The Three Furies (Erec Rex) by Kaza Kingsley Page A

had woken her.
    A few seconds later, a thin wooden door appeared in the wall. Out of it strode a tall, beautiful woman with dark, flowing hair. Her dress was almost scalelike: a shimmering aqua that draped her slender figure with greens and shadows that seemed to slink through the material. On her head sat a gleaming silver crown, and she held her scepter, which looked very much like the king's, in her hand.
    Erec noticed the three dark, thin lines under each of her eyes. They made her look tired, but he recognized them as the same Instagills he had in his own wrists. With them he could breathe underwater. He and Bethany had won them in Queen Posey's Sea Search contest.
    At the same moment, a crowd of people appeared at the window. A hand was pointing in, then waving, and people were peering in. Some huge objects whizzed through the sky toward the window--at first they looked like humongous birds. As they landed in the grass, Erec could see that they were people flying, likely with the aid of magical heli powder.
    The queen rushed to her brother's side and put a hand on his
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    forehead. "Oh, dear Piter. Look at you." She hugged him and rested her scepter over his blanket.
    The king's eyes slowly opened. "I'm feeling much better already, Posey. Thank you for coming."
    The queen smiled. "You just needed a sister's help." She startled when fists began to pound on the window. "Who is that?"
    "I think they work with President Inkle at the Green House," Erec said. "One of those guys was looking in the windows earlier today. He wanted to arrest me for just being here."
    "Maybe he recognized you, young sir." Jam frowned. "That could be why he's back--to hand you over to Baskania."
    Queen Posey looked at the men through the window. "Have they no respect? I'll take care of them for you."
    Her chin made a quick jerk and they disappeared. Then she tapped her scepter on the floor once.
    "What happened?" Erec looked out of the window. The men were standing fifty yards away now.
    "I put a water wall around the house and gardens," she said calmly. "It will keep everyone away."
    Erec could not see the thin stream of water until one of the men tried to step over it. A huge wave shot up from the earth, knocking him up into the air, then flat on his back.
    The queen eyed Erec up and down. She slowly said, "Erec Rex. I just can't believe it's really you. I'm so glad you're alive."
    Suddenly Erec made a strange connection: Queen Posey was his aunt. He had a real aunt, and she was here right now. He bit his lip, wondering if he should give her a hug, or shake her hand.
    They stared at each other until finally Queen Posey grabbed Erec and gave him a huge squeeze. "Erec. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you before."
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    "Thanks, Queen Posey. Should I call you . . . Queen Posey, then?"
    "Nonsense. Call me Aunt Posey. Just like you once did." She asked the king, "Do you want me to move your house into Ashona?"
    "No, dear. It needs to stay where it is for now. I'm afraid I won't be able to guard it myself, however. If I'm here without the scepter much longer, I'll just fade away." He chuckled sadly.
    "Well, let's take care of you," Posey said firmly. "No worries. The house can be dealt with later. I'll take you to visit with me awhile. Erec, would you like to come too? And you . . ."
    "Jam Crinklecut, your highness." Jam bowed low. "Thank you so graciously for coming to help so soon."
    "Of course. Jam, you saved my brother's life. You are welcome in my kingdom anytime. And Erec, why don't you come spend time with us? I'd love to get to know my nephew better."
    Erec tried to smile. "That would be great, but we need to help my friend Bethany. She's been captured."
    The king raised his eyebrows, and Erec told him what had happened with the Fates.
    King Piter sat up on the couch, puzzled. "The man with the magnet? I have no idea who that could be. Maybe I should come with you. If I had my old scepter back . . ." His voice trailed off and he looked sheepish.