Fall of Ima (Cycles of the Lights series)

Chapter Three

Priletoria- 2186 Iman Year

The breakfast balcony overlooked a garden of lilicas, Queen Vesper's favorite flower. She arrived late but neatly dressed- much to Meliora's relief. Only her hair stood in contrast against her regal attire and tall posture. Properly coifed, it appeared stiff and dry, hinting at poor diet and low self-care.

Jedrek and Kemuel stood and bowed. Once the monarch seated, the young guests lowered themselves. Meliora studied her mother lifting a teacup with wiry fingers. The delicate frame appeared charged with fresh vigor. Hope sparkled in eyes the same shade of green as Meliora's. The Princess wondered what had caused the change. Her mind darted to a letter, which arrived two days prior. The seal indicated it came from the temple of healing. Her mother had perked upon reading the contents.

"Thank you for staying with us, Jedrek. You too, Kemuel." Queen Vesper's eyes swept between them. "I'm thrilled Meliora's finally receiving visitors. I'm afraid I've been greedy, taking up her time these past years!"

"Not at all, your majesty," Jedrek dipped his head.

"Please, I'd like you to make yourselves at home and stay as long as you'd like. I've plans to travel and it'd be a comfort knowing my daughter has companionship." The Queen set her cup down and winked at Meliora. "The royal council can be quite boring and I think it would do her well to have friends."

"Where'll you be going?" Kemuel piped. "The warm lagoons of Brisea? To sail the southern seas?" A bit of tart clung to the edge of his lips.

Queen Vesper shook her head, delicately propping fingers beneath her chin. "I've asked my master at the temple of healing to write a letter of recommendation. It's allowed me a rare opportunity." A sip of tea wetted her lips. "I'll be traveling through your kingdom, Kemuel," she winked to him. "From the Land of the Seraphims I'll fly to the planet Jema. There I'll test into the renowned school of sorcery. Did you know only once a year, a mere one hundred students are permitted to take the exam? It's a privilege granted to those with outstanding healing abilities."

Kemuel jerked in alarm. Tart crumbs fell onto his lap. The Princess stole a glance to Jedrek who grunted softly. Her eyes returned to the Queen. "Mother, why do you wish to enter the school of sorcery?"

"Silly question," she laughed, "to study sorcery of course!"

"But the disapproval-," Meliora began.

"Is outdated," Queen Vesper smoothed her dress. "It rose from the misuse of mercenary mages thousands of years ago. There's no written law forbidding sorcery on Ima. Who cares about breaking a little taboo?"

"Does the council know of your decision?" the Princess lowered her voice.

"I've considered informing them this afternoon," her head bobbed dismissively. "But you, darling shall be in charge of the kingdom's internal affairs while I'm gone," her eyes glimmered with anxiousness. "I'll assign General Guyak to diplomatic duties and trade for now. He's head of the council, after all. I only plan to be gone five, maybe six months?" She tapped her chin. "That's how long the exam customarily takes. Once I pass, I'll have a few weeks before training begins. I'll return home then to make long term arrangements."

Meliora found her mother's bright attitude toward a sensitive global issue disconcerting. Exasperation left her speechless. "Mother, you can't!" she managed to blurt.

The Queen ignored her daughter's vexation. "Can any of you name the kingdoms of Jema?" she spoke casually to the table.

For a moment the only sound was tinkling of hatchlings from outside. "Um," Kemuel cleared his throat. "There's the ancient state of Seu. The others are Calio and Songbird."