Queendom at Dusk

Chapter Seven: Leerie

The Queen makes her entrance in the quirky basement, climbing down the uneven wooden stairs, accompanied by Serena. Cloaked silhouettes are already sitting at the huge oval table in the dimly lit room. The ceiling is low, and Leerie has to duck before she reaches the bottom of the stairs. The smell of old wood from the floor of the windowless room tickles her nostrils and her eyes need a few seconds to get accustomed to the darkness. She feels the tightness of the four stone walls get to her already.

The witches don't salute her; they are outlaws -- the Queen expects no politeness from them, but she enjoys having such authority as to summon them without question. They're gathered, all sixteen, rather reluctantly, and they avoid her look. Women that sacrificed a healthy community life where each have they place.... in favour of illegal practices and homelessness. They brought it on themselves.

She looks at each of the witches. Some are old hags indeed, but a surprising majority of them are still young women. They all have that disdainful look on their faces, like teenagers brooding because they were forced out of their crib. They are wearing long rags, torn black or brown or grey capes that mark them as hermits. The hoods are pulled up over their heads and most are staring at their hands.

The Queen sits at the table as Serena stands behind her. Some of them dare look at her. She spots a few very young girls that could have been her apprentices. She wonders how women, especially that young, fall into such a dark pit – what went wrong in their lives that would make them give up on this perfectly organised society? She would have to investigate this when her first problem is solved.

And here she is, with criminals she'd rather behead, to discuss an agreement. She clears her throat and puts her hands on the table to give herself an air of superiority.

"So, I summoned you here because, as you may know, the miracle babies are not yet explained. Hera has not sent me any signs, but it may take time... That's why you're here. I thought you might help me find answers – beyond our Goddess."

The witches remain silent and avoid eye-contact. The Queen holds her head high.

"Have you, in any way, helped the girls get pregnant?"

One woman, right opposite the Queen over this wide table, acts as the spokesperson. She's not grey yet, her hair is messy and might have been frizzy once. Her skin has faded and wrinkled with time, and bags are hanging under her eyes. She parts her full lips to answer the Queen, articulating every word:

"We have not."

A weird buzzing reaches Leerie's brain, and it's like the stones of the basement are vibrating with an invisible force.

"I'll know if you did. But for now, I need to call to magic to solve this mystery."

The witches turn to each other and seem nervous. A young woman with no hair sticking out of her cape whispers in the spokesperson's ear. The latter listens, pauses, and declares,

"What do you expect from us?"

The buzzing in Queen Leerie's head has grown louder.

"Do you have any... enchantment capable of making someone talk, or... see their memories?"

The Queen does not enjoy asking witches for a favour. She feels vulnerable for the first time and realises she might have put herself in danger. She's also in a position of ignorance; to this day the Queen does not know a faintest thing about magic. She fights against her impression of looking like an idiot. She waits for an answer in silence.

"This requires dark magic."

A faint pain grows in Leerie's head. She sits back in her chair, confused. "So, what's the matter?"