Kilara
She watches as each snowflake melts and freezes to the pane of glass. There was no use trying to see out of it anymore. It had been completely covered in the collection of frozen water droplets. How could something so beautiful be so cold and uninviting? She pulled her newly acquired white fur-lined robes tighter around her. They were as beautiful as the snow, silver embroidery making its way across the silken fabric.
Her name was Queen Kilara, the youngest to ever be named the ruler of Shrya. When the King passed from this world seven days prior, no one in the entire country expected an eighteen year old peasant girl to be chosen as the successor. She was the first woman to be chosen and forty years younger than any other. It scared her.
Her thoughts turned towards the task at hand. She was to introduce a treaty between the Kamaron and Shrya. It would not be an easy feat. The Kamarons were well known for their heavy tempers and barbaric ways. They weren’t exactly a logical race that could be reasoned with. Kilara had no idea how this treaty had any chance of succeeding but Jergus, her royal advisor, had assured her that it would all fall in to place as long as she went along with his lead.
The village came into view and the carriage slowed to a halt. She followed Jergus and the other elders, who had been riding in the carriage before them, to meet the Kamaron King, Trogos. It was all she could do not to cower at the repulsiveness of him. He was the largest of the men she had seen so far, towering over even the tallest of their own men. His teeth were particularly revolting and his stench made her want to gag on every breath she inhaled. Her stomach was clinched with disgust at the grotesque people around her but she stood tall and hid every ounce of her discomfort as best she could.
They followed the King and his men into a hut somewhat larger than the rest in the village. There was a table in the center with fire roasted pig strewn about with bones hanging every which way. Even the food here smelled rotten. There was no place to sit aside from a bed of pillows which the king himself sprawled upon. Kilara wanted to get this over with as fast as possible. Her glance at Jergus received an unfriendly grimace in return.
“Mighty king,” Jergus began bowing,” we have come to finalize the treaty which we’ve been discussing for some time.”
Kilara was surprised by this. She wasn’t aware that there had already been some negotiations prior to this conference.
“We have brought you what you asked,” he continued,” Do we have your allegiance?”
The king’s voice was harsh and slurred,” I am very pleased with the quality of the maiden. Yes, I believe she will serve me nicely. When can my people make residence?”
“As soon as the ceremony is complete.”
Kilara’s brow furrowed in confusion. She was trying to comprehend what they were saying. Maiden? What maiden? Residence? What was going on? This didn’t sound like a treaty at all. It sounded like a barter. This maiden, whoever it may be, in return for a residence. But where?
“Well, well, the girl looks confused, Jergus. Let’s clear it up for her. You my dear,” he said rising and coming towards her,” are to be my new wife. In return we agree not to destroy your countrymen and everything they hold dear. How does that sound?” He sneered down at her, running his mud-caked fingers through her hair.
She froze with terror. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. She turned to look at Jergus her eyes wide and pleading. Let it not be true. Please, let it not be true!
“It is the only way to insure peace between us, my queen.”
“Peace?” she spat back,” you’re handing our country over to them!”
Torgos laughed heartily. Jergus grabbed her by the arm pulling her to face away from the rest. “They threatened to destroy us all. We are no match for their shear numbers, not to mention their smallest male outweighs ours by a hundred pounds,” he hissed. “Would you have us all die instead?”
She stood silently in shock and fear. Jergus softened.” I know it is much we ask of you, but this is the only way. As Queen, it is a sacrifice you must make for your country.”
“Ask? You are not asking me. You are selling me to these ogres!”
“Watch your tongue, wench!” Torgos reached her in one stride, grabbing her face in his massive hand. His face just centimeters from hers, she tried to turn away but his grasp only tightened and held her toward him. “You will be my bride, my beauty, and you will fulfill all the things that a Kamaron queen must!”
He threw her down into the dirt covering her once beautiful robes. She shuddered as the tears began to streak through the dirt now caked on her cheeks. “Please Elders! There must be another way! Please!” Jergus and the seven other elders looked on her with little pity.
“There is no other way,” he said not looking her in the face. Jergus turned and lead the others back to the carriages.
Torgos bound her wrists and threw her on the mound of pillows. As she lay waiting, something in her began to show life. She refused to be victim to such horrors as a kamaron queen endures. After a long time of deliberating within her own mind, she devised a plan. She was sure the king would have her at the coming dinner to show her to his people. At this meal she would conceal a knife stolen from one of the drunk men’s belts. She didn’t know if the knife would be enough to achieve her escape, but if not, it would gain her freedom when used on herself. With a new calm and strength she was able to sleep until she was summoned for the meal.
The king came and unbound her just as the sun was setting. Kilara did not fight or try to run as he led her to the massive fire burning in the center of the village. Every Kamaron had gathered around it. She sat quietly and observed each of the men as they drank, silently choosing her target. An older man sitting not too far from her became drunk quickly and stumbled about, not even aware of his surroundings. When the man came to his king to grovel, Kilara carefully slid the knife from his belt as he leaned into the king blocking his view of her. The knife fit perfectly inside the sleeve of her dress.
She felt comforted by the cold metal resting against her arm as she waited until the meal ended. The fire was doused and the king led her back to the tent. He sneered as he threw her on the pillows once more and began to grope her. She thrust the knife into his arm as hard as she could. He fell to the side roaring in agony as she clambered to her feet and ran.
It didn’t take her long to lose them in the twists and turns of the trees. After some time she no longer could hear them following. Suddenly her foot caught, or slipped, she didn’t know which, and she crashed through the ice below her into the stabbing cold water. She hadn’t even noticed that she was running on a frozen lake and now she was thrashing to pull herself to the surface. The cold was unbearable as she pulled with all her strength.
As she slipped beneath the surface she suddenly felt a warm hand grab her arm. She stopped and felt the warmth spread from the spot to every inch of her body. There in front of her one of the five Magiks smiled through the water. The spirit was beautiful as her pale blue luminescent hair floated around her stunning face. Pathara, the Magik of the Water. She reached her graceful hand out and placed it on Kilara’s chest.
The air rushed into her lungs as if she was a new born baby experiencing the miracle of breath for the first time. Pathara smiled deeply. “You are safe now my child. Although you can breathe the air within the water you can not speak, I have not allowed you that. I must speak to you and have you hear my proposition to you. You are a brave Queen, worthy of such a title. I must tell you that a Magik can only save the life of a mortal for one reason. I give you a choice. I can grant you the power to go back and save your beloved country, but it will come at a price. We Magiks grow weaker and fear we will not exist much longer. We have decided to instill our combined powers within one being. It is the only way to ensure that the people will continue to be protected by the spirits. You are that chosen one, my child. Once the power transforms you, you must live in solitude. It is a enormous task, but if you refuse I must take the breath from your lungs and you will parish from the water’s grip or at the hands of the Kamaron. Do you wish to save your country at such a price?”
Kilara nodded. Pathara put her hands on either side of her face. She felt the power enter her body and settle into her very cells and then it seemed to fall asleep, waiting.
“The power will come to you when it is needed,” the spirit whispered as she disappeared from existence.
Kilara rose gracefully from the same opening she had fallen through. The warmth had not left her and she realized every inch of her was dry. She marveled at the beauty her very skin seemed to hold now. It was as if she was covered in a thin layer of early morning frost. Every way she turned her arm she saw the shimmer of the tiny crystals that seemed to be a part of her now. She was so amazed by it she hadn’t realized the knight on horseback staring at her. She quickly raised the hood of her cloak and bowed her head, praying he hadn’t recognized her. If the Elders discovered her escape from the Kamaron she was doomed to be hung for treason or worse given back to Torgos.
“Have mercy dear Knight, I am but a lowly peasant girl,” she knelt into the snow.
“You are no peasant girl! Even if I hadn’t recognized you as the Queen I would still not believe such a claim from someone who has obviously been touched by the Magiks! Please rise m’lady! I am at your service.” The knight in his gleaming armor then knelt into the snow himself, bowing low in respect.
“I fear your allegiance to me would position you against the Elders, sir. Your allegiance to the crown no longer lies with me.”
“With all do respect, my allegiance to my faith and to righteousness outweighs any oath I have made to the crown. If the Magiks have chosen you worthy and the Elders no longer uphold the righteousness they have promised to, I will choose to lay my life down for one who does.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Knight. Please, what is your name and how have you come to be aware of my being touched by the Magiks? It only just happened.”
“Sephias, m’lady. I was patrolling the road nearby and I saw a glow coming from the lake. When you emerged I knew only the Magiks were responsible. Now, let’s get you to safety.”
“Yes, I must go to the village and warn the people.”
They rode quickly through the frozen woods. As they reached the village, those crowded around the common area fire rose in alarm. A knight and the Queen riding into the village after dark was alarming to them. Kilara wasted no time and began speaking before she had even dismounted.
“Villagers, you are in grave danger! You must gather your belongings and come with us into the woods to hide. The Kamaron are coming to pillage this countryside!”
“You expect us to just leave our homes in the middle of the night because a young girl told us to?” one of the villagers said. Most of the crowd nodded in agreement.
Sephias stepped forward,” Do not forget who you speak to sir! This is the Queen no matter how young she may be!”
“No, Sephias, I understand their concern. I did not expect this to be an easy task,” Kilara nodded to him. She had grown up around these people, how could they put so much faith in someone they had known as a baby? She turned to address the man who spoke.
“Michael, you have known me for many years. Have I ever mislead you in anyway? Have I ever mislead any one of you?” She addressed the growing crowd. They still seemed apprehensive.
Sephias spoke,” This young girl has not only been crowned Queen but also has been touched by the Magiks! Can you refuse to believe one that even the great spirits have put their faith in?”
A murmur ran through the crowd.
“Prove it!” came a yell. The people all joined in the demand to be shown.
Sephias grew anxious,” Look at her!” he gently removed her hood. “Do you not see how her skin shimmers in the moonlight? “
“Maybe she has something on her skin! That doesn’t prove anything!” The crowd grew even more defiant.
Kilara rose her hands in request for silence. She walked calmly to the raging fire and laid her hands on the logs. She showed no sign of pain or discomfort as the flames silenced themselves and disappeared. The logs had been completely frozen over and the crowd fell silent.
“Please, I am here to save you! We must retreat and prepare for the coming battle to reclaim our land! The Magiks are with us do not fear!”
The people gathered what they could and made their way into the woods. For months the people of Shrya lived by the lake of Pathara, her power protecting them from anyone who may wonder too close and discover them. The able trained until not only their bodies were ready but also their minds. The Elders had been left behind to defend their palace for themselves and it was assumed the Kamaron had destroyed them. As time went on, they grew anxious to take back their land. Kilara knew they could wait no longer or the Kamaron would become too accustomed with the land and they would no longer have that to their advantage.
As they marched into battle, they were met by the monstrous Kamaron and their disgusting king. The people of Shrya stood proud and did not shy from the more powerful people before them. Kilara stood before the army of her people. Beside her was the man she had chosen to lead them in training. Sephias had proven to be a leader of great honor and ability.
As the battle cries rang out, the two countries collided in bloodshed. The sounds of steel against steel and flesh being pierced with the resulting wounded cry, rang everywhere. Torgos descended upon Sephias and Kilara as they fought side by side. The knight stepped between his queen and the coming threat. Torgos eagerly attacked him while the two guards flanking him focused on the queen.
Kilara handled them easily, having trained just as hard as the rest. She struck them both down one after the other. As she searched for Sephias and Torgos she saw her countrymen beginning to fall. They were being defeated.
Torgos sneered his menacing smile at her as he held Sephias on his knees, the Kamaron blade at his throat. Kilara felt her heart stop. Sephias had become her confidant, her protector. She would not watch him die. It was then that the dormant power within her erupted to life.
Her hands and knees hit the ground as she felt each tiny scale rip through her skin. Her bones stretched and contorted. Wings burst from her back and unfolded in a brilliant splendor. Her eyes had frozen over with billions of ice crystals, they allowed her to see everything magnified rather than hinder her sight.
She looked down at her hands, covered in tiny white purlescent scales, and watched as they stretched and bent into crystalline talons. Her painful cries were more roar than cry. Suddenly she towered over everyone before her, breathing air as cold as ice. No longer were the people of Shrya losing the battle. Torgos cowered away from Sephias his face stricken in horror. As every Kamaron ran from the ice dragon who moments earlier had been a beautiful young queen, Kilara opened her massive jaws lined with crystal teeth and breathed ice upon every one of them.
None escaped.
None survived.
Kilara turned toward the people she had sacrificed so much for.
“Countrymen, take back your land. Live free and in peace. Sephias, you have the most courage of any man. It is my wish to leave you as the ruler and King of Shrya., if the people so wish.”
The deafening cheers were a resounding “hear, hear” to Kilara’s nomination. “ Rule them well dear friend. I shall always be near” With that she took flight and disappeared among the frozen ice caps of the mountains.
