Chapter Seven
"She was related to Chunia by marriage,
not blood, as was evident in their faces and bodies—yet not their personalities.
Goonads was really a queen,
but more a dictator by her actions.
Her people hated her because she was so like themselves—devious and cunning.
They were demonic people,
in actions anyway,
and that was how Goonads earnt her title: Goonads, the Demon Queen …"
--The Pasegean Scrolls
Sipping at her Tuhoi drink, Chunia squirmed underneath her aunts non-eluding, black-rimmed eyes, a trait common on the paternal side of both families. "At least I didn’t inherit that!" thought Chunia, thanking Keori for her resemblance to her mother. "Besides, blue becomes me better. Or it used to, anyway."
Eyes flashing, Goonads read her the thoughts of her niece, anger boiling in depths far beneath her coal-black heart. "Calm yourself," she whispered under her breath. "I need not fear this child. She has no power over me—her ignorance shall be her downfall."
"Pardon, dear aunt?" Chunia questioned her, inquisitive in her manner. "Just like they say—curiosity killed the child!" A giggle, more a hiccup in sound than anything, emerged from Goonads’ pursed lips. Chunia remembered her friend, Oyella, being punished for once not eating her orange—and having to suck on a lemon instead. Her aunts lips reminded her of this childhood memory, and she smiled too.
"Nothing, child," murmured the woman, a smirk coursing her scarred features, "nothing at all."
"Then, aunt, I would like to ask a favour of you. As you well know, I am attempting an invasion at this point in time." Noticing Goonads’ mouth opening to slip in an insinuation or two, Chunia held out her hand. "Please, let me finish before commenting." Narrowing her eyes, Goonads closed her mouth and lay back in her chair.
"Thankyou, dear aunt. My last attempt failed somewhat, and the land was regained. However," gesturing towards the crown nestled beside her, "they did not gain the crown. This is why I came to you. Sonaro is a major influence in the empire, and I was wondering …"
Goonads burst in at that moment, unable to hold back any longer. "Of course, niece, I shall help you and Chail secure power in the land. But, you must promise me a favour."
Questioningly, Chunia stared at her aunt. "What favour might that be?"
A glimmer of light shone inside the dark room from the hallway. Goonads like her drawing room to be without light—without hope. Shining on her face, Goonads looked sinister, like when a torch was shone from underneath ones chin onto their face. "Clyward! Get rid of that light!" Goonads’ smile was gone, and her features, still highlighted, gave her an air of malignancy.
"Yes, milady," came the call from outside the room. "Begging your pardon."
"Just get out of my sight, Clyward—now!"
Chunia heard a scurrying noise in the hall, and the light dissipated quickly. "Now," ventured Goonads, "where were we?"
Alena knocked on Catrin’s door for the fifth time, trying to empathise with her without becoming exasperated. No answer. "I’m sick of this," Alena thought, irritated by Catrin’s lovelorn attempts at mourning. "Getting the crown back is much more important than her little efforts to win Jareth’s heart! Otherwise, Chunia will always truly rule this land."
"Catrin? Catrin?! Catrin!" Alena shouted, her irritation growing to enragement. "Catrin, if you don’t get out here now … I don’t care if Conner’s dead! At least, you shouldn’t! All he ever wanted was for you to say you loved him, truly, and you had to feign it as he died!"
A stifled sob emerged from the enclosed bedroom, followed by a hacking sound of fury. Alena heard a pounding sound as Catrin angrily stomped towards the oaken door. Stepping back so to avoid being hit with the door, she nearly fell off the landing, the chiselled stone railing the only thing between her and certain death.
The door burst open and Catrin stormed out, her red eyes flashing around the small corridor. Spotting Alena, she ran towards her, arms outstretched. She grasped her shoulders and shook them, screaming: "How dare you?! You have no idea! You think that just because your father died, and Chunia has your crown that your problems are the biggest ones! You’re so self-centred, and everyone hates you for it!"
Alena, who had been struggling to remain calm, could no longer hold back her imminent rage. "Me? Self-centred?! Take a long, hard look the mirror, Catrin! All you ever do is mope around in your room, day in, day out, weeping for your ‘long lost love’! You never even wanted him! Jareth was always in your sights, and he doesn’t want you either! Can’t you—"
Alena’s tirade was interrupted by an indignant "Oh!" emanating from behind Catrin’s now-shut door. Another body stumbled across the hardwood floor, then pushed the heavy oak door open with all their might.
Alena gasped. "Jareth! I—You—Oh!" Speechless, she turned away in disbelief. A smirk coursed Catrin’s tear-smeared face.
"Alena! I never said such a thing! And you would say it to Catrin, wouldn’t you? Even if I had said it, she’s emotionally unstable right now! It could destroy her, and everything …"
The smirk vanished, and it was Catrin’s turn to look indignant. "I am just standing here, you realise. You talk about me as if I don’t exist! Both of you are the most uncaring, selfish people I’ve ever met!" Sobs ensuing, Catrin raced down the staircase into the courtyard.
Jareth glanced at Alena, down the stairs, then back at her. His face was obstinate, and, as he ran down the stairs, calling "Catrin!", Alena wondered if what she had said about Jareth not caring was true or not.
Stumbling away from the railing, Alena wandered aimlessly towards the other end of the castle’s landing. She passed the room that had once been her prison … the room where she had first met Jareth. "Jareth …" she whispered, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She had to sit down. He had chosen Catrin over her …
"Why?" she mumbled underneath her breath. "Why Catrin? Why not me?"
Lokath was looking at her strangely. He had just returned back from a strategising meeting. He was happy with the results of it, as the army now had a less general idea of where Chunia was, and where she might attack next.
He had not expected to find Alena there, at this time anyway, as she had told him that morning she wouldn’t be able to attend the meeting because she had a meeting of her own—with Jareth. Her eyes had sparkled as she told him, and Lokath had been happy for the both of them. Jareth seemed to be oblivious to Alena’s feelings for him. But that morning, from the look in her face, Lokath had been sure that his two friends would be close by that evening.
A whimper escaped Alena’s lips, and her eyes rolled back in her head. "Alena!" Lokath cried, and ran to break her fall. Her face was pale, and a solitary tear lingered on her face. "Alena?"
Lokath pulled Alena up, so that she was in a sitting position. Then, fanning her with his hand, holding her with his other, her eyes fluttered open. "Jareth?" she murmured.
Her eyes re-adjusted, and she noticed that her saviours hair was black, not brown, and his eyes were not blue. "Lokath." Disappointed, she tried to stand, but he pulled her back down.
"Whoa there, Alena. You just fainted—I think you need to rest for a while."
"No," she said, trying to shake her head and collect her thoughts, which were swimming around in no real order. "I—I’m okay."
Lokath gave her a sympathetic look. "If you were okay, I don’t think you would have been crying and then fainted. What’s wrong?"
Not answering him, Alena looked through the stone pillars and down the stairs. Servants were beginning to mill around the dining hall. "What time is it," she asked, not looking at Lokath.
He gave her a strange look. "Nearly sundown. Why do you ask?"
Alena shook her head again, trying to remember. "Take me to your room. I don’t want the servants to hear."
Lokath stood, then bent down and lifted Alena into his arms. She started when she realised what he was doing. "I can stand, you know."
Lokath didn’t answer, exasperating Alena just as much as she had only moments before. He carried her towards his room, which was the closest, then set her down on the bed. He sat on a chair next to the bed, then looked at her expectantly.
"The door?" Alena commanded. Begrudgingly, Lokath stood again and shut the door. He walked back to the wooden chair, rolling his eyes at the secrecy. Lokath tripped on the chair leg as he sauntered across the room. He fell to the ground, and Alena began to giggle.
"It’s not funny," he said huffily, and Alena giggled louder.
"You know, Lokath," she started, "you could really make it big in slapstick comedy. I can see it now—people coming from all over the empire to see Curly, Moe and … Lokath Carrel!"
A smile spread across Lokath’s face, and he too began to laugh. This lifted the serious air of the conversation, and Alena started her tirade as Lokath replaced himself in her chair. By the time she had finished, Alena’s face was wet with tears, and Lokath had a concerned look upon his face.
"What should I do?" wept Alena, in between sobs.
Lokath placed his cheek on his hand, and pondered the tale. Several minutes later, Alena asked, "Well?"
Lokath took a deep breath, then began to speak. "Alena, all I have to say would be this: Hold onto the hope. I mightn’t know much about love, but I do know Jareth somewhat. Maybe he’s angry with you, but he would never just ignore his feelings because of one stupid comment. Hope might be all you’ve got, but at least it’s something."
Alena stared at Lokath, surprised at his amazing insight, and looked straight into his brown eyes. "Thankyou," she said. "I do have hope—and you have given it to me."
Alena leaned in closer to Lokath, as if a magnetic force was pulling her towards him. Even another’s call of, "Lokath! Lokath?" didn’t interrupt the moment. Their eyes were locked as the gap between them closed.
However, the impending gasp did.
Syrah stood in the doorway, a shocked look upon her face. Alena and Lokath looked at the door at the same time, then back to each other, then locked their eyes on Syrah’s stunned face.
"How …? Why …? Oh!" Syrah ran from the room, down the stairs and, as Lokath heard the kitchen door slam, he knew she would never fully forgive him. He buried his face in his hands, and left the room.
Alena was now all alone.
Goonads stared outside into the black night. Tonight was the night of Meve, the night when no moon showed in Arsinuae. A knock fell upon door, and Chunia entered into the dark room.
"Will you not light a candle, Aunt?"
Goonads turned towards Chunia, her eyes blazing with triumph. "You may, child. I have a plan."
Chunia’s face went blank, but the puzzled look faded when she saw her aunt’s teeth glow in the darkness. "A plan, dear aunt?" she asked laughingly.
The grin on the other woman’s face stayed as she began to relate the plan. "You spoke to me, Chunia, of Tusheba. They betrayed you, did they not?"
Nodding, Chunia smiled at her aunt. "So, we invade Tusheba, right? That is not so complicated that it would take an entire afternoon to figure out, is it?"
The smile faded from Goonads’ gaunt face. "Of course not! Insolent child! Do you want help or not? I could over take all of Arsinuae in but a day, and you have had six months and still you have not triumphed!"
Chunia was shocked. How dare she insult Queen Chunia of Chail? But then, Chunia realised that Goonads was her only hope. Without her, she could not win. She fell to her knees, begging for clemency.
Goonads could have kicked herself. "Why on earth did I not use the mind-delve spell? Damn! Now I have no idea of her plots!"
Goonads calmed herself, and turned back to the window. "That will be sufficient, niece. However, my plan is slightly more complicated than what you expected."
Chunia looked perplexedly towards her aunts back. "How will we defeat Tusheba without attacking them?"
A smirk spread across the dictators face. "Oh, but we will. We will get them where it hurts. After all, what are the diplomatic stances in Arsinuae?"
Chunia answered at once; as a queen, it was important for her to know the enemies and allies of all the lands. "Well, aunt," she said nervously, "if you are talking about Tusheba, Capurna is neutral; so are the Tonukan villages; Januli is a trading partner; Chail is now against; Syriana is allied, but too difficult to capture; Menilan has been destroyed; Alentio is …"
Goonads interrupted her. "Alentio is?"
Chunia spoke slowly. "Alentio is allied, and open."
They both began to laugh, and, across the land, Alentio knew nothing of its fate.
Copyright 2000 M. Lees
