Queen's Gambit

“The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished,” was a common adage among the village elders. Words that meant the kids nowadays didn’t grow up like kids back then. Rather, that is what the youth of the village thought until the warm, spring morning it actually started to run backwards.

Grandma-ma clicked her tongue as she watched the phenomenon. Faria watched a tear form in her eye. She grabbed Grandma-ma's hand.

“Grandma-ma,” she said, “What’s the matter?”

“The river is running its normal course again. It has not been like this since I was your age,” she said, longingly, “The Queen has returned.”

“The Queen has returned?” Faria asked.

“It is said that when Queen Miriaul disappeared fifty years ago, thatthe river began to flow away from the sea,” Grandma-ma said.

“Why did Queen Miriaul disappear?”

“Nobody knows.”

Around noon, Faria watched her brother, Taryn skip stones across the river.

“Nothing’s changed about that,” he signed to her as his stone made three bounces across the water and sank under the crystal blue surface.

“You’re just worse than before,” Faria signed back.

“Shut up,” he signed with a smile.

Faria laughed.

Suddenly, a short distance away, the air shimmered as if reality itself was bending. It materialized into a violet beam of energy and for a second, Faria saw a distant room overlooking a faraway city. An elven woman appeared through the portal and rushed forward, clicking her staff to the ground as she walked. Faria looked at Taryn to make sure he was seeing what she was seeing, and he gave her a puzzled look in return. They looked back at the elf.

“So it has finally happened,” the elf said to herself.

She set her staff on the ground. She then conjured a book into her right hand and a quill in her left and began writing in it.

“Was my grandma-ma telling the truth, then?” Faria asked the elf, “Is the queen back.”

She looked down at Faria. Her violet eyes were speckled with white dots, like the stars. Grandma-ma had told her only high elves had eyes like that–a scar from the beauty of being born in a world without sun or moons, and only stars. A world in which the Gods walked with mortals.

The high elf answered, “It would appear so…unfortunately.”

Faria looked at the elf, who went back to writing her notes.

“Was the Queen bad?” she asked.

The elf stopped what she was doing and closed her notebook. She picked up her staff, went to a boulder under a tree. The siblings watched the elf move her hand across the boulder.

“The rocks and earth do not change much,” she said, pensively, “But trees and villages. They are like the water; always changing.”

Faria and Taryn exchanged glances and shrugged. The high elf sat on the boulder and watched the water.

“I was sitting here the day Queen Miriaul vanished,” the elf said, “She would have liked it here–away from the court. I was her…closest friend.”

“You seem disappointed she is back,” Taryn signed in response to reading her lips.

The elf looked at Faria and she translated.

“I am not sad,” she said, “Bad people were after her and they almost succeeded.”

“Bad people?” Faria asked.

“I have said too much,” she said, jumping up, “I am very busy…and I have to get back.”

The elf raised her staff, which glowed violet and that same rippling of reality happened again. That same room materialized once more and she went through the portal. It shimmered closed behind her.

“Today is a weird day,” Taryn signed.

“The weirdest,” Faria agreed.

That night, they were eating a beef and vegetable stew at home. Dad dipped his bread in stew and took a bite. Mom and grandma-ma spooned up some beef and carrots. Faria and Taryn played with their bowls in silence. There were no words about the river that had been the talk of everybody in the village. Faria and Taryn had definitely said nothing about that high elven wizard.

They heard shouting from outside. Their dad stood up and looked out the window. He bounded out the door, and mom followed with Faria and Taryn close behind. Grandma-ma remained sitting, spooning at her stew. Outside, villagers peered from their doorsteps at a tattooed dwarf wearing robes, sitting atop the village well. He was accompanied by an orc wielding a greatsword, a gnome with a crossbow, and a scrawny human carrying a spear.

“We know one of you is hiding Queen Miriaul here,” the dwarf said, “And by the orders of his grace, Regent Callaigh of House Cathan, each of your houses are subject to search.”

“Do you think that elf was also searching for the Queen?” Faria signed.

“Listen,” Taryn answered.

“Do you have signed orders to prove you were sent here?” dad asked the men, always being the one to start something.

“Do the Queen’s faithful men need proof?” the dwarf asked.

“Yes,” dad said, “Or else what sets you apart from common marauders that are gonna make off with our bread and coin?”

Some of the villagers voiced agreement.

“Perhaps, you’re hiding something,” the dwarf said.

With a small nod, the orc and human started forward.

“You don’t scare me,” dad said, his hands forming fists.

“Oh, don’t I?” the dwarf asked, “Well…this might scare you.”

A swirl of green energy formed in the dwarf’s hands and he directed it to the ground. A crack formed in the ground and it rushed towards them. Dad stood his ground, but the crack dashed past him and towards Taryn. Stone formed around his feet, imprisoning him. The dwarf clenched his fist and Taryn was moved toward him. Faria and mom both screamed.

“Perhaps you let us search for Queen Miriaul or I crush your boy,” the dwarf said.

“You wouldn’t,” dad said, firmly.

The dwarf smiled and tightened his fist. The stones around Taryn rumbled and he screamed in pain. Mom screamed out, but it was Faria’s scream that broke the air, and the lightning that surged from her hands. The dwarf jumped out of the way in time as the lightning made contact with the well and it exploded in a boom of thunder. The dwarf chuckled.

“So you’ve got a young sorceress in your family,” the dwarf said.

Faria looked up at mom, who kept her eyes on the dwarf.

“Down be shy, lass,” he said, “Come forward and play.”

Faria stepped back.

“Perhaps you need to see a master’s lightning.”

A blue energy formed in his hand and he released it. Lightning surged straight for Faria, missing her by a hair and exploding into a tree behind her. She screamed as splinters flew around her.

“Leave my family alone!” dad shouted, charging forth.

The dwarf said, “This is not between us anymore.”

Green energy formed in his hands and he slammed it into the ground. A pillar of stone pushed out and slammed into dad, sending him into the air. He crashed in a heap. Mom, Faria, and Taryn all shouted.

“Move aside, mom,” the dwarf said, “Let your daughter show me how strong she is. I’m sure there is plenty of pent-up magic in there just waiting to be released.”

“Leave my family alone,” she growled.

“Mom, please,” Faria said, “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

The dwarf said, “Perhaps both of you need to face my magic.”

Blue energy formed in his hands and he sent forth another bolt of lightning. Faria clung to mom and braced for an impact that never came. The elven wizard blinked in front of them and took the blast into her hands until it fizzled into nothing.

“I was wondering when you’d show up, Quilas,” the dwarf said.

“Miriaul is not here, Gremby,” she said, “I already searched.”

“Then why did her magic register here?” he growled.

“I do not know. Leave this village alone.”

“Tell me where Miriaul is and perhaps I will.”

“You know if I knew, I could not.”

“Such a waste.”

Red energy formed in Gremby’s hands and he sent a fire blast at Quilas. She brought an arcane shield up in time, but stumbled from the attack. She threw her shield at Gremby. Gremby dodged it. He stomped his feet. The earthquaked and Quilas stumbled. Gremby stomped again and a stone surged from the ground. He punched it at Quilas. She raised her staff and it shone purple. A portal opened, catching the stone and the other end of the portal opened next to Gremby, the stone striking him in the face. The dwarf stumbled. He swiftly recovered and sent a stone pillar forward. It struck Quilas. Faria held her hands out, hoping to repeat what she did earlier. Quilas rose, using her staff as support and formed a ball of fire atop of it. She threw it at Gremby and his men. The men scattered, while Gremby threw up a stone shield. The ball collided and exploded. Quilas threw out two bolts of magic. One crashed through Gremby’s shield and the other hit the dwarf directly.

He howled in rage, formed stone fists and charged Quilas. The dwarf swung at her face. She dodged. She swung her staff. He dodged. She threw a magic bolt. He blocked it. He landed a blow onto her hand, sending her staff flying. He punched her in the gut. She keeled over.

“It’s finished, Quilas,” Gremby said, “You know what I want. Take me to her and I will spare you.”

“It is finished,” she said, with a firm nod, “Yet, that does not mean I will grant you what you want.”

“Then you will die,” Gremby said, punching at Quilas.

A bolt of lightning from Faria hit him square in his shoulder, sending him flying to the ground. Quilas rolled to her staff, grabbed it, and a violet energy formed around it. Reality began to shimmer behind Gremby ,and Faria saw a faraway desert. Quilas swung her staff at him, but the dwarf caught it. Gremby tugged her past him and into the portal. The portal shut closed.

Faria’s arms went numb as Gremby turned to them again.

“The biggest flaw Quilas has is she has a soft spot for the innocent,” he explained.

Green energy formed in his hands and he formed stone around Faria’s feet. He moved Faria next to Taryn. She tried shifting her legs in any way she could, but they were held fast.

“Perhaps Quilas will help me in return for your freedom,” the dwarf said, approaching the both of them.

“Eat dirt,” Faria said.

“Or perhaps I should snuff out your life,” the dwarf said, “All the better for the world to have one less sorcerer.”

A green energy formed in Gremby’s hand. Faria shifted her legs, still held fast in the stone. The dwarf smiled a wicked smile at them. Faria saw his men behind him with similar smiles.

“Release them!” a voice called.

Quilas came from a portal above, throwing magical bolts at Gremby. The dwarf threw up a shield and one of the magical bolts exploded, sending Gremby flying. Quilas landed on the ground.

“We have to go,” she said.

“Not without mom, dad, and grandma-ma,” Faria said.

Faria looked at Gremby getting up from the ground. Just past him was mom tending to dad. The dwarf formed green energy in his hands. Quilas raised her staff. It shone violet and suddenly, portals appeared under Faria and Taryn. The duo fell and tumbled into what looked like a study–the room that Quilas came through the portal from that morning. Quilas followed them through one of the portals and landed over them. Both portals shimmered closed.

“You left my family behind!” Faria shouted to her.

“I had no choice,” Quilas said, “Gremby has gained too much in power.”

She waved her staff and the stones around their feet broke off.

“Do not stand just yet,” she said, “Your feet need a moment to adjust.”

Faria and Taryn both sat up.

“You did have a choice,” Faria continued, “You need to go back and save them.”

“I cannot,” Quilas said, “The risk of bringing Gremby here as well is too great.”

“But our family!” Faria said.

“They will be safe,” Quilas said, “If I did not believe that, I would risk it.”

Faria huffed and looked around. They were in a study with bookshelves lining the walls. A long-hair orange cat was napping on the shelves. A desk sat in one part of the room and various magical devices and cushions filled the rest of the room. One big window looked out to the city beyond. It was night here, instead of the approaching sunset back home. Distant buildings glowed orange and yellow from candlelight inside.

“Where did you take us?” Faria asked as a smoldering flame.

“This is Lemantir,” Quilas explained, “It is my home–and it is safe.”

Faria’s eyes narrowed.

“You want to save your family, right?” Quilas said, “Well, there are no more rescue missions. We need to find Queen Miriaul. She is what Gremby wants and she is his weakness.”

“Yet, earlier you avoided our questions about the Queen,” Taryn signed and Faria translated.

“She is a complicated subject,” Quilas said.

“But we need her to save our parents?” he asked.

“You saw Gremby’s power,” Quilas said.

“And we saw you almost beat him,” Faria said.

“That is the key: almost,” Quilas said, “Girl-”

“Faria is my name.”

“Right. How much training do you have in magic?”

“I have no training.”

“Of course. The good news is you have proven you can channel your magic already, which is half of my job. I only have to teach you control over your magic.”

Faria looked at Taryn, who shrugged. She looked back at Quilas.

“Now you're saying I need magic training,” Faria said, “I don't understand-”

“You learn magic and finding the Queen will be much easier,” the high elf explained, “And finding your parents will be even easier. So what is it? Do you two want to help me in helping you?–or would you rather sit around and hope for the best?”

“What happened to the Queen?” Taryn signed and Quilas translated, “Why does everybody want her?”

“Queen Miriaul was born with a fragment of elemental water in her soul,” Quilas said, “Gremby and his allies want to take the fragment to harness its power and enslave the kingdom. They almost succeeded, and Queen Miriaul found the only way to stop them was by merging her soul with the river by your village. We knew she would have returned, and I have been seeking ways to separate the core from her.”

“Did you find a way?” Faria asked.

“No,” Quilas said, firmly, “We need rest. Tomorrow, Faria, you will start your training.”

“But-”

“No but’s. We have a lot of work to do if we want to find the Queen and save your family.”