Elements of Glory: The Princess of Nothing

’Now, let me go on to explain the powers of these Elements of Glory and their companions that we know only as Dooys. Their powers are vast, and though these beings are called Elements, do not be fooled into thinking that the capacity for their power is bound by the elements of the world – air, wind, fire, and water… these beings are Elements in their own right… Elements of Glory…’

-Constangale, to the Council of Wasgician; his famous essay on the Elements of Glory

Wuzzul and Whirligig led Emily and the others out into a stone courtyard outside her castle. There was a fountain in the middle, and arches along the edge looked out on thick, misty, forest. The air smelled fresh, and though it wasn’t raining at the moment, the clouds were grey and churning, and everything was wet.

‘Flying am easy,’ Wuzzul said, turning with Whirligig to face Emily, Aragam, Siri, Grijyn, John, and Samantha.

‘Griffin knows this too,’ Whirligig added.

’Yes, but he’s got wings,’ Aragam said grumpily, ’we don’t.’

‘Still am easy,’ Wuzzul assured, smiling.

‘Wuzzul,’ Emily said, finding herself agreeing with Aragam a little, ’I don’t know what you’re planning to prove, but I really have to side with Aragam.’

’No, no,’ Whirligig said, shaking his head, ’you agrees with us!’ he argued and then walked over to the fountain. He dipped a hand into the placid waters, drenching it, and then walked over to Emily. He beckoned her down to his level, and said, ‘Now you hold out your hand.’

Emily hesitated but did as he instructed.

Whirligig wiped his wet hand across Emily’s palm, and then looked up into her eyes, a smile on his furry, black, face.

’What’s that supposed to do?’ Aragam asked.

Whirligig shot a look Aragam’s way. ’She am powerful! Most powerful of all of us! Hers power is water, wind, fire and dirt, and more, more, more, more! So many powers, not enough fingers and toes in two worlds to count!’

‘Dirt?’ Aragam asked in dismay.

‘Earth,’ Grijyn said, stepping forward.

‘You know what this little fur ball is talking about?’ Aragam wondered.

‘Yes,’ the Griffin replied, ’but I’ll not go into it now. What the little Dooy says is true though. As Emily transported herself through the rain from the Dead Man’s cave, here, to the castle… she can do it again.

’I don’t even know how I did that,’ Emily argued.

’You merely need to know where you’re going,’ Grijyn replied, ’and luckily I know where my Kingdom is.’

‘Yes, yes, this is good and true,’ Siri said, ‘of that I am sure.’

‘Hang on,’ John said, ‘it’s not even raining, so how is-’

‘The kid’s right,’ Aragam agreed, cutting John off. ’It’s not raining.’

‘Emily will make it rain,’ Grijyn smiled.

’You will?’ Aragam asked, staring at Emily.

The woman stared back and shrugged.

Grijyn nudged her in the shoulder with his beak. ’Just focus on it, my dear… you can make it rain.’

Emily was beside herself… but again, she trusted this Griffin. Still, she hesitated a moment. Then, slowly, she looked up at the sky and the churning clouds. She focused on them and thought about rain. She thought about the cool drops on her face, and how good it would feel.

She closed her eyes, focusing on that feeling.

A moment later the rain came down in a sudden torrent.

Emily opened her eyes and looked around at the others, gasping.

Everyone, even Aragam, looked surprised.

Wuzzul and Whirligig chattered to one another, and then started laughing. Emily looked around at the others and saw smiles and expressions of wonder. Then she was smiling and laughing as the rain poured down on her.

She spun around, arms outstretched.

’You really are powerful,’ Siri said with a smile, ’of that I am sure.’

Grijyn stepped toward Emily and looked up at her. ’You’re much further along than I expected. The Dooys are right. You’ll have the power to transport us all.

Emily stared into the Griffin’s blue yes. ‘Okay,’ she said, ‘but I don’t know where to go.’

’But I do,’ Grijyn responded, ‘it’ll be enough.’

Emily looked out over the group. ’All of us?’ she asked.

‘You can do it!’ Wuzzul encouraged.

Emily sighed.

‘Close your eyes,’ Grijyn said.

Emily did as she was told, and let out a long breath. A moment passed, and suddenly, she saw a beautiful Kingdom set high in the mountains. Castles and elaborate nests with walls and roofs, built into the lofty peaks, and collars of clouds above and below, the snowy caps barely visible.

There was a loud crack, and Emily felt like she was being tugged across the sky. It was instantaneous, her feet tingled, and then, with another crack, she was on solid ground again, and the rain had stopped. Emily swooned and dropped to her knees. She felt like she’d run for an entire day. She gasped, and found she was out of breath.

’Oh, no,’ she heard Grijyn say.

Emily opened her eyes and looked up. The great city she’d seen in her mind’s eye was surrounding her. She stood with her companions in a large, round, courtyard with an impressive silver Griffin statue in the centre. But the city wasn’t as magnificent as she’d seen it.

It was ruins.

Buildings and castles were broken and crumbling, with moss and vines growing here and there. Once magnificent nests were burned out and charred. The skeletons of majestic Griffins lay in the courtyard, or on carved steps that led up to higher levels.

‘NOOOO!’ Grijyn wailed, as if in agony, taking a step forward as Emily and the others stared at the destruction in dismay.

‘Lord, what happened here?’ Aragam asked, his voice soft and worried.

’WAIT!’ a voice cried out.

Emily turned around and looked at Wuzzul and Whirligig. Both of the Dooys looked beside themselves, and Wuzzul had big tears in his round eyes.

’What?’ Emily asked.

‘John and Samantha!’ Whirligig cried. ’Them are gone!’

Emily and the others looked all around, and, sure enough John and Samantha were nowhere to be seen.

‘What happened?’ Aragam asked, turning quickly to Emily, accusation in his blue eyes.

’How should I know!’ Emily shot back. ’I’ve only done this twice!’

’Take us back!’ Aragam ordered, stepping to Emily and pointing into her face. ’TAKE US BACK NOW!’

‘That’s enough, Wasgician!’ Grijyn shouted at Aragam.

’No!’ Aragam shot back, his eyes never leaving Emily. ’I swore that I’d protect Samantha! I swore it to myself! I swore it to her!’ He took a step toward Emily, ugly fury in his eyes. ’TAKE US BACK NOW!’

‘I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere!’ a voice shouted from a lofty position, echoing across the courtyard.

Everyone turned and looked up, to a building high above. Standing there, with a crossbow in one hand, pointed right at Emily, was a creature that looked a little like a Centaur, though its skin was solid red. It had ugly demonic wings, as well as black horns protruding out of its forehead. Its feet were not hooves, but looked bear-like, with vicious claws.

When the thing smiled down at Emily and the others, the Princess of Nothing saw ugly, sharp, fangs... like a Vampire.

’YOU!’ Grijyn howled, stepping forward. ’YOU DID THIS!’

’Good to see you, King Grijyn… I heard you were dead.’

‘I WILL TEAR YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!’ Grijyn roared, and spread out his wings, ready to leap into the sky.

An arrow from behind slashed through the sky, and hit the Griffin in the shoulder. He roared and dropped down to one knee.

Emily looked around and watched in horror as more of the red-skinned, winged, creatures showed themselves, all of them with long range weapons in hand and fierce monstrous looks on their faces.

‘EVERYONE STAY PUT!’ the leader shouted, drawing Emily’s attention back to him.

Emily and her companions didn’t move a muscle.

The monster leader laughed. ‘Welcome,’ he said, ’welcome, meat, to the last place you will ever see alive. Welcome to the Kingdom of the Thrags!’

All around Emily, the horde of Thrags cheered. The young Princess was trying, for all she was worth, to focus on rain, to call it down from the sky, but she couldn’t. It felt like she didn’t have the strength.

Maybe she’d used all of her power getting them here.

Now she was scared she may never get them home.

I wasn’t ready for this! I knew I wasn’t ready for this!

Around Emily’s knees, she heard Wuzzul and Whirligig whimpering in terror.

Emily hoped that John and Samantha were faring better.