Lamp of Light

by Alex H Singh

  Prince Phillip carried with him a pack that contained everything they needed. His dress was far different than what he’d been wearing before, as he exchanged the regal attire for normal traveler’s wear. His princely garb would only draw attention to them once they were out of Fandrela, and that would work against them if they wanted to lay low and out of sight. His sword hung from his side, polished and cleaned with special materials during his preparations from the night before.

  Esther Anna was dressed in an outfit made for her by the fairies. Something comfortable, light, and much like the prince’s uniform, made for easy blending in. As a fugitive, the last thing she wanted was to stand out in the crowd.

  As they approached the outer region, she remembered first walk towards Fandrela. She had been so fascinated with the large flowers and blades of grass. Everything was extraordinary. She’d grown so accustomed to that way of life that going back to normal size would take some getting used to, at least for the first few days. It was a long trek, but they finally arrived at the edge of the kingdom, and she found that the outer regions had a familiar forest area. Due to Damien’s awareness of the other entrance, they decided to use another route. It was still terrifying to know that the tracker would pick her up as soon as they left but choosing a different doorway would buy them some time.

  Once they were stopped, Esther Anna watched as their escort flew towards her. She stretched out her hands and gave the queen one last smile before a blast of energy was released from her hands and it struck her squarely in the chest. She braced herself and shut her eyes tight as she felt the sensation of being thrust into the air at a dizzying speed. She reached out and brushed against grass and flowers as she returned to her normal size. The transition felt she like she was flying and by the time she opened her eyes, she seemed to be looking at the ground from the top of a tower. Her mind flashed back to the time the prince took her to his special place. He’d flown her to the top of a flower. Everything had looked so far away and beautiful. That was how she felt now, except the tower was her own legs.

  The fairy escort flew up to her face level and bowed to her as a sign of departure, before zipping away, to return to Fandrela.

  Esther Anna thought to wave, but she was already gone. She looked back towards the kingdom; already nostalgic for the realm she left behind. It was so tiny now, but she could still see it. As she watched, she could see fairies zipping in and out of various houses, engaging in their everyday activities. Their lives would continue on as usual, since the world didn’t stop turning just because of this critical situation. Time was of the essence; if they wanted to preserve the lives of their people and the beauty of their kingdoms, they needed to press on.

  Phillip grew to human size beside her, standing at an impressive six feet two inches, which was more than a head taller than her. She turned to him and watched in mild wonder as his wings collapsed against his back. He looked himself over and then looked up at her and smiled. All the awkwardness from the previous day over the botched moment seemed to have dissolved, and they didn’t want that to get in the way of their task before them.

  “Where to?” She asked.

  “Well, first things first. You know we’re not definitely going out that way.” He pointed, and she didn’t even have to look to know that it was the entrance where Damien was last seen. It was the entrance she’d used initially, which would have been a bad idea. “There are roughly six entrances to my kingdom and they all lead to different places from this end. So, we’re going out through the one least likely to have any guard close to the vicinity.” Phillip turned to the northwest and they started their hike. During their walk, neither of them said a word.

  He was confident in his directions towards a safe destination, so she followed him closely and quietly. He was aware of the risk that awaited them on the other side, and wanted to find the best route possible, with the least amount of chance that Damien would be there.

  Esther Anna reached up and pushed aside some of the vines that were obstructing her path. Out of the blue, she was struck with fear that the people would blame her if Phillip did not return home to them. It would be her fault he was in danger in the first place, since she brought the mission to him. However, the prince was grown and capable of making decisions on his own. It was his idea to join her, but she was determined to have his back and protect him as best as she could. The queen didn’t fancy the thought of having another kingdom blame her for something she had nothing to do with and she enthusiastically prayed that their mission would be a success.

  If not the people of their kingdoms, Esther Anna’s biggest critic would be herself. She would blame herself for his death, or if anything were to happen to him.

  She sighed.

  “Is everything okay?” Phillip asked.

  “Yeah, its fine…I’m fine. I’m just worried. A lot is riding on this and many lives will be lost if we fail, I can just feel it.” She said, and he nodded, stopping completely.

  “Look at me. We will succeed okay? A positive attitude helps too. Plus...” He gestured towards his blade, “I know how to use this pretty well.”

  Esther Anna laughed. Phillip had to use his sword to cut through the vines that were her bindings upon their first meeting. That was the only time she’d seen him use the sword, but since he proudly wore it on his hip, she didn’t doubt his skill. She looked back one last time the way they had come. She wondered if she would ever return to Fandrela. Feeling the uncertainty threatening to rise again, she turned back and hurried to catch up with Prince Phillip.

  The mission was on.

  Present time. Kingdom of Tibethia. Outskirts.

  The surface of the lake glistened in the moonlight and was relatively calm. Crickets chirped all around, a natural soundtrack to the night air. The grass moved slightly in the wind and far off in the distance, an owl hooted. It seemed like an ordinary night.

  At that moment, a glow came from the lake and a few seconds later a figure emerged. Esther Anna broke the surface of the water and looked around carefully. Left and right she turned, as her legs beat steadily beneath the water. She was encased in a transparent bubble that provided air for her to breathe and kept her clothes dry underwater. As soon as she emerged from the lake, it gradually dissolved, and she crouched low to avoid being seen. A few seconds later, Prince Phillip flew out. He’d reverted to his natural state to maintain the spell that protected the queen, since his magic was all but gone when in human form. He was pleased to find that the exit he chose wasn’t heavily guarded, as it was a rarely used gateway to Fandrela.

  He shifted back into his human size and joined her.

  “You have an underwater entrance?” She asked quietly.

  “We have several, actually,” Phillip replied as he adjusted the pack around his back, “but this is one is not as popular as the rest. Each of them are in places that are heavily guarded.”

  She nodded and made a quick scan of the area. “Where are we?”

  “We are still in Tibethia.” The prince caught her wide-eyed expression and burst out laughing. “Hey…calm down. I don’t think there’s anyone here, and even if they were, they’ve since moved on. Don’t you recognize the lake? We’re at Edmond’s Pass.”

  Edmond’s Pass was indeed one of the least travelled paths in the kingdom, since for a time; it was a haven of thieves and criminals. It earned its name from one man who had not been content with just changing routes because of the unsavory lot. That man’s name was Edmond, and together with a small band of people, cleared out the pass of hooligans and rough figures that resided there. The intention had fallen through because by then, the place had gained sufficient notoriety for people avoiding that path altogether.

  Esther Anna was relieved now that she was confident they were alone. She took a quick glance out at the area, breathed a sigh of relief and went to sit beside the lake. It felt good. The prince had proved that he knew exactly what he was doing, and it impressed her, the way things were going so far. Th
ey were off to a great start. Phillip went to join her, and for a while, they watched peaceful stillness of the water stretched in front of them. The stars up above twinkled brilliantly. The queen compared the sight of this sky to the one she’d seen in the fairy kingdom. This one was familiar, a sky in a world she knew, with its single sun, single moon and plethora of stars. Even though Fandrela was fantastical, it was nice to be in her realm.

  She sighed. The initial drowsiness of sleep washed over her. It was tough for her to tell the time based on the sky alone, but the black of night told her it was rather late. The steady rhythm and tone of the crickets began to gently lull her to sleep.

  “I’m sorry…” Phillip uttered. “For two nights ago, I’m sorry.”

  Two nights ago? She wondered, and remembered the moment he’d uttered that same thing, and he’d left the room. What did I do? Esther Anna had no idea what bothered him so much, but he looked upon her with a remorse that meant he’d convinced himself that he’d done something wrong. She felt it tug at her heart.

  “You’ve done nothing to be sorry for…” Her eyes were drawn to the floor as she spoke.

  “Yes, I do. I tried to kiss you. That was highly irresponsible of me. I misjudged… I saw the signs and I just thought…” Phillip sighed. “I took advantage of your vulnerability, and that was wrong of me. I ask that you forgive me, it won’t happen again.”

  “What if…” She trailed off for a beat. Her eyes were pinned to the shimmering waters and seemed determined to not look up for some reason. “What if I want it to?”

  The question threw him for a loop, and he looked at her with a bashful surprise. He couldn’t tell if she meant those words, and the confusion threatened to consume him. “So…what is it then?” Phillip reached out to her and even though she took his hand and looked up, she quickly turned away.

  Esther Anna raised her hand to grab onto the pendant of her necklace. “It means that I didn’t turn away because I didn’t want to kiss you. Your attempt wasn’t offensive, either. It’s just… timing.”

  “Timing? What does that even mean?” Prince Phillip asked without thinking. He scratched his head.

  “It’s… timing, Phillip. I just lost my husband. I feel for you greatly and I know that you have feelings for me too, but the timing is all wrong. There are too many things at hand for us to complicate things further.” Esther Anna’s voice wavered slightly.

  Phillip seemed displeased with this explanation and he had a few more questions to ask, but he wasn’t sure what he could say that would make things less confusing or awkward between them. He’d clearly crossed a line, but he knew exactly what he wanted. He liked her. He cared for her. He wanted her. He didn’t understand it. “I’m still not sure I completely understand, but I trust and respect your decision. I understand if you aren’t ready. I can live with it, if you can.” On that note, it was time to take his leave, and perhaps keep busy from the rather unusual conversation that just occurred. Phillip retrieved some of his equipment from his pack and started to set up their shelter for the night.

  The queen didn’t stop him and stayed seated for a little while longer. Her mind held onto his words. She’d been convinced that she was doing the right thing and made the right decision, but for some reason, she still felt guilty. Doing the right thing, for who? Herself? Phillip? Or was it out of respect for her late husband and their kingdom?

  I can live with it, if you can. His words echoed in her mind.

  Somehow, she didn’t think she could.

  Present time. Kingdom of Tibethia.

  The thought of her drove him mad. He couldn’t stop thinking about her… longed for her, too. She drove him to do nearly impossible feats, and even break habits he’d long considered to be deeply ingrained in him. Damien sat underneath the meager shelter he had constructed from fallen trees, and pined after the queen, the woman of purity he needed at his side. He had taken up camp at the entryway where he’d last seen her, and carefully watched for any sign of movement. He figured the fairies were much too smart to exit through the same way she entered, but since Damien knew that’s where she’d gone to, it made him feel closer to her by staying in that same area.

  He’d been thinking about his last interaction with the princess.

  The runt is starting to get suspicious of me? Damien thought, as he laughed.

  The suspicion wasn’t enough for him to lose sight of the task at hand. He could feel that his Queen Esther Anna was close. Even if he was not allowed inside the wards, her essence permeated the defenses. The queen’s intoxicating scent drove him mad, as it caressed his senses. She was unique. Finding anyone who was able to enchant him and his dark heart would be next to impossible.

  The woodsman breathed in deeply. The blue and green hues of the barriers intermingled, a taunt that mocked him and his inability to enter that section of the forest. But he had grown accustomed to the scenery and he waited patiently.

  He sensed the familiar stirrings of the summoning and made up his mind to disregard it. He felt it again and growled slightly in exasperation. The way she called him was different this time and didn’t go unnoticed. There was urgency to them and he found himself wondering what exactly she needed from him that could warrant such an urgent summons. It wasn’t possible for the queen to emerge somewhere without him knowing. The tracking spell he used never failed, yet he felt the summons again. Noelle was relentless tonight, as she continued to call him. Damien groaned. He relaxed his mental defenses and allowed her to take him.

  Once he was transported, he opened his eyes and found himself in Princess Noelle’s room. It looked as if she was about to perform the summons again, until she saw him appear and she cast a glare at him in frustration.

  Damien fell to one knee in a ceremonious bow to the princess, but instead of greeting him, he heard her huff. “You called, princess?” Having been ripped from the forest where he was closest to Esther Anna, he was the frustrated one.

  Noelle still hadn’t addressed him. She muttered things to herself, under her breath, until finally she stopped pacing and turned to face him. “My plans have been accelerated. The leading families acted faster than I thought they would, and now they intend to move against the palace. They are moving against me! Do you have any news on the queen?”

  “Not yet, princess. The queen’s stay in the fairy kingdom has been unexpectedly long. She has proven to be even more cunning than I anticipated. No need to worry, I will get her and bring her to you.” Damien knew all the right words that Noelle wanted to hear.

  She waved her hand dismissively and started pacing again. “At last we know where she is… I doubt she will be going anywhere tonight. We’ll find her after this matter is resolved.”

  The woodsman watched her. This situation was entirely serious, since she asked him to cease whatever he’d been doing to find the one person who could put her plans to ruin. Why? Because of more power-hungry humans aiming to get their greedy hands on the throne.

  “He came here!” She shrieked. “He insulted me, called me unworthy, among other things. I will make him pay.” Noelle seemed to be talking to herself than to him, but he nodded along.

  “I will do as you command, Princess.” He said, feeling his weapon’s thirst for blood pulsating from its sheath. “At the appointed time, call upon me and I will lay waste to those who mean to take your throne.”

  Noelle stopped mid-stride and looked at him with an expression that looked very much like gratitude. She gave him a faint nod that he’d quietly accepted and used that as his ticket to dismiss himself. He gave her a bow and vanished, intent on returning to the forest to continue his vigil. Noelle was so focused on the visit from Sir Tobias Eaton; she didn’t realize the woodsman had left. She’d spent the entire day listening to longwinded speeches about tradition, as well as reading various letters and correspondence warning, threatening and begging her to give in to Sir Tobias Eaton without a fight. Surrender. Just because he had the backing of the leading families, they said the
odds weighed heavily in his favor. Sir Tobias Eaton was stronger than she was, technically.

  Yet she vowed to show them just how terrifying her wrath could be.

  The impression everyone had about her was that she was an insubordinate, spoiled girl who refused to leave the throne; therefore she had to be removed by force. No one would leave her alone to rule her father’s kingdom, her kingdom, without some sort of feud, challenge or pushback, so she felt justified in standing her ground, in whatever action she took against them. Then, she smiled, at her thoughts… she wondered if they would beg for mercy before she killed them. The book provided a secret weapon, one she knew that come morning, she would release upon them. Everything had been set to conduct the ritual.

  Prince Hardy had begged her to allow his men in to defend the palace alongside her loyal guards, but she rejected his help. Her plans were set, and she would have her revenge for their treachery and snide remarks about her. Even though he apologized and offered to be at the princess’ side to show his solidarity with his future wife, she refused, as she was rather tired of his sniveling.

  Noelle peeked into her wardrobe and was surprised to see him staring at her. It was the queen’s imaginary friend.

  “Trouble in paradise, huh?” He grinned at her expressed discomfort and unease.

  She rolled her eyes at his petty attempt to provoke her. After what she had endured, it would take a whole lot more than that to rile her up. Noelle was enjoying her newfound invulnerability to verbal attacks and manipulation, even if it was only temporary. “It will be handled and then everything will be back on track, don’t you worry.”