Queens Of Osiris

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Outside, the wind howled. It sounded like packs of wolves racing around the library. Mykal shivered, thankful he was inside and warm.

Anna prepared noodle soup in a chicken broth. It cooked in a cauldron on the fire. The woman was awake, wrapped tightly in Mykal’s cloak. She sat in a chair beside the hearth, watching everyone closely, but had not yet said a word.

Blodwyn paced back and forth. It unnerved Mykal, but he remained quiet. He stood by one of the stained-glass windows. The reds and greens, yellows and blues made it near impossible to see outside. Mykal didn’t need a full moon and clear glass to know the falling flakes accumulated.

When Mykal walked over to the cauldron, the woman eyed him up and down. He offered up a smile she ignored. Anna had made it clear no one would ask questions until after the girl had a chance to eat.

“Smells like it’s about done,” Mykal said.

Blodwyn arched an eyebrow, apparently equally as anxious about talking with the woman.

The silence was nearly too much for Mykal, and he figured since the soup was about done, what harm could there be in getting the conversation started? He thought he’d concentrate on his tone. He kept his voice quiet, soft, full of empathy. “What were you doing out in the storm? Do you live close by?”

In the two years they’d been at the library, they’d not encountered many other people. Part of Mykal was hungry for the chance of talking with another person. He found both Blodwyn and his mother always focused on his training. While it was appreciated, he knew there had to be more to his new life than just studying, working out, and repetition.

He was growing bored.

Lonely.

“Mykal!” Anna appeared from the back of the library. She carried a tray with stacked bowls, cups filled with hot tea, and spoons.

“Sorry, Mother.” Mykal felt like a toddler.

As if by reflex after having a hand slapped, he backed away from the hearth, sighing. It was hard to explain, but the year he spent on the journey across the old empire with his friends, risking his life, and exercising his powers had been some of the most exciting months of his life. While the loss of lives, and the scarring from battles during the War were devastating, there was a part of Mykal that craved the action. He wasn’t sure if he should’ve been troubled for feeling that way, so it was safer keeping those thoughts to himself.

Anna ladled soup from the cauldron into a bowl. The steam rose into the air. The aroma of her soup filled the first floor of the library.

“You all live here?” the woman asked.

Mykal bit back a grin. It was what he had been waiting for. Answers. He did not want her frightened. She might clam up. Who knew how long they’d have to wait then?

Like a few moments ago, he kept his tone of voice soft, calm, and inviting. “We do. Where do you live?”

“I’m looking for someone,” she said. Aside from the oval of her face, and eight fingers sticking out from under the cloak just under her chin, the rest of her was blanketed as if she were a swaddled infant. Her hair was black, eyes green. The wind and sunburn left her cheeks red, but Mykal assumed her skin was quite pasty and pale otherwise.

“I was sent to find him.”

“Him?” Blodwyn asked, as if trying the word out for the first time and wasn’t sure if he pronounced it correctly, or not. “Who sent you?”

Anna handed the woman a bowl filled with soup. “It is very hot. Please be careful.”

The woman let her arms come out, and the cloak lowered off her head and sagged to just below her shoulders. She repositioned herself and sat with her feet on the chair, and her knees up. The woman cradled the bowl between her thighs and her chest, lifted the spoon, and blew on it before taking a tentative taste.

“This is very good. I’m so hungry. My food ran out a few days ago. Thank you for this.”

Anna tilted her head to the side and clasped her hands together in front of her. She nodded, lips pursed into a thin smile. “You’re welcome.”

Almost impatient with the pleasantries, Blodwyn blurted, “You said you were sent to find someone. Who is it you’re looking for?”

The woman set the spoon back into the bowl and held it with shaking hands. She tucked her lips into her mouth and sucked away the salt from the broth. “I was given very specific instructions and was told to find the wizard. He is said to be the most powerful wizard in all of the lands. Although, no one knows what he looks like. I’ve not really seen anyone since I started looking. It’s probably because of the time of year. If there are people around, they’re playing it smart and staying inside,” she said and smiled. “Although, I haven’t even passed any villages, or huts, or anything.”

Mykal cast a look at Blodwyn, it couldn’t have been more obvious if he pointed at his own chest and asked, me?

“And who sent you?” Blodwyn asked.

“Do you know the wizard’s name?” Mykal said.

“How are you supposed to find him?”

“What made you come to the Library Ruins?”

“Enough.” Anna’s arms were stiff at her sides. “You’re throwing questions at her. Neither of you is giving her a chance to answer. One question at a time.”

Blodwyn went first. “Who sent you searching for a wizard?”

“Why, the queen, of course.”

A stillness fell over them as Blodwyn, Mykal, and Anna exchanged a questioning look.

“What is your name?” Anna asked softly.

Mykal feared they’d overdone it, and the woman would retreat into silence. He wasn’t sure how the situation could be saved. If he didn’t say something, who knew how much longer they would have had to wait for answers. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he said a word, she said, “Geneva.”

“Hello, Geneva. I’m Anna,” she said.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Geneva tried more soup. She slurped up a noodle between closed lips. The tail of the noodle whipped about. Hot broth splashed onto her nose and chin. She wiped away the broth with the back of her hand. “Excuse me. I haven’t eaten in a day or two.”

“So you’ve said.” Anna bowed.

Mykal marveled at his mother’s manners. Living on the Isthmian Islands with Voyagers all around, he’d never have suspected someone so refined. His misconception about the pirates had been proved wrong … in general.

“It could explain why you fainted out in the storm. How far have you traveled?” Mykal asked.

“From Osiris. I live in a mountain village just outside the Cordillera Castle, with most of the queens’ subjects,” Geneva said.

“That’s a long way to travel,” Blodwyn said.

Mykal thought about the rags she’d worn. How could she have made it this far with such little protection from the elements? “And why are you looking for this … wizard?”

“I can only discuss the proposition with him,” Geneva said. “Those were my instructions.”

“And who is the Queen of Osiris?” Blodwyn asked.

Mykal would never forget when the Mountain King ruled that realm. Hermon Cordillera had been evil. Although his sinister plan failed, plenty of innocent lives were taken leading up to and during the War. While they were removed from the rest of the old empire, it seemed like they should have somehow known a new ruler was already in place in the Cordillera Castle.

“Who is queen?” Blodwyn asked.

“We’ve two queens.” She held up fingers.

“Two, what?” Mykal thought he might have been hearing her incorrectly.

“Queens.” Geneva placed on hand in the other. “I know it’s an odd thing. It’s been decided that, for now, we’d keep things this way. There is still so much unrest and tension since the War. The death of King Hermon wasn’t the only devastating blow the young princesses received that year. Earlier, they lost their mother, as well. Her death was a frightening and odd thing. She asphyxiated, I heard, after a poisonous spider bite.” She leaned closer and whispered, “There was an infestation of the critters, actually. So, since there was no queen regent, the sisters decided together they’d share the crown. I am sure the royal family and advisors are ensuring the realm remains intact, and more importantly, safe.”

“Cordillera’s daughters.” Blodwyn’s left eye squinted, pronouncing the web of wrinkles by his temple.

Mykal thought Geneva placed a bit too much emphasis on the word safe. He wasn’t sure anyone else caught it. He couldn’t imagine two children in charge of a kingdom. If they were anything like their father, the potential for danger extended beyond the disappearance of a few subjects.

“Queens Raaheel and Sarah. That’s right.” Geneva nodded as if she were answering a question asked.

“They’re just children.” Mykal remembered seeing the kids when inside the castle years ago. They’re ruling the realm now?

“They are both intelligent, but I’ve seen them outside having snowball fights and playing hide-and-go-seek,” she said, as if those were horrible crimes rather than just things children did.

“And they’ve sent you to find a wizard?” Blodwyn asked. “But you can’t tell us what it is they want him for?”

She unclasped her hands and rolled fingers into palms. Although she made fists, she didn’t look angry, so much as conflicted. “No. I can only tell the wizard. Once I’ve found him, that is.”

“And why have you come this way? What makes you think the wizard is around here?” Anna asked.

The only people who knew they were studying at the library the last few years were close friends and family. Altogether, less than ten people. None of whom would have revealed the location, even under the pretense of torture.

“The queens have sent scouts out in nearly all directions searching for him,” Geneva said.

“How long are you supposed to spend looking? How far are you expected to travel?” Blodwyn waved a hand back and forth, palm up.

“We’re not to return until we’ve found him.” Her eyes lowered, and for a moment she seemed more interested in studying the floor.

The significance of the statement was clear. If ten people went in ten different directions and none found the supposed wizard being sought, then they had, in effect, been exiled since they would continue walking until they reached the ends of the world.

“It’s bad. I will tell you that much. I’ve not given up hope, though. If I don’t find him, I am confident one of the others will. I have to believe that. We need his help, desperately.”

The queens needed help. Mykal knew blame for the missing persons could be placed on the crown. Crowns. He questioned the sincerity of the queens. Perhaps they were genuine in wanting the mystery solved, but having any and all negative attention squashed out wouldn’t have hurt.

Right now, it was Geneva who mattered most. She deserved a chance to return home.

Blodwyn must have sensed what was coming. His eyes opened a little wider, and he held up a stopping hand that Mykal ignored.

Mykal’s eye locked with Anna’s and didn’t look away when he said, “I believe I’m the wizard you’re searching for.”

Geneva smirked. “I promise I will only stay this night. I do not want to be an inconvenience, and in the morning, I’ll be on my way. I will share with my queens your generous hospitality.”

Mykal c****d a hip as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “I am not sure if you heard me. I am the wizard you are looking for.”

“I mean no disrespect, but he—” Geneva pointed at Blodwyn— “looks more like a wizard than you. We’re about the same age if I had to guess.”

“Wizards aren’t born old,” Mykal said.

“Hey!” Blodwyn warned.

“You know what I mean.” Mykal waved a dismissive hand.

“If you’re a wizard—” a hint of smile curled the corners of her lips—“then prove it.”

The left side of Mykal’s mouth rose in an uncontainable half smile. He thrust his hands at the hearth. The fire on the logs grew, flames rose toward the flue. A puff of black smoke rolled out into the library. Happily, Mykal folded his arms and winked. “What about that?”

Geneva was smiling, too. She looked at Blodwyn, and then at Anna, but shook her head. “What about what? Did I miss it?”

Mykal dropped his arms. “The fire. It was kind of going out. I …” He wiggled his fingers at the logs on the hearth.

“You … what?” she asked.

Blodwyn chuckled, a fist in front of his mouth was unsuccessful in masking his amusement.

Mykal let out an exasperated sigh, lifted his arms at his side, and stiffened them. His hands were balled into fists. He tilted his head back and stared up at the domed ceiling.

Blue energy encircled his hands as lightning spheres crackled and hummed. He levitated off the ground as he lifted into the air several feet. A small wind spun around the library. Loose papers fluttered about. Geneva’s hair was blown backward, away from her face. The noise level grew. It sounded like the storm outside had entered the building.

“Enough!” Blodwyn shouted. “Levitation, really?”

“Served no purpose, but you have to admit, it looks impressive.” Mykal held his position for just a moment longer before lowering himself. The wind calmed. The constant blue spheres engulfing his hands became a mix of strands like speeding snakes, a single band, and then nothing. He looked at a wide-eyed Geneva.

“Well?”

“You’re the wizard. You are the wizard!”