Catty was lost.
Not physically. The Elven Queen knew exactly where she was in time and space. She sat on a small bed on the second floor of a wooden building near a new human city. Her bare body occupied the exact middle of the quilt covered mattress, legs crossed before her. No, she knew where she was.
It was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that she was lost.
She shifted a bit. The fabric was coarse against her skin. Stupid, barbarian humans.
It was their fault.
All their fault.
Their fault Mother was gone. Sister was gone. Country was...
No. That was the stupid, barbarian Elves' fault.
Catty had always been the emotional one. Quick to anger, quick to love. Where her mother and sister had sought peace, knowledge, understanding, she had flitted around them, a playing kitten to their knowing lionesses. They were the rock, the foundation on which her whole life had been secured.
Now she was adrift.
She didn't even know what she was doing here. The plan, her plan, had been to trick the humans into letting them come, get the book, cure her sister, then flee. Now, Jaka was dead, she had told the human King the truth- why had she done THAT? Certainly, it had not been part of the plan. Lies. She had wanted to tell lies. Lies were all these short eared people deserved.
No... no. That wasn't right. They were ugly others, but that did not mean they should be treated worse than animals. Worse than some, yes. Obviously. But like the better class of animal, they had feelings, maybe even souls. At worst, they were to be disregarded, ignored.
Yet here she was.
There was a knock on the door.
"Your Highness?"
It was Far. Catty jerked her head down, looking herself over. Undressed, there was not much she could do to make herself more presentable, but she found her hands quickly trying to arrange her small breasts, half willing them to be firmer. Giving that up as a lost cause, she sent her thin fingers through her hair, giving the long red strands a hurried, mirror-less comb. Heart beating faster, she turned towards the door, forcing herself to be calm.
"Enter."
The Elven soldier entered. As always, when first seeing him, her eyes drank in his face. It was strong. Firm. Oval, almost, longer than most other males. A flat nose sat high up, separating two of the blackest eyes the Queen had ever seen. Even the iris, white on most of her kind, was more grey, lending a mystical cast to the low born Elf. His ears extended half their length above his head, coming to the most perfect points.
She watched him half turn, closing the door behind him. His limbs were slender, strong. Wiry. He wore just a cloth kilt, red, leaving his well muscled chest bare. And his back. Often she had stared at Far's back as the soldier did some work on behalf of her or her sister. Often she had tried to understand her feelings as she watched him. Thought of him. Dreamed of him.
Far turned to her, head bowing.
"Your Highness."
"Catty," she said, biting her lower lip. "Please. I'm not a Queen, not..." She couldn't say "not with you". Couldn't because she did not know what that would mean. Why could she never THINK around him?
"You are our Queen, Catty," Far said, smiling. "A good one."
She looked away, eyes unseeing.
"If I had been a better Princess..." She shook her head, returning her gaze to him. "Is everything OK?"
"Well enough. If we could have brought more from the house, instead of carrying that dead human..."
"He was the price of our passage," she said. "We left nothing behind we can't do without, or replace." She looked down at his kilt, her cheeks feeling warm. "I see some clothing was hidden among the satchels."
"Very little," he said, smiling. She saw his sharp yellow teeth come into view. "Maybe they will give us fabric. You will need something warm."
Her cheeks got even hotter, a dozen responses rising up inside her. Catty ducked her head, eyes focusing on her lap.
Moments passed in silence.
"I don't know what to do," She said, at last. Catty looked up, finding Far still standing near the door. "I was going to save Jaka, and, now..."
The soldier, HER soldier, sighed, moving around the empty bed beside her, sitting on its edge facing her. He leaned forward, arms on his knees.
"Either we go back, take sides in this war our countrymen are fighting..."
"They are NOT my countrymen! None of them!" Catty felt herself almost growling. "I'm not going back to them! Never!"
"OK," Far said, nodding, face serious. That's why she... liked him. Yes. Liked him. He treated her like an adult. "Well, that leaves us with the only other option."
"What's that?"
"We start over."
Catty felt her body explode in unknowable feelings. Start over. Just like...
"Zea. Ger."
He nodded gravely.
"Just like Zea and Ger. We start a new nation, like our ancestors did when they found themselves in this land. You, Catty, will be our new Queen Zea, and we..." She saw him blush. It sent a rush through her. Far gave a small laugh. "Anyway, that's for later. For now, we play nice with the humans. Don't scare them too much." Now it was Catty's turn to laugh. Far grinned back. "We talk the young King into giving you the book, and then you can study it and decide our next move."
"I can do that," she said, confidence growing. He smiled.
"I know you can, my Queen."
****
The room Catty sat in, awaiting the King, was surprisingly bright, comfortable. Large windows ran along the northern wall, sunlight pouring into the rectangular chamber. It had the feel of a soldier's common room, a place for those facing death to relax, ignore their fate for another day, yet was like none she had ever seen. This was a room built by one who cared for her men. Cared for the soldiers they would be sending to be slaughtered. That Polish animals would create such a place...
Catty squirmed in her chair. It was not uncomfortable, not in the way the Kikker chairs had been. Elf and Pole were similar enough in that way, as loath as she was to think about it. She was just tired of waiting. Turning, she glanced once again at her four followers arrayed behind her. Their armor had been returned, Far looking splendid in his leather vest and kilt. A dozen Polish soldiers, armed, stood casually around the edge of the room. The brown skinned woman was with them, another armored female by her side. Female soldiers. These people were animals. The brown one, Shanna, came over.
"Anything you need, Your Highness? Something to drink?"
"Water?" Catty was so glad the spell was holding. Languages had never been something she had been able to learn, unlike her sister. Like Mother, Catty trusted in magic. Magic, she could control.
Something outside caught her eye. Through the windows, she saw a small group of riders entering the fort. They had wings of white and red feathers on their back.
Her eyes narrowed. Hussars. Evil Winged Hussars. Devils on horseback. It was said they mated with birds, the wings a sign they had consummated their immoral lust. Their bastard offspring were the Harpies of the north, foul eaters of carrion. To think she, an Elven Queen, was within even a day's walk of such creatures. Truly, the Spirits were testing her.
As the winged ones dismounted, she saw the Polish King with them. Memories of the previous day came to her, shame rising in the girl. She had let the Polock hold her. Comfort her. That was... wrong. Degrading. She had to be strong. Strong like a Queen should be. She watched, silently, as the King walked towards the building, passing out of view. Catty closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Calm. Calm...
****
"Good day, Lady Catty."
The Polish King gave a slight bow, a smile on his face. She returned the smile, remaining seated. Behind him, one of the Hussars stood in the doorway, wings extending up above his blond head. Her smile faded, eyes telling her a lie. It had to be a lie. This... she knew that one. That Polock. He had been with the humans who had brought her here. He had not worn his wings, so she had not known him for one of the defilers of birds. She had been on the same ship with him! Catty suddenly felt dirty. She needed to wash. The dusty filth of these people felt thick on her skin.
Catty blinked. All eyes were on her. Focus. She had to focus. Smiling again, she picked up the glass on the stand beside her. The cool water did wonders to calm her. Sending her attention again to the King, she saw he was already seated in a chair in front of her. Five feet of plush carpet separated them. She wished it was five thousand. He leaned forward, a position of power, confidence. She sat up straighter as he spoke.
"I trust your first night here was OK, Lady Catty. I know Shanna is not the most civilized host."
"Keep talking," the brown skinned one said, voice pleasant despite her words, "and the coup will start earlier than expected."
"It's already late," he said.
Catty tried to understand. Were they... siblings? Lovers? She was over her head. That was the problem. Jaka had the diplomatic skills, the training from mother. It should be her sister sitting here...
"I... slept well," she said, keeping her voice soft, hoping none of her confusion showed. She could play the little girl, perhaps. James nodded.
"Good. At some point, if your stay is a long one, we'll find better quarters."
She had already been told that. Catty just smiled.
"Thank you."
"Now, then. On to business." The Polish King motioned to someone. A boy, young, if Catty understood how Poles developed, came forward. He carried a battered book in both hands.
Catty's breath caught in her throat. It was the Llyfr Bywyd. The Book of Life. Forcing her eyes back to the King, she saw his attention completely focused on her. As the brown haired boy came to stand beside him, James took the book.
"I take it you recognize it."
"Yes," she said, softly. He nodded.
"Good." He opened it, looking down at the hand drawn pages. "What is it?"
How dare he. How dare he touch such a Holy book. Catty tried to bite down her fury.
"It is Elven."
He looked up, annoyance clear.
"We guessed that." He let out a sigh. "Let me guess. It's a holy book, and my touching it is somehow profane, blasphemous, etc. Right?"
She blinked. The king chuckled.
"Well, we've already pawed through it a few times, so any damage was done long ago. It's not written in Elvish, obviously. I can tell that. Apart from that..."
Catty blinked, not sure she had heard correctly.
"It's... not in Elvish?"
He looked at her, surprise clear on his face.
"No. I mean, I could read it if it was in Elvish. Is it a code?"
It wasn't in Elvish. Why wasn't it in Elvish? Her mother hadn't said anything about it being in some foreign tongue. Catty didn't have a spell for reading texts, only translating spoken words! And this Pole could read Elvish? How was that possible? She found herself on her feet, mind reeling as she took two steps towards the King.
"Please... let me see it."
She held out a hand. James considered, eyes locked on her face. What did it show? Did it betray her inner confusion? If only her sister was there, as she should have been!
Slowly, the Polish King lifted the open book from his lap, moving it towards her. Catty took another step forward.
There was a blurring on the dirty white pages.
"Oh!" James let out a sound of surprise, both hands suddenly holding the book as his head shot forward. Catty froze.
"What?"
"It's now in Elvish! Damn! I can read it!"
That wasn't good! Catty shot a hand forward. The book was yanked back by the King.
"Hold on, there! Let me..." His face became confused again as his eyes went to the pages. She saw it too. Catty slowly withdrew her hand.
"It..."
"It changed back," he said, thoughtful. His eyes flicked to her. "Stand still." He moved the book back towards her. As she watched, the pages blurred once again as it came closer. The King shook his head, amazed.
"Well, I'll be. That's some security on this thing. It kept humans from reading it for centuries."
It took a moment for the words to gain meaning. Her eyes widened, book momentarily forgotten.
"Centuries?"
"Yup," he chuckled, seeming to enjoy her confusion. "Shanna knew of the book before this copy turned up. It's a famous mystery back home." His head cocked to one side. "What is it, Catty?"
She knew what he was doing. He was pressing her for information while she was confused, while her guard was down. But...
"It's... it's a record of where we came from. The homeland of Zea, first Elven Queen, written by her..." She paused. "Wait." Her eyes narrowed. "You're not from here."
"Nope." The King's expression was thoughtful as well as amused. He flipped through a few of the pages. "So, these plants are those from where the first Elves came from?"
"Yes." Her hands itched. The book was so close...
"But we've seen some of those plants here," Shanna said, walking up beside them. Catty shot the brown woman a wary glance. James flipped another page.
"Brought with them, perhaps," he said, "then carried by the wind. We haven't seen many, and none near the ocean." He flipped a few more pages, moving the book towards her. Catty could read the upside-down text, even as faded as the brown ink was. She swallowed as the Pole raised his eyes to her.
"It's a spell book."
"...yes."
"Why would your mother hide it?"
His brown eyes stared straight into hers. Catty found herself answering without even thinking.
"No female can become a Princess or Queen without it."
****
The King stared at her. He held the book out within grabbing distance. Sensing it was her turn to act, she grabbed it, hands closing the priceless volume as she pulled it back to her chest. His hand had released it without a fight, for which she was glad. Catty closed her eyes. She could almost believe she felt the magic of the book. Felt the history of all her ancestors, of every royal...
"Mother fucking..."
Her eyes shot open at the curse. The King's eyes were not on her. No. He and the brown woman were staring at each other, Shanna's fists clenched. She slammed her right fist into her leg, Catty jumping at the impact, eyes wide. She flinched as Shanna let out her own curse.
"Damn it all! I'm so stupid!"
"How many know you met her?"
"No fucking idea! We just ran! I didn't have the men, or the idea, to clear out the building before we got out of there!"
"Not your fault." James put a hand to his forehead. "That's it, then. We have to tell Captain Putaski. Prepare."
Catty shuffled back a few steps, book held tight. She swallowed hard.
"Um... what is it?"
King James regarded her with serious eyes, humor gone.
"It's your... 'former' people." The fact he phrased it like that pleased her. More, it told Catty that the Pole actually listened. That was more than she seemed to do much of the time. She shook her head.
"I don't understand."
"They're going to want the book back, right? Whoever comes out on top in the War Between the Elves." She nodded. "Heck," he went on, glancing at Shanna, "if the spells could influence the outcome, both sides could think it a good idea to go after it. Whoever gets it, can pick the new Queen."
"Or burn it, if they're done with the whole Queen thing."
Catty could only stare at the woman in horror. To even be capable of THINKING of such a thing! She saw the King's eyes on her. Eyes which suddenly reminded her of her mother, of how the weight of the nation could be seen behind them. He stood, walking towards her. His hand went to her shoulder.
"Even not knowing what the book was," he said, "we knew the Elves had no idea we had it. They wouldn't have let us flee so easily if it was important and they knew. We, or at least I, was counting on a few years of peace. Time to dig in, fortify. Hide, basically, while we rebuilt our nation." She said nothing. He let out a disgusted sigh, removing his hand.
"So, what happens? You come. If nothing else, your enemies, all of them, will assume you had the book all the time. Right? No reason not to. So, if they want the book, they'll track you down. And what do you do? You come right to us. Even if you leave right now, they won't believe us when we say we're not giving you sanctuary. They'll send armies against us. Again. If the book is THAT important, only if we hand it, and you, over, will they not try to wipe us off the planet."
Catty took a step back, legs hitting the chair behind her.
"You wouldn't..." she whispered. The King scoffed.
"Of course I wouldn't. I'm Polish. But," he said, glancing at Shanna, "it means we can't let you go. We can't face your former people without the magic in that book."
"It's..." Catty looked down at the book. "It's not that kind of magic."
"Whatever kind it is, you'd better start learning it.”