Enduring Enemies

Glad you could join us for the next revealing episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

“You’re the friend who told King Arnie that Lady Persephone had gone to the Deep Woods?” Elliot asked Queen Lilian with quiet respect.

“I am. We’ve been friends all our lives. When the Prince and I were children, we often played together while our parents talked about Kingdom business. As youths, we sat in their meetings to learn about being rulers. But I didn’t tell him everything — Persephone asked me not to tell him she was pregnant.”

Silence filled the bower.

Cassandra’s question grew slowly from her hopes and fears. “Who went with Persephone to the Deep Woods?”

Sighing off the weight of an unavoidable decision, Her Magnificence stroked Cassandra’s cheek. “My child, I think you already know the answer. Her name is Quintessa. She had been our sister in the Suns of Glory and a good friend to both of us. When Persephone said she had to leave, Quin wouldn’t hear of her going by herself, so they left together.”

“Cassandra’s adopted mother?” Elliot asked.

“Yes.”

Tears ran down Cassandra’s face.

Elliot pressed his neck against hers. “What happened to Persephone, Queen Lilian?”

“After Benito died in the first failed Wasp Rebellion, we heard stories that some of the surviving rebels followed their outlaw leader, Spike, to search for her. They blamed Persephone not only for Benito’s death, but also for their exile. They found her, but Quintessa was able to save only you.”

“They killed my mother?”

“Yes,” the Queen responded. “The rebel leader confessed, and justice was swift.”

“If there was Justice,” Elliot demanded, “why is Spike still alive?”

Queen Lilian sighed. “We don’t practice capital punishment in Fen, but sometimes I wonder if the punishment I chose was even crueler than death.” She paused and searched the sky. “I shredded his wings.”

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story... View all posts by Sue Ranscht