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Chapter 44: Jaff And The Queen

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The wine glass swirled in her hand, giving life to the ruby red liquid. It was a delicate mixture of berries and herbs with a generous amount of alcohol; her favorite flavor. Yet, as she stood on the balcony of her hotel room, draped in the finest silk, the Ahrman queen hadn’t taken a sip.

Much of the sky was clear with a relaxing blue afternoon color. A few wispy clouds moved silently across the horizon, but, to the queen's relief, that infamous ‘creature cloud’ was nowhere around.

But that was both good and bad; good for Nabiil, bad for Ahrmania.

It was the first time she had traveled to Nabiil in over a year. Enjoying a hot steam bath and dining in one of the city’s many exquisite restaurants were usually on her to-do-list. Not so much today. She was the queen and for the first time since gaining the title, the future of the empire rested on her petite shoulders.

What a time to be a queen, indeed.

“I don’t even know who this ‘Rebirth Destroyer’ he mentioned is,” she complained to the only soul around. A modest-sized brown and white bird was perched on the balcony’s railing, being unusually attentive to the queen. “I couldn’t let on about my ignorance, not before the Midaharians, and make myself a fool.”

With Jericha gone the queen had few ears to lay her grievances on. She would never be so personal with Sisten and Breuke was out on assignment. The little bird would have to do. She leaned on the railing, still swirling wine in her glass. As sunlight hit the ocean, diamonds glistened in the water as far as the eye could see.

“The skinny one, with the glasses, I think his name’s Isa,” she said, taking a sip from her glass then turning to the bird. “Now, don’t tell anyone I said this but, he’s quite handsome. Maybe once all of this is over he and I could mingle a little. The king dipped his toes in every pool he could find, didn’t he? Maybe I should expand my horizons, too.”

She washed down her comments with a bigger swallow of wine. “No, I could never be like him. The nerve of that man to leave me at a time like this! I knew he wasn’t going to make it back. Did he think he was riding off to play a game of Verglas?! The fool!”

A drop of liquid fell in her wine glass and that was when the queen noticed tears rolling down her cheek. She hadn’t cried once over the king’s death and never intended to. But there they were, marching down her face without her permission. She hastily wiped any evidence of them away. No one could see her crying; not the queen and definitely not at a time like this.

“What a waste of good wine. Here, you can have that,” she said, sliding the glass by the bird. “I’ll pour me another. Hell, I’ll bring the whole bottle.”

As Katherine returned to her room the bird hopped onto the wine glass and helped itself to a few swallows. The feathery animal turned its attention to one of the queen’s Royal Guard as he entered the room. It flew inside and landed on the top of a bookshelf.

“Breuke,” the queen smiled, corking a jar of wine open. “You’re just in time to join me for a glass.”

“Uh, I’ll have to pass on that, your majesty.”

“Oh! Don’t be like Jericha. I must have someone to drink with, someone that’s not a--” the queen hesitated and looked out the balcony. Disappointment overtook her face when she saw that her bird friend wasn’t where she left it.

“We’re really not supposed to do that, but you can drink as you’d like. I just came to update the crown with important news from the griffin riders.”

“Let’s hear it,” the queen said, filling her wine glass to the rim.

“The griffin riders you commissioned for reconnaissance duties around that cloud say that it’s still on the move, and so are the enemies it spawned. There’s only half of the continent left that hasn’t been touched by it.”

“Is he trying to push us off the planet?!” the queen frowned.

“It’s really not looking good, I’m afraid. There is good news. That cloud hasn’t drifted in Nabiil’s direction. Alba appears to be more interested in blanketing Ahrmania and Midaharia right now.”

“You know what baffles me? How can those magical runes turn around and control people? Has this happened before?”

“If I’m not mistaken, your majesty, all of this was predicted to befall on us at some point.”

The queen raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll get back to you on that. I’m not as versed on the ‘Khalina Prophecy’ as Alba was...or is.”

“Tell me what you know, Breuke,” the queen said with a more insisting tone.

“A Midaharian was supposed to be born and bring about the end of the world. He’s the Rebirth Destroyer General Isa claimed they targeted in Haggard.”

“Were they successful?”

“I don’t think so. Alba said something about needing the boy’s body, so I guess he’s still alive.”

A prophecy? Could all of this have been avoided? Did the king know about it? And why would Alba want that Rebirth Destroyer's body? What’s going to happen if he does????

Katherine furrowed her brow and sat down on a couch. Hesitant to voice her questions, she stared at the carpet and took a few sips of wine. Her days were so much easier when the king was around and handling world affairs.

“I’m sorry, your majesty. I didn’t mean to overwhelm you. I kind of thought you had heard about it already.”

Katherine raised a hand of dismissal as she swallowed the rest of her wine. “Nevermind, Breuke. Is there anything else?”

“Um, yes. The griffin riders want to know if their services are still required by the Empire.”

“Yes, yes,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “We need their eyes in the sky. Have them go out again tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll show myself out.”

Katherine extended her arm and raised her hand. “Pass me that bottle before you go.”

Distracted by the unwelcomed news, Queen Katherine was oblivious to the bird as it flew back outside. It fluttered to a nearby building and dropped down on a vacant roof. The feathered animal soon shifted into its true form; Jaff.

He looked back toward the Grand Hotel, his eyes reflecting the concern growing within him. Wherever he was, Aiden was still free from Damnation. But for how long?

As he turned to leaves, a searing hot blade impaled him mod torso. "I see the queen is just as careless as her husband was," Sisten said, grabbing Jaff by his collar and yanking him close. "Now, what did she tell you?"

The heat from his blade was so intense, so overwhelming, the Royal Guard's words were lost in the sound of blood rushing in Jaff's ears. His instincts to survive, to escape the pain, compelled Jaff to morph into a falcon and dive off the building. Hands aflame, Sisten rushed to the edge of the roof anxious to roast the bird, but the swift animal was nowhere to be found.