"Huh?" Rachel and I confirm in astonishment.

"Okay!" Phoebe replies instantly with a huge grin.

I shake my head furiously. "What? No! Shouldn't this be a decision made by everybody? Not just you two."

No response comes my way except Flumen's cough.

I sigh. "So, I was right. If a Queen wants to do what she wants, she gets to do it. None of you get to stop her even if the majority disagrees. What a nice system!"

Alaena slowly puts down her staff and says to me, "Who said I am acting as a negotiator for the Palace? I might be just visiting an old friend with whom I want to fix my sored relationship. And I might want to take an acquaintance of mine with me." She gestures to Phoebe.

"Yeah, Caroline what's the problem with that?" Phoebe asks with a smile.

I roll my eyes. "Phoebe, you just want a dragon. Stop pretending. And Alaena, I thought you respected rules. I don't think your ancestors ruled Manelysse under loopholes. Believe me, I love 'em too but not when you're taking one of us to a 'friend' of yours who likes to blow up shit."

My indigo eyes lock in with Alaena's. Her grey eyes resemble two clouds that could drop a bolt of lightning at any moment now. I notice my tattoo glowing into a dark blue hue.

Alaena's lips change into a smile but it doesn't reach her eyes. "And how exactly is it a loophole, Caroline?"

I open my mouth to argue but I slowly calm down. "We don't have to fight. If you think your idea is better than mine, then let's put them both to a vote and see what all of us decide. Cool?"

Alaena's eyes twinkle as she replies with a smirk. "Very well. What is your idea?"

I think for a while and then say, "Delay. Send a letter to her saying that we'll meet her but not in her own castle. Somewhere neutral. You guys know about Manelysse's geography a lot more than me so one of you can write any other place. Most probably, she won't budge. Try to keep her busy in letters that are going to decide the location. In the meantime, we should strengthen the land. Are there any spirits or creatures that need some convincing?"

Sephone nods. "There are some water and earth spirits that can be quite useful to us. Your and Queen Rachel's return will help us in convincing them."

"Then that's what we can spend our time at. We also need to train so going anywhere won't help us. That's my idea." I finish while sitting down on a blue chair.

The Council members look at each other in surprise. Apparently, it's easy to impress people in a magical world if you've read enough fantasy books.

Alaena speaks up. "Thank you, Caroline. There is already one vote each from us two for our own plans. We'll start with Rachel and then move around the table. Remember, vote for the idea which you think is right. No harm will come to you nor any grudges will be held against you. We will have disagreements but elementa manere simul."

"Elements stay together," I repeat.

Our heads turn to Rachel who has a hard time getting sentences out. "Um...well...both your ideas are great but um...I think I'll go for Caroline."

I smile. "Thanks, Rach. Next, Pheebs?"

"Alaena. As a Queen, a dragon is important for me." Phoebe states.

"Two for each. Mistress Sephone?" Alaena asks her.

Sephone's eyes quickly move across ours. "I apologise, Your Majesty but Queen Caroline is in the right here. I agree with her."

Alaena shrugs. "You have your reasons, Mistress. No harsh feelings. Master Baleka?"

Ingozi plays with the diamond dagger in his hands. "I'm with you on here, Queen Alaena."

Both Alaena and I turn to Flumen who raises his eyebrows at us. "Ah, being the deciding factor is never fun. I must say, Queen Caroline, your plan is not bad. I'm quite impressed. But, our Lady of Mist here knows Angelica a lot more than you. So, I must be the bearer of sadness to the Mistress of Rains. Queen Alaena, you are right, Angelica cannot be ignored."

My heart settles down in my chest. Samuel addresses the others. "I am with Queen Alaena as well."

Alaena releases a deep breath. "Thank you for your opinions, everybody. Phoebe and I will take leave in a few days. I believe all the other members have their own work. Master Ingozi, you can take Phoebe and Rachel outside and give them a brief about their training. Caroline, may I speak with you alone?"

I nod in response as Alaena takes her own grey seat. "You did good, Caroline. I'm glad you enjoy taking part in important decisions. That's important for being a Queen."

I blink my eyes in bafflement. "Enjoyment? That's what you got when I was arguing with you. Anyways, I still think it's a terrible idea."

"Yes, enjoyment. A lot of rulers do." Suddenly, a shadow casts over her olive face. "I understand your concerns about your sister. But Angelica is dangerous. She has been for a year. I know her too well. And she knows me. You do not know the damage she can do if we do not agree to her core demands."

I slide my hand through my pale curls. "You know Angelica and I know Phoebe. She is impulsive and a hothead. You don't know what she will say or do in front of her. And a dragon? Oh my god, where do I even start? It-" Alaena gestures me to calm down.

"I need someone like Phoebe to challenge Angelica. And a creature is essential for the Fire Queen. That is just how it works. Your elder sister can be a lot more competent than you think." She explains.

I stay quiet which urges Alaena to change the subject. "So, Alyssa told me about your dreams. Did you see something unusual in them?"

I reply, "I mean, everything was unusual. Someone who looked like you, Angelica and dad fighting, and yours and Angelica's argument."

Alaena squints her eyes. "My mother. She was the Air Queen before me. You must be following the scene of the rebellion that took place years ago between the rulers and the hunters. And Alyssa must have told you the story about Angelica and me."

"She did." I keep myself completely still.

After a moment, she stands up. "I do not want to take too much of your time. Ingozi will be waiting for you in the hall. If you will not mind, I have a letter to reply to."

I walk out the door and after walking a little further I find my sisters, Ingozi and Alyssa standing in a circle. "Is it fine if I join in?" I ask them.

Ingozi dips his head and continues. "So, as I was saying, all three of you will be woken up in the morning by the helping spirits. For the first week, you shall not touch your weapons. We will work with normal weapons first. Three hours of training, then, you will go to your respective Council members and they will teach you what you should know. You will get the schedule once you go through it."

"And why exactly can't we use the weapons, Ingozi?" Phoebe folds her arms in anger.

Ingozi simply smiles. "Because, Your Majesty, we have observed terrible accidents when powerful spirits use their ceremonial weapons without any practice. Alys, don't you have any personal experiences with that?"

Alyssa stares at her companion for a while and then answers, "None."

Ingozi pushes further. "Well, I seem to remember your first time with the wand. You poisoned all the berries within a yard. The garden sp-" Alyssa stops him. "That's enough. What matters is that I know how to work my wand now."

"You two know each other from before?" Rachel asks them.

"The cave where I was brought up was near the Daimant Academy, where they learn the art of secrecy and weapons and Ingozi was a student there. We used to go to the same bushes to practice our skills." The fairy explains.

"Well, now that the Queens have learned our history, I believe we have to learn someone else's. Allow us to take our leave, Your Majesties." Ingozi tells us and walks away with Alyssa beside him.

"Well, 1-Phoebe. 0-Caroline." Phoebe whispers in my ear.

I laugh out loud. "Wow, where did you write that?" Phoebe tries to protest but instead goes away. Rachel also follows her after giving me a look of pity.

I turn in the other direction when I notice Coco running towards me in the hallway. "What are you doing here?" I ask her while picking her up.

I observe the wet footprints on the ground. I touch her damp paws and instantly get transferred to the roaring river. The rapids echo through my ears as I glare deep into the blue water. As soon as I remove my hand from the paw, I am back there standing in the hallway.

"Take me there, Coco." I put my cat on the ground and run after her as fast as I can.

*

Coco brings me outside the palace around the river. I feel the light blue trunk next to me. A cyan-coloured leaf falls on my shoulder. I let it rest there for a while before blowing it off towards the water. As the leaf dips in the river, I bend to feel the small ripples against my palm.

My tattoo does not glow dark blue but instead imprints itself in the water. The river starts to increase its speed as the cool liquid dances between my fingers.

"I have a gift for you. Will you accept it, Empress of the Seas?" That smooth female voice asks me.

My hand closes into a fist as if to accept the water spirit's offering. I step into the river, which following my hands' movement, wraps me around itself. It turns me around, only to reveal a sparkling sea I am standing in the middle of. I stand confused until I am shifted to the right because of a huge wave. Then, I notice Coco struggling to stay up near me.

I pick her up and allow myself to stand on the water. Suddenly, I hear a high-pitch whistle from afar. Before I know it, I am raised above the sea along with my cat. I find myself sitting on a rubber-like navy-blue material but the large fin I am holding on tight to, helps me identify the creature.

The large orca has a white patch near its eye and a grey patch where I am sitting. Coco rests herself on the killer whale as I untie the piece of ice around the fin. It instantly gets crushed in my hand and falls in the sea to spell out-

'Take care of Balaena. She belonged to a very close friend of mine. My hope is that she helps you the same way she did my companion.'

I stroke the orca's silky skin and tell her with a smile, "Let's go for a ride, Balaena."

*

Alaena and Phoebe are ready for a journey to Angelica's homeland. And Caroline has just been gifted a creature of her element. What do you think about the argument between Alaena and Caroline? What do you think about the Air Queen and her plan? And what about Caroline's gift? What do you think will happen with the rulers? Find out in the next chapter.

New chapter/ part released every Friday.

Vote. Comment. Follow.

Just three easy steps. (I won't mind if you only do one of them....or two...or..okay, you get it.)

Thank you so much for reading!