The Last Queen of Lemuria (15 page)

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"Aleur, we never came to an agreement," shouted Tamil after him.

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"I'll be back in a few days," promised the engineer, and ran up the slope to the road.

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"What's with him?" Asked Greta in surprise. "Is he sick or something?"

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"Of course not. He's just worried about the wedding.”

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"Аhh! Well, that I get," laughed Greta.  "They're a good couple, Yuma and Aleur, don't you think? They're gonna have beautiful children," she said, glancing at her own stomach.  "Our kids will play together, like we once did..."

Chapter 17. Engagement

In the meeting hall, the Council of Lemuria had gathered for an emergency se
ssion.  Twelve people- six men and six women in work clothes took their places at the round table. Their vimanas were standing at the ready against the marble wall. The Elders hadn't even had time to wash up after coming from work. They discussed in muted tones what might happen at the end of the day, on the eve of the festival.  Shonith La called them all straight from work. That must have meant something serious had taken place.

The Queen of Lemuria entered the hall. The members of the Council stood up to meet her. Pale, in a severe dress, with her hair combed smooth, and no jewelry, Yuma was unrecognizable. The Elders looked at one another. Shonith La invited them all to sit with a sweep of his hand.

      - "Respected Councilors!"  He began, "her Majesty would like to make an announcement."

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"As you know, I refused to carry out the will of the Council," Yuma slowly annunciated.

The Councilors looked at each other again. The recent refusal of the Queen to marry Grino had been a catastrophe. It threatened to destroy the ancient union between Groix and Lemuria. But Yuma hadn't wanted to listen. What kind of surprise could she have in store?

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"I have changed my decision. I will not be the wife... of the engineer Aleur," she stammered, stumbling over his name, "I will be marrying the heir of Groix."

The Councilors listened in stunned silence.

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"That's not all," continued the Queen.  "I want to be engaged to Grino as soon as possible, namely, as had been planned, tomorrow at the Festival of the Sun.

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"But your Majesty!"  Objected Council Member Rasha, a gray-haired man with a well defined body, "your Majesty, the Lemurians are expecting your engagement to Aleur tomorrow! How will we explain the change of groom to the subjects?"

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"No need to explain a thing. They will be happy. I know what the people say about me. They consider me a capricious little girl. Which means, one more light-minded act won't surprise them in the slightest.”  Yuma paused.  "I think the Council will be more than capable of running the government until Prince Doro reaches the age of majority. That was all I wanted to say. Forgive me for calling you to convene so hastily.”  She stood up.  "We will see each other tomorrow. Good bye." And Yuma left the meeting hall, leaving the Council Members entirely confused. They dispersed into the halls of the palace, but the Keeper of the Stone sat in the hall alone, holding his head in his hands.  He was thinking about something, breathing heavily and audibly repeating:

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"Poor girl... poor girl..."

She signed the paper canceling the engagement with the engineer, and drank two glasses of sleep-inducing mileoki, hoping it would help her forget until the morning...

The clock rang out eleven. The time was approaching for his date with Yuma. Guilt squeezed Aleur's chest. He couldn't imagine looking into the eyes of his beloved. Tomorrow was the engagement. Tomorrow! How could he possibly be crowned with Yuma, while horribly deceiving her?  The young Lemurian sighed heavily.  No. Today or never! He should go today, on the eve of the day when they were to become groom and bride, to admit it all to her. He would tell her everything He would tell her about how he forgot his defense against sorcerers, and about Guria's enchanted drink, and about his own light-mindedness and weak will... Let her decide whether to forgive him, or refuse him. But he was sure he couldn't live with this any longer. He opened the door resolutely and saw an envelope with the Royal Seal on his doorstep. Running his eyes  over the message, the engineer shook his head in disbelief. He read it for a third time. The page with the seal read: "It is the command of Queen Yuma the First of Lemuria to conclude an engagement tomorrow, on the day of the Festival of the Sun, with the Prince-Heir of Groix, Grino. The earlier announcement of the engagement of the Queen to the engineer Aleur, son of Darin, is hereby canceled." Aleur's heart fell to the floor, then shot up and began pounding in his head. He stuffed the letter into his pocket and ran to the garden.

The almost-full moon illuminated the familiar clearing. The cool wind was carrying the smell of flowers. Cicadas hummed.  The Queen was no where to be found. He ran around the whole garden. Standing a bit at the window of the Queen's bedchamber, he raised his head and saw a light. She's not asleep! Aleur flew up the stairs.

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"Yuma! Open the door, please!"

No answer came.

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"Yuma! Yuma! My beloved! Open the door, I have something to say to you!”  He began to bang with his fist on the locked doors, "open the door, please!"

Tina appeared from the neighboring room in response to the noise.

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“My good engineer, her Majesty is asleep," she whispered.

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"Tina! Tina, tell me what happened!”  Begged Aleur.

The servant lowered her eyes:

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"The Queen announced today at the Council, that she is canceling your engagement, and will be marrying Grino."

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"I know, but what happened?!"  A cold droplet dripped from Aleur's forehead, and hung on his thick eyelash like a tear.

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"I don't know. Her Majesty brought you lunch during the day, when you were working. And despite what she was told, she went alone...  When she came back she looked horrible, wearing a dirty dress... Something happened to her in the forest. She didn't say anything, but she brought the lunch back... Afterward, she deigned to convene the Council..." the more Tina said, the more Aleur grew pale.

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“My God! She saw! She saw..." he leaned towards the wall.  "I must speak with her! I must!" And he began to knock on the door again.   "Yuma! My beloved!  Open the door! I can explain everything!"

No sound came from the bedchamber. The proud Queen Yuma, barefoot, in a robe with disheveled hair was silently crying behind the door.

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"A messenger from Lemuria has arrived, Your Majesty!" Announced a butler to Gorr.

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"What has happened now? Why so late," growled Gorr, climbing out of bed and putting on his robe.  "Enter."

A young Lemurian man came into the room with a letter, bound with the Queen's seal.  The King of Groix barely came up to the messenger's shoulder.

Gorr mentally cursed. “I feel like a cockroach next to these Lemurian titans.”

- "Give me the papers," ordered Gorr.  "Let's hope you've brought good news.”

After he unfolded the letter, Gorr laughed. "Ah! That damned girl! I knew it!"  And after looking suspiciously at the messenger from top to bottom, he said, "go, say that we will be attending the Festival. Make sure for Shonith La to take care of the Stone! The messenger  bowed in silence and left.

Gorr read the message for a third time, rubbing his hands together. “She finally agreed. What a capricious little girl! The race of the sorcerers had made itself felt.  She's quite stubborn and headstrong.  It's a shame to be mixing the blood of close relatives, but that's how it happened- Lemuria has no other princesses. We must make due with a wedding between my own children, though from different wives.” Gorr clapped his hands. A servant appeared.

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“Go tell the members of the royal family. Tomorrow we'll be going to Lemuria for the Festival of the Sun. And call for Prince Grino.”

The servant disappeared. After a few minutes, the Prince appeared at the door in a nightcap and gown.

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"You called, father? What happened? I was already in bed," snuffled Grino.

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"Tomorrow you are to become the groom of Queen Yuma."

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"I must have misheard. You said that the engagement is canceled, and she will marry one of her own,"  snickered the Prince.

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"She has changed her mind. A messenger brought this invitation to the Festival and a contract for your engagement."

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“What wonderful news!"  exclaimed Grino in joy, "absolutely worth crawling out of my warm bed."

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"I suppose you were in bed alone, right?  You haven't grabbed yourself another servant-girl, have you?" Squinted Gorr.

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"What are you talking about, your Majesty?"

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"Good, good! But remember! None of that after the engagement until after the wedding. Your bride will live here, in Groix until the wedding. So, in other words, no servant-girls! After you're married, do as you wish."  Said the King.  "Go. And don't get too worked up about this at night. We've got a hard day ahead of us tomorrow. We will be spending a few hours near the Stone. So, make sure to get a good  night's sleep.

Yala was very worried. Gorr had agreed to take her to Olmolungring! For the first time in twenty years she would be returning to the house where she was born! She will see her children- Yuma and Doro!  Yala hadn't even dared to dream of such a thing!

Gorr wasn't a bad husband, he just loved her in his own way, he often made her gifts and spent three times more time with her than with his other wives. But the King of Groix had always refused her pleas to visit Lemuria. The poor Yala suffered from not seeing her son and daughter. They were taken away right after birth and raised in the family of Shonith La. Since then, Yala had only heard about her children through rumors- many women like to spy on the Lemurian palace through their crystal balls for fun. But Yala had no such crystal ball. She and sorcery did not get along. But then, a great surprise, the engagement of Grino and Yuma. And Yala was allowed to be present. She felt conflicted. She was glad  that she was finally seeing her children. And the thought that Yuma would be moving to Groix warmed her heart. If only it wasn't for Grino. The Prince was a particularly horrible scoundrel and lech.

Guria dressed with special care. She rarely spent so much time in front of a mirror. Because she was already the most beautiful woman in Groix, even if she never combed her hair, and walked around with it matted. The whole population of the Kingdom, with the exception of Yala, couldn't hold a candle to her.  But on this day, she would have to be looking her best. She had to outshine all the beauties of Olmolungring.  Only stupid people think that women try to be pretty to impress men. Nonsense! A woman's envy is an evil whispering voice from behind her back, combined with confidence in their own superiority- this is the most important force in female attractiveness. Guria smiled dreamily. Aleur would be there.  And Yuma! She looked at her own reflection, taking in her beauty. The white dress contrasted well with her tan skin. Her smoothed out curls gave her an innocent look. Only her eyes gave away her true nature- black with a mysterious shimmer, without pupils.

Guria hurried into the yard, where the royal family had already gathered. Gorr, all his wives, children and servants were already sitting in the flying machine. The Princess jumped in to the huge iron ball- the flüg. The servant closed the door. At that second, the iron monstrosity groaned, let out a puff of smoke, and flapped off into the air.

In Olmolungring, the Festival was reaching a climax. The living chain of  people was pulling itself into the palace, leaving out the other door, and scattering out in a colorful throng of citizens. The streets and city squares were bursting with  long tables filled with wonderful dishes. The Lemurians bustled about- their children ran, and songs were heard, interspersed with joyful voices. The great choir procession was already nearing its end, the last citizens who had not gotten to touch the Chintamani and see the Queen hurried to fulfill their custom. There had been rumors flying all day that Yuma had canceled her engagement to the engineer Aleur, and would be marrying a sorcerer. The surprised townspeople were trying to figure out this unexpected change as they passed through the Pink Hall and looked in her Majesty's eyes, though in secret. The Queen seemed wonderful and calm, she smiled, greeting her subjects. An attentive eye would have noticed her abnormal pallor, and circles under her eyes. But the people were too distracted by their beloved festival to seriously consider the personal dealings of the Queen. They were simply satisfied that Yuma had reconsidered, and would be fulfilling her obligations in giving her hand to the heir of Groix.