A Song of Askaldenfirsts and Dragons. Part eight: The New Queen

Laylith saw a huge island in front of her, with a giant rock like the steps of a ladder, the sharp peak of the rock of the upper “step” ended with a horizontal plane on which the dragons were, it was probably a platform for transformation, takeoff and landing. Then, almost at right angles, there was a section of rock that had dozens of rope ladders on it, they went down to the next “step”, on it there were yellow-orange two and three-story houses. Laylith flew closer and saw that many of the houses had beautiful narrow triple-paned windows, and there were narrow passages between the houses, separated by semicircular arches. The houses ended near the edge, from which rope ladders ran again. And so down came similar “steps” that alternated dragon-flying platforms and residential houses. At the last “step” at the base of the cliff was a giant pyramid that peaked just above the second “step,” if you counted from below. And she noticed, next to the pyramid, enormous creatures that looked like Earth elephants, only with wings. Creatures have huge, powerful torsos, huge curved tusks and trunk, and wings like the wings of argiphones.

Laylith found Shattiel with her eyes. Shattiel landed on the fourth “step,” if you count them from above. Laylith landed there, too, and let the girls get off. And then she started screaming.

“Welcome to the Freedom Stairs Island!” Shattiel said cheerfully.

Laylith screeched.

Suddenly a swarthy young man with brown eyes ran up to Shattiel, looking fearfully at Laylith-bird, but he quickly stopped being afraid of her and turned to Shattiel,

“Shattiel, we’ll attack today, it’s decided!” his eyes lit up. “At last we have a real chance! At last we’ll kill the king Pfensh!”

“The king?” Neika exclaimed.

“Why are you surprised, Neika?” Kansifa said with deliberate indifference. “We don’t know where we are, in what country, and who is before us.”

“You brought guests!” the young man turned his attention to the girls.

“Meet,” Shattiel said, “this is Alaksh, and this is–”

“I’m Neika, and this is Kansifa and Ellia,” Neika said.

“And also a huge fucking bird,” Kansifa added.

Laylith screamed and then bent her neck toward her, so much so that everyone rushed to the sides.

“She can’t turn back,” Ellia said.

“Why today?” Shattiel turned to Alaksh. “Didn’t Frad want to put it off for a week?”

“He said he couldn’t think of a better day! The last ships have sailed for Aalgarbtash, and now, thanks to the First, we can–”

“The First?” Neika screamed.

Laylith screeched.. And she felt herself transform.

When she transformed, she became naked and covered herself with her arms. Shattiel decided to conjure up a set of clothes for her.

“Who is your First?” Laylith asked, as she put on a roomy shirt and tight, light pants.

“The one who has been helping us all these years–” Shattiel began to answer.

“Don’t believe him, cancel everything to Elnadaltar’s mother!” Laylith shouted, remembering the god of justice of the forest elves.

“Yes, you need to kill him,” Kansifa said.

“Let’s get to the bottom of this, though, who is he?” Ellia interjected.

“Why?” Neika asked. “We need to kill them all if the opportunity presents itself, without hesitation.”

“Yes,” Laylith agreed.

“Our First is the savior,” Shattiel said, “that’s what we call him, the wonderful Gaellkoet, he saved the tukhtaash slaves and the half-bloods, brought them here and others who disagreed with the king’s rule, and those who were tired of the ancient vicious traditional way of life, where different races are divided into categories and each has its own framework of life opportunities and rights. He fought against injustice, just like Elnadaltar, the god of justice you mentioned. Gaellkoet created the conditions by inciting the tukhtaashes to conquer Aalgarbtash. And–”

“Aalgarbtash?” Kansifa interrupted her.

“Yes, that’s the name of your continent,” Shattiel explained. “So Gaellkoet’s settled here, on the island, and he likes the local laws, the modern progress. I don’t know how many years he’s lived here, but he has wives now, and they are eight former slaves.”

“Eight?” Kansifa was horrified by the number.

“We’re familiar with it,” Ellia said and exchanged glances with Neika.

“Perhaps you should reconsider trusting this ‘savior’!” Kansifa said.

“Yes, I’d add that you need to cancel all plans and visit Gaell, isolate his wives somewhere to talk to them openly so he can’t use his magic,” Laylith suggested.

“Exactly!” Ellia supported.

“Yes, that’s what we should do!” Neika agreed, and Kansifa nodded in approval.

“He can’t use his magic here,” Shattiel said and smiled. “All right, let’s go and talk to them now,” she said to girls and turn to Alaksh, “In the meantime, go and see Frad, and tell him I’ll be seeing him soon, and that he needn’t think about doing anything without me.”

Alaksh nodded and ran ahead. Shattiel led the girls along a small bypass path. During this time, several dragons flew in and landed on the grounds, transforming into tukhtaashes or half-bloods. But they were all clothed at once! Laylith didn’t understand how it was that they managed not to tear the clothes during the transformation... The girls approached the descent. Laylith forced herself to move closer to the edge and looked down.

“Gaell can’t use magic here, right?” she asked.

“Magic doesn’t work here. No First will be able to resist the power of the crystals. And not only the First, no one,” she smiled. “Try it,” she suggested to Laylith.

“Kras Vos Dracal!” Laylith tried to direct the magical orbs into the air, into an area where no one was flying, but nothing worked.

“Kiyal Farus Fiyas Dracal!” Ellia decided to try, too, and to no avail.

“Rakhom Kus Kadukh!” Laylith read the fire spear spell, and it didn’t appear in her hand. She turned with surprised eyes to Shattiel. “It turns out no one can use magic here?!” Laylith wanted to hear confirmation of that again.

“As I said, yes,” Shattiel replied.

“What crystals are you talking about?” Kansifa asked.

“There is a planet called Marakhuran,” Shattiel began, “it hides a certain mineral in its depths called ataklantack. While the alanjruon, of which you are probably aware, helps to fuel the magic of the Firsts and its deposits brought the Firsts to our planet, the ataklantack is a magical crystal that suppresses magic entirely. One such ataklantack, the size of my hand, can suppress magic within a radius of tens, sometimes hundreds of miles. So Gaellkoet is as powerless here as you are now, just like everyone else on our island. That’s why all your suspicions about him are unfounded.”

“Curious. Then how do they travel to and from Marakhuran?” Ellia asked.

“That’s a good question,” Shattiel praised her. “There’s a certain island off the mainland that has no crystal deposits. The Firsts built a port and ships there, and they travel to the continent by sea... Well, let’s go down, because we don’t have much time.”

Laylith began to slowly descend the sturdy rope ladder, while other girls were descending the neighboring ladders. When they finally descended, the houses seemed much larger than they looked from above. They headed through a small archway to the next archway and then to the next one, going down or up the small steps. One woman, a half-elf half-tukhtaash, reminiscent of Shattiel, was washing laundry in a basin and hanging on ropes in the small courtyard beside the house.

Finally, they passed several similar houses, and came to one three-story house that was no different from the other similar two and three-story houses. Beautiful narrow windows, yellow and sandy plain siding, a rectangular roof. The Laylith went inside.

It was surprisingly spacious inside, but relatively dark. Dim lamps with candles were burning, and the weak light from the windows created three narrow pale rectangles that made it possible to see the ornament on the floor. The floor was flat, and as if stone, but warm with a beautiful geometric pattern that resembled either a star or a flower, consisting of many interwoven lines.

Three women came out to them.

“Shattiel, what a pleasant surprise,” said the tukhtaash woman with an oval face, in her forties or slightly older, with curly hair and brown eyes. Behind her came a half-tukhtaash half-azdairik young woman with an oval-rectangular pleasant face with almost black eyes and blue-tinged black hair, but maybe it seemed that way to Laylith because of the lighting. Last standing in the shadows was a young, round-faced tukhtaash woman with seemingly brown eyes and curly ashy-blond hair.

“Wafti, Urkhura, Vishri, meet Laylith, Neika, Ellia and Kansifa,” she introduced the girls, and everyone nodded, and Laylith had to do the same. “And, respectively, this is Wafti,” she pointed to the older tukhtaash woman, “this is Urkhura,” she pointed to the half-azdairik young woman, “and this,” she pointed to the young woman in the shadows, where her hair was such a strange ashy gray as if it reflected light, “Vishri.”

“We are very glad to meet Shattiel’s friends,” Wafti said, “but you, as I understand it, did not come for the sake of a friendly acquaintance?”

“Yes, my companions have had negative experiences with the Firsts–”

“Are you here of your own free will or are you under a spell?” Neika suddenly asked.

“Neika, you were told that magic doesn’t work here,” Ellia contradicted her.

“We don’t know what the First is capable of and how he can deceive everyone by not being able to use magic,” Neika retorted.

“Gaellkoet is a wonderful First, reliable and kind person, he gave us love–” Urkhura began.

“As enchanted, honestly,” Kansifa said contemptuously.

“I apologize for my new... ‘friends’...” Shattiel said, embarrassed.

“He gave you love,” Laylith said, holding the thought in her mind, “and besides love?”

“We have everything for a happy life. Good food, a secure island, a warm home–”

“That’s not what I meant,” Laylith interrupted Wafti. “Gaellkoet has eight wives, doesn’t he?”

“Yes,” Wafti confirmed.

“And he’s been with you, dear Wafti, for a long time, hasn’t he?”

“Eleven years together, and three months and a bit,” Wafti replied.

“Then I have one question, do any of you have children with him?”

Wafti, Urkhura and Vishri laughed, and Shattiel laughed too. Laylith and the other girls looked perplexed at each other and at the the wives of the First and Shattiel.

“I didn’t have time to tell them,” Shattiel said, “half the inhabitants of this island are his children.”

“Help me, Belineya!” Ellia cried out, remembering the goddess of the isterses, protector of the innocent.

“He created an army,” Laylith said with horror.

“Yes, and this army of good and light, it will fight the darkness and antiquity, where slavery and cruelty are glorified as a guide for life!” Shattiel remarked.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Laylith said. And suddenly she remembered her mother’s death and how much she wanted to find her father, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Our husband, Gaellkoet, will put an end to all the madness that many ermirians have endured all these years,” Wafti said. “He doesn’t need an alanjruon, but he understands that he can’t manage without it yet.” She looked at Shattiel,“Can I trust them?”

“I think so,” Shattiel said uncertainly.

“Gaell is going to put ataklantack crystals at various points in Ermir, depriving the Firsts and any of their allies of the ability to use magic. Today is the first phase of a grand plan. Here on Taashtar we shall seize power by overthrowing the disgusting Pfensh VIII the Wrathful from the throne, and proclaiming a new state called Free Taashtaria, which will have no king but eleven advisors chosen from among the leaders of the liberation movement,” Wafti said.

“But by depriving the Firsts of their magic, you will deprive your allies of magic, and eventually all the ermirians in my homeland, including all arqilunians, and thus weaken them,” Laylith said.

“Yes,” Shattiel agreed, “but we will use dragons, and what can any of the Firsts do without their strong protective dome against sizzling fire? But I don’t have time to discuss it right now, I’m sorry. I must be going; you can talk to Wafti, Urkhura, and Vishri if you like, or I can give you a house for use at any time. You can stay on the island as long as you like. You can refuse to fight, no one will force you, or you can come with me and join our fight, for it is your fight too.”

“I’ll go with you,” Laylith decided.

“So will I,” Ellia said.

“But I won’t go,” Kansifa said.

“Neither will I,” Neika said.

“Do you want to stay here, or do you want me to show you a house where you can rest?” Shattiel asked Kansifa.

“Show us the house, please,” Kansifa said and looked at Neika, and she nodded her. Laylith looked at them in bewilderment.

“Then, Laylith, Ellia wait for me here, I’ll return soon and we’ll go,” Shattiel said.

“All right,” Laylith replied. And Kansifa and Neika and Shattiel left the house.

“Would you like something to eat or drink? We have shalkefay, tashgalshak and flatbreads, just the way you probably like Laylith,” Wafti asked.

“Shalkefay, tashgalshak...um, what’s that?” Laylith asked.

“Shalkefay is a kind of ravithlef, only with a flavor of... shardunast... how do you call it?”

“Efferaspel,” Urkhura prompted her as she stepped closer. Efferaspel resembled the earth blueberry, a berry that Laylith knew well. The berry was found in northern and central Eileenelia, in southern Norvinoria and parts of eastern Farderland, and, here, apparently on Taashtar. “And there’s also a note of leresalt aroma in the shalkefay,” Urkhura explained. And Laylith remembered how, as a child, she adored inhaling the scent of fresh leresalt, a fragrance similar to earthy mint. “And tashgalshak is a kind of alvulus,” the girl finished.

“No, thank you,” Ellia said suddenly, and looked at Laylith. Laylith took the hint.

“Yes, we don’t need anything, we’ll just stand around and wait,” Laylith said.

“So maybe you won’t stand on the doorstep? Come in, sit wherever you want,” Wafti said with concern.

“Thank you, but we’d rather wait outside,” Ellia said suddenly, and dragged Laylith over the threshold.

They stepped out and backed away from the house, against the wall of another. Ellia leaned over to Laylith.

“There’s something wrong here,” she said.

“Of course there is!” Laylith said too loudly.

“Shh, shh, there could be ears everywhere.”

“Yes, sorry... All right. Now we have an another skitatskum from the Firsts, who created an army, half of them his offspring, they are motivated to fight for the family, even if these bastards know they are doing evil, they’ll still cover the family and act for the family. And their father, grandfather or whatever he is, wants to deprive the magic of all Ermir! You know the whole history of the Firsts, don’t you?”

“Well, only what that huarashat told me!” Ellia cursed in isters language, “I know that they want the alanjruon, that they’re from another planet, that they answer to the Emperor, and that there aren’t many of them left, that’s why he took us into his ‘concubines’ for love and–”

“Fucking skitatskum, bastard! I hate this piece of shit!” Laylith was furious.

Ellia took her hand.

“It’s all right, you’re here with me, and we’re... relatively safe,” Ellia hugged her. Laylith needed to be touched by someone, and she squeezed Ellia in a return hug.

“Ah, you’re here,” they heard Shattiel’s voice, and instinctively pulled away from each other. “That’s it, if you want to join the resistance, come with me, I’ll introduce you to Frad Tofka!”

“All right,” Ellia said, winking at Laylith.

“Yes, we’re ready,” Laylith nodded to Ellia and looked at Shattiel.

“Then, follow me!” Shattiel said playfully, and turned and ducked behind the house, and the girls followed her.