The Bridge Between Worlds
Chapter Twenty-One

The seamstress smiled as she pinned the loose fabric in place. Sara was a short, plump, perky woman. She was constantly pushing her spectacles up her nose. Every so often, she would giggle and talk to herself over a simple mistake she might have made.

“Oh, I forgot a pin,” she said, humming.

“Will the gown be finished in time for the tailor to create the matching suit for Kalib?” Regina asked, rolling her neck around to relieve the stiffness.

“I am instructed to to work closely with the tailor, my lady,” Sara replied as she moved to adjust the bottom hem of the fabric which would become the skirt. “The gown and the suit will be ready together.”

Regina glanced at Kalib, who stood in the far corner of the room. His attention was on the block of wood he’d been carving. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, but she assumed he would show her soon enough.

“Your highness, do you wish to have input to the design?” the woman asked, pinning a silky sash to the princess’ back.

“I have but one request,” Regina replied, nodding as she raised her arms. “I adored the sleeves from the gown I wore for my introduction ball. While I enjoy the addition of decorative wings, I believe they would inhibit the use of my arms. The dangled pieces, I mean.”

“Of course, your highness. I quite loved that gown as well.”

The woman glanced up at Regina from her kneeling position on the floor, and smiled.

When Sara finished, she carefully removed the pinned skeleton of a dress and hurried away. Regina stepped down the from box she’d been on. Rolling her shoulders back and her neck side to side.

“Kalib,” she said, walking up to him. “I want to go flying.”

His hands paused. His gaze slowly met hers. A smile crept across his face.

“I haven’t been able to actually enjoy flying,” she went on, clasping her hands behind her back. “The only time I could practice was to check the mountain. You took me in the air that one time, but does it truly count as flying? Hmm.”

“Oh, definitely not,” Kalib chuckled, shaking his head as he stood. “The princess wishes to go flying. Flying we shall go for her wish is my command.”

He wiggled his shoulders, unfurling his wings. Regina feigned being impressed, unfurling her own wings in the process.

“Lead the way,” she said, motioning to the outdoors.

“If you can keep up, princess,” he replied, chuckling as he bolted from the room.

Regina gasped at how quickly he’d disappeared. It was as if he had moved at the speed of light.

“You coming?”

She smiled at his whispered voice in her ear and mimicked his actions.

* * *

Something about flying. It was exhilarating. Regina had only flown a few times, but she wasn’t in control of her actions. She did them without thinking. Flying of her own will was an entirely different experience. She felt liberated and without a care in the world. Eadward was handling his investigations and the rest of the Council was taking care of the ceremony preparations. For the moment, Regina was not needed anywhere. Everything felt perfect..

“I think we have discovered my favorite hiding place,” Regina said as she and Kalib sat on the roof of the highest tower of the palace. It was a section of the West wing, where her chambers and rooms were.

“As long as you alert me before you disappear,” Kalib replied with a chuckle. “Can’t have people believing you’ve been captured.”

“I suppose, but everyone deserves a secret place where can just escape.”

“Before you came here, did you have your secret place?”

She sighed, “I did. My teenage years, I was raised by wonderful people, but I never brought my issues to them. Not all the time. I spent most of my time outside. In gardens or parks. There was a particular park with a large tree. I sat there for hours, all alone.”

While her mind reverted to memories she didn’t really want to revisit, Regina focused her gaze on the lowered sun. But then she closed her eyes. Somewhere, birds were singing to their young. Chirping as they built their nests to impress their mates. The air smelled fresh, at first.

“Do you smell that?” she asked, opening her eyes and turning to Kalib.

He furrowed his brow and sniffed the air. His eyes grew wide.

“We need to get away from here,” he said, quickly rising to his feet. “Come with me, princess.”

He helped her to stand. They both unfurled their wings and followed the smell.

* * *

The South garden was on fire. The palace was in uproar. Servant bustled in a frenzy. Guards ran to and fro. Lord Eadward was yelling out commands. The other Council members used their Elemental abilities in attempts to quench the flames.

“Don’t get too close,” Kalib warned, placing his hand in front of Regina.

“Is there nothing else we can do?” she asked, frowning.

“There is a great deal of things you can do, my lady. Lord Eadward would approve of my suggestion. The rest of the Council might become offended at my suggestion.”

“Kalib, as your princess, I wish to hear your suggestion. I cannot stand idly by.”

He sighed, nodding as he pulled her aside.

“Fire cannot thrive without oxygen,” he explained, motioning to the flames behind him. “Take away the air-”

“The flame stifle and die,” Regina finished his sentence, nodding. “Yes, but how would we take away the air? We’re not exactly in a closed room with windows and doors.”

“Remember how the Council combined their powers to force the lava in the other direction? What I am thinking is that we create a similar barrier around the entire courtyard. For the flames together and absorb the air from within the enclosure.”

“Lord Eadward!” she immediately called out, waving the man over.

“Yes, your highness,” he said as he approached.

“I want you to hear Kalib’s suggestion. I believe it is a wise solution and the madness will end quicker.”

She motioned for Kalib to explain. Her attention went to the chaos. For a moment, her gaze fell on the other Council members. They made no progress and seemed to give next to no effort. They weren’t even trying.

“If the princess approves,” Eadward began, pulling her attention back to the small circle. “I do not see why we should not try. Your highness, do you wish for Kalib to take charge of this plan?”

“I do,” she replied, placing her hand on Kalib’s shoulder. “This is his plan. He will know the best way to execute it.”

Kalib glanced at Regina, nodding before setting his eyes on the scene. Immediately, he walked over to the lazy Council and began giving instructions. As expected, Regina could see they were not pleased to have a lowly guard giving them commands. Eadward only stepped in to offer back up. They gave both men looks of annoyance. Disgust. Adis and Pritha especially. But Kalib ignored them. He persisted. The Council members were forced to relent and the follow the temporary leadership.

Regina moved to stand beside Kalib. She would be needed to help. She wanted to help. Subconsciously, she unfurled her wings.

“Are you prepared, Princess?”

“I am,” she replied to Kalib’s whispered question.

“Remember the locked gate. Do exactly as I showed you. Close your eyes and imagine the air as a tangible substance. You are a sponge. The air is like water. Absorb the air. Now.”

Regina closed her eyes and exhaled as she rose into the air. Surprisingly, she could feel the heat of the fire. It was as if she were standing in the middle of it all. The hairs of her skin stood on end. Her spine tingled. The rubber band of power she had grown to know was present. She felt it stretching at first. Then it was contracting. Regina could feel the air escaping. She pulled it toward her, away from the flames.

Suddenly, she felt the air being pulled away from her. Back to the fire within the barrier. She opened her eyes, but she was not seeing Kalib or the fire. She saw darkness. In place of her companion was a bright, steady light. Another light appeared beside her. And then tow more. But then those new lights were quenched by a familiar darkness. Regina cried out as it tried to consume her.

“I have wondered when I might lay eyes on you.”

Regina froze. She didn’t know this voice. It did not belong to anyone she knew.

“Who are you?” she asked, bracing herself for whatever she might hear.

“How is it the blood of Heartsword survives beyond my reach?” the voice replied.

“I don’t think you need this information . . . You visited my nightmares.”

“Oh, aren’t you a bright little thing. Yes, I have visited your dream-scape. From the moment your Manifestation began, I sensed your existence. I thought I had wiped out the bloodline long ago.”

“You thought wrong. Wh-”

“I am conducting this conversation!”

“I don’t care! Release my mind!”

Regina imagined the flames she had been attempting to quench. She summoned them. Enveloping herself in orange light. Sending the darkness away. And she screamed.

* * *

Regina’s actions had scared both Kalib and Lord Eadward. And she certainly scared the remaining Council members. But the fire was out. The Darkness was gone. There were not unwanted voices in her head. She was safe and she was not alone.

“I am genuinely at a loss,” said Eadward, pacing back and forth in front of Regina’s bed. “Have you had similar episodes before?”

“Before coming here,” she replied, keeping her eyes closed, holding a cold cloth to her forehead. “Victoria can confirm witnessing two occasions. My father as well. Prior to meeting either of them, nothing like this. I’ve suffered migraines and headaches. None more recently.”

“What triggered these migraines?” Kalib asked; he was not speaking as loudly as Eadward.

“Exhaustion, mostly. Extensive days of hard work.”

Eadward sighed, “Perhaps quenching the fire on your own was too much strain.”

“It shouldn’t have been,” Kalib interjected, shaking his head. “We know what she is capable of. This shouldn’t have drained her in the slightest.”

Regina held up her free hand, silencing them both.

“It wasn’t the fire,” she said, sitting forward and opening her eyes. “Not the physical task of quenching the fire. Someone wants me dead. I believe they are the ones who killed my mother and her husband. They forced my grandparents to flee this beloved country. I do not know if they managed to kill my grandparents or if they merely perished from natural causes. But there is someone coming after me. Evil nd ancient. The fire almost completed the job . . . This time, I was stronger.”

Regina watched as a combination of fear and fury glazed over Kalib’s usually calm, blue eyes. She had never him angry before.

“Then we must accelerate the coronation time line,” said Eadward as he started for the door. “I see no other solution.”