, “I do not want this honor. It has never been my wish to rule and I fear I would make a poor ruler. I would pass this on to my eldest, Ronan. He is well suited to be a King.”
“Father, I am not ready.”
“Nonsense,” said Aste. “No one with any sense is ever ready to rule.”
Ronan looked at her and grudgingly nodded in agreement.
Aste continued, “I have noticed you over the turns. Watched you travel back and forth over the land and help this woman in need, solve that man’s problem, save imperiled animals, persuade stubborn men to go the opposite direction they wanted to, as well as do whatever you could to nurture this land. It took me a while to connect all your actions since you did much of it anonymously. If you became King your actions would become known and more effective.”
“You are right, as usual. I am merely afraid,” he said, shrugging. “Afraid I am not strong enough, smart enough or courageous enough to be King.”
“Your willingness to challenge your shortcomings makes you enough,” Aste said. “Go, walk out on the edge and touch the Black Opal. She will decide if you are to be King.”
Ronan hesitated, catching Mira’s eyes with a strange look on his face. She didn’t know how to interpret it. Then he walked out onto the floor which extended to the Opal. He stopped just short of the Black Opal, bowed and said something she couldn’t hear. Then he reached out with both hands and touched the stone. Mira felt the echo of the stone’s welcome through her whole body. Her skin tingled then relaxed as the Opal asked Mira to let Ronan in.
She breathed deeply and visualized doors opening in her mind. She could hear and feel everything that passed between him and the Opal. Did anyone else feel this or was it just her? The stone showed Mira how to open her spirit further and allow Ronan to communicate with her silently.
She felt him brush her soul. Apprehension gripped her. She didn’t want to let this near stranger into her soul, but when the Opal asked again, Mira let the anxiety pass over her. Acceptance waited within. She was astonished to discover that he let her into his soul as well. She had felt drawn to Ronan since she first met him. Perhaps they could become good friends. Maybe more, said her body.
After what felt like hours, but more likely only minutes, she watched Ronan fall to his knees. Was he crying? His face looked full of bliss and he glowed with life, all weariness washed away.
Roderick moved next to
Aste and said, “Perhaps we should go down to the feast and make an announcement, since it must have become clear Nakia is not announcing her choice of consort.” Grinning, his whole face was lit up.
“Yes, you are right. You should take Ronan and Ewan and make the announcement. There will be much joy in the city tonight. In the entire land, when the news travels.”
“Will you come down with us? Your presence will be helpful.”
“Let me check on Amanda. If she is well, then we will all come for a short time.”
Roderick went to congratulate his son. Aste knelt and touched Amanda’s hand. Donal stood talking with three of the pooka guard. Most of the pooka had already left.
Mira felt out of place and couldn’t see where she did fit into all this. The contact with Ronan and the Opal felt so intense all her emotions were heightened and on edge. Another wave of grief threatened to consume her or fracture her completely. She tried pushing it all to the back of her mind, but it wouldn’t stay. Think of something else, she told herself. She wondered where Edward could be. She missed his quiet company and support. Why did she feel this way?
She had made it to the city and returned Amanda’s soul back to her. She found her magic and her own strength. Here she stood on the brink of a fairy tale ending, her prince, or rather King, staring at her and all she could do was cry. She had lost Dylan and perhaps Edward. Her thoughts drifted back to what Aste said.
On one level, Mira knew Aste was right. She belonged here, belonged to this land and to the Black Opal. She certainly couldn’t go home with a horn coming out of her head. But could she be Queen? Did Ronan even want her as Queen?
Chapter 34 - Ronan
Ronan stood facing the Black Opal. He had dreamt of this for turns, never believing it could actually happen. His heart beat wildly. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck and his hands felt cramped. What if the Opal rejected him, found him wanting?
He stepped forward and said to the stone, “Sacred stone of our people, I ask you to judge me. Can I learn what is needed to be a useful King, a wise King? I will follow whatever choice you make.”
The Black Opal pulsed slightly. He walked closer and placed his palms on the stone, noticing again the scales on the back of his hands.
He felt overwhelmed by a wave of empathy and power from the Opal.
“Welcome, my Son! I have been training you to be King for many turns. ”
Ronan understood now why the Queen had lost her magic. The Black Opal had cut her connection with Nakia and the power the Sorcerer wrenched from the stone was not given openly. No wonder the Queen went insane. To have been given this much love and joy freely and then have it withdrawn would be enough to make anyone mad. Would he be able to give it up when his time came?
He saw images of Mira connecting with the Opal. The stone had drawn Mira in and joined with her. He could feel Mira’s fears and her attempts to release them. He felt thrilled at her physical attraction to him, but also sadness for her doubts about whether she would enjoy just being with him. She did not think there could be much common ground between the two of them. Ronan disagreed. He also felt her deep grief for Dylan and worry for Edward.
“She is the Queen,” the Opal told him, “although, Mira does not understand this yet.”
He felt elated the Opal agreed with him about Mira, and longed to join with her body, mind and soul.
The Opal reminded him of the myth:
“He who is claimed by the dragons, bows to the Black Opal.
She who is chosen by the unicorns, blessed by the Black Opal.”
The Black Opal continued, “You, of course are the Dragon King, my son.”
Drained from the past few days, Ronan sank to his knees, still touching the stone as she gave him the secrets he needed to rule the kingdom. He knew Mira had been given different knowledge as the Opal wanted her to do other work. The Opal conveyed information into his mind until he felt it might burst. He was surprised by much of it, especially that the Opal communicated with the Enigmatic Pearl and the Flaming Ruby. He asked for wisdom and the Black Opal provided. Ronan surrendered himself completely.
The stone also filled his heart with the capacity for more compassion and patience than he had ever possessed. As a gift, she poured his heart full of bliss. He felt tears stream down his face.
He knew Mira felt this as well. She was bound to the stone and now to this land. She could refuse to be Queen, just as he could refuse the Kingship. He hoped that would not be her choice.
Ronan dropped his hands from the stone. He felt full, exhausted and completely rested all at the same time. He wiped his face and stood. Turning, he saw Roderick, beaming, step forward to hug him and clap him on the back.
“I knew this was the way it should be, you King and not me,” said his father.
“I was not so sure,” said Ronan.
“Nonsense, and congratulations. You will make a fine King.”
“Thank you Father. I will do my best and I will need your help.”
“What, do I not get a life of leisure now?” he asked, mockingly.
“No, no, no. I have many plans for you.”
“Hmmph,” said Roderick.
Ronan watched Aste check on Amanda. Ewan sat with Amanda’s head in his lap, stroking her long red hair. How like Mira she looked and yet she was so different in action and her vital force.
He glanced at Mira standing by one of the glass walls. She looked very small and alone. Her face was filled with grief. He should have made sure Nakia was under more restraint. He should have moved, not been frozen with horror. Maybe he could have prevented Dylan’s death.
The Black Opal whispered to him, “This was meant to be. The child did what he came to do in this life. Dylan touched and healed many. It was his time to surrender and complete the cycle of life. His soul has other adventures to move on to. That is the way of things.”
He knew Mira was trying to understand her place in all this. He knew where she belonged, and needed to confess about Edward. She had only met him as Ronan once and had no idea how well they knew each other. He needed to get her alone and have a long talk with her. Tonight. No, now.
He began to walk towards her when Roderick touched his arm. “We must go down to the feast and tell the people what has happened.”
Ronan thought both Mira and he should both be there to announce their leadership, but she had not accepted yet and perhaps did not even understand what the Opal offered.
“Wait,” he said to his father.”
Ronan walked to Mira, put his arms around her and said, “We will talk, I must go and speak to the people.”
She nodded, “I must go see Dylan.” Tears streamed down her face.
“May I come with you, before I return to the Celebration?”
“Please,” she said. “I don’t think I can face this alone. I should never have brought him. He would still be alive if....”
Chapter 35 - Mira
Mira started to follow the others towards the stairway door when she saw a soft, green lump. It lay near the edge of the catwalk where Dylan had fallen. It was Dylan’s stuffed dinosaur, Freddie, a fancy, flying one with sparkles, looking very much like a dragon. She stuffed it inside the waist of her pants to give to Amanda later. She wiped her face with the soft fabric of her unicorn mask.
Part of her wanted nothing more than to join Barinthus and the other dragons in mourning. Another part of her felt afraid to start crying again. Would there be any end to it? She was only eighteen, but had already lost Dad, then Mom, then Aunt Rita and now Dylan. Mira wanted to go home and be comforted, but she had no home anymore and no one to comfort her. She shoved her emotions back down and followed the others.
Behind her, Ronan said to the two pooka, “Can you send for the Healers to wash Dylan’s body and prepare him and the cavern for the mourners that will come?”
“It is done,” one of them said, bowing. They left by the other door.
She felt surprised at his sensitivity,
considering everything else that had happened tonight.
Mira numbly followed Amanda and Ewan down the steps. The tower reverberated from the dragons’ howling. Amanda was doing well, considering. She had come out of the healing with an enormous amount of vitality. Her twin wasn’t ready to cry.
Two-thirds of the way down, Roderick, Donal and several pooka went towards the ballroom to make things ready. The rest of them continued to the catacombs. Ronan had followed behind and took her arm after she stumbled.
The descent ended and Mira had to move forward.
She and Amanda went to Dylan’s body. Mira tried to look past the blood. It ran everywhere and Dylan was broken and mangled. She blocked that out, not wanting to remember him like that.
She squatted next to Amanda, putting an arm around her. Amanda touched Dylan’s face and looked at Mira. “I’ve been horrible to him since my soul was stolen, haven’t I?”
“You had no choice,” she said. “He understood. He was such a smart kid.”
Amanda nodded. They sat down for a while, both of them working hard not to start the endless crying. Mira stroked Dylan’s curls. She felt aware Barinthus and several other dragons watched them, giving Amanda and her space to grieve alone. The dragons were better at grieving. They wailed, moaned and cried, then probably got on with their lives. Both she and Amanda came from a family where you cried only when you were alone. Not in front of others. She couldn’t remember crying at Dad’s funeral.
Amanda shifted and said, “We should go. They’re waiting for us.”
Amanda was right, but Mira didn’t feel up to going to the gathering. Still, she nodded and stood, pulling the unicorn mask on over her head and the horn. She wanted to remain invisible and still wasn’t sure how she felt about the horn sticking out of her forehead.
