The Queen's Curse (36 page)

Curiously she kneeled down by it and brushed away the dust o
n its cover. There once more a golden image of a snake biting its own tail showed itself, painted on the black velvet cover. The book looked ancient, but somehow the symbol did not. It looked as if it was younger than the book.

Brushing away more dust from the symbol itself; they spotted tiny golden letters beneath the snake. Tirsa ben
t over closer, piercing her eyes sharp to read the words, while Artride discovered a golden lock on the side of the thick book. Its leaves that were visible there, were yellow brown, marked by time.

‘As if this room and all in it is affected by time and the rest
of the cave isn’t,’ Artride muttered and touched the lock, examining it.

‘Can you understand it?’ she asked Tirsa who was still focused on the small strange letters.

‘It’s the same language; the official tongue of the Silent Folk or TalamhClann in their speech. Some even believe humans spoke this language ages ago and others even go further and state we are related to one another, that we have in fact the same origin.’

Artride stared with big eyes at her. ‘Really? Like we are related to animals?’

‘Yes, we are all spirit and body; but we and the Silent Folk are mammals, humanoid. Apart from Windchildren who are just spirit and have, as you have seen, an illusion of a body. It even feels like one.’

H
ow would she know?
Artride thought curiously, but commented, ‘Well, you wouldn’t let me touch him, so I wouldn’t know,’ she remarked slightly irritably, but soon she smiled warmly at her again; making clear she didn’t really hold it against her.

Tirsa smirked
back and then turned the book over and to the front again.

‘I’ve read stories about a great war between the species, magic against steel.’

‘The Great War.’ Artride commended.

‘You know it?’

‘My father had me read a lot of ancient folklore, and at the time I took it for a fairy tale, like I did with the Silent Folk, but now I begin to wonder. But I always saw it as a warning, though, made up or not.’ And suddenly she locked onto Tirsa’s eyes, who felt warm and cold at the same time.

‘Did the Silent People never mention this to you?’
Artride asked.

‘I am afraid not. They always seem to live more in the present than in the past, unlike humans.’

‘Hmm, well what can you make out of this? Is it the spell book we need, do you think?’

Tirsa studied the words. ‘It says something about waking someone up.’

‘What? What exactly does it say?’ the queen asked her.

‘Wake me up. I’m inside. Call
… my name and save me … from the dark. And then this last sentence beneath says: bring me back … to life.’

‘Who would that be? Sempervirens? Do we have to save her? She is after all lost
,’ said Artride pondering.

‘No, I do not think this refers to her! Why would these lines be
in this book? Wake me up, I’m inside? Inside, someone’s soul, spirit or inside this … book? And who?’

‘It sounds like we have to resurrect someone from the dead or something.’
Artride said.

It was silent for a long moment.

‘Do you remember Roalda and Kasching mentioning this god who disappeared?’ Artride suddenly said excited. ‘I just had a vision. We have not seen him or heard any clue yet, but this here … this could be something! Perhaps he is trapped and all we have to do is say his name ...’

‘And he will wake up
…’ Tirsa concluded and both women smiled happily at each other.

Artride placed her hand above the cover too and waited. Yes, she definitely could feel a hint of power radiating from the book.

‘It feels a bit like when I am stepping inside the sacred room where the Law Book is held,’ she said with a hint of fear in her eyes. It was the presence of magic. ‘Something very powerful indeed is inside this book,’ the queen whispered. ‘What I don’t understand is, if it is; why has it been put away to lie forgotten under a layer of dust? It is like it was left there for a reason. To be forgotten.’

‘Hmm. Now, what was his name again?’ Tirsa pondered aloud. ‘Elias?’ and she stared at Artride for help.

‘Something like that. Roalda made us remember his name. I think it was … Eolas.’

Tirsa nodded with a flare of recognition on her face. With her hand on the book she opened her mouth. ‘Wait.’ Artride interrupted, putting her hand over hers. ‘What if we make things worse by waking him up? What if this
god has turned to evil as well or is even worse?’

‘I believe it was you who said
“Life is about taking risks?” ’

She withdrew her hand reluctantly and held still while Tirsa spoke the name of the
god and they waited …

CHAPTER
19

My spirit sleeping somewhere cold until you find it there and lead it back home

Wake me up inside

I can’t wake up

Call my name and save me from the dark

Bid my blood to run before I come undone

Save me from the nothing I’ve become

Now that I know what I’m without

You can’t just leave me

Breathe into me and make me real

Bring me to life

Frozen inside without your touch without
your love

Darling only you are the life among the dead

All this time I can’t believe I couldn’t see

Kept in the dark but you were right in front of me

I’ve been sleeping a thousand years it seems

Got to open my eyes to everything

Without a thought without a voice without a soul

Don’t let me die there must be something more

Evanescence

A loud clinking sound was to be heard and the golden lock sprang open in countless small pieces. They both stiffened as Artride tried to turn the cover. Slowly as she lifted the heavy black cover she felt it being raised from under her hand by a heavy, warm gust of wind.

The breeze grew stronge
r and now, as the book lay open, it rushed along the pages wildly back and forth. A soft green light emerged from the pages. Artride, who had been sitting on her knees by the book, backed off instinctively.

After several minute
s the book finally became calm. The only difference was that it lay open in the middle, completely still. There was a certain tension in the air; like someone was holding their breath or … began to breath.

A whispering started and some sort of soft moaning and sighing
, but soon they recognized it as yawning. Someone was waking up; after a long deep sleep it seemed.

Both moved closer to the book again to read its ancient ink words on the brown worn paper.

‘It’s the same language,’ Tirsa whispered to Artride, reading the words on the opened two pages.

‘And these are definitely spells!’ she happily concluded.

‘This must be the spell book Sempervirens wants us to bring to her,’ she whispered back.

‘Who are you?’ a voice sounded suddenly; deep and rich. It had come from the book! It had sounded surprised, but not unfriendly.

They backed away again with open mouths, too startled to speak.

The male voice repeated his
question when he did not hear a reply.

‘Don’t be afraid. I cannot hurt you, not that I desire to. All I wish to know is who woke me up.’ And they heard him yawn again.

‘Artride Cumhachd and Tirsa Lahabris,’ Artride answered him plainly.

‘Hmm, Cumhachd you said? Royalty? Tell me whose daughter you are.’

‘Well, I am daughter to Macdin Cumhachd of Ceartas.’

‘Macdin? And who are his parents?’

‘Look, I do not have time to describe my family tree. Why are you asking me this anyway?’

‘Because I want to know how long I’ve been away for.’

Artride, who felt strange talking to a book, looked at Tirsa, who reminded her it was the god Eolas she was talking to.

‘According to Roalda you
were seen last about two centuries ago,’ she answered.

‘Ah, you have met Roalda, then you must be more than simple mortals. Surely you are witches?’ and he sighed regretfully. ‘Has it been that long?’

‘Sorry, this is Tirsa here. I thought time did not matter for immortals,’ Tirsa interpreted.

‘Greetings Tirsa. No, usually it does not. However
, now precious time has been wasted while I’ve been sleeping too long within this book where she trapped me; unable to get out, or do my work. I am Eolas, god of insight, but of course you know that.’

‘Hmm, yes. We suspected as much when we read those words on the cover. Please to meet you, Eolas. Can you see us?’ Artride asked
, and examined the book closer.

‘I’m afraid not. I’m as blind as a worm.’

‘What a cruel thing to do! How can we help you?’ the queen asked.

‘You do not wish to know how she did this clever thing?’
Eolas wondered.

‘Of course we are curious, but we have very little time. Lives are at stake and
–’

‘Just tell me where I am and where Sempervirens is and what’s happened in the time I have been
… away.’

Briefly they told him about what had happened with Dochas and the inhabitants; the prot
ected dangerous spells and wards Sempervirens had cast, and the dreadful things she had done to them. And that the Silent Folk called her ‘The Dominator’ and that she wanted to be called queen. They also told him why they needed the powerful woman and that she promised them a counter spell on one last condition; that they had to find it themselves.

‘That’s how we found the book and
… you.’ Artride said.

‘Hmm, well I’m glad you did. However
, I had hoped it would have been her who woke me up. So … she has not changed like I wished she would. In fact she has gotten worse and quite … self-indulgent.’

‘You are too mild
,’ Tirsa grumbled.

‘At least she promised to give us the spell,’ Artride s
tated. ‘But I am certain that it is not something she will do out of kindness. From what I can tell, she only cares for herself and her vanity. So, you knew her well, back then?’

‘Indeed I did; the only one who really got close to her, but I let myself
be fooled by her and –’

‘Don’t tell me
… by her appearance?’ Tirsa asked and rolled her eyes.

He sighed mournfully
, and with longing, like he still cared much for her.

‘When I met her, I was instantly struck by her natural grace and beauty. You’ve seen her so you must understand
, and for me as a man … I know as a god I cannot let any mortal get close enough to come between me and my work. However, it was not only her looks that had got me enchanted. I am utterly honest when I say I’d never met anyone quite like her in my entire long life of more than a thousand years. She had so much potential; she was truly gifted with great powers, even at such a young age. With it she could not only do splendid things, but really mean something in the wheel of life itself. Yes, the power to change the world. Even to become a goddess herself. I thought I met my counter half, well I still do. It’s a shame that she turned over to – let’s say … the dark side.’

‘So you are probably the only one who could have stopped her?’
Tirsa asked.

‘I have tried. I have tried so hard to change her mind, train her and guide her and not to use her precious powers to go against nature, but to work
with
it.’ His deep voice turned soft again. ‘It is much harder you see to go against it and very dangerous. She always liked a challenge.’

‘How is it possible that she became so cruel?’
Artride asked shaking her head.

‘I can only say she
was full of anger and bitterness when I first met her. Great pain and betrayal befell her. She used these fierce mind-blowing emotions to do magic. She already had mastered it a great deal, but she had no control whatsoever. I taught her to control her gift. She looked up to me and was really eager to learn more. I thought … hoped she loved me.’ There was sadness in his voice.

‘But you must have seen it coming
that she wanted to use her magic to do evil?’ Tirsa asked.

She just used you!

‘In the beginning yes, but I thought I had tamed her. She was a good student and soon learnt to do good things with her ability. She did for the time we were together. She made things grow, she healed, she gave life and love around her.’ And he sighed again.

‘Together we were a great team.’

Artride stared at Tirsa for a short moment. She knew how he felt, really well.

‘I was so blinded by my love for her that I did not see it coming. Ironic, huh, for me as the
god of
insight
?’

‘How come she is immortal if she is human, did you grant that to her?’ Tirsa asked.

‘She is not. I taught her a way to fool nature. I was self-absorbed too; for I wanted to keep her the way I met her; fresh and pure, healthy and stunning; young. To stay perfect by nature. She crossed that line between life and death, but it was me who gave her the instructions.’

‘Alright, so you blame yourself for the way she is today?’ Tirsa asked tiredly.

‘Indeed. I am responsible a great deal; I showed her the direction, but the path she took was of her own choosing. From what you told me she is still living with hatred in her heart and that is bad, really bad. I have always feared it would come back to haunt her.’

‘What happened to her that has made her into who she is today?’ Artride asked curiously, moving her legs to sit in a more comfortable position.

‘Are you sure you want to know?’

‘No, we don’t want to know,’ Tirsa interrupted. ‘All we want is to get this book to her, let her release our spell and head homeward.’
And if I get the chance I’ll release her useless soul as well! But Artride does not need to know that.

Artride glanced at her weary partner and bit her lip, looking down at the book with its trapped god.

‘Eolas, do you think it will matter?’

‘Matter? To know her story makes you understand
her more and gives you an advantage. I am the only one who knows it, you will not hear it from anyone else. To know the truth about her could work in your favour.’

‘Why? You do not believe she will let us leave after she gives us the counter spell?’ Artride asked.

‘To be completely honest with you … As I know her and from what you told me … I do not believe she will give you any spell or your freedom for that matter. To have come this far has not done you any good, but her. She will use you for her own good; like she uses all for her own benefit. I’ve never met any one more self-absorbed.’

‘How can you know?’ Artride asked bewildered. ‘You’ve been trapped more than a century. True, if you were her partner you know her better than anyone, and she has done awful things for sure
; however, you have not witnessed
everything
lately. She says she has our counter spell for the curse and will give it to us! She has to after all we have been through. She owes us that much, from queen to queen we have an agreement; even
she
understands she cannot break that!’

They heard him sigh.

Tirsa stared at the queen and looked dubiously. Artride did not know who to believe anymore; the evil sorceress who had done nothing so far to aid them; even if she did explain it was a test for their own good to be worthy of such a great prize. Or this god Eolas who certainly had a kind voice and was known by trustworthy Roalda who had not spoken ill of him. And he sounded like he was honest with them. Artride doubted visibly. Her mind was clouded by the lure of the counter spell she was promised.

‘Look, I would help you if I was free from this book
; I would help and earn your trust somehow. But for now you simply have to believe what I tell you. This book is indeed a spell book; I created it myself and it even holds counter spells. Unfortunately … it does not hold the much craved counter spell you desire.’

‘It has to
,’ Artride said angrily. ‘We searched so hard. Is there no other chamber, no other book?’

‘I am afraid not. We did not use many books. This book
, however, does have a formula to create
this
particular trap for a being inside a book and a powerful being like her
could
cast it of course. With her power it would not cost her too much trouble.’

‘But you say she won’t cast us a counter spell?’ Tirsa asked.

‘All I am saying is I know her, even if I have been away, and by the sounds of it she has not changed for the better.’

Artride looked devastated
, and her companion laid a comforting hand on her arm.

‘I say we try and see for ourselves. Let’s
take the book to her,’ Tirsa tried.

‘With me in it?’

‘Why not, only she can release you, is it not? Once released you can help us.’ Tirsa said hopefully.

‘Yes, but no. She will not be pleased to hear you have found and woken me up. It will surely endanger your chance of success
, if not your downfall.’

‘How can you be so sure?’ Artride tried.

‘She wanted me dead, and knowing I cannot, being immortal, she had to try for another way to get rid of me. This was her way …’

‘Alright then, not with the book. Let’s hear how we can demand her to make this spell for us
,’ Tirsa said in a firm, but gentle voice. She had to act now.