The Cleansing (Book One: The Folara Chronicles)

040: Adara and Nimiane

Adara held her hair back from falling into the crystal bowl of sea water before her. She gazed carefully, clearing her mind. It had been many years since the calling ring on her finger had been disturbed, and its fluent magic had all but dissipated. Another means of contact had to be derived, and this seemed the easiest way.

"Nimiane?"

Except for the burning ring on her finger, today may have been the day that Crevan killed Ondrea, the last obstacle standing in the way of her domination of Quildor. Her heart raced. Why had Nimiane contacted her now?

"Nimiane?" She urgently stirred the water with one finger, allowing her Zalez to drift far under the sea where her sister resided, the Queen of her little Council of Ladies..... ha! Queen! 

"Nimiane!" she commanded the stirring water to whirl further down in the little dish she kept it in, till a bottom no longer contained it, and a corridor opened. This is how the sight pool worked, another gift of the planetary magic. Her sister's visage appeared!

"Sebille!"

Adara's eyes blinked at being called her former name.

"Sister!" 

"I have need of your expertise." Nimiane began without preamble.

"Speak." Adara settled herself on her sofa in preparation for this message.

"I took the dragon out yesterday, and it refused to fly. It would not eat or move, or open its eyes. The time has come to take it to land."

Adara remained silent. The advent of this creature upon the planet could be quite fortuitous. What exactly would it heal? Disease?

How powerful was it?

"Do you want me to take it?" Adara asked quietly, finding impatience in her sister's long silence.

"No." Nimiane's eyes narrowed. She wasn't about to give up her gift now. "I want you to let me talk to Ondrea."

Adara's heart froze. Nimiane could never be allowed to speak with Ondrea! What if Nimiane convinced Ondrea to give her the scepter?

Adara stilled her trembling hands around the edge of the bowl she was looking into, closing her eyes momentarily so that Nimiane couldn't see the malice she held. "I can't access her. Only Quildor can."

"That's a lie." Nimiane barked. "I know you have the vial, and can override her energy."

"The- the vial is long used up." Adara squeaked.

"Used up?!" Nimiane's eyes burned. "Mother said it could never be used up! Its potency was limitless, unless.... Unless it's potency like so many other gifts, was meant to be used for the good of all, and not squandered on the power lust of the few." That was a clear accusation, and Adara knew it. The reference was to her own choice to follow Quildor.

Nimiane's eyes swam back into Adara's view, shrewd and knowing. "Sebille! I see your plans. You have become a nemesis to the balance of life here."

"Would you destroy me, sister? No!" 

"You dare me?!" Nimiane's voice rang clearly and Adara saw the swirling water in her bowl suddenly evaporate and become a whirlwind in her room. She threw both arms up to hide her face, a scream torn roughly from her lips.

Adara cowered against the door, trying to open it as Nimiane's countenance filled the whirlwind. She huddled, powerless against the door, unable to turn the handle, unable to take her eyes off Nimiane.