The Unicorn Queen, The Samurai & The Wizard Part 2

DeviantArt Cred: Averte

Read Part 1 of this Story Here

A shiver shot down his spine and—BOOOOOOM!!!!!!

In a flash, the barn roof exploded and lightning surged through it, hitting Hocirne head on. All his world turned white and bright hot. He was consumed by it.

He un-scrunched his eyelids when his body didn't feel like it was being burned alive. A pure white room greeted him, it was expansive and ominous. 

"Hello son."

Hocirne retreated in horror, "F-Father! How can this be?"

A man stepped forward as if from a fold in the white, his smile broadened causing little crinkle lines on the side of each of his eyes. He appeared to be in the same clothing as he was when Hocirne last saw him. Tattered dark green shirt, torn brown pants with a faded scarf around his neck. 

"The great wizard of Old, thought it best if I met with you and explained things, such as they are. But first are you just going to stand there or are you going to give a father a long lost hug?"

Hocirne flung himself into his father's strong and farm study arms. He couldn't believe his luck, two beautiful maidens coming to revealing a magical destiny and seeing his father all in one day. Surely this cannot be His life. "Wait, explain what things?"

His father put Hocirne in front of him, steadying his hands on his shoulders. He appraised his son, "You've grown to a mighty fine young man my boy, I am so proud of you." 

Hocirne's ear started to heat up. "Father, I haven't done anything worth being proud of." 

"Cobblewalsh, you've taken care of your mother and the farm and dreamed of a life filled with adventure. I couldn't be more proud." His father cleared his throat and nodded to an imaginary force. "Right then, son we don't have much time. You have been chosen to become the new Wizard of the North. A savior for some, a nightmare for others. You must take heed, do not use the power as a crutch and never give more than the people deserve. A path has been laid out, you must promise me son. Promise me to follow the path. The wizard of Old was quite adamant on this."

Hocirne sighed deeply, so many rules and he hasn't even started being a wizard yet. "I promise father, but please don't go, can't you come with me?"

The entire room shook and a thunderous roar could be heard. His father looked unto him with sad eyes, "Such things are forbidden my boy, it would throw off the balance between life and death. Now you must go, stay too long here and you may not never return."

A tugging sensation appeared in his gut before he could protest, he was pulled back into his place in the center of the barn. 

A single tear trailed down his cheek.

He smelled burnt ozone all around him and hurried out to help the maidens up as they were thrown from him. He looked up and palmed his face at the destruction. "Mother is going to kill me."

"What happened? Is he a wizard now?" Ari asked as she frown in frustration.

Eru looked unto him with a sparkle in her eye, she seemed to know alot more than she was letting on. "I am unsure, well Hocirne, how do you feel?"

Yes, how did he feel? None of this morning chores reflected in his muscles or his bones, his mind felt pristinely clear, thoughts no longer jumbled. But there was something else too, something had taken root deep within him. He closed his eyes to focus on it, reach for it. "I feel it, it's there."

Ari huffed out a breath, "Finally! That took forever, let's get moving then."

"No, wait, Hocirne I have a book of spells in my travel sack. It will help you." Eri moved to reach for the sack but halted when she marveled as Hocirne hand begin to glow a bright white & yellow light.

DeviantArt Cred: Djsanka 

"First, we need to go to the village of Maca, it's 30 leagues from here and I feel it calling to me or rather the people calling out. And we can't go there looking this, not as clear outsiders." Hocirne waved out his glowing hand, touching the power within him and bringing to forethought, his intentions. Their clothes were suddenly changed, into the styles he had seen on his one visit to Maca. 

Ari looked down, appalled at the state of her dress, "This is absurd, I will not be seen in this I tell you. I will not."

A palm touched his, soft and delicate, sending a shiver through his whole body. Eru had taken his hand to study it in wonder. "How-How ever did you do that? I was advised that the wizard would need spells to do such things?"

Hocirne retracted his palm, feeling his ears heat up. Being this close to her, seeing the flakes of golden within her emerald eyes, unnerved him. "I uh, I don't know exactly how I did it but I was never one for the rules. I guess I just don't believe they have power over me."

***

Their horses halted at the entrance to Maca, chaos was the only word to describe the scene before them. Houses ablaze, people running in terror, children left crying and a dragon. A massively red scaled dragon sailed through the smoke filled sky. It's fury echoing in the thunderous roars it bellowed out. The very same roar he had heard in his vision. This must be what he was sensing.

DeviantArt Cred: Sky Sealer

Ari gripped at his arm, "What the bloody hell is that thing?"

"Why it's a dragon ofcourse, and we're going to talk to her." Eru smiled broadly like she knew this was going to be the outcome all along.

"Let's tend to the villagers first. The need to know that the wizard is back." Hocirne concentrated and out stretched his hands above his head. A blast of white energy shot to the sky and as it reached a peak, crescendoed out in an arc around the village. Invisible, but still there. "There, that should keep them safe for the time being. Shall we?" He gestured out to the maidens. 

Eru stood out in the open field, under the swirling Dragon without so much as a care in the world. As if summoning it, the massive beast came barreling to the earth before her. It halted before them, fiery plumes still etching at the sides of its mouth.

"The poor thing has lost her baby," Eru said, now caressing the sides of dragon's blood red scales. 

Hocirne looked on, flabbergasted. "You can speak to it - I mean her?"

"Yes. Her name is Brianna. Here come." Eru reached for his hand, but Hocirne avoided the contact and instead placed his own hand upon Brianna's scales. Eru's voice took a whisper to his ear, "Feel her rhythm. Feel her power. Yes, there. Now listen to her speak."

Hocirne's eyes popped open, "I can hear her!" He exclaimed in wonder. 

"Eru please this doesn't make any sense. We did not come here to rescue some infant beast. We came here to find the Wizard so he can help me find Hterag."

"Wait, how do you know Hterag your majesty?" Hocirne asked now perplexed. 

The queen's eyes lit up, "You've known Hterag in this land?"

"Yes, he's my uncle."

***

Brianna scoured the skies above them as they raced through the land to find her baby dragon. Hocirne could tell that in their silence Ari and him were both dealing with the revelation. The revelation that Hterag, her lost love was his long lost uncle. His father and uncle had had a huge falling out when Hterag wanted nothing to do with the farm after their parents passing. Hocirne had thought of his uncle as a gallant hero. Out accomplishing great deeds and going on fantastical adventures. Never could he have imagined that his uncle would open a portal to another realm, fall in love with a queen and then get himself captured by this usurper Toad person. He vowed that he would do all in his power to save his uncle and reunite the queen with him. 

An arrow whizzed past his head as Brianna shouted from above that she sensed her baby nearby. Men appeared from behind the trees, dirty and sneering, all of them. A dozen of them notched their arrows when a cry erupted from the forest behind them. The wailing touched at his hurt, the baby dragon was in pain. A darkness rumbled from the earth below him and he turned to see a murderous look on Eru's face. She jumped off her horse as the arrows sailed through the air, surely to hit them should it land. Eru's unwrapped her sleeves so that they overtook her hands. Just as the arrows were about to land upon them, she began the most beautifully enthralling dance Hocirne ever had the honor of seeing. Using her flowing sleeves, she changed the directory of every arrow before her. They all hit to ground around them. The barbarians looked at a loss, unsure of what to do next. 

The rumbling in the earth began again and he knew the dance was over, "You sniveling sacks of pigs. I will make you pay for ever having touched a scale on the poor creature."

A gust of wind blew out in her wake as she flew out at the men with astonishing speed. Eru didn't even draw her katana, only using her hands she rendered each one of the barbarians either unconscious or dead. Deadly hands, twisting necks and bloodying her opponents. He could not imagine that they were the same that touched his palm not so long ago. 

The baby dragon was found deep within the Maca forest with two barbarians stationed to guard him. Hocirne pushed out his palms and the men were hurtling into breaking trees. Brianna was once more reunited with her kin. She nuzzled at the little dark blue scaled dragon. He huffed at her affections. 

"There, now that we've saved this lot. Can we please get back to our mission?" Ari said warming her hands over the fire. 

"I can't just leave, I need to talk to my mother about all of this." Hocirne gestured out in dramatic fashion. "But I promise you, your majesty, I will help you find my uncle. He is family and family is everything to me."

DeviantArt Cred: Perlamarina

***

"No, no this cannot be." Hocirne looked out in horror at the scene before him. A infantry of armor clad men stood on steads and the very ground he'd called home for so very long. His mother was among them, being held firm by a soldier with no face to be seen. 

"You will hand over the wizard to us now. He is to serve in my queen's army. That is his purpose." The no faced man commanded. 

"What? Who the hell is your bloody queen? Bring her forth so that we may have words." Ari thundered forward with balled up fists. Eru halted her. 

"Please, please just don't hurt my mother." Hocirne pleaded, with no hope in sight. He could try his magic but the no faced man seemed to be in no gaming mood. A quick thrust from that blade in his hand and it would be all over. 

"You have no say in this outcome wizard. It is your protectors who must decide before my queen orders any further bloodshed."

Eru stepped out, "What do you mean further bloodshed? This is the Wizard of the North. None are higher. You will pay heed soldier boy."

The other soldiers laughed and the no faced man shouted for quiet, "That title holds no honor any longer Gaijin. My queen rules over these lands now and-" He broke of as a whisper appeared on the wind.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Eru screamed out as she picked up whisper on the winds. But it was too late. The blade had already been thrust into Hocirne's mother.

Brianna bellowed from above and came soaring down in anger. Worse still was the sight of her shaking the earth as she crumbled. The soldiers had been ready for this, their leader had pulled out a ruby. Deep and blood red, the color of Brianna. Before Eru could move, the soldier was on the dragon. Stabbing her through the heart with a golden sword. 

He touched at her, "Forgive me Brianna... thank you for your sacrifice."

The baby dragon wailed beside them and Eru did all she could to hold him back. She look out at Hocirne, he had sunk to his knees. Like them, unable to process what had just happened. Obviously more so. Her heart broke for him.

A melody broke through the chaos, the sweetest sound she had ever heard. It was Ari! She was singing. Her words, her tone were utterly captivating. Eru could feel the power within them. It resonated with her very soul, swaying her. And then all the world around her faded.

***

Eru was thrown awake by the thrusts of Ari, a massive storm out around them. She screamed through the torrent of rain, wind and thunder. Eru sat up groggily as the scene unfolded before her. Trees and even boulders were being uprooted by the sheer force of the storm as it raged about. At the center of it, was Hocirne. Again on his knees but now in pain. She could hear his cries of sorrow and despair. 

"I can't go near him! His magic is out of control!" Ari shouted beside her. 

"Well, what did you expect? The boy did just lose his mother." A voice came from behind that startled them. A white-bearded man appeared as if through a fold in the very storm. 

"OH right, who the bloody hell is this now?" Ari fumed

"What is it you call it? Ah yes, I suppose my fast-tongued name would be Merlin. I was apprentice to the Great Wizard of Old and I am here for the boy." Merlin stood there smiling serenely, the fury of the storm that battered at Eru and Ari, seemed to not bother him at all. He waved out a hand and the storm seemed to dissipate around them, energy began to glow and they were warmed.

"Where will you take him?" Eru asked in concern. 

"He must go where my master went. He must walk the path laid out for him. His 400-year journey must be-"

"400 years! Have you lost your mind old man? We cannot wait that long." Ari exclaimed balling up her fists.

"Worry not my child, I sense the urgency of your words. Time moves differently for us wizards. He will be returned unto thee within a fortnight."

Eru looked back at Hocirne, magic bolts of energy shooting out from him as he clutched at his sides. The pain of his loss was now uncontrollable and physically tormenting him. "He shouldn't have to go through this. I failed him."

Merlin crouched down and cupped her chin, "Hmmm you feel more deeply than most, don't you my young samurai. He and thee are connected. A wizard and his guardian, such shall it be as it has ever been. I fear the darkness of this loss will corrupt him should he stay here, he must journey with me or alas his terrible pain will become all that he knows."

Eru sighed deeply, an incredible weight now reflected in her shoulders. "Please bring him back to me."

Merlin nodded and with that, he snapped his fingers, taking Hocirne and the storm with him.

Unicorn Queen Cred: iluvfaeries

***

Authors Note

While joking with some great friends, the basis for this story was formed. I wrote out Part 1 as a test version to see how it would all play out.

Hope you enjoyed Part 2!

Here's the Origin stories of Eru & Ari respectively.
Happy reading.

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

The Unicorn Queen: Ari's Origin

Art Cred: Cassarica Nadas

Read Part 1 of this Story Here

The bolt of lightning that exploded through the roof of the barn had rocketed her of her feet and thrown her mind into the past. Into the memories that brought her to this moment…

Acirassac, the fifth of her name, was the only blooded daughter of king and queen Neris. A descendant of Asoscia, the prodigious warrior queen who battled the 5 High demons during the Iron Wars to bring peace to the land of Unakite. As a princess she lived her days in the castle above the city that hung in the salmon clouds over the highest mountain.

Living in a castle may sound like a pleasant life but Ari's life seemed to be controlled by one thing only, her destiny to become queen. From dusk till dawn she studied hard to become a great leader like her father and her ancestors before him. She felt trapped behind the stone castle walls and whenever she looked over at the city she longed for the unknown beyond the horizon.

When Ari's parents mysteriously disappeared within the Ivy forests of Nantak, she was in despair but she quickly had to pull herself together and accept her responsibilities to one day be queen. Her dreams of adventure slowly faded away as she upheld her royal duties to make her parents proud in their absence.

Everything she had to do was either written in the ancient scrolls or decided upon by the royal counsel. Until her parents were found she had to do what she was told by the 6 old men who sat around a table and discussed politics and read scrolls all day. The head of this counsel was Zopar, the toad. He was further appointed guardian of Unakite until Ari fully claimed her throne. Zopar towered over the elderly men, with crooked and bushy eyebrows that seemed to always emphasize his disdain. He reeked of the lake that birthed him.

She wasn't fond of Zopar, he was awful. He was sly and cunning in nature and whenever she questioned him about her parent’s disappearance and what was being done to find them, all he said was "A princess does not concern herself with such things, the counsel takes care of it." Ari couldn't just stand back and do nothing, but what could she do?

She would often look at the tapestry which hung in the throne room depicting the epic battle between Asoscia and the 5 High demons. She wanted to be like her, strong and brave. She wanted to find her parents, she wanted to be a hero. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt helpless, she looked at the tapestry and shouted "I'll never be like you, the great Asoscia, Queen of Unakite!" Suddenly she heard a rumble like thunder, the air started to swirl lifting objects as it blew across the room while the tapestry started to glow.

The light was bright and blinded Ari for a few seconds. She was petrified as she saw a shadow come towards her from the tapestry. She didn't know what was going on but her instincts took over as she summoned the power within. The incantation spilled from her lips "Zezora Entarantis" and the shadow was lifted off the ground, immobilized and placed in front of her.

"Who are you?!" She demand as she looked at the being that lay before her. The shadow wore a long grey hooded robe and half its face was covered by cloth, that is when she noticed the creature’s eyes. They were striking yet calm, a pool of grey and green with specs of hazel stared back at her. Again she asked "Who are you?"

The creature spoke, in a deep voice "I am Hterag, son of Lien. I reign from the Five Pointed Kingdoms."

The Mortal Realm, Ari thought, she had heard stories of the realm, whispers in the village. She never thought it was real. "What are you? What do you want? Why are you here?" she probed.

Hterag squinted his eyes to get a better look at her, " Do you mind letting me down? It's not very welcoming of you, do you always do this to your guests? "

Ari grimaced at him "You are no guest, I did not invite you."

"Well you sure look like her, the one in the picture. Why don't you let me down so we can talk, I'm starting to get a stitch in my side which is rather uncomfortable."

"Asoscia?" Ari could only stare in the face of his bold statement. She hesitated yet there was something about this creature that made her feel safe. "I will let you down, as long as you give me the answers I require."

With a nod of her head Ari loosened her hold on Hterag. "That's much better," Hterag said as he stood up, stretching his back "What a trip! I'm starving." He lifted the hood off his head revealing long ginger hair tied into a pony tail. As he stepped forward he pulled the cloth from his mouth and spoke "I am Hterag. A human mage dedicated to opening portal through the Gaelic tapestry in my library."

Ari had never seen or heard of such a creature, yes there were stories of them but nothing like what she was witnessing right in front of her eyes. His skin was soft and pale and his bones seemed fragile.

Hterag waved his hands pointing to the tapestry on the wall "You really do bare a striking resemblance to her!"

"That is Asoscia, my ancestor, she walked this land many centuries ago and brought peace to the people. I am not who you seek."

Hterag moved closer "So you mean to tell me that the woman there summoned me from beyond the grave?" Suddenly he was thrown to the floor and felt excruciating pain.

Ari was above him, fire in her eyes, "You do not speak of the Great Asoscia with such vulgarity, human."

"Okay, Okay, relax, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry."

"Tell me exactly why you are here, human!" Ari demanded.

"While I was working on my gateway spells, I managed to tear an entryway to another realm. Through the tear came a female voice. I was told to walk through it and offer assistance to the one beyond the portal. When I asked the voice who it was, it told me that she would be the only salvation for all the know realms. Being the dashing & courageous man that I am I took on the quest. That is how & when I landed up here. She didn't tell me I was going to be met with some pugnacious tart."

Ari picked Hterag up his legs dangling in the air she thought for a moment, "Could this be true did the Great Asoscia send this creature to help me save my parents?" Ari looked at him and into his eyes once again, she saw the pool of green and grey with hazel specs that glittered in the candle light, she felt something inside her, something different, a calming and a longing to know more about this stranger. She gently placed him down and introduced herself. "I am princess Acirassac, of Ukanite."

"My parents have been missing in the Ivy forests of Nantak for the past year, no one knows what have become of them. Their guards watched as the ground opened up and swallowed them, there was nothing they could do as a force field surrounded my parents" Ari held back her tears, careful not show any weakness in the face of this mortal. “The royal counsel believes they have been trapped but no one has been able to find out where and no one seems to care. I need to find them but unfortunately I don't know how-

Hterag suddenly collapsed to the silkwood floor, convulsing in agony. Without caution, Ari fell to her knees in worry. She gently rubbed rhythmic circles over his back in an attempt to ease his suffering. When he calmed enough, he looked at her in alarm.

“What in the seven gypsies was that about?”

Ari offered a sad smile, her senses already picking up on the truth of the matter. “Your mortal body cannot survive this realm. Too soon, your magic will wane and you will pass to great beyond.”

She expected the human to return to his lands that very moment, what she did not expect was his taking of her hand and the impossible sincerity within in his eyes as he spoke, “I am beholden to thee.” Her breath caught, he smiled broadly. “Until we find your parents that is.”

***

Art Cred: Cassarica Nadas

In the days that followed, Ari’s fascination with the mage only grew in magnitude. Sure at times he drove her to all manner of madness but there was something about his determination that, that touched her. He worked long hours through night & day to find a way to track her parents. The trouble was that Unakite’s apothecary stocked very different materials than he was accustomed to. Yet even in this adversity Hterag, in all his wonder, had still found a way to make it all work.

The spell led them to the Orc lands of Drunkden, a most heinous of places that breathed a poisonous bog from its many swamps. Poor Hterag’s lungs burned in agony, it was all Ari could do to shield his glorious body from the harmful toxins. She could not stilt the terrible stench, though. Not long, they happened upon a cave that seemed to have been carved out by the very Rock Giants themselves. Ari silently admonished herself for bringing only a mortal guide on this journey. The cave opened in expected darkness, she breathed into a fist and released her hold whispering the ancient incantation for ‘light’. Resplendent wisps of fire floated in the air around them, illuminating the cavern within.

Ari gasped for what she saw before her. Zopar! Resting on a rock at the far end as if on a throne. His smirk casting sinister shadows upon his face. Hterag stepped in front of Ari in a protective stance. How she admired this mortal’s resolve, standing between her & the toad who once laid waste to an entire army with only the snap of his greasy green fingers.

“My, my little unicorn. How far you have strayed from your chosen path. Prancing around with this human filth & leaving the castle without any guard. Tsk Tsk Tsk.”

“What are you doing here Zopar? Where are my parents?” Ari could feel the energy waves radiate from her now, she was ready to do whatever it took to get answers from this devious toad.

Zopar’s face flashed in anger, in one motion he leaped of the rock in an arch through the air. He landed not two inches from Hterag’s face. Completely ignoring the mage, his bushy eyebrows squinted at her. “Do not demand from me you infidel. I tortured those traitors and when they no longer had any information of use to me, they were silenced.”

Ari’s already fragile heart, broke right then. Her knees gave way and she crumpled to the damp earth of the cave.

Hterag bellowed and launched a fireball right at the toad’s face, an explosion rang out in the cave. But when the smoke cleared Zopar’s face remained unblemished. Two massive blue skinned Orcs stepped out from the darkness, seizing Hterag by his arms. He grunted from the force of their brutish hands.

Zopar looked down at Ari in glee, “Come now child, surely you realize this by now. My plan all along. It was not your precious Asoscia that summoned this filth to our lands but I. I alone knew of your secret longings of a life filled with adventure. It was more than I could have hoped for that you fall in love with this whelp along the way.”

His words rang true within her core, she could not deny it. She had hopelessly fallen in love with the human mage but he didn’t need to know that right at this very moment. Surely he would tease her endlessly. First, she had to get them out of here.

As if reading her thoughts, Zopar snapped his greasy fingers and the entirety of the cave shook from the force of his spell. The air crackled with sparks of energy and a tear in space appeared right behind her.

The last thing she saw was Hterag’s face as he shouted for her.

The last thing she felt was a pull at her mid-section and then…falling…endless falling into parts unknown.

*******************

Authors Note

While joking with some great friends, the basis for this story was formed. Part 1 of this story can be found here. 

We got to talking & the girls started writing their own versions of the how the characters came to be. 

This awesome Origin/Background story on the Character Acirassac, was brought to you by Cassarica Nadas of the Amazeblog

Such amazing talent here, I couldn't wait to share it with you all.
Thank you Cass for sharing your writing with us!

Stay tuned, as this weekend I'll be featuring "The Samurai: Eru's Origin"

Part 2 of "The Unicorn Queen, The Samurai & The Wizard" will be posted next week, which continues where the storyline left off.

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres

The Unicorn Queen, The Samurai & The Wizard

A lone samurai is perched upon the rafters of the tavern, resting her body after a long days trek through the Marshlands. She had volunteered to escort a couple & their newborn through the treacherous swamp to the new city of Thorumdawn. They were reluctant at first, no doubt hearing the stories of the “Green-Haired Gaijin”. Urgh, “Gaijin”, the foreigner. She hated that word with all her being, yet the whisperers and busy-bodies insisted on calling her that all her life. The samurai watched in boredom as the locals meandered about the tavern, in drunken banter & flushed cheeks. Until a new arrival, caught her attention. By the looks of it, a woman, covered from head to toe in an obsidian cloak. Clearly she wanted to avoid attention at all cost, little did she know that it was exactly the thing that would attract attention.

The samurai frowned in concern, the men at this tavern were notoriously filthy beasts around women. One of those beasts had cleared through the crowd, fumbling along the way in her direction. He was flanked by three other putrid males, no doubt delighted to be following the beast. The new arrival sensed their approach and straightened her posture. Words were spoken and before the samurai knew it, the beast had flashed out a backhand. The woman went sprawling to the ground, her hood flopped behind her, revealing… The samurai’s heart thudded with glorious purpose as she leaped off the rafters, arriving on the group in no time. She lashed out an open palm and took out the first male face first, into the ground. While still crouched, she released a swash-buckling lower round house kick that knocked out the other two males’ legs right from under them. On the turn, she rotated her open palm into a sky-ward rocket that slammed into the beast’s chin. His body left the earth and landed noisily into a wooden table, splinters and broken wood, crashing all around his hefty weight. No, she would not dare tarnish her beloved katana on the likes of them.

Without missing a step, she held out her hand to the new arrival. Looking down, her heart beat quickened yet again. The new arrival had luscious, long locks of pink hair!

Is she like me? Have I finally found my clan? The samurai thought, so loudly, it was a roar within her mind.

“I am not what you seek warrior.” The new arrival said as if reading her very thoughts.

The samurai’s chest deflated, her face visibly strewn by the news. She quickly recovered as was her custom & bowed deeply. “Forgive my assumption, I am named as Eiramus. Eru, in fast-tongue.”

The new arrival regarded her apprehensively as if this greeting had been lost on her. She reached out a delicate hand and touched at her forehead. “Allocante, I am named as Acirassa-“ She frowned at something. “I do not have a name in fast-tongue.”

Eru smiled broadly, “That would be Ari, yes, Ari & Eru. What a pair we shall be to behold. What brings you to this fair dump of a place?”

Ari gestured for Eru to follow her outside the tavern, away from prying ears. “I apologize for the secrecy, I have just not received the best of treatment since arriving to this strange, strange land.”

Ari’s gait seemed awkward as she walked, as if uncomfortable in her own shoes. “Oh? Where do you reign from then? Surely you must be from one of the kingdoms.” Eru said regarding Ari’s regal cadence.

Ari’s expression darkened then, she paced in that awkward way for a bit. Eru touched her arm to halt her steps. It was a gentle touch, to convey sincerity. Ari studied Eru’s eyes before saying, “I am not of any of your known kingdoms. I have been banished to this accursed land for breaking the ultimate taboo.” She paused to look out into the orange set sky, probably recounting the troubling memories. She sighed deeply. “I fell in love with a human male and for my punishment, the Toad King in all his cruelty devised a most horrid exchange. I would be forced to live out my days here while my beloved would be locked away in his dungeon, to perish away. For he cannot survive in my land & I cannot in his.” She clutched at her face, now filled with anguish. “Oh my poor Hterag, this is all my fault.”

Eru snatched the woman up in her arms, gently patting the pink locks of hair. The gesture seemed so natural, as if they had been accustomed to it for years. “Shhh, it’s not your fault. Loving someone cannot and will not ever be a death sentence. Not so long as I have breath in my breast.”

Ari sniffled and caught herself, she straightened out and titled her chin up. “You’re right, a queen does not falter. She fights for freedom, equality & peace. I must get my Hterag back from that monster. At any cost. I must.”

“You’re a queen?” Eru’s jaw dropped. She had never been in the presence of a queen before but did have the common sense to bow, deeply, yet again. Ari made a “tsk” sound.

“No need for such formalities, not after all the kindness you have afforded me. But how ever shall we get to my land and save Hterag?”

“Oh! I know!” Eru exclaimed in delight. Seeing Ari’s confusion, she explained “We shall visit the most powerful Wizard in all the pointed kingdoms.”

A time later, they were on the horses, leaving a trail of dusted wind in their wake as they galloped on towards the isolated farm atop the jagged cliff line that Eru had heard about in passing. The sky dimmed as the sun began it’s descent into the horizon.

****

Art Supplied by Amsnorth

“Hocirne! Hocirne! Have you finished your chores?” His mother fumed, hands on hip, as she entered the barn. Hocirne couldn’t be bothered. He was in the middle of a riveting adventure between a silver knight and his golden dragon.

His mother huffed to get his attention, “Last meal is upon us you stupid boy, get a move on!” Her tangled tawny hair fell over her face as she shook it out and spun around to march out of the barn.

Hocirne sighed deeply, he longed for an adventure away from this miserable place. So secluded was his life, that he hardly ever met anyone nor got to see all the wonders of the world. All he had was these tattered books that the monk, Orisies would gift him upon his rare visits.

The door to the barn creaked open and he tapped at his head, not ready to deal with his mother a second time this night. He got up and peered around the corner of the stable, his breath caught and his heart fluttered. Lo and behold before him were two of the most outrageously beautiful woman he had ever set eyes on. He blinked several times to make sure this wasn’t a trick of the mind or a result of his own growing body. What a sight they were! Did all women in their land have such vivid and strange hair colors?

The pinked-haired one stepped forward and regarded him from head to toe. She laughed quick and hard, gesturing out a hand while looking to her green-haired companion. “This? This is the so called, ‘most powerful wizard in all the pointed kingdoms? Surely you mean this as some cruel, twisted joke.”

The green-haired beauty stepped forward, the sword at her hip glinting off the dying light of the sun set. No wait, it was shaped like a sword, he’d read about this. It was a katana! His eyes flared in recognition and awe. She laughed at his musings, such a delicious sound. “Oh yes my new friend, he most certainly is the wizard we seek. Can you not see it?”

A word brought him out of his reverie and into startling awareness. He frowned, “Wizard? I’m sorry, you must be mistaken. Maybe you refer to my friend Osiries. Yet he is a monk not a wizard.” Hocirne scratched at his head, had there even been such a thing as a wizard in these parts?

She bowed deeply before him, making him feel seven kinds of uncomfortable. “I am named as Eirumas. Eru, in fast-tongue. This is my companion. Named as Acirassa. Fast-tongued as Ari. I apologize for the abruptness but we haven’t much time. You must come into your own immediately and without explanation.”

Ari backed away as Eru drew out a decaying parchment. She held three fingers upwards, then closed them to form a fist and place it against her chest, where her heart would be.

“In the words of mortal men, I call upon the ancient power. Wizard of the North, we call upon thee. Slumber no more, slumber no less. The time has come for you to be born anew.

In the words of the old, I beseech thee! Kys mytrail felitaze arumtalla, Kys waye felitaze arumtalla!”

At first, nothing happened and Hocirne let out a quick exhale. Only to suck in all the air when they heard it, when they felt it. Like a deep rumbling within a giant’s belly. The earth began to tremble and then quack ever so violently. Ari grabbed on to one of the stable’s support beams. Hocirne cursed himself for not maintaining the barn, what if it broke under strain and hurt her? Such a beautiful, elegant angel. He would never forgive himself. A shiver shot down his spine and—BOOOOOOM!!!!!!

In a flash, the barn roof exploded and lightning surge through it, hitting Hocirne head on. All his world turned white and bright hot. He was consumed by it.

Unicorn Queen Cred: iluvfaeries

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Authors Note

While joking with some great friends, the basis for this story was formed. I wrote out Part 1 as a test version to see how it would all play out. In all honesty, It would have probably been too long for any one blog post haha. 

• So Feelings? Thoughts? Does the storyline work?
• Should I write Part 2 i.e> finish the story?

Feedback will be highly appreciated!

~Be Kind to One Another~ Ellen Degeneres