Chapter 3.5: Meeting With the Queen

It took Dane and Menodora a full week to reach Arentia. Between celebrations and village inquiries, both began to see how badly the queen's subjects were treated. There was no doubt she was a large part of these people's suffering.

Upon reaching the desert city, they were delayed by throngs of beggars skirting the edge of the market. Mothers, Fathers, and children sat on the sides of the road, holding out clay bowls to the passers-by. Menodora's heart ached, watching as people would either pass them by or drop only a few coins into one person's bowl and quickly walk away.

"Menodora?" Dane asked, coming back and watching what she saw.

"Their Darkness, it's consuming them." She said in a shocked whisper.

"Our mission at this moment is to speak with the queen about her subjects."

"But these people need our help too. Can't we spare a few minutes to…"

"We will, but we must first complete our task," Dane said with a stern but kind smile.

"I'm going to hold you to it." Menodora scolded, reluctantly walking with him, trying to keep her mind focused despite seeing dozens of poor. Just as they were to meet the guard of the palace and request an audience, Menodora heard the pleading screams of a woman in the distance. Immediately she left Dane, running in the direction it came from. As she turned the corner, she was greeted by the sight of a young woman shielding a child from a rough-looking man.

"I told you that payment was due today! And that if you had no coin, it would be your brother!"

"No, please, Gelan! I just need a bit more time! A day at most, and I will have the money!" the woman shouted.

"Says the tale spinner! I have already granted you until sun-up today, and yet you still didn't have the money." Gelan threw her to the side, reaching for the boy and gripping his arm hard, dragging him along as they left. The woman got up and tried to free the boy, but Gelan struck her hard, throwing her to the ground.

"Someone, please! Help me!" the woman sobbed. But those watching the spectacle only turned away. Menodora could see Darkness settling into the area, dimming the whole square as the woman continued to beg for help, her cries slowly losing their volume. She could no longer stand by; stepping out from the building, she released a pulse of magic from her being. Her ability to use magic had blossomed and was considered to be one of the most powerful of mages in Usoria. The magic kicked up dust from the roads, giving everyone within the square a hard shove. Gelan turned around as Menodora confidently walked into the square.

"Let the child go." She demanded, her voice echoing off the sandstone walls of the buildings around her. Silence filled the air around them. Gelan's mouth felt dry, and his strength faltered for a moment before regaining his grip on the boy's arm.

"And who are you to demand things of me? What you see here is a simple business transaction taking place."

"Let. The child. Go." Menodora repeated, her voice seeming to become even more commanding than it had a moment before.

"Listen here, little girl. Scheherazade was given plenty of time to come up with the coin she owes me for making sure she and her brat brother had enough to eat after their parents died. I set her up with a good-paying job to not only sustain herself but also pay me back. Its been three months since then, and honestly, I'm growing tired of waiting." Menodora looked to the woman behind her, noticing a large, but faded bruise on her wrist, and defeated look on her face, as if she had given up the will to live. Gelan stepped closer to be better heard.

"So, in place of the coin, I have decided to take her brother. He should be able to work off their debt to me in a few years out in the sand dunes collecting Lidium." Menodora snapped her attention back to Gelan. Lidium was used in many alchemical experiments in Margata. She had heard that mining and even handling the gem-like mineral was detrimental to anyone's health over time.

"How much does she owe you?" Menodora asked sternly, reaching to her waist for the money pouch hidden under a cloth flap.

"What does it matter to you? Is she related to you or…"

"How much?" Menodora repeated. The man seemed taken aback by this, stroking his beard as if thinking very hard, then looking Menodora over.

"Well, between food costs, my time in searching for a job, and other expenses incurred over three months… I'd say about… oh, twenty thousand gold Meso." Menodora heard a shocked gasp from behind her, realizing that the price she was given must have been far and above what she was told.

"That is simply unacceptable." Menodora fired back, her expression becoming stern.

"I have come to Arentia many times over the years, and I have never heard of something so absurd. Even purchasing a house in this city only costs nine thousand silver Meso. Since these siblings already have a home, only food and your time in finding her a job remains. Since you seem the kind of person that would only spend what they need to, even the most basic of food costs roughly ten copper Meso per day. Throughout three months, that total comes to ninety silver Meso at the very most. As for your time, I would only offer you an additional ten silver Meso, bringing the total to a mere one thousand silver." Reaching to her pouch, Menodora counted out the appropriate amount of gold coins and held it out in her hand.

"Take this, and let the boy go." She commanded. Silence once again filled the streets for a long while, every person waiting with bated breath. Finally, the man tossed aside the boy and roughly took the money from Menodora, huffing and seething under his breath as he left. Within seconds, the woman and the boy ran to one another, hugging each other tightly.

"How can I ever thank you?" the woman asked. Menodora grinned, kneeling down to her level and holding out another few silver Meso coins.

"What is your name?" she asked as the woman pulled away from her brother and wiped her eyes.

"Scheherazade. You can't know how much I am in your debt." Menodora helped her to her feet as Scheherazade beat the dust from her dress and sheepishly took the coins.

"I heard that man call you a tale spinner. What does he mean by that?" Scheherazade sighed, her shoulders slumping as she produced a longing smile.

"It was what my father used to call me. I love to tell tales, especially to children. But, in trying to pay that man back, I had to put away my stories to work as an oil press maiden. No one wants to pay for tales." Menodora became enthralled as Scheherazade listed off a few of her favorite tales, some of which she had created. Behind her, Menodora spotted Dane leaning up against a building nearby, impressed by her initiative, but silently urging her to finish so they may complete their task.

"I have something to take care of, but I will return in a while. I hear some people would pay well for tales like yours." She smiled, patting Scheherazade on the shoulder and returning to Dane.

"Do not give her false hope, Menodora. Remember, Darkness born of such things is quite powerful." Dane said as they walked back to the palace entrance.

"It isn't false hope. In our travels, I was told about the Keeper of all Stories. He is always looking for tales to add to his collection, even if they are repeats of the same story," Menodora grinned with an almost devious smile.

The guard of the palace was reluctant to grant them entrance, but after much reasoning and some pleading by Menodora, he relented and escorted them to the throne room. What greeted them was a curious sight: a hall with ten pairs of pillars and guards standing beside the main walkway led up to the throne where a woman sat, fanning herself, who seemed to have an inhuman but pleasing quality to her features. To her right reclined a man fast asleep, whom Dane and Menodora assumed to be the king. To the queens left was an enormous pile of coins, gems, and fine jewelry, which she counted with bewitched hunger. Halfway to the throne, Dane reached to Menodora's hand and slowed their walking, falling behind the guard.

"What's the matter?" Menodora whispered.

"I'm not sure. Stay close." Dane whispered back, adjusting his grip on her hand, lacing her fingers with his as they neared. The guard knelt at the foot of the throne, and an audible sigh could be heard coming from the queen.

"What is it now, Tigun? Did I not make it clear that I was not to be disturbed today?" she said with a malicious groan.

"Yes, Your Highness, but there are two people who insisted on speaking with you personally." The guard answered nervously. The queen huffed, pulling her gaze away from the coins, facing her palm towards the guard.

"I will not accept your incompetence. When I command that no one disturb me, I expect that it shall be followed." She growled. Tigun fell to his face, begging.

"Please, Your Majesty, I beg that you overlook my actions and let me have a whipping instead." Tigun pleaded. Silence filled the room as Dane could sense tension from the other guards rising. Menodora clenched her free hand, a spell sizzling to life in her grip. The queen seemed to grin darkly for a moment before answering with a single word.

"No." she almost laughed, a spell blasting from her palm like lightning. Thunder echoed through the room as smoke covered the guard's existence. The other guards flinched, some closing their eyes, trying not to think about their comrade having been obliterated. But as the smoke cleared, it revealed Dane and Menodora standing behind the guard, a barrier spell humming from Menodora's palm.

"WHO ARE YOU AND HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE PALACE!" the queen screeched, slamming her feet down as she stood.

"We are the two people insisting on meeting with you, Your Highness," Dane said calmly but clearly as they bowed in greeting and the barrier lowered. The queen was about to unleash another spell when Dane's icy blue eyes looked up from under his brow. The rage that boiled just under the surface of his gaze made her hesitate, dismissing the spell and sitting down once more on the edge of her throne.

"I see. Then speak your mind; I have much to do." The queen snapped. Dane and Menodora stood once again, still clutching one another's hand. Menodora now felt what Dane had when they entered; a mass of Darkness was gathered around or near the queen as Dane began.

"I am Dane Altoor, and this is my beloved Menodora. We are on a mission of curiosity, to find why the world is so imbalanced. In our travels, we have come to many towns in a state of ruin and poor morale from heavy taxation. We come to ask why this heavy burden has been laid upon them, and if some relief may be reached." The queen said nothing for a long time, her stare drawn back to the pile of gold beside her, running her hand through the coins.

"Running a kingdom takes money, I am sure you are aware. I am sure that you are also aware of the increasing difficulty of growing our own food?" the queen asked, picking up a large gem and rubbing it between her fingers.

"I was not aware of this difficulty, and I am aware of the costs of providing for a kingdom. But the level at which you are demanding taxes is driving your kingdom into the ground." Dane answered sternly.

"You would dare tell me how to run a kingdom? The money gathered goes for the betterment of everyone. As the food shortage increases, so too do the costs of importing food from the Emperor's fields in Orion."

"Then why are there dozens of people begging on the streets of Arentia?" Menodora asked. The queen snapped her attention to her.

"Those that can't help don't deserve the food I've brought them. And what of me? A delicate flower in this parched desert: One of the last remaining fairies in all of Usoria." Dane lowered his brow, his forearm tensing as magical power flowed to his hand.

"With all due respect, Your Majesty, don't flatter yourself. The money there beside you could feed all of Arentia for nearly two years."

"And leave me in ruin? No, I would sooner watch the whole of Arentia wither away!" she shouted. Dane was about to respond when Menodora squeezed his hand, catching his attention.

"What is it?" he whispered.

"I'm surprised you didn't notice, but the queen has been completely overtaken by the world's Darkness. Suppose she's right about being a fairy? The Cleansing could make any fairy this resentful." Dane focused on the queen again, this time concentrating and instantly seeing the mass of Darkness not only surrounding her but seeping from her as well. He was about to ask another question when the sleeping man next to her caught his attention. If that was the king, then why did he sleep in the throne room? Was he so lazy and uninterested in being king that he would simply sleep away his days? Was he feeble? The king still looked young enough to be in his prime years.

"What happened to the King that he would be asleep as such?" Dane asked, gathering a powerful spell behind his back. The queen ignored his question, greedily turning back to the pile of treasure beside her and running her fingers through the various coins.

"They took it all from me. I now take it all from them!" The queen squealed, a mad smile spreading across her face as the whole chamber began to darken.

"Your Majesty?" Menodora asked, tightening her grip on Dane's hand and beginning to back away, pulling him with her.

"You are one of them. One of them that took it all from me. AND I WILL TAKE IT BACK!" the queen shouted, throwing her hand forward. Thick black liquid-like power flooded around them as Dane cast a barrier spell. The splash, unfortunately, covered the nearby column guards, instantly reducing their flesh to ash and dissolving their bones. Menodora commanded Tigun and the remaining guards to evacuate the throne room.

"We can't guarantee your safety! Please, at least stand at the door!" she called. The guards reluctantly retreated, standing ready to attack should they be needed. With the guards safe, Menodora turned her attention back to the queen, unleashing a blast of bright power through the barrier and obliterating the black ooze. The queen seemed shocked, even scared that she was facing something she couldn't overcome.

"I will not be silenced!" she screeched, unleashing another wave of black ooze, which was obliterated even faster than before.

"Why would you tear apart a country? What do they have to do with your pain?" Dane demanded.

"EVERYTHING! I will take everything from them and make them know my pain!" She howled, throwing another wave of ooze, pouring over the barrier and beginning to fill the room. Dane tightened his grip on Menodora's hand, smirking as she held up her free hand, and Light gathered in her palm. Dane held up his hand, bringing the same spell to life as they both held their palms toward the queen. A glow began to pulse from their clasped hands, blazing up their arms, through their chests, and erupting from their palms as a brilliant white flash. The ooze melted from existence, billowing around the queen, shrieking as the glow permeated her being. The back of the palace exploded as the light shot into the sky, causing the bright desert sun to look dim by comparison.

When the spell finished, the queen's body remained still on the floor. Steam or smoke wafted from her, dancing in the sunlight that poured in through the broken wall. As the sun spilled in through the hole, they both could make out vertical scars on her shoulder blades, where a pair of wings might have been before. Dane and Menodora could only stare, unsure of what they had unleashed or what it had done to the queen. Minutes passed on in silence until the king began to stir: he seemed dazed, unaware of what had transpired in the last few minutes until he caught sight of his queen lying on the floor face down. Quickly he stumbled over to her, picking her up in his arms and gently shaking her, calling her name until she coughed and heaved for breath.

Dane lowered his brow, grabbing his journal to write down the events. But as he let go of Menodora's hand, he felt a vast emptiness in him, as if his Light were missing. But the theories of this emptiness would have to wait. The King and Queen thanked them for freeing the queen from her overtaking. After Dane and Menodora rebuilt the palace with a few spells and alchemic transmutations, the queen explained that she was on a journey to Orion when she came across a traveling family who had been attacked. It appeared as if something with claws had attacked. Ash was drifted up from their wounds. She ordered her guards to dig a grave for them, but as they began, a creature made of shadow sprung from the sands, killing the soldiers swiftly. It was about to kill her, but it seemed to decide otherwise, driving a claw through her chest and taking over her body.

"I was aware of everything that creature did in my name: putting my husband to sleep, sealing off the palace, and ordering stiff taxes on all of Arentia. I tried to fight it, but I was powerless to do so." She sighed, looking to where the two guards had been before they were killed. Dane and Menodora looked to one another.

"Your Majesty, if you were aware of everything, I trust that you are aware of the dire situation your kingdom has fallen into? Many towns are on the verge of collapse due to heavy taxation. The people's spirit is slowly being crushed." Dane explained, telling of the many towns they had visited before coming to Arentia.

"Yes, yes, of course! I will reverse the taxation immediately and return the money that… creature… took from them." She promised, drawing up a decree that she and the king signed on the spot.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, Your Majesty," Dane began until the queen smirked and turned to face him as the king scribbled his signature.

"You wish to know how I, a fairy, came to such an arid place?" she asked with a sad smile.

"I do not wish to overstep my station, Your Majesty. I am simply curious as there is another fairy living in my home city of Margata." The queen sighed nostalgically, straightening her back and folding her hand in her lap.

"It was soon after The Cleansing, an event many years before your birth. As a cruel joke, a soldier cut my wings off and paraded them around his camp as a trophy. My home of the forest was no longer safe, so after healing my wounds, my wanderings brought me to this place 20 years ago, where the king, my current husband, found me in the market one day and took me in to be his queen." With his curiosity sated, the couple left the palace, revisiting Scheherazade to tell her how to contact the Keeper of all Stories. It would be a short time before he answered her, and to sustain them for that time, Menodora left her with a handful of Silver Meso.

"So, what do you think of the queen being overtaken by the Darkness? Human emotion can't be that powerful, can it?" Menodora asked as they shopped for supplies to restock their cart. Dane could only shrug and shake his head.

"It is worrisome. But what the queen described was alive, sentient. It could think for itself, latching on to her pain as a fairy and using it to overpower her. How could human emotions do that? As far as I am aware, emotion is an outward expression reacting to a given situation. This is far more than that."

"True, if the Darkness can spawn avatars of itself, then we have to find a way to harness and amplify Light." Menodora reached out and took Dane's hand, holding it up and showing him the faint glow around their clasped hands.

"This, right here, is the Ultimate Light we've been looking for. We need to find others who can join us." She said, kissing the back of his hand as they walked.

"It will take time, but perhaps we can use the Great Obelisk in Azwan as a focus to distribute the Light to the world once we have found others," Dane suggested. Once they had nearly emptied a coin pouch helping the beggars in the market, the two of them left Arentia once their cart was prepared, traveling the rest of the world in search of those who could join them.