Wind Flowers (Book 2 of Flower Trilogy)

2.

Halia stood up and made a few steps towards the woman, her eyes continuously staring at the floor before her.

"My name is Halia," she answered although she could not successfully hide the shiver in her voice.

"A queen, my eye," hissed Urach in Tönx ears. "She is scared as hell."

He pushed her away and stepped in to help his friend. "She was with us when we first set shore on this land," he said. "She was also at our side during the battle that cost us so many lives. She is the one who killed the Evil King."

"A hero," mocked Zhagahsi. "And where has our hero been all this time?"

"At sea," the nymph replied.

"At sea?" repeated the chieftain, feigning interest.

She walked toward the fire and took a seat with a majestic air. Halia and the water spirit followed her but continued to stand before her.

"She left after the funeral on the Mound, not able to bear with the loss of a friend."

Zhashagi rose an eyebrow. "What friend might that be?" she asked.

"Phi," Halia replied. Pronouncing her name out loud hurt her like if a lightning had stroke her.

"I see," said the woman. The people looked at each other in fear. After all, Zhashagi blamed Phi for her son's death. Halia mentioning that the bird fairy was her friend was perhaps not the best strategy to convince the chieftain to let her stay. "And why are you here now?"

Halia looked at the woman in the eyes. It was her stance and the anger in her voice that made her scary. Otherwise, she was rather pretty with her brown skin and thick black hair. She could not stop herself from thinking that she looked a little like her late friend.

"Tönx came to find me and asked me to come back, saying that my people need a new leader."

"Yes," said the chieftain. "Your people has been searching for some sort of marking that would allow them to go back to the land you claimed yours." She paused an instant before continuing. "I have kept my promise. I did you no harm. I let you stay among my people, but every day when I lay an eye on you creatures, I see death. And I want death away from us."

Her voice had been calmer when she started speaking, but the more words came out of her mouth, the more passion came through. Anger. It was clear that if Phi had not sealed her promise, the woman would have killed them all by now.

Halia did not know what to answer her. She still meant her respect, however, and she bent to her. A gesture that surprised Zhashagi.

The nymph was to become a queen, yet acted in such modest manner. She treated her as the leader, did not question her authority. She did not seem ambitious.

"My people wish to once again conduct a ceremony to find out if the Mother will bestow her powers to one of us," said Halia. "With your permission, we would like to do this tonight."

The nymph wished to be done with it as soon as possible. To prove Tönx she was not the royal they all expected. And to return to the sea.

The chieftain looked at the new comers. Their eyes shone with hope. It seemed as if so many of them believed in the nymph's ability to rule, despite the fact she undeniably seemed tormented.

"Very well," Zhashagi agreed, who saw the young girl's obedience as a sign she might be more easily pliable to her will. "Good luck."

The New Comers and the Others both exhaled in relief. The chieftain did not explode in anger. This was a miracle in itself.