THE LAST SECRET KEEPER Secret Keeper series books 1-4

CHAPTER 31

Lanecea watched as the physicians led their assigned groups toward the ships that would take them to the mainland, and after that, to the mountains, leaving behind the queen and her children. The faeries and nymphs refused to leave the queen in her hour of need, and besides, there was no way Lanecea would make it out alive with the children without their help, the queen having produced far too many babies and children to manage on her own.

"The mountains are the safest option. At that altitude..."

Once again Lani had no idea what to do, desperately needing leadership.

"I don't think I will be able to make it up to the peak," Lanecea struggled with logic, rubbing her baby belly as though it were a round crystal ball, "and the children are too young to endure the climb. I need to wait for the king. He expects to find me here when he returns. No, it is best that you take the Atlantians and head for the hills. Don't look back. We must save as many as possible."

A muscle clenched in a guard's jaw as he watched the physicians obey the queen's order, leading the citizens of Atlantis toward safety.

"We will carry you and the children," the guard offered.

"No, we will only slow everyone down, and again, King Storm won't know where to find me. He will worry. I'm a good girl and will wait for him."

"This is not the time to be stubborn!" An older guard bellowed, fingering his sword as he strode past the younger guards. "In your condition, you may not want to retreat into the mountains but you will not stay in the castle when Atlantis perishes. No more arguing, now grab only what is essential and follow me."

Nothing was worth saving, King Storm often reminded her, but Lanecea couldn't leave her skull behind.

"Will you fetch it for me, please? I'll obey your wisdom, but I'd hate to leave the skull behind - it is so special to me."

The guard rolled his eyes, motioning for a young guard to retrieve the skull while he, the queen, several guards, and the queen's ladies scooped up babies, the toddlers carried on his comrades' shoulders as the guard led the way towards the underground tunnels. 

"Oh, the scrolls!" Lanecea remembered last minute, already turning around although her arms were full of babies as well. "They are priceless..."

Again, two other guards were dispatched to grab as many of the scrolls as they could carry, the centaur showing up at just the right moment, his comrades following behind.

"Put the youngsters on our backs. We will make better time," the head centaur stated the obvious, the toddlers now clinging to the centaurs' torsos which freed up more guards to grab additional scrolls and books, sweeping up Lanecea's eugenic notes as well. 

A quick-thinking guard freed Lanecea's shifters, the ebony panthers snarling as Lani's wolves bared their fangs. Both were extremely loyal to Lanecea, the canines defending their queen from the felines. Lanecea, the Wolf Charmer, preferred her wolves, but her shifters were her pet project and had their role to play.

"I have a message for you from Thorson," the centaur stepped closer to the queen as they entered the lower tunnels, keeping his voice so low that only the queen and her wolves were able to hear the message. "He said you had every right to worry - his mother is naughty, but don't worry, he remains loyal to you and put a stop to what Herja was doing to him. He was insistent that you should know that you have his loyalty no matter what. Thorson is not to be blamed, Your Majesty. He loves you but that woman...we both know she is a predator and a traitor but there is nothing anyone can do to stop her. Not if Storm continues to reward her... Oh, my queen, your fever...you're burning up."

"I'm not well," Lanecea admitted her weakness. "I've been in so much pain these past few days and this fever...I don't know what's wrong with me. Perhaps it is a curse of the Secret Keepers? I still have so much to learn about my heritage, but I think it may be connected with my heart. I feel so deeply, you know...and, I feel helpless. I just need to trust Thorson and focus on saving my kingdom. Will you please return to Thorson? He needs you and I have a message that I would like you to deliver for me."

"Anything, Your Majesty. I'll do anything that makes you happy and gives you some peace."

"Oh thank you - you are very kind to me and I appreciate it. Please let Thorson know that I don't blame him and I am thankful that he is trying to show he still loves me. Please tell him that I believe his father will make everything right when he returns. Despite him no longer having a soul, he is a good man and I do trust him to set the world right. I believe in him... Tell Thorson to do what is right, and then when Storm returns, perhaps he will be proud of both of us. At least I hope so."

The centaur searched the queen's eyes for a moment although he wasn't sure what he was looking for. Reflected in the queen's eyes, however, was deep sorrow and love, but trust overshadowed both. Lanecea trusted Storm more than he likely realized and, if he were wise, Storm would set the world right, proving Lanecea's trust wasn't misplaced. Just maybe if Storm stepped in and controlled his wife, he could restore Lanecea's broken heart, anchor her heart's trust in him once again, and restore peace between his women. The centaurs missed Lanecea as well but wouldn't run from Storm. He was a good man, after all. The solution was very simple from where they stood. Lanecea needed to come home.

"There should be a cavern just to the left," a guard called out, "I'm not sure that it will keep the sea from entering."

Without thinking, Lanecea reached for the centaur's hand.

"How terrible to drown beneath the ground emersed in darkness."

"That would be terrible, Queen Lanecea. May I suggest you return to the Oak Grove? The dryads would be delighted to see you again and the grove is very far from Atlantis. I will personally search for your king and let him know you and the children are safe if you take my suggestion and retreat to the grove."

"It's on Storm's property and he isn't devoted...I wouldn't want to cause contention with Herja."

"You might be surprised, but regardless, Storm would not want you to perish beneath the sea. I will speak to him when he returns on your behalf if that helps you feel more at peace. You are not well, Your Majesty."

"Alright, but we will not enter the grove. It would be trespassing. Please lead us to the caverns nearby. The children and I will be safe there until...until we are rescued. With the king away and Thorson grounded, I don't know where we belong and have an intense migraine. This pain... If any of you still wish to flee to the mountains, you still have a chance before we continue our journey. We may not emerge from the earth for some time..."

"We will not leave your side," Willow spoke for Lanecea's companions even though the tree nymph was claustrophobic as well, the thought of living beneath the earth terrifying when she would much prefer rejoining her husband in the Oak Grove.