Sarah was brave, she knew that, but her hand still shook when she was handing that letter over to the delivery man. The mail trip to Numara would take a month and a half, and she probably wouldn't hear a reply from the sender for another four on top of it. Five months might seem like a long time to answer anyone, but it wasn't like the Queen of Numara had all the time in her realm to reply to silly little letters anyway.
"I could have delivered it faster."
"I don't want you away that long," Sarah said, grabbing Kaim's hand. She was leading them back to her little house in Tosca. She felt like she hadn't seen him in a while. Thinking back on it, it had been a few months since he popped back in to the Mountain Village, only to rush back out again. "I would like you to myself, actually," she admitted with a little blush.
She was given a kiss to her hand and a caress of his thumb. It had been too long since he had done that, too. She found herself sighing. "And I've missed you," she finished.
As they stepped into Sarah's little house, she found that it was getting harder to maneuver around in her small space. She crossed her arms looking at the mess before her. It was a wonder she could find anything that she might be looking for in this house. Add in another body, with little bits and pieces of his traveling gear and items along with him, and it was getting a little cramped. Yes, in Kaim's four-month absence, she managed to destroy her living space again. There were books scattered across her table, onto her sitting couch, on her kitchen counters, and in piles on the floor. Every surface was covered in paper, and it was just a little embarrassing. "Sorry."
Kaim shrugged. "Somehow, I've seen worse. Besides," he said, giving her a small smile. "It's your house. I can't say anything."
"Well. I suppose you can't, but you'll be here too." Sarah felt her cheeks burn a little, turning away from his face. Having a boyfriend still felt entirely new to her, despite this being their almost tenth year together. Even though they'd known each other for centuries, she still wondered if he was used to her peculiar and messy lifestyle; and found it a little disconcerting when things got out of hand. Like she was being scrutinized for her book hoarding. Sarah sighed. She probably was, but Kaim was too kind to her to say otherwise. "And if you're going to be living here, I can't let it get to this."
"Living here?"
Sarah gasped and turned. She held her hands in the air, head moving back and forth trying to find the words that should come out of her mouth. "I mean, Kaim. I don't want to assume, but you don't have a home. I mean! You've never told me if you have somewhere to go? Do you? I'm sorry—I assumed, and I know I shouldn't do that—It's just never been brought up!"
"Hey. Don't worry." Kaim smiled gently. He caught one of her hands in his own. It did much to calm her down. "I'm the one who's intruding here."
"Well, do you have a place to go?" Sarah couldn't quite look him in the eyes, though did see him tilt his head a little. She continued, "I…If you don't. I…well, if you need a place to call home. You're…very welcome here."
She felt Kaim's hand brush her jaw, so she peered above her glasses. He had a goofy grin on his face, and eyes that seemed to be searching hers. "Do you really mean it?"
"Don't be silly!" Sarah looked away for a moment and fanned her face. She was wondering if she could get any warmer. "Of course, I mean it! It's been more than a century and a half that you've been visiting me, and we've been together for almost a decade! Over the years you've been leaving things here, and it's starting to feel like our space instead of just mine, and I wouldn't want it any other way!" She faced him again, feeling less and less control over her tongue and words. "You should move in!" she blurted out hurriedly. Elegantly said, Sarah Sisulart, she snarked to herself. She lowered her head in shame.
"Than if you'll have me." Kaim pulled her into a sweet and slow kiss, and Sarah just knew she could get warmer. When they broke away, he rested his forehead on hers, whispering, "I'll stay."
. . .
What Sarah wasn't expecting was a handwritten note from the Queen herself, only three months after she sent her letter.
Dear Ms. Sarah Sisulart,
Please excuse this rushed response, but I am very excited to meet you and Mr. Kaim Argonar. Please accept this official letter of invitation. I welcome you warmly to my home.
Her Royal Highness, Ming Numara
Sarah could have died and gone to the afterlife if they had one. She squealed and ran to her bed—our bed, she reminded herself with delight—where Kaim was currently taking a nap, tripping along the way and slamming head first into his stomach. He woke up with a start. "Ow."
"Sorry! But look!" She adjusted her glasses and practically shoved the short letter into his face. "And she wrote it with her own hand! And we can go! We've got to go now! And—I don't know what to wear? What do we pack? Oh, my goodness, do I have money saved up? Can I afford to travel?" Sarah started to feel the panic rise from her belly. She rolled off a groaning Kaim as elbows dug into his ribs and looked around her room. "Oh no, I haven't made any new dresses in such a long time! But what if she doesn't like old handmade things?"
Kaim rubbed the spot where her elbows attacked him. "I'm sure she wouldn't care what you were wearing so long as it was clean."
"But Kaim. We're going to meet the Queen!" She threw her hands up as if that was going to make a difference in what she was saying. "We can't just go waltzing into her palace wearing country bumpkin clothing!"
"Well, we are on a mountain. Not exactly country." Kaim had that teasing smile on his face, and Sarah wasn't having it.
"On a mountain no one has heard of! Tell me, when people ask where you live do you tell them Tosca and they then say, 'never heard of it?'" Sarah crossed her arms. "It's happened. It's going to happen every time! We mind as well be…be…peasants!" Sarah ran over to the large chest in the corner of the room. She pulled it open and found her money purse. "I haven't been saving as much as I should."
"Sarah, don't worry about money." Kaim had crossed over to her and took the purse out of her hand. He put it back in the chest and gave her a look. "You forget that I have too much saved up."
"But I couldn't ask you to spend anything!" Sarah stomped her foot and Kaim quirked a smile. That made her a little angrier, so she pouted her lips and Kaim laughed. "This is no laughing matter."
"I've had almost eight hundred years of pay saved up from countless armies, missions, and kings. The last big purchase I made was that vacation we went on nine years ago." Kaim shut her chest. "So, don't worry about it."
Sarah knew she wasn't going to win. Instead, she sighed. "Fine. Okay. It's paid for then, but we still need to be able to present ourselves well! Ah!" She looked up at him with a smile stretching across her cheeks. "You've met plenty of kings and queens! You can teach me everything I need to know about how to act around one!"
"Haven't you met a few yourself?"
"Only a dozen or so, but never an Immortal one!" Sarah clasped her hands in front of her. "And I know you haven't met her either, but you still know more than me!"
And so Kaim became Sarah's teacher while they traveled from the mountain village to the sunny Numara. The only way to get to Numara was by boat, and even though Sarah was nervous about the ride over, Kaim assured her that they should be traveling through easy waters. It would be nothing like the last time they traveled together.
Kaim wrote a short reply to the Queen letting them know when to expect them and sent it off the next time the mail carrier came a few days later. "Because we are taking your boat, it is going to take longer to arrive in Numara, so they should have time to prepare for us," he said.
They took a day to go shopping for supplies in Saman. "I've made a check list of all the things we need for the boat here!" Sarah said, tapping a finger to her list. "And then we get down to the new clothes we'll need to buy. I wonder if I should buy a bonnet, or is that too much? Oh! There's a nice hat!"
Sarah felt Kaim tug on her long sleeve. She turned to look at him, and she laughed at his expression. "Okay, okay. No hats!"
Despite not wanting any new clothing, Kaim allowed her to buy him three new trousers and three nice shirts before he drew the line at clothing for himself. He told Sarah she could get whatever she wanted, and she thought long and hard about how she wanted to dress herself before finally only buying four new dresses for herself. Kaim shook his head. "You're so indecisive."
"Well, I guess your way does make sense. We'll look more foolish walking in and staying there wearing things we're uncomfortable in. But I do need new dresses for any fancy meals we may have," she finished with a knowing smile. He shook his head, but agreed, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
He did have to pull her away from shoes though, teasing, "Who's really going to pay attention to your feet?" Sarah had to agree.
They stayed one last night in Tosca before they made their way down to Sarah's little boat that was docked on the sea. After securing what they needed and casting off, Kaim sat Sarah down and began the month-long lesson on royalty etiquette.
. . .
Sarah couldn't believe how beautiful Numara was, and they had not even stepped off the boat yet. They weren't in the town, just the port that wasn't quite connected to the Grand State of Numara, but everything looked so very white. The marble stood in contrast to the black gates they were approaching, and beyond that was just so much green. Sarah hadn't seen any place with these many types of flowers, and she had to control herself from wandering away from Kaim.
The guard at the gates gave them looks as they got closer. Sarah may have looked disheveled and lost for words, but Kaim knew exactly how to present himself as he very graciously pulled out the welcoming letter from the Queen. "Here to see Her Royal Highness."
The man inspected the letter and almost looked to want to reject them and send them back onto the boat, but he did step aside the gate and held out the letter back to its owner. "Welcome to Port Numara. If you exit and head north, Numara is not but a mile's walk from here. Her Highness has already sent word of your arrival, so someone will be down to carry your things from your boat to the Palace. If you so wish, you can wait for them and they can escort you."
"We should be fine but thank you." Kaim took the letter, informed the guard where their things were kept on the ship, and they walked through the gate.
"Well he could have been a little less rude."
Kaim shrugged. "Just doing his duty. Not very many people get to come through this country. Seems the immortal Queen is strict on visitation."
Sarah knew of that information, as she had tried several times to step foot into this place and always missed the opportunity; but she was soon distracted by what she was seeing on their walk. She found herself wandering off the path with her small notebook at hand, jotting every detail down. After the third time, Kaim held onto her hip. With a playful tone, he told her, "we're here for a month. You will have time to write everything down. Let's enjoy the path and get to Numara before dinnertime."
Sarah laughed, and tucked her book away. He was right. They had plenty of time.
.
Numara was a bustling city. Adults and children alike were outside in the sun, enjoying the fresh and salty summer breeze. Sarah could hardly contain her excitement as the sights and smells that assaulted her senses, leaving her buzzing with new energy. This grand country was something she never dreamed she'd have the chance to see, and this was one of the times where being an immortal really worked in her favor.
Kaim just kept a gentle hand on her shoulder as they made their way through the center of the city. Sarah managed to rein in her curiosity and remain on the path past the marvelous styled houses and towards their destination.
Kaim stopped in front of the Inn, stretching out. "How about we freshen up? I'm sure they would allow us to use their baths for a moment?"
Sarah nodded, pulling her travel pack off her back. Inside she had one of her nice dresses neatly folded along with a pair of nice shoes. She looked down at her traveling boots and wondered just what mud puddles she waded through on their short walk. "That would be a good idea."
After a quick, but refreshing, bath, Kaim asked the Inn Keeper to send their packs to their room ahead of them and they were on their way again.
Sarah gasped at the high pillars before her. The Numara Palace was swathed in white marble that shown brilliantly in the setting sun. The doors stood tall and arched at the top to match. It was a perfect blend of a summer home and royalty, and Sarah could only dream of having anything this grand back in Tosca. When Sarah finally felt her thoughts catch up to her steps, she realized that she must be gawking at her surroundings, and closed her mouth.
As Kaim handed over the letter to the guard, said mouth grew dry and her heart hammered in her chest. She let go of Kaim's hand, wiping sweaty palms onto her skirt. She could see Kaim quirk an eyebrow at her, but she couldn't find the words to say anything about it. She was afraid if she opened her mouth only gibberish would fall out.
She was suddenly feeling very woozy and uncommonly shy. As the doors opened, and she stood still feeling like a fish out of water, Kaim reached back and held out his hand. She hooked onto it, and that gave her the little motivation she needed to take a step forward.
The inside looked even grander than the outside. Sarah took a shaky breath in. The throne stood empty in the front of the wide hall, the only other living souls were the two guards who stood at the door to the right of it. Sarah and Kaim made their way over. "Kaim Argonar and Sarah Sisulart, welcome. Her Royal Highness is currently in a meeting but will meet with you in her personal drawing room shortly. Right this way."
The guard turned, and they followed him out the door.
.
Sarah marveled at how tall everything was. The ceiling seemed to stretch along forever, and when they reached the other door after a long hall, she gasped out loud. Despite this being the inside of a castle, the ceiling opened to the heavens, and there was a garden that was full of flowers and other exotic plants. She didn't know if she was expecting anything less. She squeezed Kaim's hand, suddenly forgetting about her earlier nervousness. He squeezed back. "It is truly beautiful," she whispered.
"It is," he replied. Sarah grew quiet once more, not trusting herself to say anything else. She just watched in a daze as they walked through the colorful path.
They stopped at a door, and guard spoke up. "These will be your accommodations. Your personal belongings from your boat and the Inn have already arrived. After you meet with the Queen, someone will escort you back here. The drawing room is a little way up ahead. Let's continue."
The mention of the Queen and drawing room sent Sarah's earlier queasiness back in full motion. She wiped her palms again, and Kaim pulled her closer to him when she reattached herself to him. He leaned his head down, whispering, "everything okay?"
"No," Sarah said with a sigh. "We're meeting a Queen! Someone I've looked up to ever since finding out that she was like us. And you know me," Sarah continued looking up at Kaim. "Remember when I met King Frederick of Uhra?"
"You were a little less sweaty," Kaim recalled. Sarah bumped his body with her own but couldn't help the little smile that pressed onto her lips. "I remember, but don't worry. You can survive this. You can survive anything anyone throws at you. Even royalty."
Sarah nodded, but kept her mouth shut. The words were comforting, but she couldn't help herself. The buzz of meeting Ming Numara was almost too much to bare. She found herself wanting to hide behind her immortal lover like a child hiding from strangers.
They finally reached another large door and stepped back onto the cool marble floor. The guard walked them up a flight of stairs and into a room with several comfortable chairs. He nodded, and Kaim thanked him, Sarah still not trusting herself just yet to speak. After the doors closed, she let go of Kaim's hand and wandered around the room. Her feet automatically went towards the bookshelf across the room, and she ignored the chuckle coming from the other person in the room.
Ming Numara had dozens of different kinds of books in many different languages lining her shelf. Sarah could read some of the languages, but others were a complete mystery to her. It does make sense for an Immortal Queen to know as many languages as she can, but I was not expecting all of this! Sarah thought to herself. She brushed fingers against spines as she made her slow walk around the room.
Kaim had relaxed himself into a sofa and was staring out of the grand window to the sea. One could see the Port of Numara a short distance away, and Sarah wondered how her little boat was faring. She stopped in front the window.
The sea spread out for miles, leading into a hazy blue line that met the burning orange sky on the horizon. The Free Ocean State of Numara was in the middle of the ocean, and not much was known of the mysterious nation, and Sarah could only hope to fill up her journals about this adventure. "Will a month be enough time, Kaim?"
Kaim made a little noise, not an exact answer. Sarah turned and found her way to him. She sat down next to him with a sigh. "I fear I will not be able to record anything substantial in that amount of time."
"Well, if this visit goes well, we may be able to come again." Kaim wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I don't see how we could mess this up, though. You were a pretty good and thorough student on the way down."
Sarah smiled. "Only because my teacher was surprisingly very knowledgeable in his content."
"Centuries dealing with kings and monarchies will do that to a person. Though, I haven't met too many reigning women." Kaim leaned back in his seat sighing. "I'm sure a Queen will be a very refreshing sound to hear."
"No taking orders?"
"None whatsoever. This is a vacation away from the military." And Sarah could truly tell by the sound of his voice that it was a much-needed break. Kaim's mouth curved up into a mischievous grin, and he added, "besides, you wouldn't be able to function here without me."
"And what do you mean by that?"
But before he could give his spirited reply, the doors opened. The both of them jumped out of their seats, Sarah nervously pushing hair behind her ear.
Ming Numara walked in, heels gently clicking the floor underneath her. Her hair was tied up neatly on the top of her head, only leaving a few crimson curls out of place. Her long silk dress was unwrinkled and very brilliantly blue, which contrasted to her pale skin and green jeweled necklace. Sarah noted that her dress was a very simple design, but the Queen's way of holding herself made her look very powerful. Almost electrifying. Sarah itched in her own clothes, wishing she had worn something a little more elegant.
Kaim gently nudged her on his way down to a bow. Sarah remembered her manners and curtsied beside him. Ming waited for the doors to shut behind her, before relaxing her shoulders. She nodded once, and the two of them stood upright again. "It is so very nice to meet the both of you," she said. Her smile brought a little ease to Sarah's tossing stomach.
"And us to you. Thank you, again, for allowing us this visit."
Ming's smile brightened, and Sarah couldn't help but to match it. "It is a true honor to meet you, my Queen," she said with another bow of her head.
"Oh, Ming, please." The Immortal Queen sat herself down on the chair across from them. Sarah and Kaim sat back down onto their seats as she did so. "Finding more people like myself is a truly wonderful experience, and I just feel like it would be wrong to have you be so formal."
The door opened again, and one lady brought in a tray of tea with sandwiches. "Do forgive me, but I have already had my dinner earlier. If you need something more substantial, please let me know."
"Oh, it's no problem, Your—M-Ming!" Sarah blushed at her stumbled words. Kaim laid a hand on her knee and she let out her breath.
"We ate a pretty good lunch," Kaim finished for her. He accepted the offering of a sandwich, passing one over to Sarah. She took one bite, surprising herself at how easy it was to eat despite her nerves.
"Your travels were well, I presume?"
Sarah nodded, Kaim filled in with, "very. The ocean fared well on us and our boat."
"That is good to hear." Sarah waited for an awkward silence, but the Queen spoke up again. "I must know, what have you been doing these years? There is a lot that can happen in seven and a half hundred years," she continued, taking a small sip of tea. Sarah smiled around her sandwich. The Queen was just as eager as herself to know what happens in an almost eight-hundred-year life.
Kaim motioned towards Sarah. "This one here happens to be a record keeper." Sarah felt her heart still on the spot. She suddenly had no stories or any thoughts in her head to marvel a queen with, but luckily, he continued. "I am a mercenary for hire for the other neighboring kingdoms."
"Oh my!" Ming clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling. Sarah was reminded a little of herself, though she usually had less control over her curiosity and arm flailing. "The both of you must have such dazzling stories to tell! I am sorry, please excuse my interest." She seemed to compose herself, as if she had crossed a line. Sarah watched as she sat up a little straighter and gave them an apologetic look. "I do not meet immortals every day," she added with her own shy smile.
"Not at all!" Sarah scooted up in her seat. "I've always dreamed of coming to Numara, and you must have such thrilling stories of your own!"
"I would not say thrilling, exactly," Ming said with a light laugh. "It is very good to hear that you are interested in Numara, the Peaceful Kingdom. The history here is very rich. It looks like we will have plenty to talk about in your stay."
"And thank you for your accommodations for us, Ming." Kaim set his empty cup down. "I'm sorry if there was any inconvenience in it."
"None at all, Mr. Argonar."
"Kaim."
"Kaim," she corrected. "You are honored guests and I would not have you staying any place else."
The first meeting was a short one. Soon, Ming was excusing herself to finish the last of her paperwork before she was to retire, and another guard was taking them to their room.
The guest room was large, Sarah was amazed at how she could almost fit half, if not most, of her home into this one space. "I wasn't expecting it to be this big! I know we're guests inside the palace, but…"
"You were expecting something smaller?" Kaim was looking over their things that were carried to the room earlier. He stood up, seeming to see everything was in order, before walking over to the chair by the door. He pulled off his shoes and then leaned back in the chair. "Like a broom closet?"
"You're such a comedian, Kaim," Sarah said, voice falling flat. He laughed and held out his arms. She sighed and sat down on his lap. She kicked off her nice shoes and settled her head into the crook of his neck. She felt his arms wrap around her, and she hummed into her cozy position. She loved the feeling of his chest moving with each breath, knowing that he was alive and that he was hers to hold and cherish. She knew he felt the same, as he fit his chin on the crown of her head. This was much more comfortable than the monthlong boat ride and the accommodation that came with it. With a tired sigh, she added, "I bet any broom closet here is bigger than our kitchen at home."
Kaim snorted at that.
. . .
The first few days went like this: breakfast with the Queen, a quick tour of different areas of the castle, explore the city by themselves or with a castle guide, dinner at the castle, and conversation with the Queen in her drawing room.
On the fifth day there was a storm. It came suddenly, and with how heavy the rainfall was, the two traveling immortals decided they'd stay inside. With the morning disruption of weather, Ming found that she had an opening that morning. "I would love to show you my personal library, Sarah. If you would like, you may come, too, Kaim."
Kaim smiled, and bowed low. "Being in a library surrounded by books is more of Sarah's specialty, and career. I wouldn't want to bore the two of you. If you do not, mind I would like to take a walk."
The queen smiled and tilted her head. Kaim bowed again and reached over to squeeze Sarah's hand. "I'll see you later."
"Y-yes!" she squeaked out. This would be the first time she would be alone with the Immortal Monarchy. She could feel a flutter of nerves tickle her belly as they walked away from Kaim and down another stretch of hall.
"You write?" Ming suggested.
"I do." Sarah nervously tucked her hair behind her ear. "I travel the world and try to capture histories past." She looked up and was startled at the intent stare the queen was giving her. She blushed a little, looking down again. "Um. That's how I survived the first two hundred years of my life. Writing for various sources and colleges and things."
"If I recall how this world used to be, was it hard to go around freely like that?" Ming turned down another passage, and Sarah was left to wonder how anyone could remember where to go in this place. "The world was not as…accepting of us women back then."
"I do remember having a hard first century or so," Sarah conceded, thinking back. "You're right. The world didn't welcome a working woman as much back then. It was through trial and error to find the right footing, but I finally managed to get myself in Uhra and their scholars."
"The right direction to take, if I do say so myself," Ming responded. "They are the best in the world. Their research has changed our lives so much in the last few centuries."
"And it would seem their magical knowledge is gaining in momentum! I can see it overcoming Gohtza in the next hundred years if it continues like this!" Sarah smiled, looking up at Ming. "I've been meaning to take another visit to the place and try to learn from their black mages."
"Oh?" But before Ming could continue they had reached their destination. The grand double doors loomed above them, and Sarah couldn't contain her gasp at what they held behind them. Towers of bookshelves on three different levels of floors greeted her. In the center of the domed ceiling was the most intricate chandelier she had ever seen. She could just imagine the light from the sun reflecting on it and leaving the most radiant pattern on the floor and shelves around them. With a snap of an immortal finger, Ming lit the candles and ushered Sarah through the door. "Welcome."
"This has got to be the grandest library I've ever seen!" Sarah found herself quickly walking up to the closest shelf. "These books date back centuries, and they look brand new!"
"Thank you," Ming said, joining her at the shelf. The queen pulled a book off and opened its pages to let Sarah see the inside. "There is a special kind of charm I have set on them that allows them to stop aging, if you will."
Sarah carefully pulled off a book from the shelf and gently turned the pages. It was a detailing of the Khent and Numaran agreement, an event that happened five hundred years ago, and one that Sarah had studied immensely. She could feel her curiosity devour her as she wondered what the Numaran outlook on the agreement was. No one knew for sure what the Queen had said to get the agreement started, except the Grand State itself, so to hold it in her hands was the purest delight. Also, to see a dated book in this condition made her heart sing. She couldn't even get her books to stay so immaculate. So many of them she had to recopy after a few decades because her spells wore off. She closed the book, and after running a hand over the cover, she slipped it back onto the shelf.
"I want to show you something." Ming lead her around a few shelves and up one flight of stairs. Sarah could hardly keep her eyes from crossing from all the colors they were passing through. There seemed to be no end to the books in the library. Ming finally stopped at a set of moving steps and climbed up them. Sarah watched as she looked around a moment and then snapped her finger. "This whole row of books is what I wanted to show you. Come on up. There is room."
Sarah climbed the steps next to her and looked to where Ming had pointed to. She made a surprised noise in her throat, and then laughed. "That's me!"
"It is." Ming gave her a smile. "I had to write back to you straight away when I received your letter. I came upon your book on protection magic some six hundred and thirty years ago, and then over the years I realized that I had collected several of your books. I did not make a connection that you were like me until I got your letter, and then I looked back on your familiar name. I looked at all of your books and realized the dates ranged from the beginning of our lives to just about now. Sarah Sisulart, an immortal just like me, writing books for centuries."
Sarah picked up the book she had been talking about. There on the front: The Properties and Elements of Barriers. The first of a few volumes. She had written that while struggling in her first eighty years of her life. "This book is what caught the interest of Uhra. They found me, surprisingly, and hired me to teach new mages about these kind of protective spells! It's so weird to think that back then magic was somewhat new to this world!" Sarah sighed, and bit the corner of her lip. "I do have to wonder how Uhra would be today without this knowledge," she continued with a frown. "I often think that sometimes their intentions are not for the best."
"Uhra has been a Kingdom of great power for a long while now," Ming added. "I think any nation has only their survival on mind. I am the same way."
"Oh?"
"I would do almost anything to keep my people safe." Ming rested a hand on the book Sarah held. "Everything but go into war. This book helped me, too."
"Really?" Sarah felt her cheeks flush. "I can't imagine! Little old me?" Sarah ended with a nervous laugh.
Ming chuckled, and made her way back down the steps. "When I awoke in this world, I knew I had power. I do not know what I did in my past life to acquire it, but I realized that I would need it to protect myself.
"When I woke up, and after getting glimpses of the companions I traveled here with, I found myself by the ocean. There was a small village, ravaged by war and hunger that seemed to be dying out slowly and I could feel my heart ache. There was no common language, but I was soon labeled the healer."
Ming took a seat at one of the many reading couches and offered Sarah a place next to her. Sarah couldn't believe the excitement she was feeling from getting to know Ming Numara's origin story. She made sure to keep her lips sealed least she embarrass herself with her questions. "I didn't know at the time, but magic was new to the world, and very new to the people I was helping. I also learned very quickly that having power and using it could lead to disaster."
She looked down at her hands. "Word got out of a healer in the small village and within a week, we were decimated, and I was captured."
"You mean they kill—" Sarah stopped herself, but Ming answered with a sad nod.
"They took the life of every man, woman, and child so that no one else knew of my power," she said with a sigh. "I was held against my will, and only kept alive so that I could heal their warriors."
"How did you get out?" Sarah hoped she wasn't overstepping herself to ask questions, but Ming seemed ready to answer.
"I realized that the only way I'd be able to save myself was to attack. Black Magic seemed to roar within my veins just as white magic did, but it took anger and fear to draw it out. I made my own way out and left no one to follow."
Ming furled her hands and gave Sarah a sad smile. "I came back to the village I came to love in that short amount of time, and decided I would make a difference in my time here in this new world. I found passage to this island and started to build."
She lifted a hand and set it on top of Sarah's. Sarah felt the warmth spread from her hand to her cheeks. "And when I found your book it changed the way I thought of mortals, of magic, of war and disagreements, and my very small kingdom." Ming smiled fully at her. "I knew it was not battles that I needed to fight to keep my people safe. I needed protection, and your book gave me the knowledge to do so."
"Wow." Sarah scratched her cheek in embarrassment. "To think I helped a queen!"
"Your books helped me realize just what it meant to be neutral. That to help the lives of my people, I first needed to make sure that they could survive and that we could survive without hurting other people. So, Sarah, thank you so much." Ming squeezed her hand, a wide smile coming to her face. "I am so very happy to be able to say it in person."
Sarah lifted her hand away from Ming and set both on her cheeks. "I can't take your thank you! Oh, I'm blushing! I'm sure of it!" She laughed, and Ming joined in beside her.
. . .
Sarah joined Ming in her garden. The storms had subsided, and every surface seemed to be slick with water, but she imagined it would all dry up eventually. Kaim was taking a nap in their guest room. He must have had an adventurous walk around the palace, as he was softly snoring away when Sarah arrived earlier that afternoon. She had curled up in bed beside him and fell asleep. When she awoke, the rain had stopped.
After a small rest herself, Ming invited Sarah back to her. "Have you always been interested in magic?"
Sarah nodded, lifting her eyes away from the beautiful white bloom in front of her. "When I woke up here I could conjure up white magic almost instantly."
"I was the same."
"It sounds like you got the hang of a lot of magic right away," Sarah said, then added hastily, "I'm sorry if I assumed—!"
"Oh, no, you have it right." Ming gave her an uplifted smile, and it calmed Sarah's nerves. "I felt and knew my power, and I can say that I did know a lot. Though not everything."
"You still needed to figure out how to make barriers?" Sarah suggested.
The queen nodded. "Was that something that came naturally to you?"
Sarah nodded, then paused. "Actually, a bit no. I had to do some studying. I sort of found it by accident. Something was chasing me, and I very quickly blocked it with magic. That got me thinking. If I can construct a small wall to block weapons—or teeth, which was what was attacking me before—why couldn't I protect myself?" Sarah smiled, thinking back to her research. "Back then, and even now, I know my own body so very well so creating a wall was a snap! Anything bigger needs concentration."
"What has been your biggest barrier?"
Sarah thought. "Well, probably the top of Tosca Mountains, where Kaim and I live. I'm not the greatest at distance and mapping, but maybe a three-mile radius, around?"
Ming looked very surprised. Sarah clasped her hands together. "I'm estimating! Maybe too much?"
"You can protect a whole town?"
Sarah looked a little embarrassed as she nodded. Ming blinked at her. "I did not think that could be possible."
"It takes a really long time. Well…long to mortals I guess. It took me living in Tosca probably about a six and a half years before I could configure the magic to make it just right. It's a lot of testing, and pushing, and reworking the weaves in the wall before I can get things exactly right."
"That is astonishing!" Ming grabbed one of Sarah's hand. "I cannot even imagine the concentration it took to do that!"
"It-it is a little overwhelming!" Sarah's face flushed even more. She felt her voice go up an octave. "I um, I studied it for maybe a century before I could get that good!"
"I can only put a barrier up on myself!" Ming was practically gushing now, and Sarah couldn't take it. She had a big smile plastered on her face and felt that at any moment she could start crying from the praise. "I do not think I could ever push myself that hard to make a wall around all of Numara!"
Sarah laughed a little. Ming squeezed her hand and gave her a warm smile. "I bet you could!"
"It would take…take years!" Sarah laughed. "And you also have to remember that there is a lot of energy that gets put into it. I can't hold up barriers for an infinite amount of time without collapsing from exhaustion. I think the longest I've been able to do it was five months. And that was only for Tosca!"
"If only I could." Ming looked wishful.
Sarah felt the need to compliment her companion. "Uh well, I mean! You have such a great handle on black magic! And you're so powerful, I'm sure you could learn!" Sarah pulled Ming's attention back to her. She grabbed both of the Queen's hands and hoped she wasn't being too bold from the act. "I keep seeing you do small things with the elements and I am amazed! Like even now you're using composite magic to heat the air and dry out the earth!" Sarah was happy that she noticed that the raindrops on the white flowers and the grass beneath their feet had suddenly all dried up.
Ming blushed a little herself and laughed. "It seems I do it without thought now. I hate the mud that I could track through my gardens."
Sarah laughed. "And I only wish I could do half of what you do! There have been many situations where I could have used black magic, but I can't seem to get the hang of it. Well, I mean I can't really control it."
"Can I teach you?"
Sarah blinked up at the taller woman. She had such a kind smile on her face that Sarah wouldn't let herself believe that she was jesting. "You'd show me?"
Ming nodded. "It is the least I can do for all of the help you have given me in the past. All that wisdom you shared in your pages of writing really helped me during my younger years as Queen. It would be my pleasure to show you."
Sarah curtsied, and said with head lowered. "It would be an honor, Your Majesty!"
. . .
Kaim woke from his nap, and it was late afternoon. He didn't expect to train the Queen's guard in a different style of practical defense that morning, so when he fell asleep he slept hard. He was surprised not to see Sarah in their room and decided to slip on his shoes to go find her. "I don't think I've seen her all day. Not since I left her with Ming this morning," he said aloud to himself.
When he did finally find her, she was still in the garden with Ming. The two women were practicing holding out a ball of fire and laughing when Sarah's would blink out of existence.
"Good try! It did last longer this time, I think."
"I hope so!" he heard her say with another tinkering laugh. "I think I'm starting to understand the concept behind it."
Ming complimented her on something he couldn't quite understand, and he could hear Sarah's gentle giggle in reply. Kaim leaned against the doorway and watched for a moment, a warm smile of his own spreading onto his lips. Sarah was so worried about the Numaran Queen disliking her, but now just a few days after they arrived they were getting along like old friends.
After another few minutes like this, Sarah finally caught his eye, and happily waved him over. "You've got to see this, Kaim! It's simply fascinating!"
Kaim stood up straight, and then made his way over to the magicians in front of him.