The Last Queen of Lemuria (19 page)

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“What happened?"

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"Shonith La, where is the Chintamani?" Asked the Queen between breaths.

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"What a strange question... It's here. Behind this door," he answered, pointing at a small opening in the wall.

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"Are you sure? It's there?"

Shonith La was so calm and sure, that she began to doubt Gorr's words.

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"Where else would it be?"  Answered the Keeper, looking at Yala with anxiety.

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"Check, Shonith La!  Please!"

Shonith La shrugged his shoulders.

They went into the Sanctuary. The golden pedestal was... empty. "The Relic has disappeared!"

Shonith La couldn't say a word for several seconds, just sat there, silently with his mouth hanging open, then he clutched at his heart. Yala helped him sit down.

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"The Stone is gone!"   Whispered the head of the Council.  "Yala!"

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"Who could take it, Shonith La?"  Asked Yala.

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Only a person who has Lemurian blood flowing in their veins... But that's impossible.  It's senseless," gasped the Keeper, shaking his head.

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"Gorr is preparing to attack Lemuria. He said they no longer have the Chintamani to fear! I heard it myself. In three days. At dawn. You should leave," exclaimed Yala.

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"Leave! Where to? Why didn't the Stone kill Gorr?"  Wondered Shonith La, helplessly spreading his arms.

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"Leave on the ark! Their flying machines have to be refueled a lot. They haven't any big ships in Groix. With time on your side, you'll be able to save yourselves. Fly! Forgive me, Shonith La," said Yala.

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“Yala! You're returning to him?!"  Exclaimed the Keeper in horror.

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“My daughter is still there. And beyond that, if I do not return, Gorr will figure out that I warned you," proclaimed Yala, lowering her head.  "Save Doro, Keeper! Save my son!"  And Yala disappeared into the palace corridor.

Yala went into the bedchamber and closed the door quietly. She had successfully snuck past the guards. It was gloomy in the room. Yala lit a lamp. At that second, the a face contorted by anger lit up. Gorr himself was sitting at the table.

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"Traitor!"  hissed Gorr with hate.  "You were in Lemuria!"

Yala froze not strong enough to stir.

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"You! Thankless bitch! After all I've done for you!"  Snarled Gorr.

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"And what you did?! Because of you, I've been torn away from my children! You've locked up our daughter in a dungeon!"  Screamed Yala.

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"Oh ho ho! Did my little chicky's voice crack?"  Called out Gorr.  "What a brave girl...  You knew exactly what you were coming back to, and you came back anyway."

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"My children are here," answered Yala, barely audible.

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"Children! One is a foul poisoner, and the other... Do you know who stole the Stone, Yala? Who wasn't afraid of it's shine? A person who has Lemurian blood in their veins..."

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"Impossible!"

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"Oh, it's quite possible, my dear! Guria, you see, is my daughter too."

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"No... I don't believe you..."

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"Ask her yourself," shrugged Gorr, standing up from the chair, "and what do you think will become of your wonderful Lemuria...  Thanks to your efforts, she will die two days earlier than we had planned! I will lead the Groisillions to the island of the Sun tomorrow. And you can enjoy watching the burning of Olmo... loong.. However they call it! I could never pronounce that idiotic appellation! You should have a great view from the castle walls," Gorr growled, then clapped his hands together, and a servant appeared in the room.

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"The Queen is not to be released from the chambers, not for any reason!"  He ordered, and left.

The servant bowed and closed the door. A key turned outside the door.

Chapter 21. Yala

The light coming through the small opening in the ceiling didn't reach the bottom of the Grey Tower. In the chamber intended for the one who had been sentenced to death, darkness ruled. It smelled of mold. Yuma's dungeon was a room without corners, with wet walls and bars on the floor. Rats scurried and squeaked below her. The gaps in the bars were too narrow for rodents to get into the chamber. But they could stick their snouts into the holes. As soon as the exhausted prisoner lay down on the slatted floor, the gray beasts began digging their teeth in. No one left here alive. The masters of the Grey Tower knew what they were doing.

Yuma stood on her tiptoes, leaning against the wall. Her hair and dress were soaked, her face was stained with green slime, which was growing in abundance everywhere.  She was shivering from cold and fear. The rats were already gathering below in anticipation of the feast to come. Yuma was exhausted and could barely stand. But still hadn't given up yet.   Having found the copper pitcher they used to bring her water, she swatted at their noses as they stuck them up. A booming sound mixed in with the squeals. The rats under the grid froze, but didn't leave. Yuma sobbed. The unfortunate Queen of Lemuria prayed to God to stop this torture as quickly as possible. Time had merged into one long, never-ending night. She somehow felt that she was once again Nastia, sleeping in her room on Ryabinovaya Street- a tram jangled out the window, cars honked, and if she opened her eyes, this whole nightmare would end and her mom would say "time to wake up..."  Then she imagined the Lemurian forest, and the booming laughter of the swarthy sorceress, embracing Aleur, then suddenly she saw the Teacher in the corner of the tower in a bright ray of light, looking kindly at her...

Suddenly, a key could be heard turning in the door. The door swung open with a creak, and a tall, feminine   figure appeared in the luminous entrance. In her hands, she was holding an object, resembling a cudgel. Yuma greedily breathed in the air that was flowing into the chamber.

- "My God! My daughter! My poor daughter!”

Tears flowed down Yala's cheeks. She embraced her daughter.

Yuma, squinting from the bright sun, hobbled out of the tower. Near the door, two guards lay face down.

Yuma staggered in horror.

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"Yes. I killed them," said Yala.  "God will forgive me. Let's run.”

Looking around, Yuma and Yala ran down the stone stairway. No one was planning to follow after the Queen of the sorcerers and her daughter. The Groisillions were busy preparing for war. Gorr announced that Groix would attack Lemuria at dawn. Excited by the coming battle, the sorcerers were cleaning their armor and weapons, and fixing up their flying machines. No one had time to follow after the run-away prisoner and her mother. Yala and Yuma made their way to the Queen's chambers. When they entered, Yuma saw a servant with glassy eyes lying next to the dresser.

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"Lord!”  whispered Yuma.  "You had to kill for me..."

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"We're safe here," answered Yala, covering the servant's face with a scarf, "it won't even occur to them to look for you in the castle. When they discover you've escaped, they'll look for you on the road to Lemuria."

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"We're staying here?!"

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"No, daughter, we're going. But we won't be going on the water. We'll go by air.  The flying ball," pronounced Yala, pouring water in a basin, "wash up. I'll give you a dress."

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"And just where are we gonna get a ball? Can you drive them?"

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“No. But I've seen it done," answered Yala, "we'll take one of the flügs from the castle courtyard. The servants won't dare stop us, and when they finally do figure out what's going on, we'll already be far away. We must get there in time to warn them..."

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"Warn who? About what?"

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"Gorr will bring war to Lemuria. In the morning. The Stone-Protector is no more," sighed Yala heavily, "and I am the one to blame!"

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"You? What did you do, Yala?!"

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"I had a daughter, Yuma! A daughter who betrayed me and my people! A cruel, self-loving arrogant woman! Guria was able to steal the stone because she has Lemurian blood flowing in her veins. She stole it and placed a curse on it. The stone is dangerous to sorcerers no more. And they will wipe Lemuria from the face of the earth. If we do not succeed in warning them."

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"Guria..."  exhaled Yuma, her blue eyes narrowing and growing dark, "but what can the Lemurians do, Yala? They are not able to fight."

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"They can get away in the ark, Yuma. They will find a new island and build a new Olmolungring. And we can get away with them! Let's go!

Chapter 22. The Escape

Guria lay down and looked vacantly at the ceiling. "All is lost! So much effort lost in vain! That damned Grino had ripped a page from the book of Lucifer! Why the hell hadn't she thought to make a copy of the curse! Oh well! She would find that page! It was worth quite a bit to her, to say the least. It would make her all powerful! She would have to reach Grino in hell. He could tell her where the spell had gone to! The noise coming in from the courtyard was distracting her from her thoughts.  The Princess got up and reluctantly looked out the window. Servants and soldiers scurried all around, carrying bales and barrels.  Three flügs stood in the center, exhaust coming from their pipes... "What's going on?" Guria threw on a silk nightgown and looked out down the corridor. Not a single guard! There would have to be some very weighty reasons to leave the royal family without guard. Guria, noticing a servant in the distance cried out, 

- "Hey you!  What's going on over there?" 

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"Your highness doesn't know?"

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"What don't I know?”

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“Our army will go to Lemuria at dawn," squeaked the servant girl.

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"What?!"  Exclaimed the Princess.

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"It is the order of His Majesty, King Gorr," answered the girl in a hushed tone.

Guria froze in place. While Guria was confused, the servant made off.

"War with Lemuria? But... A sudden realization lit up Guria's face. "So that's what's been going on! It's not Grino! Father had played a cruel joke on her! He knew all along!  And now he was making war on Olmolungring! And all because of her plan!  She was to become the singular Queen of Lemuria and Groix!

Guria flew into the throne hall, her face white with rage. The Generals, gathered there for a meeting turned their heads toward her.

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"Father!"  Shouted Guria from the doorstep.  "How could you?!"

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"I'm busy," said Gorr, raising his eyebrows.

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"You tricked me!  You used me!"

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"Your highness, you forget yourself," answered Gorr.

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"You'll be sorry! You'll be sorry for this, you damned sorcerer!"  Muttered Guria as she left.  "You won't even see Lemuria!"

When she'd gotten to her chambers, the Princess changed clothes. She took the box with the Stone from the table and opened it. “What's that? The Stone is glowing! Barely, but it's glowing! That means... It means the curse is temporary? Well good, all the better!" She was getting ready to warn Lemuria about the attack. And now she'd even be able to bring the Chintamani back. The Stone would destroy Gorr's army. And the Black Princess would find some way to occupy the throne of Groix! Guria forcefully swung the door open... and froze. Yala and Yuma walked past.

- "Guria, let us go," begged Yala, "we're going to Lemuria."

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"Mama! You're abandoning me? Leaving for her?!"  Guria looked at Yuma with hatred.  "You don't even know her!"   Guria suddenly felt her anger and hatred interrupted by an unfamiliar feeling. Her eyes stung.