Read The Queen for Free Online Page B

side.
    The forest was dark as death, yet alive with
sound. Though Baylin could not see it, he heard the near silent
sound of silky soft wings go overhead, followed by a hoot as an owl
called after its mate. Tiny insects called out rhythmic chirps to
one another, the nearest of those going quiet as the three of them
stepped quietly through the woods.
    Baylin finally broke the all-consuming
silence. “Why must we travel into the forest for you to explain
your meaning to Luana? Do you not understand she is in danger?”
    “She is in no danger here,” Rydel
replied.
    “All of Grasmere is in danger,” Baylin
retorted. “War could be set upon us at any moment.”
    “War will not come for some time yet,”
replied the Elven King. “We have been keeping a close watch on all
fronts. Mirstone and Kardell still have much to accomplish before
they will be ready for a war.”
    Baylin stopped in his tracks, keeping his
hand around Luana’s. “You knew Mirstone was in league with
Kardell?”
    “The elves know many things,” said Rydel
through the darkness.
    Baylin felt the heat rise to his face as
fury began to surface. “You knew? You knew and you did not warn
us?”
    “We elves do not li—” the King began.
    “Yes, you have made it perfectly aware that
you do not like to interfere with what the gods plan,” Baylin spat.
“But at Fagin Forest, you promised help. You promised assistance to
stop this madness.”
    “And so I have come,” Rydel said.
    “What you have done is given us riddles. You
promised answers if we followed you into a black forest full of who
knows what kind of dangers,” Baylin roared. He pulled on Luana’s
hand. “Come on, my love, we are leaving this place.”
    “But Baylin,” she whimpered. “I must know
what he means. I must know who my true family is.”
    “I am your true family now,” Baylin
retorted. “Our son is your true family.”
    “As am I,” replied Rydel. A small ball of
light began to grow in the palm of his hand. The soft blue hue
reflected off his already pale features.
    The light grew, brightening the forest
enough for Baylin to see Luana. Her features were so similar to
those of the elves. The pale skin, long, soft silvery hair,
those almond-shaped eyes. Though hers are green, not blue. She
couldn’t be. “She’s elven then?” He knew the truth of the words
even as they left his lips. Seeing her standing in the forest next
to the King, she was no doubt of the elves.
    “She is.” Rydel nodded. “She is the daughter
of my late sister. She perished days after Luana was born.”
    “But how?” Luana whispered, stepping over a
log. “I thought elves were immortal.”
    “We are. We do not succumb to ailments,
diseases or old age,” he said, leading them again through the woods
by the light of his blue orb. “However, we can perish at the end of
a blade or the piercing point of an arrow, like all creatures of
the world.”
    “She was killed?” Baylin’s brow
furrowed.
    “Yes,” Rydel stopped, looking toward his
feet. His usual controlled features softened as he appeared to
reflect on a time past.
    “Please,” Luana begged, “if it’s not too
hard to talk about, please tell me.”
    Rydel released the glowing blue orb into the
air. It floated away a short distance, widening as it went to light
up a large clearing in the wood. In the center of the clearing was
a large pool of still, silvery water, surrounded with large, smooth
stones. The water seemed to glow in the light of the orb.
    “What is this place?” Luana asked, taking a
step forward. The light seemed to draw her forward.
    Baylin gripped her hand tighter, while
keeping his other hand on the hilt of his sword. “No, don’t.”
    “She is safe here, Prince of Grasmere,” came
a voice from behind the party.
    Luana and Baylin turned to see a young elf
maid standing in the darkness behind them. She had a soft smile on
her lips. “Hello, brother.”
    “Faylen, I trust you ensured that the area
is