The Mad Queen

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Visara marched on the human lands with her armies. Upon hearing her message of eternal peace, she was also joined along the way by other groups of human soldiers. They left their warmongering King to side with her. The Capital city where he resided was not as large or developed as it is today. However, his fortress was well protected. Visara marched at the very front of her army, leading the way. She slew anyone in her way and even the King's fortress could not keep her out. It did not take long for it to fall and for her armies to ransack the place.

She took the King prisoner. Not letting the rage get the best of her. She stared into the eyes of the man who raped and killed her mother and imprisoned him instead of torturing him. Knowing that she was not the only one that he hurt and the rest of her country would want justice too. Once she seized control over the humans, it was all over. She ruled every single race. Fighting stopped as treaties, laws and contracts were made and agreed to.

Once the lands were united, Visara's name was sung across the country. She was worshipped and loved by all. From then on, there was no need for the lands to be called The Bloodlands as it had been known for as long as anyone could remember. A new name was needed and the people turned to their saviour.

Visara Dulavelle. Wanting both a part of her own name and the name of the Peace God who fathered her to be the title of their new lands, they finally came to a decision.

From then on, the Kingdom was to be called Vivelle. It was a new era of peace, prosperity and equality.

The History of Visara

My mouth is dry as is my skin. It is so hot and the heat is relentless. Though I have to admit, there is something uniquely special about the Northern Deserts that make up the Lupine Territory. I had always assumed they were just endless miles of rolling hills and dunes made up of sand. But no. The ground is dry and solid underfoot. It is like hard mud and sand mixed together and a dark burnt orange colour. Like it can't decide whether to be orange or brown. The ground is also covered in thousands of plants. The leaves and branches a mixture of dark greens and straw-like yellows. The branches and leaves are dry and sharp. Then, there are the mountains. They are unlike any mountains I have ever seen. Nothing grows on them. They are just huge mounds of that same burning orange stone that rise from the flat ground. There are no gradual inclines. Just a completely flat ground and then boom. A tall mount of stone, it's summit just as flat as the ground it sits upon. They are spectacular and dramatic. They don't link together though. They stand alone as they make up the horizon.

It is endless though. The horizon is nothing but a wobbling haze from the heat with no sign of any villages or life. I don't see any animals but the ones we ride. There is no rivers or lakes which isn't exactly surprising. The sun is high in the sky today. No clouds cover it and the heat is horrendous. I have to wear clothes that cover my body completely otherwise my skin would be fried. I am sweating a lot.

We have been travelling for a week now and I can truly understand how so many people get lost. With the heat and the endless wilderness, I can see where the mind could get confused. That and the lack of any water and shelter, well, anyone underprepared would be long dead by now. Though the path we have taken has been mostly flat, I have seen great canyons in the distances. There is a lot more to these lands than I could ever have imagined. I was completely right with getting the Lupine themselves to take me to their lands. They have all the necessary supplies to keep us alive and know the way. Getting lost out here would be terrifying.

We have only come across one pack of Kintara wolves. They weren't a big pack and the wolves were nowhere near the size of the wolf that is being ridden by the woman who leads this group. Because of the Lupine with us, they left us alone. However, if we were on our own, I suspect we would have been torn to shreds. I wonder how these beasts survive in this climate and heat. How do they not boil to death in their own bodies? Like any wolf, they are covered in thick furs. The horses struggle, but somehow the Lupine who lead us have an endless supply of water and food to help the horses. I think, that there are secret water and food stashes along the path we are taking that they are accessing when we are either sleeping or when one of the Lupine in our group suddenly veers off in another direction, they are going to the stash to swap over supplies.