Nica's Legacy (Hearts of ICARUS Book 1)

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “You don’t have to,” Eibhleann said. Nica spun around on her knees to face her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “This Changeling is bloated with power stolen from the Druids of Apedra,” Eibhleann said. “Power that, by right, belongs to Ian as the only surviving victim.”

  “Will it save him?”

  “Yes, if he receives it in time,” Eibhleann said.

  “Then give it to him, Highness, please, he’s dying.”

  “I cannot,” Eibhleann said gently, her yellow eyes fixed on Nica. “I can return the Changeling to his rightful place beyond the Iron Gate, but I do not command him. Only one who has right of sovereignty over him can compel him to release the power he has stolen.”

  The despair on Nica’s face was painful to see, and all three of the Dracons shifted closer to her in a protective circle, their slashing eyes boring into Eibhleann. But Eibhleann did not even glance at them. Her gaze never left Nica’s as she seemed to be trying to tell her something without words. But whatever it was, Nica could not see it.

  “I don’t understand, Queen Eibhleann,” she cried, her fists clenched uselessly against her thighs. “Why don’t you just tell me what you mean?”

  “Because I can’t, Nica,” Eibhleann said softly. “You must see it for yourself or it won’t become manifest.”

  “See what?” Nica screamed in growing frustration.

  “Look at him, Nica,” Eibhleann whispered. “Look at the Changeling, and allow yourself to accept the truth that must come from inside of you.”

  Nica did as Eibhleann asked and looked at the enormous shadowy creature that seemed to be hanging in the air in front of Eibhleann, writhing frantically, its enormous wings flapping uselessly. She didn’t know what it was she was supposed to see, and started to turn back to Ian when, suddenly, something clicked. She stilled as thoughts began to run through her mind.

  “Who is this child that the butterflies have crowned as their Princess?”

  “You’ve always been the Princess of the Butterflies, Nica.”

  “You were always meant to change, Nica, to soar into the future that now awaits you.”

  “Your change is complete, Bright Lady.”

  “It must come from inside of you, Nica. Trust yourself.”

  Nica leapt to her feet, tipped her face to the sky, spread her arms wide, opened her mouth and released a long, wordless, primal scream of power and acceptance.

  The Dracons stared in shock when a pair of enormous, glittering blue wings shot out from Nica’s back, the tops extending far above her head, the tips folded against the sand at her heels. She lowered her arms and opened blood red eyes, fixing them on the Changeling which had gone completely silent and still.

  Nica marched straight to it, her magnificent wings spreading behind her. She rose effortlessly off the ground, reached out with one small hand and grasped the Changeling by the throat in an unbreakable grip.

  “I am Rani de Alara, Queen of the Winged Creatures, Ruler of the Skies, Heir to the Throne of Clouds,” she declared in a booming voice. “I command you, Luagh, Changeling of the Unseelie, to return the power you have stolen to its rightful owner. AT ONCE!”

  The Changeling struggled weakly beneath her hand, but could do no other than obey her. There was no visible connection between the Changeling and Ian, but it was obvious to all who watched that the dark creature immediately began to shrink. Nica continued to hold it, her red eyes never leaving its shadowy face until it had grown so small and thin that she no longer needed to float above the ground to reach it. When she sensed that it had no more power to give, she released her hold and stepped back, her wings fluttering slightly in the breeze.

  “You have done well, Rani Nica,” Eibhleann said with evident pride. “Very well indeed.”

  Nica tore her gaze from the Changeling and turned to look at Ian, relieved to see that the ugly wound in his neck was gone, and he was breathing normally. She looked questioningly at Eibhleann, unable to form words just yet.

  “He will need rest, and he will, like you, Nica, require some time to learn how to use his new powers,” Eibhleann said. “He will not be as powerful as you, but he may come close one day.”

  While Eibhleann spoke, Nica’s eyes returned to their normal color, and her wings slowly faded away until there was no trace of them remaining, leaving her more exhausted than she’d ever been in her life. “Thank you, Queen Eibhleann,” she said, her voice no more than a raspy whisper. “Thank you very much, for everything.” She crumpled to the ground so unexpectedly that Val had to use all of his speed to catch her. The moment she was in his arms he turned sideways and vanished.

  “Where is he taking her?” Eibhleann asked.

  “To the best healer we know,” Garen said. “We will follow in a moment.”

  “There is no need to worry, Prince Garen,” Eibhleann said. “Now that Nica has accepted her true self, and her new destiny, her wound will heal itself fully in another few minutes. It will be rest she needs more than anything else.”

  “That’s a great relief to us, Queen Eibhleann,” Garen said. “Thank you for telling us.”

  “There is no need to thank me, Prince of the Dracons,” Eibhleann said. “It is to Nica that all of Apedra owes thanks.”

  Garen could only nod in agreement with that. “What of that one?” he asked, gesturing toward Flora’s body.

  “Sadly, she made a willing pact with the Changeling and lost her soul to him,” Eibhleann said. “She did not believe it would matter what happened to her soul once she was dead.”

  “Foolish girl,” Trey said, shaking his head.

  “Indeed,” Eibhleann agreed. “There is nothing anyone can do to help her now.” She waved her free hand toward Flora’s body, and they all watched as it rose a few feet into the air, then burst into a cloud of white, ashy flakes that scattered in the breeze.

  The Dracons bowed their heads and placed their fists to their hearts in solemn silence. Eibhleann nodded in return, then looked back at the Changeling. “Please tell Princess Lariah that I will be pleased to visit with her before you depart Apedra. Tomorrow perhaps?”

  “She’ll be very happy to hear that, Highness,” Trey said with a faint grin.

  “I ask that you call my name three times if I am needed for any reason.”

  “Of course,” Garen said, then gestured toward the Changeling. “What will happen to this one?”

  “I will return him to the Unseelie realm and inform the Thorn King of his crimes,” Eibhleann said. “Suffice to say that his suffering will not soon end. Please, go to Nica. I will take care of this one.”

  Garen and Trey nodded, then Trey bent down for Ian. A moment later, Eibhleann was alone on the beach with Luagh, and then she too was gone.

  Chapter 14

  Nica awoke in the guestroom of Fadden House to find Lariah Dracon sitting in a chair beside the bed, watching her. “Aunt Lari,” she said, “where’s Ian?”

  “He is in his own bed down the hall, resting,” Lariah replied.

  Nica relaxed. She would never doubt Lariah’s word about anything. “Seems like every time I wake up, you’re there.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a complaint,” Lariah said, smiling.

  “It’s not. I’m sorry though. It’s got to be boring sitting around watching someone sleep.”

  “Well, these little sprite friends of yours have been keeping me company,” Lariah said, gesturing toward something behind her. Nica sat up, then turned to see Nim and Min sitting on the headboard, smiling down at her.

  “Greetings, Highness,” Min said. “Are you well?”

  Nica frowned. “Um…Highness?”

  “Yes, Highness,” Min said brightly, then clapped her hands together in excitement.

  Nica looked at Nim who grinned back and nodded. “Greetings, Rani Nica! Thank you so much for healing the Udari!”

  “Well um…you’re welcome,” Nica said uncertainly, then turned toward Lariah. “Aunt Lari, what are th
ey talking about?”

  “You don’t remember?”

  “No…I don…,” she began, then paused as memories flooded her mind. “Yes, I remember now. Apparently I’m some sort of…sky ruler?...or something like that?”

  “You are now Rani de Alara, which means Queen of the Winged Ones,” Lariah said. “To have that title means that you are she who rules, protects, and guards all creatures that fly.”

  Nica frowned, confused. “How did this happen?”

  “Even as a child you had an affinity for winged creatures,” Lariah said. “Butterflies. Birds. Even Dracons.” Nica nodded but couldn’t speak around the sudden lump in her throat. “Your first destiny was to join us as a Dracon yourself. But the Xanti chaos touched your life and altered your destiny, as you have been altered. Now that you’ve broken free of your…let’s say cocoon…you are still you, but more so. And you have a new destiny.”

  “Do you not wish to be our Rani?” Min asked, sounding hurt.

  “It’s not that, Min,” Nica said. “Not at all. I’m just trying to understand how it all came to be.”

  “I suspect that the Dracon-Bats explained a few things to you already,” Eibhleann said as she entered the room. Nica nodded, then opened her mouth, but Eibhleann held up one hand to stop her. “You cannot know everything, Nica. Some things you must simply accept on faith.”

  Nica stared at Eibhleann for a long moment, then said, “You sound like my Aunt Faith,” and let it go. “Greetings, Queen Eibhleann, and thank you for your help today. Or yesterday? How long as it been?”

  “Two days,” Lariah said.

  Nica’s eyes widened and her hands flew to her side, searching for the wound she knew was there, somewhere. But she couldn’t find it. “It was real, wasn’t it?”

  “Yes, it was definitely real,” Lariah said. “You scared the heck out of us.”

  “I’m sorry, Aunt Lari, but I don’t understand.”

  “You are Rani de Alara,” Eibhleann said matter-of-factly. “You heal very quickly now.”

  “Oh,” Nica said, nonplussed. Then a grin spread across her face. “That’ll help a lot when I have to tell Honey about all this.”

  “Is she another one of your Aunts?” Eibhleann asked.

  “No, she’s my sister,” Nica said. “She raised me from when I was a baby, so she’s more like my mother than my sister.”

  “You grew up with so many strong women,” Eibhleann said. “Princess Lariah has been telling me about some of them. I believe I shall have to travel to Jasan to meet them.”

  “I think you’ll especially enjoy meeting Aunt Hope,” Nica said softly. Eibhleann tilted her head curiously. “She is of Filia’s line, and it shows. She has the same blond hair and turquoise eyes.”

  Eibhleann suddenly sat down on the edge of the bed, her knees going weak. “Truly?”

  “I swear, I would never say such a thing if I didn’t know it to be true,” Nica said. “The image of Filia that you placed in my mind is a near duplicate of Hope.” Nica smiled.

  “Will you tell me something of her?” Eibhleann asked softly.

  “Hope is a Keeper,” Nica said. “She’s the one who gave me the ring. She’s also a talented artist and a wonderful mother. She and her Rami are parents to six sons and six daughters. Their eldest sons were actually born of Hope’s cousin Harlan, and Princess Lariah’s sister, Ellicia.” Eibhleann gasped and a diamond tear fell from one eye. Nica turned to Lariah and smiled. “Your nephews, Aunt Lari, as well as Hope and her other children, are the only human descendants of Queen Eibhleann’s line.”

  “Who is Filia?” Lariah asked curiously.

  “My son, Duhan, took a wife from among the Druids when the Tuatha De visited Earth,” Eibhleann answered. “Filia was my granddaughter four times removed, and the only survivor of my human descendants after the massacre. As much as Duhan and I wanted to keep her with us, I knew that her destiny lay on Earth.” Eibhleann smiled. “I counted on one female of my line existing long enough to pass the ring to Nica, but never hoped to actually meet her.”

  “I invite you, and your son, to visit our home on Jasan, Eibhleann, so that you can meet your family,” Lariah said, smiling.

  Eibhleann swallowed hard, touched nearly beyond words at Lariah’s generosity and kindness. “I am most honored to accept, Lariah, and I thank you.”

  Lariah bowed her head, then decided to change the subject to something less emotional. “How do you feel, Nica?”

  Nica understood what she meant and took a moment to take inventory. “I feel…different,” she said finally. “Stronger than usual. I’m not sure how else to describe it.”

  “You will find that there are many powers and abilities available to you now that you won’t understand, or even know about, until the time comes that you need them,” Eibhleann said. “It is not necessary to rush this process. Much has changed for you in a short time and there is no need to grasp it all at once.”

  “Go slowly, walk before running,” Nica said. “I got it, Queen Eibhleann.”

  “I have something for you, Nica, from Aunt Hope,” Lariah said. “I’ll be right back.” She got up and left the room, and Nica decided it was a good time to satisfy her curiosity on something.

  “Queen Eibhleann, may I ask a question?”

  “Of course, Rani Nica,” Eibhleann replied with a smile.

  “Why is it that there’s only one large land mass on Apedra, and the oceans are filled with creatures that are inedible to humans?”

  “When I created Apedra, there were less than one hundred fifty humans,” Eibhleann said. “They needed land, so that is what I gave them, along with vegetation and animals from Earth. The rest of Apedra I created after Danu, the home world of the Tuatha De, which had no large land masses at all. It was all ocean, dotted with thousands of islands.”

  “There are a lot more than one hundred fifty Apedrans now, and they have some problems that are only going to get worse with time.”

  “Such as?” Eibhleann asked, frowning with real concern.

  “They have only one city because they need every inch of land to grow crops for export. It’s their only commodity, and without it, they have no revenue to purchase all that they need from off world. Electronics, clothing, fuel, even building materials and paper.

  “The population continues to grow, but there is no way for them to expand to meet the growing needs of the humans who live here. Soon, they’ll start leaving Apedra for worlds with more room and more opportunities.”

  “You make a very good point, Rani Nica, and I thank you for it,” Eibhleann said. “I promise that I will address this issue at once. Do you have any suggestions?”

  “More land would help enormously,” Nica said. “It would be great if even one ocean contained sea life compatible with human biology. I think it might be a good idea to talk to the humans themselves before you do anything though.”

  “Thank you, Rani Nica, for your advice. I promise you, the last thing the Tuatha De want is for the humans of Apedra to leave. We will do whatever we can to help them.”

  “I knew you would,” Nica said, smiling.

  The door opened and Lariah entered with a white velvet drawstring bag that was flat, but as wide as both of her hands. She handed the bag to Nica, then sat back down in her chair. “Hope asked me to tell you that this was among the ancient artifacts from Ugaztun, but it was not on the inventory list and no one could remember seeing it before the last century or so. The first time she went to inventory the items in the vault she knew there was something there that would one day be yours. She asked that I give it to you when I felt the time was right. That time is now.”

  “Do you know what’s inside, Aunt Lari?” Nica asked as she turned the bag over in her hands.

  “Yes, I do,” Lariah replied. “Go ahead and open it.”

  Nica untied the loose knot in the cord and pulled the bag open, then reached inside. Her fingers touched cool metal. She pulled it out, gasping in surprise to find that
she was holding a delicate crown consisting of a flat golden band with intricate gold and silver vines and leaves wound all around it. The band itself was engraved with winged creatures of all sorts, some she recognized, some she didn’t. Several fine gold chains hung from the bottom of the band, coming together in a V shape at the center where a filigree medallion hung.

  “That is the crown of the Rani de Alara,” Min said in an awed whisper. “But…how?”

  “When the last Rani perished, about three thousand years ago, I collected her crown and held it safe, knowing that it would fall to me to one day find her successor. About a century ago I had it placed within the Jasani’s artifact vault,” Eibhleann said. “I knew that, from there, it would find its way to Nica.”