Chapter IX - Kennedy Meets Alquoria

The Legend of Leanna Page: Vol. I

You’re reading The Legend of Leanna Page, the page-turning mythopoetic queer literary fantasy. *Click here for the Table of Contents and start of Volume I*

Previously: Leanna and Kennedy snuck into the castle of Masor and threw their family’s life into disarray. King Madrick II now knows of Leanna, and Kennedy was forced to flee to the Infinite Wood after being injured by Masorian knights. Kennedy was taken to the Anwansi Pool by Fairy Warriors and has kept silent to avoid risking her parents’ safety with the truth. Will she find peace in Alquoria even after her forbidden upbringing? Will she be forced to betray her parents? Read on!

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There was no place in the world, Kennedy thought, that felt more alive than the Anwansi Pool. Her early home caves had always pulsated with power, but thither the energy was dormant, silent, and not yet awoken. Anwansi, in contrast, never slept. It consisted of a massive circular hollow, connected at its rim to the eastern end of the Gwahanu River and open to all the stars; yet, even on a cloudless night, only a small patch of the stars could be seen due to the infinite Trees which environed the area above. Around the upper rim of the hollow, Tree roots jutted from the high cliffside, intertwining in a brilliant mosaic, and casting a beauteous array of shadows on the mid-level rockface below. This interior stone facing was entirely smooth and provided a sparkling surface for rays of the sun to dance upon. It also prevented the designs of any wingless ones who would think of climbing it to reach the bottom.

At its base, the hollow was wider than at its rim. From wall to wall, the floor of the hollow was filled with calm, pristine water, creating a decently deep pool which appeared indefinitely undisturbed. The serenity of the pool was, however, inexplicable when one took into account the great waterfall which cascaded into the hollow from the River above. The torrent was massive and powerful and shimmered with every hue imaginable. Where the fall hit the pool, any waves that might have arisen became gentle ripples, and the mist that erupted from the collision reflected a vibrant rainbow. Being a hand of the River, the fall had long ago taken hold of this colored light and solidified it into a rainbow bridge that would contain its cascading mist and aid travelers in walking around the fall.

Most pleasant to Kennedy were the sweet cottages, shopfronts, and wooden walkways all floating atop the still water of the pool, and the ever-present breeze that arose from the constant fluttering of wings as fairies passed to and fro. It was this consistent commotion of wings in the day and the protective thundering of the Anwansi Fall in the night that imbued the young Kennedy with the impression of sensational liveliness which she felt certain could nowhere be replicated.

It had been a fortnight now since her arrival in Anwansi and as yet she had never been permitted to leave the Healing House. It was a structure, like many others, carefully built upon the lower rockface just above the level of those on the pool, adding a lovely – and practical – second story to the city. She was constantly attended to by healers who would dress her wound and utilize all their most recently discovered magics that might aid in the healing. Everyone she met in the Healing House had countenances of one or another shade of blue and, in her first week especially, they treated her with a distance and deference she had never before experienced and didn’t much care for. Remembering her parents’ teachings about Alquorian culture, she knew the attitude was due to her own hue of purple and thus made every effort, albeit through silent means, to put everyone she encountered at ease.

Now, at the end of her second week, the odd quiet child who evidently cared not for her natural status had become a favorite of the healers and their staff, and she was always met with smiles and pleasant salutations. She was also now allowed to wander about the Healing House and was shown what would become her favorite room in the place, the library. Whenever her wound was not being attended to, she would amble through shelves of volumes, picking out tales of Alquorian heroes she had never yet been told and sitting within the cushioned sill of a circular window, looking intermittently at the page she held and at the fairies down on the pool below, taking pleasure equally in both.

On this day, she found herself incapable of maintaining attention on her book. She held a volume open on her lap, leaned against the side of the casement, and looked only out the window, her wing on one side relaxing against the glass and the other falling down towards the open room. She sat and took in all of Anwansi. Blue fairies flew between the floating storefronts and cottages, their children diving into the pool, playing games in the water that reflected their aqua hue. Around the high edges of the cliffside, small green fairylings weaved and swung between the branches and roots, training for their warrior destiny, overseen by an instructor of their own color who wore a distinct uniform, dark green and designed sharply with a belt of tools which, for the warriors, included a bolt-spear. In all her time observing from above, she had rarely seen anyone of her own purple color, and when they did appear they were bowed to and moved away from. They also tended to seem particularly disagreeable. The few purple fairies she had seen wore the same style of uniform as the warriors’ instructor she saw in the branches, although it was altered to match their royal color. Despite the assumption these would be instructors for the purple fairylings like herself, Kennedy had never once seen a single fairy her own age who was also her own hue.  

On the previous night, when her most frequent healer, an older fairy named Yareth, had come to place new dressings on her wound before she went to sleep, they had remained a moment beside her cot in clear indecision.

Kennedy had looked at them expectantly, inviting them to speak.

Taking a breath, Yareth at last spoke on how clear it was Kennedy was enjoying her time in the Healing House.

She smiled and gave several quick nods.

Yareth could not help but give a slight smile in return, but it soon fell to sincerity. They explained regretfully that it could not last. Kennedy was healing well, and would not be able to remain here much longer.

Kennedy would not feign surprise, but her disappointment was evident.

In particular, Yareth went on, her friendliness and good nature towards the azure-toned staff of the Healing House would be viewed unkindly by those who would soon come for her.

At this, Kennedy displayed her confusion.

Yareth was not supposed to speak of it but felt too terrible leaving Kennedy unprepared. The very next day, they had found out, a royal instructor would be arriving to bring Kennedy to whither she belonged.

The fairyling’s confusion heightened and she burned to ask to whither it was she would be taken, but she merely allowed herself to forcibly twist her countenance and hoped Yareth would understand.

The old healer understood well, but they would not speak more of it, for such was not their place. They assured Kennedy how dearly she would be missed, then quit the sleeping hall, extinguishing the mystical lights that wound along the edge of the room, and leaving Kennedy on her cot in the dark.

She wondered now, as she sat in the library casement with her book, if she would recognize the instructor after all her watching from above. She hoped not, as none of them had seemed particularly pleasant. Investigating every crevice she could see from her place, she tried in vain to determine what part of the pool housed those with her type of visage. Upon giving up her search, she turned at last to the volume in her lap. It was a brief examination of every fairy who had once served as Queen of Alquoria. There were not a great many as the naturally long lifespan of a fairy was enhanced by the particular magic Anwansi gave to its queen, thus making for incredibly lengthy reigns. Still, the tradition of the fairy queen was ancient, and a few had ended short of their due time, so there were a sufficient number of histories that might fill a book.

Kennedy flipped to the end to see a line about the current Queen Okalani. She was chosen to be heir at the age of seventeen, the book said, but her coronation had not taken place until many years later when the older queen had naturally passed.

It was then that he arrived. The royal instructor was not one Kennedy had before spied upon from the window, but he was dressed the same as the others. A lavender suit with a deep indigo lapel came to a point at his waist where lay a belt of the same shade with attachments to hold a scroll and a small, pointed twig, presumably meant to write with. His countenance held the same prideful contempt as the other royal instructors she had seen. He entered the library without a word or nod to the healer’s assistant who held the door for him, and only gave pause to see Kennedy offer the assistant a concerned smile, and even a wave, as she closed the door. Silently disdaining the child’s unknown upbringing, he returned focus to his purpose.

Without delay or nicety, he introduced himself as Instructor Nichym, said he was well aware of her choice to remain silent and that it would be dealt with at a later date, and told Kennedy he would explain more about her present circumstances as they made way to their destination.

Kennedy remained in the sill of her window. She only offered him a confused and unhappy glance before looking upon her open book.

He assured her books would be abundant in the House of Nachovy, and surely all of them a distinctly higher quality than any she could find in this small healers’ library.

A scowl overcame Kennedy’s brow and she pointed it at the instructor.

He sighed and approached the little window. She did not understand, he told her. He bore no ill will upon the Zils. They served their purpose, and it was time a child of her hue served hers as well.

Unhappiness left her gaze, and only confusion remained.

He asked her if she knew the history of their creation.

She thought back and realized she did not.

He stood with renewed disdain and, pacing, began to lecture. Kennedy started to look out the window again, wishing she could shut out the condescension, but her ears could not resist a new story.

Instructor Nichym told the tale just as it was told to him, and to his own instructors, and theirs, and the same for a great many centuries:

When the world awoke for the first time, he explained, there was nothing upon its surface but Trees. Naught occurred but the Trees growing immensely tall. The Sky appeared as it does now, with its beauteous colors, clouds, and stars, but It was unhappy for It had no one who could admire It. One day, the Sky grew so sorrowful that It began to cry. It cried and cried and cried; cried with such force that Its tears created a dent in the earth and a massive pool remained there for many years. As the years passed, the Sky’s tears were slowly absorbed into the land, and as the pool receded it revealed new kinds of earth, with treeless mountains, valleys, and some forests still, but of much shorter height. The water receded further and further until it stopped, leaving behind the great Gwahanu River running through the center of the new World Within the Woods.

Fertilized with Its tears, this new ground began to grow creatures which might admire the Sky. The first of them found they preferred the water, such as the fish and reptiles, and thus spent their lives largely unable to see the Sky. The next were the deer, lions, horses, and bears, and while these preferred the land and could clearly see the Sky at any whim, they did not sufficiently admire it. The birds who came next found home in the Sky and offered It much entertainment, but still they did not admire Its beauty. At long last, when the first humans dug their way out of the earth, they looked instantly to the Sky and said “Oh, what a beauty!” and the Sky was content.

The young Gwahanu, however, still stirred. Built from the Sky’s own tears, It shivered with emotion and bubbled with a power It knew not how – nor wished not – to contain. It continued to push against the earth on Its far edges, eager to introduce Itself to the Woods that lay beyond. Towards the east, It pushed slowly, trickling many different smaller veins in every Wood-ward direction, rooting Itself to each of the infinite Trees. Towards the west It was less patient, splashing a great amount of Itself forward, carving a grand hollow in Its descent. Thinking the hollow quite lovely, It continued to pour Itself over the crest as a pool began forming below It. With Its power, It kept the pool level and at peace, taking the fallen water back up through the earth so that It might fall into the peaceful pool indefinitely. This pool, and all the original Woods, became the River’s prime joy.

Years went by, and the River watched as the humans of the earth, many kind, but many selfish and cruel, would traverse through the near edges of the Infinite Wood and cut down the largest Trees as competition or slay its many woodland creatures as sport. This made the Gwahanu very unhappy but, being made of tears, It had no way to cry. Instead, It reached into Its greatest power to create a creature that could befriend the human as well as destroy it, and who would act as the defender of the Wood. It took earth from Its riverbeds and rolled it in Its waves, repeatedly tossing it above to mix it as much with the air as with the water from the Sky. Imbuing it with elements of Its own power, the River finally cast the creature into the Anwansi hollow and, at last, there hovered the first of the fairies. These first, numbered at fifty, were all Zils, with skin and wings reflecting various shades of blue. They spent their days frolicking about the Woods and, though they populated it quickly, they did naught to prevent the humans from destroying their homeland. Discontent, the River tried again, resulting now in the creation of the Kesks with their green countenances. Each of these first fifty – now a smaller amount of the fairies in all – erupted from the waterfall with a bolt-spear in hand and the intrinsic knowledge of how to forge more. These Kesks were highly effective at clearing the humans from the Woods, but their violent nature soon turned them against one another and much of the fairy population was extinguished, either directly or indirectly, due to their battles.

Kennedy realized instantly that the violent Kesks her tutor spoke of would include the gentle warriors who raised her and she suddenly was swimming in questions and disagreements, but remembering her vow to protect those same parents with her silence, she said nothing and listened as the instructor went on.

Discontent yet again, he said, the Gwahanu made a final effort, creating the Nachovy, their purple visage setting them apart from all but the most elegant in nature, who dispersed throughout the fairy population and led them all to order and peace. It was thus that the creation of the World Within the Woods was complete.

So now she must see, he went on, why it was vital she leave this place and come to live with her own kind. They would teach her the Nachovy practices necessary to maintaining the peace.

They both remained silent a moment, Instructor Nichym waiting for Kennedy to rise, but she did not.

Impatient, he spoke again. It was not only a matter of their physical creation, but the creation of their society was evidence of this necessity as well. He asked her if she knew how their nation of Alquoria was born.

Although she despised the thought of him telling it, Kennedy was also unhappy to learn how many Alquorian tales had been kept from her. She indicated she was unaware of the story.

He remarked on how horrid an upbringing she must have received to have arrived at her age without these early essentials of an education. Regaining his didactic air, he then told the abridged tale of how the first Elders had come together, one from each of the largest clans of fairies which were all spread about the Wood, and, meeting in the Gwahanu’s hollow, named it Anwansi. Not long before, the first of the Fairy Queens had been mystically chosen, distinguished through the power of Anwansi by her changed wings, but while she commanded all the respect necessary to maintain order, she was far too reckless to lead the nation philosophically. The Elders invited her to Anwansi and, together, she and they agreed it was best the Council of Elders would design the society and write its ordinances, and the queen would carry it out. They made Anwansi the capital, having all in the nation live within it, while only the queen’s warriors traveled the larger Woods to protect it.

Now, really, she must see, he said, since any young Nachovy girl might be chosen by Anwansi to serve as their next queen, it was vital she go through as much proper instruction as was possible in preparation, should the heir turn out to be she.

This piqued Kennedy’s interest, and she was unable to prevent a spark of eagerness from flying off her wing.

A prideful smile found the corner of Instructor Nichym’s lip as he became aware he had found the key to the child’s curiosity. Indeed, he confirmed, even she might one day become queen; however, such would only be possible if she accompanied him to the House of Nachovy, for Anwansi would never place its highest distinction upon a fairy of such low education.

Kennedy gave pause, investigating the instructor’s countenance with her eyes. At length, she set down her book and permitted him to lead her away.

She was led out of the Healing House and, for the first time, witnessed the Anwansi Pool from up close and saw an extent of detail that she had yet to even imagine. Every tailor, cobbler, magician, or carpenter seemed so perfectly marvelous that each and every one she passed received her most convivial smile and wave. Once the instructor she followed looked elsewhere, few could resist returning a pleasant acknowledgment to the strange happy fairyling. Craning upward, she watched again the small warriors – now known to her as Kesks – as they flew amidst the high branches of the Trees above the hollow. She thought what fun she could have on those branches, or how delectable it might be to learn to make whatever stunningly scented cake just now passed her by on a baker’s tray, but as she thought this she was led away from these sights and towards the bottom of the magnificent waterfall that fell from the River. She paused in front of it, standing upon the solidified rainbow bridge that held back the immense splash, and allowed its mist to envelope her in its cool energy. She closed her eyes, and the mist seemed to kiss her with its magic until she was led away again, Instructor Nichym pulling her arm, to the mouth of a cave that lay within the cliffside, just hidden by the waterfall.

The entrance to the cave was a marvel, with large multicolored gemstones encrusted in its massive arch, and the inside of the cavern was no less impressive. Although there were no windows to offer exposure to the sun, the cave was alive and brilliantly bright. Kennedy looked round and was certain she saw not a single shadow. She realized this cave must be lit by the same natural magic that gave light to the cavern in which she had resided previously, though the magic was immensely stronger here at Anwansi. As she was led past the doors of chambers and through passageways, she came to understand that carved into the cave was the interior of a magnificent castle, that this would be whither hid the rest of her type of fairy, and that it was here, in this beauty, she would spend most of her days.

As she imagined, she was shown to a bedchamber which she was to make her own, and, over the next few weeks, she was entirely incorporated into the learning cohort of Nachovy fairylings her own age who spent all their time in the castle. Despite the castle’s size and beauty, it did not escape the young fairy that her wings had again been clipped by her being hidden inside a cavern; still, so long as it lasted, she determined to make of it the best she could. Though she still spoke not, she quickly became a favorite of her seven classmates who all adored the games she made up for them, drawing pictographic instructions on the classroom walls. Best of all was her laugh – the only sounds they heard from her – which had the contagious quality of instantly delighting those all around in a way few of them had yet experienced.

The instructors – for there were many – grew to hold different opinions of the new fairyling. Contrary to that of her classmates, but developing just as swiftly, they looked upon her with distrust, frustration, and befuddlement. Her peccadillos were such that they offered no opportunity to rightfully prevent her behavior, for she played her games only during the time allotted for their freedom, and, though without speech or written word, in which both she refused to participate, she had proven a rather vast intelligence through the specialized assignments they designed to test her knowledge. Still, it was all entirely unconventional, creating a playful atmosphere much more akin to the common Zils than the refined royal attitude reserved for them of higher rank.

Instructor Nichym, having known her the longest, even if only slightly, took personal issue with her behavior. He had explained perfectly well the reason the Nachovy should be separate in attitude from the rest, and he was not to be disregarded. Taking audience with the queen, he requested permission to check Kennedy’s behavior and offered numerous recommendations for responses he felt would be fitting to the offence.

Queen Okalani only laughed, insisting no offense had been made.

Nichym wondered aloud if the Elders would feel the same were they to hear of it.

The Elders did not have time for children, she told him. She insisted he let the issue rest.

He had nodded, taken leave of her, and reported the same to the other instructors who, like himself, were greatly disappointed.

Furthering their discontent, as time went on, healers were brought in to examine Kennedy and confirmed there was no medical cause for her muteness or certainly any reason preventing her from utilizing the written word. The instructors all agreed she was likely to be concealing information regarding her first eleven years of life, but they were under order from the queen not to force upon the child any frightful interrogation, and their suspicions were yet too weak to risk wasting time at the Council of Elders with its mention.

Two years continued thus and, as the adults held their misgivings quietly, Kennedy grew to contentedness.

One day, at the conclusion of their morning studies, Kennedy urged her friends with drawings and playful tugs to traverse outside the cave with her, just to the waterfall, to attempt a new game. They were hesitant, but, trusting her near completely, they agreed, and the cheerful sparks that flew from her wings at their concurrence showered them all in such contagious delight that they were all outside in the next moment.

Flying near the fall’s peak, Kennedy picked up her legs, curled her wings around her, and fell into the raging water, sliding down, down, until she thrust her wings out again and flew up into the open air just before reaching the rainbow bridge. Her friends eagerly joined her, repeatedly engaging in the fun adventure. Hovering again above the peak, preparing for another descent, Kennedy noticed a small Zil fairyling, a few years younger than herself, watching them from a branch on the cliffside.

She motioned for him to join them in their fun.

His wings turned down and he shook his head vigorously.

Nodding, she motioned again.

He looked around, nervous, then smiled shyly and, his wings sparking with timid bright blue energy, he darted to her side.

She kindly took his azure palm into her orchid hand and together they jumped into the fall, laughing as they emerged at the bottom. Soon they noticed all Kennedy’s classmates had turned somber and were watching them silently from afar, none falling again into the water. Some of them gazed beyond her and she followed their eyes, turning round to see Instructor Nichym glaring down at her, dark sparks emerging from his wings in fury. He took hold of the blue boy’s arm and flung him behind, out towards the center of the pool as he flew to Kennedy, cornering her into standing on the rainbow bridge. The boy caught his balance in the air and hovered there, watching as Kennedy faced the angry instructor.

Nichym fumed at her about culture and tradition. He quoted ordinances that prevented the socialization of children from different ranks and defended it as a vital precaution taken to protect their way of life. He looked to her for an indication that she understood but received nothing of the sort in her stubborn glare. He demanded she provide affirmation that she would not involve herself with those types of children again, and, at long last, with passion sparking from her young wings, she could no longer stay silent.

“That is not right,” she said.

Her classmates gasped and whispered amongst themselves, but Instructor Nichym only nodded and smirked in contempt, his suspicions confirmed.

“So at last she speaketh,” he proclaimed. “Why did you take such time?”

“Until now I had more to hide than I had to say; now, I have more to say.”

“Ha! What could you say?” Nichym retorted. “Look at this boy. What right has he to fraternize with a nachov? Zil, get thee hither...” but the boy had flown off, hidden amongst the cottages.

“These customs you protect are absurd,” Kennedy said as the instructor turned back to face her. “More than absurd, they are false. You assume a difference in the natural value between myself and—”

“The difference is vast! He is a commoner, you are a royal.”

“Then perhaps you should treat me as one and not interrupt,” Kennedy rejoined. “With all due respect, Instructor, you are as royal as you will ever be, yet I may one day become Queen.”

“You will never be Queen,” he snarled.

“That is for Anwansi to decide, is it not?”

Nichym flew close and looked down upon her in disdain. “And what do you know of Anwansi, child? You have lived within it for two short years, I have lived here a lifetime and I know how its queens are meant to behave. You are hardly fit to live in its castle, much less to rule it.”

Kennedy stood a moment, staring into his glare. She then decided upon a course of action which would either ruin her in Alquoria or save her, and as yet she was not wholly certain which she might prefer.

“Take me to the queen, then,” she said. “I have here, at last, committed a crime, as you well know. Is it not to her, then, to decide my fate?”

He scowled. “So it is,” he said, and taking her by the arm, dragged her around the fall and again through the shining entrance to the caves. Kennedy stood tall as she was able while she followed him silently back through the castle, this time traveling down passages she had never yet seen. At last, deeper into the caves than the young fairyling had ever been permitted, they found themselves at the entrance to the Alquorian throne room. Instructor Nichym announced them and their purpose to the posted warriors standing guard, bolt-spears in hand, and one stepped inside to report their arrival before they were permitted. Once both grand stone doors were unclosed, Nichym lurched Kennedy forward, knocking her off-balance, and dropped her at the foot of the throne.

The instructor launched into a philippic, detailing all he had seen of Kennedy’s recent offense to their nation, but she heard not a word of his lamentation. The little royal was entirely entranced by her first sight of the queen. From where she first landed after being tossed to the floor, Kennedy lifted her gaze slightly and saw only the feet of Queen Okalani, planted firmly on the platform of her throne, the chair built of elegantly woven vines and branches and her lavender skin enwrapped by golden sandals. The queen wore an amber gown that appeared almost in motion, cascading down like the Anwansi Fall to her ankles, and as Kennedy lifted her eyes further she gasped to take in the queen’s magnificent, bright wings, unlike any she had seen before; for, the wings of the queen were white. Mesmerized, Kennedy’s gaze drove deeper into the wings and, as her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw now they were not white at all, but instead were part purple, part green, and part blue, all the colors mystically cooperating as one. In rapt examination, she did not notice the queen hold up her hand to silence Instructor Nichym, nor did she perceive the reality that the wings were coming closer, closer, closer, as did the queen, who had noticed the child’s fascination.

“When a Fairy Queen is chosen,” quoth Queen Okalani, “Anwansi makes its choice known by gifting the fairy with a pair of wings unlike any other. The Elders tell us it is to set her apart and remind all her subjects of her authority.”

Kennedy’s eyes squinted, and her head tilted slightly, but she was yet unable to retrieve her glance from the wings.

The queen smiled and sat back into her throne. “I see now in your furrowed brow, little one, that you believe differently.”

Startled by her majesty’s acute perception, Kennedy found control of her sight and pointed it to the queen, expecting her countenance would reveal frustration and disappointment, surprised then to see one of kindness that put her directly at peace.

She spoke softly, but with a curious surety. “Forgive me, your highness, but I think I believe the Elders are wrong.”

Instructor Nichym burst out in exclamations. “How dare you speak of the Elders in such a way! Your majesty, you see now the insolence of this child.”

“Leave us,” Okalani told him with perfect calm. He floundered a moment, then left the throne room in a huff. When he was gone, and the doors again closed, the queen leaned forward to be closer to the kneeling Kennedy.

“Tell me what you believe,” she said.

Kennedy looked to her own orchid palms in deep consideration, then, looking again to Queen Okalani, she permitted her notions to take shape aloud.

“I believe the wings are not a decorative gift, no, not a gift at all, but a declaration of a queen’s responsibility to her people. The combination of all three of our colors is to remind the queen, and her subjects, that although there are differences between us, in appearance, interests, and attitudes, the heart of Anwansi is shared by all fairies in equal parts, and it is harmed the same by the degradation of a commoner as it is that of a warrior or a royal. The wings of the queen herself are evidence that the separation, and ranking!, of the fairy types comes not from Anwansi, nor surely the Gwahanu, but from generations of nachov Elders imposing their power upon us all!”

A lengthy silence followed. The queen stared at Kennedy, but the child only looked down again, engrossed in her own new understandings.

“You are eloquent for a child who does not speak,” the queen said at last, returning Kennedy from her considerations.

“When one speaks not,” she replied, “there is time aplenty to listen, and to learn.”

Okalani smiled. “I no longer have any confusion at why the instructors dislike you. Neither would the Elders care to hear you speak in such a fashion.” Her smile fell as she finished her words.

“I must again beg your forgiveness, your majesty, but it appears I am not much concerned with what they would care about.”

The queen shook her head. “You must act with caution. The Elders have much power that even I cannot protect you from, regardless of your birthright station.”

“I should not have a birthright station!”

“Say that too near the wrong ears and it may well be taken from you.”

Kennedy paused, realizing what the queen had said. “You would protect me?” she asked.

“I believe you are right,” the queen said with a sigh. “When Anwansi chooses its ruler, by decorating her so, I believe she is chosen for having a heart much like yours. When I was young, I felt as you do now, though, in the face of conflict, I was far less brave. As queen, I am given the power to lead our warriors and protect our Woods, and in times of crisis I stand to raise the hope of our people, holding us together through fear; however, despite the call of Anwansi, all inner affairs and ordinances are held under the power of the Council of Elders. Those who break the Elder’s ordinances are brought to me so I may execute the penalty for their crimes, and I have severely limited capacity to grant forgiveness, but I am going to reach into that capacity today. You are lucky that, in his rage at you, Instructor Nichym forgot the zil boy, for it is far more difficult to be lenient with a commoner than it is with a royal.”

“That is not right either,” Kennedy scowled.

“I understand your passion, little one, but it must be controlled or you will lead an impossibly difficult life.”

Kennedy thought, then responded, “I would rather lead a difficult life if it is in pursuit of one that is just.”

“You would relinquish your own happiness, your own peace?”

“How can there be peace before there is justice? Permit me to ask, your highness, I beg, do you truly wish to continue silently presiding over a nation where children are barred from finding playfellows in fairies of other colors? Or, are you comfortable in the knowledge that there are children torn from their parents due simply to the fact that their visages do not match? If that is the foundation of our culture, how can we claim our culture to be one of any good?” As emotion crept up in her throat, Kennedy halted her speech, fearing she had said too much. Assuredly the queen had understood.

“So that is your secret,” quoth she. “Your parents were no royals, and yet they raised you.”

Kennedy returned to a bitter silence.

“Fear not. So long as I do not know their identity, I am not compelled to act. Furthermore, I swear I shall instigate no investigation, nor speak what I know to anyone.”

Anxiety swept away, Kennedy offered the queen a small grateful smile. “Thank you, your highness.”

The queen nodded and went on. “It has given you strength, you know; your childhood. There is bravery in you I have only seen in our warriors.”

“Perhaps that is because only the warriors had been taught to find their bravery. Until me.”

“Perhaps.”

The little fairyling waited for more, but the queen said nothing.

“Have you tried to change it?” Kennedy asked.

“Pardon?”

“Our lives need not always stay this way. We could change the ordinances.”

“I do not have such power.”

Kennedy shook her head and stood to level herself with the queen. “You must have more power than you know, your majesty. You have the trust of the people. If you made a public appeal to the Elders, they could not ignore you.”

“It is not being ignored that fears me.”

“What could they do that would not blatantly contradict the direct wishes of Anwansi? They would not dare!”

“You do not know them as I do.”

“I could help you.”

“You are a child.”

“A brave one, you said yourself.”

“It requires more than bravery to survive the Elders.”

Kennedy’s countenance twisted in curiosity. “Survive them, your highness?”

Okalani rose from the throne and paced away from the girl’s stare. “There is much you do not understand.”

“Tell me.”

“No one should understand what I understand.” The queen turned back to see Kennedy now framed by the branches of the throne. “Especially one so young,” she whispered.

“Please. I cannot do nothing.”

“Then fly. Disappear. Return to whence you came.”

“You must know that I cannot.”

“I adore your steadfast will, little one. You are everything I wish I had been.”

“Then help me.”

“I will. I will beg Anwansi, nay, the River itself, even the Sky if it will hear me, to not allow you to be chosen as the next queen. You do not deserve it.”

Queen Okalani returned to her seat, placing herself within it for near fear, if left empty, the branches would come alive and take hold of the child. Kennedy could only watch.

“Your majesty,” she said at last, “I know I am but a child, and I have much to learn. Still, there is some that I already know. I know I can make people smile, and that I can put other children at ease. I know I could have great influence over a generation that will soon grow into our prime. All I ask of you now is to help me play with the other children. Surely the Elders would not deny you that.”

“I cannot be certain.”

“But would you be willing to try?”

The queen looked to the child whose wide eyes now beckoned the passion she had buried beneath years of duties. Despite herself, a spark flew off of the queen’s magisterial wings, and Kennedy smiled.

“There will be danger, little one. Do you accept this?”

Solemnly, she swore, “I do.”

At length, Queen Okalani nodded and sent Kennedy from the throne room. As she flew out the large stone doors, her wings sparked like never before, and she smiled, knowing her adventure had truly begun.

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Chapter X - Stepping into the Light