One Hidden Queen

Beltane

**Time skip to Beltane because I'm lazy**

On the westside of Innisfuil, where the meadow begins to turn to stone, lies the poisoner's camp. Neat, orderly rows of black and white tents are being pitched, the warm sun beating down on the travelers from Prynn. Towards the back, where the grass gives way to smooth basalt, is the queen's tent.

While those with other gifts may mingle, the poisoners pitch tents in a solitary section. Always aloof, they would never forgo their pride and pitch tents next to elementals or war gifted. Or goddess forbid, naturalists.

That, of course, does not mean that they can confine their queen to the same policy.

***

Aceline wanders down the chaotic paths between tents, weaving her way through the makeshift campsites. It is nothing like she has ever seen before. Next to her, a family of naturalists shares lunch with two elementals. Behind her, an oracle helps hammer in the posts of a Giftless couple's tent. It's true, Aceline admits, that Beltane brings the gifts together. Except, of course, the poisoners.

In the distance, she can see the tops of their tents, with pristine black stripes and clean white canvas covers. They are arranged in orderly rows, unlike the chaos around her. The naturalist tents are threadbare and patched, though cozy and full of life. The elemental tents are unconventional, through beautifully decorated. Aceline almost wishes that she could stay here forever, soaking in the delightful, joyful chaos of Beltane.

But, of course, she can not. Fear seeps into her brain, reminding her that this festival marks the beginning of the ascension. This time next year, two queens will be dead. Aceline shudders at the thought.

Moreover, there is the silent, anxious fear of seeing her sisters. She does not know where they have pitched their tents, but she prays that she will not come across them.

Then, from the corner of her eye, the poisoner queen notices someone. A middle-aged woman with long, curly crimson hair. Immediately, Aceline wishes she hadn't seen her. But it can not be undone. Aceline's mind slips into a memory.

It was twilight, the sky still painted with whispers of pink and yellow. In the warm summer air, fireflies buzzed contentedly, like little golden sparks of sun. Behind the black cottage, there was a meadow, perfect for entertaining the energetic queens. Orianna had snuck into the pantry earlier, and retrieved a jar of strawberry jam. Obediently, Kalani devouerd the the sweet red jelly, leaving the jar empty. Now, as Aceline sat on the grass, Orianna ran about, frantically trying to catch fireflies with the empty glass container. Kalani, whose mouth was stained pink from the strawberries, danced about under the fireflies, spinning and laughing.

The poisoner queen sat by herself on the grass, though she was not lonely. She was quite content to watch her younger sister's enjoy life. She kept an eye on them as she read her book.

Of course, something was missing. A hole, which was sometime vacant. Wren.

Periodically, she had mind splitting headaches. Once, in a moment of terror, she told Aceline It felt as if someone was sawing her head in half. The distraught midwife had cried out that these migraines were her punishment from the goddess. Aceline did not know what she meant, but she had nursed Wren every time she was ill. And every time, the midwife spouted terror stricken mumblings about the goddess.

At that time, Aceline knew little about who this Goddess was, but she did know one thing. If the Goddess ever came to her punished sisters, as she did to Wren, Aceline would protect them.........

With her life.