Kaija: Queen of Stone

17

Mara

I approached the stables with Qia by my side. I dressed in a gown emulating the night sky and its twinkling stars above. The sleeves grew long for the cold nights and days whilst the waist cinched with a small black band. Qia picked it out, stating it would show power. She mentioned once I met with the king and queen of Kaija, I would want to make an impression. I couldn't deny it, the power shined bright, glowing like the stones on my gown in the sunlight.

The horses brayed at our approach and stomped their hooves. My mind should have been on the quest at hand but I couldn't stop thinking of Hona.

His lips were soft; a delicacy to my lustful kiss. My stomach wrenched as I thought about how he denied me and pushed me away. I wasn't sure why he had, but accepted it.

Even though I was queen, Hona was not on a leash. He was his own person, free to love whom he wanted. I wasn't Baria, forcing him to love and marry me, and never would.

Qia strolled through the stables, passing the other horses, until she stopped at the end with Rohell. She placed a hand on the mare's black snout, but her black eyes were set on me. My mind cleared as our gaze connected. When I was present with Rohell, I felt different. A powerful surge of energy overcame me before, but now it was a peaceful understanding, as if we were linked by mind.

"I wish things were always this way," Qia whispered, staring fondly at the mare with a soft smile. She grazed her fingers against her snout.

I remembered the conversation we had in the stables previously. "I thought you'd never turn back time?"

She chuckled at my response. "Never, but if it never happened, that would be better. I remember the days before I fell into Baria's lap. Before I was branded as hers. When freedom belonged to me and my mother."

My heart tore thinking about it, my emotions fell in with Qia. I felt the sorrow deep inside her soul, it swallowed me like a vast forest.

I tore from the sorrow. "What were those days like?"

Her smile was solemn. "Happy," she answered, taking her head away from Rohell. Tears glinted in her eyes. "So happy."

I smiled at her. "That's great to hear."

She laughed again, staring off into the distance. She took a step forward and stared at the stables before returning to me. The sorrow disappeared and hope replaced it. "My mother would be walking again. Rodi would be eating at our table again and I would be free to practice my healing magic freely. Things would be like they were supposed to be." She sniffled, wiping her nose on her arm.

"You are free now," I told her. "You can have that again."

She looked at her brand then to me. "Not yet," she answered. "I have to aid you in this battle against the Rabaka, then maybe after those days pass, and if I am still breathing, I can have that moment back."

Qia was too precious to Tiroa. I wouldn't let her leave with us into the unknown dangers the world had to offer.

"Not if, you will still be breathing after this," I hissed. "Don't even say such a thing."

She laughed again, shaking her head. "I don't know the outcome of this battle, not even my mother does. The seer of the world can't see anything right now. It's like a veil of mist has blocked her vision and the world has disappeared right before her eyes."

It was odd to think there was a veil of mist. I remembered there was mist in one of the dreams I had. "I wonder if it has anything to do with the Rabaka."