The Resistant Queen, page 5
“How are you holding up?” Belle asked after what felt like a lifetime of riding. “Do you need a rest?”
Maggie shook her head in response, knowing that if she spoke up it would only slow them down. The pain was unbearable but the feeling of impending doom had fled when she lost sight of the fog. Sweat ran down her forehead and her cheeks felt flushed, sure signs that fever had set in. Still, she held her tongue. She would not allow the others to risk their lives for her.
“We have outpaced the coming storm,” Zoe said, bringing her horse next to them.
“Some good news,” Belle replied. “I do not think the queen can last much longer. We need to rest soon.”
That would not do, Maggie thought. She desperately needed the healers in Priama and resting now would only prolong that.
“No,” she croaked out weakly. “We must continue.”
At her words, Belle touched her face. “Infection. Emma, ride ahead as hard as you can. Bring a healer to us. Her Highness cannot continue in this condition. If we try, she will die.”
Without another word, Emma spurred her horse into action and disappeared behind a frozen hilltop.
“How close are we?” Maggie asked.
“Not close enough. It will take Emma a full day to reach Priama. At our current pace, it will take at least three. We will ride until we are sure the storm is behind us. Priama protects much of this land so we may already be in guarded territory. If so, there is not much left to fear.”
Maggie doubted that but nodded as she slumped forward, resting her head against the horse’s neck. She did not care about the pain anymore. Strength had fled her body and she needed rest.
“YOUR HIGHNESS?”
Maggie opened her eyes and looked up at a blurry yet familiar face outlined by the sharp orange of a tent flap. Shifting her body, she was relieved to find that she was not on the ground and that she was resting comfortably. The cold that had nipped at her during their escape from the coming storm was gone, replaced by the crackling of a small fire.
“Don’t I know you?” Maggie asked.
A young and pretty face smiled at her, showing white but crooked teeth. She looked to be about Maggie’s age. “We met when you were first brought to Priama. You were unconscious then too.”
“This is starting to become a habit for me, isn’t it?” Maggie said with a smile.
“A habit I would much rather you break,” Belle said from behind the witch in front of her.
The witch knelt down by Maggie and examined her body, pressing in places Maggie wished she would not. “How did this happen?”
“I went swimming,” Maggie replied as she winced. The witch inspecting prodded around her ribs. “Remind me your name.”
“Corina,” the witch said as she brushed long strands of brown hair out of her face. “How is it possible that so much damage was caused by swimming?”
The silence that followed the question was thick. Maggie was embarrassed to admit what really happened.
“Her Highness jumped from one of the cliffs on the Shattered Isle.”
“And she survived?” Corina asked.
“She was extremely lucky.”
Corina smiled at Maggie and placed a cold rag on her forehead then sifted through a bag at her side. “The good news is that I have seen worse, though not much. I should have you back up on your feet in no time.”
Rubbing her hands together, Corina spoke a few words Maggie could not understand into her palms. When she was done, a dull red glow emanated from between her fingers and warmth radiated from her presence. Maggie had never seen anything like that before.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
When Corina did not answer, Belle replied for her.
“Do you not know any words of power?”
Maggie shook her head.
“Words of power come from an ancient and powerful language. The few remaining words we know allow us to draw power from our own strength. When drawn, our abilities are heightened. In some cases, the words allow us to take on new abilities for short periods of time. However, using them comes with a cost, so we use them sparingly. You will be taught them as well.”
“What kind of cost?” Maggie asked as she watched Corina work.
“The words draw power from our bodies. Power that we need to survive. Taking a little will do no lasting damage but it does affect us. If we take too much, we risk serious injury or death. To ensure we do not risk such outcomes, words of power are used only under dire circumstances.”
“What is so dire about this circumstance?” Maggie asked.
“You are our queen. We need a strong leader, especially when the covens are divided. I am also still wary of the storm we encountered. We need to be able to travel as quickly as possible. Right now, Corina is doing what is needed to heal you. When she is done, she will be weakened.”
Maggie stared at Corina, guilt stirring at the back of her heart. She did not like the treatment she was getting just because she was queen. If people were going to treat her this way, it should be because of what she had done, not because of who she was. When Corina reached down and placed her palms on her chest, a tear dropped from Maggie’s eye. She had a long way to go before she felt worthy to have Corina risk so much.
Power flooded into her skin as Corina worked. Maggie felt her broken bones mending. The pain that had been so constant up until now began to fade. Color returned to her skin and the fever began to recede. With closed eyes, Corina pulled away, her cheeks flushed. She cupped her hands and held them to her mouth again, ready to speak more words of power but Maggie stopped her.
“No, you have done more than enough already.”
Corina glanced at Belle. “Have I done something wrong? Have I offended the queen?”
Belle shook her head and glared at Maggie. “Her Highness still needs to learn her place, that is all.”
“No,” Maggie said, gripping Corina’s hands. “You have done nothing wrong, nor have you offended me. You are just taking too great a risk for me. I do not deserve this.”
“But you are my queen. My life is yours if needed.”
The emotions bursting through Maggie caught in her throat. “No, your life is your own. You are free to do whatever you want but thank you for what you have done. It is more than enough to get me home.”
Corina looked up at Belle again, confusion playing across her face.
“Leave us,” Belle said.
Corina stepped away and hurried over to where Zoe was feeding the horses. A large fire burned bright in a makeshift pit next to them.
“You still have much to learn, Maggie,” Belle said. It was the first time Maggie had heard Belle use her actual name instead of her title. “Our culture is not like that of man. All witches live for their queen.”
“But what about what they want?” Maggie asked. “What do you want? Is there not something you would rather be doing?”
“What I want does not matter.”
“How could it not matter?” Maggie asked.
Belle paced around the fire and leaned over to pick up a small, flat rock. “You have not learned your own history yet, Highness. We have a semblance of peace now, however brittle it might be. That was not always the case. The covens used to be at war with one another, each one wanting either to rule themselves or others. No witch was safe from the brutality of war. Because of our contentions, all races involved, directly or indirectly, suffered as well. It was only by a firm hand that we were brought back from the brink of destruction. To keep what we have, you must put your desires aside and accept the responsibility that has been placed upon you. A queen does not only rule, but she leads and unites.”
“I don’t get it,” Maggie said as she tried to sit up. When the strain became too great, she lay propped up on her elbow.
“Your mother taught me that as witches, we have too much power, and it needs to be restrained.” She dropped the rock she was holding and walked back to Maggie. “We are like this fire. We burn bright and with much heat. However, if given the chance and freedom, the fire would consume this entire forest. It must be contained for the safety of the environment around it. Contained, it serves a purpose. Under your rule, every witch serves a purpose. Without that, we might consume the world.”
A tear ran down Maggie’s cheek. “You really love Priama, don’t you?”
Belle sat down next to Maggie and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I loved your mother. And yes, I love Priama. It is my home but only because your mother made it that way. She protected and taught me. She taught every witch she could. Your mother truly was a great queen, and I have the same hopes for you. I see her in you.”
The sentiment touched Maggie but the concepts she spoke of were still hard for her to come to terms with. She did not want anyone to give their lives for her but now it seemed that an entire nation would. Or at least they would one day. Maggie still had a long way to go to become the queen her mother was.
“You must allow Corina to finish,” Belle said, her voice harsh once more.
Maggie shook her head. “I can’t. I need to earn that first.”
Belle leaped to her feet and started walking towards the fire again. “You really are your mother’s daughter. If you do not want Corina to use more words of power, we can do this the old-fashioned way. Just know that the trip back to Priama will be more painful.”
“I understand,” Maggie said.
“You may finish now but heed her Highness’ wishes. No more words of power,” Belle said.
Corina nodded then knelt back down next to Maggie. She took a small handful of herbs from her satchel and dropped them into a stone mortar with a thick slice of purple root. Maggie was familiar with some of the herbs but not the root. Crushing it into a clumpy paste, Corina added a little water to the mixture. When the lumps dissolved, she added a few more herbs, followed by more water.
“Drink this,” Corina said when she was done, handing Maggie the goblet-shaped mortar. “It will control the spread of the infection until we can get you back to Priama.”
Maggie swallowed the bitter tincture in one gulp, nearly coughing it all out. It burned the back of her throat but reminded her of the medicine her mother sold in Lakes Hollow. If she closed her eyes, she could picture her small, earthen house. Pangs of homesickness tugged at her heart as the image of a bright red leaf with five points appeared in her mind.
“Is this sorrow heart root?” Maggie asked.
“That is what men call it. The witches know it as bell root. Sit up if you can. I am going to wrap this bandage around your chest. The pressure should relieve some of the pain in your ribs.”
A long, white cloth hung from her fingers. Lifting her coat, Maggie exposed her skin to the frigid air. She shivered while Corina worked, nearly gasping when her cold fingers brushed her spine. When she finished, Maggie felt surprisingly better. She could still feel the pain but it was duller.
“Thank you,” Maggie said, taking Corina’s hands.
“It is my honor, Highness.”
“When we return to Priama, will you continue to be the one who tends to me?”
The color drained from Corina’s face. “You want me to be your personal healer?”
“If that is okay.”
The healer glanced over her shoulder at Belle for direction. Belle smiled at her and gave her a quick nod.
“Yes, yes, of course,” Corina said, practically rubbing her nose in the dirt as she bowed. “It would be a great honor to be the queen’s healer.”
“Are you done?” Belle asked as she approached them.
Corina nodded, bowed again, then backed away, clearly still in shock from the offer.
“How long until she can ride again?” Zoe asked, her voice floating on the wind.
“We should give her about an hour or so for the herbs to reach potency. Once they have, she should be okay to ride, though there will still be pain,” Corina said.
“Good. The storm is approaching again.”
CHAPTER 4
The walls of Priama never looked so welcoming. The ride home had been long and brutal and Maggie was ready to sleep for a week. Snow, which had been absent when they left, blanketed the ground. It was scarcely half a finger deep but the meaning was clear. Change was coming. Maggie did not know what to expect or what winter might bring to Priama. She wanted to ask Belle if the witches had any winter festivals like the humans did in Lakes Hollow but she was too tired and Belle was ornery from riding so long with a second rider.
When they crossed the threshold of the inner city, passing the stables and healing tent, Maggie saw Loravain leaning against a flagpole. Flames rippled across his palms as he absentmindedly played with his new gift. Maggie marveled at how far he had come since becoming a fire mage on the Mountain of Fire. As soon as their eyes met, a smile crept up on his face.
“It is about time,” he boomed, rushing over to greet her.
“Loravain,” Maggie squealed as she slipped from the saddle, earning harsh looks from both Belle and Corina. She winced when her feet hit the cold ground.
“Are you okay?” Loravain asked, catching her as she slipped and fell.
“I’m fine, just a little sore. How have things here been?”
“Uneventful. It does not feel like home without you here.”
“You’re just saying that,” Maggie said, though she hoped he was telling the truth. He had told her that he considered her the child he had never had and it showed. He always tried to protect her.
“Corina, escort the queen to her yurt. Do what you can for her then report back to me. I will advise Helena that a new assistant will be needed in the healer’s tent,” Belle ordered.
Corina nodded then sprang from her horse, handing the reins to Zoe.
“Come with me, Highness,” Corina said, still blushing from the honor that had been bestowed on her. She glanced over at Loravain then stepped away. “Your body still needs rest.”
“Rest?” Loravain asked. “What happened on your trip?”
Maggie’s cheeks reddened at the question. “I did something that may not have been the best idea.”
Belle shook her head as she rode away with Zoe. “Stupid is the word that comes to mind.”
Loravain stared at Maggie, his gaze demanding answers.
“Fine, I jumped off a cliff. But in my defense, if I hadn’t, the storm would have destroyed the boat and we would have been stuck there. All winter.”
One of Loravain’s eyebrows shifted and he cocked his head. “I really should have been allowed to escort you there myself.”
“That wouldn’t have changed anything. There would have been nothing you could have done and I still would have ended up jumping.”
Corina took hold of Maggie’s arm and led her past the healer’s tent and towards her yurt. When they arrived, Maggie was surprised to find it warm and inviting. A sigh of relaxation escaped her lips as she shed her heavy coat. It had been like a second skin during her journey.
“Tell me about it,” Loravain asked, who had followed them. He closed the door behind him and sat on a small padded stool he found in the corner.
The look on Corina’s face said she did not approve of their relationship but Maggie pressed on anyway. She told him in great detail what it had been like to sail through the treacherous waters to the Shattered Isle and how sick she had been. She described the broken island and how the witches there lived in caves and about the maze of ladders and bridges connecting them all. She almost told him about the Sisters but Belle's voice rang out in her head, urging her to keep that secret.
“Sounds like an eventful tip,” Loravain said.
“It was,” Maggie exclaimed then glanced around the room. “Where is Thanatos?”
“Off doing who knows what. You know what he has been like since arriving here.”
“Highness,” Corina said, interrupting them. “I must insist that you get in bed so I can finish my work.”
Standing, Loravain put the stool back where he found it and moved towards the door. “I’ll leave you two alone and I’ll let Sarah know you made it back in almost one piece.”
When the door closed, Maggie flopped down on the bed, gasping as tremendous pain thundered through her chest.
“Be careful,” Corina scolded. “Your ribs are still broken, remember?”
“I do now,” Maggie whined, rolling over to relieve the discomfort.
“I assume by your attitude that the infection has abated,” Corina said, checking Maggie’s forehead with a nod. “Yes, it has let up.”
“Everything feels better except my chest. How long do you think it will be until I’m all healed?”
Corina moved over to Maggie’s cupboard and retrieved a kettle and filled it with water. Setting it on the stove, she turned back to the bed. “It will take some time if you want to do this naturally. The best thing we can do for now is keep it wrapped.”
“What can I do to ease the pain?” Maggie asked.
“That is the easy part,” the healer said with a smile. “I have some medicine that will help but icing it will help as well.”
“Ice,” Maggie said with a laugh. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”
Wisps of steam began drifting up from the teapot as Corina stirred in a few dried leaves and needles. “The most important thing right now is to take it easy. Get lots of rest and stay in bed when you can. No running, jumping, horseback riding, heavy lifting, or leaping from cliff tops.”
Maggie sighed then fluffed her pillow. “And what if I get bored?”
Corina stared at her like she was speaking gibberish. “Bored? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I’m not going to be able to stay in bed forever.”
When Corina finally understood, she laughed. “You don’t have to stay in bed all the time, Highness. You will still be able to perform your regular royal duties, just don’t strain yourself.”
