Twenty-seven
“War Room NOW!” I sent out to Echo and Tomilson. I did not know where they were, but I knew where they would be soon. I closed my eyes and willed myself to the war room of Castle Bluff. When I materialized I heard the familiar ding of the crystal letting me know there is a message for me. I look to see the stunned guard pressed against the wall.
“ I-I- I sent someone to find you.” He replied.
I must have inadvertently shot the man daggers with my eyes because he shuddered. I wish my people didn't fear me so, yet I don't have the time to comfort a guard. I strode over to the crystal knowing I should wait yet I knew this message was for me, and I was lacking patience today.
“I have your beloved Prince Garrik,” the voice was sneering and deep reminding me of Echo. “If you want him back alive I highly suggest you cooperate. Meet me on the prairie at the Oklahoma gate. There I will propose a trade. Give me my son and I will give you Prince Garrik. Bow to me in front of all and I will give you the Prince alive.” King Talon's message ended. I screamed in frustration. How dare he! There is only one man I want to kill now and that man is an Elf King not worthy of his throne.
The wind was rushing into the crystal chamber. Water from the moat in the floor began to spray around me. I could feel a fire burning in the pit of my stomach about to explode. He will not win. Not this time. I placed my hands upon the crystal.
“I am Queen Vera of Elmora. King Ramsey took that away from me centuries ago. I have returned and I will return Elmora to balance! I will meet you in a week's time. Echo is mine, Garrik is mine, Elmora is MINE!” I finished by telling the stone to send message to everyone.
Placing my hands back on the stone I send one more message to everyone except King Talon and his known allies. “I am Queen Vera of Elmora,” I state again, “King Talon is meeting me for battle in one weeks time at the Oklahoma gate. Anyone who would like to stand with me this is the time and that is where I will be. King Talon stole my husband, my flame, my heart. He will pay,” releasing my hands from the stone I turn back to the war room. The wind had calmed, the fire in my belly was a steady simmer. I could feel my eyes glowing. I didn't even try to contain them.
Prince Echo and Sir Tomilson were standing in the door staring at me. Rose, Finley, and Sarah were behind them. Various generals and heads of guards were gathered even farther back.
“Sweetling, my Queen. If King Talon finds out you called the other Kingdoms he will kill Prince Garrik.” I shot daggers at Echo.
“I am not scared of your Father,” I snapped at him. He looked hurt. I didn't mean it like that but I didn't have time to reassure or coddle him. “What does your Father value as much as you Prince Echo?”
There was a long pause before he answered. “My Mother, Vera, why?”
“Let us go and fetch her," I replied. The silence around me was deafening. “We will be right back, right Echo?” He nodded and grabbed a hold of my hand.
“I will do this for you, but know it will result in my banishment.”
I looked over to Finley and Rose. “Would the Queen of Elmora's will trump any magical clause written and signed by the council?”
“Yes, my Queen.” Finley responded.
“Do I need to destroy said document or is it rendered null the moment I bring him back into Elmora?” I asked knowing the answer to give Echo the benefit of hearing Finley.
“All you have to do is bring him back into Elmora, and the contract is voided.”
I nodded and squeezed my big dark Prince Echo's hand “Let us do this. I won't harm your Mother.”
I was sent a picture of a lush jungle garden. It was still very hot there. I could see bugs flying through the air and hear birds chattering above. There was a fountain with murky water and a paved stone path that lead up to a Mayan style temple. I opened my eyes to see us standing in the same spot Echo sent me. Not another soul around us. As soon as we appeared Echo smiled and then poof he was gone. I had a moment of panic before I remembered he was taken to the Human Realm. All I had to do was step over and bring him back. I took a breath and stepped down through the realms.
I felt the familiar tug at my navel before entering the Human Realm. Echo was there waiting. We were in the middle of a jungle. I had never seen a jungle before. Trees towered above me so thick I couldn't even see the sky. Echo pulled me into his arms.
“Someday, when we have more time, we will explore this land together. I know many places I would love to take you.” I looked up and saw tears in his eyes. He is home. He loves it here, even in the Human Realm this is home to him. I squeeze Echo tighter as I realm walked us back to Elmora.
Once there we separated. “So where are we? And where will we find your Mother?”
“We are in her private forest or in her case jungle. She will be here. She would have chosen to stay back and watch over her people.”
“Lead the way Prince Echo.” I gave him a deep bow. He knew I would not hurt anyone. I only needed a chess piece in this game I was playing with his Father. Nothing is as effective as swiping a Queen. We walked up the path into the temple. Echo allowed himself to be in full view. I on the other hand had chosen to blend into my surroundings behind Echo. I was sweating in my winter clothing. As we walked down corridors made of giant square boulders of stone servants and workers stopped to stare. Not one said anything to their Prince. Instead most took off running, “They are informing my Mother, no doubt.”
Echo kept walking until we came to an archway that opened into a very small private courtyard. There was a small pool in the center that was covered in pink, yellow, and white flowers. The scent was enchanting and familiar. Spicy even, like my hair. Echo must have heard my musings and sent me a wink.
“We will wait here. My Mother won't take long.”
As soon as Echo finished his words there was commotion above us. I looked up to see at least fifty bowmen standing on the roof above us with arrows drawn. My attention was brought back to the door that we walked through.
“My son! I am so happy to see you. I am only sad to see you had to bring your false Queen with you,” She sneered just like King Talon. I felt the fire in my belly start to spark. She was tall, slim, and as dark as night. Her eyes were a deep clear amber. Her dress was more of a black toga with a gold clasp at one shoulder leaving her other bare.
“Mother, this is my flame and my wife, Queen Vera of Elmora.” The dark Queen laughed at that and my fire started to burn. It was taking my full concentration to keep my anger and magic contained.
“What do you want Echo? You have betrayed your family by choosing her.”
“You know as well as I, that one can not choose their flame. End this now and come with us peacefully. Trust me it is easier. Vera and I wish you no harm.”
“Ha! I am not leaving my home.” She rose her arm to motion to her elves with bows.
My fire released in that moment burning each wooden bow to ashes. The Queen of Ter sucked in a breath of stunned air. The bowmen were frozen in fear. I still hadn't spoken a word.
“Fire magic. Only the Faerie have fire magic," The Queen of Ter murmured.
“Oh, didn't you know? The High Queen of Faerie is my twin sister.” I sent a sweet smile back to her, “I am the High Queen of Elmora. You and King Talon don't remember me because King Ramsey used an amulet to stop my powers, took me to the Human Realm, tortured me and left me for dead. You know who King Ramsey is right?”
She nodded back at me and then turned. She was going to flee. Not on my watch. With a swish of my wrist I filled the doorway with earth. Walking up to her with Echo by my side as soon as my hand landed on her arm I reached out and grabbed Echo as well. Closed my eyes and took us to the war room at Castle Bluff. It is a long trip feeling like you are stuck in a dark endless tunnel for at least an hour. I could feel the Queen next to me panicking. Screaming. It was the worse hour of my current life. Finally we landed in the war room.
Everyone was still there. There were plates of food scattered over the planning table. The Queen had fallen back onto the floor weeping. “I didn't picture your Mother being so weak Echo.” I shouldn't have said it, but anger is turning me into a nasty bitch. He loved his Mother, the anger in me from missing Garrik is making me cruel.
Rose stepped forward and helped the dark Queen to her feet. “Queen Maria, it will be okay. Vera will not harm you.”
“Queen Maria. I guess I hadn't known your name until now, but it fits. You will be safe here. I will leave it up to Echo to find you suitable rooms and security. Can't have you using shadow magic on my guards,” I sent her a sweet smile as she went and stood next to Rose.
“Next line of business. Do I tell King Talon I have his precious flame, Or do we surprise him on the battlefield?”
“If you tell him he is likely to kill Prince Garrik.” Sir Tomilson spoke up.
“You think so? Even if I have his Queen?” I shook my head and walked straight back into the crystal room and placed my hands over the crystal.
“King Talon, High Queen Vera of Elmora here. I have your Maria, Queen of Ter. Now we are even. Every scratch you give Garrik I will give Maria two of them.” I sent the message.
“Now we wait. Can someone bring me my own plate of food?” I asked as I walked back into the war room taking a seat at the head of the table.
I took a deep breath. I had no idea what time it was all I knew was that I was exhausted. There is no time to sleep. I have to get Garrik back. I have to finish this thing with King Talon so our world could move on in peace. I have so much to remember and to learn. So many places to go. I had only been to Median and Ter. My time in Ter was incredibly short lived. I do miss Tindril and Garrik's parents. “GARRIK's PARENTS!” I jumped up from my seat before my food could arrive.
“Tomilson! I am being a bad daughter I have to go talk to King Rew and bring him here! Echo keep watch on your Mom. No one touch the crystal any message that comes through I want to hear.”
I reached out grabbing Tomilson's hand squeezing it tightly. I loved this man. I closed my eyes and pictured us in the sitting room outside of the Tindril war room. No one was in the sitting room when we appeared. There was a bottle of elf wine on the table. I quickly poured myself a glass downing it all in one swoop.
“Vera, it will be okay.” Tomilson put his hand on my shoulder.
“I know I am on the brink of losing it all. I have this fire in the pit of my stomach just waiting to lash out.”
Tomilson reached out and pulled me into a tight embrace. He pushed a stray strand of hair out of my face kissing me on the top of my head. I wanted to stay there and ignore all of our problems even though I knew I could never forget Garrik. I pushed out of the hold. Stood up tall and walked into the war room. The King was there with his long gray hair flowing down his shoulders.
“Vera!” he ran toward me pulling me into a big embrace.
“We will get him back. I vow to get him back.” I said into his chest. He petted the top of my head.
“I know daughter. I know. It will be okay. I am going to come with you back to Castle Bluff. I have been waiting for you to arrive.”
“I am so sorry I should have come sooner. We need to hurry to get back. I am waiting for a message from King Talon. I may have kind of kidnapped Queen Maria.” He released me with a thunderous laugh.
“Oh Vera! Brilliant! Come with me to the solar. I have my things waiting there and you can reassure my wife.” I gave him a meek smile. As much as I want to express an emotion I knew I couldn't. I was using all my strength holding everything in. I felt Tomilson's hand rest on the small of my back as he followed me out of the war room in Tindril. We walked down the long hall that my temporary quarters were in. I loved this palace. It will be nice to have the King running everything at Castle Bluff. I am a poor head of house, especially when I know zero about running a castle. My mind wondered as we walked and before I knew it we were in the solar.
“Vera!” Garrik's mother ran towards me. Her face was white and shaken. She was not coping well with the news.
“I knew you would come to us soon!” Her cold clammy hands grabbed onto my arms jerking me into another embrace. These people were my family. They loved me and I loved them. I am feeling like a failure every moment I am around them. I should have never let Garrik storm off. I should have tried harder to make him happy.
“You did all you could do.” Tomilson's comforting voice sent into my head.
King Rew stepped in. “I am sorry, but we really should hurry back to Castle Bluff.” He stepped forward peeling his wife off of me and hugged her hard. “We will be back soon enough with our son. I trust you to make sure the last of the scouts are sent to Oklahoma.”
He bent forward and peppered a small kiss on her forehead before releasing her and placing his hand on my shoulder. Tomilson had his arm wrapped in mine. I attempted to send Garrik's mother one last reassuring look before we were off. I am pretty sure it looked more worried than confident.