The Last Queen of Lemuria (20 page)

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"Well, I
do
know you, Guria! I'm ashamed to say that I raised you! You have brought a great pain to my people. You stole the Chintamani. You betrayed your mother..." sobbed Yala.

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"Mama!"  Interrupted Guria, "I'm gonna make it all right. I'm returning the Stone. Here it is, look!"    She raised up the box, "the curse isn't permanent, mama! The power of the Stone is returning! We must take it to Lemuria. Don't abandon me, mama!"

Tears rolled out of Yala's beautiful eyes. She embraced Guria. Yuma,  standing a bit away was looking on with hostility.

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"Don't believe her, Yala! She already betrayed you once. She'll do it again.”

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“You're both my daughters, and I love you both. Let's go," Yuma whispered through tears.

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"You're taking me with you?" beamed Guria. The shroud immediately evaporated from her eyes. She'd have her revenge on her father today!

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“Let's run. We must make it to the flying ball before we're caught. Can you drive them, by the way?"  Asked Yala.

Guria nodded.

In the courtyard, the Princess slowed her step and raised her head proudly. Yala and Yuma followed her example. It was absolutely necessary that they raise no suspicion whatsoever. The Black Princess walked up to the captain of a cohort of flügs.

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"Well, captain Timor, how goes the preparation for the offensive?" 

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"All is in order, your highness!"  Reported the small, black-mustached captain.  "The flügs are completely primed and prepared for battle."

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"I'd like to see one of the machines," said Guria.

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"It's my pleasure," said the captain, inviting the Princess into the ship with a sweep of his hand.

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"Mama, Yuma, let's go! We'll see if everything is really as good as the captain says..." adding to the officer, "leave us. Mind your own business."

The captain gave a salute and left the cabin.

As soon as he'd gotten off the steps, Guria threw the box with the stone on the seat, quickly slammed open the door, and clutched the lever. Yala and Yuma, with anxious faces listened to what was going on outside.

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"Take off!"  Commanded the Black Princess, jerking the wheel toward herself, and the ball buzzed, clanged, and began to spin off.  Black smoke chugged out- the smell of fire was in the air.

The fumbling sorcerers ran in every direction. The captain waved his arms, and shouted, but because of the engine noise, they couldn't hear him. The flüg, raising a column of dust and showering the soldiers with smoke, went a few yards up, and... flew straight away from the castle. The captain with his helpers stayed standing in the middle of the palace, watching the war machine fly away.

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"Their heads will roll! I'll kill them all! Enemies from hell!" "Those whores stole a ship right out from under your nose!" - shouted Gorr. - "Catch them They must not be allowed to land in Lemuria"

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“We will go in pursuit of her Majesty and Highness in the light scout flüg- they will be caught..." came the leader, trying to make it better.

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"Her Majesty and Highness can go to hell! They are state criminals! They stole a military machine! They want to go to the enemy's camp! They are to be caught and destroyed!" screamed the King, his lips turning white with rage.  "Burn Lemuria to the ground! Spare no one! Give me armor! Now!"

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"But your Majesty... We're not quite ready," spoke the Minister.

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"Preparedness be damned! To the flügs!"  Shouted Gorr, pulling on his golden plate armor and running into the courtyard.

Chapter 23. Uninvited Guests

Aleur and Tamil landed their boat next to the wall of the castle of Groix. Aleur pulled out the vimanas on the shore, and helped his friend climb on. They raised up into the air and slowly moved along the fortress. There were no guards on the walls. Having reached the Gray Tower, the friends went up even higher.

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Tamil!"  Called out Aleur in a whisper, "I'll see what's in there, and you wait in here."

Aleur noiselessly jumped on to the fortress wall, leaned his vimana on the wall and ran toward the tower. After a few minutes, there came a soft whistle. Tamil flew to the signal. Aleur, alarmed and confused at the same time was standing at the open door of the dungeon. Next to him lay the dead bodies of two guards.

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"Someone beat us here, Tamil," said Aleur, looking around in confusion, "she's not here."

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"Wait up, friend," answered Tamil, "her guards were killed, right? That means she was freed not by sorcerers."

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“Who? Who would need Yuma in this barbaric... Hold on... It must be... Well of course! No one but her would ever think to free the prisoner of the Gray Tower.  Only a mother could do something like that. But where are they, Tamil?!  Maybe they've been caught by sorcerers?"

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"Not likely. These dead guards haven't even been discovered yet... Wait up. What is that?”  Came Tamil, listening carefully.

They walked closer to the edge of the wall and looked over into the courtyard. Gorr and seven of his generals were giving the final orders before the offensive.

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"What does this mean, Tamil?!"  Exclaimed Aleur.

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"This is war, Aleur. It looks like the sorcerers are getting ready to fight," answered Tamil, stroking his beard.

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"But with whom?"  Said Aleur in shock.

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"Well, who do you think?"  Called out Tamil. "Obviously, the sorcerers have come up with a way to protect against the Stone.”

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“We must warn our people!"

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"We won't make it," said Tamil, waving his hand.

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"So, what, we're just gonna sit here and watch? We have to do something!"  Fumed Aleur.

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"I've thought of something. Let's fly. Faster!”

The friends rushed into the courtyard. In the confusion, no one looked up and saw the Lemurians, hovering in the sky.

Guria let go of the lever. The pink city could be seen out the flüg's window. She set the ship down gently in the palace garden. How strange! Just a few hours ago, she would have gone so far as to cut off her hand to become the Empress of Olmolungring. And now she was helping Lemuria!

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"Guria, open the door right now!"  Said Yala, "we must hurry."

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"Yes, mama," said Guria, coming out of her dream and hitting the button. The flüg opened its iron gate, letting the passengers get out.

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"We must make it before the attack! Warn the townsfolk! I'll go to Shonith La," shouted Yala, running to the palace and clutching the box with the Stone.

Guria and Yuma exchanged sidelong glances.

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"It would be better for you not to show yourself in the city. You are a sorceress after all," said Yuma.

Guria curled her lip:

- "Yes. But only half. Just like you."

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“I am the Queen of Lemuria," pronounced Yuma, proudly raising her head. Guria chuckled to herself.

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"And where would you be now, if it weren't for me, your Majesty?"

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"Yala and I would've made it..."

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"You and Yala would have broken down during take off," interrupted Guria.  "We're losing time.”

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“Let's go," frowned Yuma, "we must save Olmolungring."

Shonith La had told the Council the terrible news of war right after Yala's first visit in the morning. It was decided to leave out to sea, taking only the most necessary things with them. Stores of water and food had already been brought to the ark, and pretty large ones at that. The most important thing now was to make time! It had been decided to inform the people of Lemuria about the war as late as possible, so as not to cause a panic. Shonith La would tell the Lemurians that today would be a general evacuation drill. And the people would thus calmly board the ark.

The Keeper opened the door and slammed into Yala.

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Yala! You've returned! As it should be."

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"Shonith La! I have horrible news," exclaimed Yala.

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“What is that? Yala! Is that the Stone?!"  Shouted Shonith La, pointing at the box.

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"Yes, Keeper. But it is lacking much power. It has lost the Divine light," sighed Yala.

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"Give it here," whispered Shonith La, opening the box. The Stone was barely glowing.

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“Keeper!" Gorr has changed the day of the beginning of the war. I think he'll be coming today even. You must leave right now, Shonith La!”

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“Run, Yala, call the Council! Begin the evacuation. I will attempt to return the Stone to full power..." and the Keeper ran into the Sanctuary.

The news of the evacuation flew around the whole city very quickly.  The Council had taken the "drill" into its own hands. The refugees had lined up at the palace gate with their things and vimanas.  A bit of time passed, and they took off into the air. They flew to the sea in a colorful column. The evacuation was neat and quick. Expecting the Flood, the people had honed their movements to perfection. Everyone knew exactly what to do. The Lemurians ran from their homes quickly and and in an organized fashion. Within less than an hour, half of the city was already on the ark.

Greta paced around her house, not knowing what to do. She grabbed up her things, threw them in a basket, and ran out to the street, looking up at the sky, then sat on a chair trying to calm down and get her thoughts in order.   Aleur and Tamil did not return. And here there was another evacuation drill. But what did that mean? It could be that the Council wasn't telling them something... Maybe the Flood was already near?! Where was her husband? What had happened to him? Maybe he'd been captured by sorcerers and... no, she shouldn't even think about that.  Greta dragged herself outside again, hoping to see a familiar figure above her on a vimana. But, before the house, in a dust-covered dress, with disheveled hair stood... the Queen of Lemuria.  Greta lost the ability to speak because she was so surprised. Without a doubt the tall, defined figure, leading the evacuation from the neighboring houses belonged to Yuma! That means... Aleur and Tamil have freed the Queen! Greta threw herself out to meet the Queen.

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"Your Majesty! Yuma!"  She exclaimed.

The Queen stared in disbelief at the pregnant blonde who had thrown herself into her arms.

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"You must immediately appear at the great fountain.  Take only your most necessary things and your vimana. And don't forget to bring things for the little girl," said the Queen, looking at Greta's belly.

Greta  looked at her friend, dumbfounded.

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"Yuma! Where are Aleur and Tamil?"

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"Tamil?"

Greta, looking into the confused eyes of the Queen remembered. "Gorr's curse!"

- "Your Majesty! I am Greta, we've been friends since childhood. And Tamil is my husband."

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"I'm sorry," answered Yuma. "I don't remember you."

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"But Aleur! Did Aleur set you free?"

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"Yala set me free."

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"Yala? That means... Aleur and Tamil are still in Groix? They wanted to break you out of the Gray Tower..."

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"The madmen! Greta, I'm telling you the truth. This is war. The sorcerers will attack any minute. The Chintamani isn't working. I beg you, run to the square. You must save your life and the life of your child. Run," said Yuma, looking in Greta's despairing eyes with pity.