Isle of Wysteria: The Monolith Crumbles Read online

  Mandi pulled back her now ogre-like hands and formed a ball of black fire between them.

  “Hey,” Molly pouted. “I thought you were going to be a unicorn.”

  Mandi rolled her eyes. “Unicorns don’t breathe fire,” she explained, her voice now deep and mannish.

  Molly stuck out her lip. “I like it when you’re a unicorn.”

  “Okay, fine,” Mandi huffed. She exploded and changed her form yet again, now standing on four hooves, a line of bright volcanic horns growing out of her head, and running along her spine like a mane.

  “Here, a fire-breathing unicorn; are you happy?”

  Molly thought for a moment. “Yeah, that’ll work.”

  Mandi clanked her hooves, then with a snort, released a stream of fire into the room, setting it ablaze.

  * * *

  Queen Forsythia leaned back in her throne, the hastily mended vase with flowers sitting on a pedestal next to her. Duke Relivan reluctantly bowed, accepting her apology, and left with his wives.

  Most of the courtiers had gone home for the night. Only a handful remained. The chill air was getting in, so the branches above tightened themselves, and the wood below became warmer at the Queen’s command. Athel was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open, but the night was far from over. “Dahoon, what is next on the docket?”

  “The second of the emergency meetings you asked for, my Queen.”

  The Queen sighed. She was not looking forward to this one.

  The wood parted, but no one entered. One of the guards from outside poked her head in, indicating the visitor had not arrived.

  “Should we reschedule?”

  “No, just announce her. If I know her, she will appear when her name is called.”

  Dahoon looked at her skeptically. “Now presenting Setsuna of Senndai,” he called out formally.

  The air in the center of the hall split, as if being cut with a knife. Through the tear, a young woman stepped out, resting on one toe and thrusting her hands out as if expecting applause.

  “Tah dah!”

  The remaining courtiers were aghast.

  Setsuna gave an overly dramatic bow, her long green pigtails flopping before her. “It is an honor to be summoned into your presence, your Queenliness-ness. May I say that I have not seen you look so refined since you were collapsed in a pile of sweat and blood on the Tojiboru field?”

  The Queen’s eyebrow twitched. “The forest has need of your services…”

  Setsuna rose up, a satisfied smirk on her youthful face. She then rolled up her sleeve and inspected her silky smooth arm.

  “…Our ally Ronesia has agreed to trade fresh water to the forest, but they are too far away to do so safely,” the Queen continued.

  Setsuna craned her neck around, trying to look at the back of her slim athletic legs.

  “…The azure sea is still heavily patrolled by navy convoys. The forest requires you to set up a permanent gateway, with one end here and the other end on Ronesia, so that the exchange may take place instantaneously, and without the need of airships.”

  Setsuna pulled at her collar and peeked down the front of her tunic.

  The Queen paused. “May I ask what you are doing?”

  “Oh, sorry, I‘ve been looking all over, but I can’t seem to find a brand or label anywhere that says you own me.”

  The Queen’s lips pursed slightly. “You will, of course be compensated for your efforts.”

  Sensuna leaned in knowingly, a long green pigtail falling over her shoulder. “With…”

  “Privet Tamarack will be your escort. You will be provided a comfortable vessel, spending money, and a royal seal that should get you preferential treatment at any events you wish to attend together. I assume that is agreeable to you.”

  Sensuna jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Oh, you are getting so much better at haggling. I knew you had it in you.”

  “Just make sure you adhere to the timeline provided.”

  “No promises.”

  Queen Forsythia tilted her head. “You will promise or you won’t go.”

  Setsuna pointed a manicured green fingernail back at her. “If I don’t go, you have no water.”

  The remaining courtiers gasped.

  Setsuna tilted her chin up smugly. “Face it, Queenie. Right now you need me a lot more than I need you, so don’t think you can boss me around like one of your little minions.”

  “We are subjects, not minions,” Dahoon clarified.

  Queen Forsythia was unmoved. “Excuse me, but I am not bossing you around. I am offering you a business contract. If you do not like the terms, then I will find someone else to send Privet on a vacation with.”

  The Queen raised an eyebrow. “I may even make the journey with him myself.”

  Setsuna placed her hands on her hips, her green eyes sparkling with esteem. “Oh. I see what you did there. Well played. All right, I’ll stick to your schedule. I swear it by the swamps of Senndai and stuff.”

  There was a sigh of relief amongst the courtiers as the contract was brought forward and signed. Queen Forsythia added the royal seal next to her signature.

  “You leave tomorrow evening.”

  Setsuna stuck out her tongue and jumped back, passing through another tear in the air and disappearing.

  “That woman is insufferable,” Dahoon grumbled, forgetting himself.

  Queen Forsythia shook her head. “No, she’s just like I used to be. Now I understand why my mother went gray so early.”

  “Now presenting Alder Bursage of the Forsythia household, and Privet Tamarack, currently unassigned,” Dahoon called out formally, trying to stomach the oddity of it.

  The two men were brought forward. Alder looked like he was about to collapse with shame. Privet looked irritated. Queen Forsythia gave a glace to the remaining courtiers indicating that she wished to speak with her husband in private, and they respectfully acquiesced. Even Dahoon excused himself for the night.

  The Queen waited until the doors closed before speaking, leaving the three of them alone.

  “I’ll have you know the forest nearly lost Saint Seychell because of you.”

  “Please accept my sincere apologies,” Alder coughed, bowing as deeply as his bony frame would allow.

  “What were you thinking, presenting a suitor to Deutzia while I was in court?”

  “I…”

  Privet stepped forward. “It’s not his fault. I put him up to it. He wanted to wait until after the conference, but I insisted.”

  Athel blushed just looking at Privet, all her earlier feelings welling up inside of her. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the tips of her fingers tingling, aching to embrace him. She caught herself staring at his lips, wondering what they felt like, imagining what his kiss would taste like. For a brief moment, she imagined his strong hands sliding around her waist, and she felt an electric shock run up her spine. Every inch of her skin felt covered in goose bumps.

  “All you all right?” he asked.

  “Privet, I…ahem.” She cleared her throat, embarrassed at her lack of composure. “The fate of the entire world rests on this conference and the Alliance I am trying to forge. Please understand; I don’t have time for courtship right now.”

  “Nonsense,” Privet said sternly. The urgency in his voice caused her to jump just a little bit. “We’re at war, and about to launch an enormous offensive. If I wait, I might never get another chance. What if something were to happen to you, or to me? Best to do it now, while there is time. You taught me that, remember?”

  The Queen looked away, her hazel eyes growing sad. “Not for me. My feelings have become my enemy.”

  Alder coughed painfully as he rose to his feet. “What do you mean?”

  Queen Athel walked over to the east end of the hall and waved her
hand. The wood and branches gave way, reshaping themselves so that they now stood on a balcony, overlooking the nighttime forest. Amber light twinkled from tens of thousands of households amidst the branches. Distant songs being sung in dozens of languages. And beyond, reflecting the starlight, were the blight lands.

  The Queen motioned to them. “Do you see that? There used to be a town there called Clover Hills. It was filled with people. They’re all dead now; because I let me emotions get in the way of my duty.”

  She looked at her hands regretfully. “Their blood is on my hands. If I don’t do something to stop the Stonemasters, their deaths will just be a drop in the ocean compared to what comes next.”

  She turned away from Alder and Privet. “Even today, my emotions nearly cost us an entire island joining the Alliance. I lost control for a second, just one second, and put everyone’s lives at stake. My feelings are my enemy now.”

  She turned back to look at Privet. He was so close; she could feel her heart beating faster just to look at him. “I’m flattered that you would want to marry me. Really I am. It was something I had wanted for a long time. But, this is an inconvenient moment.”

  “Inconvenient?” Privet repeated doubtfully.

  “I…I don’t want to be stained by any more blood.”

  Alder stepped forward and took her hand gently. Her fingers trembled. “Athi…”

  “I can’t sleep at night,” Athel admitted, her role of queen crumbling away from her. “All I can do is lie there and remember their faces. I’ve shared memories with every woman on the island who lost a loved one, so these are not just numbers to me. I know each of them.”

  She looked out distantly to the blight lands. “Little Acacia Oak was only six when she died. She wanted to grow roses for her mother. Dara Willow was nearing her sixteenth birthday, and was looking forward to courting a boy she fancied. Eliah was his name. He died while looking for her among the fleeing masses. Idra Jacaranda wanted to open a special shop she had an idea for. Edible bouquets made of carved fruit. Isn’t that such a pleasant idea for a little shop? Kezia Linden had plans to begin teaching nursery…”

  Athel stood up straighter. “Shall I go on? Because I can. They’re gone--all gone because of me. When I close my eyes, all I can see are them calling out to me for help.”

  Alder’s eyes were filled with sympathy for his wife. A gentle tear rolled down his cheek. “My Queen, have you not engaged in a cleansing since you took the throne?”

  Athel leaned her head over and kissed him on the forehead. “The cleansing is for people to be forgiven by Milia. I have no such hope for myself. My only hope is to save as many people as I can before my own judgment.”

  “Oh, stop it Athel!” Privet barked, having heard enough. “You can fool yourself, but you’re not fooling me.”

  Privet stepped out and pointed to the blight lands. “Do you know whose fault it is that those people died? It’s the fault of the people who summoned that tidal wave. Erin Strenlan and her Agnita Kaito. It’s not your fault for failing to protect them. It’s their fault for killing them.”

  Athel’s face pinched in agony. “If I’m so innocent, then why do I feel so guilty?”

  Privet’s expression softened. “Athel, the leaders of half of Aetria are here. Someone else can do it. You can’t go on like this. You need rest. You need some time to yourself.”

  “No, don’t you see? I’m the only one who can do this. If I don’t, it just won’t happen. That is my fate. I may hate it, but that’s what it is.”

  Privet stood up tall, his massive chest swelling over her. The scent of him made her head spin. “That’s not the Athel I know. The Athel I know grabbed fate by the throat and found her own path. She didn’t bow to anyone or anything, especially a destiny she didn’t pick for herself.”

  Athel looked away sadly. “You’re right. That girl is gone. She sacrificed herself to save the forest. This caged bird is all that is left.”

  “I don’t believe that. You may have a fancy new job, but you are still you inside. You need to find a way to be Queen and still be yourself, or you are going to burn out.”

  Athel snapped back, tears forming in her hazel eyes. “No…I’m not still me inside. I can’t be. You just don’t understand. I can’t be myself. If I am myself, people will die. More people will die because of me.”

  Privet stepped closer, nearly touching her now. Alder stepped aside to give him room. For a moment Privet struggled with his words, but looking at her gave him strength and resolve. “Look Athel, I love you. I can finally admit that now. And when you love someone you want to be with them. I want to begin the courtship process with you.”

  Athel’s lips parted. His nearness took her breath away. “I…”

  She turned from him. “…I don’t have time for love right now.”

  “But…”

  Athel pushed his hand away. As she walked back over towards the throne, her back straightened, and her shoulders relaxed. As she sat down, her face became the icy mask of the Queen again.

  “Privet Tamarack,” she said in her mother’s voice. “The forest has need of you. You are to accompany Setsuna of Senndai to Ronesia to setup a permanent gate between our islands.”

  Privet folded his muscular arms. “Why?”

  “Because we are running out of fresh water fast, and the second the Stone Council realizes that, all they have to do is order their engineers to ground any airship bound to deliver fresh water here, and they will have won the war without firing a shot. They’ll get to sit back and watch as everyone stranded on Wysteria goes mad with thirst and dies a truly horrible death.”

  Privet was surprised at the gravity of the situation.

  “If I could think of another way to save the forest, I would do it, but I can’t see any other solution. Senndai refuses to join the Alliance, and Setsuna is the only Gatemaster the forest has any influence over, so we must ask her. However, the only incentive she will respond to is spending time with you, so the forest offered it to her.”

  Privet could not hide how hurt he was. “You used me. Again. You agreed to this without even speaking to me about it first. You treated me like some piece of property to be traded and discarded. When we decided to come back here, you promised me you wouldn’t do that.”

  A bit of sadness came through her icy mask. “I know. But please understand, the only thing I have truly discarded in this is my own feelings. I want us to be together. I want it so bad I can barely speak. But I am setting aside what I want for the survival of the forest.”

  Her lip trembled a little bit. “Will you please help me save my forest? Please.”

  Privet clenched his fist and swore under his breath. “All right, I’ll do it.”

  * * *

  From atop a nearby tree, Setsuna watched gleefully across the valley onto the balcony of the royal tree with her spyglass. As Privet agreed and walked away, an impish grin crossed her green painted lips.

  “Oh Athel, you gambled too big this time. By the time we return from Ronesia, I’ll have made him mine. Mind, body, and soul.”

  * * *

  Athel could barely keep on her feet as her guards accompanied her to her bedchambers. Alder walked half a step behind her, as was his custom, carrying the vase filled with the Seychellian bouquet. When the door opened, Mina stood on the other side in a bathrobe, her white fur dripping and drooping. It kind of made her look like a wet cat.

  “What happened to you?”

  “The baby threw up on me again.”

  Captain Evere couldn’t help but snicker from inside as he fed the baby a bottle.

  Athel smiled sleepily. “Sorry, men of the Forsythia family often have an underdeveloped stomach valve for the first year or so. An inherited trait, I’m afraid.”

  Athel’s guards took up position and she stepped in, taking the baby and holding him close to her heart. �
�Oh, I missed you today, little bud.”

  The baby yawned and opened his eyes, happy to see his mother. Athel gave him the gentlest kiss on the cheek. “You know, in a way I’m kind of relieved that he is normal in that sense.”

  “Has his tree awakened yet?” Evere asked, helping his wife towel off.

  “Not yet, but it should be soon. The first leaves unfurled this morning.”

  The night sky was beginning to lighten with the coming dawn.

  Alder came and stood beside her. She leaned a little against him, and he leaned back. “It’s been a very long day,” she mused.

  “Yes it has.”

  “In a couple of hours, the sun will come up, and I get to do it all over again.”

  Something occurred to her, and she became worried. “Alder, the seating arrangements for the conference?

  “I have taken care of it.”

  “The food preparations?”

  “Specialized menus for each delegation are being prepared as we speak.”

  “The housing and accommodations? Security details?”

  “All are ready, Athi.”

  Athel breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you Alder. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you.”

  Evere wrapped his arm around his wife, and the two of them smiled as they looked at Athel and Alder standing together with their baby in the beautiful growing light. “Nothing lovelier than a family with their baby,” Mina purred.

  Evere nodded in agreement. “Those two have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Anyone else would have splintered by now.”

  “I’ve seen a lot of married couples, but those two are special. So long as they have each other, nothing can stop them.”

  Evere gave his wife a kiss on the neck. “I’ve spent my whole life running when things got hard. To see these two stand their ground against the storm…well, it makes me feel rather small.”