**** Chapter Thirty Two: AOIBHEANN AND ARELA

****

Chapter Thirty Two: AOIBHEANN AND ARELA

“Princess,” I heard Nivis from behind the door. “Are you ready?” “Yes,” I replied, unsure as to what he meant.

“Good.” He opened the door, came inside. “The Queens await you.”

Once more I followed this strange frosty sorcerer through a labyrinth of sunless passages until we finally entered a huge room that was not only spacious but the most haunting place I’d ever seen in my life!

It was a large rectangular space, adorned with crumbling statues of severely deformed people. And by severely deformed I mean the kind with gnarly faces, twisted bodies and crooked limbs. For some odd reason they all looked male – or masculine to be exact. The floor was checkered, of gray and black marble. The walls, though icy gray, weren’t entirely barren. Huge tapestries hung from the ceiling depicting gory pictures of fallen human soldiers being stabbed viciously by raging Ducimus amazons.

The tapestries provided the only color in the space.

It was safe to say that the Ducimus were a trigger-happy, bloodthirsty, warring people who had little or no value for either life or beauty.

“This way, Princess.” Nivis directed me to the far end of the room. Resting against that far wall was an expansive black marble slab flanked by massive white arches. Each arch had a sword like pattern engraved on it. A stately divan, shaped like a thorny nest spun of silver threads, occupied the center of the grim platform.

On that divan sat a woman. Not a Ducima or an amazon but a beautiful fair skinned woman with a regal air and no crown. She had a tall and proportionate but muscular frame. Her most interesting feature was her perfectly shaped hairless head that spoke volumes about the interesting world she represented. She was not wearing the same dark leather suit that I’d seen the Ducimas wearing the previous night. No. Her attire was a tight fitting, bejeweled corset and pants of silver and ice blue. Very cool against her pearly body.

She must be Arela, I thought. But isn’t she too human to be Queen of the Ducimus?

Upon reaching the throne, Nivis bowed to her. “Your Majesty, Queen Arela! May I present princess Aoife of Enth?”

I stood still. Arela smiled at me and clapped her hands. A bald man, dressed like Nivis except for a sword at his waist and no amulet, brought forth a chair for me. I ignored him and stared back at the Queen.

“I trust you found everything satisfactory here, my dear.” Her voice was sweet as honey. “You look very pretty child.”

“Why am I here?” I asked rudely.

“You came here of your free will, Princess. Don't you remember? We are simply honored.”

“Honored. Really?” I stared at her. “Is that why you had me almost killed by that monster? Not to mention the need for y’all to be introduced to a little luxury called food. A glass of good clean water would be very welcome, under the circumstances!”

“Why, Nivis!” Arela‘s eyebrows rose. “Where are our manners?”

“My gravest apologies, Princess. I shall see to it myself.” Nivis curtseyed and marched out of the throne room.

“Now will you please take a seat? I’m so sorry about that. So very sorry.” Arela sounded so sincere and apologetic it was hard for me to maintain my rude demeanor.

I sat down comfortably in the wingback chair the bald man had placed for me near the throne.

“I’ll be honest,” I said after a pause. “We’re essentially not friends.”

Arela burst out laughing and although the sound of her laugh was melodious, I couldn't help sense emptiness beneath it. “Ah dear Princess,” she said. “Animosity and friendship are two very unreliable states of being and politics renders both temporary and subject to change as required.”

“I see.” I lay back in my chair and studied her face. “So which policy drives a change this time?”

She smiled at me with what could best be described as fond curiosity. “You are smarter than I had hoped for.” She smiled. “Very well, let’s get straight to the point then.

I have an offer for you, Princess Aoife.” “I’m listening.” I sat up straighter.

“Give us the Scepter of Fire and you won’t have to haunt the realms of your world,” she said.

“Excuse me?” I couldn’t help my incredulous laugh. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, but she is.” A second voice spoke from behind me. A woman’s voice. I turned around and forgot to breathe for the few seconds.

She was blonde – long unbound flaxen hair streaked with golden sunshine. Her skin – porcelain and gold – sparkled like her hair as if she’d just showered in glitter. She wore a silver nose-ring in her long, thin nose. Her plump lips looked naturally rose brushed and her big brown almond shaped eyes looked kindly. Every feature on her face was in perfect proportion. She had the most divinely beautiful face I’d ever seen. And the rest of her seductively perfect body was in perfect harmony with it. Her swan neck, slender shoulders, her faultless curves in all the right places were enhanced by a rust colored leather corset and pants.

I could define all her infinite charm in one simple word: Enchanting! And then panic gripped me. Is that her? Please don’t let it be her! She just couldn’t be her!

“Finally, we meet,” she said in a raspy and accented voice. “I am Aoibheann.” No, damn it. No!

“Enchantress!” I didn't want to say that but it slipped out. She laughed. Damn it he has good taste! Damn it! God damn –

“How are you child?” She smiled. “And how is he? My pretty, pretty Antinoos?”

That name freed me from the spell her beauty had cast. Her poor victims certainly wouldn’t stand a chance.

I took a deep breath and looked straight into her eyes, which were now sparkling green like emeralds. I forgot what I had in mind to tell her and instead stared back at this strange phenomenon. Weren’t her eyes brown just now? Her eyes change colors?

I looked away for a second, composed myself and looked back at her. “I’m surprised you should ask about him.”

“Fond old memories.” Her smile widened. “He must mention me often?”

“Is that why I’m here?” I frowned. “To tell you how a man you killed five centuries ago feels about you?”

“I’m simply pointing out that though we’ve never met, you must know me by reputation.”

“Yes. Not that you have much of it.” I returned her smile.

“You are feisty.” She laughed, unruffled and unperturbed. “So what do you think of the proposal?” She glided gracefully across the room to Arela’s throne. “Antinoos will turn human anyway and will no longer pose a threat. And if you give us the Scepter instead of destroying it, we promise to restore you to your mortal self as well.”

“How kind,” I said. “And I can believe you because?”

“Because I have the key to the portal.” Arela held out a long thin bronze stick. “If you fight for this you’ll lose. My army is far too big even for you and Krâl put together. But if you accept our offer, you’ll be glad you did.”

“You make me laugh.” I managed to keep my voice cool. “Surely you know how powerful Krâl is. I think it’s you who won’t stand a chance against him even if he fought you alone. He doesn’t really need me to defeat you.”

“Oh, but we don't have to go to war,” Arela said. “The key gives us access to the portal. We can simply grab the Scepter and win.”

“And after the full moon when you’re a ghost and no good, we’ll kill him.”

Aoibheann’s smile turned creamy. “Or maybe I’ll keep him – just like old times.”

“You will not touch him!” Electricity shot through my entire body making my fists ball up in fury. How dare she even think she could get near him while I was still alive! And just then the meaning of her words hit. They had the key to the portal: The key gives us access to the portal...we can simply grab the Scepter and win…oh this wasn’t good! Not good at all!

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and looked back at the two witches. Their offer sounded good but the bad guys always had a catch. Where was the catch?

“If you have the key, why haven’t you grabbed the Scepter already?” I asked Arela.

“What’s stopping you?”

“Narzul.” She sighed. “The Dragon is much too difficult for us to tackle. But that isn’t the case for a Syhlain.”

Ah! So that’s why they needed me. That’s why Aoibheann had stalked me!

“You want me to kill that dragon! If I refuse, you would be nowhere.” I smirked. “And I have no reason to take your no good offer.”

“The offer is good.” Aoibheann interjected. “Getting past Narzul is difficult, not impossible. We would do it with or without your help. But with your help, it would be easier.”

“And fruitful for you as well, my dear.” Arela smiled. “You have my word on that.”

I tilted my head and stared at Arela. “Have you heard the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp? The vicious sorcerer kills Aladdin after taking the lamp from him. Your word isn’t good enough for me.”

Arela looked at Aoibheann for a good few minutes. It seemed as if they communicated something with their eyes alone and then Arela turned to me. Her face was more somber than before and her eyes more intense.

“Very well,” she said. “It only makes sense. I shall bind myself to my word literally.” She slipped a thick sliver ring studded with a black stone off her middle finger and held it in her palm for me to look at. “This is the stone of my lineage. It’s a much cherished trinket. I swear in the name of Krâl of Realm over it that I shall keep my word to you here.”

With the utterance of those few seemingly plain words, the black stone bubbled and melted, creeping around the entire ring and solidified. Arela smiled and came to me, took my hand. She placed the black ring in my palm and closed my fist.

“Keep this,” she said. “And you may show it to Krâl or anyone in the Realm to verify that Arela has bound herself to her word.” I eyed her oddly and then her ring.

“What is this?” I frowned. “An enactment of some fantasy novel? I’m not impressed.

Next time take some pointers from Hollywood!”

“Certainly,” Aoibheann said. “And in the meantime you can ask Antinoos exactly how unimpressive that ring is.”

I looked at her and then back at Arela. Their faces told me they weren’t joking and didn’t enjoy my humor either.

“And what happens when you break your honorable word?” Of course, I would ask what I had to.

“I lose my throne, my crown, my kingdom,” Arela said. “And I become enslaved to

Krâl, entirely at his disposal for him to do what he would with me.”

Okay that was a heavy price to pay. If she wasn’t lying about the trinket and her promise to not hurt Demon, then this was indeed an offer written in gold.

“You do understand I will go back and verify,” I said staring at her awkwardly. This was all so weird. So out of a movie! She smiled and went back to her throne. I took a deep breath and said, “Okay – let’s just assume for a second I believe you and I’m not saying that I do. If I gave you the Scepter – you would spare him?”

“But of course.” She put a very honest expression on her face. “There will be no need to engage him at all. Not to forget I can help you keep your humanity as well.”

“What about Aoibheann?” I looked at her suspiciously. “She hasn’t sworn on a trinket or anything.”

“How can I go against what the First Queen decides?” Aoibheann smiled charmingly. “I shall do as she wishes.”

“Aoibheann will do as I will,” Arela said. “You have my word on that too.”

“What about the kingdoms? Enth? Volttus? What about the people?” I felt queasy. What was I doing? Demon would kill me if he found out. He would never agree to any kind of alliance or settlement with his enemies.

“Oh, dear Princess,” Arela said sweetly. “If you’re not a ghost you’re the rightful heir to the Enthonian throne. And you have my word – I will see to it that you remain human and that you rule. As for Krâl – he will not be touched. Rather set free to choose his fate like a free man. All you have to do is give us the Scepter.”

I nodded. My mind was thinking fast. “How can you be sure I can kill Narzul? I could

fail.”

“You can kill it.” Aoibheann gave me an encouraging smile. “You killed the troll while drugged and half asleep. The Dragon shouldn’t be a problem when you’re prepared for it. And going by what I’ve seen, you’re good.” She paused and smiled fondly. “I see he’s taught you well.”

“You know what – I don’t think I want to help you.” I gave her my sweetest smile. “I think I’ll take my chances with the fight if you don’t mind.” I stood up and turned to leave.

“You can never bring him back, Aoife.” Aoibheann’s voice made me stop. “The human within him is dead.”

I stood frozen in my tracks, my heart beating in my brain. She walked around me, circling closer, and when she was face to face with me, she put a cold hand on my shoulder. The brilliance of her now violet eyes held my attention.

“Antinoos died many lifetimes ago. What lives now is evil and loveless,” she said. Then, she circled behind me and whispered in my ear. “The love he gave to me – I took with me. All else and you are just pleasures of the flesh. Look.” She pointed at something invisible in front of me. “See how he loved me. Can you see?”

I saw Demon – as Antinoos – dancing with Aoibheann in wide open fields. His passion – his love – his soul – all pouring out through his beautiful blue eyes for her.

And that smile –

“Look at him look at me.” Aoibheann whispered. “Does he ever look at you that way?”

My heart wrenched. No, he doesn’t.

“Look at how he holds me. Does he ever hold you like that?” No! My throat felt swollen.

“And those lips – has he ever kissed you so passionately, Aoife? Have you ever felt the warmth of his heart beating next to yours?”

I closed my eyes to hide the pain. Aoibheann was right. All that remained of him now was a mere shell. The man she had shown me was not the one I had fallen in love with. I had fallen for a demon who didn't want me. She had had the love of a real man who had died loving her. There was no way I could ever compare to her.

She stopped talking and the images vanished. I looked down and felt a tear roll over my cheek and hit my right shoe. In the sinister silence of Castle Ducimus, that teardrop echoed.

“Think the offer over Princess. Unlike you, we are not in a hurry.” Aoibheann went back to Arela and took the Key. “You’re not a prisoner here. But you have decisions to make so it’s best you stay here until you do. Nivis will now escort you back to your room.”

Nivis? I turned around and there he was standing next to a bald servant holding a tray of food.

“I don't think I’m hungry anymore.”

“Yes you are.” He smiled with a sincere insistence that reminded me of Ogaz. Oh, how I missed home! “I will take this food along to your room and you can eat there.”

I nodded and he led me out of the throne room. The attendant followed us. It wouldn’t be shocking to note that I had forgotten – mostly on purpose – to bid adieu to the two Queens. I didn't think I was in the right frame of mind to look them in the eye and say anything at all just then.

On my way back to the room, I was quiet. Didn't say a word to Nivis and neither did he try to make conversation for which I was glad. I didn't think I would have had the patience for it. After a long silent walk he stopped and smiled at me.

“Your room, Princess. We hope you are comfortable.” He opened the door to let me in. The attendant followed me inside and after setting the tray on one table, both he and Nivis left, closing the door behind them.

I quietly looked around. There was no sunlight on the balcony, which meant the day was nearly over. I looked at the food. That wasn’t inviting anymore and besides, my feet ached. I looked at the odd black ring still pressed in my palm, frowned and placed it on the nightstand as I sat on the bed and unzipped my atrociously high and tight boots. I tossed them onto the naked stony floor one after the other. My toes ached so I sat there massaging them for a while – recalling all the events of the past twenty four hours or so.

Antinoos was dead. The man I knew was a demon. And the only courtesy I could show him for all his care was to leave him out of this whole mess and let him come to his human form in peace. If he tried to help me he could be killed. I looked back at the dull trinket. If everything Arela had said was true, if she really would spare Demon then I saw no reason to not trust her. I’d do as she said but first I needed to verify Arela’s oath. I needed to see him again. And reason with him to – he wouldn’t be pleased at all, maybe would even refuse to talk to me. But he’d have to agree of course. A failing demon couldn’t possibly be a match for the combined powers of the Ducimus, Nivis and Aoibheann.

This was true. I knew that.