Lamp of Light

by Alex H Singh

  As she was left to her thoughts, Esther Anna began to doubt herself. She wondered if she could have done something to save Talia, but she’d been paralyzed by her own fear. That same fear rolled in when she lost the king, and then again when the demon came for her. Guilt washed over her. She’d been framed for murder, one she witnessed, not committed. Esther Anna looked at Prince Phillip and the confidence he exuded made it seem like he rarely doubted himself like she had. There was strength there, within him, and she envied that. His subjects respected him and he commanded it.

  “Am I going for trial for trespassing?” She joked, trying to break the silence.

  He looked at her askance, and when she stopped smiling, he burst into laughter. The queen was quick to join him in laughter after accepting his silent way of joking and the pair laughed all the way to the throne room door.

  The guard posted their bowed to the prince and offered a stern look at Esther Anna, before he ushered them in.

  The throne room, by far, was the grandest part of the castle she’d seen. It completely took her breath away. The king was already waiting inside. He was sitting at his throne and he watched as they approached. Esther Anna noticed that the king looked like an older version of Prince Phillip, a mirror version of her heroic rescuer, though his face had shown the etchings of time.

  He smiled as they approached. “So, this must be the human I’ve been hearing about all day!”

  Esther Anna was put at ease by his smile, but she blushed sheepishly at his greeting. The king burst into a fit of hearty laughter and the rest of his court joined in until the room was filled with the joyful chorus of laughter. Her nerves faded away at the sound, and she stood up a little straighter as she offered a smile and polite curtsy to the king.

  “You caused quite a scare my dear.” The king said, between guffaws. “It’s okay however. My people are just not used to seeing your kind in our kingdom. For a lot of them, this was their first time.

  This isn’t so bad… She thought. Here she thought she was in trouble.

  “My men informed me that you’d escaped from witnessed the death of your husband at the hands of your stepdaughter and fell here during your escape. You’ve supposedly been framed. Is this correct?”

  Esther Anna’s eyes were wide, and she slowly nodded.

  The king shifted forward in his throne. He clicked his tongue. “This is a tragedy. I do offer my condolences. Pierre LaChance was a great man and a great king.”

  There was a joint confusion shared between her and the prince at his mention of King Pierre. Esther Anna’s husband had never mentioned a belief in the existence of fairies, nor did he ever state he’d known one personally. There seemed to be a lot of things she didn’t know about him. Everyone was entitled to a few secrets.

  “You knew him?” She asked in surprise.

  A smile bloomed on the king’s face, one that was bright enough to have assisted in the win over many negotiations. “Yes. Yes, I did. However, this was a long time ago. It was necessary, if not imperative that he and I meet. Sadly, I’d lost touch with Pierre long before the death of his first wife, though I had gotten word of his new marriage, to you, my dear.” The king looked rather solemn when he made mention of their meeting from years ago.

  Prince Phillip stared at his father with a curiosity that meant he would inquire about this meeting later. It was fitting that the heir of the kingdom would know of its alliances and its history.

  “Now, I don’t know what you intend to do about your situation. In times past, the fairy kingdom may have stepped in to prevent the earth-shattering calamity that would arise from the rule of one taken by darkness. T’was a different time, and for now, the knowledge of our existence must be kept to a select few. Your majesty, I extend an offer for sanctuary here, as long as you need, but as of right now, we cannot make any moves against Tibethia.”

  Esther Anna understood what he was saying, that he wanted to preserve the mystery of the fairy kingdom for the safety of his people. She had tremendous respect for that, though it confused her, as she didn’t ask him for assistance. The older times he was keen to mention, wars were fought, battles won, and treaties were written. Whatever life he molded for his kingdom beyond the fight, the decision to protect his people, she would not disrespect.

  Prince Phillip stepped forward. “Father, I’d been thinking about it as well. Now, I’ve seen the things she saw, I’ve been inside her mind. I assure you, father, it is every bit as horrible as described, maybe even more so. This… Noelle is a villain and must be stopped. The horrible things she did…” He shook his head in disgust. “There was a look in her eyes, and I remember it clear as day. She enjoyed doing those things. This is not just any villain, no. She is like a cankerworm that will devour the very fabric of all kingdoms if we do not move to put an end to it. There’s no time to waste. She must be stopped, and soon.”

  Esther Anna was surprised at the prince’s eagerness to step forward on her behalf.

  “…what I’m saying is: after being witness to the queen’s memories, I cannot in good faith let the princess of Tibethia carry on. I declare my intent to join forces with Esther Anna and put an end to this potential reign of terror. Perhaps my methods of extracting the truth have pulled me into this, and now I am personally invested. Queen Esther Anna needs all the help she can get, and I am extending my hand, should she accept.” The prince looked over at her and offered a smile.

  The queen was beaming back at the prince, floored by his declaration. After running for her life, she’d felt so alone and so helpless. He changed that in one sweep. She nodded at him, confidently.

  The king was at the edge of his seat as he cast a look between his son and the queen. He studied both of them carefully and quietly until his eyes dropped to the necklace she had on. For a second, those kind eyes darkened, but then he composed himself once again. “My son. I understand your need to do this but think carefully about what you would be doing. The outside world is not what you think. Reading about it, is one thing and experiencing it is another. The princess seems as evil as they come. Consider your place here. Your home. Your people.”

  The Prince considered his father’s words for a moment. Yes, it was true that the need for his presence among his people and his kingdom was immense. He would make his rounds in the kingdom just to mingle and get to know the citizens here, which made him well known and loved. Everyone felt safe, because of it. He turned and looked at Esther Anna. Her purity shone bright. She was effortlessly beautiful, and her need for his help was compelling. He knew that she must have been adored by her people and upset him to think that her name was spoiled by a lie and a deception that must be overturned.

  Outwardly, she was holding up well, despite the circumstances. However, he’d seen what was in her mind… the guilt, the fear, and the angst. Esther Anna felt helpless against the evidence that was stacked against her, for a crime she didn’t commit. No, she didn’t ask for help, but he wanted to be there for her because of such modesty. Phillip wanted to help her.

  Justice had to be served.

  Prince Phillip looked up at his father, with a steadfast devotion to match his words. He’d thought about this decision for a while, but his mind was finally made up. He was convinced he was doing the right thing, so his father had to respect such a notion. “I will go with the Queen Esther Anna, father. I will help clear her name and bring justice to the Kingdom of Tibethia. I swear this on our good name.”

  His determination made the king proud. “You’re a good man, my son. Putting yourself in harm’s way to help others is a valuable trait, one that cannot be taught. I am sure you will persevere, survive this quest, and furthermore you will make a wonderful king.”

  Phillip basked in his father’s praise, and he stood with confidence that he had made the right decision.

  Esther Anna was still blushing with delight and relief at the prince’s offer to help, though she figured with her luck the prince would change his mind at any moment. Yet, th
at moment never came. The prince made his choice, and she had a very powerful ally in hand.

  “Okay,” said the king with a nod. “Let’s eat.”

  After the feast, Esther Anna retired to her chambers. Her stomach was full, as she was armed with a surprisingly large appetite that grew at the sight of the fairy dishes. Esther Anna wanted to try a little bit of everything, to the amusement of Prince Phillip and the king, who mentioned on separate occasions that she was not like other queens they’d come across in their time. The prince was still surprised that she’d been able to find their kingdom at all. He also mentioned something about her purity, but at that point, she’d been too sleepy to comprehend it.

  She lazily plopped into bed. It was the most comfortable thing she ever laid on, and she’d been told that the bed was made of phoenix feathers—even though she was certain there was no such thing. Esther Anna propped her hands behind her head and breathed out in relief, still in shock about how the night turned out in her favor. She couldn’t believe her luck. Things were definitely looking up.

  For a moment, she wondered how things were going back home. Adam… She still didn’t know what happened to him and guilt riddled her mind. There was a faint hope that Noelle hadn’t gotten to him, if that was even possible. He’d always been there for her when she’d needed him most and she was so used to leaning on him. Adam was always stronger than her and didn’t need help from anyone. The thought of losing him gave her a chill. She’d be haunted by her despair and guilt if she never saw him again.

  She made herself comfortable in the abundantly soft bed and felt herself start to fade into slumber.

  “Esther…”

  Esther Anna jumped. She looked around, but there was no one in sight, so she figured it was her exhaustion and fatigue causing her mind to play tricks. Once more, she lay back onto the cloud-like pillow to surrender into sleep.

  “Esther…”

  She jumped up again and this time she stood up out of bed. “Who’s there?”

  They better not be playing tricks on me… A grumpy thought emerged. They seemed to take a liking to her at the feast, after the king and Phillip gave their approval, so she figured this wasn’t the case.

  “Hello? Anybody there?”

  No reply.

  The queen retreated to her heavenly bed and tunneled deep into the warm sheets.

  “Esther…” The voice beckoned again, a little clearer this time.

  For now, the queen ignored it in favor of seeking the rest she desperately needed. She shut her eyes tighter and waited for sleep to take her away again.

  “Queen Esther Anna. Help me.”

  It was louder, and the queen could not ignore it this time because the necklace she had on was glowing. She raised the pendant to her eyes and studied it for a moment, before it faded away.

  Am I just dreaming? She wondered, staring at herself in the mirror across the way. A figment of a mind ravaged by fatigue was the most rational explanation for this.

  A few minutes passed, and she waited again for the voice to come but it never did. The queen lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, but couldn’t shake the feeling that she was not alone. It lingered for a bit longer, for what felt like hours, until she was finally able to get to sleep.

  Present time. Kingdom of Tibethia.

  By morning, the palace was awash with words of condolence. Everyone had heard of the dastardly act committed by the formerly beloved queen and the scandalous nature of it was to be expected. Everyone mentioned how the “wonderful and enchanting” Queen Esther Anna had turned out to be a conniving she-devil who murdered their king. Noelle’s soldiers raided the kingdom and ransacked every house. They harassed the common folk in search of potential harborers. There would be no mercy for the people foolish enough to offer safe-haven to the fugitive queen.

  Their search came up empty, as if Esther Anna had vanished into thin air, and no account could be made of her whereabouts. The forests and surrounding areas were scoured multiple times over the course of the night and conclusions were drawn that she somehow managed to escape Tibethia. There was one major locale they had yet to search, and they were headed that way.

  The Kingdom of Dormality.

  Princess Noelle sent word to King Maurice to inform him of the death of her father. The old king received that correspondence and failed to respond; He tore up the letter with the command to capture his own daughter and return her to the people of Tibethia to face justice. Maurice knew that his daughter was not a murderer. Noelle anticipated this reaction and even threatened war if her request was not met. Reluctantly, King Maurice had agreed to detain Esther Anna and hold her at the palace in Dormality. Interrogation over Pierre’s death would be conducted there, and that stipulation held a tremendous part in his decision.

  Noelle happily agreed to that. To her, it didn’t matter what the old king wanted. All that mattered was that Esther Anna would be out of her way. Not to mention, Noelle had Damien, who could penetrate any petty defenses they thought to set up and retrieve her. As an extra contingency, she’d set troops of Tibethian guards to patrol all paths that led to Dormality. The men were instructed to capture her alive, by any means. Nothing was said about what state she needed to be in. She just needed to be alive.

  Some of them could hardly believe that the queen could commit such a heinous act, others were indifferent, and there were few who believed the princess’ story. No matter their stance, however, each soldier had their orders and would follow them regardless. Princess Noelle was proving to be an efficient ruler, even if the leading families were waiting to make their move on the throne.

  Noelle stood in her room. She’d been looking through the window with a special blade in her hand. A new maiden making her rounds through the castle caught her eye and she smiled, knowingly. It was almost time for her rejuvenation bath and she just spotted the perfect candidate who fit her specific profile. The maiden was beautiful, and her skin was flawless. From time to time, Noelle would find a girl in the kingdom to use for her baths, so others wouldn’t grow suspicious of a murder trend among the handmaidens at the palace. It had worked well, since the time between each rejuvenation bath went for months or even years.

  The knife throbbed excitedly in her hand and she cooed at it, as one would do to a child. It was like it knew that it would soon be fed. It was called the Stealer of Youth by the seaman who had retrieved it for her, and it was a special blade. The dark book had specifically mentioned it, so she commissioned some competent trackers to find it, with the offer of adequate monetary incentive. It had been worth every penny. The Stealer of Youth enabled her to harness the essence of her sacrifice. When used during the ritual of rejuvenation, their essence was released to her, making her skin seem as soft and pure as day she’d been born. She’d been complimented on her looks for years, even though many attributed it to the fact that she was only eighteen.

  Noelle strolled through her room and stopped at the wardrobe. The mirror within it had symbols carved into it, each representing a specific spirit, and it was called The Mirror of Lies, another artifact procured by the seaman who’d brought her the knife. It had been unused for a while, tucked safely away inside her wardrobe. Unused until last week, that is. The murky surface of the mirror swirled as she watched, until a face began to form within the mist. Once the occupant formed in full within his makeshift prison, she saw his angry glare cast through the magical glass.

  It was the man she found wandering the palace in search of Esther Anna, and instantly recognized him. She’d wondered how his kind had gotten into the palace, but it hadn’t mattered, she was searching for Esther Anna and that meant they were affiliated.

  Oddly enough, he had seemed to know things about her, things only Esther Anna could have told him. She’d relished his look of terror as the mirror had sucked him in, trapping him within the confines of its realm. She knew what he was, and she wondered it Esther knew. It didn’t matter however, knowing the kind of person the queen was, she w
ould feel obligated to come back for her friend. He was her secret weapon, should the army she’d sent after the queen fail to apprehend her.

  Adam stared at her angrily and she smiled, waving her hand over the mirror surface, muttering some words, he gradually receded out of sight and the mirror became clear. Anyone who’d passed would have seen it and dismissed it as the backup mirror of a vain young princess.

  She loved being underrated.

  A maiden knocked before entering the room. “Prince Hardy has arrived, your highness.”

  Prince Hardy was Noelle’s fiancé. Their engagement was arranged; Noelle and Hardy were betrothed at birth and were slated to be married soon. He was the Prince of Solestia, which was currently under the rule of his uncle, since his parents died long ago. He was a lanky young man, with short brown hair and an unsightly moustache maintained only because Noelle found it funny, once. He was twenty-one years old but could have easily passed for a younger man due to his babyface and childlike features.

  Noelle dismissed the maid with a nod and her shoulders dropped. She didn’t have the energy to meet with him. Encounters with Prince Hardy always proved to be mind-numbingly dull. There was an upside to their partnership, however. He was her puppet and did whatever she commanded, no questions asked. She smiled as she recalled how she’d put a total obedience spell over him. It had been one of her earlier attempts at spellcasting, and the effects were exactly what she imagined. No matter what she suggested, Prince Hardy was powerless to resist. She had fun during the initial stages, as she tested her control, but eventually she became bored. Noelle tried to remove the spell, but as it failed, the effects were permanent. She was to be married to a mindless minion.