Manon's Child

Part 3

We fly for hours, like we do everyday. When we land at sundown, even I am stiff in the saddle. I swing my leg over and slide off Abraxos, everyone else doing the same around me, starting to set up our camp for the night.

We only stop for the night. We all want to get to the Witch-Kingdom too much to dawdle. i think the only reason we even stop at all is to eat, sleep and relieve ourselves, and the wyverns, of course.

Our campsite is just behind a clump of massive rocks, that provide shelter from the harsh winds that plague the Wastes. A small stream trickles past, almost completely dried up, but with enough after for us to restock our dwindling supplies. I stroke Abraxos' now, de-saddling him, and wander into the camp of people - my people.

This new responsibility weighs heavily down on me. I have always been trained to lead, but not this many people - not this fragile a people. There is barely any trust among the two types of us, our history of conflict getting in the way of our relationships. They are trying though. We are all trying.

Suddenly, the responsibility joins the grief in my heart and I feel like curling up and crying on the floor. I don't, but the urge is there.

Damn feelings.

I erect my tent in a few minutes, being well used to it by now, and then stride through the camp, looking for the one person who might understand the mess I am right now. Although no one says anything, I can see them subtly moving out of my way, can feel them staring after me. I don't blame them.

I know what I look like. I know how pale my face is, how sick I look. I know what they're whispering about they're knew queen, and I. Don't. Care.

Not anymore.

Let them whisper.

"Glennis," I say, stopping beging my great-grandmother. She turns toward me, smiling though it doesn't reach her eyes.

"Manon," she replies. "How can I help?"

I open my mouth to demand something, but realise I don't know what I came her to say. Suddenly, Petrah and Bronwen rush up to us. "Manon," Petrah says. "You need to see this."

Glennis and I quickly follow as they lead us to the rocks, then up them, until we're at the very top. It provides a magnificent view, and we stare out at the Wastes, beautiful in it's own way.

I fall to my knees.

There, on the horizon, wreathed in the light of the setting sun, lies the Witch-Kingdom, and in it, the ruins of the ancient but not forgotten Witch-City