One Hidden Queen

The Breccia Domain

Aceline turns on her heel, and walks away from the black crevice. She leans against a tree, sliding against it until she sits on the ground. While Kalani and Orianna might speak to one another, the lone poisoner queen will not. It is too painful, to see them again. She must not harm them with her memories. It is her burden to bear. Instead, she is content to watch over them, as she did when they were young children. That is enough for her.

Orianna turns to the small elemental queen, taking in the sight of her. Kalani grasps her arm, her knuckles white, trying to stop the flow of blood from her wound. Silently, Orianna hands her a roll of bandages, after tearing some of for her own gash.

Kalani wraps the clean white cloth around her arm, neatly smoothing out any air pockets. Orianna makes quick work of her injury, messily bundling her arm in white strips. They have not really changed at all.

Aceline has brought her own bandages, along with other provisions. She would never allow herself to rely on her sisters. She does not want to burden them with her love.

After the flow of blood has stopped, an awkward silence settles over the Queens. An air of Expectancy hangs over Orianna and Kalani, thick as fog. Finally, the Naturalist breaks the silence.

"We should gather wood for a fire. The wind will chill us to the bone," She mutters, unsure.

"Yes, I suppose," Kalani answers, and glances back at the crevice in the ground. Then, turning on her heel, the short queen heads towards the woods.

Orianna follows, and crouches to gather sticks. She does not have the careless crouch of a Naturalist, freely digging her nails into the dirt. No, she is more like a ghost, floating from one place to another, like a leaf carried on the wind.

Over the length of the night, Aceline is content to observe her sisters. She watches them build a fire, eat a meager dinner of cornbread and beef, and sit in silence. Weather they are too afraid to speak, or simply comfortable in the silence, the poisoner queen does not know. Kalani gazes almost wistfully at the Breccia Domain.

Then, like a rock creating ripples in a pond, The elemental speaks. "D-Do you think she loves us?"

The sisters do not need to ask who she is talking about. They already know.

But what answer is there to give? In her heart, Aceline knows that the goddess does not love her. But what of her sisters? May she still care for them? The poisoner queen doubts that the Goddess loves anything, but she does not say so. The question simply hangs in the air, unanswered, as night falls.

Eventually, Two of the Queens fall asleep, curled on the rocky ground. Orianna is restless, tossing and turning, but she stays stubbornly asleep. Aceline is the only sister awake, and she knows that no sleep will come to her tonight. She will watch over her sisters, protect them. But from what, she does not know. Perhaps it is the Goddess.

If Aceline becomes Queen, she will abolish this ritual. It is cruel, to force a Queen to confront those who may be her prey. But, what part of this isn't cruel?