I do not own Chaotic nor anything related to it. It belongs to TCDigital.

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The Wind Woman

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It had taken me three days of riding to get to Lake Ken-i-Po, and only because Skeletal Steeds don't need to stop to rest, unlike kozorr. Now, as Silv flies northward through the air, I can tell that it will take mere minutes.

I feel frozen to the bone. The wind stings and clouds are blinding as we pass through them. It's hard to breath, like the air is being sucked right out of my lungs when I try to open my mouth.

And suddenly, we stop. No slowing down involved, one moment we're moving, and the next, we aren't. No whiplash, no injuries, nothing that should happen after that quick of a deceleration.

Silv lets go of me, and I collapse on my hands and knees, gasping for breath. I shiver uncontrollably, and tunnel vision restricts my sight to a small dot in front of me. My stomach seizes up, and I feel acid in my throat. My ears are ringing, and I feel lightheaded.

The blackness obscuring my vision is starting to fade. I lift my head and look around.

...I'm in Al Mipedim's throne room. King Iflar and the newly reinstated Prince Mudeenu look like they were speaking with the representatives of the muge's college. Now they're staring at me. Well, more than likely they're staring at the Creature that brought me.

Silv flits to the side and curtsies.

Iflar and Mudeenu draw out swords, and the muges light up their hands with power.

"Wait!" I gasp. "She's not a threat!" After a moment, I add, "I think."

Iflar glances at me, but he doesn't lower his sword. He turns back to Silv. "Who are you?"

Silv tilts her head to the side. "Are you the Mipedian King?"

Iflar bares his teeth. "I am King Iflar of the Mipedian Tribe. Now, I asked you already: who are you?"

Silv grins widely and spreads her arms. "I am Silv, the Servant of Air. I am of storm and gentle breeze. Of elegance, lightness, and furious wrath. And now I am of your house, Iflar."

I cover my face with my hand and sigh. "Don't be too impressed. She said the exact same thing when she introduced herself to me."

"Get up," Iflar growls at me, "and get over here."

I climb to my feet and stand beside Iflar. My legs still feel like jelly.

Iflar's voice is so low that it sounds like a hiss. "Enlighten me."

I whisper back, "Silv is one of the four servants of the floating city Kaizeph-"

"I heard all that before," Iflar snaps. "You said you think she's not a threat. Why and why not?"

I grimace. "Now's not a good time-"

"I can hear you," Silv says with a small grin. "But it seems you are not ready to speak with me. I'll return at dusk." Then she suddenly dissolves into a wisp of mist.

Iflar keeps his sword out as he sits down on his throne. He places a hand on his chest and breathes in deep, then looks at me. "Mudeenu, keep an eye on him."

I feel a sword point press against my back. Ah, right, I'm just as suspicious right now.

Iflar leans forward. "Michael, Maliph, Malvadine."

It's been ages since I've heard that phrase. "No, Maliph's name comes first, then mine."

"That's Osiris," Iflar sighs as he leans back.

I feel Mudeenu lower his sword, and he grunts, "You're supposed to be at Lake Ken-i-Po. What are you doing here?"

I roll my eyes. "I think you need some context first..."

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I've told them everything I could about what happened at Lake Ken-i-Po and what happened afterward. Now we're waiting for Silv to return.

Iflar sits on his throne, dressed in his best clothes. I sit on a slightly lower throne on his right, and Isis sits to my right. Sitting at Iflar's left is Mudeenu. We too wear our formal clothes. We also have a heck of a lot of soldiers in here, some visible to make a point, and others hidden in case things get out of hand.

It's a few minutes before the sun touches the western horizon when Silv reappears, first as a cloud, then shaping into a reptilian body, exactly the same as I had seen before. She stands at the exact center of the throne room.

"King Iflar," Silv says brightly as she curtsies. "An honor to meet you again."

"Silv," Iflar replies, "why are you here?"

"Straight to the point?" Silv sighs. "Well, your Prince Osiris desperately needed to be brought home, so I took him."

Iflar glares at Silv. "Why are you really here?"

Silv grins widely. "It seems there's no fooling you." She stands straight. "As you may already know, Kaizeph has risen once again. I am here to guide the Tribe of Air to the city."

The Tribe of Air most likely means the Mipedians. That would make the Underworlders the Tribe of Fire, and the Danians would be the Tribe of Earth. Technically the Overworlders would be the Tribe of Water, but there's so much confusion when you consider the M'arrillians as well.

"And why are you guiding us to Kaizeph?" Iflar asks. He seems to have drawn the same conclusion about the Tribe of Air as I have.

"To help you gain the power the city holds," Silv grins. "It is not as simple as bringing you there, though. You will need to be strong enough to enter."

"Sounds simple enough," Iflar notes. I can still hear suspicion in his voice.

"It will take longer than it sounds," Silv laughs. "In the meantime, I can help fulfill any of your hearts' desires. Just tell me what you wish."

It clicks in my head. "You're a djinn," I say out loud.

Iflar turns to me. "A what?"

"Djinn, or genie." I lean forward in my seat. "In Human fantasy back on Earth, genies are powerful beings who grant wishes to their masters, though their reasons for doing so vary depending on the story. A djinni is a genie associated with air or wind."

"I'm impressed," Silv laughs. "You took less time to figure out what I am than Enre-hep did." She suddenly appears in front of me, two of her four hands on my cheeks. "That's so... attractive."

Maliph and Malvadine appear at either side of me, pointing swords at Silv.

Isis leans in close to Silv and hisses, "Hands off my husband."

Silv disappears from in front of me and reappears back in the middle of the room. "Spoilsport," she mopes.

I stop holding my breath. "Thanks," I whisper to Isis.

Isis stares at Silv and growls.

Mudeenu raises an eye ridge. "Wishes, you say?"

Silv smiles again and nods. "Indeed."

Mudeenu glances out the window at the darkening sky. "Make it day."

Silv's smile falters. "That is well outside my abilities. Besides, I answer to your king."

A few hours ago you were "granting" my wish, Silv. I don't voice that thought, it might cause trouble. What I do say is, "I think we should hold off on making any wishes for now. If she follows the same rules as genies do in the stories I'm familiar with, she's fully capable of twisting the wording of a wish around to do just about anything, usually harmful to the wisher."

Considering it's my dream, I'm probably right.

Silv smirks. "Caution is wise." She stretches her arms above her head and sighs. "I feel I've overstayed my welcome. If you wish to see me again, just call my name."

Where Silv was standing, now there is only mist.

Iflar buries his face in his hands. "I get the feeling life just became more difficult."

Mudeenu stands up and turns to Iflar. "If she spoke the truth, then we should send troops to Kaizeph. Whatever power it holds belongs to us."

"Yeah," I roll my eyes, "and Unda, Seeryn, and Nom are probably telling the other tribes the exact same thing."

"Which is why we must get there first," Mudeenu resolves.

Whoops, that wasn't what I was trying to imply. "No, I mean, this feels a lot like we just became pieces of a game that someone else is playing."

Iflar nods. "Even so, Mudeenu is right. We must investigate this."

"I will gather a campaign party immediately," Mudeenu states as he turns for the door.

Iflar clears his throat, and Mudeenu pauses. "No drafting," he says firmly. "This is not a war."

Mudeenu bares his teeth, but he says, "Very well."

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Up next: The Lords of World Below

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