The Call Of Shadows

Chapter Seventeen

The aging Queen stood before the remnants of her home, staring longingly at the mirror that lay shattered at her feet. She didn't know what to do with the loss, not of her daughter and not of her kingdom. Everything had gone so wrong so quickly and now her people hated her. Triast had been right...she had no claim to the throne, she had no heir, and she had no support anymore. Imnalla had been furious when she found out about Mynn and Seflek, and the Queen couldn't blame her. She had taken a risk by coming to the elves' defense, and she had lost everything because of it. If she hadn't been pulled away to war, perhaps her daughter wouldn't have been pulled away to magic. She had abandoned her in favor of a greater peace, but look what it had cost her. Looking up into the mid-morning sun, she noticed a small dot on the horizon. She hoped it was the dragon. She had sent Imnalla after Seflek days ago, and she was beginning to worry that he had failed and that all of this had been for nothing.

All around her fae of all ages and capabilities were picking up the broken pieces of their lives. And here she was standing in front of a mirror wondering just how many decades of bad luck would shadow her and her child for their sins. She needed Seflek to come home so that she could get her little girl back. She didn't care what it cost, she just needed it to be doable. She sighed heavily as she bent down and began sweeping up some of the glass while she could, wincing as the wood dragged slightly against her burned flesh. It wouldn't be fully healed for quite possibly weeks, but she wasn't about to stand around and do nothing in the meantime. She had a kingdom to rebuild and a treaty to attend to and there were only four days left until she had to be in men's domain for the negotiations.

Limtec, her head of intelligence had been briefly reassigned to assist the mages with rounding up the beasts using whatever force necessary. Somehow she didn't think they would find Mynn anytime soon. She had heard whispers that she had gone into the heart of the Wastelands where only the corrupt could enter because the weight of the magic was so strong in that area. In the past week she had been on the verge of painful, hot tears but she had not allowed them to fall yet...like everything else in her life, they just waited there- stagnant and weary and burdened with emotions they could not quite express.

It was another hour and a half before the dragon touched down, and Imnalla dismounted; acknowledging the Queen with thinly veiled hatred. "Your majesty. I found him near the mountains, about to cross into the Elven Step. I apologize for the delay." Seflek appeared beaten and ragged, unable or unwilling to look her in the eyes due to the swelling. "Well?" She asked anxiously, almost impatiently. "Did you find what we needed?" Seflek spoke quietly with a voice as harsh and as dry as the desert. He did not stumble over his words, but calmly replied. "Yes, I did your majesty. And there is a way to get Mynn back, however it is best discussed in privacy. It's a delicate matter that needs to be dealt with."

The Queen's heart skipped several beats as she heard the news Seflek had brought with him. The fledgling bird of hope had come alive again, and with it a small amount of compassion that she hadn't even realized she had lost. Her face softened from hard lines to tired sags and the anger drained from her posture, exhaustion taking its place. She sighed heavily. "Come," She said, gently taking Seflek's arm in her own. "We may speak in what's left of the medical ward. Let's get your wounds taken care of while we discuss things." She turned to Imnalla then and gave her a curt bow. "Forgive me for my poor attitude as of late dear friend. I have not dealt with any of this very tactfully, and sometimes I forget I am not the only one affected by this tragedy. If you would, I would be honored to have you accompany me on the journey to Kilrot, but if not I understand." Imnalla stared at her, uncertainly. "If it's alright, I would rather just be with my family..." She replied, trying to hide her shame. The Queen smiled. "It's ok. So would I."

The Queen led Seflek  several ruined walls and rooms away, taking her time walking both for her sake and his. They held onto each other in comfortable silence, lost in their own thoughts, just content to finally not be alone. When the healer saw Seflek clinging to the Queen, face swollen and neck bruised, her hand flew to her face. "Your majesty! What have you done?!" She gasped before she could stop herself. The entire Kingdom knew what had happened between Seflek, Mynn and herself by now and the words slapped her in the face as a harsh dose of reality. Seflek, however, chuckled beside her and began coughing the more he laughed. He held his ribs gingerly, eyes still half closed. "Forgive me," He began finally.