The Fifth Queen

by Ali House

  “Let’s go!” Skye commanded, and the group moved out.

  As they walked, Quinn informed them about the history of The Black Hole, building up the story even more dramatically than Skye had.

  “It’s said that the Six-Elemental’s drink was spiked by Tecken spies,” Quinn said, conspiratorially, “And that’s how she was taken. Her friend was distracted, probably by another Tecken spy, and didn’t see any of this going down.”

  “So we should stick together?” Gen mocked. “Is that what you’re saying?”

  “No,” Quinn replied, rolling her eyes. “There’s only ever been one abduction from this bar. And I doubt that any of us have a reason to be kidnapped by some crazy fanatic.”

  Kendra couldn’t help smiling as they talked, but it wasn’t because of the amusing dialogue. While the others hypothesized about how the incident had gone down, she knew exactly what had happened that night. They had no idea how prepared the Tecken soldiers were and how many people had been involved, even in the slightest of ways. The abduction of the Six-Elemental had been a big operation, and those soldiers had been standing by for days, waiting for an ideal opportunity.

  “Honestly,” Quinn continued, “there’s no difference between this bar and any of the others in town, except that this bar has a minor claim to fame – which really shouldn’t be something they should be bragging about.”

  “Agreed,” Lin nodded. “It’s like claiming that your sandwich once made someone sick. It’s a dumb claim to fame.”

  “Which is exactly why we’re going there!” Skye said excitedly. “It’s so dumb that it’s got to be amazing. Besides, if the music is terrible, I’ve got a backup bar.”

  They continued to discuss terrible marketing plans for businesses while they walked, and it helped pass the time until they made it to the bar.

  Despite The Black Hole’s dubious claim to fame, it was quite full and the music was actually good. As the group made their way through the crowds, Kendra tried to picture that night as it had been explained to her by Pitor. Tecken had no proof that Kit Tyler was the Six-Elemental, but the possibility was too important to ignore. When Tyler and Bryanna Kavail, both from the ISS’s not-so-secret civilian team, went out one night, the solders sprang into action. Soldier 1 separated the women by asking them to dance – an offer that Kavail took her up on. Once Kavail was gone, Soldier 2 went over to talk to Tyler. Eventually those two went to the dance floor, where Soldier 3 injected her with a concealed syringe, causing her to feel dizzy. Soldier 2 guided her off the floor, sat her down, and got her a glass of water – which he drugged. Then he guided Tyler outside, where she blacked out, and Soldier 4 picked the two of them up to drive them to the base.

  The ISS had made a few embellishments to their version of what had happened, playing up the underhandedness of Tecken’s operation, but the truth was that it had been easy to locate Tyler and even easier to steal her right out from under the ISS.

  Δ

  Despite having gone for many walks along the island and exploring almost every inch, it took three months for Kendra to finally see the Six-Elemental in the flesh. Every time she went out for a walk, she kept an eye open for someone with a particular shade of blue hair, but for the longest time there had been no luck.

  It made sense that Tyler would be keeping a low profile, even now. Just because eleven years had passed, it didn’t mean that people had forgotten the mess she’d created. Still, Kendra kept an eye out, hoping that she would stumble upon her by chance.

  When she finally saw Tyler, it was a warm, sunny afternoon and Kendra had gone for a walk downtown, taking a break from a paper that she was working on. As she wandered along the street, the colour blue caught her eye and she finally saw her – Kit Tyler, the infamous Six-Elemental. She was holding hands with a red-haired man, both of them smiling as they walked and talked.

  As Kendra watched the two of them, anger rose up inside of her. What right did Tyler have to be happy? She had betrayed thousands of people, yet here she was, smiling and laughing, holding hands with someone she loved. How many people in this Segment could no longer hold onto the hands of their loved ones because of her actions? Kendra remembered how she used to walk down the street with Pitor and Fitz, each of them holding onto one of her hands, occasionally swinging her up into the air as they walked. After the war, it felt strange to not have Fitz around, as if there was something missing in her life that could never be found. And he would have been there, if it hadn’t been for Tyler.

  Kendra wanted to walk up to her and punch her, but now was not the time. Doing something like that would definitely jeopardize her future, and she had too many people depending on her to throw it all away in a moment of revenge.

  The anger quickly subsided, but Kendra could still feel it burning deep within. This was not a rage that she would let consume her – it would feed her purpose and drive her forward. It would make sure that she never lost sight of what was important.

  One day she would make Tyler pay for all that she’d done.

  Chapter 9

  When the spring semester started, Skye made sure to consistently remind Kendra about how amazing Stanton was and how terribly boring Aesira was going to seem in comparison. She highlighted all the wonderful times they’d had, the amazing places they’d eaten at, and mentioned all the incredible things they’d be able to do next year if only Kendra wasn’t abandoning her. Although Kendra could easily see through Skye’s scheme, she had to admit that it was working. As the weeks passed, the thought of staying looked more and more attractive, and she found herself wondering if maybe she was leaving the island too soon.

  Finally Kendra decided that it was time to phone Pitor and have a talk.

  “Pitor,” she began, her voice friendly but firm, “you know how relations between Stanton and Tecken are very important right now?”

  “Yes,” he replied warily.

  “Well, I feel that it would be important for me to, perhaps, stay on the island for a few more months, to continue learning and getting a feel for the inhabitants and their wants and needs. I would still be able to come home for a week after the summer semester finishes, and then go to Aesira after that.”

  “Oh,” the relief in Pitor’s voice was audible. “So, you’re still planning on going to the other islands.”

  “Of course,” she said. The thought of dropping the plan entirely hadn’t even crossed her mind. “I have no real plans for the summer, so I figured that it would be beneficial to stay here longer.”

  “Well, if you think staying in Stanton would be a good idea, then I defer to your judgement.”

  “Thanks, Pitor.”

  Despite his formal tone, she knew that he was okay with her decision. He usually agreed with her, but she’d never strayed very far from their plan so his ability to let go had never been truly tested. Although he made it sound as though she was in charge of what she did and where she went, she wasn’t sure how he’d react if she ever wanted to do something he disagreed with.

  Skye, meanwhile, was over the moon with excitement.

  “This is so amazing!” she exclaimed, bouncing around the room. “I can’t believe I got you to stay!”

  “Well, it wasn’t just you,” Kendra interjected.

  “Of course it was! We’re going to have so much fun! How many courses are you going to take?”

  “Three. Two classes and an independent study.”

  Skye let out a happy squeal. “That’s excellent! That’ll give us plenty of time for adventures!”

  “Really?” Kendra paused. “I thought you’d be taking four or five classes, to make up for the time when you hadn’t figured out your major.”

  She scoffed. “That was before you decided to stay. I can make up the other classes later. Besides, I’m not sure if biology is right for me, so I might need to change my major again. Okay, we need to think of the best things to do in Stanton during the summer…” She started talking to herself as she paced around the room.

/>   While Skye busied herself making plans, Kendra thought about what kind of summer this would be. Being on Stanton was like living in a history book. There were plaques and memorials for the First and Second Invasions, and the streets she walked along had once been walked by Magnus Erikson – the first and the second. Perhaps it was the many history courses she had taken and the stories Pitor had told her, but Kendra appreciated being able to experience this history first-hand. Besides, what she had told him was true – relations between Stanton and Tecken were a very important issue and one that she needed to be prepared to handle. It made sense to spend more time here than on any other island.

  She also had to admit that Skye was a part of why she was staying. As the semester passed, Kendra realized how much she would miss her roommate once she was gone. Skye’s high-level, spontaneous energy was a wonderful change from the rigorous, focused schedule she had been living for the past few years. In a highly planned out life it was refreshing to have a touch of unpredictability.

  “We need to go out and celebrate!”

  Skye’s words brought Kendra back to reality. “Huh?”

  “We need ice cream! Let’s go!”

  Skye grabbed her hand, and Kendra allowed herself to be pulled out of the room. As Skye talked excitedly about the great times ahead, Kendra couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Last summer she had spent her days working in the local library and helping Pitor with his collections, which was like a second job. Suddenly she realized that staying in Stanton would mean being away from Pitor’s library. A week of reading before going to Aesira wouldn’t make up for three months away from the history of her biological family. Her next summer was supposed to be spent in Cambria, so she wouldn’t be able to go home then, either.

  Uncertainty washed over her. Was she making a mistake? Had she allowed her feelings to take over and cause her to act rashly? Was staying on Stanton actually a terrible idea? What more could she learn here that she hadn’t already learned in the past eight months?

  The thought of learning something new snapped her out of the downward spiral she’d suddenly fallen into. This summer would not be a waste – she wouldn’t allow it. As much as she loved reading all the books Pitor had collected, she knew that it was equally important to be out in the world, interacting with other people. She was overreacting, plain and simple. Stepping off the planned route had caused her to have a small panic attack, but she was over it now. Everything was going to work out fine.

  Luckily Skye hadn’t noticed this mental crisis, which took less than ten seconds to go through. They reached the ice cream shop, made their purchases, and talked more about all the fun things they’d be able to do this summer. Ice cream cones in hand, they strolled along the streets, with Skye pointing out all the places they’d have to visit.

  As they walked, a flash of blue caught Kendra’s attention, and she couldn’t help her head snapping to the side to follow it. It was not Tyler, but that one small moment was enough to assure Kendra that she was making the right decision. Determination rose inside of her, quieting any remaining doubts. She still had plenty of work to do on Stanton.

  Δ

  It was yet another beautiful summer day. The weather wasn’t any different than back on Tecken, but for some reason Kendra was able to appreciate everything more here. Maybe it was because of all the turmoil that had happened. This island and its people had been through so much, and it was incredible how peaceful everything was. It wasn’t the bright blue sky or the fluffy white clouds – it was the fact that two wars had been fought on this island and still life thrived.

  There was plenty of time for her to enjoy the summer weather, as she was only taking two actual classes – the history class she’d forgone in the first semester, and a philosophy class about the Six-Elemental. The independent project she’d mentioned to Skye wasn’t actually a class at the university, it was a personal project – one that she was currently working on as she sipped her tea and watched the building across the street. It was shortly after five o’clock and a group of employees were leaving for the day. Within that group were people of all shapes, sizes, and colours, but there was only one employee of Skyline Architects that Kendra cared about.

  The more she learned about the Six-Elemental, the more she realized that Pitor’s plan of reclaiming Tecken would never come to fruition as long as Tyler was around. As much as Kendra hoped for a peaceful transition of power this time around, she knew there was a chance that she would have to fight, like her family before her. Even if Tyler had publicly declared that she didn’t want to be a part of the ISS, there was no guarantee that she’d stay neutral should another conflict arise. And she’d already murdered one Erikson...

  Pitor didn’t seem to think that this was anything to worry about, but Kendra wasn’t going to risk letting the people of Tecken down because she was too stubborn to acknowledge a threat.

  During her ‘independent study’, she followed Tyler, taking copious amounts of notes. Most of the time, Tyler wore a hat over her hair, making it difficult to spot her, but Kendra soon became adept at recognizing her efforts to hide in public. There had been a few occasions where Tyler didn’t cover up her hair, but those only happened when she was out with someone else. Whenever she was alone, she tried her best to blend in. She also usually wore clothing that covered most of her elemental Tattoos, despite the warm weather.

  It was rare to see Tyler outside of her commute to work. Most days, the best Kendra could hope for was to catch a glimpse of her on her way in or out of the building. Sometimes Tyler went out with friends, but she rarely went out alone. Although Kendra couldn’t keep an eye on her all the time, she recorded everything she saw, knowing that even the tiniest detail might be beneficial in the future.

  As Kendra’s notes grew, she started to come to the realization that the Six-Elemental was not an all-powerful, mythical beast – she was simply a person. Yes, she had more power than anyone else, but that didn’t mean that she was invincible. Every person had their weak spot, and Kendra was getting closer to finding out what Tyler’s was.

  Δ

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving me,” Skye groaned. She was lying on her bed, one arm flung over her eyes. “After all the effort I put into making you cool…”

  “Sorry,” Kendra replied, trying to sound sad and failing, “but you knew it would never work out. I’m into public relations…”

  “And I’m into cool stuff. So, what’s next on the grand Segment tour?” she asked, removing her arm and looking over at Kendra, who was still packing despite her many protestations.

  She smiled. “Aesira. I’m going to roam the farmlands in my spare time.”

  “Lame. Seriously, Kendra, could you be any more boring? I should have tried harder to make you less of a dork.”

  She laughed. “I’ll be sure to write you and keep you up to date on all my lame goings-on.”

  “And I will write you to let you know that I’m still cool and tell you about all the fun stuff I’m doing that you’re not.”

  “I look forward to reading your letters.”

  “Spoken like a true public servant.” Skye sighed loudly.

  Kendra hid her laughter and continued to pack. Luckily she hadn’t accumulated much while in Stanton. Changing islands every year meant packing light, and it didn’t take long for her to finish. Soon she’d be on the road to Tecken, and then on to another island.

  “I guess all those nights of whispering suggestions that you stay on Stanton into your ear while you slept were a waste of time…”

  Kendra looked up from her bags. She opened her mouth to ask Skye if she was telling the truth or kidding, but then decided against it. There was a strong possibility that this was true, and if that were the case then she’d rather not know. Some questions were better off not being answered.

  “I’m sure you’ll do fine without me,” she replied. “Your next roommate will probably be much cooler.”

  “Or they might be a thief. Or a m
urderer. Or another public servant!” Skye sighed again.

  “Well, you could always come with me to Aesira,” Kendra remarked. As soon as the words were out of her mouth she realized what she’d said. While it would be nice to have a friend along, especially with everything being new all over again, she wasn’t supposed to be inviting people to join her. And if Skye actually did come with her to Aesira, what would she say about her choice of school the year after?

  “No thanks,” Skye scoffed. “Aesira’s super boring. But you’ll find out soon enough. Let me know when you decide to go to school on a cooler island and maybe I’ll join you.”

  Kendra turned away, pretending to double-check her packing, but it was mostly to hide her relief. It would have been difficult to keep up the facade for a second year. However, she was also disappointed. It had been fun to have a friend again. After learning about her family, Kendra started to drift away from her school friends on Tecken. They were all going about their lives normally, but she had a higher purpose – one that they couldn’t know about yet. Pitor was great, but it was nice to be able to talk to someone about something other than her political future.

  “You know, I’m really going to miss you,” she said sincerely.

  “Then don’t leave,” Skye countered.

  Kendra gave her a look and Skye finally softened.

  “I’ll miss you too, government girl. Promise me that you’ll come back and visit when you can, okay?”

  “I promise.”

  Chapter 10

  Once her year in Aesira was over, Kendra had to admit that Skye was right – compared to Stanton, Aesira was boring. It might have been because of the vast farmlands that occupied most of the island, or it might have been because of Skye’s absence, or it might have been a bit of both. Thankfully the lack of social activities wasn’t a problem, as it gave Kendra time to organize all of the information she’d gathered during her time in Stanton. She’d even managed to visit Skye a few times and reassure her that her new roommate at Aesira University wasn’t as fun.