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BALENDA INTRODUCES me to an assertive man with very stern eyebrows called Captain Marquis, and an astute young woman with watchful eyes named Lieutenant Rue. I can see why Malala chose them for her personal guard. After spending a childhood with a Queen Mother where everything felt like a guessing game with dire consequences, Malala has always valued transparent and assertive people.
Madame Rosely, the captain, lieutenant, Balenda, the Lost Souls and I, all gather in a small empty room in the abandoned house to come up with a plan to sneak into the castle.
“There’s no way to sneak past the guards.” Captain Marquis states. My spirit slowly sinks into the pit of my stomach. “They’re all ex guards from Queen Nasira’s reign. They know the castle just as well as we do, if not better from serving so many years in the former Queen's regime.”
Lieutenant Rue nods her agreement.
“We’ve circled the castle many times, security will be tight.” Jubilee lifts her hand and flames whoosh from her fingers.
“Then why don’t we burst in?”
“That wouldn’t be a wise idea.” Madame Rosely states. “It’ll attract too much attention. Exposing ourselves too early would put us at a disadvantage.” That statement is unfortunately true. If we expose ourselves too early, The People would be on us so fast we wouldn’t be able to even make it to Malala.
It goes quiet for a moment, then Balenda nods.
“I think I know a way, but it’s very risky. There are a series of hidden tunnels within the castle, often used by servants. I’m sure it’s one of the ways The People and their spies often ventured in and out of the castle unseen. They’ve probably put guards on many of them, but a lot of the tunnels haven’t been used in a long time because they were thought to be blocked off or too unstable. Some have been blocked off for decades, maybe even centuries. Some are so secret that only the royal family was thought to know of them.” She looks towards me. “The same way I was able to get you out of the castle the first time, can be the same way I get you back in.” I nod in encouragement and look around at the others. It worked the first time, why not again.
“I think that’s our best bet.”
“But what are you gonna do once you get in? Are you just going to go in alone?” Scirocco asks with a frown.
“I have to. If too many people come along it’ll only become more risky. I’ll get in, find Malala, and make our way back out through the tunnels.”
Everyone goes quiet and look at each other skeptically at my overly simple plan. I know it isn’t the most sophisticated or fool proof, but I’m the last person anyone would be expecting to be at that castle who knows it like the back of my hand. The guards will be immediately familiar with Balenda or any of the past guards on Malala’s regime. And if I were to bring anyone else along and get separated from them, they may not be able to find their way out.
Plus, everyone believes I’m dead.
“It’ll be fine.” I smiled at Scirocco weakly. I can tell she isn’t convinced. Maybe I am being foolish and letting my need to get to my sister cloud my judgment too much, but I can’t wait any longer. We can’t sit and try to put together the perfect plan. I need to get Malala out of there now.
“If you wish Dwarf Queen Zemira.” Balenda nods. “But I have to warn you. These tunnels may not be like the ones I snuck you out of. These have been hidden for a long time, so they’re dilapidated and unpredictable. You must be careful.”
*****
AS NIGHT FALLS, BALENDA, Captain Marquis, Rowan, Scirocco and I find ourselves hidden in the forest at the back of the castle. It was hard to get here, but with our combined talents and wits, we managed to sneak this far unseen.
We dig with a few hand tools under Balenda’s instruction to uncover a cellar-like door hidden in the ground for what looks like centuries. She pulls on the iron handle with a struggle. It takes a couple of us to yank the thick, decomposing wood from the ground, but once it budges, it opens with a slight whine and reveals a set of jagged stone steps.
“This is it.” Balenda breathes, gripping my forearms as she looks up at me. “Be careful. I don’t want to lose you too. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I....” I nod and give her a watery smile before enclosing her in a tight hug.
I struggle between if I should reassure her that I'll be back. I would hate to lie.
After a moment I release her and turn to Captain Marquis.
“If you find that you can’t continue forward for any reason, come back the way you came and meet us right here.” He says sternly.
“That’s an order.” Rowan echoes. He’s looked uncomfortable with this plan since we made it.
“We’ll all be waiting for you.” Scirocco adds. I smile at them and nod.
“No matter what happens, none of you can come in. I have to do this alone, I don’t want anyone getting hurt because of me. I’ll grab Malala and make our way back here...but if I don't come out in a few hours, head back to the halfway house and regroup.”
They’re all quiet as I turn towards the dark tunnel and slowly descend the stairs. It’s overrun with roots, and who knows what kind of critters live down here. But I have to make it to Malala.
I turn towards the opening and Balenda hands me a lantern that’s already lit. I give them one last look of assurance as they all stand above me in the dark forest. Their faces reflect the same concern I feel, but I can’t let that deter me. Before anyone can object or second guess my decisions, I turn and make my way down the creepy tunnel.
Surprisingly the ceilings are tall enough so I don’t have to bend, which makes me believe that these tunnels were specifically meant to accommodate a dwarf queen.
The smell of damp soil swirls in my nostrils, not entirely unpleasant. I keep close to the walls to make sure I don’t miss any turns and replay the directions Balenda gave me over and over again in my head.
The tunnel feels like it stretches on forever. I continue to trip over roots and uneven ground until it finally evens out to smoother terrain.
I think this is it.
I come to a dead end just like Balenda said and feel along the walls. I probably would have missed it if I didn’t know it was there. The edges of the door are caked with dirt from years of not being used, almost as if the surrounding dirt wants to reclaim it back into the earth.
After some digging, and a lot of coaxing, I finally free the secret door, and with some strength, push it open into a dark room.
Just by looking around I can tell I’m in the lower levels of the castle in an old room that servants would use, but this one is empty.
Thank the heavens.
I crawl out of the passage and shut the wall behind me with a huff, catching my breath while dusting off any dirt and critters.
That was just the first battle.
I blow out the lantern and set it down by the door to pick up on my way out.
The room that I crawled my way into is completely bare and looks like it hasn’t been used in a long time. It could’ve been a storage room or a bedroom.
I peek out of the door into the hall to make sure the coast is clear. There’s no one here that I can trust. All the servants working here, from what Balenda told me, are going to be in support of The People. So I must be wary of them.
I need to find a way upstairs.
Per Balenda’s instructions, I manage to find my way through the lower levels and hide from patrolling guards.
There’s only a few places that they could be keeping Malala where she’s away from everyone else. Maybe she’s in her office.
I manage to get to the main level and keep to the shadows. There’s a servants passage by the kitchens that will lead to the second floor, I just have to get there.
There’s a heavier flow of guards and servants on the main floor. Many of them I don’t recognize, and some I’m shocked that I do. It’s startling to see that people who once served you and smiled in your face were secretly plotting the whole time.
Did they take pleasure in serving us knowing that a day like this would come?
It feels like forever before the coast is clear enough for me to inch further down the hall. As I pass my old sparring room, nostalgia hits me like a train. I can practically smell the cleaning solution the servants would use on the equipment. The training room was almost like a second bedroom with as much time as we spent in there.
My heart stings as the faces of my sisters flood my mind and their voices echo in my ears.
I miss them.
“Well well well.” I startle and whip around, my blood going cold at the sudden voice. “You dwarf queens are just full of surprises hunh? I thought you were dead.” I stare at Balail, unable to speak. I didn’t even hear him walk up on me.
My shock ebbs for a moment, enough for the anger to course through me at his betrayal. Out of everyone, he was the closest to Queen Mother. The one she trusted the most. At the same time, I’m not surprised by his actions.
I say nothing as he lunges forward and grabs me. I shove him away and manage to throw him off balance. He stumbles and looks towards me with a devious smirk.
“Would you look at that? Looks like you haven’t forgotten all of your training while you were away. Where was this hubris during your Thinning dwarf queen?” I grit my teeth at the implication. “Did you enjoy hearing the screams of your sisters as you ran away?”
I attack.
He has no right to even mention that day to me, as if I don’t carry the guilt of my sister’s deaths around with me everywhere I go.
I throw a few punches and kicks, and dodge a few counter attacks.
This isn’t good. After everything I’ve done to sneak in here unnoticed. I can’t let my anger get the best of me. I just need to shut him up and get away.
But despite my best efforts, the commotion draws more guards over into the hall who immediately pile onto me and grab me. I try to shove them away to no avail as they drop me to my knees.
“No, please Balail! Why are you doing this?” My head is shoved onto the floor by two guards I don’t know. I have to strain to look up at Balail through my frustrated and angry tears. “Queen Mother was good to you. You were her most trusted soldier. I just want to see Malala!”
A deep laugh erupts from his belly as he signals for the guards to hold me up so he can look me in the eye. I try to use the move to throw them all off balance but fail.
My jaw clenches as he draws closer with that ugly smile on his face.
“Where’s Malala?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Oh, you want to see the reigning queen do you? Well why didn’t you say so. Here, I’ll guide you right to her.” The guards join in on the laughter and get me to my feet only to drag me through the foyer in front of everyone. Servants, guards, traitorous nobles visiting the castle.
Gasps erupt from them as many recognize my face.
They continue to drag me towards the throne room where we gather the attention of more guards and members of The People in their masks of melted faces. I gasp as I catch sight of the one person I’ve been wanting to see, propped up on her throne.
Malala.
She looks terrible. Her eyes are sunken so far into her head, as if she barely sleeps or drinks enough water. Even from afar I can see her bones protruding through her skin as her half cast eyes lazily stare off into space. She looks like she barely has the energy to hold her head up and support her crown.
The whole scene is a sickening resemblance to that of the Queen of Sono.
“Malala! What have you done to her!? What have you done?!” I scream, fighting against the grasp of the guards.
A man in brown robes walks out into the middle of the room from a group of The People who were standing off to the side. He isn’t wearing a mask like the others, and looks vaguely familiar. His long white locs and mannerism remind me of... Minister Ishmael.
“What do we have here Balail?”
“You would never guess, sir. This is one of the dwarf queens, Dwarf Queen Zemira. She was a part of Queen Malala’s brood.” The older man raises his bushy brows and stares at me in astonishment.
“A dwarf queen who’s alive past her Thinning Ceremony, who’s not the current reigning queen?” He chuckles lightly. “That’s unheard of.''
I glare at him.
“Oh! Please forgive my rudeness, dwarf queen. I’m Obediah, I’m the leader of The People.”
The leader of The People?!
“Of course, you don't really know me, but you may be familiar with my brother, Ishmael.”
My eyes go wide in shock.
He’s Minister Ishmael's brother?!
I quickly fix my face. I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me. I don’t care who he’s related to. I’m just here for Malala.
“What have you done to Malala?” He looks towards her then back at me.
“Oh! No no please don’t worry your little head. Queen Malala is living out her purpose as queen. She’s waiting for the Great Cleanser, The Mercurial Spirit.”
The Mercurial Spirit, Balenda mentioned that name before.
These people really believe in some entity that will come and destroy us all? They really think some all consuming spirit is going to come and kill all magic users? If that’s the case then why have they taken to slaying them in the streets?!
“Queen Malala was very stubborn at first I must admit. You dwarf queens sure can put up a fight. But in the end, she realized this is what’s best for us all. She wants to be here.”
“That’s not true!” I exclaim. Malala would never allow something like this.
Obediah looks at me with fake astonishment washing over his features.
“Of course it is. Here, ask her yourself.” He gestures to Malala sitting on her throne. She looks like a fragile doll sitting there in a dress that’s too big for her frame.
“M-Malala?” I call to her. “Malala, can you hear me?”
No response.
“It’s me, Zemira...Malala, please answer me.” She looks like she doesn’t recognize me at all. There’s no movement in her face or even a flinch at the sound of my voice. She just sits there, staring into space while almost tipping out of her throne.
Angry tears prick my eyes and stream down my face. My once lively and vivacious sister...reduced to a husk of herself.
“What did you do to her!” I scream in rage, kicking at the guards holding my limbs and scratching at their faces. I manage to push a few of them away, but Balail calls for more and they pin me down. I buck and fight with all of my strength.
“Malala! I’m here! I’m here for you! I’m sorry I left you. I’m sorry! I’m here for you now!”
“Take her to the dungeons until we figure out what we want to do with her. She could be a nice gift for the Queen Eater.”
“You heard him. Throw her in the dungeon.” Balail echoes. The guards lift me up and carry me away as I scream for Malala at the top of my lungs.
“No! Please! Malala! I’m here for you! I’m sorry!”
*****
I’VE NEVER BEEN IN the dungeons before.
This thought comes to me as I find myself sitting in a concrete cell with bars that make up an entire wall.
It’s pretty cold and damp.
My finger traces across the wall and comes back with a layer of dust and grime on it. I scrunch my face.
And dirty.
I didn’t even know we had a dungeon if I’m honest.
After spending well over two hours trying to break my way out of here and shouting at the top of my lungs, I found myself slumped on a concrete bench protruding from the wall. Now that the adrenaline has left my body, I can really feel the pain in my bleeding hands from trying to pry the concrete and metal bars apart. The ache and scratchiness in my throat from screaming feels just as bad. As if someone shredded my vocal chords.
I rest my head against the wall behind me, my tears coming back full force, along with a headache.
I’m sorry...I’m so sorry Malala.
My heart breaks a thousand times over as the image of how my sister looked in that throne room burns itself into my mind. She used to be full of so much life. She was the sister that wanted to keep us together and fought for it even when no one else did. She was the sister that showed up for everyone because she wanted to make sure everyone was okay, and we knew we weren’t alone. She was the sister with a strong will. When she set her mind to something she was a force to be reckoned with. And now, to see her up on that throne looking malnourished and depleted... and alone....
I can’t even bring myself to think about all the things she had to endure in this very castle where so much abuse and death has happened, and to remain her alone with the fate of the entire queendom on her shoulders.
I should never have left. I was a coward.
I couldn’t fight in the Thinning Ceremony. I couldn’t face any of my sisters so I ran. I ran away like a coward and I stayed away, even though I knew Malala was here alone doing all of the things I couldn’t...or was just too afraid to do.
I’m sorry. I’ve failed you...in more ways than one.
I sit there wallowing in my pity and defeat, when the hairs on my arms prickle.
“The battle is far from over, young one.” I jump, startled at the voice that appeared right in my ear. My head slowly leans back as I take in a tall woman with a warm bronze aura. Her brown skin and short curly hair are illuminated with beauty, and I can’t help but feel alert in her presence.
“W-who are you?” I look towards the bars hopeful, but confusingly, they’re still locked. “How did you get in here?”
The woman looks vaguely familiar.
“My name is Julianna. You don’t know me personally, but I know you very well, Zemira. I’m here because I want you to know that you did not fail.”
Something within her words and her stance breaks me. I choke up at her softened expression and mothering eyes. They remind me of Balenda.
“But I have.”
I stumble back onto the bench and plop down, my guard falling. It’s not like there’s anything more Julianna can do to me being stuck in this cell.
“My sister is being depleted and used like a puppet by The People, and there isn’t much I can do about it. I ran away from my fate because I was being selfish and left her here all alone. She’s been suffering here in silence, and I can’t even save her. I’m useless!”
Julianna looks at me patiently.
“Zemira...this may seem hard to believe, but this is far from your fault. You and your sister were thrusted into a plan that’s been going on for centuries. Long before you and your sisters were born. Queen’s way older, and way more experienced than you and your sister, have succumbed to the plans of The People. So don’t be so hard on yourself. If you would have stayed back then, then you wouldn’t be here now... to protect your sister.”
“Protect her.” I scoff. “But how? I’m trapped here.” I gesture to the cell around me. “And they have her under tight security. I’ve run out of options.”
Julianna smiles at me and it warms my insides.
“Do not worry. I told you. You have not failed. The battle is far from over.”
Suddenly, an explosion rattles the ground and walls. I run to the gates and see that three cells down, the concrete door has crumbled and crashed to the floor.
“What’s happening?” I turn back towards Julianna to find her... gone.
Chaos erupts from down the hall and trails towards me.
“Zemira?!”
My heart leaps in relief and elation at the familiar voices.
“Rowan? Scirocco? I’m down here!”
Through the dust and rubble Scirocco, Rowan, and Jabari emerge into the dungeons.
“Zemira!” Rowan calls. He rushes to my cell, looking a little roughed up.
“What are you guys doing here?! I told you to leave if I don’t come out!”
Rowan smirks.
“Nonsense, the plan was always to break you out if something went wrong.”
I look at them incredulously.
“That was NOT the plan!”
Rowan calls Jabarai over and gestures toward the bars. With a grip of his hands, he begins to melt them with his magic.
“Nobody touch the bars.” He instructs as the metal begins to glow. Rowan continues to banter with me with a lazy smile on his face.
“Of course it was. You just didn’t know about it.”
“Hurry Jabari!” Scirocco urges him.
“I’m trying.” The bars slowly melt away under his touch.
“Scirocco, where are the others?”
“They’re out there clearing a path for us.”
What?!
“Don’t worry Zemira, we’ve got you.”
The bars melt away and I’m able to get through with some coaxing on Jabari’s part. I hug each of them tightly, tears pricking my eyes. I really didn’t want them to break in and put themselves in harm's way, but I can’t deny the relief and gratitude I feel. Rowan pats me on the shoulder.
“Alright, enough of that, we have to go.”
They guide me out of the dungeons and through the giant hole in the wall into the corridor where there’s straight chaos.
Jubilee is throwing fireballs at masked followers of The People, Pierre has a water whip that he’s using to keep the guards back, Sol is blinding anyone who comes near with her light, and other magic users are scattered about, helping to keep away the guards. My heart warms at the sight.
This is different than in Sono. I’ve seen some of them in action there, but to see them all using their magic in this way lights something within me and fills me with a sense of...pride?
Suddenly, the man who identified himself as the leader of The People, Obediah, marches down the hall towards the chaos with a horde of soldiers.
“Seize them!” His voice carries over the noise.
And that’s when I feel it, coming right from his directions.
I didn’t feel it earlier, probably because he wasn’t using it, or maybe because I was so distracted, but I can definitely feel it now.
Magic.
Some of the masked members from the crowd stand, and magic gathers at their fingertips.
Some of The People are magic users too!
“Surrender!” Obediah shouts again and I feel another wave of magic come over me. This time, it strongarms me into wanting to bend to Obediah’s will and listen to every word he says. There’s a deep urge in me...to surrender!
I look over to Veronica who’s suddenly stopped moving and has gone slack. She looks like she’s warring within herself whether to keep fighting or stop. The same with Pierre and Jabari as they hesitate with their magic.
Oh no. His magic...it can control people?!
“Put your hands behind your back and lay on the ground!” Another command comes from Obediah and I can feel the magic pulsing in the air.
No! If they do that then it’s over. Obediah and The People will get the upper hand and we’ll all be in danger. I have to stop this.
Something flickers within me. The urge to protect all of my friends from this magic overwhelms me, and on pure instinct, a blue energy gathers around me, prickling my skin, and lashes out, blowing back all of the soldiers, The People, and Obediah.
Everyone stands there shocked, as traitorous Hivena soldiers and members from The People groan on the floor from the impact.
What just happened?!
I stare down at my body, feeling the remnants of the magic dissipate within me.
I have...
It’s not like the blue energy actually touched them. I just wanted to protect my friends.
“Run!” Rowan shouts. I snap back to my senses at Rowan's voice and we all take off, but I stop in my tracks.
“I can’t leave yet.” I call to Rowan. “I have to get my sister.” He looks over to me and nods.
“Tell us where to go and we’ll fight them off while you grab her.” We run and he creates a series of portals down the long corridor that guards fall through and clears a path for me to bound up the stairs before more guards come bounding towards the group.
I make it to the main level of the castle, but stop short as a throng of guards emerge down the hall, heading straight towards me.
I stumble, looking around.
Oh no, everyone’s still on the lower level keeping the other guards at bay.
I rack my brain to figure out my next move when suddenly, a giant painting on the wall to my right swings open.
A secret passage!
I don’t see anyone on the other side, but I hurry and climb into it, shutting the door securely behind me. It immediately muffles the chaos happening on the other side.
I take a deep breath, relieved, and try to look around. It’s pitch black in here. I can’t see anything.
I tentatively try to feel my way against the walls.
Maybe there’s a light, or a crevice that will signal a door.
After minutes of fumbling around, a strange sound flitters to me from down the corridor.
Was that the sound of... a baby?
I stop and turn around.
“Hello?”
Something slowly glows further down the passage, illuminating the space. Whatever it is, it crawls on the floor and promptly turns a corner.
Huh?
I follow it quickly before I lose sight of the light. I stop in front of another long passage only to find it dark again. Then the sound of a little girl's laughter chimes towards me and a little girl with a yellow aura twirls around at the end of the passage, giggling around another corner.
The sight throws me for a loop. I hesitate and look behind me down the dark corridor I just came from, but there’s no turning back now.
Swallowing my fear, I follow her, and one after the other, a series of glowing babies and little girls lead me down a maze of winding dark halls and tunnels until I arrive at a narrow passageway of stairs that lead up to a single door. I hesitantly open it, and I’m relieved to find that it leads right into the Queen’s Chambers.
I step out of the wardrobe, in a fit of breaths. The room is dim but not as dark as the passages.
I cautiously look around for anything alarming and find Malala lying in bed, looking so still.
My heart nearly bursts out of my chest.
“Malala!” I rush to her and hold her face delicately in my hands. “Malala?”
She looks awake, but still has a vacant look in her eyes, and her body is even more gaunt up close. Tears burn my eyes for my sister.
“Don’t you worry okay, I’m here now. I’m gonna get you out of here.”
I freeze for a moment as I hear shuffling footsteps outside the door and people running past. There must be guards guarding this room. But Malala isn’t a threat in this state, so they’re probably more focused on the chaos my companions caused by breaking into the castle.
Now my main problem is, how am I going to get her out of here and back down the passage? I'll have to carry her, but if we run into any trouble I’m going to have a hard time carrying her and fighting at the same time. They’ll catch us.
I try to pick her up, but her body is so stiff and frail. I worry that I’ll hurt her in trying to get us out.
“Malala, if you can hear me, please give me some sign that you can move. If you can just cooperate with me we can get out of here.”
There’s nothing, no response. I begin to panic.
What am I going to do?
“A war is coming, and you must prepare.” I gasp and whip around to three cloaked figures standing around the bed. I hop to my feet on guard.
“W-who are you?” I say, standing between them and my sister.
They stare for a moment.
“We... are the Sages.”
The Sages?! Wait...
“Step aside.” One of the cloaked figures says. I don’t. I hover over Malala protectively.
“What do you want with my sister?”
Are they here to take her away? It’s not her time!
“Zemira, if you want to help your sister you must move out of our way.” I glare at them and they stare back, unmoving. The fact that I can’t see their faces under those hoods makes it even more unnerving.
The seconds tick by as I grit my teeth. They’re right, we don’t have time for this. I need to get her and the rest of the Lost Souls out of here before they come to any harm.
I step aside and the Sages step forward. I’ve never laid eyes on them before. I’ve been told they were there on the day we were born, but other than that I’ve never seen them.
One of the Sages pulls down the blanket wrapped over Malala’s body and grabs on to a delicate chain clasped around her ankle. They crush it between their hands and it breaks away and crumbles into tiny pieces onto the bed.
I watch with wide eyes as they lay their hands on her frail body and an unknown language snakes from beneath their hoods. Their hands suddenly begin to glow and a warm light seeps from their fingertips into Malala.
I wait with baited breath.
With each passing second her color returns, and she starts to look more like her usual self.
She gasps awake and I run to her.
“Malala! Oh Malala I’m so happy you're okay.” I hold her close and she grips me back. Relief floods my chest.
“Z-Zemi...what are you doing here?” She croaks and looks at me worried with tears pricking her eyes. “Y-you’re not supposed to be here, you could get–”
“Shhh it’s okay. Everything’s fine. I came for you. I’m gonna get you out of here.” She looks past my shoulders and her eyes go slightly wide.
“The Sages?”
“We have guided her soul back to her body from the cell it was being held in. She will still be a little weak and dizzy for a while. So be careful.” I nod to them.
“Thank you...thank you.” I breathe.
I help her out of bed and she practices balancing on her feet. I don’t know when’s the last time she walked by herself.
When I'm sure she won't topple over, we make our way back to the secret passage hidden within the wardrobe, but before we can head down, the Sages call out a warning from behind.
“A war is coming. You must prepare.” When I gaze over my shoulder to ask them more, they’re gone.
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