Early Spring - M-1893, Part 7 The Shadowqueen (I)

Guardian's Key

Part7

The Shadowqueen

I

“Well, I guess this means we don’t need to stay here any longer, and we can’t go back to Lessa’s home. Any suggestions?” Telaan asked Adrostos and Nanda.

“I spoke earlier with Elves from Chandra Valley, and they indicated there is an inn very nearby where we can stay. Much as I would like to get started immediately, we must plan and rest.”

“Agreed. Frea wasn’t happy with sharing the information with me, but I can be as persuasive, if not more so, as my bitch mother when I must be.” He looked at Nanda. Much as he loved her, she would never understand him. She thought him a good man, some day she would be faced with the fact he was not, his past followed him everywhere he went; he was unable to leave it behind, no matter how hard he tried.

“Very well. Then I will lead the way. We do not need to teleport as we are only going two or three streets north.”

Telaan nodded and taking Nanda’s hand, followed the Elf out. He still couldn’t believe his incredible luck in finding her, in being in just the right spot that turning. She was such a breath of fresh air in his otherwise tainted life. How he could have earned her love was probably the greatest mystery of his cursed life; but, the warmth and trust of her hand in his filled him with a sense of guilt. His world had almost killed her sweetness and beauty. Now, he was taking her into even more danger. He had to leave her behind, there was nothing else he could do; it would tear him apart, but not nearly as much as her death.

Eris had tried to kill everyone he loved out of spite. By the time he’d received the message from his foster mother that she was in danger, Eris had already reached her. She’d imprisoned her in a place where her powers were useless, not that Aglaea ever had magique to fight the Shadowqueen.

While searching for Aglaea, he’d run into his old friend, Xavier, who’d told him Nanda was also missing. He’d suspected Eris had something to do with it, but he couldn’t leave Aglaea to whatever kader Eris had devised for her, so he he’d been forced to leave Nanda’s rescue in the hands of his old friend and companions while he continued his search for his foster mother.

He'd found Aglaea, but she'd been weak and he’d left her with the healer. By then, he’d lost track of Xavier, though the man had said they were heading to Ghalt’s. Telaan then concentrated on Eris and locked onto her just as she’d reached Ghalt’s fortress. By the time he’d arrived, it was almost too late. If it hadn’t been for Lessa’s Sundara magique which was much stronger than anything he’d ever encountered, he would have been too late to save either Nanda or his old friend Xavier. Eris would have had no choice but to kill them, of course, or that’s how the Guidance would have heard the story.

___

“Ah, yes, this definitely looks like my mother.”

“This place looks like a child-year’s story, but feels evil.”

“I believe that’s what I said, my love.” Telaan looked down at her, once again torn. She was as important to him as breathing, and the feel of her hand in his was Spirit sent, but he was angry with her, too. She was too stubborn for her own good, and she’d refused every attempt he’d made to get her to return home.

“Is she here?” Adrostos asked.

Telaan felt the air around them, “Yes, and our advantage of surprise is useless. My guess is that Frea has already warned her of our arrival.”

“Will she stop us?” Nanda asked.

“No, in fact our arrival amuses her.”

“But you’ve escaped, my love, won’t that anger her?”

Telaan smiled wryly. He knew his mother, everything was working to her plan, whatever the hell that was, and there was nothing they could do but play along for now. Once he had all the information he needed, then he’d be proactive. “No, she knew I’d get free sooner or later, and she knew whoever freed me would be her enemy. She just loves to know her enemies. She seems to think it gives her some sort of an advantage.”

“She already knows me.” Adrostos said quietly.

“Yes, she does, and she knows Nanda, so nothing new for her to learn.”

The door opened as they approached and Eris stepped just outside the doorway with her freaky ass priestess once again whispering in her ear. “Well, my errant son returns to his mother, bringing his lover with him. Aren’t you afraid to bring her to me? The Guidance would still like to see her in chains, you know.”

“Be that as it may, Eris, you won’t touch her anymore than you’ll put me back in chains. You never repeat an action that has brought only failure; your ego can’t bear it.” Telaan said. Unlike the child he'd been, the adult no longer feared the woman.

She laughed, “So true, flesh of my flesh.” The priestess once again whispered in her ear. Eris nodded and smiled. “Pele says your new haircut looks quite nice on you, by the way.”

“Hair grows back.”

“Yes, but my mark can only be hidden, never removed no matter what the magique; I made sure of that before my power was ripped from me.” She stepped back, “Enter.”

Part 6 Return to Cronus I

Part 7 The Shadowqueen II