Chapter Five

~The New Queen~

In a not so distant kingdom, another Princess reveled in her newly appointed position. Sitting in the throne her beloved father sat on but a few days prior, Queen Inviera closed her eyes and inhaled the air surrounding her. With a smirk on her face, she awaited news from her servants of her betrothed Prince.

The kingdom of Terra Arcus was a bleak and dark place. Active volcanoes sat on the blackened cracked earth, sending puffs of charcoal clouds into the sky above. The Black Lake, which sat behind the kingdom, was irrigated into the village, creating veins of rippling, cool, dark fluid through out the lands. The homes were made of blackened timber and charred earth, with windows the shape of candle flames. The air was always warm and sometimes when the sun was high and the volcanoes billowed hot steam, it was as though the water vapor in the air burned at first contact of the skin.

Queen Inviera sat on her thrown, running her fingers along the edge of her ruby chiffon embroidered cloak, draped over her bare shoulders. She trailed her fingers along the red satin dress wrapped tightly around her body, pushing her already buxom bosoms into view.

She was named after the paper white snow flakes that her skin resembled, though her people derived from the Infliories, elves with the ability to manipulate fire and lightning. Her hair, an incandescent glow of crimson waves accented with strands of smoldering embers, was complimented by her arched lips, neatly colored in a shade of scarlet.

“Your majesty, it has been done,” said the male elf standing in front of her. Tall, with olive toned skin and short, curly, honey colored hair he bowed his head in the presence of the Queen.  A few strands of his hair fell onto his forehead and he placed his right arm and fist across his chest in respect of the woman who sat before him. Queen Inviera waved her hand, acknowledging his salute. He looked at her through his cat-like hazel eyes. The square cut diamond earring in his lower ear-lobe twinkled in the dimly lit room. He had a boyish charm to him that made most of the elf maidens at court swoon, but he had his heart set for one in particular.  

He waited for the fiery-headed queen that sat before him to speak.

“Thank you, Lucqí?,” said Queen Inviera. “How successful were we?”

“Quite successful, my lady,” said the female elf that stood next to Lucqí. Luthia bowed her head and placed her hand to her chest with an open palm. She then faced her palm to the sky and moved her hand from left to right in the customary greeting fashion. It was a greeting derived from the reverence the Infliories had for the horizon that held all of the sun’s might in the power of its hand.

Luthìa’s long, loose and cascading curls bounced back and forth as she made the subtle movement. She was Lucqi’s mirror image, having the same cat-like hazel eyes and honey colored mane. And much like her twin brother, she was the desire of many lords and higher nobles. It was said that King Vieron of Terra Arcus showed much favor towards her before his passing. She, however, vowed to never have her heart ruled by any male elf.

“Was there any trouble Luthìa?” asked the Queen without looking.

“It is said that there may have been slight resistance my lady, but we are assured that it is being taken care of,” she said, bowing her head.

“Are we sure?” asked Inviera, who was now rising from her plush throne looking at the twin elves.

“Yes my lady,” said Lucqi, who now could not keep his eyes off of the new Queen. Lucqi quickly stepped towards the lavish chair, placing one arm behind his back and the other hand out stretched.

“Good,” Inviera said placing her palm into Lucqí’s embrace. He closed his fingers around her delicate hand, and looked into Inviera’s eyes as she took proud steps down the brass crafted stepping stool, away from her throne. She dropped her hand from Lucqi’s grip and Lucqi followed the Queen’s fingertips to her side.

“Why majesty, you are looking well today,” said Lucqí is a dream-like gaze.

Looking sideways at Lucqí, Inviera gave a slight smirk. The noble bowed his head. “Why, thank you,” replied Inviera. The pleasantries fed her maliciousness and calmed the rage slowly burning with in. She walked across the floor, with the train of her dress slithering behind her. The Baor fountain, a cleverly crafted structure in the shape of a coiled leopard snake, was erected in the middle of the throne room. The onyx fluid of the land expelled from the mouth of the snake, into the round basin. She stood looking into the small pool, watching the reflection staring back at her.

“Was the letter dispatched?” she asked, without turning her head.

“Yes, my lady,” they responded in unison. She closed her eyes and titled her head toward the opened doors across the hall. There was a balcony over-looking the entire kingdom. On either side of the balcony was a staircase that circled around the palace of Terra Arcus. From the balcony the new Queen could see the world she had lived in, the forests beyond her reach, the volcanoes at her side, and the mountains with ice as chilling as her heart.

“Well then, we shall wait to hear from them. If we miscalculated, we would just have to hasten plans.” And with that said, the twin infliori elves bowed and removed themselves from the throne room, and the new Queen parted her reddened lips, and smiled.