Isle of Wysteria: The Monolith Crumbles by Aaron Lee Yeager Page B

“Less than half of what I’d hoped for.”
    Alder looked over his shoulder at the happy delegates. Many people were breaking out in song. Some were already drinking too much and slurring their words.
    “Will it be enough?” Alder wondered.
    Athel forced herself to think positively. “It will have to be.”
    There was nothing more that could be done that day. Exhausted and famished, Athel and Alder could not help but let their guard down a little bit. Athel called for a plate, and enjoyed some of the sumptuous food she had been smelling all day. Alder’s dish was everything one would expect and more.
    Seeing an opening, Nikki walked over and handed the Queen a glass of cherry wine. “I am sorry that my kin from Falmar refused to attend your conference. For what it is worth, I am with you, along with those of us who left the navy.”
    Queen Forsythia accepted the glass graciously. As she took a sip, she noticed Nikki’s concern. “Something bothers you?”
    Nikki looked up. “My Queen, do you really think the Stone Council would drop us all into the sea if they got the chance?”
    Forgetting herself, Athel snickered. “Who do you think we are dealing with? This is the Stone Council. This is not the ‘give you a cupcake council,’ it’s the Stone Council.”
    Nikki stared at her, bug-eyed, as Athel downed the rest of her wine.
    “I know, it can be a hard thing to hear, especially for someone who served them loyally for so long,” she said, handing her the glass back.
    “Um, no, it’s not that. After what they did on Madaringa, I guess it doesn’t seem like such a stretch. It’s just that…I don’t think I’ve ever seen you make a joke before.”
    Athel was embarrassed at her slip up.
    “Oh, she’s very funny,” Alder mentioned as he placed the treaties into sealed boxes. “One time she made me dress up in a female navy uniform and dance for hours.”
    Nikki’s eyes went even wider. “Did she really?”
    Athel tried to compose herself. “You will forgive my indiscretion. I was a different person back then.”
    Nikki eyes filled with esteem. “I would like to have met her. The women of your family are remarkable leaders. Your mother seemed perfect in every way, and you are so much like her. To be honest, it was a little daunting. You both seemed almost too perfect.”
    Nikki smiled warmly. “I am glad to see that you are not so different than I.”
    Athel smiled back.
    They were interrupted by a drunken Duke Relivan, who wobbled up and tried to put his arm around the Queen, but only managed to snag his poufy sleeve on the corner of the back stand. “Queen Forsythia,” he burped. “I have my seal all ready to affix to the treaty, but I notice that the flowers I gave you are not on display in your hall. May I ask where they are?”
    Athel chuckled nervously.
    The air became chilled and whirled about the room, scattering napkins and knocking over table settings. The Mesdans all dropped to the floor in pain, their sensitive hearing overpowered by some gathering noise, beyond the range of the others, but still felt, like a sickly vibration that shook the marrow in one’s bones.
    A corpse light began gathering in the center of the room. Dark chitterings and whispered mewings of the dead and the suffering.
    “What is this?” Queen Forsythia called out over the gale. “I thought I told you to turn the crystal array off.”
    “It is off, my Queen,” Dahoon shouted back.
    The sickly light at the center of the hall took on the shape of a young woman’s head. Her hair was raven black, her cheekbones high and sharp. Her black eyes scanning about as she hovered above the tiny delegates and servants. Athel recognized her instantly.
    “Spirea Sotol,” she whispered.
    “Actually, it’s Queen Sotol now,” she responded, venom in her voice. “And look at you, all grown up and a Queen as well.”
    Queen Sotol looked around at the cowering dignitaries. “And look how your little rebellion has grown. Is